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869 Words
His eyes returned to normal,
But his expression didn’t.
“…Are you okay?” he asked, his voice softer now.
Eli looked at him.
Really looked at him.
At everything.
“What… am I?” Eli whispered.
And for the first time,
Kael didn’t have an answer he could hide.
Because whatever Eli was…
It wasn’t just human anymore.
The silence didn’t feel safe anymore.
Not after what just happened.
Eli’s hands were still shaking.
His chest still warm, no, burning from whatever had just awakened inside him.
And Kael…
Kael was looking at him like he was something fragile.
Something he might lose again.
“…Say something,” Eli whispered.
Kael didn’t.
Not immediately.
His jaw tightened, like he was choosing his words carefully.
Too carefully.
That’s when Eli understood.
“You knew,” he said, his voice barely steady. “Didn’t you?”
Kael closed his eyes briefly.
That was answer enough.
A hollow feeling spread through Eli’s chest.
“Then tell me,” he said, louder now. “No more hiding. No more ‘it’s okay.’ I need to know what’s happening to me!”
Kael looked at him again.
And this time,
There was no escape in his gaze.
Only truth.
“…You’re not human,” Kael said quietly.
The words landed hard.
But somehow…
They didn’t feel wrong.
Eli swallowed.
“…Then what am I?”
A pause.
Then...
“My mate.”
Eli’s breath caught.
Kael stepped closer.
Slow.
Careful.
Like he always did when it came to him.
“In my world,” Kael continued, his voice softer now, “there are bonds. Not chosen. Not created.”
He placed a hand lightly over Eli’s chest again.
“Born.”
Eli felt it instantly.
That pull.
That warmth.
That connection.
“You and I…” Kael said, his eyes locking onto his, “we’re tied together by something that can’t be broken.”
Eli shook his head slightly, overwhelmed.
“But I don’t remember any of it,” he whispered.
“I know.”
“And those people Riven they said they erased my memories.”
Kael’s expression darkened at the name.
“They did,” he admitted.
“Why?” Eli demanded. “Why me?!”
Kael hesitated.
Just for a second.
But Eli caught it.
“…Kael.”
There it was again.
That look.
The one that meant the truth was worse than he expected.
“…Because you’re not just my mate,” Kael said slowly.
Eli’s heart pounded.
“Then what am I?” he asked again, almost afraid of the answer this time.
Kael’s voice dropped.
“…You’re the reason I became Alpha.”
Silence.
Eli blinked.
“What?”
“In my world,” Kael continued, “power isn’t just inherited. It’s awakened.”
His gaze softened slightly.
“And you… you were always the one who could reach mine.”
Eli stared at him, trying to understand.
“You’re saying… I made you stronger?”
Kael shook his head.
“No.”
His hand pressed more firmly against Eli’s chest.
“You made me complete.”
That,
That hit differently.
Eli’s breath caught again.
The intensity in Kael’s voice, the way he was looking at him…
It didn’t feel like a lie.
It felt like something real.
Something deep.
Something terrifying.
“But if that’s true…” Eli whispered, “…then why would they erase me?”
Kael’s expression turned cold again.
“Because if you remember everything…” he said quietly, “you won’t just be my mate.”
A pause.
Something heavy hung in the air.
“You’ll become a threat.”
Eli’s stomach dropped.
“To them?” he asked.
Kael shook his head slowly.
“To everyone.”
Silence.
Eli stepped back slightly.
“That’s not possible,” he said quickly. “I’m not— I can’t even control whatever happened back there!”
“You will,” Kael said firmly.
Eli laughed nervously.
“No. No, you’re wrong. I’m just... I’m just me.”
But even as he said it…
He remembered that moment.
That power.
That glow.
The way everything stopped.
And doubt crept in.
“…I don’t want this,” he admitted quietly.
Kael’s expression softened again.
“I know.”
“I don’t want to be something dangerous.”
“You’re not dangerous,” Kael said immediately.
Eli looked at him.
“Riven seemed pretty sure I was.”
Kael stepped closer again.
Closing the distance.
“You’re only dangerous to people who try to take you away from me,” he said calmly.
That should’ve sounded possessive.
Too much.
Too intense.
But instead,
It made Eli’s chest ache again.
That same familiar ache.
“…Why does it feel like I believe you?” Eli whispered.
Kael didn’t answer.
He just reached out,
And gently took Eli’s hand.
This time...
Eli didn’t hesitate.
Their fingers intertwined.
And the bond responded instantly.
Warm.
Steady.
Alive.
Eli exhaled slowly, his shoulders relaxing just a little.
“…Okay,” he said softly.
Kael’s eyes flickered with surprise.
“Okay?” he repeated.
Eli nodded.
“I don’t understand any of this,” he admitted. “But… I know one thing.”
- Writer
