Carnivals: Claimed By The Deranged Alpha Prince [BL]-Chapter 226: Long Due

Jules’ pov

He blinked slowly. "I- I don’t..."

He began but I let out a frustrated sigh before exhaling roughly.

"After all of this, you plan to tell me to talk to Taylor since I’m certain he must have told you he tried to speak to me but I didn’t wait, right?" I asked and the expression on his face flattered for a moment before he pushed his hair out of his face.

"This is a complicated situation." He began and I nodded, resisting the urge to roll my eyes once again.

"But... he’s trying. He wants to try making this work out again. I promise. I asked him to meet up with you and make things right and he promised to do just that, but you didn’t let him speak to you." He finally breathed out and u let out a chuckle which there was nothing funny about.

I took a step away from him, trying to contain the feeling of anger within my inside.

"You know what, Josh? I feel like you accept too much shit. I know I’m not one to talk since I’ve been a pushover my whole life... but even while at that, I don’t think I’ve ever allowed myself to remain in a friendship like this.

He looked away for a moment.

"It’s complicated." He finally stated and I snorted.

"The time he asked us to leave his room, that time whereby he clearly wronged the two of us, you were the one who apologized to him when it was supposed to be the other way round." I continued and he sighed once again, expression tight and uncomfortable.

"You wouldn’t understand." He mumbled and I threw my hands up in frustration.

"Of course I won’t, and I don’t want to. Not any longer at least, after what I discovered about someone who I believed was my friend." I spat out and he flinched a little, eyes widened in something akin to shock.

"What do you mean?" He asked after a moment and I let out a scoff, wanting to be done with this conversation already.

"You know what? Don’t ask Taylor to try meeting up with me to make up with me or something. I don’t want to be friends with him anymore; to be honest." As I spoke, I watched as his eyes widened in surprise.

"Is this because of Elio? Since you’re now friends with him?" He asked and I frowned, wondering how he came to this conclusion.

"What? No. Elio has nothing to do with this. I decided I wanted nothing to do with him after discovering something that shocked me to the core, something about someone who I once thought was looking out for me." I explained and he scrubbed his hand over his face for a moment.

"I’m not saying this to make you feel weird though. If you don’t want to talk to me any longer after today, that’s fine. But I want you to know that I cherish the friendship I shared with you and Taylor, I’d like to believe that something about that little period was real." As I spoke, Josh stepped closer.

"I don’t want to stop being friends with you, I promise." He admitted and I felt my heart ache a little.

"I just wish you and Taylor weren’t fighting. It’s messing with me, making me feel torn between two directions." He continued and I nodded with a small sigh.

"Do you seriously not know what Taylor has been hiding? That time we had a disagreement with him because he refused to state his reason for me to stay away from Blaze. Do you seriously not know that reason this whole time but you’re still friends with him?" I asked and once again, his expression flattered.

"You don’t see his friendship with Kai weird? And are you aware that this same Kai who is always hanging out with Taylor is currently threatening me with something that would instantly ruin my life?"

This time, his eyes widened, mouth parting a little.

"I’m not asking you to do anything, Josh. I’m not asking you to confront Taylor either. I just need you to understand that Taylor isn’t a good friend to me. I have a very valid reason to want to not ever have a conversation with him ever again. That’s it."

I was breathing hard once I was done, and as for Josh, he looked downright confused and worried.

"What is he threatening you with? I knew I didn’t like him for a reason! I don’t like that he and Taylor are always joined at the hips as well." He revealed, eyes filled with worry and it made me feel good that he at least still cared about me.

"Something really personal, but my mate is already taking care of it." I admitted after hesitating a little and understanding flooded his eyes.

"This is exactly why I didn’t want you to stay away from Blaze after you confirmed that he treated you well. At least now you have someone who’d always protect you." He admitted and my eyes watered a little from the overflow of emotions.

"I’m gonna do some research, okay? I’ll try to understand why Taylor and Kai are always joined by the hips and what’s keeping them together. I’ll also try to talk to Taylor."

I began to object but he shook his head firmly. "I’m not talking to him about coming to talk to you. I’m gonna question him about his morals, about why he actually wants you away from Blaze, and so on. I realize that I should have done this for a long while. I just always kept putting it off because I hate uncomfortable conversations with him, but now I’ll face it head front." As he spoke, I nodded slowly, unsure of what to say next.

After a few moments, he told me he’d be seeing me around and I nodded with a wave.

I didn’t expect it when he tugged me into a huge because we’ve never actually hugged before. I stiffened for a moment before relaxing and hugging him tight, and as I clutched his waist and breathed in his watery, gentle beta scent, I realized that I had missed him so much.

~~~

We had swimming lessons next.

Since the time I almost drowned, I had dreaded that particular class so much.

I hurriedly changed into the swimming gear, feeling embarrassed before I stepped out because apart from it being short, it always exposed my throat, which means my mate mark was gonna be visible to everyone.

When I stepped out of the changing room, Elio was already changed and was waiting for me with one more omega whose name I had forgotten.

As we made our way to the swimming arena, a lanky alpha walked towards us and draped his arm over Elio’s shoulders. Elio elbowed him and they both chuckled.

"This is Max." Elio said, referring to the alpha who had red hair and cute eyes.

After a few back and forth between us, Max pulled Elio along with him, leaving me with the omega whose name I had forgotten again. The omega closed the distance between us and beamed at me, he had braces on and his hair was a pretty brown.

"So... if you and your mate ever want to invite a third party into your bed, keep in mind that I’m always available." He drawled, wiggling his eyebrows and I blanched at once.

If he intended for that to be funny; he woefully failed and he instantly realized that. He tried assuring me that it was only a joke but I stepped away from him, making my way through the large doors on my own. I was extremely nervous, especially since everyone stopped what they were doing to stare at me.

Of course.

I kept my gaze straight and concentrated on my footsteps to avoid tripping on air, because that would be extremely mortifying.

A hand suddenly draped over my shoulders and I stiffened, heart flying into my throat and I attempted whirling around, but as soon as the familiar scent hit me square in the face, the fear that suddenly gripped me suddenly melted away.

Blaze was here.

I turned my head and blinked up at him, my heartbeat fluttering as our eyes locked. His hair was falling into his face and it looked like he raced here telling from the sheen of sweat across his forehead.

"You’re here." I whispered, turning around to slide my hands around his waist, uncaring of the amount of eyes on us right now.

He grinned, eyes flashing and I could imagine everyone doing double takes right now.

"Of course I am. I remember the last time swimming lessons took place, dumb stunts like that won’t ever repeat itself again." He informed me as he slid his fingers into my hair. When he cupped my face, I grew embarrassed and tried averting my gaze– because people began to clear their throats around us.

Once the teacher arrived, he awkwardly cleared his throat on noticing Blaze’s presence, clearly growing uncomfortable.

When we were asked to get into the pool, Blaze led me to the predator category this time. In it, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and literally clung to him like a koala. Everyone were trying to pretend like they weren’t staring at us, including the teacher.

I wrapped my legs around Blaze’s waist as well, feeling extremely secure when my back hit the wall of the pool, with him positioned in my front.

"I suddenly want to fuck you here in front of everyone." He blurted out, eyes glistening darkly.