Found [MxM]

Chapter Twelve - The Goodbyes, The Fear, and The Bond

Chapter Twelve - The Goodbyes, The Fear, and The Bond

(Trigger warning- blood, little gore)

.

I wince as Irving pulls aside the shirt on my shoulder, revealing the red and bruised area on my shoulder. He doesn't say anything for a long time as he carefully examined the area or as he releases my shirt gently, another light wince escaping me when the fabric of my shirt met the skin. He moves to the table on the side and opens a couple plastic items that I couldn't see from behind him.

I sat there in complete silence because I was not going to be the one to break this awkward silence. This, however, was better than the awkward two days since I met my cousin- and punched the shit out of his nose as greeting. To say things were more tense between Brandon and I was an understatement.

My eyes travel to Nate, who stood against the wall grimly with his arms crossed over his chest. I could not for the life of me figure out what he was thinking or feeling. His eyes were trained on my shoulder, but locked unto Irving when he moved back to my side. 

"What's that?" I ask at the white gauze he had with a light blue coating on it.

Irving said nothing to me as he moved my shirt and placed the gauze against the bruised mark on my shoulder. Instant relief travelled through my body and I groan in delight at the cool gel-like substance against my heated skin.

Irving adds medical tape to keep the gauze in place and moves back away from me before finally speaking. "You've got to complete the mating." I sigh in frustration and turn away from both sets of eyes and instead focus on the gauze on my shoulder. Irving continues to us both, "Your body will not be able to handle any more markings soon."

"He said no" Nate finally speaks up after moments of silence. My eyes unconsciously travel up to him, guilt growing inside my chest. This man was probably either in as much pain as I was- or worse since I was not a wolf like he was. Even then, he did not show any indication if he was or not. "What can we do?"

Irving sighs and rubs the back of his neck. "I don't think either of you understand how serious this is. I understand you don't want this mating, Lennox, but you are killing not only yourself, but also your mate."

Nate let out a low, warning snarl.

Irving turns back to me, "The mark grants you just a smidge of quicker healing because of the bond, but with how much you've resorted to marking instead of fully mating, your body isn't able to catch up. Pretty soon, marking will only make things worse not only for you, but for Nate as well."

"Don't blame him-"

"This is serious, Beta Nate. You're both deteriorating and for what? I'm sympathetic, Lennox, I really am. I just don't understand your refusal to complete your mating. It's already been started- the only two options you both have is finish it or a certain painful death for you both."

"Of course you don't understand. You were born into this" I counter in annoyance. "You had a choice- I didn't." Another wave of guilt flowed through me when Nate lowered his eyes, jaw clenching the tiniest bit. "There has to be something else."

Irving sighs with a shake of his dead, "There isn't. Beta Nate is already showing signs-"

"Enough" Nate snarls in his commanding voice, Irving lowering his head slightly in acknowledgement. His eyes travel to me, and he calms down the tiniest bit. "Come with me, I want to show you something."

I follow Nate with a look back to Irving, who just stared after us with a grim expression.

"What signs?" I ask Nate as I follow him. He says nothing with a shake of his head. "What are you going to show me?" I ask instead as he leads me into the house and towards my room.