"Tommy!" Zayn squeaked loudly, causing Harry to face him and Louis, who was walking into the classroom for their shared theory lesson of the day. "I thought we had a deal".

"Oh, we had and still do" Louis sat down in his seat unbothered.

"But you ...".

"The deal never specifically talked about the kitchen or the shower or the bathroom in general. You only said no sex in the living room because you wanna sit on the couch without questioning if it's safe or not. You're own words, Joey" Louis cut him off smugly.

"I can't believe you fucked in the kitchen" Zayn grumbled peeved.

"We fucked everywhere that wasn't your bed or the couch" Louis patted his shoulder in faux sympathy.

"Oh god. I need to sterilize the entire flat" Zayn's eyes grew big.

"I told you they're bad. Like freaking rabbits" Maribel leaned over to them from her seat, amusement lacing in her voice.

"Are you any better?" Louis challenged her with a certain sparkle in his eyes.

"No, but I don't have a flatmate I could bother" Maribel countered strongly.

"Fair point. That's why we normally met up at Luke's place but well ... not possible anymore without encounters" Louis stole a glance at him but looked away directly before making eye contact.

"And his parents?" Maribel hooked nosily.

"Who?" Louis grinned shamelessly.

"You fucking animal" Maribel laughed at the top of her lungs.

"Nice choice of words, Belle" Zayn snorted amused.

"Fits" Maribel winked at him.

"I'm the best he'll ever have and he knows that and wants it all the time. Can't blame the poor guy" Louis sniggered jokingly.

"Fucking hell" Maribel blurted out.

"No, fucking heaven" Louis corrected her sillily.

"That was so bad. Where did your humour go? Fucked it all out?".

"H, are you alright?" Niall touched his arm carefully, dislocating his attention thankfully.

"Sure. I'm great" Harry cleared his throat awkwardly.

"H, it's me you're talking to. I can see you're not fine and that's okay. I get it. It's not nice to hear him talking about ...".

"I don't care, okay?" Harry cut him off rather harshly and definitely way too loud, causing everyone to look at him. "What?".

"Nothing. You just look tense. Are you alright?" Maribel eyed him.

"For once stay out of my business, okay? Not everyone is so open about their private life" Harry replied defensively.

"Fine" Maribel held her hands up in surrender while Louis only shook his head in visible disappointment.

Fortunately, Aurelio chose exactly that moment to appear in the classroom, successfully cutting off any private conversations. While he started the lesson about human-only villages Harry's thoughts kept drifting off. To Louis and the conversation he had overheard. He knew Louis and Luke were hooking up and it bothered him big time. He just wasn't sure why it bothered him so much. Was it because his soulmate was having sex with someone else? It's not like Harry wanted to be in Luke's place, no matter what his traitorous body and inner omega said about that. Sean did say soulmates didn't need to be romantically involved and Harry didn't like Louis like that. Louis didn't like him at all but still. They were soulmates. That had to mean something, right?

"Human-only villages go deeper than that, Aria" Aurelio's voice cut through his thoughts of Louis shagging Luke. "I wish it was as harmless as you described it".

"I thought humans were living there together because they are anti-magic. What is there to fear?" Maribel didn't understand.

"They want the magic to disappear from this planet. At first, it was only a few single people but by now many of these villages exist all over the world and the leaders of these villages travel the country and hold speeches everywhere to find more doubting people and get them on their side and it's working. Nothing too bad but still not totally harmless because they attack magic people" Aurelio let them in on the main problem.

"But how?" Harry frowned puzzledly. "They're only human. There's nothing they can do".

"Because humans are so weak and powerless, right?" Louis taunted him predictably.

"No, because they don't have powers and the most magical people do. How can they possibly think they can fight them? Isn't that a bit arrogant?" Harry tried to stay civil but Louis snorting at this argument made it almost impossible.

"You could think so but they find their ways. Believe me, they did a lot of damage in the past and get attacked for solid reasons objectively. The problem is that not everyone in these villages is anti-magic or evil. Kids are born into that and get killed for their parents' or leaders' actions. We can't let that happen. If we don't step in the imbalance between them and us will only grow and become worse" Aurelio sounded pained.

"Which will only bring more people to them and if we don't stop their attackers they have valid proof for magic being bad" Liam realised the dimension of it all.

