[GRANT]
"I don't want to, little wolf, but this is something I have to do," Gideon said, and Grant felt himself tense.
He shouldn't have had hope, because maybe then he wouldn't have been disappointed again. Then again, one look at the man before him and anyone would understand him. Gideon of Greroth was perfection, and Grant wouldn't ever be able to forget him, right?
"Something you have to do? Are you fucking serious right now?" Grant asked angrily, not believing that this was the kind of bullshit that Gideon was giving him.
He had been waiting for a response for two whole days and yet the man had decided that this was something he just had to do? What the hell was this? Christmas on hellish days or what?
"Oh love," Gideon said as he pulled Grant into a tight hug.
Grant tried fighting the hug at first, but the sparks that were flying between them made him stop. Fighting against the man that all of him wanted was no use, so he figured he could as well give in to their pulls and desires, even if it was just for one last time.
Relaxing in Gideon's arms, Grant felt like he was home for the first time in so long. Sure, Acrod had always been home but Gdeon was also his home, but for how long?
He felt good being here with Gideon and leaning on him like this, maybe they could rethink everything, but was that ever possible at this moment?
"My life and yours are completely different, little wolf," Gideon tried explaining to Grant. It was a truth they both had to agree with. Technically them being of different races was never a reason for rejection but just like Gideon had told him, their lives were different.
One was peaceful and the other was motivated by anger.
Sure, they were the perfect combo, but Gideon didn't want this wolf to always have to deal with his anger. He knew he would be worn out and while the wolf probably wouldn't have to complain, he would be hurting.
"Why? Is it because I'm a werewolf, and you're a witch? The goddess doesn't care about that, which is why she paired us together," Grant insisted, like it was supposed to make his mate rethink his decision, but would he really succeed?
"You don't understand," Gideon insisted, something that made Grant feel like Gideon wasn't really ready to accept their mate's bond. If that was the case, then Grant would fight for the both of them. He would do whatever it took, for them to be together.
Surely, it couldn't be that hard, right?
"Make me understand—" Grant began but he could tell that there was no way out of this that didn't hurt or break his heart a little more. He was doomed either way and that was a reality he wasn't ready for, not just yet.
"Fine, if you don't want me, then you can at least reject me to my face," Grant said, pulling himself out of Gideon's grasp. The hurt in his eyes made Gideon flinch, but the witch composed himself a little too fast.
"If you so wish," Gideon said and Grant whimpered.
Gideon wanted to soothe him, but how the fuck was he supposed to do that when he was the very reason the warrior was in pain? How was he supposed to make him feel better when here and now, it was all on him?
"Please understand, my little wolf, I didn't want to hurt you, but you have a mate. I know I am yours too, but I am a complicated mate. Having you as mine will put you in danger, love. Having you in my life will ruin you, and I can't do that to you.
"This is a bond I must reject, little wolf. This is one I can't let blossom. I promise you, you will find another mate, a good mate. As much as I want to be that person for you, I simply can't," Gideon ranted.
Grant Hindley was everything anyone would want in a mate. Well, everyone wanted him, except for the person he wanted, except for the mate the universe had given him, and fuck, that messed with his mind in so many ways.
He wasn't sure he would ever survive this and his heart was breaking once again.
Was he bound to be ruined by the bond he had always dreamt of? He had always wished for a mate, and yet now that he had one, he was being rejected. He hadn't even been given a chance to prove himself weak or strong.
Instead, his mate had made a final decision, and that made Grant wonder why his mate was not even giving their bond even the slightest chance.
"Why can't we just give it a try, Gideon? What is it that you are afraid of? I can hear your heartbeats. You want this. I can smell your desire for me, just like I am certain you can smell mi—" Grant ranted, but Gideon just stared at him, in disbelief.
Well until the last statement because that got even Gideon curious.
"How do you know I can smell your desire for me?" Gideon asked, cutting the werewolf short. Clearly, he hadn't been expecting that and it was worth noting.
"I am your mate, Gideon. Of course, I can tell if I affect you, just the same way I already know that you're not a witch. I saw what Criselda did back there when you attacked King Edison.
"I can tell you're running from something, and you don't want me in the middle, at least that much has been clear from the first day. But what if I can help, please let me in, Gideon," Grant pleaded earnestly.
Gideon looked at his mate, his heart breaking for the tenth time in the little time they had been together. He wanted to make things better for him, he wanted to hug him and tell him things would be okay.
But Gideon knew this wolf knew.
"It's tempting really. I must admit, little wolf, I knew you were smart, but this smart and observant? I must have done something good in my past lives to have you as my mate, little wolf—" Gideon said but once again the wolf warrior interrupted his line of speech.
Gideon had already realized that every word that came out of his mate's mouth was like a stab to his heart. It was all about him coming to terms with a reality he was determined to run away from.
Maybe this was how it was to end for them, but why did it hurt each time?
Why did his mate make him feel like there were a thousand stab wounds in his heart?
Why did all of this make him actually want to rethink everything he was currently doing? Someday, he would have to finally sit down and deal with his demons, but today, it was just not it.
Today was about goodbyes, but the more he stood next to this wolf, the more he realized how much of a coward he was becoming.
"Won't you even call me by my name? At least tell me what you think, how you think. I don't know, but anything, Gideon, Anything. I don't want this to be the end because we haven't even begun," Grant said dejectedly, his voice slowly breaking.
Grant was showing weakness to a different faction. He was letting his guard down and that was risky, but then the man in front of him was his mate. The man who didn't want him and yet wanted him with the same intensity, was the love of his life.
Gideon looked at the little wolf warrior he had taken a liking to.
He studied his mate, gently breathing him in like this was the actual last time they would be together. He could feel his pain, because of the bond they shared, and for a moment, Gideon wanted to ignore the fates.
So Gideon kissed his forehead.
"Oh, love. Please tell me you understand why I have to leave—" Gideon said to the warrior, in the hope that it would clear his own guilt, but what was the point when he could feel the whole of his body hurting because of what he was doing?
"I know you're about to reject me, but, before you reject me, I have one last favor to ask of you, and you can't deny me that, Gideon," Grant said, trying to manage a smile, even when his heart was about to be crushed into pieces.