Second Chance Mates

-34- 🌹 Everything That I Am

[A/N - Wait to play the song 🌹]

"In case you don't live forever, let me tell you now. I love you more than you'll ever wrap your head around. In case you don't live forever, let me tell you the truth. I'm everything that I am because of you."
~Ben Platt, 'In Case You Don't Live Forever'

~~~

*Landon's POV*

Blocking out Ryland calling my name, I turn and run out of his house as quickly as my legs will take me. My lungs burn as I force myself to keep running and running, trying to outrun the heavy feeling of guilt crushing my heart.

Leo shouts at me, begging for me to turn around and go back to our mate. I can feel Ryland's pain burning through our bond, only tripling the amount of pain I'm currently in. I'm not exactly sure where I'm running to, but that doesn't stop my legs from carrying me as fast as possible.

The muscles in my legs begin to burn, signaling I've been running for a lot longer than I realize. With my chest aching, I collapse to my knees near a clear stream. Forming a cup with my hands, I collect some of the cool water to splash on my face, wiping away the built up sweat.

'Landon, I swear to our goddess above, if you don't go back—' Leo begins to threaten with a growl, but I quickly cut him off.

"Shut up!" I shout out loud, covering my ears with my hands. "Just shut up!"

The roaring in my ears doesn't die down as the fierce pounding of my heart causes the blood to run heatedly through my body. I can't do this. What the hell was I thinking, trying to be in a relationship again? He's only going to get hurt, or leave me, or do both at the same time, just like Easton.

I can't.
I can't.
I can't.

A hand falls on my shoulder, making me release a barked shout when I stumble and fall face-first into the stream. I sputter, coughing up water as I raise my head to my assailant.

The glare on my face instantly falls away when I recognize the ebony goddess standing before me. The sun shines behind her as a halo of light, causing a strange ease to mix in with my hurricane of inner turmoil.

"Elder Joan," I choke out awkwardly, scrambling to my feet. I attempt to adjust my dampened clothing, but the fabric insists on sticking uncomfortably to my skin.

"Landon Grey," the warm timbre of her voice soothes me as she smiles. "I thought I sensed a lost pup."

My face flushes, and I duck my head in an attempt to hide it. "H-How did you find me?"

"You seem to forget that I have a unique connection to our Moon Goddess. I can sense when one of our own is in distress."

Furrowing my brows, I raise my head. "But I'm not a part of your pack."

Joan's smile widens. "We are all Her pups. Whether or not you're a member of this pack is irrelevant. Come on, let's go."

"Go where?"

"To my cottage. You look like you could use some tea and a nice chat."

***

I squirm around on the floor, a small cushion tucked beneath me. I'll never understand how people prefer this over chairs, but to each their own. When we first arrived to her cottage, Joan pointed me in the direction of the bathroom.

Apparently, I — as she so nicely put it — smelled like an Elven bowel movement.

Freshly showered and fully dressed in clean clothes, I absentmindedly rub my damp hair with a towel. Joan sits at my left, pouring steaming-hot mint tea into a cup.