"Yes. Just yesterday a village in France was attacked and burned to the ground. Their guardians were too late because they didn't take it seriously and the feud between both sides is already too ...".

"We get it, Aurelio" Àmbar assured him softly. "We won't let it get that far. Promise".

For the rest of the lesson, they talked a bit more about these villages and their founders and events that happened in the past. There were so many layers to this. Harry had never thought this was possible but that was maybe due to his pack painting humans as something they're not. He still had a hard time wrapping his head around everything and adjusting to all these changes. It was all so much and then there was Louis everywhere, even when he wasn't close. The entire soulmate thing didn't make things easier and Harry really wanted to tell him. Maybe that would make Louis hate him a little less. Who knew?!

"Are you coming with me? I wanted to check out that café around the corner of the flat" Niall asked him when the lesson was over.

"Not today, Nialler. I really need to talk to Louis alone. I'm taking my chance today" Harry had to let him down but he needed this.

"It's fine. Do that and try to be honest and patient, okay? He has every reason to be mad at you. Don't forget that" Niall reminded him but Harry really didn't get why Louis should still be mad at him. He had apologised more than once already. "I'm just gonna ask Liam and Zayn".

"Have fun, mate".

Quickly, Harry left the classroom and followed Louis, falling into step with him and already spotting an annoyed expression on his face. "That was something, mh? Who would have thought there could be even more danger for us?".

"Right? Because humans are no threat, huh?" Louis looked like he was really trying not to snap at him. Already.

"That's not what I said" Harry huffed offended.

"But you thought it. I know you, Harry. Don't forget that" Louis didn't even look at him before he walked through the portal.

Harry followed him and found himself back in the pixie woods. "You knew the old me but I'm a new me. Let me introduce myself to you again, okay? We're a team now, Lou".

"Louis. No nicknames. We're not there" Louis glared at him.

"Not yet" Harry grinned at him. "So, Luke didn't come home yesterday night. Looks like you had a fun night".

"That's really none of your business and I can't remember that I gave you permission to annoy me. Since when do we talk about anything other than the team? Well, not even that" Louis blocked his try to make a normal conversation.

"I'm trying to change that, Louis. I wanna be your friend, alright? So, tell me about you and Luke. I won't judge you or ...".

"Stop asking me about my life, my day, Luke or anything else, okay? I can't stand you. What is not clicking?" Louis balled his hands into fists, his fingers lightly sparkling.

"I know I did a lot wrong but I'm trying to fix the past" Harry reasoned his questioning.

"It's not fixable, Harry!" Louis exploded fed up.

"But it has to be because ..." Harry hesitated but he just had to tell him. He needed to know. It would make him finally like Harry. "Louis, we're soulmates. I know it's hard to believe but Sean told me about my prophecy and ...".

"I know" Louis cut him off neutrally and what?!

"What do you mean you know?" Harry gaped at him.

"Aurelio told me about my prophecy. I know" Louis buried his hands in his pants pockets.

"And you didn't tell me? Did you ever plan on telling me?" Harry felt so much anger and hurt.

"Don't act like you didn't know before me now. You didn't tell me either" Louis shot back unaffected.

"I just did" Harry stated matter-of-factly.

"But not right away and I really couldn't care less. It's no big deal. We don't talk anyway. So, why should we bring this up?" Louis clicked with his tongue, totally unfazed by everything.

"Because it's important?! We're soulmates, Louis. That's freaking rare and that we met so early even more. We know and don't have to go around searching for ...".

"Why would I search for my soulmate? It's not like we're anything. Not knowing it's you wouldn't make me wanna know" Louis interrupted him coldly.

"Why not?" Harry frowned confused. What was he on about?

"Because I don't care about soulmates? I have Zayn and that's all I need. We're the perfect example that soulmates mean nothing. Look at us" Louis retorted dryly.

"Well, we're not necessarily perfect soulmates but that can still happen. This is a gift. Do you not know what this means for us? We both were born the way we are to find each other and ...".

"I don't care, Harry" Louis cut him off yet again, frustrating Harry to no end. "I'm not your freaking Alpha or anything out of the sudden. Just a stupid soulmate. Back off and leave me alone. I don't want you in my life and a dumb prophecy can't change that. Soulmates can hate each other, Harry. Face reality and accept that this is us and finally leave me alone".

