Tasting Darkness

Chapter 79 

“Psst. wake up. We are leaving,” Lycus says, shaking Kalen’s shoulder and waking him. Kalen groans and rolls over to see Lycus hovering above him.

“What’s wrong?” Kalen whispers, sitting up and rubbing his eyes while yawning.

Lycus grabs Kalen’s face, that was still covered in lash marks. “We are leaving. We are better off on our own,” Lycus tells him, pulling Kalen’s pajama shirt off and dressing him. Kalen’s sleeping medication made him extra groggy and almost nonfunctioning,

“Where will we go?” Kalen mumbles, trying to lay back down when Lycus grabs him under the arms forcing him to his feet. “Anywhere they can’t touch you,” Lycus growls before chucking a bag over his shoulder

Kalen doped off his face from the medication woke up later at the bus stop, having no memory of the walk there. It was freezing cold, snow-covered the ground and Lycus was rubbing his arms, trying to warm him, who was leaning on him. The motion having woken Kalen, he peered around, confused.

“Shh, go to sleep,” Lycus murmurs, and Kalen trusts Lycus to keep him safe, so he does just that.

They lived like that for years. Living day to day. Taking any odd jobs they could find, Lycus, at one stage, even became a male stripper to get them by. His werewolf genes made him appear older than he was, and as much as Lycus hated it, he did more than just strip for the filthy old pub tarts as he called them to get them by until he realized he was hurting Kalen and I was shoved into one of Kalen’s happiest memories.

Na

Lycus had just come out to the kitchen at the back of the strip club where Kalen washed dishes, covered i n sweat with money stuffed in his briefs. Kalen hung up his apron as his shift ended before stalking off out the back.

“Kalen?” Lycus asked, chasing after him and pulling clothes on as he chased after him, but Kalen hated seeing Lycus with women and found it made him jealous. He didn’t know what to think of the strange feelings he had for him. He thought it wrong to feel that way.

Trudging home in the snow, they were currently sleeping in a tent at a nearby park, both still too young to rent a place, and neither had ID. “Kalen, did something happen?” Lycus asks him, catching up to him, but Kalen ignores him and keeps walking home. When they get to the small park at the back of the pub, Kalen unzips the tent and climbs in, sitting on his makeshift bed.

“What’s got into you?”

“Nothing?”

“Well, something is wrong,” Lycus says, sniffing himself. He shudders, he hated how they pawed at him, hated the things he had to do, but he did them so they could survive. When Kalen doesn’t answer, Lycus growls before stomping out of the tent and toward the toilets. There was a shower in there, but it only had cold water, but it was better than nothing. When he returned, Kalen continued to ignore him.

“Kalen,” Lycus said, and he looked up at Lycus. He passes Kalen a burger he must have got on his way home. Kalen sighs but takes it. Lycus sits across from him, eating his own food.

“You were in the red room,” Kalen muttered, taking a bite of his sandwich. Lycus shrugs like it is no big deal.

“Filthy whore, she was married too,” Lycus says, his eyes flicking to Kalen’s.

“What?” Lycus asks, but Kalen shakes his head, going back to eating his food.

“You have been really strange lately. What’s got into you? Have you run out of medication? I can pull a double tomorrow?” Lycus tells him. Kalen mutters under his breath, and Lycus growls at him. Kalen knew he was annoyed. They told each other everything. Well, except for one thing, he never told Lycus how he felt about him. When they finish eating, Lycus rummages through their bags, looking for Kalen’s sleepina pills, and sighs.

“You are out. Why didn’t you say anything?” Lycus asks.

“I don’t want you selling yourself. I hate the smell of them on you,”

“It’s just sex. It’s no big deal,” Lycus says before he sighs.

“To me, it’s not! They are using you!” Kalen screams, and Lycus seems startled by his outburst. Kalen hardly raised his voice, and he was quick to apologize.

“I’m sorry, forget I said anything,” Kalen mutters, rubbing his temples. He could feel a headache coming o

“I don’t mind. It is fine,” Lycus tells him. “I will speak to Bill about doing more shifts,” Lycus says, and Kalen curses, getting to his feet to storm out of the tent. Only Lycus grips his arm, tugging him back.” What did I say this time? What is wrong?” Lycus asks. This time he was becoming angry with Kalen’s lack of answers. Kalen’s face heats with embarrassment.

“I’m being stupid. It must be my meds,” Kalen tells him with a shake of his head, turning to leave the tent s o he could shower. Kalen froze in the shower, and by the time he got out and returned to the tent, he was shivering and regretting showering in the first place. His teeth chattered as he rubbed his arms, and tonight it was snowing, making it just a little chillier; Kalen hated the cold.

Lycus was reading with a torch between his teeth when he entered. Kalen falls onto the swag beside him, and Lycus looks over at him before lifting his blanket and chucking it over Kalen. Lycus would sometimes shift, knowing his fur would keep him warm and help warm Kalen.

“I’m fine,” Kalen growls.

“You’re freezing,” Lycus tells him as Kalen wriggles beneath his blanket. Lycus places his torch down before sighing and moving closer to Kalen.

