Broken Heart

28 Calculated acceptance

AUTHOR'S POV

The departure of David's parents left a heavy silence in the hospital room, a fragile bubble of privacy surrounding the two young individuals whose lives had become inextricably intertwined.

Kevin watched them go, a flicker of the hope that had ignited within him slowly beginning to dim, overshadowed by a growing sense of unease. He had come to the younger filled with concern, ready to offer his support, but the air now crackled with an unspoken tension.

David finally broke the silence, his voice soft but carrying a weight that belied his fragile appearance. "Kevin," he began, his gaze steady, though a hint of something unreadable flickered within his eyes, "my parents... they are supportive. And I... I have thought about what is best."

Kevin waited, his heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation. He longed to hear the younger say that he wanted him, that the revelation of their bond had changed things for the younger as it had for him.

But his next words struck him like a thunder , shattering the fragile hope he had dared to harbor. "I will accept you as my mate, Kevin. For the sake of our child." The words hung in the air, cold and clinical, devoid of any warmth or affection.

Kevin felt his breath catch in his throat, a crushing weight settling upon his chest. This wasn't the reunion he had envisioned. This wasn't the beginning of a shared future built on mutual desire. This was a transaction, a pragmatic arrangement for the sake of their unborn child.

David continued, his voice unwavering. "We can hold a mating ceremony in a few weeks, privately, with our families present only. Just our families. After the baby is born, we can have a formal marriage ceremony to announce our union to the friends and the pack. It will appease everyone, ensure our child has a stable family."

He paused, then delivered the final, devastating blow. "But Kevin... our marriage will be in name only. For our families and our child. We will act like loving couple in front of them, pretend there is affection between us. But in reality... we can both live our own lives. We can co-parent, raise our child together, but we don't have to... be together."

The world seemed to tilt and crumble around Kevin. He stared at David, his mind reeling, trying to process the cold logic of the younger proposition.

It was a carefully constructed plan, designed for practicality and societal acceptance, but it completely disregarded the raw, undeniable connection that pulsed between them.

A wave of despair washed over him, so profound it felt physical. What had he done to deserve this? He had risked everything for David , endured his father's wrath, rushed to his side despite his own pain, only to be met with this... this calculated acceptance, devoid of any genuine feeling.

"David," he began, his voice thick with disbelief and hurt, "how can you say that? After everything..."

But before he could fully articulate his pain, David suddenly gasped, his hand clutching his stomach. A wave of discomfort washed across the younger face, his brow furrowing in pain.

"Oh..." he whispered, his voice strained. "It's... it's cramping again."

David looked at him, his eyes pleading. "Kevin, please... just agree. I can't... I can't handle any more stress right now. Just say yes."

Torn between his own crushing disappointment and the evident pain David was experiencing, Kevin felt a bitter resignation settle over him. He saw the vulnerability in the younger eyes, the genuine discomfort he was in. He couldn't bring himself to argue, not when the younger was clearly unwell.

With a heavy heart, the words he didn't want to say caught in his throat. "Alright, David," he managed, his voice flat and devoid of emotion. "I agree."

The words felt like a death knell to the fragile hope he had carried. He had wanted a true partnership, a future built on love and mutual respect. Instead, he had agreed to a charade, a loveless union for the sake of appearances.

David visibly relaxed, the pain in his face easing slightly. "Thank you, Kevin," he murmured, her voice weak.

Kevin watched him, a profound sense of loss washing over him. The joy he had felt at the prospect of their child was now tainted by the cold reality of their impending relationship. He would be a father, yes, but he wouldn't have the partner he had hoped for. Their lives would be intertwined, but their hearts would remain separate.

As David has fallen asleep, Kevin stood there, feeling utterly lost in a sea of pain and misery. The physical ache in his back was nothing compared to the gaping wound in his heart. He had defied his family for the him, and in return, David had offered him a life devoid of genuine connection. The future stretched before him, a bleak landscape of pretense and unfulfilled longing.

He was bound to the younger by fate and by their child, but the love he had hoped for seemed like a distant, unattainable dream. All that remained was the crushing weight of his agreement and the bitter taste of a future that was not the one he had envisioned.