His Guardian (MxM)

Chapter 7

Liam

I walked down the dark halls of the pack prison building. I believe my mate was one of two prisoners here, currently. This was not a comforting thought whatsoever, considering Dad had been complaining about more trouble he and the Alpha were having to deal with recently. If pack members were receiving punishment from the Alpha, and they weren't here, I had an idea of what punishment was being dealt out by him. I shivered at the thought. I knew Dad didn't agree with a lot of the Alpha's actions, but there wasn't much he could do about it. He was Beta at the end of the day, not Alpha.

At least the Alpha seemed distracted enough recently that he hadn't paid a visit to my mate. Part of me wondered, hoped, that maybe he had forgotten about him. 

As I approached the cell, I saw my mate sitting on the floor, back against the wall as he threw a small ball at the opposite wall, repeating the action when the light weight figure bounced back to him. After a few seconds, I realized he had balled up the brown kraft paper I used to wrap his food with, and used it as entertainment.

He noticed my presence, and stopped throwing the paper ball.

"I brought you some things," I told him. He looked at me, almost sympathetically. It had been days since I first saw him, and I hadn't even heard his voice yet. He had not even told me his name. I yearned to hear him. 

He stood up, and walked toward the bars of the cell. I handed him yet another wrapped sandwich and bottle of water. But this time, his hand touched mine as he grabbed the items. Fireworks exploded across my body from the point of his touch. His touch that lingered for a few moments as he gazed into my eyes before grabbing the items and setting them on the bed. 

"I noticed you only had a thin blanket too, so I brought you this," I stated as I lifted the thick, fluffy, folded blanket in my hand and stuffed it through the bars. He grabbed it and held it close, staring at it while rubbing it with his thumb. 

"And this," I stated as I handed him fuzzy socks and antibiotic ointment, "for your feet."

He seemed surprised at my observation as his eyebrows lifted ever so slightly before glancing down at his bare feet that were covered in cuts. He grabbed the last two items and held them close, with the blanket. He looked up at me for a moment before speaking.

"Thank you," he told me. His voice was more melodic than I expected it to be. So smooth, yet a little hoarse. I wondered if that was natural, or due to his recent living conditions. Regardless, it was beautiful, and I never wanted to stop hearing it.

"You know, I still don't know your name. You know mine though, so I feel like it's a little unfair," I joked. He grinned at this. Wow. The first time I've seen a smile out of this beautiful creature, and it was breathtaking.

"It's Luca," he informed me.

"Luca," I repeated, "that's a beautiful name." He blushed and looked away.

"Thank you," Luca mumbled. 

He was gorgeous. He was looking down at the blanket he held in his arms, rubbing it once more. His gaze was cast downward, but I could still see the alluring chocolate orbs behind his wisps of eyelashes. I hadn't noticed it before, but he was standing at just the right angle under the dim light for me to see very light freckles across his nose and cheekbones. Similar to mine. He doesn't even realize it, and he has me completely mesmerized.

"Why... why did you bring these to me?" he asked timidly. I leaned in closer to his beautiful face, and responded to my mate through the bars.

"I think you know why."

Once again, he blushed at my words.

"I'll check up on you later, okay? Get some rest." I told him, to which he just nodded. I smiled at Luca, and walked back down the dark hallway from whence I came.

Luca

I couldn't stop grinning at the items my mate had brought me. I think he actually cares about me. I was caught by surprise when he mentioned my injured feet. I didn't think anyone had noticed. Or cared.

I took my thin blanket, wet it with the water from Liam, and wiped down my feet before applying the ointment. It felt so soothing to the cuts. I then covered my feet with the soft socks, and smiled. It had been a while since I've worn anything on my feet. It feels nice.

I ate the food Liam brought for me which, again, tasted heavenly. I then drank some water and bundled up in the blanket before lying down on the bed. I grinned to myself. This blanket had his scent all over it. I was enveloped in it. 

Is this what it's like to be held by him? I pondered this thought.

I don't know how long it had been since I fell asleep when I awoke to my name being called softly in the distance. I chose to ignore it. I was too comfortable in my mate's blanket. I heard footsteps retreating and sighed to myself. But it wasn't long until the footsteps began approaching again. I feigned sleep.

There was a jingling sound before a heavy sliding sound echoed. Was someone opening my cell? That someone was revealed to me without having to open my eyes as the lovely scent of Liam, and only Liam, filled my nostrils.

I could hear him set something down before his footsteps got closer to me. Once he reached me, Liam tugged at the blanket I was wrapped up in, to cover me more. He then did the unexpected. Something I didn't see coming as I was still pretending to sleep. I felt his soft lips press against my forehead for a moment before pulling away. I felt tingles radiate throughout my body at my mate's touch.  It was so difficult to remain still and silent after the kiss. I hoped my face was not bright red, which would give me away. 

Liam's footsteps retreated, the door closed, and the jingling keys locked it back. And then, he was gone. Once I was certain he was nowhere near, I moved my hand toward my forehead and felt where he placed his kiss. As if I was expecting it to be a tangible item, I suppose. I just rubbed the spot softly while smiling to myself.

Maybe I should open up a little more around him.