Alpha's Human Mate - Chapter 16: Chapter 16

As Gulf began to chew, the tantalising aroma wafting from Mew proved too difficult to ignore, gnawing at his mind.
"Where did you go before coming here?" he asked, trying to infuse casualness into his voice.
"Business. I had a dinner meeting, that's why I was late to pick you up," Mew explained, his eyes locked onto Gulf with a seriousness that made Gulf's heart race.
"Hmm," Gulf hummed, continuing to eat, but the question lingered.
"With who?" he asked, an edge of jealousy creeping into his words as he took another bite without meeting Mew's gaze.
Mew observed Gulf's expression, a smirk blooming on his lips at the jealousy evident on his mate's face.
"A woman named Pear," Mew teased, relishing Gulf's slight glare of displeasure.
"And there were others too, don't worry, Gulf; it was an executive board dinner," he added, a grin spreading across his face as Gulf nodded slightly and returned to his meal.
"Oh yeah, I've been wanting to ask since the last time you opened the door," Mew began again, catching Gulf's attention.
"Ask away," Gulf replied, finishing his last bite, his curiosity piqued.
"Why do you look pale?" Mew asked, genuine confusion floating in his voice.
"You were sleeping from the afternoon until 10:45 p.m.; aren't you supposed to be energetic?" Mew queried again, tilting his head like a lost puppy, eyes wide with concern.
"I don't know, and truthfully, I don't care," Gulf replied, rising to wash his plate and cup in the sink.
Mew followed closely behind, wrapping his arms around Gulf in a tender embrace the moment he got close enough.
"Mew," Gulf admonished as if scolding a child.
"Just let me have this moment; I need this," Mew replied, inhaling Gulf's comforting scent.
Gulf continued washing his plate but froze when Mew clung to him, shivers coursing through him at the closeness.
The moment Gulf trembled, Mew beamed and tightened his hold, placing a soft kiss on Gulf's nape that made him shudder yet again.
"Okay, you need to stay away from me for a few minutes," Gulf declared, turning them both around and gently detaching himself from Mew's embrace.
Mew gazed at Gulf, his eyes reflecting a deep sense of loss as if someone had taken away his most cherished toy. Before Gulf could voice a word, his phone chimed insistently from the living room. He made his way over, the screen lighting up with a flurry of messages. He skimmed through a few, pushing them aside, but then his heart dropped as he saw the latest one from Kokliang.
'Gulfie, you're pushing Mew away by ignoring him and keeping your distance. This could break him, so don't make me kill my only best friend for being such an idiot,' the message blared at him.
Gulf inhaled sharply, biting down on his index finger in frustration. "What am I doing?" he muttered to himself, scolding his own stupidity for neglecting his mate over a trivial assignment. He was the type of student who could achieve anything with his unwavering focus; if he poured his heart into his studies, success was inevitable. He just had to remind himself to put Mew first.
"Why am I such an idiot?!" Gulf exclaimed, his frown deepening, lost in a storm of guilt. Unbeknownst to him, Mew was trailing behind him, moving slowly toward him with a casual demeanour, though his heart was heavy.
Gulf turned abruptly to face Mew, who stood merely a metre away, eyebrows raised in perplexity. Mew, without a word, settled onto the sofa, still studying Gulf with a look that spoke volumes. Gulf's heart raced as he approached, the weight of his remorse finally crystallising.
"I'm so sorry, Mew!" he blurted out, his voice betraying his urgency as he crouched onto Mew's lap, wrapping his arms tightly around Mew's neck. Mew responded instinctively, winding his own long arms around Gulf, pulling him into a soft embrace.
"I didn't realise, Mew. No wonder you looked so pale," Gulf said, his concern bubbling to the surface, tightening his hold as if to shield Mew from any further hurt.
In that moment, Gulf recalled the warnings from his friend, Thanayong, about the bond between mates—the unyielding need for reassurance through gentle touches and heartfelt conversations. It was as if they were two halves of a whole, and to neglect one meant to endanger the other, especially when the mate bond involved an alpha.
"Mew," he murmured softly, "I'm here now."
"Tua-eng..." Mew coaxed, attempting to create some space between them.
"Tua-eng, I'm not dying," Mew said lightly, chuckling softly, causing Gulf's ears to flush crimson.
"You dick! I thought you were dying!" Gulf exclaimed, playfully swatting Mew's chest as he pouted, though relief washed over him.
Suddenly flustered, Gulf leapt up, escaping the living room and darting into the kitchen, desperate to avoid Mew's gaze that surely betrayed his bright red cheeks.
"Tua-eng, come here," Mew called after him, trailing like a lost puppy, but Gulf stubbornly ignored him, his heart racing from both embarrassment and awareness of how deeply he'd nearly wounded his mate.