Page 50 of Bonding with the Beta (Fated Souls #2)
50
KAYDEN
A s Kayleigh’s cab drives away, it feels like watching my entire life disappear.
I stand there for what seems like hours until there is a presence behind me.
“You need to sort this out right now,” Ava hiccups, and when I meet her gaze, tears have coated her cheeks. “Because that girl loves you more than anything.”
My eyes close in defeat. “This isn’t how I wanted this to go, Ava.”
“I knew this would be a mess. She was right. I should have told her to stay away to save her from this bullshit,” she spits.
I grit my jaw and raise a hand to rub the tense muscles.
Without another word, I turn and head back to the party, where I’m immediately met with Harley. Her hands are on her hips, and she glares at me from across the patio as I walk back up the steps.
“What the hell is going on?” she demands.
“I need to be honest with you, Harley,” I state.
She blinks once and then twice. “Oh, Goddess. Don’t tell me you have serious feelings for her. She’s a human.”
“I’m in love with her.”
“Really?” she scoffs.
“Yes.”
Harley presses a hand to her chest, shoulders slowly drooping with sadness as she remains silent for a long moment. All I can hear is the sound of my erratic breathing and pounding heart.
“Oh,” she eventually whispers before wrapping her arms around herself.
“I’m sorry.” I shake my head. “I didn’t…” I pause.
She says nothing, and that makes this a thousand times worse.
What was I going to expect her to say?
Oh, that’s fine. Don’t worry. I’ll leave now.
“Are you rejecting me?”
Those words make my wolf cry out in distress. I turn my back on her and run a hand down my face. “Oh, fuck,” I murmur. “I–”
“Do you need time?”
My head lowers. “Yes.”
“This isn’t how I expected to meet you,” she murmurs with a tremble. “I thought you’d care.”
I glance at her, meeting her reserved green eyes. “I do care,” I admit. “Things are complicated, and I’m sorry.”
“How long do you need?”
My head tilts in confusion as Harley wipes her damp eyes. “What?”
“How long do you need to break up with her?”
I blink at her statement. “I’m not–”
“You’re not going to break up with her?” she rasps. “So, I’ve waited my entire life for you, and you’re telling me that a human is better than me? I’m your fated mate. The Moon Goddess put us together for a reason. You can’t turn your back on this. You can’t change the fates; that’s not how this world works.”
As I stare back at her, I feel the tug of the matebond—but it’s nothing like Jaxon and Ava have described. I thought it would literally knock me off my feet, but as I take in Harley before me, my wolf might be crying out for her, but my heart lies with Kayleigh. It always will.
“She means a lot to me,” I start.
Harley folds her arms over her chest, an unimpressive expression slashing across her face. “And I mean nothing?”
“I didn’t say that.” I shake my head. “I don’t know you, Harley.”
“Yet,” she hisses. “You don’t know me yet.”
I didn’t expect her to take it well. I half-expected her to be throwing things at me, possibly a punch to the face. Hell, I deserve it. I deserve it for putting them both in this position.
Maybe I shouldn’t have gotten involved with Kayleigh, but I don’t regret it. Not after knowing the intense emotions I can feel for her. Not after knowing how much love I have for her.
“I never wanted either of you to be in this position, and maybe that was selfish of me. But there is something about her that–”
“What about her?”
I drag a hand through my hair. “We both know she’s human, but I can hear her thoughts.”
Harley pulls back an inch. “You can hear her thoughts?”
“Yes.”
“Can you hear mine?”
For a moment, I pause, but I don’t sense any energy emitting from her.
“No.”
Her face pales a little, and she clears her throat, dropping her hands to her sides.
“Have you been to get answers?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I’ve struggled to find the time,” I confess. “It’s a long journey to the mountains.”
Harley narrows her eyes at me. “Everyone can find the time.”
Maybe I’ve been in denial because I don’t want anyone telling me how I should feel about Kayleigh.
“I guess there is only one way to find out. The elders will know what’s going on with you. And I refuse to get involved with you if you’re somehow tied to someone else. I’m not settling for less than I’m worth, and I’m not giving up on this before it’s even started. I know you wouldn’t be that stupid either. Our wolves will die without each other.” Harley folds her arms over her chest.
My heart aches at the invisible ties that are knotted around Kayleigh’s. It might not be the same as a matebond, but it’s our own. She makes me feel like I’m floating through water and I’m physically weightless.
“Fine,” I exhale. “We’ll go to see the elders.”
“Good.” She raises her head. “We’ll head out tomorrow. Pick me up at midday.”
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve called Kayleigh. She never picks up or answers my texts. Maybe I deserve this for the pain I’m putting her through, but going to see the elders will give me a better understanding of the situation.
I should have gone earlier. I should have committed to finding out the truth.
This situation might have been completely different if I had.
I don’t want to lose her.
My stomach churns at the possibility of never being with her again.
Ava sits on the porch, sipping on green tea. She senses me but doesn’t turn. I sigh silently and lean against the decking fence.
“Have you heard from her?” I ask.
“Yes.”
“What has she said?”
Ava shrugs. “She doesn’t want to talk to you, so I’m not going to tell you.”
“You’re angry at me; I know that.” I grit my jaw. “But I never intended for her to get hurt. My feelings for her are real.”
Her nostrils flare as she turns around to face me. “Then why is my best friend wondering why she’s not good enough?”
“This situation is impossible, Ava, and you know it.”
“Or maybe you shouldn’t have been playing with her heart in the first place.”
“I want her, Ava. I want her . No one else.”
Ava hums unconvincingly.
“I’m going to see the elders,” I state. “To try and understand all of this.”
Ava glances away again. “Good for you. Enjoy your journey with your mate.”