Chapter: 31
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Dare returned to his Penthouse feeling dejected with himself. He sat down on the sofa and stared off into space for what seemed like hours, lost in a self-deprecating spiral. His eyes were rimmed red from crying, but he didn't have any tears left to shed. He didn't even know if he should cry anymore. He felt empty inside, devoid of emotions and feeling as if some fundamental part of him had been ripped away by a cruel cosmic hand or something equally awful. The world was nothing but an emptiness that ate at his being until there was nothing left. It was a bleak grayness, as gray as death itself. There wasn't much light left in existence because the sun burned all the colors out of everything except darkness, and it made the dark world even darker. He felt numb in every way imaginable. He wanted to curl up into a ball and never move ever again. To die.

He could do that too, right now. The thought made him smile. His mouth curved upwards as he let out a small chuckle. He was being melodramatic again. He always did this when he was upset. He would laugh, then he would be depressed, and he would laugh some more. Was it madness? Well, who can say? It certainly felt like he was losing his mind. Or maybe it was just the depression talking. Whatever it was, it made him want to cry again, to break into ragged sobs that made him feel like a broken record player. He wondered how many times he had fallen apart like this over the years. Was it really worth it? Couldn't he go back to living normally, back to how it was before that cursed night? Was it so hard to do? Mariana had broken him when she said she had seen his past.

Was it true or just a bluff? Whichever it was, he knew he must be wary of that Witch. If she has truly seen into his past, then she could use that against him. He did not wish for that to happen. For him to be manipulated by that heartless witch. Who knew what she could do to him with that knowledge? For once in his life, he felt weak, and not in control and he likes being in control. Now, Mariana might just be in on his darkest secret, his weakness. A part of him wanted, no, needed to believe she bluff him when she made that statement, but she is a Scarred Witch and there are no limits to how far they can go. And if she knew, then it was time he told someone about it, someone other than Leon, maybe the Fox, but who could trust a Fox with such a secret? Is he not far worse than the Scarred witch? At least, he knew his fate with the Witch involved, but who could truly tell what goes on in the mind of a Fox? He got on his feet and reached for another bottle of rum, he didn't bother to pour it out into a glass, rather he drank straight from the bottle and paced his bedroom floor. The longer the hours ticked by the more restless he became.

Finally, he picked up his cell phone off the bedside table and dialed Leon. After a few rings, he heard the phone being answered on the other end and heard Leon's familiar cheerful voice through the speakerphone. "Hey Dare, I'm surprised you called me. You usually don't, unless something happened or you're having 'the' moment again.'' Leon sounded genuinely curious. "What's the matter, baby?" Leon asked, his tone full of concern. Dare loved that, no matter what was going on in his life Leon always tried to be there for him. Dare sometimes envied his ability to love, care, and trust so effortlessly. Could it all be because of the promise he made to his mother that night she lay dying on her sick bed? Or was it more? He couldn't tell, but there was one thing that hasn't changed over the years. It would be the Lion's love for him.

He came from a family of many cousins but only Leon loves him above all and he couldn't be more grateful for his love. Because of him, he dealt with the loss of his mother, with him by his side, he could bear the death of his father. He is alone, without a family but with Leon, he endured and survived this harsh and unforgiving world. He couldn't count the number of times Leon protected him and held him when the pain of loss overwhelmed him. The Lion gave him strength. It kept Dare standing. Without him, he doesn't think he would have been able to hold on to his humanity. Dare knows he could never survive alone. And he is grateful for that as well.

He wouldn't change a single thing between them, though he does wonder why Leon hasn't Paired with anyone. Why was he still single? Could it be that until now he still hasn't found his Fated Pair? As a Rogue, they do not have the privilege to find their Fated. They only choose their Pairs, like the humans who find someone who is compatible with them and fall in love, so is their life, they find a Rogue that soothes their soul and makes them happy then they Mate with that Rogue. So, they can not say they feel or understand the deep connections that come with one's Fated pair but at least they are happy with the life they have been born into.

It is the will of the Goddess and the blindness of those who cursed the Mark of Rogue upon them so they have to live by this. But, this isn't the case for Leon, he is Pride, a Leader, and should be able to find his Fated, yet he hasn't. Too many times he had wanted to bring up the conversation but his selfishness often holds him back. If he should find his Fated doesn't that mean less time for him? His love and attention would then only be given to his Mate and he would be abandoned and left alone once again. He couldn't, wouldn't allow himself to bring up such a discussion and so they have lived on, with neither he nor the Lion addressing the elephant in the room.

"Dare?" Leon's voice snapped him back to reality. "Are you ok, babe? What's wrong?" He said, clearly trying to sound calm. Dare wished he could answer but he couldn't. It was too painful to explain. His throat closed up. He felt tears stinging his eyes again. "Do you need me to come over?" Leon persisted. Dare could hear the worry and the anxiety laced in his words as he spoke. Dare shook his head vigorously, he could feel the tears running down his face. He wiped them away quickly and sniffled to disguise them.

