Chapter 34: To Love Is Divine


    A day before the carnival


    Can cautiously paced in his room to collect the things he required before meeting his best friend.


    With delicate footsteps and hushed movements he opened his drawer and retrieved the present he


    was going to give Archer. He pushed the drawer back and turned around. His sudden movement


    caused the bowl on the table to stumble down and make a nking sound.


    The girl on the bed woke up with the sudden noise. Her eyes took in every ray of light and she realised


    that she had slept for quite some time now. Her heart was pounding while she gulped in fear to asses


    her surroundings. She breathed in relief when she saw the apologetic face of Can.


    "I am really sorry... I never intended to wake you up."


    The girl nodded in understanding. Her eyes caught the visual of Can being dressed up. "Where are


    you going?" she asked rubbing her eyes.


    "I am going up to the mountains to meet my friend. I may not return home tonight. I had left a note for


    you." he shrugged and lowered his voice "But I guess there is no need for it now."


    "Thank you for giving me shelter." Her lips stretched in an innocent smile.


    "I really wanted to talk to you about that." Can sighed deeply before taking a seat on the bed besides


    the girl "My parents have been discharged from their duties so they will be in the house more so than


    often."


    The girl bowed her head while she looked at her fidgeting fingers "That would be a problem." she


    whispered to herself.


    "Yes. That would be a problem."


    She jerked her head to face the man with hopeful eyes "You cane up with an excuse right?"


    "Actually...." He puckered his lips in hesitation "You may not find me here the next time."


    "Why?"


    "I am leaving this pack forever."


    The moment the words left him, the girl was taken aback. She opened her lips but no word came out of


    her mouth. She looked at him and back to herself and after a pregnant pause she looked again at the


    man. "This is your home. Where would you go?" her lips trembled "What about me!? You cant just


    leave me here all alone." Fright was clear in her eyes.


    "Just hear me out please." Can put his palm on her hands in a gesture of sympathy. Small drops of


    transparent liquid were now freely flowing through the eyes of the girl. Can felt bad for the juvenile


    girl but he had no choice. He gathered his courage and breathed deeply "This cannot go on for very


    long. People will know sooner orter. You have to be open with your parents about it. I know your


    father, he will definitely help or at leaste up with a solution. You cannot hide forever."


    "He cannot do anything." She lowered her voice "The constraints surrounding us wont let him help me."


    The girl soon embraced the man in a desperate hug and clung to Can as if parting with him would


    cost the very life of her.


    "Please don''t cry." He caught her arms and leaned her back to face her. "Lets just talk about it next


    time." Can realised that the girl was being sensitive at this time and he had to make her understand


    his point of view. He decided to leave the matter unsolved and deal with itter when the girl was in her


    senses.


    "Breakfast is on the table and the decoction is in the blue bottle, make sure you apply it before you fall


    asleep. Take care." He kissed her forehead before leaving the house.


    ****


    The day of the carnival


    It was an emotional storm scattering Can''s feelings all over the ce. He was happy, he was excited,


    he was sad and he felt the longing within him. How many days had it been since he met her!? He never


    expected to see her after the day he broke her heart.


    Thedy in front of him was charming as ever. Her long curls were beautifully decorated on her


    forehead. Her gown was shining gold and standing out from the rest of the crowd. Even the


    adornments she wore added to the mystique of her beauty. She looked vibrant, she looked


    mesmerizing.


    Both of them looked at each other and their gazes locked.


    It was as if there was no one around them. The only thing they could see was one another. She smiled


    at him and a warmth soared his body. He smiled in response until he noticed that a treacherous bead


    had wet his cheek.


    Archer intervened in the moment when he saw his friends emotional turbulence "That''s all for today


    everyone. We have a clear winner. Thank you all for participating."


    The crowd dispersed at once muttering curses at thedy. Soon Archer, Fayette and the wolves also


    left the ce to gift the two of them some precious moments together. Both of them stared at each


    other for a long time. Each one of them having a lot to say, a lot to convey.


    It was awkward for both of them as they were finding it difficult to begin the conversation. A void of


    years could not be filled in with mere words. Finally after a long pause Julia broke the silence with a


    smile "Happy birthday Can."


    Can nodded and choked with glossy eyes and a cheerful grin "You haven''t changed a bit."


    "Usually people say ''Thank You'' in response." both of them chuckled. After a brief pause Julia said


    "You are more handsome than Ist saw you."


    The pure bliss to watch thedy in front of him brought back some good old memories. They were


    young and so in love. They cherished each other, praised their abilities and epted each others


    shorings. They were perfect for each other. The ideal couple.


    But Can''s fate had other ns.


    He still remembered the day he spoke to his parents about the girl and how he was shattered to know


    that he had no right to love any one. The most difficult part of it was to make Julia understand his


    predicament and break things with her amicably.


    He distanced himself from her, struggled to connect with his true self and when the day finally arrived


    he uttered the most dreadful words that broke him from the inside. He saw the struggle Julia had to


    face topose herself. Like she was forbidden to breathe. Like she was banned from existing. Like


    the most precious thing to her was taken away. She pleaded and even begged Can to ept her but


    he refused her advances and broke all the ties.


