Kairo ran through the palace, he was desperately trying to find an exit as he crashed into several people. After some time, he finally found the front door and bolted through it without even sparing a glance back to see if Marcellus was following him. Tears made his vision hazy which was why he was stumbling around aimlessly.
His heart felt as if it was going to rip out of his chest, his body felt heavy and lethargic as his soul yearned for its other half. Stubbornly, Kairo ignored the mate bond and shifted into a Lycan. Hayes ran through the Royal territory until he finally reached the crossing that led to his pack. With one last glance back, Hayes crossed borders and was safely in his territory.
Marcellus wasn't anywhere to be seen.
Since he was now in his own territory, Hayes slowed his speed down to a light trot. Thick, heavy clouds painted the sky and the scent of forest rain filled the whole area. Hayes stopped and sat down on the cool ground, enjoying the peace and quiet after what had just happened. He glanced up to see how high the green, overbearing trees had grown and a single droplet of rain landed on his right ear.
Soon enough, rain poured down in copious amounts. The water ran through Hayes' pitch black fur and cooled his body down. Pants echoed across the forest as Hayes' tongue flopped out of his mouth.
"Give me an hour, Kairo. Let me process this whilst you do the same." Hayes sighed, his ears flopped down as rain droplets rolled down to the tips of his ears. He didn't know what to feel about this whole situation. It was all so unexpected...so badly timed.
Laying down on the now wet ground, Hayes placed his head on his front paws and enjoyed the feeling of the rain and the breeze. He thought about everything. From his mate, the murders and Kairo. Everything was now just fucked up. Was there even a point in calling Marcellus his mate?
After all, Christopher was their mate.
Kairo watched as Hayes fell asleep with the rain pouring around him. He could tell that his Lycan counterpart was taking the news rather hard since he didn't even shout at him for running out of there. Hayes was just as surprised as Kairo, if not worse.
At times like this, silence was better than talking.
[...]
Marcellus desperately tried to follow his Kairo's scent, only for it to lead him to the entrance of the palace with the door wide open. Due to the rain, he couldn't track him anymore because the scent of the rain overpowered any other scent.
Marcellus felt his heart sink. His mate had ran away from him with panic in his eyes.
"How did the assessment go?" A voice questioned from behind him.
Without turning around, he replied sourly, "Horribly." With a sigh, he turned around and stared into his best friend's eyes.
"Get in your car and drive in the direction of the Red Star Pack. I'll send you his exact address on the way." Theo smiled sadly, his eyes told Marcellus that he knew what had happened.
After all, Theo was no stranger to the feeling of rejection.
The King didn't have enough time to question how he knew or how much he saw, instead he flashed his friend a quick smile and ran to his car. As he drove out of the parking lot, Marcellus felt his heart begin to beat out of control.
"Don't fuck this up." Kristian threatened, he was hurt by Kairo's reaction but was too proud to say anything.
Just like Marcellus, Kristian was desperate for his mate. He yearned for the feeling of being consumed whole by one's being. Over everything else, the wolf wanted love. He craved the assurance and warmth that Marcellus or Theo simply couldn't give him.
"This is our fucking mate, Kristian! Obviously I'm going to try my bloody best." He groaned as he sped up. Kristian was always so harsh and unfair to him.
His mate had practically rejected him before they had even said anything to each other and he was beyond hurt. Marcellus felt hopeless. Eleven years. That's how long the King had been waiting for his mate. No way was he going to let this end without fighting it or at least knowing the reason behind it.
To be honest, Marcellus had nothing to lose.
Rain poured down even heavier as he sped along and eventually turned onto a road that was now a part of the Red Star Pack. He was here and was sure that Kairo knew that he had arrived. Glancing at his phone, Marcellus saw the address and began driving towards it. Soon enough, a pack house came into view.
An old, abandoned mansion sat before him. He parked his car in the clearing and stepped out into the rain. Jogging towards the door, Marcellus knocked on the wooden door a couple times and even shouted his name but there was silence.