"Don't come, please." The last word came out choked up, almost inaudible. A whimper escaped Dare's lips.

What was it he wanted to talk to him about again? He wondered.

"Are you crying, my love?" Leon asked. "Please, don't cry, you know what it does to me when you cry." His voice was soft but Dare could hear the sadness in it.

Why does he care so much about him? What are these mixed feelings he gets inside? They're all too confusing, and tonight he's exceptionally emotional which is out of character for him. Maybe is the Shift in his wolf form. Whatever it was, he doesn't like it one bit.

"Sweetheart, please, talk to me. You're starting to scare me,"

"Why?" Dare asked.

Confused, Leon repeated his question. "Why what?"

"Why do you do these things for me? Why do you call me like that? Why do you get so worried about me, and care so much for me? Just why?" The words tumbled over each other as a flood of emotions crashed over him all at once. He cried out as he sank onto the sofa, his legs gave out beneath him making him slump heavily. This wasn't the conversation he was hoping for when he called, but something snapped when he heard him use that endearment once again. 'My love' He has heard it many times before but never paid much mind to it. He felt Leon loves using all kinds of endearment to address him, but somehow it didn't feel right. Not in his ears, not in his heart, not anywhere, and most certainly not right now. It makes him confused and leaves him hopeful for what could never be.

"I will come to you," Was the reply he got before the phone was hung up abruptly. Dare was left staring at his phone screen for a good ten minutes. His chest felt constricted, his throat dry and raw. He was still clutching the bottle of rum close to his chest and drinking deeply, gulping the alcohol down while his vision blurred.

********

Back in Ocean Roar, Leon sat slumped in his office chair, his subordinates standing before him and watching him intently. They heard his phone conversation and they wondered why he kept stalling, why wouldn't he tell him already and get this over with? Leon looked up at them with a hollow expression on his face. He looked devastated and lost. They felt terrible seeing him like this. Especially, when they are aware of the truth. It was only after a while of silent contemplation that they finally spoke up.

"Why won't you tell him?" Anton asked and his second nodded along with his question.

"His heart belongs with another," Leon stated and rubbed at his temple tiredly.

"The Lycan?" Hawk scoffed. "Isn't he Mated?"

"Doesn't change anything. Dare gave himself, and he left a Mark that has changed him forever, whether he is Mated or not, it doesn't change a thing." Leon said firmly.

"Yes, it does," Anton argued. "We can only Mate one in our lifetime. Dare can either kill the Lycan or move on with someone else, but you, what becomes of you, Pride?" They waited with bated breath for his reply.

"I am perfectly fine with what we share now," Leon replied.

"That's bullshit!" Hawk blurted out. "You keep feeding yourself these lies and it seems you're starting to believe it too. It's sick, not Pride-like in any way!" He shouted but wasn't finished. "It's not enough, Pride! It cannot be!" Hawk growled, his body beginning to shake with fury.

"What would you have me do?" Leon asked.

"Tell him the truth. Tell him everything!" Anton insisted.

Leon sighed tiredly. "If I do, Dare might leave me." He said quietly.

"How can you be so afraid of what might or might not be when you have not even taken that little leap?" Hawk asked in astonishment. "He is becoming an Omega, it is only right that he becomes yours as well. You are the only one he yearns for whenever he is in Heat, do you not think he could have easily gone after the Lycan, no Alpha would resist an Omega's Heat, not even a Mated one, yet, he only craved your embrace during Heat Cycle, even when the Lycan hadn't found his Fated, nor accepted him. Think about that, Pride." Hawk urged.

"He is right," Anton agreed. "He keeps coming back to you, just you... Yes, we can not really say for certain what had transpired on that fateful night between him and the Alpha Of Alphas, but we can only account for what has been happening after," Anton pointed out. "This time, when you see him again, you must tell him the truth, the whole truth. He is not just a distant cousin or a friend, he is way deeper, he is intertwined into your existence."

"He is a Rogue," Leon whispered.

"Who is becoming an Omega..." Anton replied. "...The Goddess has her ways. We can not see it all."

"Please, Pride I can not bear to see you wallow in self-pity and lonesomeness any longer. It hurts my eyes whenever I watch you pacing restlessly and I swear they bleed sometimes too." Hawk blurted and scoffed.

"You are our Pride, Leon and you have chosen him, go after him." Anton urged with a small smile.

Leon nodded and rose from his seat and shared a quick hug with his Lines, then made for the door. When he reached it his hand hesitated and stopped inches from the handle. For a moment he stood there motionless, contemplating his course of action, debating with himself. Then finally he pulled the doors apart and stepped out.

He has to get this over and done with. For his sake and that of Dare's as well, especially now that he had asked the question.

It is only right if he answered.