Ashes and Scales: Remember Us, Mate

Chapter 9: Rejected

AUTHOR’S POV

The room fell silent as Lukas and Ethan realized the gravity of the situation before Ethan finally broke the quiet, his tone laced with confusion.

“So, what do we do with this information? What’s our next step?”

Lukas shrugged with a grim expression on his face. “I don’t think there’s much we can do. Keir is what he is. This isn’t exactly a human world anyway.”

Ethan's brow furrowed. “But aren’t you curious? Doesn’t this intrigue you?” he asked.

Lukas sighed deeply. “Of course, I’m curious. But it doesn’t matter how curious I am; it’s not going to give us answers. Whatever Keir is, that’s his business. All we can do is watch our backs and be grateful that whatever it is revealed itself.”

Ethan’s shoulders sagged as he nodded reluctantly. “I suppose you’re right. He could be some kind of new wolf species,” he said, and Lukas agreed.

“Plus, we can’t just walk up to him and say, ‘Hey, our stones turned gray around you. What are you?’ Besides, they fired him, so he’s not our concern anymore.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I suppose it’s best to let it go. My shift is over anyway, and I stayed late just to get these results," Ethan said, looking at the clock. He and Lukas agreed to go home and forget about what they had discovered.

But Ethan knew the curiosity would persist. It would be so much easier if they could just ask Keir—if there wasn’t so much secrecy between them. Sometimes it frustrated him. They were all suffering and needed each other, but the distrust kept them apart. When would it end? He believed that the success of their mission depended on their unity.

As he got into his car, he pushed the questions to the back of his mind. Between his normal hospital shift and the overtime he worked every night, he was exhausted.

•••

MAIA

The drive home felt endless as my mind raced, thinking about the gift, thinking about Keir, hoping it would cheer him up. As soon as I arrived at the house, I dashed inside, barely saying a word to my mother before heading straight for the shower. The hot water helped wash away some of the anxious energy, but it couldn’t stop my excitement from bubbling up again. I changed into something more comfortable, and just as I was about to leave, my mother stopped me.

"I made your favorite pizza for lunch and saved some for you," she said, smiling and pointing to the kitchen.

But I couldn’t eat right now. "I can't eat, Mom. I’m too excited, I have to check on Keir," I blurted, bouncing on my feet. Her gaze shifted to the bag in my hand.

"What's in the bag?"

"It's a gift for Keir. Courtesy of my boss," I said quickly, already inching toward the door before I remembered to ask about my father’s decision.

Mom's face turned somber in response to my question, causing my own heart to drop. She told me Dad had spoken with Keir, and he did not take it well. My heart clenched for Keir. I’d be terrified too if something that strange happened to me. Mom also mentioned Dad's theory about Keir's grandmother, and I agreed that it made sense.

“I’ll see you later,” I said to her, the mood suddenly somber before I sprinted down the street toward Keir's place, the bag swinging by my side.

Eventually, I arrived and knocked. "Come in!" I heard Keir’s voice from the other side, and I pushed open the door, my pulse racing even faster.

Keir looked up as I walked in, and I rushed over to hug him tightly.

“How are you feeling?” I asked, and he let out a deep sigh.

“I don’t really know,” he admitted, his tone weary. I took his hand.

"I am so sorry," I said softly, explaining that I was aware of everything, including the possibility that his grandmother was a werewolf. “I’m sorry about everything... about your mate rejecting you.”

Keir let out a dry chuckle when the word "mate" was mentioned. “Who would’ve thought I’d have a mate?” he said, shaking his head.

I squeezed his hand tighter, noticing the pain in his eyes despite his attempts to brush it off. “It’s okay. She ended up with the better man,” he added, looking away.

I reached out and gently turned his face towards me. “Hey,” I said softly. “There can be no better than a mate.”

His eyes softened as he listened. “You’re an amazing person, Keir. Any wolf would be lucky to be mated to you. Whoever she is, it’s her loss.”

He gave me a sad smile, whispering, "Thank you." I told him I was only telling the truth and that he did not have to act strong around me—he did not have to pretend. “I know you didn’t expect to have a mate, but I also know it can’t be easy being rejected.”

I told him I was here for him, and after thanking me again, we shared another hug. As we pulled back, I smiled. “I have something for you.”

“Oh, yeah? What is it?” he asked, the smile not as sad as before. I handed him the bag.

He asked again what it was, and I teased him, telling him to open it and stop acting as if he had never received a gift before. He laughed, then reached into the bag for the small, wrapped box. His eyes lit up at the sight of the watch and my heart skipped a beat.

“You like it?” I asked. He looked at me, still gaping, and said it was beautiful and that he loved it. But then he added that it looked expensive, giving me a look that silently asked where I got the money. So I quickly explained that it was courtesy of my boss. I told him she saw how unwell I was today, and after asking what was wrong, she gave me her "One-Time Privilege Card" and told me I could get him a gift.

"Wow, and she did not mind that you purchased this?" He asked, and I shook my head.

“She’s Zoraya Busco. She has enough money to buy these for the entire town ten times over," I said, smiling, before asking him to hand over the watch so I could put it on him. He did, and I fastened it around his wrist. It was perfect, as I had expected.

"Beautiful," I said, and he thanked me again before pulling me into another hug.

There was a flicker of something I couldn’t name in his eyes as we pulled back from the hug, and I asked him what was wrong. He apologized, and I asked why. He said, “For making you sad today.”

“You didn’t make me sad, Keir,” I said firmly. “There’s nothing you need to apologize for. What makes me sad is... my love for you.”

The second those words slipped out of my mouth, my eyes widened in shock. Did I just tell him I loved him? Panic flooded my chest, and I quickly added, “I mean, my love for you as a friend!” My voice wavered as I forced out words that could not be further from the truth. But I felt exposed, like I had just opened a door to my heart that I had kept locked because I knew if I went there, there would be no coming back.

However, before I could pull away, Keir’s hand shot out and grabbed my arm, his grip firm. Our faces had been close, but now it felt like the distance between us was almost nonexistent. His intense eyes bore into mine as he asked, “Do you really?”

I blinked, feeling my breath catch in my throat. "Really, what?" I managed to ask, albeit in a whisper.

“Love me... as a friend?”

His words hung in the air, thick with tension, and the way he looked at me sent a shiver down my spine. My heart pounded in my chest, so loud I was sure he could hear it. Before I even had a chance to think, the word slipped past my lips.

“No,” I whispered, my gaze still locked with his. "I am in love with you, Keir Chaddock," I confessed, a rush of emotion coursing through me, knowing there was no turning back after this. "I have always been—" I said, but I could not finish the sentence.

Keir's lips collided with mine, cutting off my words. His hand cupped the back of my neck, bringing me closer as his lips moved against mine, sending shockwaves through my entire body. All of the feelings I had been holding deep inside surfaced as my heart raced. I kissed him back, my hands gripping his shirt, clinging to him as if I’d been waiting for this moment forever.