QUAD-MATED: The Four Alpha Racers' Maiden

IRIS' POV:

Liam literally cuddled me and dropped the breakup proposal in my face at the same time.

Now, Liam was rich.

We started dating two months ago. It was serious and unusual, but I didn’t care. I was twenty and in university. He was twenty-eight and already settled.

I think I loved him from the first day he walked into the pizza hut my dad owned.

He even touched my hand when he paid. On purpose.

And there was this instant connection when I looked up into his blue eyes. In fact, his classic body spray stuck with my nose forever. I could smell him from miles any day.

So exciting.

After that, he came almost every evening. He bought all the leftover pizzas and stuff even when I said NO. He would just smile and say it was fine.

For me, it was not just fine. It was everything.

He also asked after my dad's health. Always.

So when he cuddled me that fateful day, I didn’t expect him to be wanting to break up with me at the same time.

IT WAS THE WORST DAY OF MY LIFE.

“I think we should stop.” He said.

Just like that.

My heart dropped. I asked him what was wrong. He shook his head and apologized like he had already decided a long time ago.

I tried. I really tried to get him to talk to me but he stood and kept his distance.

“We shouldn’t be dating,” he said. “Things are changing too fast. I can’t understand some things.”

Nonsense!

I sat up.

“So this is how you break up with someone?” I snapped, voice shaking. “You cuddle me first? Why would you do that? You're so good at pretending!”

He looked ashamed.

“You could’ve just told me on WhatsApp.” I said bitterly, not wanting to cry. “Oh, stupid me, I should’ve known. I will never forgive you, Liam.”

He never replied or tried to answer my questions or even give a clear reason.

And then, I ran home and cried until my throat dried.

Two hours later, still shaking with grief and anger at once, I called Kimberly and Roanna and told them everything.

They were my best best best friends and we all grew up together in this city.

To be honest, for the first time in forever, talkative Roanna didn't know what to say.

She'd liked Liam and fawned over his hotness and kindness. Same with Kimberly, who had nearly fainted from the first day they spoke to him.

So, now, they didn't want to accept that it had suddenly ended.

We three met and tried to contemplate. In the end, Kimberly was sure someone was trying to sabotage the relationship in secret. So, Roanna brought out one of her many ebooks and read me how to have effective relationship discussions with a partner.

I felt hopeful and relieved.

I took all my efforts to master my communication skills and went back to Liam, bravely.

We sat across each other and talked, but he wouldn’t look at me, and he kept shaking his head. His words were careful. Too careful.

“I still care. I just can’t continue. I just.... I don’t know how to protect you from....”

He looked worried and fucked up. He looked scared even.

"I don't wanna talk, Irie.... Shit. You have to stay away from me. You gatta go."

That was when I understood.

It wasn’t just me. He was giving up.

I didn't understand the rest he said but it was clear that he had locked all doors and it hurt so bad.

So I nodded. I stood up. I didn’t cry there.

On my way home, I made myself a promise.

I will never stay where I am unwanted.

I will never beg anyone to make room for me.

I will not ask someone to choose me.

But, I still cried though. For the last time, I guess.

I sniffed and sobbed, scrubbing a pan too hard.

Nobody loved me, I thought. Nobody cared enough to stay. Not even my own mother. Now, Liam too.

My mom had just disappeared one day. I'd literally seen her walk off and she'd not answered me when I called out through the window.

And from then onwards, she'd gone many miles away from us. No traces. I had no time to try harder and find her but what can I do?

Till date, I still listened to her voicemails. Voicemails since the day she had gotten me a phone and somehow, it'd made forgive her for leaving. I only remained with fears of the unknown and hope that she'd come back. Or we'd meet or something.

I was really doing bad in my schooling. I was missing classes too much. I needed to be focused yet how could I?

Through blurry, tearful eyes, I looked at the message on my phone where it still lay opened.

"Dear Miss Iris Feldman, you're on a verge of losing scholarship. Please...."

I couldn’t read it one more time and I draped an arm over my wet eyes and opened the floodgates. Sounds emitted from my throat as I sobbed.

Dear God, I wasn't a bad girl. I always wanted to make everyone happy. But, why was everything breaking me?

Dad coughed from where he lay on his seven year old recliner in the sitting room.

I wiped my hands and face and hurried out to meet him. And there, I realized that he was shivering. Fear rose in my heart like it was about to tear out of my throat.

"Dad!" I cried and hurried to him.

"I'm okay." He said and gave me a shaky smile.

"I.... I'll soon be done with breakfast." I said, voice quivering as I covered and tucked him up.

He gave me one of his weak smiles and I nearly started to cry again.

"Thank you, Irie."

His old, grey eyes were weary and his lips were slackened with his many excruciating years of suffering. I hated when he had to thank me for everything I did and they always brought me close to tears.

"Dad, please. Don't thank me. You're my father. I owe you. Plus, you're the sweetest, okay?"

He only smiled.

"And you'll be fine. You're so strong."

He nodded like a little child and I giggled.

Then, I went to finish making breakfast and helped through everything. Next, Miss Paulina arrived and continued from where I stopped. The time to pay her was drawing near and I needed to act fast or end up dead with depression.

I should say I was already on my verge of madness.

ARMARI'S POV:

I had just finished my intense combat drills with some of my pack members. I could feel the usual pump of blood from my head to toes. My sweating today was exceptional. And like Caleb always did, he handed me a towel.

"Hey, boss. Your father requests to see you."

I huffed and wiped my face. But deep down in me, I was filled with dread.