Where is Kaelen

Elyra’s POV

I gazed into the eyes of my best friend, suddenly feeling wide-awake after having felt very sleepy only a few moments ago.

“Regarding Kaelen?” I asked.

She nodded silently.

I shoved the blankets off and sat upright in bed. “What happened?”

She seemed awkward; she didn’t know if she ought to tell me or not. “I saw him in the hospital yesterday.”

Confusion etched into my features. “In the hospital?”

“Yes.” She spoke quietly. “I was visiting my mother in the hospital, and I saw him there; he was with a doctor, and he didn’t look well.”

I recalled Kaelen standing in the pouring rain, the anger that radiated out of him when I asked how he was doing. “How did he look?”

"I don't know. He looked pale, and he was clutching his chest. I wanted to ask him what was happening, but he left before I could talk to him." She answered, fiddling with her fingers.

I looked at my hands.

I had sensed that something wasn't quite right with him, too, but I had ignored it since I didn't think it was my concern. The last time I had spoken to him, I had ended up regretting it.

"Maybe he was just sick," I mumbled.

"Maybe," she said. "But I thought you ought to know."

I nodded. "Thanks for letting me know."

She smiled at me and then stood up. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to tell me. Also, would you be going to the party tonight?"

"I will." I said with a smile.

She turned towards the door and walked out. As soon as she was gone, I slumped against the wall.

Kaelen in the hospital.

Kaelen asking for pills.

Kaelen looking ill.

My brain managed to connect all those dots but I still wasn't sure about it. I reached for my phone and checked the time. My cramps had started getting worse and I found myself curling in the bed.

There was no time to think about Kaelen.

I had enough of my own problems.

I quickly opened my messages, found Veyra's number and started typing a message.

"Any news?"

I stared at my phone for a second and added one more message.

"What else did you get?"

Afterwards, I opened our chat with Darian and noticed that he hadn't read my message yet.

"Can you call me whenever you are free?"

I put my phone next to me. I anticipated at least one of them would pick up within a short while. They both failed. Minutes became hours, then another hour passed. Checking on my phone several times, I could not find anything. Finally, I got exhausted. I lay back and closed my eyes. Waking up to nearly dark room, I found myself at a loss as to what was happening. Then it all came back to me.

I grabbed my phone. Only one message from Darian.

"Good night, babe." Even though it was only 5 PM in the afternoon.

I frowned. While he ignored my request of calling me, he still found time to wish me goodnight.

I immediately called him.

It rang several times before he picked it up. "Hey, babe."

"Hi." I replied in a tone full of anger.

"You alright?" He asked.

"Yeah." I replied while sitting straight in my bed. "How about you?"

"I'm fine, just tired." He replied and yawned.

I stopped. “How about your younger brother?”

Silence.

For just a split second.

But that was enough.

“He’s alright.” Darian responded.

I looked at the wall.

His younger brother.

The day before yesterday, he told me that he came home because his younger sister was ill. Even when I knew that he had no siblings at all, I still believed him. Now, I deliberately used the term brother to see whether he remembers his lies, but surprisingly, he didn’t.

"That’s good." I finally managed to say.

“You called just to ask that?” He asked.

“No.” I made myself sound like everything is okay. “I just wanted to hear your voice.”

He chuckled. “I miss you too. I’ll make up for that once I get back. I promise.”

I wanted to ask him where he had been. I wanted to ask him about Veyra. I wanted to send him all the pictures she showed me and get some explanations from him.

But I didn't.

"Get some sleep," I told him finally.

"You too, babe," he answered me and hung up.

I watched the phone for quite some time. He had lied to me; there was no more doubt. I put away the idea and got out of bed; today was the day of the academy party, and I promised myself not to spend the whole night feeling depressed.

I packed my bag and went to purchase the dress. Buying it, I left the store and went towards the dorms. I stopped seeing Kaelen standing in front of my door.

"What are you doing here?"

He looked at me. "I came to give you this back." He took out the envelope from somewhere and handed it to me.

I just looked at it. "What is it?"

"Money." His reply came and he rubbed his neck.

I opened it and saw the exact amount I paid for his medicine. "You don’t need to give me this."

"I do." His reply came.

