Late Freshman Year...

Don’t get too close to humans.

They’ll never understand you. They'll be afraid of you, Damien.

We werewolves should find strong dependable mates a mere human would never be able to survive living in our world.

Damien’s father’s words echoed in his head. Ever since he was a child he’s been taught not to get too close to humans because it could put them in danger. Damien's always been a sweet boy who'd never hurt a fly. So, the thought of his very existence being the reason someone could get hurt made him sick to his stomach. He hated who he was. He had to learn and follow many rules in order to be put into a normal school. His thoughts were soon shoved away as a sweet honey scent filled his nose and clouded his senses.

Kayden.

Kayden's scent always made Damien feel at ease. It took all the bad thoughts of self-hatred away and replaced them with a warmth Damien's never felt before. Damien looked in the direction of the entrance, the small boy with light brown hair and amber eyes, was walking towards him with Evelyn’s arm around his shoulder. She looked as if she was teasing him about something. Kayden was shyly looking away from her, his cheeks slightly pink. He put his hand on her face and shoved her away from him just as they approached Damien. Kayden smelled extremely anxious which only made Damien worry. “Everything okay, Bee?” He asked.

“Uhm yeah, I’m fine. After school, I kind of wanted to talk to you about something.” Kayden said, looking down, fidgeting with his hands.

 Damien ruffled his hair gently. “Sure.”

Damien couldn't help but be nervous the entire day. The classes seemed slower than usual and he couldn’t help but wonder what Kayden had to say to him. He’s never sensed that much anxiety coming from the boy. Normally Kayden was a little ball of careless sunshine making jokes and sometimes laughing before he can even get to the punch line until inevitably giving up entirely. How could a human smell so sweet and inviting but be forbidden at the same time, he caught himself wondering countless times. So, seeing his usual light suddenly look so scared and nervous worried him. To tell the truth, Damien really liked the boy. Normally he was a very closed-off person but Kayden pushed his way into his heart effortlessly. He already knew he could never act on these feelings, mainly because of who he is, he’d only bring danger and sorrow to Kayden, but also Kayden would probably be happier with a pretty girl instead of a dude who also happened to be a werewolf. So instead, he pushed his feelings far back into himself and locked them away. He was content with just being able to stay by Kayden’s side. 

Damien was finally leaving his last class for the day and heading towards the park near the school, where the three of them usually met up. They’ve only known each other for a month but they’ve already grown pretty close during that time. When he got there he only saw Kayden there alone, swinging on a swing with no Evelyn in sight. Damien could sense the boy’s nervousness from across the street and he wondered what could be going on. What if he decided he was done with Damien? He wouldn’t be too surprised. He knew he was bad at talking to other people and wasn’t exactly funny or interesting. It’d probably be safer for them if they didn’t hang around him.

“Hey.” Damien greeted.

Kayden didn’t notice him standing there and seemed a little startled at first before giving him a shy smile and gesturing for him to sit on the swing next to him. “Hi.” He spoke, coyly. He wasn’t acting like the usual bright Kayden.

Damien took a seat and tried his best not to show how nervous he was about what Kayden had to say. “What’s up?”

Kayden sighed, running his hands through his hair and then dropping them so they rested on his lap. “We’ve been friends for a while now and I think you’re a really great person, Damien.” Kayden looked over at him smiling. Damien blushed a little at the compliment. “I wanted to tell you something and after, it’s totally fine if you decide you don’t want to be my friend anymore because you're uncomfortable or something. But I wanted to tell you now because it feels like I’m lying to you if I don’t.” He started fidgeting with his hands. “I’m gay.” He stated, firmly, looking at Damien and trying to read his reaction.

Damien was suddenly filled with hope and affection for the boy sitting next to him. All he could think about was that he had a chance. There was hope that if he were to act on his feelings that things could work out. There could be a future where Kayden was with him. Only if Kayden wanted him, of course. He wanted Kayden so badly at that moment, but he couldn’t. He was living in a completely different world than him. It’d be dangerous for him. He could hurt him. The last thing he’d ever want to do is be the reason he gets hurt. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself. Suddenly his hope turned into pain. He was perfectly fine with just staying by his side but now that he knows this he can’t help but want to try.

“Please say something.” Kayden’s voice came out very quiet and ragged. His voice even cracked slightly.

What could he say? How was he supposed to tell him that he liked him all this time and he wasn’t supposed to? And after hearing this, he isn’t okay with just being friends, knowing there’s a chance; a possibility that he’ll never know the outcome of. Damien’s never been good with communicating, especially with this being his first time going to a real school, and right now he was feeling a lot of conflicting emotions. Hope. Pain. Sorrow. Happiness. He was becoming overwhelmed. He stood up abruptly, “I have to go.” He didn’t look back to see Kayden’s face because if he did he knew he wouldn’t be able to let him go. Each step he took physically hurt but he didn’t let it show. From now on he’d have to put distance between himself and his little light or else he would be the reason it goes out.

Damien didn’t go home immediately. Instead, he decided to run in a random direction, not really thinking about where he was going or where he’d end up. He needed to get his mind off what just happened or else it’d destroy him.

***

Damien started ignoring Kayden. The boy tried to talk to him on multiple occasions, even apologizing sometimes which made Damien wince every single time. He’s done nothing wrong and Damien desperately wishes he could tell him that but he must keep his distance.

Soon a week went by. Kayden still approached him every single day with a little shy smile on his face, letting out his sweet honey scent and trying to get Damien to talk to him. If this kept up he knew he wouldn’t be able to last much longer before he gave in. He had to make it clear. He needed Kayden to stop talking to him and to do that he decided to make Kayden hate him.

Just like clockwork. Damien shut his locker only to see Kayden giving him a shy smile. The scent of honey filled his nose. This was it. Damien took a breath mentally preparing himself. He put on a scowl and looked over at Kayden. 

His smile faltered slightly. “Hi, Damien. Can we please talk? I don’t want any misunderstandings. You left so abruptly-“

“God, you’re so annoying.” Damien cut him off and rolled his eyes. 

“What?” Kayden said, shocked at the change of personality in his friend.

“Are you deaf? I said you’re fucking annoying. I thought you’d get the hint already.” 

“Oh.” Kayden lowered his head.

Something sour took over the sweet smell, it still smelt like Kayden but it was different.

Hurt.

Something he’s never smelt from Kayden before. The usual warmth was suddenly cold and dark and it was his fault. Damien nearly let out a whimper but he had to keep himself composed if this was going to work. He avoided looking at Kayden’s expression as he walked passed him. 

After that, Kayden never showed up at his locker again. Never smiled at him. Anytime he saw Damien the honey would turn into a sour lemon scent. The days that followed after were pure torture for Damien. He was consumed with the fact that he had hurt someone, maybe not physically but he still hurt him and it was Kayden of all people. He truly hated himself. As time went on he spiraled into a pit of loneliness and hatred for the world. Why did he have to be born like this? If he was a human he wouldn't have any problems like this. He'd be able to be happy with Kayden and Evelyn. He wouldn't have to be scared that because of him the people he loved could be in danger. He wanted to make himself into someone you wouldn't dare to mess with. Damien wanted to make the people who saw him as vulnerable, scared of him. He wanted everyone to be scared of him.