Alpha’s Omega Mate

Chapter twenty-two: flashbacks

Two days earlier…

“Kai! Kai!” Two little children ran down the hallway, giggling as the taller one chased the shorter one.

Reaching a sharp corner, they had not realized that a servant who had hot soup in the tray she was carrying and so, the shorter one collided with the servant causing the tray to hit the floor. Its content splash all over.From NôvelDrama.Org.

“Ah! Ah!” the shorter one cried in pain.

The contents of the tray were hot and the impact of the fall had caused it to splash on almost everyone, especially Kai who stood afar watching the servants fuss around the young lad.

“What did you both think you were doing running in the hallway?” the servant who had held the tray spoke, facing Kai who had his head bowed while the other kept crying.

The servants disliked him for being too cold and ruthless with them at a tender age, so they used every opportunity they got to taunt him.

Despite him being the one who got burnt the most he was still scolded.

“You have to be careful or else I would have to report you to her majesty,” the woman turned to the other boy and ruffled his hair. “Sweet child, I would get ice for you just await me here,” she cast Kai a stern glance before walking away.

“Kai, I–” he tried to speak to his cousin and playmate but he turned and walked away.

“Kai! Kai!” he fell to the floor and began to cry.

A knock on the door brought him out of his thoughts.

“Come in,” he uttered staring at the glass of beer he’d been staring at the whole time.

How long has he been out?

“Your highness,” a female servant came in with a tray. “You requested a drink.”

she dropped the tray on the table in front of him and opened the jar of wine.

“Leave,” he said in a low voice.

It was audible enough for her to hear but she presumed she had heard wrongly.

“Your high–”

“I said you should leave!” he barked and hit his hand against the table.

The lass shivered in fear and bowed before scurrying out of the room.

Gabriel hissed and clenched his fist as memories flooded into his head.

He was 8 years old when he was brought to the Night Walker pack after the death of his mother.

He had entered the palace looking gloomy and refused to speak with anyone. Not even his favourite aunt, Kai’s mother, Lydia.

Lydia had told him he had a cousin but he never set his eyes on him until he had spent a week there.

He was taking a walk with his aunt and when they passed by the library, he had noticed there was a small figure inside, prompting him to ask Lydia questions.

“Aunty, what is that?” he stood on his tippy toes and pointed through the window.

Lydia smiled. “That’s my son. He loves being alone and studying but he is friendly. I assure you that,”

“Can I go in?” Since he had gotten there he did not have anyone to play with except the servants who kept gossiping.

“No. He detests being disturbed while studying,” she told him and he pouted, lowering his head.

For days, he visited the library daily and waited for Kai to come out but he never did.

Gabriel began to lose hope of getting close to his ‘idol’ until the moon goddess show him mercy.

It was a bright day and he had been chasing butterflies around the garden, giggling happily until he began to hear sniffles and sobs behind the bush which piqued his attention.

He went behind the bush and found Kai sitting on a large rock with his head bent sniffing and trying to reduce the sound of his cries.

Gabriel bit his lower lip and touched his shoulder. Kai quickly wiped his face and turned to him with a stern expression.

The small lad broke into a round of laughter as soon as he saw his face and Kai could not help but wonder what he saw, his forehead furrowing.

“What amuses you?” his voice was cold for his age it didn’t seem to affect the young lad.

“You look like a chimpanzee when you frown,” Gabriel said in between bouts of laughter.

Surprisingly, Kai’s lips stretched into a smile at the mention of his words.

Gabriel’s eyes widened as he pointed at Kai. “You smiled!”

Kai quickly frowned and turned away.

“May I know what happened to you?” he tried to touch his shoulder but Kai moved away.

Gabriel retracted and lower his head. They became quiet until Kai spoke after a while.

“I failed the test and father is mad at me,”

Gabriel stood up. He seemed recharged now as he made Kai to face him and touched his hair.

“I would be your little buddy from today. I shall cheer you up whenever you are down,”

Kai smiled and nodded.

“Catch me if you can!” Gabriel yelled and ran out, laughing.

Kai smiled and shook his head before running after the lad.

“A penny for your thought,” Marlene spoke, bringing his thoughts back to reality.

Gabriel let out air through his lips and raised his head up, putting on a fake smile.

“When did you get here, sis?” he asked.

“Wipe that off,” she glared at him. “You know how much I hate fake emotions.”

Gabriel smiled and gulped down the last drop in the glass.

“You know why I am here, Gab,” she spoke, staring at the wall in front of her as she began to feel a rush of emotions.

She swallowed and continued when he did not say anything.

“What do you call the behaviour you exhibited while Kai was here?” she questioned and he cast her a questioning look.

“Don’t give me that look. Stop acting dumb,” she scolded.

Gabriel chuckled and poured some wine into the glass.

He exhaled, pushed his hair back with his hand and bit his lower lip.

“I missed him. I have not spoken to him for a long time now but he has refused to acknowledge my presence. In fact, he hates me,” he let out a smile. One that was filled with pain.

“But you know it’s Lydia’s death anniversary,” Marlene said, painfully.

“I know but–”

“No buts, Gabriel. You know how much his mother’s death hurt him,” Marlene stood up and pointed her index finger at him.

“I presume you have annoyed him more than you should. He’d better come back to visit or else…” She trailed off and walked out of the room.

Gabriel exhaled and ran his fingers through his hair before pulling at them angrily as he growled and threw the glass containing wine against the wall causing it to shatter. The cluttering after sound sounded like a melody in his ears.

Goddess. He needed a run.

He growled and stomped out of the room.

A/N: thank you for reading