    Thest time he saw her, she was on her knees. A crying mess, sobbing her heart out, pushing the


    earth beneath with her hands in vulnerability; and here she was today. All elegant, charming anddy


    like. He resisted the urge to touch her and gulped his longing for her.


    "How are you?" He asked partly smiling, partly crying.


    "What do you think?" she winked her eyes.


    "Being a vige chief''s wife suits you. I hope you are happy." He whispered thest part.


    "Leonard loves me very much. He agreed to marry me even when he knew about us."


    "You seem to like him a lot." His breath got stuck and he paused for a moment before asking "Do you


    love him?"


    Can hesitated cause in reality he did not want to know the answer. A part of him wished that she


    loved him and no one else.


    "Not as much as I loved you.."


    She witnessed the dithering behaviour of the man and decided to lighten the mood by changing the


    subject "Let the past be in the past." She took a long breath of confidence "Tell me about yourself. I still


    see you hanging around with Archer. Don''t tell me you have fallen for him." she chuckled.


    He gawked at her in amusement before replying "I was in a few rtionships after we fell apart but they


    were nothingpared to you. None of them worked. I had hopes for me and a fellow packmate


    named Vi but it turned out that since I am not a wolf I am forbidden byw to pursue her. So I have


    given up my hope for love a long time ago."


    Julia put her hand on Can''s shoulder as a token of sympathy "Don''t say that. Destiny has its ways to


    bind people together."


    "It isnt that easy." He whispered in hopelessness.


    "Indeed It is not." She retrieved her hand and sighed "When you told me that you cannot marry me, I


    was devastated. I cried for days together, never left my room."


    "I am truly sorry." bumpy tear drops erupted from his eyes. He knew he was at fault. He had aspirations


    for their future. He colored her in his own vision, made her a part of his ns, showed her a fantasy


    world only to crush her dreams and leave her stranded all alone.


    He looked sideways to hide his shameful tears before making a courageous effort to look at her smiling


    face as she said "I had to aplish the duty to my father and so I agreed to marry someone else. I


    never lied to any of my suitors. I told them everything, even the fact that we slept together. I got


    rejected every time. When Leonard came to my house I was shocked."


    "Why?"


    "I never really liked him. He was a stalker, or that''s what i thought about him initially. He used to follow


    me everywhere since we were kids. It turned out he loved me for a long long time. He was


    apprehensive about himself, that he doesnt ''suit'' me because of his looks. He backed down when he


    saw that I was with you. So when he proposed a marriage I was taken aback." She chuckled a mild


    He said that having me in his life was a gift. As the days went on I cherished the moments between us,


    the efforts and dedication he put on to sustain this one sided marriage was remarkable. I realised that


    no one in the entire world could love me as he did and still does.."


    "I am really happy that you met Leonard." Can smiled as the burden of his repentance was now


    somewhat lighter. He was content that Julia was well taken care of. That she was being loved as she


    truly deserved.


    "Yes I am too. You know Can, I made him suffer so much! Never cooperated with him, threw


    tantrums and even made him cry. All of it just so that he could leave me alone, abandon me but he did


    not budge. He waited. He kept a firm resolve and did not expect anything in return. His patience and


    resilience was praiseworthy. He was so determined to win my love that I had to cave in eventually. I


    realised that you cannot fight your fate. So what I am trying to say here is that you should not be upset,


    just dont lose hope. I am sure there is someone made out there just for you."


    Theseforting words from someone important really filled Can''s mind with hope. Tomorrow he


    was going to leave his pack and live a life entirely new. A life which was meant for him. So why not give


    another chance to destiny and wait for his special someone. There was no harm in holding back a little.


    He stered an encouraging smile and ruffled Julia''s hair "Were you always this wise or is it the baby


    in you."


    "How did you know...?" she stared at him in shock as her biggest kept secret was revealed just like


    that. Most importantly what bothered her more was that it had been only a month and there were no


    clear signs to detect if she was pregnant. Then how did Can know?


    "I..I''m not sure." Can was surprised by his own revtion. He discerned the baby within her and not


    just that, he was even sure of the gender!


    But how? Was he hallucinating? Was something wrong with him?


    He looked at the glowing bracelet in his hand and panicked "I should leave."


    ****


    The same night at the opening of the forest


    Words had left him. Can stared at those dark, ck orbs with utter confusion and burning


    dubiousness. What had the demon done! No male wolf in his right mind would kiss another male. What


    had gotten into him? Einar had a mate for crying out loud! He wanted answers but he couldn''t will his


    lips to move. He was shell shocked.


    The demon on the other hand kept gawking at the entire self of his mate from afortably close


    distance. He lovingly looked at him with a smile "It is the first moment in this lifetime that we met as we


    were intended to." He propelled his body ahead and embraced Can in his aura. Hended his feet


    on the ground and went close to his ears "You look more beautiful than you used to be." He whispered


    in a husky tone.