“I can shift?” Lycus says, but Kalen felt guilty about their argument and believed he didn’t deserve a friend like him.

“Man, this tent is fucking boring when you are so quiet,” Lycus says, laying down.

“Why don’t you go sleep with one of your whores? I am sure they will keep you entertained,” Kalen spits bitterly, not meaning for the words to spill from his lips.

“What the fuck is your problem?” Lycus snaps at him before gripping his shoulder and flinging Kalen on his back. He glares down at him.

“Fucking answer, I am sick of your snide comments. Do you think I want to fuck them? It’s a job. It keeps u s fed,” Lycus snaps at him.

seem to enjoy it, or you wouldn’t keep doing

sake, if you have something to say, Kalen, fucking say it. I am sick of guessing where

fucking them. You earn enough without

way to cover it,” Guilt smashes into

Kalen shakes his

tells him. Kalen mutters under his breath, and Lycus growis at him. Kalen knew he was annoyed. They told each other everything. Well, except for one thing, he never told Lycus how he felt about him. When they finish eating, Lycus rummages

out. Why didn’t you say anything?” Lycus

selling yourself. I hate the smell of them on

big deal,” Lycus says before he

using you!” Kalen screams, and Lycus seems startled by

Kalen mutters, rubbing his temples. He could feel a

n.

Kalen curses, getting to his feet to storm out of the tent. Only Lycus grips his arm, tugging him back.” What did I say this time? What is wrong?” Lycus asks. This time he was becoming angry with Kalen’s lack

shower, and by the time he got out and returned to the tent, he was shivering and regretting showering in the first place. His teeth chattered as he

looks over at him before lifting his blanket and chucking it over Kalen. Lycus would sometimes shift, knowing his fur would

“I’m fine,” Kalen growls.

wriggles beneath his blanket. Lycus

felt guilty about their argument

you are so quiet,” Lycus says, laying

sleep with one of your whores? I am sure they will keep

the fuck is your problem?” Lycus snaps at him before gripping his shoulder and flinging Kalen on his

think I want to fuck them? It’s a job. It keeps u s

it, or you wouldn’t keep doing

you have something to say, Kalen, fucking say it. I am sick

you fucking them. You earn

expensive. It’s the only way to

Kalen says, but Lycus

went into withdrawal and had a fucking seizure,” Lycus

you have to do

It means nothing to them or me,” Kalen shoves him back and

can’t stand knowing the person I love is their fucking some

you with them!” Kalen yells, blurting everything out, only realizing what he said when it was too late to take it back. Lycus

Lycus asks, and Kalen’s face heats and

when Lycus pounces on him, a scream bubbling up his throat. He had pushed Lycus too far. Lycus would abandon

pressed to his. He had always secretly wondered if they were as

you want, Kalen? You want me?” Lycus asks, pulling back to look at him. When he does Lycus rocks his hips against Kalen, and he realizes Lycus had an

something,” Lycus

from him. “What I

thing,” Lycus says, and Kalen looks

grossed out?” Kalen

too? No! I always have. I just didn’t want to act on it.

me?” Kalen asks,

didn’t,” Lycus tells him before smiling and dipping his face

know, I love you too,” Lycus whispers. That was one of the first times Kalen

that Lycus was aware sleeping with women hurt Kalen, he stopped, which sent them back to having nothing. Lycus was okay with that as long as he had Kalen. Kalen, however, felt he was ruining Lycus’s life. Stopped him from becoming who he could become, and when their magic manifested, fear rushed through Kalen when he saw Darius and Tobias’s names appear on their wrists. The marking made more shocking when they realized they were mates

18th birthday. Both of them were sitting at the park under a tree in the sweltering summer heat. Kalen had felt faint all day from having not eaten. Neither of them had found anything much to eat, and the days were so hot now. Lycus was too weak and dehydrated to try to get to the forest outside the city so Lycus could hunt for them and Kalen was

will help?” Lycus

Darius Wraith. He will kill us,” Kalen

fear the

We are technically his mates,” Lycus

near, he would have

him. Besides, I don’t see much bad stuff about Tobias in the news. He might come?” Lycus

And I thought fate couldn’t fuck us over more, so to prove me wrong they had to fate us to the

know that,” Lycus said, sending a flare of magic

done?” Kalen gasps, horrified as his mark tingles. He looked at it. Mine name was faint, not like the rest

be better than living like this,” Lycus says, only

they feel the mark stop.” I wonder who rejected it,” Kalen said, a little sad. He rubbed his wrist before

him. They both fell asleep, and Kalen was later woken when someone kicked his foot. He yawns, shaking his head and

he comes face to face with Darius crouching next to him in a suit. He eyes Kalen’s mark on his neck before looking at Lycus. Darius’ brows furrow while Kalen tries to shake Lycus awake petrified, his heart pounding in his chest when he notices Tobias standing behind him also staring at

up before noticing them and ripping Kalen behind him with strength that clearly indicates what Lycus was. Darius tilts his head

one that called on us,” Darius

was worried Daçius would kill him for