Little Red

Chapter 43

Demitri's POV

After we leave Ara at the pack house, I mind-link my Delta and instruct him to make sure someone on duty is standing on the third floor all night.  I would rather be safe than sorry if I don't make it back to the pack house tonight.

When we reach the cabin, I leave Samuel's wolf at the front entrance while I sniff around the perimeter.  Satisfied that there are no intruders around, I shift and command him to do the same.  

For a moment, he looks fine.  Then, he goes crashing to his knees on the grass.

"Samuel!"  I yell, startled by his behavior.  I've never seen my best friend act this way, and it scares me.  I debate going to him and helping him up, but a strange sound makes me freeze. 

It takes a moment for my brain to register what's happening.  Samuel kneels hunched over on the ground, his head in his hands as his body shakes with sobs.

Oh shit.

I'm not good at comforting people, not even my best friend since birth.  Panicking, I try to think of what Ara would do in this situation.  Too bad I draw a huge blank.

Time to improvise.

"Samuel," I say, coming to sit beside him.  "Samuel, can you get up and go inside?"  I ask lowly, trying not to treat him like a child.  He's always reserved, never one to openly show his emotions.  So I know that when the pain lessens and he gets back to himself, he'll appreciate that I don't treat him like he's fragile.

The only response I get is him getting up and walking inside.

Okay, that wasn't so bad.

I follow him inside, forgoing the lights to start a fire.  I cross the room, and get to work putting logs in the fireplace.  Once it's lit, I turn to my friend sitting on the couch.  He's no longer crying, the only evidence being his bloodshot eyes. 

"Hey Sam, do you wanna go get a shower?  It's the first door on the right."  I remind him, pointing to the small hallway across the room.  

He nods this time, and I find satisfaction in the progress he's making.  

I remember learning about the mate bond in school.  My teacher explained that the bond was the most important thing in a wolf's life.  Wolves are pack animals, they're never meant to be alone.  And having a mate goes along with that.  So when the Moon Goddess creates a werewolf, she also creates a mate that is perfect for him or her.  And once they find each other, they spend the rest of their days together.  If that doesn't happen, the wolves go through the worst pain imaginable, because the mate is the other half of their soul.  And denying that piece of yourself is never meant to happen.  

I can't imagine what Samuel's going through. 

Once the fire is going strong, I head into the small kitchen and start preparing something for us to eat.  There's not much food here, but luckily I find the ingredients for a decent stew.  My mom would always give me something warm and heavy to eat whenever I felt bad.  I'm not nearly as good of a cook as her, but I think it'll do.  

I wish my parents were here now.  They would know all the right things to say.

Thirty minutes later, dinner is ready and I've scooped it all into two bowls.  I grab both and carry them into the living room, but I almost shit myself when I see Samuel about to stick his hand in the fire.  

I slam the bowls down on the coffee table and tackle him from the side.

We wrestle around on the floor for awhile - him struggling to get closer to the fire, and me trying to tug him further away.  Punches are thrown, shins are kicked, and profanities are yelled (mostly by me).