Owned
——————————————————————

Callum knew that he couldn't give her the real answer, even the Alpha nor the other officials couldn't determine what's with Aldeheid that they couldn't figure. As if a dust that they knew it was there but has no worth for them, kay Callum lang meron.

His lips parted, uncertain what to say. Hindi niya talaga alam ang sasabihin niya at kung mayroon man siyang gustong ipaalam ay paniguradong malilito lamang ang dalaga.

"You see...may mga bagay kasi na wala sa ibang tao, at ganoon ang uri namin." aniya.

Mahinahong tumango si Aldeheid na nakatalikod sa kaniya, "I have my whole afternoon to listen..." may konsiderasyong pagkasabi niya.

Hindi na dapat magulat si Callum sa mga nalalaman ng dalaga. What he witnessed during the meeting immediately answered their curiosity.

Aldeheid does not just have those hybrid eyes but she also adopted their sharp senses. It's great, though, but it also creates danger for his little Alde. Kasi normal na tao lang dapat siya, at ngayon ay parang unti-unti itong nagbago. And he knew that he needed to find answers as soon as possible, baka kasi may masama pa itong dulot sa dalaga.

"We have what we call mates..."

Aldeheid snapped her neck upwards, "Oh, you mean those bonds that werewolves have?" she excitedly asked so he chuckled, mukhang hindi siya mahihirapan sa pagpapaalam dito.

"Yeah, but we're not wolves. We have their characteristics but we aren't like them." he pointed and went on, "Having mates is said to be the greatest bond among all. Not even blood lines nor money could beat this. But unfortunately, it doesn't work for every hybrid. Mayroong walang para sa kaniya pero hindi ibig sabihin nun ay hindi na siya iibig." he tucked Aldeheid's hair into her ear.

"Some actually married even without mates, at kahit papaano ay masaya naman sila sa buhay nila. Same happiness with having mates." naramdaman ni Aldeheid ang tuwa sa dibdib ni Callum kaya napalunok siya.

"It's the greatest feeling ever...really..." his breathing was heavy yet light. Mararamdaman mo talaga ang saya niya at sa hindi malamang dahilan ay napasimangot si Aldeheid.

"Kasi kapag may pares ka, binigay 'yon galing sa itaas. It's like a red string pulling you two to each other, kahit paman nagkakalukot, kapag kayo, kayo lang talaga." aniya na para bang naalala ang kaniyang nakaraan.

Aldeheid brow met, "But what if it was cut? Kayo pa rin ba?" almost bitter that she sounded.

Natigilan doon si Callum at pinakaramdaman ang dibdib ng dalaga. He swallowed hard and bit his lower lip after that. Na guilty tuloy siya sa pagka-insensitibo niya.

"Ahm...hindi na." sabay lunok niya.

"Even if it was tied up again?" this time, Aldeheid looked up to him without a smile.

Napakurap nalang doon si Callum. "I-it depends if the decision is mutual..."

Iginaya pabalik ni Aldeheid ang mata sa harap. Her mind was already occupied with the word mate and heart with jealousy.

"That doesn't answer my question, does it?" ngayon ay may nguso na sa labi ang dalaga.

"H-hindi—ano, akala ko lang na kailangan kong sabihin para malaman mo ang pagkaiba—"

Humarap si Aldeheid, "Ng alin?"

Her anticipation made Callum step back and heart became wild. The voice in her head was too loud for him, even the feelings in her heart was already stabbing all over his body. Lalo na ang maliit na espasyo sa pagitan nila na nakapag-init sa kaniya. Callum could only clench his fist as he tried to control himself.

"That a mate is different from something I owned."

Hindi niya napigilang ilabas iyon. A mate is indeed something he owned but somehow does not. Pero hindi niya na sinabi iyon. He could restrain himself but Aldeheid's presence and scent refused him. Napakurap ang dalaga at ang namumuong tensyon sa loob niya ay nawala kaya naman ay nakahinga ng maluwag si Callum.

Aldeheid really has this strong and different effect on him that even his mate before couldn't give him.

"W-what do you mean by owned?"

Tinitigan niya lang ng ilang sandali ang dalaga bago dahan-dahan na ginaya ang katawan nito papunta sa kaniya. "You might wonder why no one touched you at the tavern..." he whispered when her head met his breast.