"Why are you so mean to me? Are you trying to hurt me on purpose?" Harry felt his bottom lip starting to tremble. Louis' words had really hurt him. Soulmates shouldn't hate each other.

"Do you really not know?" Louis laughed without any humour in his voice, his expression turning to stone and his eyes getting so dark and intimidating.

"No. What did I ...?" Harry croaked out teary-eyed.

"Thought so. Huh. The day you realise we can't just act as if everything's fine is the day I might be able to forgive you. When you realise you're pushing too much we might get along for the sake of the team because that's all we are and ever will be. Part of the same team. Nothing else" Louis looked emotionlessly at him, his gaze becoming so clear it almost scared Harry. "I don't wanna be your friend. I don't wanna be your soulmate and I really don't wanna be your mate, Harry. Fate fucked up. I'm sorry".

Although his vision was becoming blurry from the locked-up tears Harry thought he had seen something behind the trees in the back. "Louis, be ...".

"No, drop it and fuck off" Louis gave him no time to speak.

"Louis, it's not ...".

"Fuck off!" Louis snapped at him, walking backwards away from him and not looking around them.

"Louis, watch out!" Harry screamed out of fear.

Before he could even react a creature jumped out of the woods right at Louis. Without thinking about it, Harry sprinted towards them and jumped in between them, blocking Louis from the attack. Immediately, Harry felt claws on his belly and his chest and he fell to the ground, yelping in pain.

"Harry!".

Holding his upper body in pain, Harry could only watch how Louis fought the creatures off. If Harry wasn't mistaken they were third-class demons, so nothing too dangerous but still painful. Around twenty demons were attacking Louis now and he fought them off with his power. Harry hasn't seen him fight before and didn't know he had more powers than just shapeshifting. Was that light coming out of his hands? That was so cool but the pain in his body stopped him from admiring Louis' fighting skills.

A shadow appeared over him, making Harry look up. One demon was coming his way but Louis was busy with at least ten demons on his own. With all his power, Harry focused on his inner wolf and hoped his claws would come out as they had trained a few days ago. Bracing himself for the worst, he heaved himself off the ground and attacked the demon before he could injure him even more. And thankfully his claws did show up and turned this demon to ashes. Groaning in pain, Harry sank back down to the ground, leaning against a tree now.

His groan had caught Louis' attention and they locked eyes for a short moment before Louis had to look away because of the six last-remaining demons. One of them was running over at Harry and he knew this time he had no energy left to fight it. Letting out a frustrated scream, Louis seemed to be swallowed by a huge wave of light. That wave of light killed every demon around them.

When the light subsided Harry could see Louis again. His wings were out in full swing and he looked otherworldly. Stunning. And out of energy. Letting his wings disappear, he came over to him and kneeled down in front of him with a worried expression on his way too pretty face. "How bad is it?".

"I won't die. Werewolf healing, remember? It will only take a little longer. Demons are different" Harry tried to calm him down.

"Come on. You need help" Louis wrapped his arm around his waist and helped him stand up, not without wincing in pain.

"Academy?" Harry suggested when Louis was quiet for a bit too long to be considered normal.

"I have a better idea" Louis seemed to come back from whatever thought he has been lost in.

He twisted his wrist and a portal opened in front of them but it wasn't blue. It was white. What kind of portal was white? Not giving him time to question anything, Louis led them through the portal and the next second Harry found himself in a living room.

"Louis? Harry?" Àmbar's voice came from the side. "What happened? Put him down. I take care of this".

"Demon attack at the portal. They surprised us" Louis summed up while placing Harry on the couch. He looked pretty tense.

"Sit down, Louis. You need to calm down as well" Àmbar approached him hesitantly.

"I'm calm" Louis claimed unconvincingly.

"Louis" Àmbar sighed heavily, making Harry's head snap at them. What was going on?

"No, don't. Don't even start this" Louis warned her shakily.

"I know what you're thinking but you're wrong. You didn't ...".

"No!" Louis blocked her out and disappeared into thin air.

"Not again" Àmbar didn't sound happy, looking around for something but Harry was left staring at the spot where Louis has just been. It was empty now. He was gone.