    It was as if this moment had knocked every wisp of air from Can''s lungs. He did not know how to


    respond or what to say. He stood there struggling, unable to do anything. When his lips finally moved


    he could only think of uttering the question which was killing his brain "Wh.. Why d..did you k-kiss me."


    The demon smiled and he slowly leaned forward to kiss the cheeks of Can taking him by surprise


    "Because you are my mate." The demon stated as a matter of fact.


    "No! I am not!" Can retorted. Can''s mind froze at the statement made by the demon. How could


    the demon have the audacity to even think of touching someone else when he already had a mate! The


    wolf and the demon shared the same body and hence by nature it was written in stone that they were


    to have the same mate. In fact Einar had even announced Rosaline as his Luna to the entire pack.


    Then what was the demon bbering about? Could it be possible that the demon was tricking him so


    that he could ask for his soul and feed on it.


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    With a firm resolve and a tough stand Can moved his chin up "I cant be. What if Einar knows


    about....."


    "Ahh.. He wanted to kiss you for a long time now." Can''s mouthy hung open on the revtion "He


    has been dreaming about these lips every night. I just made his wishe true." The demon caressed


    the mans lips with his forefinger. Can subconsciously took a step back as the spirit chuckled at his


    innocence "The human thinks he can control me and restrict me from meeting you. How stupid can he


    be! I have told you before my love, no power in this world can separate you and me. I will destroy


    everything that stands between us!"


    At that very moment, lightening illuminated a brilliant pathway in the sky making a thunderous boom


    "You are doing it again." Can was confused by the demons words but soon the demon chuckled as


    he pointed skywards at the crazy zig-zags "Threatening me.."


    Can shifted his focus in a jiffy and looked at the glowing bracelet. He then observed the serene but


    knowing features of the demon as if the glowing of the locket was nothing unusual to him. Was it


    possible that the demon knew about the magical powers of the bracelet all along!? And if yes than why


    did he hid it from Einar, his true being.


    "I understand that you are in a dilemma between holding to your facts and epting the truth but the


    fact remains the same. YOU ARE MY MATE."


    "I don''t believe you." Can whisper shouted at the spirit.


    The demon smiled "You will.. Soon."


    Can squinted his eyes when he heard those words. He wanted to believe that the spirit was lying but


    some where deep down he had apprehensions about his own truth.


    To think of it, the demon had saved him on different life threatening situations. He could have easily fed


    on Can when he had the chance. Besides he never talked to anyone in the entire pack but him; not


    even with Rosaline!


    These thoughts were unsettling for Can. His mind was sinking in a pool of anxiousness. He was not


    confident to even face the demon eye to eye. His mind was filled with a chain of puzzles right now


    which he was unable to solve.


    "What do you want from me?" He gulped with evident fear.


    "Nothing.." he brushed some air to the dangling hair on Can''s forehead "Yet I want everything from


    you."


    He kept his gaze stoic as he looked into the deep mesmerizing green eyes of the handsome man.


    Can felt exposed and slightly awkward at the constant gawking of the other worldly being. The


    demon slightly tilted his head "The human was right.."


    Can squinted his brows at the demon as he hesitatingly asked "A-About what?"


    "The fact that you have the most alluring eyes in the entire world." As if instinctively, Can rapidly


    blinked his eyes and wet his dry lips. He tried to avert his gaze but somehow it was difficult for him to


    look away.


    The demon sighed "My existence in this world is solely for one purpose.. YOU."


    Can''s heart beats hammered at a new high. It felt like his rib cage would soon explode with the


    constant thoughts of what happening to him. The words of the demon were unnerving him. He had to


    settle this once and for all otherwise he was sure of his hearts failure to pump any more blood. Can


    opened his mouth to speak but held back when he saw the disoriented eyes of the demon. They were


    emitting some glowing mist of their own and werepletely unfocused.


    The demon came out of his trance and looked at Can with a stoic expression "We have guests.." he


    smirked devilishly "It will be fun."


    The demon held one of Can''s palm to kiss it "I have to handle some business my love. I have to


    ensure your safety. You have a lot on your mind right now and I promise to answer every of your


    questions when we meet next." He caressed the cheeks of the man "I wont let anyone jeopardize my


    love for you. Not the wolves; not the world; AND CERTAINLY NOT THE HUMAN." he hissed at thest


    words.


    The demon slowly floated in air and looked at Can with intense eyes "Wait for me on the next full


    moon my love. I hope that you think of me until then; cause you are going to be on my mind always."


    He lifted himself higher and elerated towards the depths of the jungle.


    Can saw the figure vanishing from afar and was glued to the spot in apprehension. What just


    transpired? He could not wrap around his head for what just happened moments ago. Tension grew in


    his face and his limbs, his mind reying the memory from before. His breathing became rapid and


    shallow. His primal surge was to flee the ce and secure himself in a safe haven.


    But no ce could give him respite at this moment. The torment was real and he wanted answers. He


    scanned his area and waited for a brief period before exhaling long breaths. Standing here would not


    solve his problems. With a firm resolve and determination he headed to the ce to meet the person


    who knew it all.


    ********