16

KALEB'S POV

The days following Xenia's departure were filled with emptiness. The sight of her walking away from me, the look of betrayal in her eyes, haunted my every waking moment. I had made a terrible mistake, one that I didn't know how to fix. Tochex had been nothing but a distraction—a desperate attempt to forget the pain of losing Xenia. But it had cost me everything.

I sat in my quarters, the silence suffocating. My mind was a storm of regret and longing, and nothing I did seemed to ease the ache in my chest. I knew Xenia had discovered something within herself—a power that made her more than just my mate. She had transformed, her primal energy unlike anything I had ever seen before. It both terrified and fascinated me, and I knew I needed to see her again.

But how could I? How could I face her after what she had seen? After what I had done?

The door to my quarters creaked open, and I looked up to see Tochex standing there, her expression one of hesitation. She stepped inside, her eyes meeting mine, and I could see the determination there—the same determination that had led to my downfall in the first place.

"Kaleb," she said softly, her voice carrying a hint of something that made my stomach twist. She moved closer, her gaze never leaving mine. "You can't keep doing this. Sitting here, drowning in regret. It's not who you are."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "What do you want, Tochex?"

She knelt in front of me, her hands resting on my knees. "I want you to stop punishing yourself. What's done is done. But you can still fix this. You can still go after her."

I frowned, my heart pounding at her words. "After everything that's happened, why would she want anything to do with me? I've hurt her. I've betrayed her."

Tochex's eyes narrowed slightly, and she leaned in, her lips curving into a small, almost predatory smile. "Xenia is powerful, Kaleb. But she needs guidance. She needs you. And you need her. The bond you two share is unlike anything else. If you give up now, you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

I swallowed hard, my throat tight. Her words stirred something inside me—a flicker of hope that I had thought long extinguished. But then, she moved closer, her hands sliding up my thighs, and I could see the desire in her eyes.

"Tochex," I said, my voice a warning as I pulled away from her touch. "This isn't going to happen. Not again."

Her expression darkened, a flash of frustration crossing her face. "Kaleb, you need someone by your side. You need a mate who understands you, who can be strong for you."

I stood, stepping away from her, my jaw clenched. "The only person I need is Xenia. And I won't make the same mistake twice."

She stood as well, her eyes blazing with anger. "You're a fool, Kaleb. She's not coming back. You think you can just walk back into her life and everything will be fine?"

I turned to face her, my eyes cold. "I don't know if she'll take me back. But I have to try. I have to fight for her. Because she is my mate. And I won't let her go without doing everything in my power to make things right."

Tochex's shoulders slumped, the fight draining out of her. She shook her head, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Do what you want, Kaleb. But don't come crying to me when she turns you away."

With that, she turned and stormed out of the room, the door slamming shut behind her. I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. She was right about one thing—I couldn't sit here and do nothing. I had to go after Xenia. I had to show her that I was willing to fight for her, that I would do whatever it took to win back her trust.

Because without her, I was nothing. And I wasn't ready to give up on us—not yet.

KALEB'S POV

The journey to find Xenia felt like a lifetime. My heart was pounding, my mind racing with thoughts of what I would say to her, how I would apologize, how I would beg her to forgive me. I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but I couldn't let her go without trying. The bond we shared was still there, pulsing deep within me, and I had to believe that there was still a chance to make things right.

I tracked her scent through the woods, the familiar energy pulling me closer and closer to where she was. Each step felt heavy, laden with the weight of my mistakes and the consequences of my actions. My mind kept replaying the last time I had seen her, the look of betrayal in her eyes, and it tore at me. How had I let it get to this point? As I approached a small cabin on the edge of the forest, my heart clenched. I could sense her inside—and someone else. My stomach twisted, the realization hitting me like a punch to the gut.

Slowly, I pushed open the door, stepping inside. The sight that greeted me made my blood run cold. Xenia was there, lying on the bed, her head tilted back in pleasure, her eyes half-closed. And Marrylen—Marrylen was kneeling between her legs, her hands on Xenia's thighs, her mouth working over her in a way that left nothing to the imagination.

For a moment, I couldn't breathe. My heart dropped, a hollow ache expanding in my chest. I wanted to turn away, to leave, but I couldn't move. My eyes were locked on Xenia, and then, as if sensing my presence, she looked up, her gaze meeting mine. A slow, wicked smile spread across her lips, and there was a glint of mischief in her eyes that made my chest tighten.

"Oh, Kaleb," she said, her voice a low purr, her fingers tangling in Marrylen's hair. "Look who decided to show up."

Marrylen glanced back at me, her eyes widening in surprise, but Xenia didn't seem fazed at all. Instead, she smirked, her eyes boring into mine as she gave Marrylen a gentle nudge. "Don't stop," she instructed, her voice dripping with authority. "Keep going."

My mouth went dry, my heart pounding in my chest as I watched Marrylen obey, her lips resuming their work on Xenia, whose gaze never left mine. There was something dark in her eyes, something that told me she was doing this for me—a punishment, a way to make me feel what she had felt when she had found me with Tochex.

