Beneath the surface: Forbidden Love

Ten

Marisela

The next morning, I was startled awake by a cold breeze. I immediately sit up and look to the couch only to find it empty. Kael wasn't here. I look around the room and notice that the balcony door is open. I get out of bed and walk towards the balcony. Kael is leaning against the railing, his back is to me. I could feel the tension radiating off of him in waves.

"Good morning." I say to him as I stand beside him on the balcony.

"Good morning princess," he greets without looking at me. Something about him seemed off. He was distant.

"You normally wake up this early?" I ask gesturing to the sunrise.

"Sometimes" he says, "when I can't sleep." Finally, he turns his gaze to me.

"I apologize if I woke you."

"Oh no, you didn't," I tell him looking at the sunrise. "I also couldn't sleep."

I felt his gaze drop once more and turn to look at the sunrise. For a few minutes, Kael and I were both lost in our own heads. Eventually, he clears his throat.

"I asked the servants to bring you up breakfast when you are ready, then later I will take you to your room." He tells me. I look at him and nod gratefully. Kael turns to walk back into the bedroom, but stops halfway.

"Just because you're my mate Marisela," he starts,"you're allowed to reject me if this is something you don't want." His voice sounded far, painful almost. A little part of me broke having to hear him say that. I wanted so badly for him to look at me. But I couldn't begin to understand how hard this must be for him to say.

Did I want to reject him?

Do I believe in soulmates? Well, my mate is standing right in front of me, surly that means something.

"Kael," I say walking towards him, "I don't know anything about werewolves or mates, or whatever this is," I point between us, "I just need time to to come to terms with all of it and see if it's what I want." I notice his eyes grow dark, his back tense. "You don't know me either, and I'm- I just-" I sigh taking a deep breath, "I just need time."

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Kael, using that as an excuse, goes to open the door, only to find a servent bringing up breakfast.

It's way too early for me to eat something.

When the servent leaves, Kael joins me on the balcony once more with the food.

He's eyes are back to normal, but he's still distant.

"I have to leave you for a few hours, but I will return in the evening." He says, "I know I said I will take you to your quarters, but this is quite an urgent matter. I will link Cory and Maria to help escort you once you have eaten and ready to leave." With one last cold glance at me, he grabs a shirt and walks out the door, leaving me once again, alone.

I couldn't begin to fathom what had just happened. But I knew I was hurt. Kael was distant. And I hated it.

I decided that I wasn't going to sit around here in his room any longer, so I pushed aside whatever it was that I was feeling about Kael and made my way to the bathroom to have a quick shower. When I was done, I looked to the clock and saw it was 7:30am. The tray of food still sat idly in the middle of the room. I decided to eat as much as I could and wait for either Cory or Maria to arrive.

A few minutes had passed and there was a knock at the door pulling me away from my thoughts.

I walk over to the door. Cory and Maria are waiting patiently outside.