"How did he ...? What just happened?" Harry blinked.

"Teletransportation. It's like beaming? He shouldn't be able to do that yet" Àmbar answered absent-mindedly, seemingly finally finding what she was looking for. Her phone. "One second, okay?".

"Sure. I won't die just yet" Harry joked horribly.

Àmbar just shook her head but dialled a number and waited for a few seconds. "Zayn? Thank God! I need you. Right now. Um ... It's Louis. He and Harry got attacked at the portal by demons. He showed up at my place with Harry, who is injured. Nothing major but still. You know what I mean, right?".

Hearing her words made Harry frown. He didn't know what she meant but hopefully Zayn did. He probably did.

"Yeah, exactly. We both know how he gets and what he expects of himself. He might think he failed and is blaming himself ...".

That made Harry freeze. He really hoped Àmbar was wrong. Louis had nothing to be sorry for or blame himself for. They have been arguing and it wasn't nice but the demons had come out of nowhere. It wasn't his fault. Harry didn't need to jump in front of him but his gut feeling had told him to do so. Has that been wrong?

"I don't know where he went. He probably didn't even know that himself. It's the second time this happened. Please, just make sure he is alright, okay?" Àmbar came back towards Harry. "Thanks".

Harry tilted his head aside in question but waited for her to end the call and start the conversation herself. He was done with getting told off by everyone. Àmbar looked a bit unsure but then put her phone down. "You heard all of that, mh?".

"I did, yeah. Sorry" Harry apologised.

"Not your fault. I could have gone outside. It doesn't matter. Just ... You don't need to tell me what exactly happened but is there a chance Louis could blame himself for your injuries?" Àmbar asked him obviously scared of the answer.

"I ..." Harry wanted to say no to calm her down but lying was wrong. He knew that now. "Maybe, yeah. We got attacked during an argument and he didn't listen when I wanted to warn him. I went in between him and the demon, otherwise he would look like this".

"That was my biggest fear. Shit," Àmbar rubbed her temples. "Well, anyway. Let's focus on you, yeah?".

She kneeled down next to the couch and held her hand over Harry's wounds. A red light appeared underneath her palm and warmed his entire body. A fiery feeling spread through his veins and the wounds on his belly and chest closed on their own. Harry watched in fascination how his body healed quicker than ever before and no pain was left in his limbs.

"Wow, thank you" Harry breathed out in awe.

"No big deal" Àmbar waved the matter off but then she looked thoughtful and sat down on the couch with him. "But can I talk to you about something?".

"With something you mean Louis, right?" Harry just knew this had to be about him.

"Yeah. Look, I know you're trying to be friends and want to act normal with him but you're doing this wrong. Believe me, like this you will achieve nothing" Àmbar started her integration and sounded so lost and conflicted.

"I'm only being nice to him and ...".

"Maybe that was your plan but it isn't working. Louis told me a bit more details about what happened in the pack. Also between you and him and I'm really trying not to judge here but ... you need to give him more time and space. He wanted to leave this all behind and now you're back and won't leave any time soon. It's not easy for him. Not as easy as for you. And the whole soulmate thing only makes it worse, Harry" Àmbar tried to reason with him. "And the blaming himself and disappearing have nothing to do with you in particular. Louis wants to do this perfectly. Be the perfect guardian but since you're here he is failing, in his eyes. He doesn't want to be a failure. He tries everything not to fail this but today might have been too much. I just know he feels like a huge failure now".

"Because of me. Because of us. We made him feel like a failure for being human. This is on us, on me" Harry realised for the first time what an impact the pack life had on Louis.

"Can't deny that. That's why I want you to give him time. Don't force this. Let him come to you and if this never happens there is nothing you can do" Àmbar offered him a tiny smile.

Harry didn't reply anything. Instead, he thought about Louis and where he might be right now and if Zayn had found him. He really hoped Louis was okay and wasn't putting himself down too much.

Louis' POV

Little stones were crashing down the huge rock and splashed into the deep and wide ocean. Louis watched them fall and wondered how much it would hurt if he let himself fall with them. From this height, without any resistance, it could break his back and his neck from the right angle. Maybe that was an option.

"Fucking psycho" Louis laughed dryly at himself.

