Five Years Of Hate

KAEL

I didn't look back when I walked away from Aria. I wanted to. God, I wanted to. Every part of me wanted to turn around, walk back to her, grab her hand, and ask why she had disappeared from my life for five years. But I couldn't. Apart from the guilt and anger that aroused within me, she wouldn't allow me. It was understandable or would I say it was better that way.

I kept walking until I finally stopped when I reached the quiet corridor leading toward the men's dormitory. I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes. My chest tightened and I could feel my wolf was restless. I clenched my jaw when I noticed he tried to speak. "Stop." I warned not wanting more emotions to grow. “Our mate.” He didn't stop and it pissed me off. "I said stop."

My wolf growled in frustration that I knew he wouldn't be able to handle. God. Why has the moon goddess chosen her as my mate? Of all the women in the world, she had chosen the one girl I had spent five years trying to forget. The one girl I had once loved more than anything. The girl I had eventually learned to hate. I opened my eyes and stared at the empty hallway. Five years. Five years, and one look at her had been enough to bring everything back.

---

When we were children, Aria and I had been inseparable. Our mothers used to joke that they couldn't send one of us anywhere without the other appearing five minutes later. If Aria went to the river, I followed. If I went hunting with my father, she would wait for me.

We grew up together. We fought over stupid things. We shared secrets. We stole food from each other's houses. She became the girl I looked for whenever I entered a room. The girl whose smile could ruin my entire day if I didn't see it. The girl whose hand I always wanted to hold. The girl I wanted beside me forever.

I remember the night I finally told her. We were sitting beneath the old oak tree outside our neighborhood. "I think I love you," I had whispered into her ears and that had made me earn a glorious stare from her for several seconds before she smiled.

"I think I love you too." I had never been happier.

Everyone assumed we would eventually become mates. Even our families. That of course, we assumed. But fate. Fate had a cruel sense of bringing pain into one's happiness because we weren't given a chance to discover these moments.

It started with an argument. A stupid argument I couldn't even remember what caused it. I remember getting angry and storming out of her presence, heading straight to a neighborhood party. I remember drinking more than I should have. Then I remember waking up. Maya was beside me. She was Aria's best friend. I remembered questioning Maya about what had happened and all Maya did was cry as she revealed the terrible thing I would never think I would ever forgive myself of doing..She told me we had slept together.

I was horrified and the funniest part was that I didn't remember. I didn't remember being with her and laying with her but she insisted it had happened.

Oh, I should have gone straight to Aria. I should have explained everything. Maybe, that could have eased some tension but I was terrified. And before I could find the courage, Maya told Aria herself.

Aria confronted me that evening. I will never forget the look in her eyes. "You slept with her?" She asked me and I was blown away. At least if Maya was to reveal something like that, it shouldn't be when Aria and I weren't on good terms. It just added to it.

I told her my truth regardless. "I don't remember what happened."

She laughed bitterly. The memory of it is still fresh in my head. "So that's your excuse?"

"It's not an excuse." I replied.

"Then what is it?"

"I don't know, Aria!" I groaned at her not wanting the situation to turn messy but it actually did.

Her eyes filled with tears as she spoke. "I trusted you." She threw her face from me. “I’m hurt and disappointed in you, Kael.” I tried to reach for her hand but she pulled away. "I love you, Kael." The pain in her voice still haunts me.

"I love you too." I tried. I tried to make it up.

"Then why did you do this?" She questioned.

I shook my head, wanting her to understand. "I didn't mean to."

She looked at me. "Maybe you didn't mean to hurt me. But you did." Then… She walked away.

I thought we could fix it. I thought she would eventually forgive me. But I was wrong.

A few days later, I found out she had been with Ryan. My best friend. I remember standing outside Ryan's house, barely able to breathe. When I confronted Aria, she didn't deny it. "You wanted me to feel what you felt?" I asked.

She looked at me with tears in her eyes. "Now you know how it feels."

"I loved you!" I snarled.

She returned it. "And I loved you!"

"Then why?"

"Because you broke me!"

That was the last time I saw the girl who used to smile whenever she saw me.

After that confrontation, she left me. I didn't look for her. She didn't look for me. I didn't want to hear from her until she moved away with her family and for five years, I carried the resentment. I told myself I hated her. Sometimes, I almost believed it. Until today.

---

My phone vibrated. I pulled it from my pocket.

Selena: Where are you?

I stared at the message my girlfriend sent. I and Selena have been dating for almost a year now. She was kind. Beautiful. Patient and yes, she knew nothing about Aria. Or at least, not everything.

I had told Selena about my childhood friend who moved away but I never told her that my childhood friend was the girl I had once loved. I couldn't. Some memories are just too painful to speak aloud.

Another message appeared.

Selena: Are you okay?

I typed: I'm fine. Just tired.

I stared at the words before sending them. It was a lie. I wasn't fine. I had just found my real mate. And she wasn't just anybody. She’s my childhood friend I had spent five years convincing myself I hated.