ELIANO
The infamous True Mate Rejection.
So it happened to me.
I am hollow inside. Ripped apart. The pain is unbearable. There is nothing left. The life I had just started building with Salt is collapsing right now, piece by piece.
My mind, acting on pure self-preservation, twists back toward its base alpha nature: action. Focus on doing. Cut out the noise. Absolute concentration, sharp as a thin blade. It slices through my pain-filled existence and helps me line up everything that needs to be handled.
I turn into a machine, a human robot. Task. Execute. Don’t think.
The first thing I do is head toward Unit 4. I approach quietly, but before I knock, I instinctively glance through the window and see it.
Bashir and Fred are having sex.
But it is not just fucking. They are making love. I should not be watching, but I do, my throat tightening painfully with longing and grief that hit me before I brutally turn it off. I have not even left the island yet, and already I am gone from it.
Bashir holds Fred’s face in his hands, kissing him now and then with a depth of tenderness I have completely lost my chance at.
Fred’s arms are wrapped around him in a tight, intimate embrace filled with deep devotion.
A brief, tiny wave of happiness washes over me as I realize that things are working out for them, that despite the trauma they went through, healing is finding its way between them.
And me? Will that be my reality one day?
If we’re fated mates, it will be. But when? How long? Will we ever regain the innocence of first ignition between us?
I step back from the building to a safe distance and pull out my phone.
For a moment, I stare at the screen, then dial a number I know by heart even though I do not have it saved.
It is my cousin’s number. Ennio Ferro. Well, cousin or brother, since we grew up together, both adopted by Anzo.
Calling him is a risk. Rocco could have his phone tapped. If that happens, I am finished, but I take the risk anyway.
Four rings before he finally answers.
"Yes?" His voice is cold, distant. He probably has no idea who I am. My number must show as restricted.
"It’s me. Your outcast cousin, Eliano."
There is a long silence on the line, then I hear footsteps, as if he is walking somewhere more private.
"Well. That’s a surprise."
Silence again. Fair enough. I ran, I turned my back on the family. I betrayed the Ferros. Mauro and I both did. He has every right to see me as the prodigal, treacherous relative.
"Can you really blame me? Out of all of us, you know best how much I hated what Anzo forced me into."
"Yes, but Anzo is gone. You and Mauro left me and Luca alone with Rocco, and that is not an easy position to be in. I believed that the four of us together could influence him more strongly, but… you ran."
I stay quiet for a moment, feeling stupid. I understand the reproach. In his place, I would probably feel the same. He is right; the four of us together might have had more leverage over Rocco, but would it have been enough?
"Rocco wanted me to fight just as fiercely as Anzo did. I could not take that risk, Ennio. I know you owe me nothing, but I still believe you will help. I have something really important to do, and you are the only person who can make it happen."
A long silence follows.
Far too long.
"Ennio… all these years you protected me. You helped me with the fights, arranging things so I would end up in the cage as rarely as possible. You did it because we are blood. I am asking you to help me one more time. I will give you anything you want in return. You can take all the money I have."
Ennio snorts.
"I don’t care about money."
Of course. Ennio was his father’s only son. His inheritance wasn’t split like mine and my brothers’. What could I possibly offer him?
"Then what do you want? I’ll do it. But please do not make me go back to the cages. If I surface again, Rocco will find me."
"First, tell me what you need from me."
So I tell him.
Ennio listens.
And listens. And listens.
Finally, he speaks.
"We’ll see what can be done."
"You’ll send a speedboat for me?"
"Yes. I’ll text you when it’s on the way."
I appreciate that Ennio is so straightforward; he doesn’t waste time arguing; he just gets straight to the point.
"Thank you. I’ll be in your debt."
"We’ll talk about that later. I have a certain plan where you might be useful to me."
"Nothing involving cages?"
"No. Journalism."
I blink. Wow, I didn’t see it coming.
"Seriously?"
"Seriously. But we’ll talk about that later. I’ll let you know about the boat."
"Okay. I’ll wait."
I hang up.
With my brows furrowed, I walk back toward Bashir’s place and peek inside again. They are clearly done now, though lying in bed, wrapped tightly around each other. Good. I can interrupt this.
I step away from the window and knock softly.
I wait a full minute before Bashir opens the door, wearing only sweatpants.