I wanted to leave, to turn and walk away, but I couldn't. I was frozen, my feet rooted to the spot, my eyes locked on Xenia. Her expression was one of triumph, her body arching as she let out a soft moan, her eyes narrowing as she watched me, her lips curling into a smile that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Do you like what you see, Kaleb?" she asked, her voice breathless, her eyes still locked on mine. "Is this what you wanted? To see me with someone else? To know that I'm not yours anymore?"

I swallowed hard, my throat tight, the pain in my chest almost unbearable. She was right—this was exactly what I deserved. I had hurt her, betrayed her, and now she was showing me just how much. She was making me watch, making me feel the same anguish she had felt when she had seen me with Tochex.

My hands clenched at my sides, my heart aching as I stood there, unable to look away. I could see the pleasure on her face, the way her body moved, the way Marrylen responded to her every command. And I knew that I had lost her—that whatever chance I had of making things right was slipping away with every passing second.

"Xenia, please," I whispered, my voice breaking, but she only shook her head, her smile widening.

"No, Kaleb," she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "You don't get to ask for anything. Not after what you did. You wanted to watch? Then watch."

I felt a tear slip down my cheek, my chest tight with regret and longing. I wanted to turn away, to leave and never look back, but I couldn't. I stayed, watching as Xenia and Marrylen moved together, their bodies intertwined, their moans filling the room, and I knew that this was my punishment—to see the woman I loved with someone else, to know that I had caused this, that I had pushed her away.

Every second felt like an eternity. My entire body ached with the need to turn away, to escape the torment of watching the woman I loved being touched by someone else. But I couldn't move. It was like my feet were glued to the ground, as if my soul needed to endure this moment. Her eyes bored into mine, and with every flicker of her lashes, every arch of her body, it was as if she was driving a dagger deeper into my chest.

I remembered all the moments we had shared—the stolen glances, the nights spent under the stars, the promises we had made. It all felt like a cruel joke now, slipping through my fingers like sand. My breath hitched as I watched her face twist in pleasure, her lips parting as she moaned, and I knew that I had never seen her like this before. It was raw, uninhibited, and it wasn't for me. It was for Marrylen. And it was for me to witness, to understand what I had thrown away.

"Is this enough, Kaleb?" Xenia's voice broke through the haze of my thoughts, her tone laced with venom. "Do you understand now? Do you see what it feels like to be replaced? To be nothing but a memory?"

Her words cut through me, sharper than any blade. I clenched my jaw, my entire body trembling as I fought the urge to fall to my knees and beg her to stop. But I knew that I couldn't. I had to endure this. I had to bear the pain, just as she had borne it when she had seen me with Tochex. This was my penance, my retribution for the mistakes I had made.

Marrylen's eyes flickered towards me, uncertainty and discomfort evident in her gaze, but Xenia's hand in her hair kept her anchored. Xenia's dominance, her control over the situation, was absolute, and it was clear that Marrylen was willing to do whatever Xenia wanted. I couldn't blame her. Xenia had that effect on people—she drew them in, made them want to please her, to be near her.

I wanted to say something, to tell her that I was sorry, that I would do anything to make it right. But the words wouldn't come. My throat was tight, my heart aching, and all I could do was watch as Xenia's eyes darkened with satisfaction, her body trembling with the pleasure that Marrylen gave her.

And then, as if sensing my thoughts, Xenia's gaze softened for the briefest of moments. I saw something there—something beneath the anger and the pain. Was it longing? Was it regret? It was gone as quickly as it had come, replaced by the hardened mask she wore so well.

"Kaleb," she said, her voice a whisper now, almost drowned out by the pounding of my own heart. "This is what you wanted, isn't it? To see me broken? To see me moved on? Well, here it is. Take it all in."

I felt another tear slide down my cheek, the pain in my chest unbearable. I knew that I had lost her—that whatever chance I had of making things right was slipping away with every passing second. And as I watched Xenia and Marrylen move together, their bodies intertwined, their moans filling the room, I realized that this was my punishment. This was my hell—to see the woman I loved with someone else, to know that I had caused this, that I had driven her away.

And as I stood there, my heart breaking, I knew that I would do anything—anything—to earn her forgiveness, to prove to her that I was worthy of her love. But for now, all I could do was watch, my heart aching, my soul shattered, as Xenia showed me just how much I had lost.

The moments dragged on, each second a reminder of my failure, each sound a stab at my heart. When they finally stopped, Xenia looked at me one last time, her eyes filled with a mixture of triumph and pain. "Now you know, Kaleb," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Now you know what it feels like to be broken."

With that, she turned her attention back to Marrylen, dismissing me without another word. And I knew, as I finally turned and left the cabin, that the journey to win her back would be longer and harder than I had ever imagined. But I was willing to take every step, bear every burden, to make things right.

Because without Xenia, I was nothing. And I wasn't ready to give up on us—not yet.