I Would Rather Be a Rogue [BL]
Chapter 30: Nothing Between Us

Chapter 30: Nothing Between Us

For the next few days, Kade didn’t come to bother Felix. Well, he still wandered around, ’mysteriously’ appearing somewhere in Felix’s sight when the Omega was out shopping, or eating in Crossroads at an increased frequency, but he didn’t try to talk to Felix. Approach him, get close, get all touchy-feely.

Thus, Felix could finally catch a breath, not having to resist the overwhelming pull caused by the fated bond. It was such a relief, truly. His wolf might disagree, but...

Felix and his wolf had been constantly disagreeing ever since he turned eighteen. It’s been close to half a year already, he was getting used to it.

Like, right now. Felix rushed through the front entrance into Crossroads, huffing slightly after the brisk walk. Kade was already inside, sitting by his usual table. Their eyes met, Felix’s wolf whined, but Felix marched on, only nodding at Eden in a greeting before pushing the ’staff only’ door. He walked into the staff room, got changed, and went to the kitchen, as if nothing was wrong.

Fake it till you make it approach. Pretend that you’re fine, and you eventually will be.

Maybe.

At least the way things were, he could almost get Kade out of his mind. That is, until Eden had to enter the kitchen, and ruin it all by asking,

"Did you two argue or something?"

"What do you mean?" Felix chose to play dumb.

"What do you mean ’what do you mean’? You haven’t exchanged a word. In days!"

"And why would we?" Not taking his eyes off the potatoes he was peeling, Felix shrugged his shoulders. "There’s nothing for us to talk about."

But Eden pressed on. "Do you really need a special topic to talk with your mate? And it’s not just talking, you didn’t even-"

"We’re not mates," Felix instantly denied.

Only for Eden to just as quickly point out, "He likes you though."

"He doesn’t."

"He does! The way he looks at you..."

Felix gritted his teeth. Yes, of course, he knew how Kade looked at him. However, it wasn’t ’liking’. It was that damned fated mate bond messing with their minds. And besides...

"So what? Even if he were to like me. Why should I care? Just because he is a powerful Alpha, do I have to submit myself to him, whether I like him or not?"

"But... don’t you like him? The way you look-"

"I don’t!" Felix involuntarily raised his voice, his fingers tightening on the firm, raw potato so hard he had almost crushed it. "Why do you even care? What’s in it for you?"

"Ah?" Surprised by the sudden outburst, Eden couldn’t help but pause. "I’m sorry if I got it wrong, I just thought that maybe you two quarreled, so..."

"Not just now. We’ve already talked about it several times, and I’ve made it all too clear that there’s nothing between us. And yet you still go on about it!"

Silence fell between them, disturbed only by the quiet sound of the radio playing. The restaurant wasn’t busy, so the chef stepped out for a cigarette a few minutes ago, so the two Omegas were alone. For a good moment, they just stood there, looking at each other, Eden in a bit of a shock, while Felix glaring daggers, his breathing shallow and short.

Soon enough though, the emotions started slowly subsiding, and Felix put the potato and the peeler down with a sigh.

He didn’t mean to snap at Eden like that. Yeah, the man was a bit nosy, but he probably didn’t mean to be so insensitive. And it wasn’t as if Felix never asked Eden any personal questions. It’s just that, Kade was a touchy subject. With Felix’s patience already having been worn thin, combined with the crankiness caused by his pregnancy, he had momentarily lost his cool, and blew up. Taking his frustration out on the innocent Eden.

"Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that," he said in a tired voice, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I really appreciate all your help, and that you’re trying to look out for me. It’s just that..."

"No, no, I should be the one to apologize!" Eden quickly waved his hand. "I was the one to overstep, without considering that it might make you uncomfortable. The truth is, you just remind me of myself... So, I can’t help but want to help you out."

"Remind you... of yourself?" Felix tilted his head.

In what way? The two of them seemed to have nothing in common, save for the fact that they were both Omegas and rogue wolves!

"When I was younger," Eden specified. "When I first arrived in Silverfall. I was just like you back then, withdrawn, alone, trying to hide my face, and distrustful of everyone around me, having just escaped from my former pack."

"So, I know what it’s like," he added after a moment of silence. "To be rejected by your mate."

"Huh." Felix only hummed in response, not really knowing what to say. That wasn’t what happened to him - unfortunately. He was actually jealous of those who were rejected, but he probably shouldn’t say that to Eden! - but there was no need to correct the man. It was rather convenient for him that Eden misunderstood.

Still, it was quite hard to believe. Felix couldn’t imagine Eden being withdrawn at all. And the Omega seemed to be only a few years older than him, so he couldn’t possibly be on the run for THAT long?

"So that’s why you’re a rogue?" he couldn’t help but ask. "If you don’t mind me asking."

"Well... Yeah. To put it simply... My chosen mate had found his fated one. So I was dumped... And apparently that still wasn’t enough." A mirthless chuckle escaped Eden’s throat, very different from how he usually laughed. "The fated mate was rather... displeased with my existence, thus I had no choice but to run for my life."

"...Oh." Felix was momentarily speechless. That... wasn’t quite the story he had expected. He thought it was just a bad breakup, and Eden left because he couldn’t stand seeing his former mate... "I’m sorry, uh, I don’t know what to say..."

"Eh, it’s just whatever." Eden shrugged it off. "It’s been so long, I’m over it!"

But the redness of his eyes suggested otherwise.