"Kaelen, it was only medicine." My statement followed and I returned the envelope to him.

"I don’t like owing people. So just take this envelope and quit making things difficult." His reply came.

The words stung more than what I expected them to sting. I looked at him.

"You don’t owe me anything." I told him while giving him back the envelope.

"Just take the envelope Elyra." His hand remained extended toward me. "Take it."

I let out a sigh and accepted the money. "Okay."

He nodded once. "Good." He started walking away from me.

"Kaelen." My voice called out to him.

He stopped. "Yeah?"

I did not want to say it but there was something that I wanted to say. "Take care of yourself."

He glanced back at me, but his expression was unidentifiable. He walked away from me without an answer.I watched him walk down the hallway.

But I still had this nagging feeling that he was withholding some information from me.

I called Veyra. No answer. I called again. Still no answer.

Since I had been ignoring my mother the day before, I decided to return home first before going to the party.

“Why aren’t you busy today?” Seraphine smiled as she opened the door for me.

“Yesterday I was busy,” I said, entering the house. “Today, though, I have a party to go to in a few hours.”

She pulled me into a hug before I could say more. We settled down in the living room where I told her about Darian.

“I think he’s cheating on me.”

“I don’t know. But there’s another girl who says she’s his girlfriend, and Darian has been lying to me,” I finally admitted to my mother. “I don’t know, Mom, I mean I trust him, but…”

My mother grabbed my hand. “Listen to your intuition, Elyra.”

“There’s something wrong,” I whispered.

“I know,” she told me as she rubbed her thumb on my cheeks.

I looked at my phone but remembered that I had taken a picture of some medication. “Mom?”

“Yes?”

I opened up the picture and showed it to her. “What is the use of this medication?”

She saw the name in the picture on my phone. “How have you seen this?”

“Later, just tell me now.” I asked.

She took away the phone from my hands. “I give this medicine to Alaric when his curse acts up.”

“Curse?”

“Yes.”

I straightened up. “Did it pass on to Kaelen too?”

My mother grew solemn. “I am not sure. However, there is a high possibility.”

I gave her a sharp look. “Why?”

“Because Alaric’s curse was related to his ancient family bloodline. The mate bond between your stepfather and Maevra kept it suppressed for many years. When she passed away, the mate bond was broken.” My mother paused. “And Kaelen is the descendant who is the closest one to it.”

My stomach clenched. “Do you mean it may have passed on to him?”

“It is possible,” she admitted. “Especially because his wolf had been showing symptoms of weakness already.”

Suddenly, all of his behavior made a bit of sense to me. Before I could question her any further, my phone buzzed. It was time to go to the party. “I have to leave now.”

My mother gave me a sad smile. “Stay safe today.”

“I will,” I promised as I kissed her cheeks.

I headed back to the academy and put on my dress before going to the party. The hall was already packed when I arrived.

There was music everywhere, people dancing, and the air in the room felt completely different from how it did all day long due to the stress.

Eventually, Coach Iris managed to assemble the girls’ team. "Well, let me congratulate each one of you," she said with pride. "You really deserved this victory."

The girls cheered. Coach Iris smiled and turned to the boys' team. "Now you have to be prepared for the next school. Otherwise, we would be the only team enjoying the celebration while you are playing like that. Go and enjoy the party now."

Some of the kids laughed. I smiled but my thoughts were not about the party itself. It was about Darian, Veyra, and, unfortunately, about Kaelen as well. I quickly glanced around the room. There he was.

Kaelen stood alone in the corner of the room, far away from other people.

He kept his head down. No drinks in his hands, no conversations with anyone. Just standing there, as if he did not even belong here.

I observed him for a few moments and something just felt off. I told myself to shake it off but I couldn’t.

Finally, when he raised his head, I saw that his face was pale. After a few more minutes, Kaelen got up from the wall and walked toward the exit. I took some time thinking about what I should do but I followed after him.

I made my way through the crowds and came outside.

As soon as I stepped out, I scanned the surroundings. Nothing.

Kaelen was nowhere to be found around the entrance. I moved further ahead down the pathway but he still wasn’t there. His car was missing too. I looked around in circles wondering where he could have gone.

He was walking out right before my eyes just a moment ago but now where could he have gone?