Free Web NovelChapter 143: Chapter 143
Valentin was pretty sure that Nael just wanted to say his brother’s name, it seemed to be the only thing rattling around in his alcohol-filled skull. At the end of his patience, he took a bottle from the bag that Jacques had handed him, keeping the rest propped up against the wall.
It was best if they all stuck to one bottle each - even that was a bit much - they had classes the next day after all.
He uncorked his bottle and took an experimental sip, "See? I drank, Errol doesn’t hate you."
Valentin sighed when Nael took his hand again and continued down the stone passageway, he knew it was only a matter of time before the stress got to him.
The wine had tasted tart but sweet and the situation was already starting to look less terrible as the alcohol warmed him from within. He hoped that Jacques was having an easier time dealing with Audie.
-*-
Audie marched forward confidently like he knew every inch of the passageway, not even slowing down when they came to a crossroad. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
He hadn’t yet noticed that he had left Valentin and Nael all the way behind, emptying his bottle of wine at an alarming rate. It showed in how off-balance his walking was gradually getting.
Jacques just walked quietly behind him, listening to Audie ramble to himself. He should have probably tried to stop Audie from picking a turn at random but knowing the blond Alpha, there would be no chance of that.
After the first crossroad, Audie had taken two more random turns, so at this point, it didn’t matter anymore.
He turned around abruptly, "Where’s Vale?"
Jacques had a bland expression on his handsome face, "You left him behind."
Audie seemed troubled by this, he seemed to space out for a bit, "Don’t follow me." He grumbled, tripping slightly as he tried to keep going forward.
Jacques stifled laughter, "I’m not following you." He said placidly, doing exactly what he said he wasn’t.
"I’m going to find Vale, don’t come with me." He kept grumbling, slowing down for all intents and purposes of his words because he was starting to have a hard time standing upright.
If he was trying to meet up with Valentin, he was definitely going the wrong way by moving forward. Not to mention, Valentin and Nael must have gotten to the first crossroad by now and there was a fifty percent chance that they would choose the wrong turn.
Jacques didn’t try to stop him though, his eyes flicking down to the ground when Audie’s empty bottle rolled to the stone ground with sharp clinks. He also dropped his bottle, his head a little cloudy, he felt like he might have to catch Audie soon so he needed his hands free.
Hopefully, the idiot didn’t straight-up blackout because dragging him out to an exit would be very troublesome.
Just as Jacques picked up the pace to catch up with Audie who was still managing to move quite fast despite having to lean against the stone wall for support, he suddenly came to an abrupt stop and whipped around.
Jacques skidded slightly as he tried to stop in time so that he wouldn’t slam into Audie, "What the hell? Why did you suddenly stop moving?" He complained.
Audie was unfazed by this, he just leaned forward unsteadily and jabbed a finger right into the center of Jac’s chest, his dark eyes heavy-lidded. "Stay away from, Vale... hog..." He added the last bit as an afterthought, letting out a small gurgling sound afterward.
Jacques’ pleasant expression dropped at this, "How do you feel about Valentin?" He asked in an odd voice.
Audie seemed to seriously consider this question, his hand dropping to his side as his eyes went vacant, not a single thought behind them.
"He’s my best friend, not yours..." The jabbing finger came up again, "So stay away-"
Jacques caught his wrist to still his hand, his hazel-green eyes intense. "Best friend?’
Audie could only laugh in the other Alpha’s face, "Are you mad ’cause I’m right?" He taunted, making a face. He yanked his hand from Jacques’ hold, nearly stumbling backward from the force.
"Now stop following me, I’ve got to find him." He grumbled, his now free hand instinctively going to his cravat. He was frankly wearing too many clothes, it felt suffocating although it was cold and drafty down in this stone passageway.
Jacques didn’t move, rooted in place as he watched Audie make quick work of his cravat and shirt buttons. They would have to return the moment they were sober to clean up all the littering that Audie was single-handedly doing.
Audie noticed this and leaned against the wall, his vision swimming slightly. "What’s with you?" He asked with amusement, looking at Jacques.
Ironically, he had been the one to tell Jacques to stop following him but now that he did, he was willing to wait for him.
"Heartbroken that I said Vale’s my best friend?" He asked teasingly, concern finding its way into his slurred words. "That doesn’t stop him from being your friend though..."
Audie looked troubled again like he was just thinking about the impact of his words.
... how did he feel about Valentin?... Valentin was the only one who treated him seriously all of the time, he was the only one willing to put up with every of his whims and silly ideas.
Audie was used to being everyone’s second choice, he just didn’t have anyone that he was all-important to. It came from having older sisters that were better than him at everything, his parents just didn’t have any attention left for him who would always come in second best.
So he started kicking up tantrums to get attention, and it worked, just for all the wrong reasons.
While he knew that his friends cared about him, he was well aware that they hardly listened to him although he talked a lot. Valentin wasn’t like that, he seemed to single him out of a crowd and fixate on him. It felt like he was being seen for the first time.
Jacques was a threat to that, what would happen if Valentin had to share his attention between the two of them? There simply wouldn’t be enough to go around.
