THREE

KEEGAN

Her stare had a way of making me feel like shit. She was the last person I'd expected to meet today. Scratch that, I never thought I would see her again.

"You don't recognize me?" She asked and I blinked. I couldn't forget her even if I tried. It was probably as a result of my guilt.

The sight of her had shaken me, but I'd refused to let it show. She was more beautiful than ever. Her pink hair suited her as well. Her eyes were bluer than the sea, but I could see the pain ingrained in them. I was well aware that it was the pain I'd caused her. Her scent washed over me, bringing along with it, the strong feeling of nostalgia. Fuck, I missed her. However, I didn't have the right to confess how much I had ached for her. So, I chose to be a stranger to her.

"Should I?" I deadpanned, keeping my expression schooled.

She was hurt. I could tell by the way she took a shuddering breath, her eyes filling up with tears.

My heart squeezed as I watched her struggle to maintain her composure.

"That's not funny, you know?" She breathed, her voice shaky.

"I'm sorry," I wanted to say.

"It was never my intention to crack a joke. I'm simply here to take you to your assigned quarters" I said.

She stared at me for a moment, her eyes wide. Then, she laughed. No matter how much she tried to hide it, her frustration and pain was evident.

"You really don't remember me? I-I don't know if I should feel terrified or relieved" she said.

"I'm only here to take you to your assigned room" I told her. She frowned, her lips set in a grim line. Then, she grabbed her bag.

"Fine. Lead the way"

I walked out of the room and she followed behind me. I could feel her piercing gaze on me. I wanted to know what she was thinking.

The fact that she'd come a long way just to find me made me feel uneasy. She must be disappointed.

"You're not going to ask me?" She asked. I didn't stop to look at her.

"Ask what?"

"Aren't you going to ask me how I know you? Aren't you going to ask me why I'm here? Aren't you curious at all?"

"I'm not curious. Even if you knew me way before now, I'll like you to keep it to yourself. I don't know you. Neither am I curious about you"

She went silent. She was no longer following behind me, I noticed. So, I halted in my tracks, preparing myself to face her again.

"You're lying. I refuse to believe that you don't feel the bond between us" she said and I stiffened.

Slowly, I turned around to face her, only for the air to be knocked out of my lungs when she suddenly embraced me. Every muscle in my body tingled but I dared not move. Her scent, dear God, her scent...it was driving me crazy.

"Just this once. Let me be vulnerable. Just let me hold you in my arms... please" she croaked

I clenched my jaw, fighting against the urge to hold her. When she pulled away, her eyes were sad.

"I'm a fool, aren't I? I came here to let go. But, here am I... reaching out for you. This must be the reason why you abandoned me"

Believe me, her words stung. It made my heart bleed. Ava deserved better. I'd abandoned her because I didn't want to reject her. Little did I know that abandoning would cause her a bigger pain.

"You didn't hear any of my rant, okay? Just ignore it. You can take me to the room now" she said, refusing to make eye contact with me.

Pain was no stranger to me but somehow, I'd managed to drag my mate into my world of bleak misery.

...

Letting out a sigh, I knocked on the door of the pack leader's office. I wanted to ask for a few days off. I didn't want to see Ava again. I was worried that she would end up crashing through my walls.

"Come in."

I walked in and was greeted by the sight of Shade, leader of the shadow assassins. She was nothing short of a terror. She was feared by both great and small. There were rumors of her being the offspring of a demon and a werewolf.

"Where have you been all day? I know I gave you the day off because you said you were exhausted. But, you didn't come to see me at all" Shade said, her brows furrowed.

Her silver gaze pinned me with fiery accusation. Shade was almost as tall as me. She had bright silver hair that was cut in a mohawk style.

I heaved a sigh and rubbed my tired eyes, my exhaustion hitting me hard. Seeing Ava had drained me of my energy. The guilt that had been eating away at my dark soul had taken a bigger bite today. It had left me feeling achy and empty. Nonetheless, I didn't want Shade to know about this. If she knew that my fated mate was somewhere within the pack house, she wouldn't hesitate to assassinate her. She was the type of woman who would do everything to have her own way. This was what made her extremely dangerous.

"You are not saying anything. Are you alright? You don't look so good" she said, rising to her feet.

"I'm fine"

"I was just about to ask someone to fetch you" She said.

"I'm here to ask you for a favor" I breathed. She narrowed her eyes, a silver glint flashing over her grey irises.

"What favor?"

"Let me take three more days off"

The words had barely escaped my lips when she grabbed the front of my shirt and pushed me against the wall across her table, in full speed.

Her grip was tight, tight enough to block my airways. Shade was strong, way too strong to be messed with. Her viciousness was just as extreme as the raw power that flowed through her veins.

"Don't tell me you're already seeing another woman. You've been distant ever since you returned from your last mission."

"No, I'm not..."

She cut me off, tightening her grip. I coughed, sputtering as I struggled to breathe.

"I can smell a she wolf on you" she hissed. My eyes widened at the memory of Ava's sudden embrace.

"It's not what you think. I just...I need more days to recover" I whispered.

Her frown faded, her eyes widening as she released me.

"You're... you're still in pain?" She stuttered, her silver eyes filled with panic.

When I didn't say anything, she ripped my shirt open, exposing the claw marks that decorated my torso and chest in a terrible manner. They were raw and slightly swollen.

Tears filled her eyes, her lower lip trembling as her fingers ghosted over my injury. She could no longer look me in the eyes because of the guilt that plagued her. This was because she was the one who had scarred me during her fit of rage and overpowering possessiveness.

"It's my fault. It's all my fault. Key... I'm so sorry. Why didn't you say--"

The door opened and two people walked in. Venom and Ava. As soon as her gaze met mine, rage clouded her eyes. I couldn't blame her. Her mate was standing in an almost intimate position with another woman.

"Who is she?" Shade asked Venom as I held my torn shirt together, not wanting Ava to see the injury on my body.

"She's the new recruit, Ava Shelley" Venom responded.

Shade sniffed the air. All at once, her expression darkened.

"She smells oddly... familiar."