Chapter 13: a fight with a thunderstorm
Rex, ever the calm observer, didn't miss a beat. "Probability of Kael returning to the dorm in a disheveled state after fleeing a romantic encounter with Ingrid the siren: 100%. Estimated time of arrival: 1 minute, 23 seconds after his abrupt exit."
Theron, who had been minding his own business at his desk, raised a brow and asked "What happened to you ?"
Kael shot him a look of pure exasperation, then slumped dramatically onto Theron's bed, throwing himself down like he'd just run a marathon. "She... she started asking about what we were now," he said, voice dropping as if the very words were too heavy to bear. "I mean, what are we? Like, really? Who does that? It was a one-night thing, Theron, not some... lifetime commitment. She's not even my mate."
Rex's robotic voice was unbothered. "Likelihood of Kael panicking at the mention of 'relationship talk' with Ingrid: 99.9%. Current status: emotionally compromised, possibly considering escape plans."
Kael threw a pillow in Rex's general direction. He ran a hand through his messy hair, looking more like a man who had just survived a disaster rather than someone who'd enjoyed a night of... well, let's call it passion. "She just... kept asking! What does it mean? Are we seeing each other now? Am I her 'thing'? What are we?!"
Theron, clearly enjoying Kael's discomfort, leaned back in his chair. "And let me guess—when you couldn't answer, she turned on the charm?"
"Exactly!" Kael exclaimed, sitting up and throwing his hands in the air. "She started getting all siren-y on me, all sweet and soft, and I could practically hear the violins playing in the background. It was like... ugh—it was like a Hallmark movie, but with more singing and less emotional stability."
Rex, who clearly had no interest in the finer points of romantic drama, added dryly, "I have calculated a 98% chance that Kael's decision to leave was fueled by a desperate need for air, space, and a complete avoidance of commitment."
Kael flopped back onto the bed with a dramatic sigh, rubbing his face in frustration. "I can't deal with that!. I just... wanted to have a fun time, and now I'm getting emotionally interrogated."
Theron smirked, clearly entertained. "I think you may have underestimated Ingrid's interest in you, Kael. You didn't exactly give off the 'one-night-stand-only' vibe."
"I did, Theron! I did!" Kael insisted, sitting up and pointing at his chest. "I made it clear! I mean, okay, maybe not in words, but I made it clear in... actions!" He threw his hands out in frustration. "But the second she started asking me about us, I had to get out of there. I just bolted. I don't do romance. I don't do labels. I don't do... feelings. I'm a wolf, I only do those things with my mate"
Kael groaned, flopping back onto the bed. "This is the worst night of my life."
Rex's deadpan voice chimed in one last time, "Probability of Kael surviving the aftermath of his non-romantic night with Ingrid: 70%. Likelihood of him learning from this experience: 0%."
Kael glared at Rex, his face a mixture of exasperation and defeat. "You're all so helpful."
Kael stared at the ceiling of Theron's dorm, his legs dangling off the side of the bed. "You know," he began, his voice muffled by the pillow he'd dramatically stuffed his face into, "I don't get why everyone's so obsessed with this whole 'mate' thing. Like, isn't life complicated enough without throwing destiny and magical love bonds into the mix?"
Theron didn't look up from his tinkering, his hands busy tightening a screw on the hoverboard. "Says the guy who's been counting down the days until he can sense his mate."
Kael bolted upright, pointing an accusatory finger at him. "That's different! Finding my mate is, like, my birthright. It's part of who I am. It's not... clingy or weird like what Ingrid's doing."
Theron snorted, glancing sideways at Kael. "Oh, of course. The mighty lycan prince can't handle clinginess. Heaven forbid someone asks you about your feelings."
"Feelings are overrated," Kael declared, throwing himself back onto the bed. "Mates, though? That's primal. That's instinct. That's—hey, what's wrong with your hair?"
Theron froze mid-tinker, his screwdriver hovering in the air. "What?"
Kael sat up again, squinting at him. "Your hair. It looks like you got into a fight with a thunderstorm and lost. Badly."
Theron's hand shot to his head, patting his unruly mess of hair. "It's called working, Kael. Some of us actually do things, unlike you, who seems to spend his time changing women like underwear."
Kael grinned, leaning back on his elbows. "I'm just saying, if you're going for the mad scientist look, you're nailing it. Really leaning into the whole 'genius gnome' aesthetic."
Theron glared at him, grabbing a wrench and brandishing it like a weapon. "Do you want me to test this hoverboard on you? Because I will."
Kael held up his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, touchy subject. Back to mates, then. So, genius—how does it even work for you gnomes? Do you guys have some kind of... I don't know, mate algorithm?"
Theron rolled his eyes, returning to his work. "No, we don't have a 'mate algorithm.' We're not all about romance and destiny like you wolves. Gnomes focus on compatibility. Shared interests. Mutual respect. Logical things."
Kael looked appalled. "Logical things? That's so... unromantic. Where's the spark? The drama? The—"
"Unnecessary complications?" Theron cut in. "We leave those to you guys. I mean, honestly, Kael, your whole mate bond thing sounds like a lot of pressure. One magical moment and boom—you're tied to someone forever? What if they snore? What if they're bad at card games or chess?"
Kael waved him off. "It's not about that. It's about knowing. Like, the moment you meet them, it's like the universe just... clicks. Everything makes sense."
Theron raised an eyebrow. "And you think you're ready for that kind of responsibility?"
Kael puffed out his chest. "Of course I am! I'm the prince of the lycans. It's my duty. My destiny. My—"
"Excuse to avoid regular relationships?" Theron offered, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Kael narrowed his eyes at him. "You're impossible."
"And you're predictable," Theron shot back, his smirk widening.
Kael flopped back onto the bed again. "Anyway, I'm just saying, I can't wait to meet her. My mate, I mean. She's probably going to be amazing. Smart, funny, beautiful... the works."
Theron chuckled, turning back to his work. "Sounds like you've got it all figured out."
Kael grinned, completely missing the edge in Theron's voice. "Of course I do. I'm a visionary, Theron. A dreamer. And when I find her, it'll be—"
"Chaotic?" Theron interrupted, unable to resist. "Because, knowing you, even meeting your mate will probably involve some kind of dramatic disaster."
Kael pointed a finger at him, laughing. "You wound me, Theron. You wound me deeply."
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