Owned By Her Triplet Bullies
(Bk 2) Chapter 81

Mason's POV

I had a shower and got properly dressed immediately Lexi left. We had just two days left before we all left this pack back to ours. Leaving every time proved to be difficult but it was worse this time. After the call I got from my fathers, I knew what they'd been expecting all these years had finally come to reality. I had no idea what was going to happen or what they had in mind now. There was only one way to find out. I heard the door open so I walked outside hoping it was Lexi.

"You are awake?" Torres asked. I took a seat on the couch when I realized it wasn't her.

"You look disappointed. Were you hoping I was someone else?" he asked.

"Yes. I was hoping it was Lexi," I replied. He stared at me in disbelief.

"You didn't even try to deny it. You are getting bolder each day which is what I've always wanted but should I be happy or sad about this? Are you dumping me after meeting your mate?" he inquired sitting beside me. I turned towards him.

"Who are you?" I asked with a straight face. He stared at me speechlessly. I continued scrolling through my phone. I looked through some jewelry designs because I wanted to make a customized necklace for Lexi. I already picked one but I was looking through it just to make sure I made the right choice. Since we've been together, I haven't gifted her anything and I wanted our last days here to be memorable.

"What are you doing?" Torres asked curiously moving towards me. He peered at my phone.

"I didn't know you were quite the romantic. Looking through for a gift for your mate," he teased.

"What time did you get back yesterday?" I asked. I didn't hear him come in last night till this morning.

"I came early almost after you both left," he replied.

"But you didn't come in last night. Where were you?" I asked. I already had a clue but I wanted to hear him say it himself.

"I was in... Mady's room," he muttered slowly. I turned towards him abruptly.

"But not in the way you are thinking! We thought you and Lexi needed space which was why Mady and I decided to give you both some space. Whatever you are thinking did not happen," he hurriedly explained. "How would you know what I'm thinking?" I asked.

"I just do. That is the first thing that would come to anyone's mind," he replied.

"Do you like my sister?" I asked in a serious tone. He didn't look surprised, he looked like he had been expecting that.

"I was waiting for the day when you would ask this question. I won't lie to you, I do like Mady more than you can imagine. And the feeling is mutual," he replied.

I knew something was going on. I just wasn't sure what it was. But since when has this been going on? And what prompted it? We've all been together since we were kids. "Since when?" I asked curiously.

He paused for a while. "Since I got back from my last trip."

"That was when you both started behaving strangely. The frequent argument and disappearance, the other day you said a log fell on the road, nothing of that sort happened right?" I asked skeptically.

"We didn't lie about that. A log did fall on the road. We've been wanting to come clean about our relationship but we just didn't know how..."

"You are both adults and are capable of making your own decisions. You don't need my permission to do as you please but if you hurt Mady..."

"I will never do that. Hurting Mady is the last thing I would ever do, I have never even dreamed of it. I really like her Mason, I really do," he said sincerely. "Good to hear," I replied.

"So...you are not mad?" he asked curiously.

"Do I look mad?" I inquired.

"You have that non-readable expression on your face again. Sometimes even I find it hard to decipher that. That reminds me, I saw Rachel this morning and she looked really sad. Did you say anything to her?" he asked.

"I just told her the truth. I already moved on and she should too. Clinging onto the past isn't healthy. Not that there was anything to hold onto," I explained. The door suddenly opened and Mady walked in. Immediately I heard the sound of the door opening, I knew it was someone close to us. No one else could open the door. She walked in looking worried.

"What is it?" I asked her.

"The thing is, I went to get something for Mum from the market downtown. Lexi accompanied me but while I went out of the car, she stepped out too and got lost..."

"She got lost?" I asked getting up from the couch in a hurry.

"Yes, and I found her after a bit of searching. She's safe now," she assured me. I heaved a sigh of relief.

"If she's safe, then why do you look so troubled?" Torres asked.

"Since I found her, she hasn't uttered a word. I'm worried something happened to her but she won't speak to me. I think she would speak to you, Mason..." I hurried out of the room before she could finish speaking. I headed directly towards their room worriedly wondering if she encountered Nick again, but I met Rachel along the way.

"Can I talk to you?" she asked.

"Not now Rachel. Some other time," I replied without stopping. I unlocked their door and walked towards Lexi's room. I tried pulling it open but it was locked. I knocked on it gently.

"Lexi? Are you in there? Can you open the door for me? Please?" I asked softly. I heard shuffling feet and the door was unlocked soon enough. I opened it wider and stepped in. She turned around and lay on the bed, covering her face with the duvet without a word. I removed my shoes and lay beside her. She turned around and laid on my chest.

He paused for a while. "Since I got back from my last trip."

"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked, stroking her hair fondly.

"Remember how I told you my mum died?" she asked in a sad tone.

"I do, what about it?" I inquired.

"I didn't tell you the entire truth. I was kind of hoping I had forgotten about it but the incident today told me otherwise. I've just been lying to myself," she muttered. I listened attentively without interrupting her as she spoke.

"The truth is, it was my fault she died. It was all my fault. That day, I insisted we go to the mall to buy my school supplies. My dad had gone to work. I remember her being so pale and frail but I didn't put that much thought to it. All I wanted was to get the same school supplies my friends had gotten. She finally agreed and we went together. When we got to the mall, while I was looking for what I wanted, she told me she was going to throw the bathroom and would be right back. She told me to stay put," her voice quivered but she continued almost immediately.

"But I didn't listen. I finally saw what I wanted and I went for it without remembering her words. After a while, I didn't see her. She didn't come back for me like she promised. I cried all over the mall searching for her. I was so stupid that I thought she had abandoned me. She would never do that. What I didn't realize was she had an attack while she was searching for me. She was rushed to the hospital but she didn't make it. My dad found me at the mall. I was confused about why he looked so cold and detached. He was probably thinking that I was the cause of her death and I don't blame him because I am..." "You are not," I said, cutting her off.

"I am. My foolishness killed her, if only I hadn't forced her to go out with me that day, she would still be here," she replied.

"You were a seven-year-old girl. You had no idea what a heart disease was or what she was going through. Any child in your shoes would have done the same. And your dad doesn't hate you, he's probably grieving just like you are. I'm not saying his negligence all these years is right but everyone has their own way of grieving. You should let go of the guilt you are carrying because it's not your fault. I'm sure your mum wouldn't want this too," I said to her. I could tell she was holding back her tears.

"You don't need to hide your pain from me. Cry if you want to, it would make you feel better," I said, patting her hair softly.

"I don't want to be alone," she muttered in a teary voice.

"You aren't alone. I will always be with you. Forever and always," I assured her, holding her tightly in my arms as her body racked with sobs.