Broken, a designation given to someone whose fated mate bond was forcibly severed. Considered to be the rejects of society. After all, something must be wrong with them for their fated mate to break the bond. An idea that made Adriel scoff. After spending a day at Lost Soul Studios, an apartment complex said to be a refuge for Broken, you would figure out that sometimes fate has a sick sense of humor.

His graze tracked the various residents coming in and out of the complex. The ones whose eyes were hollow were the newest, usually the shock of the bond being broken took a while to shake. After the shock came anger and then resignation. After all, according to the rest of the world, Broken were meant to be out of sight and out of mind. Their presence was a threat to the fated bond that everyone spoke so highly about.

His hand drifted to the bond mark that sat atop his scent gland. The silver hue was a cruel reminder to him, and a neon sign to everyone else, of what had happened. How long had it been since his alpha had broken the bond? He couldn’t remember. Even the scent that had drawn them together was now a void in his memory. Fitting, he supposed, to match the ever-present void that took up residence in his chest.

The traffic coming in and out of the building had slowly started to die down. It was late, the world seemed to be at a standstill, his favorite time to be sitting on the steps. Content to just enjoy the quiet.

The sound of a suitcase dragging across concrete caught his attention. He wondered who it was this time. One of the newbies? He couldn’t blame them. Everyone always tries to go back, but it is hard to locate someone whose name and face you've forgotten.

Normally he said nothing, content to let people go on their way, they’d be back eventually. One and done is usually all it takes. Yet here you were. Again. Why wouldn't you give up?

“You will just be back here come daybreak”, he sighed as he looked at you, “haven’t you learned yet? This is it for us.”