Page 19 of Ice Palace Prince
Chapter 8 - Lowell
Elaine and my friends had put doubt in my mind, but the look of pure horror on Sean’s face cemented the fact that Jessica had lied to us all those years ago.
His hands clenched and released over and over, and I recognized the signs of building rage, even if I’d never seen my gorgeous omega so worked up.
I scrambled from the car and sprinted around to his side to open the door. If I were in Sean’s shoes I knew I’d need to get out of the cramped space.
I helped him out, and could only watch as he started angrily pacing the empty spot next to my car, still clenching and releasing his hands.
“That bitch,” he muttered. “What the fuck was wrong with her?”
“Are you ok?” I asked after several seconds.
He stopped and shook his head. “No. I’m not ok. She made my life hell, and I just learned that it was so much worse.”
I took a few steps towards him and opened my arms in invitation.
He studied me for several seconds then moved in and collapsed against my chest.
I wrapped my arms around him and noticed him trembling. I kissed his hair and tried my best to help him feel supported. There were some things that words couldn’t fix, and somehow I knew that this was one of those times when speaking would only make things worse.
Finally he took a deep breath. “Let’s go in before we miss our reservation.”
“Are you sure?” I asked.
He nodded into my chest. “I can’t let her ruin my life any longer, and that starts right now.”
“Ok.”
A few minutes later we were seated in a back corner, and the anger on Sean’s face had been replaced with what could only be described as burning resentment.
The waitress looked between us as she took our drink order, and I could see that she was on the verge of asking Sean if he was ok. Then he reached across the table and took my hand, which seemed to ease her obvious concern.
Finally he took a deep breath and blew it out slowly.
“I’ve known for a while that she gaslit me for much of high school,” he started. “Of course, back then I had no idea. But whenever she would try to get me to go out with her she’d tell me that no other alpha would want me because I was too busy, or that I couldn’t commit to just one interest. She used the fact that nobody else ever asked me out as proof that nobody wanted me. I never had a single date in high school, and now I learn that it was because she was actively lying about me.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said softly. “If I’d known…”
He shook his head. “What would you have been able to do? Everybody knows her mom was on the school board, and that she threatened the administration every time they attempted to hold her accountable.”
I sighed and took a sip of the iced tea that had been placed in front of me. “I guess we know where she got it from.”
He nodded and ran his fingers through his hair. “I feel bad for Brett though. I didn’t know why he retracted the offer of a date, and thought it was about me.”
Sean let out a long breath. “I honestly thought nobody wanted me.”
I reached across the table and took his free hand in both of mine. “Sean, every alpha in school wanted you. The only reason you didn’t have a line of suitors was because Jessica made it clear that you were off limits.”
“Really?” he asked.
I squeezed his hand. “Really. You’re the full package, and we all saw that. You’re smart, kind, and gorgeous. Men like you are rare gems, and any alpha would be lucky to be with you.”
He smiled, then sniffled.
I ran my thumb back and forth over his wrist as he took several deep breaths.
“She did a number on your self-esteem, didn’t she?” I asked when he looked at me again.
