Incomplete

Part 14

"Khushi, you turned 18, act like it," Mother screamed at her while she ate like a pig, and I cooked her favorite dish.

I glared at Khushi, and she had no choice but to listen to Mother. She knew I might get angry again and banish her from entering my room. Mother started instructing her on how to sit and eat properly, especially in front of her mate. Khushi had turned 18 a week ago, and everyone was excited to know who her mate would be. But I was worried. Something told me it wouldn't end well.

"Krish, if you're finished, go to your room," Mother said. I cleared the kitchen and returned to my room.

It was Khushi's first day back at school after her 18th birthday, and I hoped everything would go smoothly. A knock on my door interrupted my thoughts. Khushi entered my room, looking both nervous and excited.

"Ready?" I asked, my own excitement mingling with concern.

"Yes," she replied, her voice trembling. She had insisted on going to school with me today, something clearly troubling her.

"Let's go then," I said, closing the door behind us. She looked scared.

"It's okay, finding a mate is a good thing. He will cherish you like we do," I tried to reassure her.

"I'm nervous, brother. What if my mate doesn't find me attractive?" she said, rubbing her hands together anxiously.

"You are the most beautiful person I have ever known. Don't worry," I said as we reached the school. I was about to say goodbye to her when she held my hand, looking more and more frightened.

I hugged her tightly. I was about to say something comforting when I felt her body heat up, and she seemed out of breath. Is this how it feels to find a mate? I looked around and noticed everyone staring at us. Ignoring them, I suddenly saw Garry. He was lying on the ground, also struggling to breathe, just like Khushi.

"Khushi, did you find your mate?" I asked her seriously, and she nodded.

"Who?" I already suspected, noticing Garry's condition. Garry was holding back, and Khushi pointed toward him. Garry was staring at us—at her, specifically. This was a problem. Khushi hated Garry, and Garry didn't particularly like Khushi either. Garry signaled me to run away. So, I held Khushi's hand and ran back home. We ran for twenty minutes straight. When we finally reached home, she looked a bit better.

"Khushi, go to your room and wait for me. And don't tell Mother about today's incident," I instructed.

She nodded and ran inside. I walked toward Swan Lake while calling Jase. I needed his help now. I knew I shouldn't ask him—he had already done a lot for me—but I needed an alpha to control Garry's instincts.

Jase picked up on the third ring. "Krish, what's going on?"

"It's Khushi," I said, my voice urgent. "She's found her mate, and it's Garry. City Lead Alpha one and only son"

There was a pause. "Garry? That's complicated. Where are you now?"

"Near Swan Lake. I didn't know who else to call. Garry's struggling with the bond, and so is Khushi."

"I'm on my way," Jase said. "Stay there."

I waited, anxiety gnawing at me. Within minutes, Jase arrived, his presence immediately calming me down.

"Explain everything," he said as he approached.

I told him about the incident at school, how Khushi and Garry both reacted to the bond. Jase listened intently, his expression serious.

"This is tricky," Jase said, running a hand through his hair. "The mate bond is powerful, and if they're both resisting it, it could cause problems. We need to bring them together and help them understand the bond. If they continue to fight it, it could be harmful to both of them."

"But they don't like each other," I protested. "How can we make them accept this?"

Jase sighed. "Sometimes, the bond transcends personal feelings. They need to see each other as mates, not enemies. I'll talk to Garry. In the meantime, you need to calm Khushi down and explain the situation to her."

I nodded. "Thank you, Jase. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"We're in this together," Jase said, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Now go, talk to Khushi. I'll handle Garry."

I hurried back home, my mind racing with everything that had happened. I found Khushi in her room, pacing nervously.

"Khushi, we need to talk," I said gently.

She looked up at me, her eyes filled with confusion and fear. "What's happening to me, brother? Why Garry?"

I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "The mate bond is strong, Khushi. It's something beyond our control. I am going to talk to Garry. We need to understand this bond and try to make it work."

"But I hate him," she said, tears welling up in her eyes.

"I know, and he's not exactly fond of you either," I said softly. "But this bond could change things. You have to give it a chance. I believe you can work through this."

She nodded slowly, wiping her tears. "Okay, I'll try."

"That's all we can do," I said, hugging her tightly. "We'll get through this together."

As I held her, I felt a glimmer of hope. With Jase's help, maybe—just maybe—we could navigate this new, complicated chapter in our lives.

As I sat by the window, the late afternoon sunlight poured in, casting a warm, golden hue across the room. My phone buzzed on the table beside me, breaking the tranquil silence. I glanced at the screen and saw Jase's name flashing. My heart skipped a beat—Jase rarely called unless it was important.

"Hey, Jase. What's up?" I answered, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Hey," he replied, his voice tinged with excitement. "I've got some great news. Garry is ready to meet Khushi. He thinks we can all sit down together and find a solution."

For a moment, I was speechless. The tension between Garry and Khushi had been weighing heavily on all of us for weeks. The thought of them finally coming together to resolve their differences felt like a ray of hope piercing through the gloom.

"Are you serious?" I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Yeah, I just talked to him. He's willing to give it a shot," Jase confirmed.

A surge of relief washed over me, and I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "Oh, Jase, this is amazing. I can't tell you how happy I am to hear this."

"I know, right? I thought you'd be thrilled," he chuckled, and I could hear the smile in his voice.

As I hung up the phone, I felt a profound sense of gratitude. The thought of Garry and Khushi sitting down together, talking things out, and working towards a solution filled me with a renewed sense of hope. It was a step towards healing, towards rebuilding the bonds that had been strained and frayed.

I stood by the window, gazing out at the setting sun, and allowed myself to feel the full weight of my emotions. Happiness, relief, and hope intertwined within me, creating a beautiful tapestry of feelings that I hadn't experienced in a long time.

This was the beginning of something new, something positive. And in that moment, I knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, we would face them together, united in our desire for resolution and peace.