Chapter 14b
1059 Words
The next morning when I woke, Kelton was snuggled beside me. Now that the shock had abated, I had time to think. What was that thing? Where did it come from? What did it want? Those were my first thoughts, followed rapidly by how ashamed I was at how poorly I had reacted. I hadn’t even tried to fight. I just stood there. I didn’t even have the strength or mental acuity to scream. I thought I was tougher than that. Until that moment, I thought the saying ‘frozen with fear’ was just a saying. Who wouldn’t fight back? Who wouldn’t run? But now that saying made perfect sense. That is exactly how I felt. Like my body was frozen completely.
Not only did Kelton get lumped with a baby mate, but he got a useless one too. All my childhood insecurities flooded me. Unwanted. Pathetic. Parasite. Suddenly, it was difficult to breathe.
“What’s wrong?” Kelton shot to a sitting position, tucking me behind him automatically while scanning the room. When he realized there was nothing, and no one, in the room that should not be, he turned his soulful brown eyes on me.
“I sensed your fear. I thought...” He leaned down and pecked a soft kiss on my lips, then my forehead.
“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked.
I wanted to say, No! Never! I wanted to forget that thing and my weak reaction, but that wasn’t an option. What if it came back?
“What was it?” I asked. I tried to keep my voice strong but I didn’t succeed.
“I don’t know. I made a lot of calls last night.”
“Did you sleep? Who did you call? What did you find out?” I could see how tired he was. His eyes lacked his usual bright twinkle.
“No one has any idea what it could have been.” He did not look happy about that. An unknown threat to his mate that he could barely touch must be driving his wolf mad.
“Did you call my dad?” I asked.
“No. Do you want me to? Do you think he knows what it was? I didn’t want to worry him until I knew what it was we were dealing with. I’m supposed to protect you. I promised I would take care of you.”
I could feel his anger at himself at that last bit.
None of this is his fault.
“You did protect me,” I assured him. “I just stood there, too scared to move. I couldn't even scream. If you weren’t there, who knows what would have happened? Thank you.” I leaned into him and deeply breathed in his calming, delicious scent. Slowly, I felt some of the tension leave his body. My own worries ebbing too.
“I should have…” I started to say, but he cut me off.
“Don’t finish that sentence. Your reaction was perfectly normal.”
I sighed and enjoyed the feeling of snuggling him as we lay down together. I had wanted to apologize, but his words made me feel better. Shadow monster things aren’t normal. Most people would freak out. I told myself that next time, hopefully there wouldn't be a next time, but if there was, then next time… I would fight. Just how you fight a shadow though, I had no idea.
The time until lunchtime passed quietly. It was a Saturday and the campus was busy. Soccer and football were both huge for the school, each drawing small crowds. From my window I also spied groups of runners and wandering students just enjoying the perfect weather outside. I wandered back to my small couch and curled up beside my mate. My mate. I still couldn't believe I had a mate. Every now and then I wanted to pinch myself to be sure this was real.
“I don’t know how you are going to get out of here unseen,” I commented. I can’t believe he got us in here last night unseen.
“I have no intention of leaving you unprotected.”
I laughed. “While I love the thought of staying by your side, we can’t do that. You have a job and I have classes.”
“That’s not until Monday. I’ll call Kilani. She’ll come and pose as a student. She can go everywhere with you and mind-link me if I’m needed,” he mused more to himself than me. Like he was planning out loud.
Since we hadn’t marked each other yet, we couldn’t mind-link each other. Mind-linking was a telepathic communication link that wolves shared with pack members and their mates. The ability for me to mind-link him immediately would certainly put his mind at ease, mine too, but I wasn’t ready for that yet. Marking your mate, via a venom infusing a bite, sounds bad but is actually an incredibly intimate process that sends a flood of pleasure endorphins through you - so I read. Not only does this result in a permanent mark, like a tattoo on your partner’s neck, but it also magically binds your souls as the mate bond is solidified. It’s a commitment. Permanent.
“No, don’t call her yet. I’m fine. We don’t even know if the thing was after me.”
You don’t believe that, Maya cut in. Why are you lying to our mate?
I could see he wanted to argue. I understood why.
“I won’t leave campus without you. I will be safe, I promise. Please don’t worry anyone else yet. Let’s just research it for now.” I tried to sound upbeat and confident.
“Alright, let’s start with our enemies,” he said.
Soon I’d scrounged up a notebook and we were sitting at my small round table brainstorming.
“My mom, my brother, maybe….” I said. I didn’t want to look at him. My own family were the first people I thought of when I wondered who had it out for me. They wanted me gone. What did that say about me?
Our first mate, Maya added.
“Maybe someone here doesn’t like rogues.” I continued, instead of acknowledging my wolf. Still, I wondered ... what if he'd found me.
- Writer
