Page 153 of Taming the Kraken

“She is my choice … my only choice. There could never be anyone else for me but her.”

Erebus scoffed at him. “And what about before? What about before her? Admit it. The mate pull trapped you. Yes, that’s it. That must be it. You never kept anyone by your side like you’re keeping her. You are bewitched. She is a poison.” Erebus began to ramble to himself, his eyes wild. His fists were clenched, and he trembled with rage.

“What is wrong with you? A poison?” Ken snorted and shook his head. “She is my salvation. I wasn’t living until now. She is my purpose. The air I breathe … my everything. It’s hard to explain, but the mate pull isn’t like that. You have a choice, but why deny what was made for you? What is wrong with you? Why have you changed so much?”

“BECAUSE OF YOU!” Erebus roared.

“I’m sorry about your hair. It was a joke—” Ken started to say, but Erebus’ loud laughter stopped him.

“I was never vain. I can’t believe that’s what you think …” Erebus’ voice dropped to a whisper as he looked at Ken with wide, wounded eyes. “Did you ever think of me as anything but a joke?”

Ken furrowed his brows and shrugged. “I never thought you were a joke. It was just a prank. Some fun to pass the time. And you were vain. You went crazy trying to reverse the effects of the dye⁠—”

“I DIDN’T WANT THE REMINDER OF THAT DAY!” Erebus snapped bitterly.

Ken looked over at Mikah, who was also looking at Erebus as if he’d lost his mind.

“Ken …” Alexa whispered, tilting her head up to look at him.

Alexa didn’t have to say anything. Her thoughts swam into Ken’s mind, and he knew. He stared at her and swallowed hard. He searched his memories, but he didn’t remember anything that insinuated Erebus’ feelings toward him. It didn’t make any sense. He turned to look at Erebus, unsure what to say … but to say he was shocked was an understatement. As shocked as he was, he was also angry. Erebus did all of these horrible things because he thought he was in love? That was ridiculous.

“How the hell was I supposed to know?” Ken finally growled out.

“How didn’t you know?” Erebus snapped back poisonously. “And would it have made a difference?”

“No. I’m sorry, but no, it wouldn’t have. At least not for me. But maybe it would have for you.”

Erebus shook his head angrily.

“You think you’re too good for me, don’t you?” Erebus growled as Mikah nearly coughed.

“Time out. I’m missing something here.” Mikah looked over at Ken, who shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.

“Apparently … I guess he … well, from my understanding …” Ken stumbled over his words, which angered Erebus.

“You can’t even say it? Am I that repulsive to you? Is the idea of me liking you that unbelievable?” Erebus glared at Ken, who stared at him blankly.

“Damn … Ken has game. Mr. Stuuuud Muffin.” The corners of Mikah’s lips curled upward until a full grin spread across his face. He looked over at Erebus and shook his head. “I don’t get it. Is all of this because of your feelings for Ken?” He raised his brows and looked back at Ken. “The guy isn’t even that hot. He’s like a seven.”

“A seven?!” Ken scoffed. “What the hell are you then?”

“I’m a ten … easily.” Mikah flashed his white toothy grin at Ken, who let out an airy laugh.

Erebus looked at Mikah and then back at Ken. “This is not a joke. You didn’t give me a chance. You never even looked at me.”

“I’m sorry, but how was I supposed to know that you were interested in me?” Ken frowned at Erebus, who scowled back at him.

“It’s a good thing I didn’t say anything. You would have just used it to torment me more. I was nothing to you—” Erebus wasn’t able to finish his sentence when Ken interrupted him angrily.

“What?” Ken’s face darkened. “Just because I was never interested in you doesn’t mean I didn’t like you. Maybe I didn’t like you the way you wanted, but at one point, I considered you a friend. Maybe I took my pranks too far. The hair dye was just supposed to be a fun prank we would laugh about. Look, I’m sorry about that …” He shook his head and looked over at Alexa. “But this … what you’ve done … I can’t ever forgive you. You hurt the most precious person in the world to me. I can’t forgive and forget. Damn it, Erebus … how could you do the shit you’ve done? This isn’t just about me. This is about you. You blame all your actions on me.” Ken scoffed and rubbed his forehead. “But this isn’t about me at all.”

“Of course it’s about you! I wouldn’t be this way if it wasn’t for you!”

“That is bullshit! That’s enough! It’s time for you to take accountability for your actions. Quit blaming others for the shit you’re doing. I didn’t ask you to fall in love with me. You did that on your own! You never told me, so how was I supposed to tell you I didn’t return your feelings? But you … YOU are the one who has hurt people. You even lashed out at me!” Ken laughed and shook his head. “You didn’t love me, man. I could NEVER hurt Alexa. No matter what she did to me. Whether intentional or not. I love her too much. She is too dear to me. You’re trying to take the guilt off your shoulders by throwing it onto mine. This is not my burden to bear … it’s yours.”

Erebus’ shoulders rose and fell as he took in ragged breaths. This wasn’t his fault. He didn’t want to be this way. Maybe it wasn’t Ken’s fault either, but then whose fault was it? He looked down at his feet, deep in thought for a moment. Of course. He lifted his head and his eyes honed in on the woman next to Ken. It was her fault. Her future existence back then … her current existence now. Because Ken was destined to have a fated mate, he was unable to see him. Yes. Yes. That was the reason.

It wasn’t Ken. It was Alexa. It was her existence that was the problem. It was fated mates. “The real reason …” Erebus mumbled to himself as he glanced at Ken out of the corner of his eye. Ken and Alexa needed to be separated. “Don’t you see? It’s her. She is the problem. You’ll be better once we get rid of her.” His eyes narrowed in on Alexa as Ken stepped in front of her protectively. Suddenly, Erebus felt something hard slam into the side of his face. His body flew through the air until he smashed into the sandy ground.