Distantly, Louis could feel how Zayn was trying to reach him mentally but Louis didn't let him in. He knew deep down that Zayn presumably only wanted to know where he was but Louis didn't know. He had no idea where he was. His guess was close to the southern border of Domumley at the ocean on a high wall of rocks.

How he had ended up here was a mystery to him. This was the second time he had just teletransported himself somewhere without meaning to do so and had no clue how he did it. It was freaking dangerous to do that without a clear destination in mind. He could end up in pure emptiness, lost forever. He never meant to ditch Àmbar and Harry like this but he had felt a such huge pressure on his chest and the guilt was eating him alive. The next second he was here and had almost fallen off the cliff. But only almost.

His mind was a mess so he decided to sit down and try to calm down before he figured out what to do next. He let his feet dangle and stared out at the endless ocean. The endlessness of the water and the never-ending horizon always had a calming effect on him. But today it wasn't working. The bad feelings were too strong.

"Oh" an unfamiliar voice suddenly sounded behind him, startling him big time. "Mind if I sit?".

Louis looked up and was met with a friendly-looking girl, probably around nineteen years old. She had a book in her hand and looked expectantly at him. Realising this was presumably her safe space, Louis nodded and beckoned her to sit down next to him.

"Tough day?" she guessed from only looking at him.

"Yeah" Louis breathed out with a heavy chuckle.

"You know, sometimes it helps to get everything off your chest and a stranger can be better than a friend. They're unbiased and uninvolved" she offered him an open ear. "Even guardian stuff".

Caught off guard, he stared at her. "You know I'm...".

"You saved my sister from a demon once. I remember your face. I think you also were on the news a few months ago but I couldn't care less" she explained why she knew him. "So?".

Louis debated with himself if this was a good idea but then the need to talk was stronger than his doubts. "It's all a bit complicated. We have new people on the team and ... Today, me and one of them got attacked on our way back home. Simple demons, nothing too major but still a surprise attack. My senses didn't warn me. Or they did and I didn't recognise the signs because we were arguing. Like we always do. We can't talk normally and I know it's my fault".

"I'm sure it's not without a reason, right?" she tilted her head aside, voice full of understanding.

"No, we have a bad past and he's acting as if we're friends and it's pissing me off. We're nothing" Louis admitted meekly.

"I get that".

"I really tried to be civil but it's not working. Everything he does makes me angry because I don't buy his act. It's not genuine and he doesn't care about our mission. How could he? He hates humans, always did. And now he wants to protect them? As if" Louis just couldn't stop talking now that he had started. "And since he's here I can't seem to focus on my training or a mission. I'm always distracted because my anger and hatred toward him are stronger than anything else. But ... I don't really hate him. I hate our past and that he is trying to erase it like it's nothing".

"No one can erase a past. You can only work through it or try to live with it as good as possible" she remarked rightly.

"Exactly but he doesn't get that" Louis felt so seen and weirdly understood. "Our argument today was really bad. I was really mean to him but things needed to be said. I could have done it differently but I didn't and it was wrong. I know that but he makes me so angry. I can't control it. It just happens. Just like the demon attack. I was completely caught off guard but ... he tried to warn me and I didn't listen. Due to that, he got injured trying to protect me or whatever he was doing. I fought the rest off and brought him to a friend who can heal him but I feel so bad. I failed him, I failed as a guardian. It's my job to protect people and save them, not endanger them and ... he's my soulmate and I am to blame for his wounds. It's eating me alive. I'm such a huge failure. He was right all along and no matter how hard I try to prove that he was wrong, that they were wrong, I'm only failing. I'm nothing more than a big fuck up and a failure. I can't even protect my own soulmate".

He hasn't realised that he was crying but when he stopped talking the tears were overflowing him and he felt like he was drowning. Drowning in his guilt and the realisation that he was nothing.

"Everyone makes mistakes, even a guardian. You're not a failure. You were caught off guard and he decided to do what he did. It was on him and yes, it might have been possible to avoid it but what-if-scenarios only drive you crazy over nothing. An argument is nothing unusual. You're only human and even if not, you're still a person with feelings. And right now you're upset, pent-up. That's totally okay and doesn't make you a bad guardian or a failure. You took care of him immediately and feel bad for what happened. Isn't that enough?" she rubbed his shoulder soothingly.

"But I should have ...".

