Three

Kalan

I took a swig from my bottle, making a beeline towards the hill, just a little over the town's square where the battle took place twenty years ago. Staying here was oddly relaxing, as bittersweet emotions ran through me. It has been a while since I've been here. I only come here when I have pressing feelings I would want to get rid off.

Like my attraction to Ravenna.

I knew she looked attractive and sensuous in an innocent-kind-of-way, but my arousal towards her completely caught me off guard. Her supple skin, her full breasts when they came in contact with my chest, her sharp yet soft breaths when I grabbed her, the way my hand slotted ever so perfectly around her waist...my cock got so hard so fast, it nearly knocked me out like a whiplash. And I hated it.

I hated myself for even touching her in the first place. After making such a bold promise about not wanting to fuck her, I contradicted myself by wanting her almost immediately, fuck! She is a werewolf for fucks sake. I promised myself not to feel anything for her, not even sexual attraction. I hate her. I hate myself. And I hate how she made me feel. Like I couldn't get a grip on myself. I hated that feeling.

Yet, as I concluded that in my mind, I couldn't seem to get my erection down. I took sips of my beer, feeling more irritated by the moment. Should I go over to Lyssas'? No. I don't feel in the mood to go see her. Even thinking about her and her incessant clinginess makes my mood go sour.

Clenching my jaw, I reached into my pocket, grabbed my phone, and dialed a number.

“Kalan? What a pleasant surprise,” Calix's voice was filled with amusement. I merely rolled my eyes.

“I need you to come over to the town's square, right now.”

“Why? What's going on—”

“It's urgent.” I ended the call and placed my phone back in my pocket. Knowing Calix, it wouldn't take much time before rushing down here, like a pup going after its master. That wasn't such a bad thing though. I don't like to be kept waiting.

True to my words, I sighted Calix running over some minutes later, panting like a dog. With one final swig of my beer, I walked over to him. He was keeled over, taking deep breaths as if he had run a marathon. Well I guess it was just Calix being Calix. He is the most dramatic one of the family.

“I ran down here as fast as I could, what's the big emergen—” he tried to finish, but my right arm swung and clocked him right in the jaw, sending him skidding across the cobbled floor.

“What the actual fuck, Kalan?!” I pounced again before he could stand up and luckily for him, he dodged my blow by rolling away.

“You've really lost it, man!” He screamed, getting up in a fighting stance.

“Let your fists do the talking, Calix,” I replied calmly, lunging at him. Now that his attention was properly on me, he managed to avoid my blows, sending hits of his own which I also avoided. I clearly had the upper hand, but since Calix and I have sparred together fervently in the past, my moves are a bit predictable to him.

His body moved in a fluid motion, through hit after hit that made my adrenaline spike even more. I was impressed. It was times like these that made me consider making Calix my favorite cousin. I mean, of course I wouldn't, but it's the consideration that counts, right?

I decided to stop entertaining him and get more serious. With one swift move, I locked his left arm with mine, momentarily distracting him and landing a powerful uppercut that dazed him for a bit, then with my final move, I spun him around, flipping him over my shoulder onto the ground like a rag doll.

“What have I done to deserve this?” He groaned weakly.

“Don't be so dramatic. Our usual sparring used to be much worse than this,” I offered him a hand, which he took, and pulled him up to his feet.

“...I wanted to take my frustrations out on somebody and you seemed like the perfect candidate,”

He groaned. “So, I'm guessing it's about Ravenna,” he didn't even question it. It was a statement and it ticked me off.

I didn't respond.

A sigh escaped his lips. “You can't keep this up, Kalan, she's your bride, you had every chance of turning it down and letting Caius take over for you, but you shut me down,”

“It's my responsibility,” I growled. “Letting Caius take over for me? That's a laugh. Running around with my tail tucked in between my legs doesn't suit me,”

“Yeah yeah, you and Caius don't see eye to eye, I know allllll about your rivalry,” he rolled his eyes. "So what are you going to do now?"

“What else is there to do? Absolutely nothing. She may be betrothed to me, but she will never make her way into my life nor my heart. She is just a burden and responsibility of mine that I have to take care of,”

“You don't have to, you know? Your dad isn't...well...you know?”

“It doesn't matter. It is my contribution to my people to do so,” I answered with an air of finality.

He raised a brow, but didn't question it further.

“What are you doing here, anyway?”

“Well, I can't really go back to my apartment right now, can I?” I deadpanned.

“Yes!” He pumped his fist excitedly in the air, leaving me in confusion. “We made a bet on whether you would sleep in your apartment tonight, or not, and I'm so getting 200 bucks from Nevan tonight!”

“You what?!” I stood there in disbelief.

“Yeah, it was kind of a big deal,” he grinned, excitedly.

I rubbed a hand over my face, groaning tiredly. I can't even deal with this right now.

At the moment, I was more concerned about where to retire for the night.