The 27th

Chapter 39

The wind began to pick up, an indication of the fouler weather that would be approaching in the next few days. He could smell it in the air, feel the pressure of the atmosphere weighing on his body, alerting him of the incoming danger.

The wind blew again, sending small, white particles of snow to dust the ground just beneath the window where they collected into a small mound. These winds brought for a cool breeze which brushed over the young women's flushed body, making her shiver. As she awoke, her body becoming aware of the freezing temperatures and the lack of protection from it, her entire body began to convulse, her teeth clattering together.

"No again." The male had begun to associate her trembling to her puking up blood, to which he began to prepare himself to help her, despite hating the sight.

"A-Ari?" She couldn't barely form the word from her quaking jaw, chattering but tense. She heard his quick footsteps approach her side, a heavy and warm hand laid across her forehead and she whimpered when it was removed.

"Thank Goddess." Her eyes were too heavy to be pried open but she could hear him shuffling around the room and the sound of the window banging shut.

"C-cold." Her stiff body was then lifted off the bed and pressed against his bare chest. She moaned painfully yet satisfied, her limps numb but also painful as the heat began to thaw her seemingly frozen skin. He hissed as she tucked her face into neck but didn't pull away, rather, he held her tighter, trying to make as much skin contact as possible.

As her body trembled, desperately trying to make warmth, his own shook as his adrenaline wore off. The realization that his mate would be fine still hadn't sunk it completely and he was full on expecting her to succumb to rest again.

Her body began to lax as the warmth seeping into her was no longer painful, leaning further into him. She could also now feel her fingertips, which were digging harshly into his skin, her nails cutting him.

"I'm sorry." She released her hold on him, soothing the now indented and bleeding skin with the pads of her fingers.

"Can't feel it." Which was true, not just him putting up a nonchalant and brave face, he still felt out of it and couldn't feel anything but shock and his heart pounding in his chest.

The door opened and shut quickly, his mother now standing in the doorway, covered with flakes of snow. "Oh thank Goddess, she awake. When I felt your emotions stir, I though something else happened." She rushed out, shedding her coat, letting us fall to the floor rather than hanging it up. She made haste to start a fire, hanging up a blanket and Thaelia's clothes on a rack to heat them up.

Thaelia lifted her head from his neck and with heavy eyes and still not being able to feel her nose, she peered around the room, wondering where she was at. She stared at the plants in the corner that she had just tended to days prior. They had lost their green, now browning and drooping sadly, dying from the long exposure from the cold.

"I'm so sorry." All the hard work that his mother put into those plants to keep them living in such a harsh environment was now wasted, the plants having now been at a point of no return. The elder women turned away from the growing fire she was tending to, eying the direction where the younger's gaze was locked to.

"There is no need to apologize. I can grow them back." She assured. "I can't get you back if something happens you to." She made sure to make eye contact, making sure the message sank in before turning back to the fire.

Arias coaxed her head back into his neck to which she complied. The building was still cold and any part of her body that wasn't touching his was still exposed to the cold, making her body half warm and half still numb. His large hands spanned her body respectfully, attempting to keep her warm but also staying within a certain boundary without her even needing to ask.

The fire now roared, the crackling of the flames filling the room with a noise other than breathing and heartbeats. It also slowly filled the room with is warmth, causing Thaelia to sigh as it spanned her back in a constant wave.

The blanket, now heated from the fire, was placed on her back and Thaelia hummed with appreciation, now close to falling back to sleep. With Aria's adrenaline now completely out of his system, he too felt tired, the lack of sleep now catching up to him in full force.

"You both need some rest." His mother voiced her opinion even though it was obvious that the pair were close to nodding off where they sat on the uncomfortable cot. They were there only for medical purposes, not comfort since those who lived in the area healed rather quickly and rarely spent the night in the medical facility. "Your house is too far and she shouldn't be exposed for too long. My house is just a few minutes away." Thaelia, noticing Arias' hesitation, voiced her compliance and agreed to the plan. Her back felt tight from laying on the hard cot and the thought of a nap on a comfortable bed was far too tempting.

Arias sucked in a large breath, lifting Thaelia's head as he did so and sighed heavily through his nose. "Okay."

"I'll give you guys time to get ready. I'll go on ahead and throw dinner together and have it ready once you get there. You can go straight to bed after." Throwing her coat back on, she was out the door before Thaelia could say goodbye.

"I get your clothes." Arias spoke, kissing her head before untangling their limbs.

"My clothes?" For the first time, she noticed her lack of attire and blushed, her body making its own warmth for the first time after her sickness. She pulled the blanket around her to cover her front, embarrassed by her exposure but not angry. She understood the situation but was still subconscious of her body, still a bit underweight and having been taunted about her looks for several years.

Arias returned, holding the small stack of clothes that too had been heated by the open flames. Thaelia accepted them with a smile but paused, eyebrows drawn as she stuck her nose in the air.

"You okay?" Arias watched as she set her clothes to the side and tilted her head at him.

"Can you come here?" Confused, Arias bent down at the waist, planting his hands on the bed, his head almost level with hers. Lifting her hands, she titled his neck to the side, planting her nose to his skin. He thought it was from the cold again but when she inhaled deeply, his thoughts changed and he was unsure of what she was doing.

"You smell good." She sniffed his skin again. "Very good." He couldn't understand how he could even smell appealing. He hadn't bathed in a few days now and spend them nervously sweating after hunting. He should have smelled of dirt and grime. "Is that blood?" She peeled her nose away to stare at the bloody rag across the room.

"You can smell." Arias stated blankly before a smile broke out onto his face. "You smell me. Your wolf come out."

"What?"

"You smell our bond."