Irregular (mlm)

Chapter 32

Kai didn't come back to the warehouse after killing the she-wolf. Not fully.

He could hear Owen begging him to come back, then his screaming when he stayed in his corner. But he couldn't move. He was so tired. So, so tired.

The she-wolf had been too easy to find. She had found the highway, and was running along the side, spooking at cars, seemingly looking for something.

Kai had caught up to her after the sun had fully set and the moon was high in the sky. It was nearing morning, by then. The sky was beginning to turn pink. She shifted when he got close, spoke to him rapidly. Kai had barely heard what she proposed to him, barely registered.

Her voice. He'd heard it before. The realization struck him like a brick, cracking into his skull and sending ringing to his ears. When he realized, he sank to the ground and didn't move until she was done speaking.

She got to her knees before him, lifting his head with her hands. The fear he'd seen before was gone, replaced with quiet determination. She told him everything again, ensuring he listened.

Then he'd followed her down the highway, barely inside the tree line to avoid being seen by any cars that drove past. She'd walked up to an emergency phone and made a single, short call, then returned to him and sat in front of him.

"It's time for you to kill me." Her voice had wavered, but she seemed to steel herself.

Kai hadn't wanted to. He knew he had to, but he hadn't expected her to talk to him. To beg him to let her make a phone call before he did it. It made everything so much harder.

But she just laid down on the forest floor and looked up at the sky, and told Kai to do it fast.

He did as she told him. He could still taste her blood in his mouth and hear her heart stop as she bled out from her neck. He hoped her severed spine had kept her from feeling it.

He'd stayed with her until the sun had risen and he knew he needed to go back.

He left any hope of being saved with her corpse, with her blood seeping into the earth.

The cold, brutal truth sank in when he had returned to the warehouse to find his father waiting at the gate, a pleased smile on his face at the sight of his blood soaked fur.

There was never any chance of getting away from him. There never had been. He'd been a fool to think there was.

Something in him had snapped then. He surprised himself. He attacked his father. He lunged and got his jaws around his father's wrist before his men pulled him off, all teeth and claws, and he got the sense to stop before they killed him.

When they backed off, his father was gone, and Kai knew he'd fucked up. His father wouldn't let this go, but what was done was done. All he could do was return to his cell.

The sight of his mate had just broken his spirit further. He was filthy and becoming thin, and the sounds of his cries echoed in his skull alongside the gurgling noises the she-wolf made as she died.

He was exhausted. He was so exhausted. Everything became white noise and all he did was stare at the wall for what felt like hours. The pain in his paw and snout from his fight with the other wolves dulled to a throb and he felt hollow.

When he finally found the strength to move, to lay his eyes on his mate, he felt an overwhelming guilt. Owen was lying on his side, curled up against the middle of the wall, his chains taught from trying to get to Kai.

He should have gone to him. He should have tried to comfort him when he was crying.

Kai shifted, then, without even realizing what he was doing. All at once he was aware of his hands and his feet and his skin crawling in the cold of the cell. His mouth tasted of blood. He could feel it dried against his skin, flecking off when he moved.

"Owen."

*****

Owen's eyes snapped open. Kai's voice was raw, cracking with disuse, but hearing his name for the first time in weeks made his eyes sting.

Owen sat up, eyes landing on his mate. He was in human form now, sitting against the wall staring down at his hands. He was covered in blood. So much blood.

"Kai." His throat stung from screaming earlier, but hearing fought to talk anyway. "Kai, look at me."

Kai met his eyes slowly, like it pained him. He tried to say something, but all that came out was a choked sob and he covered his mouth with his hand.

"What happened?"

Kai swallowed against the sandpaper that was his tongue. "I killed her."

Owen pressed his brows together. "Who? What are you talking about?"

He wanted to desperately to go to him. Even though his mind was still reeling with hurt from being ignored as he cried, he knew Kai hadn't meant to leave him feeling alone. He was just as exhausted and emotionally drained as he was.

Kai leaned his head back against the wall. "There was a woman. A werewolf."

Owen got a sinking feeling in his gut.

"She betrayed my father somehow." He swallowed, closing his eyes as a tear streaked down his cheek. "He made me hunt her down and kill her."

Owen's heart ached for him. "God..."

"He said he'd hurt you if I didn't." His words were a pained rasp. "He'll kill you if I disobey."

Owen reached for him, and this time, Kai came. He crawled over to him and crumbled into his arms, his whole body shaking. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Owen folded his arms around his mate and kissed the top of his head. "It's okay."

Kai let out a broken sob and clutched him tighter, like he was afraid Owen would disappear if he let go.

Owen didn't know how long they stayed there, silent beside the occasional stifled cry from Kai. All he knew was that by the time Kai raised his head and wiped his face, his arms were aching from holding him.

"Are you alright?"

It was a stupid question, Owen knew that. Neither of them were alright. They're hungry and tired and in pain. But Kai nodded silently anyway.

Owen brushed his hair out of his face. It had grown longer, brushing past his eyes. "Do your injuries hurt?"

He shook his head. "I have a feeling I'm going to get worse once my father decides how he's going to punish me."

"Punish you? But you did what he told you." Owen felt bad for saying it when Kai flinched. "Why is he going to punish you?"

"I bit him." Kai laughed a little, like he couldn't believe he'd done it. "And his wolves attacked me for it, but he's going to do something to me. I know he will."

"I'm proud of you."

Kai's eyes snapped up. "Why?"

"You bit your father. That took guts." Owen smiled a little. "Did you bite him in the ass?"

"I think I broke his wrist."

"That's my boy." Owen kissed his temple.

Kai rested his head against Owen's shoulder. "I'm sorry I didn't comfort you earlier."

Owen shushed him. "You were dealing with your own shit. It's okay. For now, let's just sleep, okay? You look like you're about to pass out."

Owen rustled his hand through Kai's hair until he eventually dosed off, but he couldn't sleep. He was scared, of course, of what Kai's father would do to him. The man deserved way more than being bit, but he was definitely going to retaliate.

Owen just hoped Kai wouldn't get badly injured because of it.

Forewarning for angst in the next chapter. I'm just so good at writing it guys I'm sorry 😞