Second Chance Mates

-29- 🌹 Raise Your Glass

"So raise your glass if you are wrong, in all the right ways. All my underdogs, we will never be, never be, anything but loud, and nitty gritty, dirty little freaks."
~P!nk, 'Raise Your Glass'

~~~

*Ryland's POV*

Ringing the doorbell, I bounce on my heels as I wait for my mate. It's been three days since we've last seen each other. That may not seem like a lot, but for a pair of mates, it feels like a year.

Most wolves will mate and move in together almost immediately after finding each other. While my arrangement with Landon would be considered unnatural, I still wouldn't have it any other way. Taking things slow is the best thing for us as a couple, and the best thing for Landon. And I'll do anything to keep Landon happy.

However... in the back of my mind, I keep hearing Joan's warning.

"Resisting the mate bond is just as dangerous as a rejection. It may slow down the consequences, but they won't be any less severe. You will become feral, as well."

Elders are never wrong, but I haven't been feeling any different. It's only been three months. I'm sure there are wolves that go even longer without mating, and they're just fine.

The door swings open, and I immediately leap forward to jump on my mate. Landon grunts at the impact, quickly grabbing beneath my thighs to keep me from falling off of him. I wrap my arms and legs around him, peppering kisses all around his face.

"Hello to you too," Landon chuckles in response to my enthusiasm.

"I. Missed. You," I say in between kisses before pulling back to gaze upon his smiling face. Landon's oceanic blue eyes pierce into mine, and a small squeal slips out as I hug him tighter.

"I missed you too, honeybee," Landon murmurs into my neck. "Goddess, you're so fucking adorable."

Carrying me inside, Landon kicks the door shut while I stay wrapped around him like a koala bear. I inhale his scent deeply, as if the sweet aroma isn't already imprinted on my brain.

"Fucking ew," a snarky voice comes from the living room. I raise my head to see Lucca stretched out on the couch, hand buried in a bag of potato chips. "Can you please have some respect for the single and lonely? Thank you very much."

"Hey, Lucca," I grin, wiggling out of Landon's arms and hopping over to the couch.

"What's up, Fido?" Lucca smiles crookedly before stuffing a handful of chips in his mouth.

"Is this how you're spending your Saturday?" I question with a raised brow, sitting next to his feet. "Eating a bag of potato chips and watching TV?"

"Hey. I don't judge you for being feral, you can't judge me for being a lazy piece of shit."

I raise my hands defensively. "Touché. What are you watching?"

"Some show called 'The Originals'. I found it on Netflix and started watching it when I was bored."

"Is it any good?"

Lucca shrugs. "It's kinda weird. It's about vampires, witches... werewolves. It's weird to see how humans perceive us, even if they don't know we actually exist. It doesn't help that there's a prequel series that I haven't seen."

Out of curiosity, I watch a few minutes of the show as Landon stands behind me, lightly massaging my shoulders. As the show progresses, I find myself constantly staring at the main character. Not because he's hot — even though he is, but don't tell Landon I said that — but because he seems... tormented. All the other characters appear to hate him. He goes on a rant, talking about his inner monsters, and how everyone judges him for it.