My Youth Began With Him Novels & Stories

My life had only just begun. —The End

I initiate the conversation, trying to break the uncomfortable silence between us. “I’m thinking,” he replies, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “About what?” He shifts his eyes towards me. “About how different my life could’ve been.” My brows narrow at his words. “What do you mean?” “I never really had a chance to enjoy my youth,” he admits, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “When my parents died, I had to grow up fast and take on responsibilities I wasn’t ready for. Your father... he was there for me when I needed someone, but life still hasn’t been easy.”

I met him for the first time on the day I turned sixteen. He had been holding flowers and chocolate, had on big glasses, freckles, acne, and pants that were two sizes too big. Now, I met him again at twenty-six. He had a tattoo on the side of his neck, a gold ring pierced into his lower lip, his eyes thin, his thumb hovering above the trigger of the gun he was toying around with as he held my gaze. "Remember me?"

"That sounds like a good memory." "It is one of the only uncomplicated ones I have of him," he said. "Everything after that got tangled up with duty eventually. The lessons started young. By the time I was twelve I understood that my childhood had an expiration date that most children did not have to think about." I let that settle between us, the weight of it familiar in a way that ached. "I understand that more than you might think," I said quietly. He looked at me then, properly, the last of the light catching the gold in his eyes.

He had lived, and he had breathed, and he had laughed. Xavier’s chest constricted with a pain so sharp it felt as if a blade were twisting in his ribs. He remembered the first time he met that boy in the United States. He had looked so irritatingly smug, approaching Xavier with a troop of followers that cleared out half the cafeteria. "Hi! I heard you're from Haicheng," the boy had said, flashing a grin that was far too bright for a stranger. "That makes us half-hometown brothers. Since destiny brought us together, how about I look out for you from now on?"

I paused, trying to remember the first time I met him. I cleared my throat and started, "Well, I was in the Winter Pack at the time, and I was already a teenager. I happened to see him back then and thought to myself that he was so handsome. We briefly met eyes, but he looked away. He was so cold that I felt dejected at the time." Their eyes widened. "So, you met him when you were both teenagers? Wow. If I remember right, he became Alpha at a very young age."

I said quietly. My voice felt calmer than I expected. “But until you’re ready… I’ll continue.” I exhaled slowly, gathering what little strength I had left. “As I mentioned… at sixteen, I started training on my own.” My eyes drifted slightly, as if I could see it all again. “The clearing by the cliff became my escape, my punishment, my… refuge.” I swallowed. “And then at seventeen,” my lips pressed together briefly. “On the eve of my birthday, I met Kade.”

He really knew how to protect himself. I gave him one last look, and the boy from my youth turned to ashes.

He smoothed a tangled part of his hair caused by a sudden gush of wind. I have known this man since we were teenagers, back from the time when my existence wasn’t acknowledged yet by my own father, the leader of the Bratva. I used to come to their family’s shop in order to learn how to create tattoos and since we were about the same age, we became good friends until now. Of all the club members that I have, he knew my dark past well. I remained silent and continued to bask on the mountainous scenery in front of us.

His Angel, just as he was my savior. This marked the start of our tale…