13

The evening stretched into night, and the tension between us shifted into something deeper, something that neither of us could ignore any longer. As we sat on the couch, our hands still intertwined, Xenia looked at me, her eyes filled with an emotion that took my breath away.

"Marrylen," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of my racing heart. "I need you. I need to feel close to you."

I didn't need any more words. I leaned in, my lips finding hers, and the kiss was filled with all the longing and heartache of the past six months. Her hands found their way to my hair, pulling me closer, and I could feel the tears on her cheeks as they mixed with my own.

We moved together, our bodies pressing against each other as we made our way to her bedroom. There was no hesitation, no uncertainty—just the raw, desperate need to be close, to feel each other, to remind ourselves that we were still here, still together. Clothes were shed, whispers were exchanged, and in that moment, nothing else mattered. It was just us—our bodies, our love, our need.

As we lay together afterward, our limbs tangled, I could feel her heart beating against mine, and I knew that this was where I was meant to be. I kissed her forehead, my fingers brushing through her hair, and she looked up at me, her eyes filled with a contentment I hadn't seen in so long.

"I love you, Marrylen," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Thank you for coming back to me."

I held her tighter, my own heart swelling with emotion. "I love you too, Xenia. I always will."

KALEB'S POV

Back in Beddington, the night was still, the air thick with the scent of the forest. I sat alone in the dark, the weight of the emptiness pressing down on me. It had been six months since Xenia left, and every day without her felt like a piece of me was missing. I had tried to ignore it, to bury myself in the duties of being Alpha, but nothing could fill the void she had left behind.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my chest, and I gasped, my hand clutching at my heart. It was as if something inside me had shattered, a connection breaking, or perhaps shifting in a way I couldn't understand. I could feel her—Xenia. I could feel her with someone else, the bond between us straining, twisting, until it felt like it might snap altogether.

A growl escaped my lips, low and primal, and I clenched my jaw, trying to steady my breathing. She was with someone else. She was choosing someone else. And there was nothing I could do to stop it.

The realization settled over me like a dark cloud, and I stood, my eyes blazing with a mix of anger, pain, and something else—determination. If she thought she could just walk away from me, from the bond we shared, she was wrong. I was her mate, her Alpha, and I wasn't going to let her go that easily.

I didn't know what I would do next, but one thing was certain—this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

KALEB'S POV

The night felt endless. The pain in my chest throbbed, a relentless reminder of what I'd lost. Xenia—the woman who was supposed to be my mate, my other half—had chosen someone else. She was with Marrylen, and even though I could feel it, a part of me refused to believe it. The betrayal cut deep, like a knife twisted in my heart. The bond we shared was supposed to be unbreakable, yet here I was, alone, abandoned, and aching.

The emotions welled up inside me—anger, sadness, longing. I couldn't control them, couldn't rein them in like I normally did. It was too much. My heart felt as if it was being ripped apart, and I needed something—anything—to make it stop, to numb the pain even for just a moment.

I found myself pacing my quarters, my thoughts spiraling. Xenia was supposed to be here, with me. She was supposed to be the one by my side, sharing in my triumphs, my burdens, my life. And now, she was gone, choosing someone else over me. The weight of it was unbearable.

I clenched my fists, my breath ragged. I needed release. I needed something to drown out the torment in my mind. And then, as if by instinct, I reached for my phone and dialed a number I knew all too well.

It rang twice before she picked up. "Kaleb?" Tochex's voice was cautious, but there was a hint of something else—anticipation, maybe—in her tone.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "I need you," I said, my voice low, almost a growl. I knew she would understand what I meant. There was no need for pretense, no need to hide my intentions.

There was a pause, and then she spoke, her voice carrying a hint of satisfaction. "I'll be there soon."

I ended the call and sat down on the edge of the bed, my hands trembling. This wasn't what I wanted—not really. Tochex wasn't Xenia, and she never would be. But right now, I needed to forget, to bury the pain that threatened to swallow me whole. I needed something to make me feel alive again, even if it was fleeting, even if it meant giving in to my baser instincts.

The door creaked open, and I looked up to see Tochex standing there, her eyes dark, her lips curving into a knowing smile. She stepped into the room, her gaze locked on mine, and I could see the hunger in her eyes—a hunger that matched my own.

"Kaleb," she whispered, moving closer. "I'm here."

I reached out, pulling her to me, my hands gripping her waist as I buried my face in her neck. Her scent filled my senses, and for a moment, I allowed myself to get lost in it—to forget everything else, to forget the pain that was eating me alive. She tilted her head back, her fingers threading through my hair as she leaned into me, her body pressing against mine.

I kissed her, hard and desperate, trying to drown out the ache in my chest. She responded eagerly, her hands roaming over my shoulders, her touch igniting a fire that burned through the haze of pain and anger. This wasn't love—it wasn't even close—but it was a release, a way to feel something other than heartbreak.

As we moved together, the room filled with the sounds of our desperation, I tried to block out the thoughts that threatened to intrude—the thoughts of Xenia, of what we could have been, of what I'd lost. I closed my eyes, focusing on the physical, on the heat, on the raw need that coursed through me.

But even in this moment, even as I tried to lose myself in Tochex, I couldn't shake the emptiness that lingered in the pit of my stomach. I couldn't escape the feeling that I was trying to fill a void that could never be filled—not by anyone but her.

When it was over, Tochex lay beside me, her fingers tracing patterns on my chest. I stared up at the ceiling, my mind a tangled mess of emotions. She looked at me, her eyes searching mine, and I could see the question there—the unspoken hope that maybe this meant something more.

But it didn't. And it never would.

I turned my head, meeting her gaze. "Don't get any ideas, Tochex," I said, my voice flat. "This was just... a distraction. Nothing more."

Her expression hardened, and she pulled away slightly, a bitter smile playing on her lips. "I know, Kaleb. I know exactly what this was."

She stood, gathering her clothes, and without another word, she left the room, the door closing behind her with a soft click. I was alone again, the emptiness settling back in like an old, familiar weight.

I closed my eyes, my chest tightening. Xenia had chosen someone else, and I was left here, grasping at whatever scraps I could find to make the pain bearable. But no matter what I did, no matter who I turned to, nothing could change the fact that she wasn't here. And the question that haunted me, the one I couldn't ignore, was simple: What would I do next?

The answer, I knew, was something that even I wasn't ready to face.