Theron was still seated at his desk, tinkering with his hoverboard, while Kael sprawled across the bed like a drama queen on a fainting couch. His legs dangled over the edge, his hands resting behind his head as he stared at the ceiling with a dreamy look in his eyes.
"You know," Kael started, his voice carrying a rare softness, "I've been thinking about it a lot lately. My mate. She's out there somewhere, right? And soon, I'll be able to find her."
Theron didn't even look up. "Soon, huh? Why? Are your lycan senses about to upgrade or something?"
Kael rolled onto his side, propping his head up with one hand. "Exactly! The Rite of Awakening is coming up. Once I complete it, I'll be able to sense her. It's this whole spiritual thing—proving I'm ready, you know? It's like... the universe giving me the green light."
Theron finally looked up, raising an eyebrow. "The universe, huh? Sounds like a convenient excuse for procrastinating on actual relationships."
Kael threw a pillow at him. "You just don't get it, genius. It's not like dating. It's... destiny. When I find her, I'll just know. Like a lightning bolt."
Theron smirked. "Lightning bolt, huh? Hope you're not standing near water when it happens."
Kael ignored him, his expression turning thoughtful. "I wonder what she'll look like. Maybe she'll have this long, flowing hair—golden, like sunlight. Or deep, mysterious eyes that you could get lost in. She'll be strong, too. Smart. She'll challenge me but still be sweet."
Theron snorted. "So, basically, you want perfection wrapped in a bow."
Kael grinned. "Of course! Why settle for anything less? She's my mate."
Rex's voice cut in, deadpan as ever. "Probability of Kael's mate meeting his idealized criteria: 15%. Likelihood of disappointment upon meeting her: 85%."
Kael groaned. "Rex, could you not ruin my moment?"
"Moment ruined," Rex replied without a hint of remorse.
Theron chuckled, shaking his head. "What if she's nothing like you expect? What if she's... I don't know, loud and obnoxious? Or worse—someone who doesn't put up with your nonsense?"
Kael gasped, clutching his chest dramatically. "Blasphemy! My mate will adore me. She'll see me for the amazing, charming, and utterly irresistible lycan that I am."
Theron rolled his eyes. "Right. And pigs will fly."
Kael leaned back, his expression growing a bit more serious. "Do you think it's weird that I haven't met her yet? I mean, other wolves my age have already found their mates. Even that scrawny omega, Jax, found his mate last year."
Theron shrugged. "Jax's mate is a librarian. Quiet, introverted, probably balances him out."
"Exactly!" Kael exclaimed, sitting up. "Even Jax! And here I am, the prince, mate-less."
Theron smirked. "Maybe the universe is just saving the best for last."
Kael pointed at him. "Exactly. That's what I keep telling myself. But then I hear stories, like how Maya met her mate. She was literally mid-battle, claws out, fur flying, and then—bam! Mate bond. They locked eyes, and it was over."
Theron arched an eyebrow. "Romantic. Nothing says love like blood and violence."
Kael ignored him, continuing. "Or that time Theo found his mate in a bakery. He said the scent of cinnamon rolls led him right to her."
Theron's lips twitched. "So, what's your plan? Hang out in bakeries and battlefields until she shows up?"
Kael flopped back down. "I don't need a plan. The bond will take care of it. But it does make me wonder... what if I don't find her right away? What if she's, like, halfway across the world or something?"
Theron's gaze softened, though he kept his tone light. "Then you wait. Isn't that what this whole mate thing is about? Fate?"
Kael sighed, staring at the ceiling again. "Yeah, but... it's hard, you know? Not knowing. It's like... this piece of me is missing, and I don't even know what it looks like."
For a moment, there was silence, the weight of Kael's words hanging in the air. Then Rex, ever the mood killer, chimed in. "Probability of Kael finding his mate during a moment of maximum chaos: 99.9%. Recommended course of action: prepare for disaster."
Theron snorted, and Kael threw another pillow at Rex's speaker. "You're the worst wingman ever, Rex."
Rex's monotone reply was immediate. "I do not possess wings."
Kael groaned, but his laughter soon followed. "You know what, Theron? When I find her, I'm going to bring her here just to prove you wrong."
Theron smirked, turning back to his work. "I'll believe it when I see it."
Kael grinned, his confidence back in full force. "Oh, you will. And when that day comes, you're going to owe me... I don't know, something big. Like a lifetime supply of hoverboards."
Theron chuckled. "Deal. But until then, try not to scare off any more sirens, alright?"
Kael laughed, his mood lighter now. "No promises."