Karma, Bitch! -bxb-

Chapter 34

*6 years ago*

Danny's POV

It's been two years since I've left the pact. My life hasn't been as 'happier' as I thought I'd be. I'm pretty pathetic. I was the one that ran away, but here I am the only one crying every night missing my mate.

I don't stay in one place for long. I don't even have a place I could call 'home'. For the past four years, I've been rotating around the country trying to clear my thoughts, find my epiphany like those people in documentaries do. I only found out recently that it was a bunch of bullshit.

Everywhere I go I only think about how much Ben would've liked seeing it with me, how much he'd like the diner I ate at this morning, how cute it'd look if he wore that onesie I saw while browsing a random store. I thought the saying was 'out of sight, out of mind'. Apparently I'm pretty blind to everything else except Ben.

I was somewhere in Texas right now, wandering around trying to find those cowboy bars I see a lot on tv. Turns out they weren't true either. Tv's are full of real-world lies. Should've known that since they also air romance movies.

Romance can just die.

Couples can go to hell.

Just as I thought that, a couple making kissy face to each other while saying which one of them should leave first appeared in front of me and I sneered. Is this for real? I considered going to hell instead of them. At least there I'll be too in pain to think.

"babe you're gonna be late to your meeting if you don't go~" the woman whined. The man chuckled, "I'd rather be late than not seeing your face for another second." Gross. Fuck this dude. What is that supposed to be? Do you think you're from Twilight? I don't see your body shining in this raging sun.

The man's gaze suddenly went to me and I paused. Did I say that out loud?

The man smiled, "I noticed you've been staring at us for a while now. Do you not have anything better to do?" Whoa, aggressive much. I raised my hands in surrender, "Sorry dude, you guys were just asking to be seen"

The woman walked up to us, her hand hooked onto her boy- wait, husband...? I noticed the rings on their fingers. Great, newlyweds. The Goddess really said add more salt to his wounds.

"Gosh Argus, stop being mean to the kid." I glared at her, "Excuse me? You look around my age." She giggled, "Aw, thanks kid, but I'm turning 28 soon. I'm pushing my 30's."

I gaped, "You're eight years older?"

"From you're reaction I can tell you were being genuine. Geez, you really know how to flatter an old woman." she sighed. Her husband frowned, glaring a little at me. Dude, I'm not doing anything.

We continued to have an empty staring contest, that is before I smelled a familiar scent from him. My eyes widened, "Y-you... you're a wolf?"

Their eyes widened, "How did you..."

A smile broke out on my face at the excitement of meeting another wolf, the thought that he might've been a rogue never crossed my mind. Technically speaking I was one myself now. "I'm also one! I'm alone now but I used to live in a pact." I said a bit too loudly.

The man shushed me down and I gasped, apologising.

He pulled me aside to an empty lot behind an abandoned building, the woman following right beside him. He sighed in frustration, "Why is there a young wolf here alone of all places?"

"Uhm, my name is Danny."

The man seemed to have realised something, "Right, I forgot sorry. My name's Argus, and this is my wife, Clara. As you said, I'm a wolf."

My smile brightened, "Does that mean there's a pact nearby?"

He shook his head, "I'm alone. we were...unwelcomed." He gazed at his wife and she held his hand. I looked at her for a moment before I realised, she wasn't a wolf.

"Why...you're not a wolf? But aren't you two married?"

Clara smiled, "We're a very...special kind of bond."

"She's not my mated partner." Argus explained. My eyes widened, "W-what? Then why...Did you never meet your fated pair? Did they die?"

He frowned, "I love her. I've always loved her, and if given the choice I will choose her again over my mate as many times as I need to."

"Ah...sorry." I crossed a line. Clara chuckled, "That's alright. That's what makes you young wolves cute anyway. But yes, we're not mated, since I'm not a wolf in the first place. We've been by each other's sides since we were in high school. I could never imagine a life without him, and even if he did run off to his mate now I'd whoop his ass right back to me within an hour. Ruining our harmonious fifteen-year relationship and ten years of marriage like that." So they weren't newlyweds.

Argus smiled fondly at his wife, the love in his eyes still so bright. His image overlapped with Ben's, and I felt my heart itching to break again. Right, so a wolf can fall in love with someone else. What was I even having hope for?

Right now, Ben probably has the same eyes as Argus while looking at Alisha. I tried not to cry, but I guess Clara noticed my tears. "Oh dear, you scared him to tears!" she glared, giving me a hug. I burst into tears, not even bothering to clear up the misunderstandings. I was just missing the feel of a person's warmth.

Argus seemed speechless and a bit guilty. He looked at me awkwardly and scratched his head, "Uhm, I'm sorry, kid. Didn't know you'd cry so quickly. You're really wea-" Clara slapped his gut. "You suck at this."

I giggled, their little quarrel making me feel better. But at the same time, I was reminded of my parents. I wondered how they were. They were so worried about me going out on my own, I should've written back to them, but I knew that would've weakened my resolve.

"Anyway, where have you been staying?" Clara asked. "I've been...roaming around the country."

They both blinked at me, "HUh?"

"I don't really...have a place to stay. And I can't exactly find a random human to live with so, I've just been travelling around getting side jobs here and there to sustain myself."

The two of them looked at me, and then to each other. As if making a silent agreement, they nodded. "Danny, how do you feel about living with us for a while?" Huh?

"Just until you get back on your feet."

I was shocked, "Wait, really? I-I don't want you to make me your burden or anything-" Clara hugged me, "You're not a burden. Actually, we've got a spare room we have no use for and it seems a bit too empty for my liking." she awkwardly chuckled.

"Besides what's a scrawny kid like you gonna do to our food budget?" Argus laughed. Actually I was pretty fit, but compared to him I was pretty meek. I almost cried again, "Thank you. I mean it, so much." I ran up to hug them both.

It was so warm.