He raises an eyebrow. His damp, muscular chest is bare, covered with a pattern of tattoos.
From what I know, he trained in Muay Thai as a teenager, but later had to stop because of a knee injury.
Still, compared to the other alphas in the sector, he’s the most capable of being Salt’s protector. People here respect him.
The air around him is thick with the fresh scent of sex and alpha pheromones.
"I’m leaving the island," I say right away. "I came because you once offered me help."
He seems not to hear me the first time, blinks, then shakes it off, and his face takes on a focused expression.
"You’re leaving the island?"
"Yep."
"That’s a surprise," he says, staring at me cautiously. Next to his elbow, Fred appears, wearing nothing but a long T-shirt, gazing at me with his big eyes.
"Yes, well, things got complicated between me and Salt. But under the Beta Activation Program, alphas with no convictions can take off the island for personal stuff for up to a month without risking their contract. I need to take care of a few things, but I can’t leave Salt unprotected.
You remember how, during the dance party, a few alphas started circling him.
I don’t want to risk someone taking advantage of my absence to make a move.
I’m asking you, alpha to alpha, to watch over him. To be his protector."
Bashir grows serious, straightens slightly, and nods slowly. "All right. I’ll do what I can."
The request to act as a protector is an ancient one; it does not mean handing over your partner to the sexual authority of another alpha.
It is a role sometimes assumed by an alpha who becomes the protector of widowed relatives, orphaned children, or the elderly, the sick, or those in need of help.
It is a serious responsibility, and every alpha understands its importance.
I wait for a moment, expecting him to ask about my reasons, but he clearly is not that kind of man. He’s a simple, no-nonsense guy.
"Thank you. His safety is the priority. Fortunately, Sidorov, Miller, and Drax were escorted off the island by police this morning. Mr. Gomez will be arriving soon to take over the duties. I think things will be calmer here now."
Bashir exchanges a look with Fred, who breaks into a wide smile. "That’s excellent news. Mr. Gomez was very helpful during our transfer process to the island when we ran into a few issues along the way."
Bashir nods and adds, "You can count on me. I’ll keep Salt safe."
"The only issue is that he might not take it well, but please don’t let that discourage you. He’s very proud. Still, I’m more concerned about his safety than his pride."
"I’ll keep that in mind."
I’m about to step back, when Fred suddenly speaks up.
"But you’ll come back, right?"
I hesitate. "I’ll try."
Fred studies me closely. "You should see the way Salt looks at you sometimes. I don’t know what’s forcing you to leave, but if it’s something between the two of you, don’t give up. You have a kind of chemistry I haven’t seen between anyone on this island in a long time."
I hesitate again, unsure how to respond. Strangely enough, Fred seems to have very sharp intuition.
"We’ll see how things turn out on the mainland. Right now, I don’t know what will happen in a month. But for that month, Salt will definitely remain on the island. If I don’t come back, he’ll be transferred to a state prison once the contract expires. That’s simply how it works."
"I hope whatever you’re planning works out."
"So do I. Take care, and thank you." I lift my hand in farewell and walk away.
I feel a sense of relief, but I know this is not the end. There are still a few things I want to take care of before I leave the island.
The opportunity presents itself almost immediately. In the distance, I spot Roman and Evan walking together, holding hands. I know this is one more thing I should do for Salt before I go.
I approach them.
"I have a favor to ask," I say, seeing the surprise and immediate caution in their eyes.
I repeat essentially the same thing I told Bashir, adding, "Salt is going to be very lonely here. He’ll probably be in a bad state emotionally because our last conversation wasn’t easy.
I know our relationships cooled after everything that happened, and if anyone is to blame for that, it’s me.
All the chaos around me caused it. Salt did nothing wrong.
I’m the problem here. Would you be willing to support him while I’m gone? Maybe even be his… friends?"
They both stare at me in shock, as if they cannot believe what they are hearing.
"Seriously? You’re leaving the island? That doesn’t happen often. Most alphas only leave for a few days, not a whole month."
"Well, the contract allows it. We’re free people, and the program gives us that option, so I intend to use it."
Roman nods. "Of course, of course. We’ll do our best. We’ll keep him company so he doesn’t feel alone."
"Thank you. I really appreciate it, and I’m sorry if my presence ever made you feel unsafe here. That was never my intention."