Chapter 102 - Feelings Be Gone

Finally, Madeline had to eat her words. 

Her teasing Briar about how Adrian immediately thought of her once he returned to Eudora resulted in Briar doing the same, except this time it was Madeline thinking about Xavier. 

Briar was at a crossroads, unsure of what was going on between the two of them and if she was misunderstanding everything, but at the same time extremely tempted to tell the two lovebirds to just get a room already. 

Sometimes, they were too much to handle. 

'Geez, why do they have to be so lovey dovey all the time? I know they're mates and meant for each other and all but…' 

Briar laughed. 

In all truth, she didn't mind. Besides, Madeline seemed to be way more happier as of late. And if Madeline was happy, so was she. 

There was nothing more Briar could want when it came to Madeline. 

Hmm, she wondered what was the reason behind Madeline smiling more often. It was strange to even think of it. 

'Why would anyone think of reasons why someone smiles more? It's strange.'

As Briar was keeping to herself, Indiana asked Madeline, "I've been meaning to ask, Madeline, why did you invite me to lunch?" 

That question managed to grab Briar's attention instantly. Indiana was right, why did Madeline invite her? She could have had lunch with just Briar, she wasn't obliged to invite Indiana to lunch, or breakfast, or anything really. Madeline had the option to keep away from Indiana but she never did. 

Oh snap!

Madeline stopped whatever she was doing, looking up to face Indiana. 

'Wonder what Mad's going to answer,' Briar thought, her brow raised. 

'I want to know as well,' Briar admitted, listening in to their conversation.

"Well," Madeline began. 

"Because you seem like a sweet person all around."

"How could you think of me as sweet when I--"

Indiana had said it. The elephant in the room. 

It had seemed like they had gotten over it, but Indiana wanted her questions answered. And that was fair. 

Madeline didn't mind answering any questions Indiana had. Indiana wasn't doubting her choice, she was doubting herself and whether or not she deserved to even have breakfast or lunch or hang out with Madeline in general. 

"And you seemed genuine when you apologized so why not? After all, other than Emilio we're the only people here, and I don't think you'd try to hurt me either. I'd hope not."

"So there you have it," Madeline said, casually wiping the corner of her mouth with a napkin as she finished answering Indiana's question. 

Indiana had nothing to say. Frankly, she was stunned. Rendered speechless by Madeline's words, she muttered, "Ah."

"Thank you."

Madeline took a sip from her glass. 

She looked confused, wondering why Indiana was thanking her for answering a question. 

'Why thank me?' Asked the look on her face. 

"For giving me a chance," Indiana explained, nodding to show her sincerity. 

She really appreciated Madeline doing this. She really did. 

There wouldn't be a day where she didn't regret what she had done to Madeline. To think, she could've done the tiniest bit of research to know what Madeline was like. 

No wonder Xavier was so enamoured in her. He deserved to have someone like her in his life. 

And also, Indiana reckoned they'd make a great couple. 

A piece of her heart would be chipped whenever she thought of Madeline and Xavier together. Her feelings were preventing her from being truly happy for her… friend, if Madeline would consider as one. 

Did Madeline see them as friends? They certainly had not known each other long enough to be friends. 

Heck, only last night had they actually vibed with each other. 

Hmm, vibe was an odd way to put it. 

Moving on, Indiana had been trying to push her feelings for Xavier aside and telling herself her blossoming friendship with Madeline was far more important to her than that. 

She hoped for herself to be able to move on from Xavier and hopefully either find someone else to hopelessly crush on or no one at all. 

Basically, feelings be gone. 

She knew Xavier didn't see her in the way she saw him. He never would. Ever. 

Did she want him to see her as more than a friend? 

A part of her would answer yes. She wanted him to see her as more than a friend. She wanted him to see her as his world. 

His one true love. The woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. 

And if these feelings were to never perish, she'd be stuck with them for the rest of her life, loving someone who she knew she could never have. 

Why? Because she presumed his heart… belonged to someone else. 

That he saw no one else but her. 

No one else caught his eye. No one else was as superior as her. 

There was only her in the picture. Madeline was his world. 

If someone were to ask her if it hurt - knowing the man you loved didn't love you but loved your friend - she would answer yes as well. 

But she hoped that over time, it would begin to hurt less. That the pain would subside, and that hopefully she'd find someone that made her feel the same way she used to feel for Xavier in the future. 

However, in reality, she was a hopeless girl loving the glorious alpha of her pack. 

Her ex-friends would laugh at her if they were to know the truth. 

She never told them of her feelings for Xavier, she made a point not to. 

They'd mock the living hell out of her, and if she were to do anything wrong or anything they disliked… Who knew what they'd do?

Yes, yes, Indiana knew not to let them into her head, but at the same time, she felt humiliated. 

And there was no one by her side. In her past friend group, she was the one that was always left out. 

Everyone else was in unison. In tune with each other. She was always the odd one out. 

But, she didn't feel that way with Briar and Madeline. 

She didn't feel like Briar and Madeline would hurt her or had any ill intentions towards her. Far from it actually. 

Madeline had done her a great favour. Heck, had she not invited her to breakfast and or lunch, Indiana would've probably starved herself. 

'I deserve it,' she thought. 

'After all I've done and the kindness Madeline's been showing me? I definitely deserve it.' 

'I wish there was a way to make it up to her. Hmm, how do I do just that?' 

She thought of many ideas, before she set her mind on one idea in particular. 

Why was she doing this? Indiana could've just milked this for all it was worth, using Madeline to get her way since Madeline saw the best in everything that happened and all that. Maybe not all the time, but for the period of time where Madeline was being compassionate and kind and treating her well. 

But no, since Indiana wanted to change. 

After the way she behaved in the past, it was no wonder she had gotten herself involved with that kind of friend group. 

She had behaved like them, thinking herself as someone that was high and mighty when she was just like everyone else. 

Heck, she was in no position to act like she was some god. Now, she was a mere omega. Even Briar surpassed her in rank now that she had been demoted as a punishment. 

Indiana had sensed the others had returned to Eudora. 

Her ex-friends were probably looking for her, wanting to tell her all the amazing things that had happened during the hunt because they wanted to make her feel like she missed out on tonnes of action. 

They didn't need to, Indiana was already feeling like she had missed out on a wonderful opportunity. 

Of course, the hunt paled in comparison to being able to dine with Madeline, but at the same time, Indiana wished to have been able to participate in the hunt. 

She loved the feeling of being out in the wild, chasing prey… 

It was one of the best parts of Eudora. Their hunts. 

Being able to feast on the corpses of those that they had hunted? It was a sensation like no other.

Indiana hoped she was able to join the next hunt. All she had to do was be on her best behaviour and maybe, just maybe, Xavier would allow her to participate in their next hunt, whenever that may be. 

For now?

All she could do was hope for the best. 

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Author's Note: HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! Hope you guys have a wonderful 2022, wishing you all the best. To celebrate, as I've said in chapter 100, there will be a mass release of five chapters.. Hope you all enjoy your new years, love mari.