The Mating Bond

Chapter 11

I walk towards the Wendys while rubbing my sore neck. Leaning on a garbage bin while sleeping isn't the most comfortable position or place when sleeping. Or any other time for that matter. It sure as not even close to the nicest smelling spot either. I want to take every step so they can't find me. I don't know why they would even try hard to find me. I've been told on multiple occasions that I'm worthless but, they wouldn't keep me around if that was true. None of them liked me at all so it would be odd if they didn't need me in some way. Right? Ugh, I'm overthinking this.

"Yes, you are."

"You've been thinking about it too." A smile spreads on my face as I see Malcolm standing at the entrance looking around almost nervously. I started to wonder what he was looking for so frantically until his eyes focused on me. A smile grew on his face and he seemed instantly calmer. I guess I now know what, or I should say who he was looking for. I give him a small wave and smile shyly as I got closer. He met me halfway and brought me into a hug. I inhale his scent and instantly my nerves settle and my current worrying fades away.

Hope he doesn't notice how worn down my clothes are. It would've been odd if I had worn the same outfit 2 days in a row. I put on some ripped jeans that I added some more rips in the front so it looks like it's purposely ripped, and an overstretched old band shirt. It says nirvana on it with a funny looking smiley face. Never heard of them but the face is funny. I put my hair in a messy bun as usual so it wouldn't touch the garbage. But also it looks cute.

I would start to feel a little weird smelling him like I am but he is doing the same thing. I feel his muscles relax under my fingertips and hear his heart slow.

I never realized how powerful a mate's touch is until this moment. I thought the pull toward him was strong but this... It's much more.

"Hi."

A short greeting but I don't know how else to move on from this intense moment. He pulls away slightly, his hand move and rests on my waist. The look in his eyes is so intense, I just didn't want to look away.

"Hey. How did you sleep?"

Absolutely terrible. My back hurts from the weird position against the dumpster and my butt still feels sort of numb.

"I slept okay. How about you?"

His hand comes up and his thumb traces my chin.

"Fell asleep thinking about you."

I duck my head down as my smile grows and probably the redness in my cheeks.

"You're so cute."

He chuckles and kisses my forehead. My hands rise up and cup my cheeks as I lower my head even further. A small sound of surprise leaves my lips. Butterflies erupt in my stomach as the feeling of euphoria spreads through me and my brain turns to mush.

He laughs again at my silly behavior.

"As much as I would love to continue this, my friends are waiting for us. Don't want to keep them waiting too long."

I don't trust myself to talk so I just nod. My brain still feels like mush. If I said anything, it would probably be just garbled sounds and giggling.

We turn towards the restaurant and make our way inside. There isn't anyone in line so we immediately get to order our food. They give us our number for the food and say it will be ready in a few minutes.

As we wait for the food to be made, Malcolm leads me to a table in the corner where a man and a woman sit at one side. They both look in their early twenties. The woman is eating a mountain of fries while the guy is scarfing down one of his two burgers. His cheeks are huge and stuffed with food as he takes a chug of his drink. Halfway through the chugging, he notices us and smiles. His lips are barely able to close from the amount of food in them. He's somehow able to swallow all that at once before he responds.