"But you didn't, okay?" she cut him off strongly, shutting him up. "It happened and there is nothing you can do about it. Except if you can turn back time".

"I can't" Louis snivelled lightly, feeling a little bit better.

"See?" she smiled at him, coaxing a smile out of him. "And I get that you feel bad but how about you apologise? Maybe it will make you feel better. Or just talk to him about it. I understand that you're not friends although you're soulmates but it's gnawing on you and I think you need to get this off your chest".

"I don't know what to say. He knew I'm a failure. I don't wanna hear him say it again, even though he is right" Louis heard the werewolves calling him a failure on a regular basis in his mind.

"You're not a failure, Louis. You saved my sister from a demon attack. You and your team. You're amazing and one simple mistake made because of an argument won't change that. You're allowed to have feelings, all kinds of feelings" she grabbed his hand and squeezed it comfortingly.

Louis let her words sink in and it calmed him down and stopped his tears. She was right and Louis had to understand that. His biggest fear was to be a failure and prove the wolves right. And this fear was destroying him from the inside. He needed to work on this.

"Thank you. Really. It felt good to get this off my chest and I think you're right. I needed to hear all this" Louis thanked her wholeheartedly. "Let's hope it gets through my thick skull".

"I think it will" she chuckled delightedly. "And now go and sort this out before you jump down that cliff".

"You're right. I should really go" Louis scrambled back onto his feet. "And thank you again. For everything".

"You're welcome" she smiled brightly at him. "And, Louis? If he is really your soulmate he will understand. One day".

"One day" Louis nodded agreeingly. Or rather full of hope.

When she turned her attention to her book Louis opened a portal and walked right into his bedroom. Zayn must have sensed him because his door flew open immediately and Zayn came inside, his eyes huge and his hair everywhere. Now Louis felt bad.

"Tommy!" Zayn exclaimed in pure relief, crashing right into his arms. "You're back. I was so worried about you".

"I'm sorry, Joey" Louis felt like he had a lump stuck in his throat.

"Don't be. Àmbar told me what happened. Or shortly. As much as she knew. She told me Harry is injured" Zayn let go of him but kept his hands on his upper arms. At the mention of Harry's name, Louis could feel his whole face fall. "He is alright".

"Really?" Louis swallowed heavily.

"Yes, Àmbar took care of everything. He's fine and on his way home. With Niall. He came to pick him up. I called him. I knew you'd be worried but Louis. This isn't your fault. Don't blame yourself, okay? Please" Zayn looked so panicked.

"I'm really trying and I can see that it wasn't all my fault but he's my soulmate, rather I want it or not. I'm supposed to protect him and not let him get hurt for me and ...".

"He did that to protect you, Tommy" Zayn cut him off gently. "He was being a good soulmate for once. It's a mutual thing. It's not only on you. It was his decision".

"But he can't fight yet. He shouldn't have done that" Louis pointed out, his heart feeling heavy at the mere thought of what could have happened and gone wrong.

"But he did it anyway. He didn't care. He wanted you to be safe" Zayn countered matter-of-factly.

"I need to apologise. Somehow" Louis bit down on his bottom lip.

"If that's what you want" Zayn eyed his face closely.

"It is. He isn't my friend but he was in that situation because of me. I said no more arguments and we had another one. This is on me and you can't deny that. I started that. I could have walked away but I didn't. I hurt him intentionally because I wanted him to feel as bad as I did and that was so wrong. Without that anger blinding me I would have sensed the demons. And maybe it's on both of us but I left him at Àmbar's place and that wasn't right" Louis knew what he had to do. He needed to man up and admit his mistakes.

"Nothing I can say to stop you, mh?" Zayn bit the inside of his cheek and Louis shook his head. "Okay but tomorrow at the academy, okay? You need to calm down first and collect your thoughts. Especially after teletransportation".

"God, don't remind me of that. No idea how I did that. I don't wanna do it again. It's scary" Louis shuddered at the thought.

"And dangerous if it's not intentional. Maybe strong emotions can trigger it" Zayn mused out loud, sounding so worried.

"Whatever it is, we need to find out. Not keen on doing it again".  

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another argument and an injured Harry. Who's fault was this?

BTW, that scene with the girl was inspired by Louis' song Saved by a stranger.