Promise me

stained cheeks.

3rd pov

“go to the back room. Don’t come out”

“Pass the slut over granny, I bet her p***y is so tight around my c**k when I get in her”

I have to get out, I have to get out, I have to get out, I have to get out, I-

“GO!”

The elderly pushed Mia so hard by the stomach past the back door and followed her close behind, slamming it closed behind the rabid lust-driven men. Her ears were banging hard from her bloodstream as she reached the closeted room of ingredients and spices and locked herself shut. A howl thudded through her and scuffling was heard, with growls and claws digging into the latter’s skin. It was chaos out there as her hands over her head and legs close to her chest.

Mia! Calm down! Please! Listen to my voice!

I can’t, I can’t, I can’t I can’t, I can’t, I can’t I can’t, I can’t, I can’t I can’t, I can’t, I can’t I can’t, I can’t, I can’t I can’t, I can’t, I can’t

--

Mia*

I’m f*****g scared. I hate it. I f*****g hate how I react towards men. I want to f*****g disappear. The door creaked open. They found me. They found me. I’ll be touched. I’ll be touched and tortured again. I’ll be left alone where no one could find me. My hands gripped tighter on my hair, I need Mal. I need him-

“There you are slut. There nowhere else to hide now”

He stepped closer, blood on his face dripping onto the wooden floor. His shoes came closer. Don’t come close. Don’t f*****g touch me

His shoes vanished from my fixed sight on the floor. A crash heard with a yelp and silence followed. A heavier sound of footsteps approached. It's warm. The scent is so warm.

---

Luke*

I found her after seeing one of the members walking into a closet. My hand reached for his collar, and threw him over my head to the back to god knows where he lands. She’s here. But so small. I crouched down to her eye level to take a good look and whiff of her. Fear.

“It’s me.”

Her eyes met with mine, filled with tears and flushed with unfocused chills. My blood is curling from her response. But I need to work with her slowly. She’s my mate. She can’t reject me. I reached my hand towards her and she flinched. I need to work through her.

“Do I have permission to touch you?”

She stopped shivering on her tracks. Her face froze in an unrecognizable manner and looked stunned. Luke! Talk to her!

A few minutes passed. She stared from emptiness to longing. Somewhere in her shifted. Come on Mia. Please. I’m begging you. Please accept me. I pushed my scent further to envelope her. I need her to let her guard down. Even just a little bit. Please. I’ll protect you.

“j-just the h-hand.”

 Her meek voice broke me a little. But it's working. Her fingers relaxed off her hair and slowly reached cautiously to touch mine. My fingers itched to hold her. my entire body itched into flames to hold her close to me. She wrapped both hands around my fingers. They’re so small. So petite.

She pulled my hand towards her cheek, ever so slowly and flinched upon contact. My hands are burning from her touch. A touch I never felt after years of maturity. She held close, breathing lightly and I moved my thumb to wipe her tears from her orbs. Her eyes closed in appreciation and nuzzled closer to my palm. My breathing stopped.

I felt her pain. I felt all her emotions she went though. How can something like you, so beautiful and soft go through all of that and yet be kind? It’s like her core is opening up unspoken words and all it radiated was nothing but hurt. Her scent went from fear to calmness in a matter of half an hour, sighing away her stress and fear. I want to comfort her. My entire being longs to hold her to me. Longs for me to prove to her that I can take care of her. The fight was easy, but it did nothing but frighten her. her wet warmth of her tear-stained cheeks made me feel horrible to think if I had scared her. I stayed with her. she held hand softly but firm enough to keep her aware. Her eyes finally opened and looked at me.

“Why are you afraid of men?”

She gripped my hand, “I can’t tell you.”

“that’s ok. I won’t push you.”

She sighed in relief. I stood back for her to get on her feet. I just made progress. There’s no way I want to backtrack on her just being able to open me. I need to gain more of her trust. I need her to open up to me more. Her hoodie sleeve is soaked with blood.

“Are you hurt? Did you get cut or something?”

I held her hand firmly and pulled up the sleeves. There were cuts. Clean, blade cuts that are just healing from the inflicted wounds not too long ago. I pulled the sleeves further up. She stood there, reactionless and looked away with guilt. the bag.

“…why?”

----

Mia*

“…why?”

My guts wrenched and yanked my wrist out of his hand. The cold air rushed back to my palms and I crave his touch. But I can’t. I can’t put sentences together. I want to cry, and scream and pour everything that has happened to me, but I still can't open up to him, anyone but dad and mal. I tried everything to not get him involved with me. He’s already guessed this far. A blemish made in his vision of me. I don’t want him to know more. The air around us is dense with discord and frustration. It’s getting hard to focus here.

He stepped back a safe distance where I felt comfortable. He must have picked up where my boundaries are. “Mia. I won't force you to tell me. I don’t have the permission from you to push you to spill everything.”

Permission

That’s the first time I’ve heard someone asking that way. Particularly even fathoming to think my mate will ask me this.

My thoughts are ticking away trying to familiarize myself with that concept.

“But I want you to know, that I am your mate and I’m sure you know it too. We are bound. I won't touch you if you’re not comfortable. I want to earn your trust Mia.”

He gestured and stood further away. No. please come closer. Please don’t put a distance between us.

“Can you trust me?”