Second Chance Mates

-32- 🌹 Half Of My Heart

"I was made to believe I'd never love somebody else. I made a plan, stay the man who can only love himself. . . Oh half of my heart's got a grip on the situation, half of my heart takes time. Half of my heart's got a right mind to tell you that I can't keep loving you with half of my heart."
~John Mayer, 'Half Of My Heart'

~~~

*Landon's POV*

The mattress shifts as Ryland squirms around next to me, pulling me out of my slumber. I keep my eyes closed, trying to force myself to go back to sleep, but it's difficult with Ryland constantly moving around on the bed.

Sensing a sudden wave of panic washing over my mate, I peek an eye open to see him standing up from the bed and quickly leaving the room. Frowning, I sit up and stretch my arms over my head. Where's he going?

My bones are still heavy with exhaustion, and I sink back down onto the bed. Waves of sleep lap at the edges of my mind, but I can't seem to allow myself to be carried away. Ryland's panic is still seeping through our bond, fully waking me up as I begin to worry.

Rubbing the sleep away from my eyes, I head downstairs where I hear hushed voices arguing. I come to a stop in the living room when I recognize Roselyn speaking quietly.

"...this is getting risky. You and Landon need to mate soon."

Uh, what?

"I can't," Ryland's voice cracks in a way that makes Leo whimper. "Landon's not ready."

My chest aches. Has he been hurting because he's waiting for me?

"Dammit, Ryland!" Ronnie's voice comes next, sounding angrier that I'm comfortable with, especially when it's directed at my honeybee. "You're going feral! Do you understand that? You. Not just River. You. If Landon cares about you, he'll do this to save you."

The blood in my veins turns cold as my breathing stops. Ryland... is going feral?

"I don't want it to happen like that!" Ryland cries. "When we mate, I want it to be because we want each other. Not because we have to. Why can't you guys respect that?"

"We understand where you're coming from," Roselyn says gently. "If things were different, then I would agree that waiting is the best thing for you. But your situation is different. It sucks, I know, but it's not going to change just because you ignore the reality of it. You need to mate, or you will go feral."

'You need to mate, or you will go feral.'

That final sentence strikes me to my core, leaving me shaken. Has Ryland known about that all along? Why wouldn't he tell me something so important?

Ryland emerges from the bathroom, eyes locking with mine as his eyes widen with the realization that I heard their conversation. I'm completely speechless, unsure of what I could say in this situation. Standing there, gaping like a fish out of water, I silently pray to the Moon that Ryland speaks first.

Since our goddess is deciding to ignore my prayers, Roselyn is the first one to speak up.

"We should give you two a chance to talk," Roselyn says, offering me a small smile. "Kai, let's crash at Ronnie's place."

"I don't recall inviting you over," Ronnie grumbles, earning a glare from Roselyn that doesn't match her typical sunny disposition.

"We're going," Roselyn decides, not leaving any room for argument. "Ry, we'll talk later, okay? Landon, it's good to see you again."