Everest's POV:

I don't leave the room at all once I wake up from my pity nap, tear stains still stuck on my cheeks. The entire room felt stuffy and gross because of the sadness hung in the air, but I refused to leave the room.

No part of me wanted to leave the room because I don't want to face Henry or any of his stewardesses. He probably fucked them while I slept because he doesn't owe me anything. He says he cares and wants to be with me, but he's a fucking liar.

If he really cared, he would never have left me alone to suffer in my rejection. He would have protected me and found a way around my infertility.

The same goes for Matias at this point... if he cared he wouldn't have given me away to Henry. He can tell me it's for my safety and protection, but he's could have found some other rich fucker to send me to in the meantime.

He and I made out in the shower this morning! We kissed, shared an intimate moment, all the while with him knowing that he'd be giving me away not too long after. He was the one who initiated it!

My fist clenched so hard that my hand gets sore from where my nails are digging into my flesh.

There's a knock at the door, but it opens before I can respond and invite anyone in. Of course it's Henry on the other side, peeking in at me.

"You're awake?" he asks, his voice that stupid soft, velvet tone that makes my belly fill with butterflies and shivers run down my back.

I glare. "No, I sleep with my eyes open," I spit at him, pulling one of the throw blankets over my head so it's like a cape. "I'm not hungry or thirsty and I want to stay here. Go away."

"How long until you give me another chance?" Henry asks, sitting down at the end of the bed. "I did what I needed to in order to protect you."

"You rejected me and then dropped me off at a fucking hostel," I growl. "You never reached out to me or told me why."

Henry reaches toward me but I slap his hand and keep him away from me. "I want you, Everest. You're my mate." He sighs. "You still feel the bond. It's because I never truly wanted to let you go... my heart wasn't in it."

"I don't care. I wanted to stay with Matias. He cares more about me. You'll never care about me that much."

Henry growls, making me feel a bit nervous, but I keep a hardened look on my face. "Then why did he give you up so easily? As far as I'm concerned, he and I are on the same playing field. The only difference is that I'm going to make up for it. I will win your trust back."

I huff, and I make sure it's directed at him. "You won't."

"I will... you won't be able to resist the mate bond, but I won't force anything onto you. I promise you, Everest. I'll be the mate you deserve."

I feel helpless right now because I am unfortunately really attracted to him and I do want to feel like I'm wanted somewhere. However, he doesn't spark the same thing in me that Matias does, and while Matias gave me up, at least he showed me he really cared.

And he's not even my goddess given mate!

"I can't feel my wolf," I say, not meeting Henry's eyes. "I felt him for a few days, and that's when I was with Matias. Even my wolf doesn't want you, so how am I supposed to?"

Henry doesn't let me fight back this time and he grabs me, pulling me into his arms and I hate how comforting it is. He shouldn't be able to comfort me so easily... not after what he put me through.

"He'll come back, don't worry," Henry coos. "I can feel mine, but I can't shift anymore. We'll work together and get them back."

"They would have never left if it wasn't for you," I respond, and Henry actually flinches at my bitter words, which surprises me.

I didn't think he was actually impacted by me; I figured this was an act because he's horny and he couldn't get it up with anyone else. Maybe that's the goddess cursing him for what he did to me.

I hope he can't get it up around me either because I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive him. And he's wrong; it's different with Matias because Henry rejected me without trying to comfort me. At least Matias showed he cared about me and I know that he's doing this to keep me safe.

Maybe Henry was too but I honestly doubt his integrity. Especially since he said he couldn't get turned on or knock anyone up since his body wouldn't allow it.

I guarantee that if he was able to appease his parents and actually was able to get some other wolf pregnant then he'd never pay me any mind.

He'd never have come back for me, and I honestly would have preferred that.

Being in his arms, though. It's too much, it's overwhelming, I don't like that I feel so comforted and loved right now; I want Matias to be the one holding me. My stupid instincts and desire to be covered in my goddess-given mate's scent is trying to drive me, but I don't feel the connection to my wolf that I should feel.

I squirm out of Henry's grasp. "Don't touch me unless I tell you it's okay," I scold him, standing up for the first time since I got on this plane and leaving the small room.

"We are going to begin our descent soon," the stewardess says, gesturing toward the seats that have seatbelts.

They're behind long benches with nice tables, and I slide into it and buckle the seatbelt. It's a nice plane, but I prefer Matias' even if I was being kidnapped when I was on his plane. At least he was apologetic and tried to comfort me and he certainly wasn't happy that I was in that situation.

Henry seems happy that Matias pissed me off because he thinks it's an opportunity for him. At least Matias deserves some kind of forgiveness; he knows me better than Henry ever will.

Speaking of, Henry has decided that now is a good time to slide into the seat beside me and wave the stewardess over.

"Go get us something to eat," he orders, and the lady nods sweetly and returns seconds later with bottled water and and a small charcuterie board.

"I'm not hungry," I say, drinking from the bottle of water in order to avoid Henry trying to feed me a cracker with some cheese. "And if I was, I'm entirely capable of feeding myself."

