Shattered by the Alpha Stronger Than Ever novel Chapter 87

Chapter72

He released my hands, then gently guided me to the couch, where I sat down. He settled on the floor, his back against the coffee table, his eyes still locked on mine, filled with gratitude and relief.

“I know this sounds messed up, but for years, I’ve been struggling internally,” Reith began. “Everything in my life felt predetermined, never truly mine to choose.” He paused, his eyes cast downward, vulnerability settled on his face.

“I wanted my mom to live, but she didn’t. I wanted Rose, but she chose someone else. I dreamed of playing in the NFL, but Dad advised me to pursue engineering instead. I craved freedom, adventure, but responsibility tied me down – caring for Dad while my sister raised her own kids.” His words spilled out in painful stream.

“Then you came into my life, and we became friends,” he continued with introspection. “I knew you had feelings for me, but my heart was still anchored to Rose. I know it sounds delusional now, but I couldn’t shake the hold she had on me. I felt like I’d lost my chance with her because I wasn’t good enough, and she moved on, engaged to someone else. That realization cut deep- I wasn’t worthy of someone like her.” His eyes remained downcast, his words dripping with regret and self criticism, it was shocking because I always believed he was such a confident person.

“I knew it was wrong to lead you on when I hadn’t let go of someone I barely knew,” he admitted, his gaze rising to meet mine. “But everyone around me – friends, even Dad – urged me to move on, to man up and give us a chance. They said you were my best shot.” His eyes locked onto mine, searching for understanding, as I narrowed mine in angering scepticism. Is he saying he was pushed by people to pursue me like go pick a healthy fruit you need to eat one you do not truly preferred?

“Don’t think negatively, Doll,” Keith implored with a desperate sincerity. “I genuinely liked you back then, and I thought I could move past Rose. I’m not even sure why I clung to those high school feelings for so long” He paused, reflecting on his own emotions. “Maybe it was because loving Rose felt like the one choice I made for myself, not something predetermined by others or circumstance. Not a gift from Destiny, or the result of people’s advice.” His words tumbled out in a jumbled flow,

“So, that means you never truly chose me,” I rasped the words stinging like an open wound. A pained laugh escaped my lips as I fought back tears. “People pushed you toward me, and I was just a consolation prize, someone you settled for.”

“No, doll, never,” he whispered, his volce trembling as he leaned forward to wipe away a stray tear. His fingers brushed against my skin, sending a shiver through me. “I loved you, I still do,” he confessed, his lips grazing my temple in a gentle kiss. But I remained still, unyielding, my heart numb to his touch. The pain that poured out wasn’t for him; it was for the realization that I’d been his second–best option, a consolation prize. That knowledge cut deeper than his betrayal.

“And I am so fucking sorry that it took me to commit such a clusterfuck to realize that you’re my only one, my best choice.” His words as sweet and sincere they were didn’t please me at all.

“Taylor kept pushing me to sleep around, to explore, but I knew I wasn’t that person,” he exhaled, his tone remorseful. “That night, I was stupid, selfish. I told myself it would stop at a kiss, but something snapped: It was like a chant in my head – Rose was there, talking to me. The old Keith resurfaced, thrilled, while the Keith who loved you was regretful,” His voice shudders as he spoke, and I twisted out of his hold, scooting back to put distance between us.

“And in the end, the Keith delusionally in love with Titanic–Iconic Rose won, didn’t he? Ispat, my tone biting, my gaze piercing

“No!” Keith exclaimed as a few tears travelled down his face. “I know I shouldn’t have continued. I should’ve run away, come to you, and come clean. But I was so pathetically clinging to something that never existed in my life. And maybe that’s exactly why I stayed – for myself, for my selfish, misguided desires. With every word, his anguish deepened, and my heart shattered anew. The painful truth hit me: Keith hadn’t just chosen Rose over me; he’d chosen himself, his own flawed longings.

“Answer this Keith, what was going through your head? Did you think I wouldn’t find out? Or did you stayed there on purpose? I questioned him, raging curiosities wandering inside my mind.

“I–I wouldn’t have told you,” he struggled to speak the truth as he looked down, swallowing thickly unable to keep the eye contact. “The thought of losing you terrified me. I was going to leave but my head was heavy, I laid back for a few minutes and I passed out flat.” He confessed truthfully. I wanted to plant a three sixty mirror at my place and laugh at the women who thought he was such an honourable man, he wasn’t going to tell me.

“If you knew what you were doing was wrong why did you continue?” I asked scornfully.

Chapter 72

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