Felix didn't cry. He couldn't. He wouldn't. Why would he cry after people who weren't even worth it?
He only bit his lip hard until the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth, and closed his eyes, letting the cold shower water rain on his sore, aching body. He scrubbed his skin until it was all red and raw, but the hickeys wouldn't go away. And neither would the remnants of Jared's touch.
It was quite funny when he thought about it. His mind couldn't remember how Jared touched him last night, and yet his body did. His body remembered it all too well. And… his body liked it. It even craved more.
…Cursed mate bond.
Felix turned off the faucet and stepped out. As he reached for the towel, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror, and instantly turned away in disgust. He used to like his reflection - he took after his mother, who was quite a beauty - but now, with Jared's marks all over himself, he couldn't stand the sight. He wrapped the towel around his hips and went to his closet, picking a pair of jeans and long-sleeve turtleneck. He couldn't, or didn't want to, to be precise, expose any skin for others to see.
Once he was dressed up and calm - at least as calm as he could be with his current circumstances - he made his way to the kitchen.
And he would have instantly turned back at the door, if it wasn't for the loud growling in his stomach. It seemed he picked the wrong time, and stumbled upon a little Omega gathering.
"Look who's here! Our future Luna!" Ashley scoffed, tossing her long dark hair aside. "Good to see you, Your Highness!"
Felix barely spared her a passing glance, and went over to the cupboards, ignoring the woman's snickering entourage.
"Oh, we don't even deserve a greeting now?"
"Look at him! He slept with Jared once, and thinks he's the shit now!"
"Pfft! He must have taken advantage of his heat to cling to Jared, otherwise, how would he climb into Jared's bed so fast?"
"Who knows if he actually even went into heat, or only staged it all?"
"Poor Jared, now it will be even harder to reject this trash…"
Felix let out a sigh, and shut the cupboard. He shouldn't let himself be provoked. He really shouldn't…
But.
"Nah, thanks but no thanks! Jared doesn't need to take responsibility for me, not at all! If you don't want me as the Luna of the pack, then talk to him, please! Convince him to reject me! I'll accept it, I promise!" He smiled sweetly.
The group was momentarily stunned speechless.
Of course, they knew. They knew that it was Jared who refused to break their bond. Even though Felix hated the man, and didn't desire the position of the Luna at all. This knowledge only pissed them off more, though.
"How dare you!" Ashley flared up. "You should be honored that you're Jared's mate! You should be begging him not to reject you!"
"…So you want me to be with Jared or not?" Felix held back a sigh. "Pick a line!"
Having said that, he turned back to the counter, pouring some cereal into a bowl, and grabbing milk from the fridge. He originally wanted to whip up something more solid, but with Ashley's group occupying the kitchen, he wanted to get away as soon as possible.
He was still too slow though, as Ashley had enough time to run her mouth, "He's just like his slut of a mother! So what if his father was the former leader, with a useless mother like that, how could he possibly turn out alright?"
The milk carton Felix was holding got squashed in his hand, the remaining milk spilling all over his fingers and dripping on the floor. He could tolerate any insults directed to himself, and he'd more than welcome any directed to his father - although those, unfortunately, were hard to come by - but one thing he absolutely couldn't stand, were people insulting his mother. On any other day, he would jump on Ashley and they would start tearing each other apart…
But today, Felix only closed his eyes, taking deep breaths, until his clenched jaw relaxed. A plan was already forming in his head, a reckless plan, a nearly impossible plan, and for that, he had to try to lay low for now. Save his energy for the right time.
So, he wiped his hand, and glanced at Ashley with maybe not a smile, but at least a neutral expression, the most neutral he could muster. "By the way, do you know where this amazing mate of mine is right now?"
"What, are you already looking to cling to him again?" Ashley scoffed, ostentatiously throwing her dark hair aside. Seriously, did her neck not hurt from tossing her hair all the time?
"Do you know it or not?" Felix repeated. Obviously, he was asking so that he could avoid Jared, but he felt no need to point that out.
"Some Luna you are! You don't even know your mate went out?"
So he did. Felix did find it odd that he couldn't smell Jared anywhere.
"Where did he go?" he asked without much interest. It was probably a short trip to the town or something…
But, he was bound to be surprised, as Ashley said, "There was some trouble on the border. He had to go to the Darkmane pack."
Oh?
Felix's ears perked up. "Do you know when he'll be back?"
"Not sure. Tomorrow at the earliest. So, sorry princess, you will have to sleep alone tonight!"
Ashley's entourage giggled, and Felix almost did so as well.
Sleep alone tonight? He wasn't planning to sleep at all that night! With Jared away from the pack, it was his best, and perhaps only, chance to flee. He managed to avoid getting marked this time, but he might not be so lucky next time!
It was now or never.
Trying to act as casual as he could, Felix finished his cereals, put the bowl in the dishwasher, and slowly returned to his room, where he immediately started digging through his stuff, trying to decide what to pack.
And once the night had fallen and most of the pack members were asleep, save for the night guards, Felix put on his shoes, grabbed his backpack, and took one final glance at his room, filled with so many memories, good and bad, before he sneaked out of his window.
And disappeared into the night.