His Blind Mate

Chapter 22 Maples And Strawberries (Part II)

“Are you okay?”

“I am now,” I said as I kissed her hair, mentally noting that my mate likes coconut scented shampoo.

I handed her the basket with the unwashed strawberries. “Those are unwashed. Don't eat them.”

“I thought you washed them!” she whined.

“I'll have to cut the tops so you can eat them, don't I?” I explained, reaching into the switchblade hidden under my pant leg. It made a soft swooshing out as it was pushed out.

“Do you always carry that with you?”

“Force of habit.” I shrugged, slicing off the top and handing it to her.

“Are you sure it's not for you to kill someone?”

“What's gotten you all spooked? Reire has a number of these on her person all the time. I bet you twenty strawberries she sleeps with a sheathed knife under her pillow.”

Luan took a bite of the fruit then moaned. “Mmm. This is really sweet.” She licked her lips, smiling at me as she held her palm out. As we walked, her moans kept getting louder each time she took a bite.

“Stop that,” I growled.

“Stop what?” she asked innocently as she popped the other half on her mouth and moaned. “So good.”

“That! Stop it!” My wolf getting out of control would be nothing short of disastrous. Kai tethered on the edge, pure instinct pleading for me to take her and claim her, to pleasure her until those pretty sounds incessantly spilled from her tasteful mouth.

Oblivious to how close I was to losing it, she let out a long moan then had the nerve to slowly trace her lips with her tongue, well aware that I was watching.

“Luan,” I groaned.

“I can't believe this turns you on!” She laughed, amused at my suffering. I touched my forehead with hers, keeping her in place as I inhaled her scent to calm myself. Only ... the sinful scent of her arousal hurled itself at me, making it worse for me down there. “My sweet cupcake, don't tease me like this.”

“You're kinda cute when you blush,” she replied, pecking my lips.

“I'm not blushing. Alphas don't blush.”

She playfully stuck her tongue out at me. Realization struck me and I groaned. Get a grip, you i***t!

“See. Kinda cute.”

“I’m not cute. I’m an Alpha.”

“What are you then?” she challenged, taking a bite of the strawberry.

I c****d a brow. “Not gonna moan?”

“You'd like that, won't you?”

Just as she placed the remaining half of the fruit on her mouth, I smashed our lips together, catching her off guard. The fruit passed between our tongues until she accidentally bit into it, releasing its sweet juices. Luan moaned then, the sound threatening to snap the overly stretched chord of my self-control. I somehow ended up swallowing a piece of the fruit, but before she could breathe, I took her lower lip between my teeth and nibbled on it, admiring its softness. Really can’t get enough of you.

“That was ...”

“Arousing?” I finished, making her laugh. Her face and up to the tips of her ears had turned a bright red.

“You're ridiculous,” she muttered, resuming our walk. I continued to give her strawberries, which she consumed normally, not a sound leaving her lips.

She ruined strawberries for me. I could never eat another unless her taste was with it.

The silence was oddly comforting. She had a smile on her face as she ate while I played the part of a creepy mate who kept looking at her with a grin. When the guesthouse came into view, a heavy weight placed itself on my heart, ruining the peace that had settled over it.

“This is the last one,” I said, handing it to her.

Her gaze fell to her feet, the fruit carefully placed between her thumb and forefinger.

“Hey, you're getting this basket, too. Don't worry about it. I can send you more every week until you tire of them,” I suggested because a frown had replaced her smile. “I'll send you whatever you like. Chocolates, cupcakes, uh ... do you like pears? Coconuts? Bananas?”

Luan shook her head. “Kyhan -” she said, her voice softening, “- I want to stay.”

“No,” I deadpanned then walked ahead of her, taking long strides on purpose.

She grabbed my arm and forced me to turn. “Why not?” she questioned, a brow raised. “Am I suddenly unwanted here? Is this what the strawberries are for? A farewell gift of sorts?”

“Hey, calm down. It's nothing like that.”

“Then I'm staying.”

“No.”

“Wha – Why?”

I sighed when her grip tightened. “You’ll be safer with your sisters.”

“I call ‘bull’,” she replied.

I forcefully removed her hand as gently as I could then turned my back to her to head back to the packhouse. She could find her way to the guesthouse from here; she was that smart. “Think what you want.”

I hadn’t taken ten steps yet when her soft voice reached my ears. “So that’s it then? It’s over?”

Pain seared in my chest as she spoke those words. Don’t do this …

“Luan –” I quickly pulled her to my chest to calm her. The basket dropped to the ground. “I’m sorry, cupcake. Don’t cry. Please. Look, we don’t know who’s targeting you yet. I promise I’ll come for you when this is over. I just need you safe right now. Please … you’ll be safe at Red Claw. I’ll talk to Alpha Liam about you and … us.”

She gripped my shirt as she took a deep breath. “I want to stay. Don’t you want me to stay?”

“You’re being unreasonable.”

“What?” she shouted as she pushed me away. “You beg for me to come to this pack, and now you’re letting me go because what … vampires suddenly have an interest in me?”

“Because I want you to be safe!” I shouted back, getting annoyed that she wouldn’t let this go.

“I can protect myself!”

“We don’t know who wants you, Luan!”

“Then let me do this with you, you stupid mate!” Her chest heaved as she breathed heavily.

None of us spoke for a couple of seconds. I tried to understand what she meant. I’m trying to protect you from me.

“If you send me back to the Circle, I’ll be doing nothing but wait and worry. At least let me help.”

I cupped her cheek and smiled. “You’re helping me by keeping your distance from me.”

