Chapter 6:Jude
1242 Words
When we reached the house Adrain took something from his suit pocket it was a ring he took my hand and said this was mother’s and I wanted you to have it he slid the ring on my finger I was not surprised at all I was overwhelmed with everything that happened today so I didn’t even know what to say he walked me towards the door he was looking at me before saying good night I went into the house straight to my room Sleep never came.
Jude lay on his childhood bed, staring at the ceiling while the moonlight painted pale streaks across the room.Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the empty apartment.
The bare walls.
The neatly stacked boxes.
Adrain standing in the doorway with that unwavering certainty.
“We’re leaving.”
“You belong with me.”
“I would do it again.”
His chest tightened.
How could someone love so fiercely and still leave so little room for him to breathe?
He knew Adrain loved him.
There had never been any doubt about that.
Adrain’s love was absolute.
Protective.
Unshakable.
Possessive.
He felt It wrapped around him like iron chains disguised as warm arms.
It felt impossible to escape.
A tear slid silently down his cheek.
He wiped it away before another could follow.
He hated crying.
Not because it made him weak.
But because everyone always mistook his tears
He knew he liked Adrain
He truly did.
But safety wasn’t supposed to cost freedom.
That thought haunted him.
Was he asking for too much?
Or was he asking for something every person deserved?
To be heard.
To be asked.
To choose.
The questions lingered until exhaustion finally pulled him into a restless sleep.
………
The smell of pancakes woke him.
His mother was already humming downstairs.
Someone laughed loudly.
His brother was talking with someone over syrup.
The normal sounds of home.
He forced himself out of bed, splashed water on his face and practised smiling in the mirror.
It looked convincing enough.
“Morning!” his mother called as he entered the dining room.
“There he is!” his father beamed.
His twin brother immediately reached over and stole a pancake from his plate.
“Hey!”
“You were too slow.”
“I literally just sat down.”
Everyone laughed.
He laughed too.
At least, he made the sound.
His mother poured tea into his cup.
“You look tired.”
“I didn’t sleep much.”
“Nervous?”
He frowned.
“Nervous?”
His brother grinned.
“About moving.”
His stomach dropped.
“Oh…”
His father smiled proudly.
“I still can’t believe it.”
Jude picked at his breakfast.
“What?”
“My son…” his father said softly, his eyes shining. “…is going to live with the strongest alpha in the region.”
The room filled with excited chatter.
“His estate is enormous.”
“I heard he renovated the east wing.”
“They say everyone respects him.”
“He’ll take such good care of you.”
Jude quietly cut his pancake into tiny pieces.
His mother reached over and squeezed his hand.
“You’ll never have to worry about anything again.”
His throat tightened.
“I wasn’t worried before.”
His father chuckled.
“Of course not.”
“But now you’ll have even more.”
“He adores you,” his mum said dreamily.
“You should’ve seen him yesterday.”
His brother nodded enthusiastically.
“I’ve never seen someone look at another person like that.”
“He couldn’t stop watching you.”
Their voices blurred together.
Each compliment felt heavier than the last.
Because none of them were wrong.
Respectful.
Loyal.
His father leaned back in his chair.
“I’ve always prayed that whoever married you would cherish you.”
His smile widened.
“And then adrain walked into our lives.”
Jude stared at his untouched tea.
“He doesn’t just love you.”
His father laughed softly.
“He worships you him talking to me yesterday was everything I needed in a son in law .”
Everyone nodded.
His mother smiled.
“I’ve never seen a man so devoted.”
Jude swallowed hard.
Devotion.
Wasn’t that what everyone wanted?
Then why did it hurt so much?
His brother nudged him.
“You’re blushing.”
“No…”
“You are.”
“I’m just warm.”
His brother smirked.
“He’s embarrassed.”
Their laughter echoed through the dining room.
Jude forced another smile.
Inside…
He wanted to disappear.
His father spoke again.
“You know what impressed me the most?”
Jude looked up.
“What?”
“He asked me for your hand.”
His father’s voice became emotional.
“He didn’t have to.”
“But he sat with me for nearly two hours.”
“He spoke about your future.”
“About protecting you.”
“About making sure you’d never know hardship.”
His father’s eyes glistened.
“He promised me he’d spend every day earning your happiness.”
Jude felt something crack inside his chest.
Because Adrain had meant every word.
He would spend his entire life trying to make him happy.
He just…
Didn’t realise happiness couldn’t be built without choice.
His mother smiled warmly.
“I’ve never been so at peace.”
“I know you’ll be safe with him.”
Safe.
Again.
Always safe.
Never asked if he would be happy.
Only safe.
His father noticed his silence.
“What is it?”
Jude looked around the table.
Three smiling faces.
Three people who loved him beyond measure.
Three people who believed his future was perfect.
How could he tell them?
How could he explain that the man they admired had packed away his entire life without asking?
That the apartment they knew he loved no longer existed as he’d left it?
Would they understand?
Or would they simply say…
“He was protecting you.”
His father frowned gently.
“Son?”
Jude smiled.
A careful…
Practised…
Painfully convincing smile.
“I’m okay.”
His mother’s expression softened.
“I knew you were overwhelmed.”
“It’s a big change.”
“It is.”
His father laughed warmly.
“The first few days after meeting your mate are always overwhelming.”
“You’ll adjust.”
Jude lowered his eyes.
Adjust.
That word echoed in his mind.
Was that what everyone expected?
To adjust?
To become smaller until everything fit?
“I can’t wait to visit your new house.”
His brother grinned.
“I just want to see the cars.”
His mother rolled her eyes.
“You would.”
The conversation carried on around him.
Wedding plans.
Future grandchildren.
Family holidays.
Adrain’s house.
Their future.
His future.
Everyone spoke about it as though it had already been decided.
As though his voice had quietly disappeared somewhere along the way.
He looked down at the engagement ring on his finger.
The diamond caught the morning sunlight beautifully.
It sparkled.
Perfect.
Brilliant.
Unbreakable.
He wondered, with a heaviness that settled deep in his heart, whether love could become a cage without either person meaning for it to.
And for the first time since meeting his mate, he found himself asking a question that terrified him.
If everyone else believed this was happiness…
Why did he feel so unbearably alone?
- Writer
