The 27th

Chapter 53

Warm water lapped at her shoulders as she sunk deep into the tub, groaning as the heat relaxed her sore muscles. Nearby, a deep male chuckled, echoing throughout the open tiled room and she let out a playful growl of annoyance.

"Sit up." Her muscles were tight and taunt, aching at the movement, but she sat up and hunched over, placing her forehead against the cool lip of the tub. Water sloshed before warm hands stroked down her spine before returning to her shoulders. She groaned as he applied pressure with his thumbs, massaging the tension out of her neck and back. She all but purred when he pulled her against him, resting against his chest as his hands moved to massage her thighs.

His hands left her skin momentarily before quickly returning, rubbing pine scent soap over body. Turning in his hold, she took the soap from his hands and returned the favor, clearing his body of dirt and sweat. Grabbing the shampoo, she lathered it into his hair, listening and pressing her chest to his to feel the rumbles he emitted as she scraped her nails across his scalp. His own hands held her hips, his thumbs tracing tantalizing circles on her hipbones, making it hard to focus on her task.

A howl sounded in the distance. She didn't think much of it. The pack had been doing it all night, having sensed the completed mate bond between her and Arias, voicing their congratulations. Arias halted his movements as he opened his eyes and tilted his head towards the sound. Another howl soon followed and Arias tensed beneath her and his dazed expression turned hard.

"What is it?" She brushed a hand through his hair, pushing the suds away from his eyes.

"Attack." His eyes met hers and they turned wild, darted back and forth between her. "I need go." He looked pained, mouth taunt and the corners of his mouth were pulled down. He had to go but he didn't want to leave.

"I understand." He scanned her face once more before grabbing her chin and pulling her for a deep but quick kiss.

"Please." He emphasized. "Stay here. Safe." He looked at her pointedly "Please." He begged.

"I will." She shifted to the side and pushed at him. "Now go." He stood from the tub, not bothering about the suds in his hair or the water dripping from his body, making puddles on the floor with each step. "I love you." She called as he approached the threshold of the door.

"I love you." He said back as he stopped to look at her one last time. He looked at her face, eyes darting between her features as if memorizing them before turned and left.

She quickly scrubbed the soap from her skin before draining the tub and carefully stepping out. Avoiding her reflection in the mirror, she stared longingly at the comb. She had to to comb her own hair, ever, Arias always doing it for her. Learning from watching him, she started from the bottom and worked her way up and though it was the same comb, the same routine, it didn't feel the same. She frown and placed the comb back. She must rather him do it even if she was fully capable of doing it herself. 

Thoughts drifting towards him, she pulled on one of his shirts, letting his scent coat her skin. Pulling the covers back and sliding into the bed, she hated how large it felt without him. How cool the sheets were on her skin without him here to warm her. The room felt too empty, too quiet, too much nothing and overwhelming different. Her mind raced and she pulled the covered up to her neck. She wanted him home. Wanted him safe and warm in bed, whispering sweet nothing to each other with her head pressed against his chest as she listened to his heart and breathing slowed as he fell asleep.

She didn't realize how much his presence affected her, how attached she truly became to him. And how utterly terrified that there was possibly right now that she may never experience that again. That he may not come back. Stomach turning, the taste of acid built in the back of her throat as her mouth salivated. Her body wanted to expel what was in her stomach but she refused to let it. It quite possibly be the last meal her mate could have provided for her and she refused to let it go to waste. There wasn't a feeling to describe the utter gut wrenching dread that overrides her senses, obliterated another other thoughts or reason. Useless could be used. Pathetic that she had to stay at home, safe behind the walls that he built by hand while he risked himself to ensure the safety of others, her own safety.

Pulling the covers closer, a tear slipped from her eye and she awake, listening closely to world outside, any indication of what was happening but all she got was tree rustling in the wind. A significant amount of time had past, the shadows that stretched along the walls from the moonlight shifted as it's path altered. Her breath hitched.

A shadow passed by.

Tall, with a distinguishable head and shoulders but no other identifiers could be made. The hair resided on the back of her neck and her muscles tensed. This was not her mate.

Listening for their footsteps, they sounded heavy and uneven, clumsy even despite the efforts they made to remain undetected. Silently, she sat up and pressed her bare feet to the floor, testing the wood before letting it bear her full weight. This house was sturdy, built by a man with intentions and a thoughtful mind, not allowing any mistakes to be made and constantly maintained its upkeep. The floor did not creek or groan because of this as she walked throughout the house, giving her an advantage but it also made difficult. It was hard to listen through the thick walls and determine range, whether this person had wandered further into the woods or if he now stood on the porch, just feet away from her. Ducking under uncovered windows as she passed by, she pressed an ear to the wall, waiting for the next foot fall.

Metal rattled as a doorknob was tried somewhere in the back of the house, making her snap her head and she turned cold when the door swung open. Then a window shattered in another room. Then another. Heavy, boot clad feet hit the floor boards, crunching glass as they landed. Flashes of light emitted from the gap below the doors and spilled onto the floors in the hall as they shined their flashlights around the rooms. She listened as more and more thumps landed on the floor, another window shattered from upstairs.

"Clear!" A male called and she moved, ducking into the shadows as the front door was rammed open, wood splintering. The man she had seen and heard earlier darted into the room, gun pointed as he scanned the room. The hall doors opened and others filed out, heading up the stairs and breaching the other doors.

She watched as the man walked further and further into the room and she moved with with, sliding slowly towards the door as the crouched behind pieces of furniture or walls but they soon ran out. Her heart raced as she crouched in the shadows, completely exposed as she faced the back of the man, watching him invade her home as she moved backwards towards the door.

As her foot slid to take another step, a piece of fractured wood slid with it, the small noise sounded so much louder than it actually was. Knowing her covered was blown, she stood and darted the few feet that remained between her and the darkness outside. Sprinting towards the trees, she didn't stop as the man shouted, alerting the rest of them, not did she stop when a shot was fired, wood splintering as it hit a tree just inches from her as she broke into tree line.