I open my eyes. It's morning. Another night without seeing Theo. So, Klevon really is a liar. I tried to stay awake the whole night, but he did not show himself.
Massaging my head, I sit up. Yesterday, when I returned to my room, only Harbin and Brandon are waiting for me. No Theo. Contrary to what everyone tells me, I think I am being abandoned.
I get up from the bed and suddenly drop to the floor. I feel dizzy. What just happened? I feel sick. It's been a while. I lift myself and return to my bed. I cover my face with the blanket and finally sleep.
The next time I wake up is when someone is hovering over me. I open my eyes and see Harbin beside me.
"At last, you are awake. Are you being lazier as the days pass?"
I look away. As Harbin says, I want to do nothing today.
"Your new handmaid will arrive soon," he informs.
"I don't need one," I say.
I am to get up when Harbin pushes me back to the bed. "Well, it's obvious you need one. You disappear and reappear without a word. You get sick and never wake up for a few days. And now this? You definitely need a handmaid. You are so behind your studies too," he scolds.
"Never wakes up?" I ask.
"Yes, you've been asleep for two days."
Oh damn! Getting sick during these times? Then, I turn towards Harbin, and expectantly, I ask, "And Theo, did he visit once?"
Harbin looks at me, as if deciding whether to tell me or not, and I feel my shoulders drop.
"He didn't, did he?" I ask again.
Then tears fall again. I don't feel good. I feel weak and useless. I hear Harbin groans his impatience. But I return to my bed and ask Theo's whereabouts again.
"King Theo is busy," he says again.
My annoyance builds up. Certainly, he is not that busy. It only means that there are other women that he prioritized over me.
"You need to under-"
"Leave!" I cut him off, for the first time.
Harbin leaves and I am left alone in the room again. I clutch tightly on my chest as tears fall. It aches, Nowra. I weep. I need my mate but he's nowhere to be found. I stand up from the bed, almost falling on the marbled floor. Then I walk to my dresser. I need to talk to Theo. If he doesn't want me, I will need to find the courage to reject the bond.
I imagine doing it, saying it to his face. And then, his acceptance of the rejection. I fall. I can't. I can't do it. Besides, where would I go?
Yes, Klevon. I need to find him. He promised. He-I can't leave Theo. I need to tell him, that I'll leave. I love him too much already. If there is a chance, despite how small that is. I need to know why he's keeping his distance from me. The last time we met, he… I know he loves me then. Or is it just the pleasure I give that he loves?
I cry again, not understanding my own thoughts. The door bursts open. I look up, hoping that it's Theo but it's not. Despair falls over me as I see Klevon instead. I don't need him. He kneels before me and he gathers me in his arms. He tries to massage my back but I struggle against him. I don't want him, I want Theo! But his arms only tighten as he coaxes me.
Slowly, I calm down. What am I even doing? Why am I acting like a child? Why… I feel tired. I don't want this mate bond anymore. It hurts. And then, I relax. Gently, until I completely lose strength.
"Shhh, it's okay… Calm down, Kaiya. You're shifting. People will see," he mutters.
I look at my limbs, true enough, this time Klevon is telling me the truth. The only reason they don't see it is because he is hiding me using his massive frame.
"Control it, Kaiya. You will be in trouble if everyone knows."
I grab on his shirt and tightly close my eyes. This mate bond, and the knowledge that my mate has other women, is breaking me. I understand that now. I need control. I take deep breaths, while my claws bury into his chest. Slowly, my limbs and paws retract to my human form. I pull back and see the blood on his chest. Apologetic, I look up at him.
"Sorry," I whisper.
But Klevon only smiles and wipes the sweat on my forehead.
"It's okay, it will heal. Besides, I can use this against you to accept me as your friend."
"Kaiya?!!"
That voice! I stiffen in Klevon's hold, and I grab tightly onto his clothes. My uncontrollable shifting starts again.
"Shhhh…" Klevon says, massaging my hair. "Breathe, Kaiya."
"Kaiya!!" It sounds closer. My heart thumps so hard on my ribcage. "What the f*ucking hell!?!"
Klevon's form disappears from my hold and I realize that he is kicked a few meters away from me. From Klevon, my eyes shift towards Theo. My breathing hitches. For the first time, after a few weeks, I finally set my eyes on him. I have waited for so long.
But I cannot move. I am stunned and he is furious. I stay, sitting in front of him and looking up.
"It's not her fault," Klevon calls, wiping the blood off his nose.
Not my fault? What fault? I don't understand. Theo stands before me. He lifts me by my arm. "Everyone, leave!" he barks. "Throw that asshole to prison for touching a King's lover!"
I can't breathe. I feel shaken and confused. Theo sharply throw me on the bed and I didn't do any move to fight back. He pins me on the bed and screams, "What the hell are you doing with that jerk!?!"
"I-What are you doing here?" I ask. Is he allowed to leave now? No! He's the King so it's his choice. Then, is it because I was sick and didn't wake up for two days? Is he worried?
"I am your lover! And your King! You don't have the right to ask me!"
I flinch at the ferocity of his voice and the way he tightly holds my arms. And then I cry. A full-blown cry. As if a little child was hurt by something. He flinches and pulls back from me.
"F*uck, this is crazy," he mutters. "I came here because Harbin told me you finally wake up. I didn't imagine you will be in the arms of another man. And Klevon at that."
I cry harder.
"Stop crying! Ugh! I have other things to do for God's sake. I should not be here."
What things!? F*uck some other woman to have an heir?! But at least, he's here now, I should tell him.
"My King. If I don't interest you anymore, let me leave. Or bring me back to the island. I can't stay here anymore. Let me-"
He glowers at me. And I take a deep breath. I should do this now before I completely break.
"I, Kaiya, of the Weiller hunting park, rejects this mate bond, with Th--"
I stop when Theo covers my mouth and pushes me down on the bed. And for the first time, I finally see the kind of man that Aditya is saying.
"Don't you dare!" he screams at my face. "Don't you dare reject the mate bond!"
He huffs in anger, but there is fear in his eyes too. If only he is a werewolf, he can mark me and I can start sensing his emotions.
"I am only gone for less than a month! Don't you dare reject the mate bond!" he repeats.
Then tears fall in his eyes. His emotions are heightened and then he buries his face in my chest. He gently touches my shoulders and whispers, "Don't dare leave me for another man. I can't. Don't kill me, Kaiya."
Then he pulls back. He is about to kiss my mouth, but I evade him. He clenches his jaws and kisses my neck instead.
"Damn it all! If they won't get pregnant, I don't care anymore! Even if there's no news of their f*ucking pregnancy!"
He sucks on my neck and I cry louder. Suddenly, the door opens. Three generals come into the room and take him off of me.
"My King. I am sorry to do this, but you have a duty to your country," Harbin informs, who appears behind the three generals.
"What?! Impregnate other women that I don't love?!"
"No, for forcing a woman to have sex with you. We can hear her cry of protests outside."
Theo shifts his attention to me and he finally sees my state, as if the wall that blinds his eyes are removed. He looks ashamed and straightens his back. He clenches his jaws and says, "Kaiya. Rest for now. I will talk to you tomorrow."
Then he leaves, just like that. As if he is not breaking my heart.