Dark Twin Moon - The Awakening

Chapter 31:

Kayleb wasn't in Caldor or at Caldor North High School for long, just about a month. And yet he had the feeling that it was his first day again. Only this time, he was a lot less worried about everything.

Maybe it was the looks others were giving him, full of uncertainty or pure astonishment. Or it was the two boys following him. Their heads were held high, and their chests were swollen with pride.

His walk, filled with heightened pride, ended abruptly when his soulmate suddenly appeared. The looks he received before turned into pity or disgust - but the second wasn't directed at him but at his mate. He couldn't lecture these people because they weren't wrong. In his eyes, his soulmate was a disgusting pig. However, he also knew he couldn't stay mad at him forever.

This time, however, he didn't back down as his ashamed mate dropped dramatically to his knees, right at his feet, begging him to forgive his mistake. Kayleb had only seen him yesterday, but he looked much worse. His body began to lose all color, and his hair became dry, no longer as fluffy as the day he first saw him. Even his voice began to crack after every word he said.

He got what he deserved. This soulbound thing, the one true love, was no fun for mortal creatures. None of them saw it as a curse. They looked at it through rose-colored glasses, just like Kayleb had not long ago. But in a way, it was a terrible curse. And Kayleb failed to imagine a better punishment. Until he forgave his partner, he would suffer from the pain and emptiness and eventually even die. Of course, he didn't want his life to be lost, but he still had plenty of time before that would happen.

"No!" Kayleb's booming voice silenced everyone in the hallway.

Contrary to what everyone expected would happen next after hearing the decisive tone in his almost cold voice, no one would have imagined that tears would flow down his cheeks.

Finally, Kayleb – still crying silently – looks his mate in the eyes. "You will not pressure me to forgive you by shamelessly asking me to in a public place," he told him, without any hint in his voice that he was crying, although tears were still streaming down his cheeks. "How pathetic is that?" He continued angrily. "Do you want my forgiveness? Then earn it!"

After humiliating his soulmate, Kayleb walked around his kneeling form and continued down the school corridor.

Luke and James walked close behind him, their eyes wide in shock at their Alpha's cruel reaction to his begging mate.

What no one could have known, however, was that Kayleb felt terrible inside after treating his mate so vilely. After all, his supposed soulmate had knelt before him and begged for a second chance, but he had pushed him simply away. It made him sick. He just wanted to turn around and jump into his arms.

Even the reassuring pressure he felt from James' hand resting comfortingly on his shoulder couldn't stop him from feeling like he was slowly drowning in guilt. The last time he felt like this, he lost his mind.

But he was sure he could do it this time without resorting to bloodlust to deal with this grief that threatened to tear his heart apart again.

The weight of grief eased as he looked at his friend's faces. It didn't matter how disturbed they seemed by his actions. Knowing he wasn't alone, as he was around the time of the accident, was the only difference he needed.

He had his own pack now. Finally free from his father, whom he hasn't recognized since Maxie's accident. Everything he told Luke about his parents was in the past. Even his loving mother gazed at him differently every time she looked at him over the last few months - even before the accident.

If he was honest, he was glad they finally left him alone. But he also dreaded the day he would have to tell his youngest brother the devastating truth.