Naramdaman niya ang palad ng dalaga sa gilid ng tiyan niya kaya hindi niya napigilan ang isang mababang ungol.

"You're a human but they couldn't sense you, Alde. They couldn't even feel your presence around. Maganda 'yon dahil kampante akong wala nang makakagalaw sa iyo katulad ng nangyare sa gabing iyon. But I'm also worried, Alde..."

Aldeheid glanced up when she felt his hand on her face, "I'm worried about you...about us. I'm worried that I might not give you answers and I'm also worried that I, myself, is confused about what's happening to both of us."

Nagtama ang mga mata nila. Callum intently stared at her, and she saw it the second time his eyes flickered. Ganoon rin si Callum sa kaniya. What's weird was the unison of their hearts after that. Ramdam nilang dalawa iyon at alam rin nila kung ano 'yon.

Aldeheid shyly dropped her gaze on the marble floor. Hindi niya na kaya na magtagal pa ang tingin niya sa binata. It just felt weird for her because it was too sudden.

"Ramdam mo iyon, diba?" walang pag-aatubiling tanong ni Callum.

Napakurap siya, "Y-yeah..."

"We both feel and sensed each other. Nararamdam rin natin ang damdamin ng isa't-isa. It's almost as if we're mates but I know that we aren't." may dismaya sa boses ng binata.

"I honestly don't understand the situation, Alde. Kahit ang Alpha na halos alam ang lahat ay hindi magawang sagutin ang kaso natin." he sighed and looked up at the sky, "This happened after that night. Ewan ko ba kung anong nangyare pero bigla nalang kitang gustong maangkin. Your scent used to be a human but it became different. It became addicting and calming, especially your blood. Kaya bigla nalang akong nagwala kahapon dahil gustong-gusto kong tikman ka."

Pareho silang napahinto doon at nanlalaki ang mga matang binawi ni Callum ang sinabi, "I mean your blood! Gusto kong tikman ang dugo mo!"

Napakagat labi nalang si Aldeheid at tumango. "I heard from Rios that I tamed you yesterday. What does that mean?"

Nagkamot siya ng batok, "It's like a mate thing, too. You calmed me with just words and a single please."

"You seem to know about the feeling of having a mate. Do you perhaps have one?" she innocently asked even with the jealousy invading her.

Natigilan si Callum at napatingin sa kawalan. Hindi niya alam kung kailangan niya bang magsinungaling pero hindi rin naman siya makakatakas kay Aldeheid.

"Had..."

Her eyes fluttered and heart guilty, "Y-you mean..." napatakip siya sa bibig, "Oh my god, I'm sorry..." pero inilingan lang siya ni Callum.

"Don't be. It's a common thing for hybrids to lose a mate." he said naturally as if she couldn't hear the pain in his heart.

"Like divorce?" she tried acting oblivious.

He chuckled, "Yeah, like divorce. But since hybrids feel seven times more than humans, it's more painful for us. Not only that love would break but also the bond that was given to us."

Tumahimik siya bago sinabi ang nasa isip, "Posible rin bang maging pares niyo ang normal na tao?"

Callum gently nodded, his eyes fixed to Aldeheid's. "Then, is it possible to have another one?"

Doon natigilan ulit si Callum. He tried to read Aldeheid's mind but there was nothing there. Gusto niya sana malaman kung ano ang gusto nitong iparating at naiinis siya dahil wala siyang nakukuha. Para siyang hinihigitan ng hininga sa hindi malamang dahilan.

He shook his head after a couple of seconds and answered, "They only give us one for lifetime."

Ngumiti naman si Aldeheid at tumalikod na, "I guess I can't be one then..." she giggled and his heart ached.

Callum could only curse underneath his breath and without warning, pulled Aldeheid for an embrace. He wanted to oppose the fact that she uttered, but he had no rights. Kaya ang pinaghahawakan niya nalang ay ang bagay na namamagitan sa kanilang dalawa.

"You can't be one but you're still mine."

He knew that she wasn't his mate but he also knew that he owned her. And he wanted to tell her that.

——————————————————————
nyariina