The Heart of a Mate (Alpha/Omega Book 3/3) [Boy/Boy] - 2013

Chapter 11: Consequences

The Heart of a Mate: Chapter 11: Consequences

Lauren's POV

               I walked across the room; Pyro's still form gaunt and lethargic. He was breathing heavily and quietly whimpering. I laid my hand against his cheek, feeling the trail left by previously shed tears. "Shit - Pyro, what's wrong?" He just continued to whimper. I desperately pulled at the bandage on my wrist, allowing it to fall away and expose the two purpling punctures. Without hesitation, I forced his teeth through the healing skin and watched as the blood pooled. He slowly stopped whimpering as his face regained its color. "P-Pyro?" His lips closed around my wrist and his hands had come up to hold it steady. "Pyro..." I was beginning to feel light headed but I couldn't pull my arm out of his vice-like grip. 

His eyes shot open and I was instantly released, my body crumbling where I stood. Pyro managed to catch me before I hit the ground. He applied pressure to the wound, which was still gushing blood, and rewrapped it. "Oh fuck, Lauren, what in the hell are you thinking?" 

"You - you were in pain - I had to do something." My world steadied as I lay there. "I'm alright." 

"Thanks." He smiled, forgoing his cocky attitude. With labored breathing and a feverish glow, he just looked vulnerable. I settled against his chest as he fingered my hair, the notion calming in its own right. 

"You feel better?" I pushed myself into a sitting position, ignoring the slight spinning it caused. 

"I will when we play doctor." He managed to beam with cocky pride. 

"I already told you - I'm mated to Jay." 

He gave me a bored look. "And I already told you, you're still mated to me. I don't mind sharing as long as I get my turn." 

I slightly laughed, "You may not mind but Jay does. I really have something good with him and I don't want to mess it up - he's been faithful to me for the past four years..." 

"What about when he left you because you became Sayrin - huh? He wasn't there...I was!" 

I bit back tears. "Were you Pyro - or was it your mother?" 

"I had limited control over myself but I was the one who asked you to bond with me. I asked because I wanted you to be mine - not because of tradition or because I was ordered to." The anger in his eyes softened. "I love you Lauren." 

I wanted to say it back - I wanted more than anything to say it back but I couldn't bring myself to do so. Too much has happened to just merely forget but I really wish I could. 

               Niro looked at me, his hand intertwined with his mate's. "Lauren, aren't you hungry?" 

I poked at the food in front of me with my fork. "Not really." I couldn't get Pyro out of my head, his words like a disease: crawling through my body and enveloping my every emotion. 

"You look troubled -" Givyon noted, spooning mush around his plate. 

"Thanks." 

Niro cleared his throat, reclaiming attention. "So are you going to tell us why your wrist is bandaged?" I had his the dressing under leather bracelet, but apparently, nothing escaped his eyes. 

I pushed myself out of my seat and away from his questioning eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about." I walked over to the fill length window and gazed out, the sky dark and clouded above. Even the weather seemed to be mocking me... 

"Enough of this - you look completely defeated." 

I scoffed. "Yeah, no shit: I have a contractor on my ass, I'm unintentionally making my mate chose between me and his birth right, and I have a power-hungry vampire after my title." I offered up a smile but I had a strong conviction that it just came out as a sneer. 

"You forgot to mention that you're hiding a wanted criminal in your household." My heart seized as my head snapped up, my eyes meeting with Langley's. 

I let out a sigh, my fear being released. "For the love of God Langley - I thought someone else found out..." 

"Don't worry, the secret is safe with me." He gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. 

I pulled him off to the side and further out of everyone else's earshot. "I don't think he's getting better. He was in so much pain that he was crying. That cocky asshole doesn't cry." 

"Just because the main cause of his poisoning was alleviated, we don't know how much of it is still in his body. It could take weeks to fully work itself out. He clarified. 

I looked down at my wrist in confusion. "So what, am I just supposed to let him continuously feed off me until then?" 

"Lauren, he's going to feel the consequences of the detox because you can't keep allowing him to feed - it'll kill you." 

"But I've been through it - that kind of pain causes insanity!" 

He smiled, his grin an exact copy of his brother's. "He just temporary, besides, he was never really sane to begin with." 

"That's besides the point, and you know what I mean." Langley shook his head before turning back to me. 

"You really want to help him that badly?" 

I reluctantly shook my head. I did want to help him but at the cost of my own life? That price seemed a little steep. "Is there a way that doesn't include him draining me dry?" 

"Yeah but the medication is permanent...once introduced to your body, there's no way to reverse it." 

I swallowed hard. "What would it do?" 

"It'd increase the amount of blood your body makes. You'd have to be fed on or bled daily to survive." 

"-and if I'm not fed on or bled?" 

He returned his gaze back to the window, unable to look at me. "Your body wouldn't be able to contain it. Your vessels, veins and capillaries would self combust - killing you either of a stroke or heart attack." I bit my lip as I contemplated the consequences.