Mated but not Tamed

Chapter 26 - Only a Few Days

Magnolia

I pad down the steps of Luther's massive house. Avoiding the creakiest steps and grasping the railing with dear life. After my almost near-death experience of forgetting the last step and almost flattening my face, I depend on the thing.

As I make my way to the kitchen, following the sweet smells of syrup and fruit, I find Daniel lacing up his shoes at the front door.

I turn towards him, pouting and on the edge of tears. He's not leaving, is he?

"Hey Angle, oh no, not the puppy dog eyes..." he opens his arms and pulls me into his muscly chest. I nuzzle between his packs, his grumbly laugh vibrates through my cheeks. "Don't worry Baby, I ain't going yet."

"Then why the bags and key?" I look around and gesture to his stuff, all neatly piled and ready by the door.

"Just loading things up, so I can spend the rest of my time with you." He leans down, rubbing his nose against mine. The action calms my beating heart, but the knowledge that he and Seth will have to leave soon anyways eat at me stability.

I might rely on them to much. But there all I have.

"So, when do you guys actually have to leave?" I ask, Daniel laces his fingers through mine, and we make our way towards the kitchen.

The windows are open a crack, the golden ray of early morning fracturing on the glass and dousing the countertops and cabinets it broken light. The simple beauty of this place will never stop taking my breath away.

In this moment however, my eyes are immediately drawn to my shirtless mate hovering over the silver stove. Flipping and stirring around mouth watering food and smells.

Seth turns as we enter and answers my earlier question, "We leave in about an hour Baby Girl." He leans against the counter, crossing his huge arms over his dark, hair speckled chest. His expression is neutral but his ridged posture and the tension in his shoulders betrays him.

"But it's only for a few days Angel." Even as Daniel says it, I know he feels the same as me. The amount of time we won't be together isn't the problem so much as us not being together in general is.

I nod despite this. Knowing this is hurting him, them, as much as it is me makes me feel a little better. That makes me sound selfish, but with them I don't care.

They're my mates. I don't want to be apart from them.

******

We're just finishing up eating breakfast, the coffee still steaming and the golden rays of sun fading to an early morning glow. Luther makes his way down, his face grim at first when he walks through the entry.

I tense at the look. It only takes seconds for his eyes to meet mine, and his shoulders visibly relax. His emerald, green eyes easing slightly.

He makes his way to the table, easing into the other side of the breakfast nook booth. His broad shoulders filling my view with him right across from me, Seth and Daniel.

The latter's having me squished between them all morning.

"I don't like this." I admit, hanging my head and fighting for my life to hold back the tears. I know I'm being dramatic. I know they must go. I know.

I just...

Everything in me hates it. I need them. With me.

"Please Baby Girl, don't cry." Seth nuzzles my neck as Daniel pulls the curtain of hair away from me face.

I give my self five seconds. Five seconds to breath, to hold on to the sadness. I need to feel this. It's the only way I'll be able to let them go.

I nod my head, grasping Seths hand and lacing our fingers together and laying his hand in my lap, then do the same with Daniels.

Luther's been quiet, which isn't unusual, but somethings telling me its for a reason. The feather light strings holding my heart out to there's tightens with this tension.

The threads of the bond have grown more prominent and noticeable since I got here. I know I'll never feel the full effects of the bonds until we mate, but... I can still decipher small things.

"It's time." Luther laces his finger on the table, all business. His detachment from the situation, in a weird way, helps. His casual tone and mater-of-fact words make it all feel temporary. Like its not goodbye, just... see you late.

Seth and Luther squeeze me between them, there hands roaming and soothing me. A single tear slips free when they begin to let me go.

I feel Seth's calloused finger glid against the swell of my cheek and give him my best smile. It comes off as more of a crooked, teethy, grin, but he grins back none the less.

We all make our way to the front door. Seth and Daniel are lacing up their boots as Luther stands behind me, his large biceps curled around my middle. His strength the only thing holding me steady.

He leans down, nuzzles my neck and manages to briefly divert my attention away from the ache in my chest to the tingle of my skin. The heat he emanates.

"Just a few days Sweetheart." He squeezes me to his chest, the tension in my spine slipping away. It's only a few days, and then we are on our way to Seths.

His house is the closest to us, though its still 2 and a half hours away. When the boys told me that despite the long distance between their homes, all their territories are attached. I couldn't even begin to understand the numbers they started listing off regarding the size of all of them.

I feel Luther pull away, his warmth and muscular arms leaving me. The loss of comfort pulls me from my daze, only to be greeted by Seth and Daniels scents wrapping around me along with their bodies.

"Time will fly Angel, just you see." Daniel, always one to lighten to mood.

"Babygirl..." Seth starts, but he seems to lose the words before he can go on. My big bear of a mate has never been good with his words. But I know what he wants to say.

I rest my palm on his stubbly cheek, the feeling sending warmth and tingles through my skin and down my arm. He leans into my touch and my heart feels near to bursting. I love them, and they love me.

"I know..." I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat, battling the tears threating to fall. "It's okay, It's just a few days." I say it, I don't mean it. This sucks, and we all know it. It doesn't help that my sentence comes out strained and with a small wet hiccup in the middle.

They each kiss my lips, my forehead, the back of my hand and the top of my head. Each one struggling to let go of any part of me. I'm struggling myself. I can't help but squeeze Seth and Daniels hands as they begin to loosen. But I do in the end.

I can't help the few tears that make it past as I watch them wave goodbye from there car windows. I can't help the sob that wrenched from my throat as they pull away. I can't help but fall back into Luther and cry against his chest as they fade from view.

And I can't help but cling to Luther as he carries me through the door and sits me down in his lap.

I can feel the strings of my heart growing fainter. The distance weighing on my chest like a physical thing.

It feels like hours before I feel sleep start to take over. Before I let the dreams of my mates wash over my subconscious and sooth the ache in my soul. The reassurance that this is only temporary chants in my mind.

It's only a few days.

It's only a... few days.

It's only... a... few...