Love in the Chaos

Chapter - 15

Rune arrived at his family home, expecting a somber atmosphere after the urgent phone call from his sister. But what he saw instead left him speechless—there was a party. The house was filled with laughter, music, and dancing. People were everywhere, celebrating something, though he had no idea what.

Confused and a bit anxious, Rune searched for his sister in the crowd. He finally spotted her and quickly made his way over, his mind racing. “What’s going on? What happened to Grandpa?” Rune asked, his concern obvious as his heart pounded in his chest.

His sister gave him a sheepish smile. “Oh, baby brother, don’t worry. Look there!” She pointed toward the center of the room.

Rune turned to see his grandfather, not sick or bedridden, but dancing joyfully with his grandmother. His jaw dropped in disbelief. “What...? But on the phone, you sounded like—”

“I know, I know,” she interrupted, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward the stage. “I’ll explain everything, but just come with me.”

Before Rune could fully process what was happening, his grandparents joined them on stage, a microphone in his grandfather’s hand. Rune was still reeling from the surprise, but his worry hadn’t left him.

“Grandpa, are you okay? What is all of this?” Rune asked, his voice shaky with confusion.

His grandfather chuckled and patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, son. I’m perfectly fine!” He beamed with excitement. “You may have forgotten, but how could we? Today is your 21st birthday!” The room erupted in cheers and claps as Rune stood frozen in place.

His mind went blank. **His birthday**. He had forgotten amidst everything happening in London—the telecommunication business, Aaron, the whirlwind of emotions. But there was something more that chilled his spine.

“Today, you’ll find your mate,” his grandfather continued, his voice booming with pride. “The one destined to be with you forever, through every high and low.”

Rune felt the ground shift beneath his feet. **His mate**. The person he had waited for his entire life, the one the moon goddess had chosen for him. His heart raced in panic, not from excitement, but from fear. In London, he had found something else. He had found Aaron. What would happen now? How could he choose? His chest tightened, a storm of emotions whirling inside him.

The applause of the crowd pulled Rune from his spiraling thoughts. He looked around—his family, his friends, everyone was beaming with joy, waiting for him to embrace this moment. He saw his best friend in the crowd, smiling brightly with her parents. She had been by his side since childhood, always there for him. But Rune's mind was elsewhere, tangled in thoughts of Aaron. What would happen if he met his mate tonight? What would happen to the bond he had started building with the vampire? His stomach twisted painfully at the thought.

Rune forced himself to engage with the party, talking to his family, accepting the congratulations, and eating the favorite foods they lovingly prepared for him. But his mind was somewhere else entirely, lost in thoughts of Aaron—Aaron, who had been calling him nonstop. Rune’s phone buzzed in his pocket, but in the chaos of the evening, he didn’t notice. He was wrapped up in family hugs, caught up in the moment, unable to escape.

Meanwhile, across the city, Aaron was growing increasingly agitated. He had tried calling Rune multiple times, but there was no response. Frustration gnawed at him, and worry clouded his mind. What was happening? Why wasn’t Rune answering his phone? Aaron had even called Rune’s uncle, hoping for some information, but to no avail. No one was picking up.

Aaron's worry turned to anger. **What if something happened to Rune?** He couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that something was wrong. Rune’s absence, his silence—it was unbearable. Aaron clenched his jaw, his fingers tightening around his phone as he contemplated what to do next.

Back at the party, the clock struck midnight, and suddenly Rune felt something strange. His body tensed, his senses heightened. A scent, rich and unmistakable, filled the air—a fragrance of sandalwood, overpowering every other smell around him. It was intoxicating, pulling at his very soul. Rune’s breath caught in his throat as the world around him seemed to disappear. All he could focus on was that scent, the undeniable pull of something... or someone.

Before he knew it, Rune was moving, following the scent as if in a trance. His heart pounded louder with each step, his mind racing as he realized what was happening. **His mate was here.** The person destined for him was nearby, and there was no resisting it. His body moved on instinct.

And then, he saw her.

His childhood best friend, standing before him with a look of pure joy on her face. Rune’s heart sank as the realization hit him like a tidal wave. **She was his mate.** The person he had been waiting for all his life, the one chosen by fate itself, was none other than his best friend.

Before he could react, she rushed into his arms, hugging him tightly. Tears of happiness streamed down her face as she held him, overwhelmed by the fulfillment of her lifelong dream. “I always prayed for this,” she whispered, her voice shaking with emotion. “For you to be my mate.”

Rune stood there, frozen, his mind reeling. He couldn’t believe it. He had been waiting for this moment his entire life, but now, all he could think about was Aaron. How could this be happening? His heart felt torn in two. The warmth of his best friend’s embrace should have filled him with joy, but instead, it filled him with dread.

Around them, everyone cheered and clapped, congratulating them on their bond. His family and friends crowded around, celebrating the union. Rune tried to speak, to say something—anything—but no words came out. His throat felt tight, his chest constricted.

He was trapped between the life he had always imagined and the love he had just discovered.