Hearing his name in that soft, hesitant tone sent a shiver down Kael's spine. He took another step closer, his movements slow, careful, as though afraid to break the fragile beauty of the moment.
Theron's pulse quickened, his chest rising and falling as he tried to steady himself. The bond was overwhelming, a rush of emotions he wasn't prepared for. Warmth, safety, longing—all of it poured into him, leaving him breathless.
Kael reached out, his hand trembling slightly as he brushed his fingers against Theron's face. The touch sent a jolt through both of them, the bond crackling like electricity, wrapping around them and pulling them closer.
"You came," Kael murmured, his voice rough with emotion.
Theron nodded, his throat too tight to speak.
In that moment, the forest, the world, everything faded away. There was only the bond, golden and unbreakable, binding them together in a way that neither of them could deny.
Theron stood in the clearing, his mismatched amber and gray eyes locked onto Kael's golden gaze. His chest rose and fell rapidly, the weight of his own words still heavy on his tongue. He had spent countless nights rehearsing this moment in his head, imagining every possible way it could go wrong. Now that it was happening, his courage wavered, and he felt utterly exposed under Kael's intense stare.
"I'm sorry," he started, his voice cracking as he spoke. His fists clenched at his sides, and he forced himself to meet Kael's gaze despite the overwhelming urge to look away. "I'm so sorry, Kael. I never meant to hurt you." A tear slid down his cheek, but he didn't bother to wipe it away.
Kael's expression softened, but he said nothing, giving Theron the space he needed to continue.
"I was scared and confused," Theron admitted, his voice trembling. "When I found out that we were mated, it felt like my entire world was turned upside down. I didn't know what to do, Kael. I didn't know how to face you, how to tell you…" He took a shaky breath, his voice breaking. "How to tell you that your mate is someone who doesn't fit any of the things you've always dreamed of."
Kael frowned, but Theron pressed on, his words tumbling out in a desperate rush.
"You've always talked about wanting a mate who could give you everything—a family, an heir, someone who could stand beside you as the future king of the lycans. And I get that. I understand how important that is, Kael. It's logical, and it makes sense." His voice cracked again, and he let out a shaky laugh that was more pain than humor. "But that's not me. I can't give you that. I'm not what you wanted. And worst of all…"
Theron hesitated, his gaze dropping to the ground as if the weight of his confession was too much to bear. "I'm a guy, Kael. And you're not…" He swallowed hard, forcing himself to continue. "You're not gay. You've said it yourself so many times. You've talked about the kind of mate you wanted, the kind of life you envisioned, and it's never been someone like me."
Kael's jaw tightened, his heart aching as he listened to Theron's words.
"So I panicked," Theron admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I created that stupid Bondveil because I didn't know how to handle it. I thought if I could just… hide it for a while, maybe I could figure out what to do. But it was selfish and wrong, and I see that now. I hurt you, and I hate myself for it." He looked up, his mismatched eyes glistening with tears. "I'm sorry, Kael. I'm so sorry."
Theron's shoulders slumped, and he stood there like a prisoner awaiting judgment, his arms folded tightly behind his back.
Kael stared at him, his heart breaking at the sight. The vulnerability in Theron's voice, the raw pain in his expression—it was almost too much to bear. Kael took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.
Without a word, he stepped closer, lowering himself to his knees so he was eye-level with Theron. The gnome stiffened, his eyes widening in surprise.
"Theron," Kael began, his voice soft but firm. He reached out, his hands trembling slightly as they cupped Theron's face. "I'm sorry."
Theron blinked, confusion flickering in his gaze.
"I'm sorry I made you feel like you had to hide from me," Kael continued, his thumbs gently brushing away the tears on Theron's cheeks. "I'm sorry for not coming back sooner, for not realizing sooner what was right in front of me this whole time."
Theron opened his mouth to speak, but Kael shook his head, silencing him.
"I did have expectations about what I wanted in a mate," Kael admitted. "I won't lie about that. But Theron… those expectations mean nothing now. Because I've realized something far more important. My mate isn't just someone to fulfill a role or meet a checklist. My mate is you."
Theron's breath hitched, his mismatched eyes searching Kael's face for any hint of doubt.
Kael smiled softly, his golden gaze glowing with warmth. "You're my best friend, my partner, my other half. You've always been the one I trusted most, the one who understood me better than anyone else. And now, I get to spend the rest of my life with you. How could I ever ask for anything more?"
Tears spilled freely down Theron's cheeks, but this time, they weren't tears of sorrow.
"I don't care about the expectations I used to have," Kael continued, his voice steady and filled with conviction. "If I could choose my mate, I would choose you every time. Over anyone else. Over any female. Over anyone I ever imagined. It's you, Theron. It's always been you."
Theron let out a shaky laugh, his hands reaching up to grasp Kael's wrists. His touch was hesitant at first, but as the bond between them flared to life, he held on tighter, as if afraid to let go.
Kael leaned in, his forehead resting gently against Theron's. Their breaths mingled in the cool night air, and the bond pulsed between them, golden and alive, wrapping around them like a warm embrace.
"And as for not being gay," Kael added with a small, playful smile, "I guess I am now. Because I'm gay for you, Theron. Only for you."
Theron's laugh came out as a choked sob, and he shook his head, his mismatched eyes shining with disbelief and relief. "You're ridiculous," he muttered, his voice thick with emotion.
Kael grinned, his hands sliding down to rest on Theron's shoulders. "Maybe. But I'm your ridiculous mate. And I'm not going anywhere."
"I'm yours, Theron. Completely, irrevocably yours. And nothing—not expectations, not fear, not anything—will ever change that."
The bond between them flared once more, a soft golden glow illuminating the clearing as if the universe itself was celebrating their union. The trees whispered in the wind, the stars above twinkling like a thousand blessings, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Theron felt at peace.
Kael pulled Theron into a gentle embrace, his strong arms wrapping securely around the gnome's smaller frame. The tension that had gripped them both for so long seemed to melt away as the bond between them pulsed with warmth and reassurance.
"We'll figure this out together," Kael promised, his voice low and soothing. "You're my mate, Theron. My everything."
Theron closed his eyes, his head resting against Kael's chest. The steady rhythm of Kael's heartbeat was like a lullaby, grounding him in the reality of the moment. The bond, glowing and golden, enveloped them, its warmth unbreakable and eternal.
"So…" Theron whispered, his voice barely audible, "you're not going to reject me?"
Kael's lips curved into a soft smile, and he pressed a tender kiss to the top of Theron's head. "Never," he murmured, his tone filled with conviction.
Theron let out a shaky laugh, sniffing as he wiped at his damp cheeks. "That's… that's good." He paused, pulling back slightly to look up at Kael with a mixture of relief and exasperation. "Now, let's go home before someone else comes out here."
Kael tilted his head, a look of genuine confusion crossing his face. "Why?"
Theron arched an eyebrow, his expression shifting into one of deadpan humor as he gestured vaguely at Kael. "You're naked, Kael."
Kael blinked, his golden eyes widening as he looked down at himself, the realization hitting him like a freight train. "Oh. Right."
Theron's lips twitched, and before he could stop himself, a snort of laughter escaped. The sound quickly grew into a full-blown laugh, light and infectious.
Kael groaned, running a hand through his messy hair as his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Don't laugh! This is serious!"
"Serious?" Theron wheezed, clutching his sides as he struggled to catch his breath. "Kael, you're standing here in all your naked glory, and you're worried about being serious?"
Kael huffed, but the corner of his mouth twitched, betraying the smile he was trying to suppress. "Fine, laugh it up. But if anyone sees me like this, I'm blaming you."