The Mating Bond

Chapter 7

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I slowly wake up from my sleep. I groan. Confusion fills my body. I don't remember going to sleep. What do I remember? I remember... going to the Mating Bond... leaving the Mating Bond... what else? Oh right, I met my mate.

My eyes snap open.

Holy shizzle biscuits! I fainted after seeing my mate! I realize that I'm in a building and by the smell, it's not my house. I jump out of bed and my eyes scan the room. Until they land on him. Anara yips in my head full of joy while I just stand there and stare. My nerves go through the roof as he walks towards me. It happened. It really happened. I didn't think I'd actually find him. And of course I faint the moment I see him. It was just so overwhelming. Dreams I didn't realize I fully had shattered before me as I trudged home only for him to un over and pick them back up again? I don't know how much more I can take.

As he approached, I observed that his black hair was ragged and a few strands fell in front of his face. His blue eyes are so mesmerizing I just wanted to look at them forever. He had a very sharp jawline and hasn't shaved in a few days, though he doesn't look bad. I don't think he could look bad even if he tried. Maybe that's my mate gaze talking but, he is very handsome.

I stood frozen as he stood a few feet from me. What do I do? Do I say hi? Do I run away? Anara's comments on wanting to mark him are not helping.

We stood there for a few moments just looking at each other. He is staring at me. Why is he just staring at me? I brake eye contact with him and look straight at the ground. His gaze feels very sharp on me. Almost like he's cutting into my skin with how hard he's staring. Though I'm not sure I was any better. Is he going to say anything? Is he going to reject me? Anara whines in my head as she is unsure.

I mean, that's a huge possibility.

"What's your name?"

His voice fills the silence. The way he talked sounded weird. As if he didn't know what to say. Still looking at the ground, I reply.

"M-Melissa."

He remains silent and doesn't respond. The silence is suffocating. It causes my mind to wander and memories of what people have said pop into my head.

"You are nothing but a disgrace"

"You never stand up for your actions. You're nothing but a coward"

"I just want to see the look on your face when you return mate-less!"

And countless other insults invade my mind. They're true. They are all true. So why would he keep me around? Why does anyone? I've been so unloved that my father hates me, my sister hates me and who knows where my mother is. The only person I cared about went to go with her mate and left me behind. She promised to contact me but never has. So if everyone in my life wants nothing to do with me, doesn't that show what type of person I am? And if they all think I'm a forgettable disgrace, what makes him any different? What about him shows, he'll actually want me to be a major part of his life and care about me?

I take a deep breath and say the sentence that broke me and my wolf's heart.

"I understand that you don't want me. Just... make the rejection quick. Please."

I hear his breathing stop for a moment as if he was surprised. He probably wasn't expecting me to be so bold about it. Then suddenly, he growls. Terror fills my body since I only ever hear people growl before they hit me. What he does next surprises me.

He steps forward and hugs me causing me to yelp. I stand rigidly in his arms as he places his face in the crevice of my neck. I've never been hugged before. I've seen people do it but I don't remember being hugged at all. Well other than the moment we met in the forest but I was having a panic attack and passed out so It's so hard to think though with the tingles I feel dancing up and down my arms and neck. They are so calming.

He begins to... sniff my neck. Anara is silently purring while I am just completely confused.

"W-What are you doing?"

He pulls back slightly so he could look into my eyes before replying.

"Hugging you."

I almost roll my eyes at him just stating the obvious but I refrain from doing in case he'll get mad. The rim of his pupils shine a bright gold. Him and his wolf are both in control. What I said upset him.

He doesn't seem to want to let me go anytime soon, and Anara isn't complaining. So, I hesitantly, wrap my arms around him and hug him back. My arms wrapped around his lower back and my head resting on his chest, I close my eyes and actually enjoy this moment of human contact. Or uh... werewolf contact. Each second I stand in his embrace, those insecurities crumble to the ground. What makes him different? Well he actually hugged me for one. No one has cared about me enough to do that. I never realized how much I craved another persons touch. I never want him to let go of me again. And second, he took me to this warm bed when I fainted. If he really didn't care about me, he would have left me there.

"I'm not going to reject you Melissa. You are mine and I've waited my whole life to meet you. Why else would I come to the Mating bond?"

That is true. I didn't really think through those irrational thoughts, did I? Well I mean, they are irrational so I guess that's the problem with them. I've done too much overthinking for the day. I have such a headache.

At his words, I hug him tighter. I grip a hold of his shirt like my life depended on it. I never want this feeling to end. This feel of being, wanted.

I think about how he refered to me. Melissa has always felt very, impersonal. People who don't know me call me that. The only people in my life who've cared about me is Anara and my old friend Fern would call me Eli. It always made me happy hearing them say it. Maybe, just maybe I can ask him to do the same... 

"Y-You can call me Eli."

"What?"

"I-I mean only if you want to! You don't have to and only my wolf calls me that anyway. A-And it's a silly nickname anyway. I-I don't know what I was thinking! I-"

I begin to pull away and start to panic but stop when he caresses my cheek with his hand. I lean into his touch, enjoying the feeling of the sparks. All my worries and panic seem to just vanish at his touch.

"I would be happy to call you Eli. And you can call me Malcolm."

I look into his beautiful blue eyes as he smiles down at me. I shyly smile back.

I guess Anara was right after all...