They Remain Friends Despite The Mate Bond

ARIA

The moment Professor Hayes announced the project partners, I knew my day was about to get worse. “This assignment is worth thirty percent of your final grade,” he said, pacing slowly across the front of the lecture hall. “You will work with your assigned partner for the next three weeks. No switching partners. No excuses.”

I barely listened. Until he read my name. “Aria Fall and… Kael Lewis.”

My eyes shone out in awe as I slowly turned my head to look back. Kael was already looking at me. Our eyes met and the mate bond pulled painfully between us. My wolf stirred immediately as I clenched my fists beneath the desk. No, this wasn't happening. It mustn't. I can't be paired with Kael. Not now, not ever.

My head kept pounding as I argued relentlessly within me but there was nothing I could do. This wasn't what we chose individually, it was what our professor has chosen for us and there was no way it can be altered.

Professor Hayes continued assigning the other students, completely unaware that he had just thrown two enemies and newly discovered mates into the same cage.

Soon class ended and I packed my books quickly. I just wanted to escape. No. I can't be paired with Kael. It was impossible and that was it. It was either I forgot about the project or we both.

“Running away already?” His voice stopped me and I turned, throwing a daring gaze at him. Kael stood behind me, his backpack hanging over one shoulder.

“I have somewhere to be.” I didn't wait to think of an answer.

“So do I.” He said while I lowered my head back to my backpack.

“Then go.” I told him.

He paused then mumbled. “We have a project.”

I raised my head back to him. “I heard.”

“We need to discuss it.”

“I'll send you my part.” I told him, not knowing where it came from because I knew the answer already. We wouldn't be able to work separately.

And as expected, he laughed. “You really think we're doing a major project separately?”

“I don't see the problem.” I was adamant and I would surely look for every excuse to avoid him.

“The problem is that Professor Hayes specifically said we have to work together.”

My jaw tightened. Can't he see I'm trying to avoid him? “I'll survive.” I tried to convince him.

But instead, Kael stepped closer. “Aria,” he said quietly.

“What?”

“Stop pretending you don't feel it.” He taunted and my eyes narrowed.

“I don't know what you're talking about.” I lied. Of course, I wouldn't let him know I was feeling something.

“You do.”

I picked up my bag. “See you in class.” With that, I walked away. Three steps later, pain shot through my chest. I stopped while my wolf curled painfully inside me. “Don't leave him.” “Not now, please.” I whispered. I continued walking. The pain worsened just as it always did. It has become really unbearable for me since we've been avoiding each other and each time, I was always forced to reject him yet, I just couldn't.

By the time I reached the hallway, my breathing had become uneven. I leaned against the wall. “Why are you doing this?” My wolf didn't answer and she didn't need to because it wasn't her fault. It was the bond. The stupid connection neither of us wanted.

“Aria?” I looked up to see Kael standing several feet away. His expression had changed. I could see a concerned look. “You're hurting,” he added.

“I’m fine.”

“You're not.” He said as he approached.

I immediately pushed myself away from the wall. “I said I'm fine.”

“You're avoiding me because of the bond.” He probed further.

I groaned. “I'm avoiding you because you're annoying.”

A small smile appeared on his face. “There she is.”

“What?”

“The Aria I remember.”

I rolled my eyes at his statement. “I don't know what you're talking about.”

“You always used to insult me when you were nervous.”

“I still do.”

He chuckled and despite myself, I almost smiled. Almost.

—-

We eventually met at the library that evening. The project was impossible to avoid. Just too impossible to.

We sat across from each other with laptops open between us. For the first ten minutes, neither of us spoke.

Then Kael pushed a book toward me. “You're looking at the wrong chapter.”

I frowned. “No, I'm not.”

“You are.” He complained.

“I know what I'm doing.” I told him with a sly smile.

“You always say that before making a mistake.”

I stared at him. “You haven't changed.”

“Neither have you.”

I kicked his shoe beneath the table and to my surprise, he kicked mine back. I glared at him in surprise and he smirked. The smirk. Oh, how it reminded me of the past.

Just like when we were children.

Back then, Kael had been the boy who stole my snacks, pulled my hair, and laughed whenever I became angry. And I had been the girl who chased him around the house threatening revenge. We had fought over everything. Who was faster? Who was smarter? Who would win?

“You're still terrible at organizing,” I muttered, bringing myself out of my thoughts.

“You're still bossy.” He taunted, mockingly.

I wasn't ready to let him have his way as usual. “You're still arrogant.”

“You're still stubborn.”

I shook my head at him as smiles spread through his entire face. And before I could stop myself, I smiled too. I suddenly felt comfortable. We weren't smiling that we're enemies. We weren't smiling like strangers. Just Kael and Aria. Two children who had once been inseparable.

My smile faded and he noticed it.

“What?” He inquired, searching my eyes.

I shook my head, not wanting to explain further. “Nothing.”

There was a pause.

“You changed.” He finally voiced out.

I rolled my eyes. “So did you.”

His expression became serious. “Maybe.”

Silence settled between us again and the mate bond hummed quietly beneath my skin. I could feel his emotions. It was the same resistance I carried. We didn't want it but we couldn't deny that it was there. Yet, he wasn't ready to let it go..

I closed my laptop. “We need to finish this project.”

“We will.”

“And that's all this is.” I said, wanting us to close for the day.

His eyes met mine. “Okay.”

I swallowed and called quietly. “Kael…”

“What?” He asked, his voice calm but sounded hoarse.

I let out the words as soften as I could. “We're both taken.”

I watched him and the expression I expected landed on his face but all he uttered was, “I know.”

“We can't do this.” I went on. I wasn't ready to mince things and I didn't want him to start misunderstanding. We were both taken and we had to consider it even if it meant us struggling.

“I know.”

“Whatever this bond is, it doesn't change anything.”

He stared at me for a long moment. “No,” he said quietly. “It doesn't.”

I wasn't surprised that he didn't argue about us ending the bond. We both know he hurt me and if anyone would break the bond between us, it would be me. He hurt me and I haven't fully forgiven him for it.

Eventually, Kael looked away. “We should finish the project.”

I nodded. “Yes.”

We returned back to our work and I felt something changed. I realized since we both discovered we're mates, we were no longer running from each other. All we were doing was trying not to care about it, which was for the better.

My wolf was quiet. Almost peaceful. And deep inside, I knew why. She had finally gotten what she wanted. She has gotten the time with him and me? I just wasn't ready to admit that I wanted it too.