The 27th

Chapter 44

Arias seemed to be on edge as the weeks went by. He wasn't angry by any means, his temper always mellow and as usual but he had become more affectionate. She noticed that if they were together in a room, he would always find a way to touch her, whether it be a hug or a kiss or even something as simple as brushing her arm as he walked passed her or grabbed something from an area in her proximity. She didn't mind of course, also becoming more openly affectionate as well but he was gentle and always gave her time to refuse contact, which she never did.

He himself though, always dreaded this time of year. Being trapped indoor whilst his inner being called to the outside always made him frustrated. Even if he were daring enough to risk his well being and go outside, he couldn't. The snow reaches unimaginable heights, blocked all the door and windows, making it impossible to leave. He was also a wolf, a pack animal that craved companionship and spending a month cooped up alone worsened his mood. However, this year was different for the better. He now enjoyed his time with his mate, having spend little to no time with her as he prepared for the storm. She calmed him and his instincts, vying for her attention rather than spending his time dreading what he can't have at the moment. She also provided him company, serving as a soothing presence rather than just a being to fill the void.

Often, he founds himself openly staring at her, taking her in for all she was. He found that he could lose track of time as he did this, completely and utterly consumed by her. Watching her perform the simplest actions mesmerized him. Some stones, he even questioned himself if she was even real, even in front of him. She was right in front of him and he knew that he could easily reach out and touch her, hold her, but she just seemed to be so unreachable. After so many years of praying for a mate, he finally got one and it just doesn't feel like a reality.

At times, she just looks so ethereal that he of wonders if she was a figment of his imagination, so much so that he had to touch her to ensure himself that she was truly a being, grounding himself. Like now, it was one of those times that she just looked so heavenly and divine, it almost hurt his heart by just looking at her.

It was a simple action, one that made her unaware of his stares. To her, she was just drinking her prescribed tea and struggling to decipher a children's book that Arias had risked his life for. To him, oh to him, he took in how the candle light flickered on her face, making her eyes look like molten gold and the tint bringing out her freckles, her stars. How her eyes reread the same lines repeatedly of his favorite childhood book, eyes furrowed as she stumbled upon words that were unknown to her. Then, as she kept reading, her lips would quirk up, just slightly, indicating her inner pride as she would figure out the words.

She would raise her cup to her face, her lips parting to wrap around the edge of the cup to take small sips of her hot tea. He knew what those lips felt like, what they tasted like and by observing them, he wanted more. He licked his lip, as if trying to taste the remnants of her but it was gone.

She could feel his eyes on her. She didn't know how but she always knew, as if his gaze was his touch, warming her every time. She didn't mine the feeling, rather enjoyed it, but it made it hard to concentrate. She found herself having to reread lines several times, even though she knew the words, just because her focus was on him. As unknown phrases became more frequent, she gave up trying as she knew her mind was elsewhere. Marking her page and closing the book, she felt somewhat saddened she couldn't maintain the focus to continue. She was rather enjoying the stories of the Moon Goddess and other folklore tales.

He watched as she raised her eyes to his but he didn't feel the need to be bashful. He knew he was caught and there was nothing to do to change that so he felt no need to look away, maintaining their eye contact. She raised a brow at him and he grinned at her teasing, growing more comfortable with him. . She pursed her lips as she fought a smile, narrowing her eyes at him without any form of angry, her eyes bright with joy rather than holding a fiery rage.

"What?" His grin grew and she had had to bite her lip, a smile forming despite her withholding it.

"You're distracting me." She half heartedly chided him as he walked her way.

"Really?" He played with her hair, twirling it around his finger as he rounded her back.

"Yes." She leaned back in her seat as he slide the book away, allowing him to lean on the table close to her. "And you don't seem very sorry about it."

"I not." He laughed, in no way apologetic for getting his mate's attention. "I only sorry when I do wrong."

"What if I wanted to read?" She tilted her head to the side, leaning closer to him, peering her bright eyes up at him

"Then I sorry."

"No you're not." She finally laughed, shaking head as she did so. He leaned closer, their noses almost touching, which made her stop.

"No, I not." He inhaled heavily, hoping to catch a whiff of her scent but he got nothing but then smell of mint from their toothpaste.

"I know." She smiled up at him, brushing some of his hair from his eyes. At their skin contact, he froze, mouth agape. "What?"

"You feel that?" He questioned, clasping his hand around her wrist to prevent her from moving, feeling the heavy cloth of her sweater on his palm and a slight tingle on his forehead.

"Feel what?" He let go to rest his hands on her cheeks, the skin to skin contact having the same affect as before.

"That. The-", he couldn't thinking of the correct word to describe it in English.

"The tingling?" She asked, bringing her own up to cup his hands and he nodded. "Yes, at first I thought my hands were just asleep from leaning on then for too long but it's on my face as well."

"The bond." He took her hands and moved them to cup his own cheeks, leaning into them as he felt those same sparks. They were weak, much weaker than how other mated pairs described them to be but  it was definitely there and more than he could have ever asked for. He laughed, kissing her palms before pulling her towards him and off the chair, her legs around his waist.

"But my wolf-", he pulled her higher against him and kissed her, preventing her from finishing her sentence. She pulled back when she felt a tear hit his skin, wiping the tears as they fell from his eyes.

"My Moon. My Star, είναι ευλογία. Ενα θαύμα." He pulled her closer, resting his forehead on her as the tears continued to fall. "You wolf coming. Bond get strong." A mix between a sob and a laugh left his lips and he buried his head in her shoulder, letting the tingles spread across his forehead. "Το θαύμα μου.."
(You're a blessing. A miracle.
My blessing.)