Irregular (mlm)

Chapter 25

Owen didn't leave Kai's side for the rest of the night, not even when they were called out of the interview room to go over Paxtons plan. He was ton afraid if he looked away, his mate would vanish. Maybe it was the mate bond settling in or maybe it was knowing he wanted to sacrifice himself, but the thought of leaving his side made him feel ill.

So he held Kai's hand tightly while Paxton and the other leaders of the different departments of the police force laid out their plan on a makeshift map. As the minutes ticked by, turning into nearly a two hour meeting, a pit grew in Owen's stomach.

There was no way this plan was working. None.

Everyone knew it, too. Even Paxton looked disappointed in himself that this was the best they could come up with.

Even with the horrible plan, every single one of the police officers and investigators was on board. Each of them had their tasks and promised full heartedly to execute them as well as possible. But the only thing this plan was going to lead to was them getting hurt.

Owen squeezed Kai's hand, a lump stuck in his throat. He didn't have to say anything, didn't have to even look at him different. Owen could feel it in his heart that his mates mind was made up.

He was going to turn himself over to his father to save that little girl. And Owen was going to loose him.

Owen was snapped back to reality when Paxton clapped his hands together. "Okay. That's what we're working with. Everyone get ready. Go home and sleep and return here tomorrow."

Paxton looked at where Kai and Owen stood. "You two can go home, if you really want to, but I'd prefer you stay here tonight. Just to be safe."

Owen just nodded. Paxton sat down at the table where he'd laid everything out and started jotting things down on a notepad.

As the many wolves started filtering out of the room, Kai gave his hand a small squeeze. "Let's go talk."

Owen just nodded and walked beside him until they were outside. The sun was setting. Owen thought it was later than it was. It had been too long of a day.

Kai stared over the tree line in the distance, watching the sky turn shades of orange and pink. "I love you."

Owen's head whipped to the side to stare at him. "What?"

Kai met his eyes. "I love you."

That was his breaking point. Owen dropped his hand and started walking. He didn't know where he was going, but he needed to walk.

He could hear Kai following behind, steps near silent. He knew Kai was scraping his feet on the sidewalk purposefully so he wouldn't be completely silent—a habit he'd picked up from accidentally sneaking up on people at the apartment complex when they went out to the courtyard to play with other wolves.

Owen blocked the noise out and continued walking until he found himself at the top of a hill near the police station. He used to come up there to eat lunch or ponder cases or just relax after a shift. It had a good view of the forest, and he could see most of the town from the very top. It wasn't a hard hike, just a lot of uphill on grass.

He was tired, so he sat down in his usual spot and stared at the trees. Kai was standing a few feet behind him. "I-"

Owen cut him off. "Don't say it again. Don't tell me that you love me until all of this is over."

His voice wavered, and Kai came to sit beside him. He put his hand palm-up between them, offering it. Owen took it in his own.

"I was going to say I'm sorry." Kai looked at him, the dim lighting making his eyes even darker than usual. "But I need to do this."

"I know." Owen looked down at his lap. A tear dripped off the tip of his nose and onto his leg. When had he started crying?

Kai twisted his body to wipe his face with his free hand. "Owen..."

"I'm going with you." Owen sniffled and looked up, meeting his eyes. "The letter said we have to exchange both of us for the girl. It won't work if it's just you."

Kai looked like he wanted to object, but he had to argument. Owen held his hand tighter. "We can tell Paxton we'll leave tomorrow morning. We can hike up to the warehouse from the road. He and the others will wait for the girl to be released."

"What about after that?"

"I don't know. Your father probably has a plan to keep you and I in his grasp, right?"

He nodded slowly. "He's got a backup hideout for his backup hideout, I'm sure. And most likely a plan to get us there before the others can rescue us."

"So we're basically screwed." Owen sighed and wiped his face with his sleeve.

Kai nodded again. "You don't have to come. I can tell my father it's me or nothing."

"And he'll tell you tough shit that's not the deal and he won't send the girl out to be retrieved by Paxton."

"I don't want you to have to endure what I endured." Kai looked down at their joined hands, shoulder shuddering with a deep breath. "I can't bear even thinking about it."

Owen leaned over and rested his head on his mates shoulder. "We'll get through it. I would rather live a life in pain and suffering with you by my side than any alternative where you are not with me."

Kai put his arm around Owen and kissed the top of his head. "What if we never get out?"

"Then we'll be together when we die." Owen hugged him tightly. "But you aren't leaving me here without you. So don't even think about running off on your own and turning yourself over alone."

Kai chuckled and lifted his chin. "I wouldn't dream of it."

Owen smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. Kai was tired, too. He had bags under his eyes and his irises seemed duller, somehow. Maybe it was because the sun had fully set, but they didn't show the same lively shimmer they had gained over the last few weeks. It made Owens heart ache.

"Let's sleep here tonight." Owen nestled himself closer to Kai. "I don't want to be cooped up somewhere during our last hours of freedom in case..."

He trailed off, but he knew Kai understood what he was getting at. In case they were never free again.

Kai adjusted them so they were laying down, looking up at the stars. "We can watch the sun rise in the morning."

Owen rested his head on Kai's chest, listening to the steady thrum of his heart. "Yeah. Let's watch the sunrise."

A little moment of calm before the storm comes 😔 are yall ready for some angst?