Chapter 6 Bitter Truth

He took a step back, his body shaking and his eyes wide behind his glasses. Then he turned around and prepared to leave, but I was proud of my quick reflexes.

In the split second before he left, I caught his right hand. He froze where he stood, his hand in mine, but he didn't turn to face me.

"No, no, no, Jonas, please, don't run, please," I begged in a hoarse voice.

It seems that my words succeeded in moving his heart. Basically he is a soft-hearted man, although sometimes his attitude is cold and stiff. At least to me, he always shows his gentle and caring side. Before.

He turned slowly and looked at me. His gaze was flat without expression. Only for a moment, then he looked at his hand which was still in mine.

"I won't run," he said in a very even tone. "But please let go of my hand, Mr. Riordan."

My heart sank. Since the past, Jonas would only call me by my family name, when he was angry.

I slowly let go of Jonas' hand. "How are you, Jonas?" I asked softly.

"Okay, I'm good, Thank you," answered Jonas quietly.

An awkward atmosphere hung thick in the air. Jonas didn't say anything else but just answered my question. He just looked at me unmoved.

"He hates you, Alpha," my wolf whispered. "Ooh, the smell is so alluring."

"Shut up, Grant," I hissed in annoyance. "I was holding back so hard not to pounce on him."

"Mr. Riordan, if there is nothing else you want to talk about, please allow me to go," said Jonas in a stiff formal manner. "I still have things to do."

I quickly blocked him. No, I won't let him go.

"No, Jonas, don't go. I have a lot to ask you," I said quickly. "You just disappeared, didn't give me any news at all and suddenly one year ago, I heard about you on the news on television. That's ridiculous, Jonas!"

Jonas' eyes shone in the dim light of the garden lights.

"What do you want, Mr. Riordan?" he hissed sharply. "It's been eight years and we should just let it go. We're in so different world now and there's no relationship that needs to be built again."

"That's not true," I argued angrily. I took his hand and held it tightly. "There are so many things we need to talk about. Now, right now! Come with me!"

Jonas tried to struggle from my grip, but I was stronger than him. He should remember that since we were little he could never fight me in a physical fight. I may be stupider than him, but I'm definitely stronger.

I pulled him, half running towards my car which was parked in Mrs. Rose, among a row of luxury and expensive cars belonging to other guests.

I put him in the passenger seat and quickly locked the door so he couldn't escape.

"Mr. Riordan, what are you doing?" he snapped angrily. "I brought my own car and you can't force me like this!"

"XANDER!" I snapped. "MY NAME IS XANDER! YOU'VE KNOW THAT SINCE YOU WERE SIX YEARS OLD, JONAS FINNEGAN TRENT! CALL ME XANDER!"

He flinched in surprise. He stared at me intently for a few seconds, then turned his face to the window.

I hit my left chest which felt very tight twice and took several deep breaths, before starting the car engine and driving, out of Mrs. Rose's place.

I called Kendrick, my cousin who has also been my Beta for the past three years.

"Yes, Xander? Are you still at Mrs. Roselinda's residence?" Kendrick asked as soon as my call was connected.

"No, I'm leaving. There's something I have to do," I answered calmly. I glanced and saw Jonas still looking at the window. "Go to Mrs. Rose's residence and take a car from there."

"Car? Whose car?" Kendric asked confused.

"Wait a minute," I answered. I turned to Jonas. "Jonas, what is your car? Kendrick will get it for you."

"No need! I'll take it myself!" Jonas answered curtly, without even looking away from the window.

I smirked. He was like a girl who was sulking at her boyfriend who was late picking her up.

"Kendrik, just go to Mrs. Rose's place and ask the valet parking attendant, which car is doctor Jonas Finnegan Trent. Tell him this is my order to take it," I said calmly.

"How can that be, Xander," Kendrick argued quickly. "He definitely won't give it."

"Don't worry, I gave him a pretty big tip earlier. Just add a little more. Take the car to La Mariana and don't bother me until I contact you again!" I said.

I ended the conversation before Kendrick could answer again.

"Where are you taking me, Xander?" asked Jonas, after things had been quiet for a long time.

Traffic isn't too busy tonight. Maybe because Mrs. Rose's place is located in the suburbs of St. Vincent which is a semi-hilly area and I headed to my villa on the other side which was still in the same area, just a little detour because it was in the opposite direction.

"La Mariana, my private villa," I answered calmly. "We need to talk."

"What do you want? We have nothing to discuss," said Jonas flatly.

I snorted. "You can insist that you don't want to talk to me about anything, but I still won't let you go before we resolve everything between us."

Jonas didn't answer again. He focused his gaze again on the window, even though I was sure he couldn't see anything outside the window.

"I'm glad you succeeded in achieving what you dreamed of, Jonas," I tried to restart the conversation between us.

This time from a different direction, hoping he would respond better. I want to continue hearing him speak. I miss his voice.

"I heard that you saved Mrs. Rose's life last year, so she really liked you."

There was no answer from him. I think he was determined to silence me.

"I also heard that you were named Italy's best heart specialist for two years in a row. That's very good, Jonas. You're really great!"

I was talking to myself without a single response from him, but I didn't care, until finally my car entered the villa yard.

Actually, La Mariana was my mother's villa, which she bought when I was in my second year of high school and then gave it to me as a gift after I was crowned Supreme Alpha to replace my father.

I rarely stay in this villa when I go to Italy because it is located quite far from the city center. My mother always stays here when she visits Italy to visit my grandmother and grandfather's graves. In the last year alone, I've been here three times, but always stayed at my favorite hotel in the city center.

"Come on out," I said as I opened the door.

Jonas was silent for a moment, then he opened the door and got out of the car with a sour face.

I guided him into the villa. He didn't say anything at all and sat directly on the living room sofa.

Jonas had always been quiet, but that was what he showed to everyone besides me.

After all, I am his best friend and we have been together since the age of six. There are no secrets between us.

I know what makes him happy and what makes him sad. I know what makes him laugh and what makes him angry.

But, now, there was a high, invisible wall all around. I was outside his walls, looking at him helplessly.

I sat down next to him and he shifted away, but I held his hand.

"Jonas, tell me, why did you just leave like that? You suddenly disappeared without leaving any message for you, I couldn't contact you at all and no one I asked knew where you went," I said quickly. I didn't want to delay the opportunity to get an explanation from him.

He looked at me with a different gaze this time. His eyes were filled with fire and I thought he could burn down this villa with anger.

"I know, you know what made me not want to tell you about my departure," said Jonas. Surprisingly, with anger blazing in his eyes, he could speak so calmly and coolly. "You're asking because you need reassurance? You want me to scream at you, curse at you, if possible, even beat you up. You need all those things from me to reduce your guilt all this time. Is that what you need so you insist on asking something that should you know what?"

I don't know how I feel now, after hearing Jonas' words. Maybe what he said was true.

"Jonas, I don't--"

"You know exactly why I left, Xander. You just don't have the courage to admit it!" he hissed sharply. "You don't want to admit it!"

My chest is tight. "Jonas, what happened at that time was a mistake and I was--"

"Drunk?" he hissed again. "And you used that as an excuse when you--"

I collapsed at that moment. I slumped to the floor, hugged one of his legs and put my head on his knee, unable to hear what he was going to say next.

"Jo-Jonas, please, I didn't mean to--"

"YOU RAPE ME!"