"I can't sense anyone in there. It's empty." Kristian chimed in, his senses were a lot stronger than Marcellus'.
"What do you reckon I should do?"
"Look around the area. He's the only one in charge of this area."
Nodding his head, Marcellus began his walk towards the woods. He could see paw tracks on the ground but they went in all different directions so he couldn't follow them. However, he still roamed around until he finally spotted a black wolf that was asleep.
"Hayes." He spoke softly.
Familiar red eyes opened and the Lycan stood up quickly in an attacking position. His snarls were fierce as the rain continued to shower down, the noise drowning out his growls. The aggression that painted the Lycan's face felt like stab to Marcellus' chest.
However, the King recognised those eyes. They were from his dream. He had dreamt about the Red Star Massacre weeks before he met his mate, who was the only survivor. It had been a sign from the Goddess Celeste.
"I just want to talk." Marcellus begged, "Please." His eyes were soft and he didn't look threatening, so Hayes backed down.
Instead, he walked right past him and began trotting back to the pack house. Marcellus silently followed the very large Lycan and realised that he was walking back to the pack house. The wind blowed Hayes' sweet scent towards him and he enjoyed it, he smelled similar to Kairo.
Both counterparts had never felt a scent this sweet before. Mates truly were a gift.
"Hayes is stunning." Kristian remarked, he admired his mate's beautiful, jet black fur and how nicely his tail curved and how big in size the Lycan was. Hayes was the perfect match for a King. Or at least, Kristian thought so.
Marcellus stopped and watched as Hayes walked behind the house. He impatiently waited for him as he stood in the rain. His thick, black hair was now messily stuck to his forehead, unlike before when it was neatly jelled back. Running his hand through it, he pushed it away from his face and ignored the uncomfortable feeling of his wet suit and shoes.
After a couple of minutes, a fully dressed Kairo opened the front door of the pack house and invited Marcellus in. As the King entered the house, he noticed how gloomy and lifeless the house was. The furniture was old and creaky, there was a lack of food or anything nutritious(from what he could smell) and it was just rather depressing.
"What exactly is it that you want, Your Majesty? Kairo asked as he sat down on the creaky sofa. Sadness clouded his features as stared into his mate's black eyes.
"You. I want you, Kairo." Marcellus confessed, he carefully walked to his side(not wanting him to suddenly run away again) and sat beside him.
"I've been waiting for you for so long. I've been longing for my companion so much that it was beginning to hurt." He took Kairo's hand and enjoyed the sparks that traveled up his arm, "You're my mate and I want us to get to know each other." Marcellus sighed, he felt so much better now that he had been able to say what he wanted to say.
Kairo's sad expression did not waver. He pulled his hand away from Marcellus and said one simple sentence that shattered Marcellus' heart, "I had a mate and one was more than enough for me, Your Majesty."
His eyes were flooded with tears as he sat up and continued to look at Marcellus, silently locking in his features so that he'd never forget them because it was the last time they would ever see each other.
"You deserve a mate that can love you without holding back and that isn't me." He sniffed, before continuing, "I know the pain of losing a mate and I'm just too scared to ever love anyone again. I'm sorry."
Over the soft sound of the ceaseless rain, Marcellus heard Kristian whine for the first time in years. His wolf was heartbroken.
"I want you. I don't care about your scars, I will love you and accept whatever love you can give me. I know I can't replace your mate but I can be someone to lean on, someone who's there for you." He pleaded as he fought back tears, "Just promise me you'll think about it, okay?"
Kairo nodded whilst wiping his tears away, his pale skin was now rosey in colour due to the crying.
Marcellus left the house and drove back home with a heavy heart. Unfortunately, just as the King opened the door to the palace, his body collapsed onto the hard, wooden floor. The effects of being mateless were becoming more and more severe. If Kairo didn't accept him soon...
Marcellus would die without a doubt. Not that the King would ever let him know that though.