Henry sighs. "Why can't you let me take care of you, pup?"

"You certainly didn't take care of me when you decided to leave me at a hostel," I quip, scooting further away from him.

Well, as far as I can with a seatbelt on.

A man in a suit approaches us, holding a phone in his hand that's been ringing. "Sir, you've been receiving calls nonstop from that man who contacted you to come to Italy. Matias Amato?"

Henry scoffs. "Well, he can wait until we've landed and I've gotten my mate back home."

"Yes, sir," the man says, leaving the main cabin area.

I don't even comment on how I'm not his mate because it's a waste of breath.

The plane begins to dip and I panic, grabbing Henry's arm and then growling at myself. Before I can rip my arm away, Henry grabs my hand and then laces our fingers together. I'm pretty incapable of letting go of his hand since he's squeezing so tight, so I'm stuck holding his hand.

It's not as soft as Matias' and he doesn't rub his finger over the back of my hand like Matias always did. Especially when I was feeling nervous and needed comfort; Matias always seemed to know when I was panicked or overwhelmed and needed to be taken care of.

The plane lands smoothly, which I'm thankful for because I'm not a big fan of planes landing. Even though it's a private plane, we still have to go through our own customs line.

"I got your passport from the hostel," Henry tells me as he hands it off to me. "I also got your ID back from those bastards in Italy."

I look at my passport and frown. It labels me as an Omega, and similar to how humans have have a D for donor, mine has an IO, which stands for Infertile Omega. Since it's such an important thing for male Omegas (and Omegas in general) to be able to reproduce, when we can't, it labels it on our licenses and passports.

"Don't worry, it doesn't matter anymore," Henry whispers, kissing the top of my head and ignoring the dirty look I send him.

He can say that, but it still hurts. It hurts knowing I'll never fully trust Henry because he left me for this reason in the first place. If Matias came here to take me, I'd leave with him in a heartbeat.

Even though I'd definitely grovel for a while over him putting this stupid plan into action in the first place.

"We need to go to the hostel," I say once we've gotten through customs and are walking through the airport.

Henry is really huffy when he responds. "What for?"

"I need my plant!" I exclaim as we walk through the exit and Henry nods at a white car.

The chauffeur opens the door for us and encourages me to slide in first. Of course, Henry is right behind me and apparently needs to sit in the center seat right beside me as opposed to the rightmost door.

"Your plant?" Henry asks me, an eyebrow raised when he looks at me.

I hum. "Yes! My zebra succulent! It sits on my window and it's the only thing I can actually trust and love in this world."

"Oh, goddess," Henry mumbles, leaning his head back against the headrest. "Jameson! We need to stop by the Omega hostel on seventh avenue."

The driver makes a sound of agreement.

"Now, do you have an option for dinner in mind? Or do you have something you'd like to do tonight?" Henry asks me, looking at his phone and I see a lot of missed calls under Matias' name.

"I want to get my plant, call Matias, and then sleep in a room that's far away from yours," I deadpan, reaching for his phone but Henry keeps it away from me.

Henry shakes his head. "You can get your plant, but that's the only thing on your list that you can follow."

We stop at the hostel and instead of letting me go in and get my plant, Henry makes me stay put and sends his driver in.

Jameson returns with my little plant, and I'm happy to see that they've kept him alive.

"Don't worry, baby, you're safe now," I tell my little plant, kissing his pokey leaf type parts.

Henry scoots over to the right side of the car and pulls down the center part where there's a cup holder. He takes my plane from my hand and puts it in the cup holder, patting it a little bit.

"Now it won't fall," he assures me, and I refuse to offer him any sigh of happiness or smile, but I do thank him in a quiet voice. "Would it kill you to smile?"

I cross my arms. "Yes."

"Jameson, take us home," Henry orders. "Don't worry, we already got all of your clothes over to my place and got rid of Matias' shit. I'm assuming that those were his clothes in your bed?"

I ignore his bitterness. "Yes, because he helped me though my heat. And it was the best sex I've ever had."

"I'll prove that statement false."

"No, you won't. You're not getting anywhere near me in that way," I growl, my eyes narrow.

Henry's phone starts ringing again and he finally answers it. "I played my part, so why are you bothering me?" he asks, clearly annoyed that Matias got to spend more time with me in an intimate way that he ever has.

Sucks to be him, he rejected me.

"Well... that's quite a development," Henry says, and I tap his arm and whisper for him to put it on speaker, but he ignores me. "Yes... that is true. I supposed you have my vote then... That soon? I'm not sure that I want Everest traveling with me."

There's a bit of silence for a brief second before Henry talks again.

"Alright, I suppose we will be there. After that, don't expect us to visit for a long time. I don't want my mate anywhere near you. The fact that this vote has to be done in person is bullshit."

Henry hangs up and ignores my expectant look.

"We're going to Italy?" I ask, sounding way too excited for Henry's taste.

"Yes, but you're staying in the hotel. You will not be seeing Matias." Henry looks out the window. "Come on, we're home."

I look up at the tall building, and I assume his house is the penthouse at the top with the way he likes to flaunt his wealth.

This place will never be my home.