Kael stared at the report in his trembling hands.
His pupils were dilated, fingers tightening on the edges of the paper.
Cycle Disruption: Cause – Encounter with Fated Pair.
His heart skipped a beat.
Fated… pair?
He blinked again, trying to process the words.
That means… I have a destined mate? But I'm a recessive omega… How can that be? Recessives don't usually...
A sudden thought twisted in his chest.
Is my fated one another recessive? Or…
His mind raced, heart pounding.
I don't want anyone else. I can't imagine a future without…
Zayden.
---
When Kael got home, silence greeted him. The house was still. Cold.
Zayden wasn't there.
Without saying a word, Kael dragged his feet to his bedroom and collapsed onto the bed, burying his face in the pillow. He lay there, unmoving, unsure how much time passed.
By the time he stirred, the clock read 1 in midnight.
Still no sign of Zayden.
Maybe he's busy with work…
Or maybe he just doesn't care anymore.
---
The next morning, Kael was roused by the sudden ring of his phone.
His blurry eyes narrowed to read the caller ID: Kai – his elder twin alpha brother.
He groaned softly but answered.
"Happy birthday, my baby brother!!" Kai's excited voice boomed through the speaker.
Kael rubbed his eyes, voice flat.
"Thank you, Kai…"
Kai paused.
"Hey, you don't sound like it's your birthday. What's wrong? Are you sick?"
"Just… tired. Classes."
"Hmm. Alright, alright." Kai chuckled, then casually asked, "So, I heard Zayden was in Z City? Mom mentioned it. He stayed with you for a while?"
Kael hesitated.
"Yeah. But… he hasn't come back for two days."
"Of course not!" Kai laughed. "He's back here—his fiancée just went into heat. He must be attending to her."
Silence.
Something inside Kael… cracked.
"Wh…What?"
"Zayden's fiancée," Kai said like it was obvious. "It's been two years now. You remember her, right? Your classmate—what was her name? Elena! Yeah, that's it. Pretty omega girl."
Kael's world froze.
Engaged…? For two years?
Elena?
How could no one tell me?
"Didn't Dad say it before?" Kai asked, still laughing.
Kael's voice was distant.
"No. He didn't."
He quickly faked urgency.
"Hey… I'm late for class. I'll talk later."
"Kael—"
But Kael had already hung up.
The screen dimmed.
His hand slowly lowered.
His chest… felt hollow.
Like something had been ripped out and crushed into pieces.
He couldn't even cry.
No anger.
No tears.
Just a heavy silence weighing down on his heart.
Kael crawled back into bed, curled up, and shut his eyes tightly.
This is the worst birthday ever.
His lips curled into a bitter smile.
"I guess… it's time I give up."
He chuckled emptily to himself.
"Why did I even hope?"