BOUND: Mates at War | 18+

21 Solid Ground

I can feel him drawing closer. Something is wrong, the connection through bond is full of pain.

I move toward the river, as if on instinct, my body leading me toward him. I wait, watching from behind a large tree.

The idea that this might be some kind of trick occurs to me as I hide but something about the heartbreak radiating from him is too real.

My eyes catch movement downstream. He steps out of the tree line, his legs drag with exhaustion. His posture is hunched, broken, none of the usual pride and strength he usually possesses are present now. When he steps into the water I can see the hurt on his face, carved into his features.

I whisper his name into the air and his eyes shoot to my concealed location.

I watch as he falls to his knees in the water. It looks like he couldn't hold himself up any longer.

I pull myself up onto a long, low lying branch that hangs far out over the water. Balancing over the limb, I run as quickly as I can, before diving into the frigid water. Swimming with the current brings my body crashing into his quickly.

His eyes meet mine for a moment before he slumps his body into mine, inhaling deep breaths against my neck.

I can't understand him, he's shaking and mumbling about "lies" and "everything being wrong."

I don't press him for clarity.

I pull myself up to stand, struggling with his weight. He stumbles to the shore, dropping to his knees again as soon as we clear the water.

He wraps his arms around me with his head buried in my chest.

I'm not sure how much time passes but the sun is high in the sky when he finally loosens his grip on me. When I pull back slightly his gaze is fixed on the ground.

"Roman?" I don't want to push him but something is obviously very wrong. He's broken.

"Everything was a lie, Solana. I... I saw it. She lied," his voice shakes and his body shudders against me.

I draw circles over his back with my finger, sitting beneath his crushing weight.

He sits back and looks at me again, his eyes are fully open, no blinders or confusion. It feels like he's looking at me for the first time.

"Edyrm Ilitris didn't kill the King..."

My mouth drops open and a strange sound, a mixture between a gasp and a choking cough comes out.

We stare at each other, not moving or speaking, hardly breathing.

"My mother killed him," he whispers so suddenly and so quietly I almost miss it.

"Why?" I can't help but ask. I feel dizzy as I push my hands into the ground, trying to steady myself.

"He... I don't think he was my father," he sways, "wolves can sense their children, our wolves know each other instantly. I... I think she killed him to cover up that I wasn't his. He wouldn't have felt the bond with me, he would have known."

"Would she really kill him to cover up an affair?"

"Yes," he nods without hesitation.

He stands suddenly, pulling at his hair while pacing, "what if everything was a lie? What if there was no prophecy? I've spent my entire life killing elves because I was trying to keep her safe. What if..."

He yells hoarsely, birds scattering from the surrounding trees.

After several minutes of pacing he sinks to the ground beside me. We sit together under the weight of everything.

"Why did you save us?" I blurt out suddenly.

"I just couldn't let him... watching you pinned below him... you're my mate," his voice shakes as he fumbles with his thoughts. "I don't know if it took that moment to realize it or if deep down I always knew but... I couldn't let him kill you."

"So you really believe it? You don't think it's some kind of spell?"

"It's not a spell, I know that. Do you... do you hate me?" His voice is quiet, small.

"I don't hate you but I don't forgive you. I know why you did what you did, I can understand wanting to protect your mother... Ilitris confessed! It doesn't change how many of us have been killed, there are almost none of us left... the bond between us is so strong that no matter how I feel about what you've done I... I..."

He nods slowly bringing his head down to his hands.

"I've been taught to hate you, to hate your kind. I don't know how to feel now that I know that everything is based on a lie."

I feel the same way. He is everything I've been taught to fear, to hide from. His kind has brought us to the brink of extinction, we may never recover.

"Where is your father?"

"I separated myself from him, I knew you would find me and I wanted him to be safe... in case you decided against saving us a second time."

He nods and looks at the ground. I don't want to make him feel worse, not right now. I wish I knew what to say to make him feel better. All is not forgotten but right now he needs help finding solid ground.

"You know... I didn't... when you told me that your father was dead, I didn't know that we had him," he stares down at his hands again.

"Did you stop the other guard from hurting him that day?" I blush at the memory of his fingers.

"Yes," he whispers.

I move slightly closer to him, our outstretched legs rubbing together.

"I'm not sure how I'm going to convince everyone but there are some good guys that work in the guard, they will change if I can just talk to them..." he rubs his hands over his face anxiously.

I want to reach out, to take his hand or rub his shoulder, to comfort him somehow.I just can't yet, I'm not ready.

"Do you want to... come back to my camp? It's going to start getting colder soon," I feel my cheeks heat.

He looks surprised, "I can catch a fish, if you want..."

"We can't light a fire... "

"Sure we can," he shrugs, "besides, if anyone tries anything you're pretty handy with that bow," he smirks.

Shit.

There is a fire in his eyes, lewd and wild. When we make it to my small, hidden camp the space seems smaller than before.

He's everywhere, I can't escape him.

"I have w-water right there and some mushrooms and berries," I try to distract myself from our close proximity.

He chuckles and brushes past me, his front brushing against my back.
"I'll be right back with food," he whispers against my ear.

A deep hunger settles into my stomach, but not for food.

How am I going to make it through the night?

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