“That didn’t earn me a single ‘thank you’ for disappearing for the last two years, did it?” she spat. “I’ve been away from you long enough. I’m not taking another step from here until you let me stay.”

“Cupcake –”

“Don’t you ‘cupcake’ me,” she said as she jabbed a finger on my chest. “I’m staying and that’s final.”

“Give it a few days and you’ll be in heat,” I said, sighing.

“I’m – I won’t be in heat until a couple weeks from now.”

“We’ve been apart for two years, cupcake. It’s in our nature to … mate as soon as we find our … mate.” Goddess, I sound like an i***t. “My wolf is different. It was hard when you were away. If you go in heat here, I can’t make any promises. I don’t want to hurt you, Luan.” More than I already have.

Luan raised her arms in front of her, palms up, asking me to join hands with her. Her hands could’ve been soft with her nails polished with any color she fancied. Instead, her palms were calloused from training and her nails were kept short and rounded, the surfaces of some roughly scratched. These two years had been tough for her. Maybe if I came back sooner, she didn’t have to learn how to fight. To protect her – it was mine to shoulder. To shield her from anyone who would hard her, including myself. She wasn’t ready to complete the bond, and I wasn’t confident I could control Kai. She wrapped them around mine, their warmth calming my depressing thoughts.

Her voice was soft, soothing even; it cut through the inner voices in my head and silenced them so I could hear her clearly. “You need me, Kyhan. I will never forgive myself if I run away now. Let me stay with you, by your side, as your mate. The Goddess gifted you to me, too. They want me, not you. You can’t expect me to sit still on the sidelines while you solve my problems for me; I’m a warrior. We’re in this together, my stupid Alpha. As for the mating … I trust you, Kyhan. I’m … sorry it took me this long to realize.”

She hung her head in shame, a multitude of emotions seeping through our bond. Her pain, regrets, and shame screamed but one answer. Kai had his tail between his legs, ears flat in defeat.

“Say something,” she whispered.

“You’re unfair, cupcake,” I said as I pulled her into a hug. Her arms wrapped around my waist as she buried her face on my chest. How can you expect me to say no when you bare your heart out like that?

Luan yelped in surprise when I suddenly carried her and twisted her to hide behind me. A knife f*****g went past where she stood. I growled at Reire – that woman never changes.

“What is your problem?” I demanded.

“Helia wants her to stay,” she said nonchalantly, unaffected by my anger. For as long as I’ve known her, nothing could faze her but the mention of her mate or the girls she couldn’t save.

“She doesn’t have authority over me.”

She shrugged, blue eyes looking past me and focused on Luan. “Figured you’ll want to stay.”

“You’re not mad?” she asked, peeking out from behind me. This feels similar.

“So, are you going to let her stay or do I have to knock her out cold?”

I looked down at my mate to see her biting her lip, anticipating my answer. She tugged on the bottom hem of my shirt.

“I’ll look after her,” I answered. Relief washed over me – the bond would be harder to resist this time around.

“We’re leaving now. Come send us off.”

“Okay.”

I patted her on the back, gently shoving her forward. She smiled at me as she went to Reire.

They talked on the rest of the way. Meanwhile, I was trying to look at anything but her cute little ass. Everything about her was a beautiful distraction. The basket of strawberries almost felt like it was pulled out of dream. She really forgot about me.

When we got to the guesthouse, Reire squeezed my mate it looked like she couldn’t breathe. Raphael and his team were already waiting for us, ready to escort the sisters back to the Circle.

Yula and Penny crowded her, pulling her into a group hug. Reire took the opportunity to leave me with a few parting words.

“I’m going to castrate you if anything happens to her,” she said with a smile.

“Who do you think you’re talking to?” I questioned. The sisters kept hugging like it was the last time they’d see each other. It was nothing short of a heartwarming scene. She had a family in the Circle – a solid bond nothing could take away. I should know. I was there too.

“You’re completely whipped, Alpha.”

“Who wouldn’t be with a mate like her?”

She let out a sigh; hands on her hips. “I was surprised to learn she was from your pack. Had you turned out like your father, you’d have left me no choice but to beat some sense into your head.”

I laughed at her statement, knowing it was true.

“You’re always welcome in the Circle, Kyhan,” she said, smacking my back. “As our brother.”

“Don’t get all sentimental on me, Reire. You’re not dying.”

I received a smack in the head for that. Worth it.

“She better not return to the Circle crying. I’ll see what I can do to help. She’s still one of us, Red Claw or Moonstone.”

The moon must be turning red. The last time Reire expressed emotions was when I returned to the Circle a week after I snuck out. She doubled my training time after that. “Thanks for being there for her.”

“Always.”

She joined her sisters then. From the corner of my eye, I caught a moment where Raphael and Yula smiled at each other. Can they be any more obvious?

“The room reeks of hormones, Raph,” I told him via mind-link.

“We can smell you on her, Alpha. Don’t point fingers here.”

“I’m not the one hiding my mate. Lavender oil and lemon – clever, but not enough to hide your scents from me.”

“She made up her mind. She’s staying with me.”

“Congratulations, Raph. Luan will be staying as well.”

“She has my gratitude. The sisters had a discussion before you got here about Luan staying behind. Yula was supposed to leave for now, but changed her mind because of her.”

“I’ll make sure to pass it on. Get them home safe. Call if you get into trouble.”

“Thank you, Alpha.”

I ended the link just in time to see my mate walking over to me with a traveling bag in tow.

“Need help with that?”

“I can carry my own bag. Thank you.”

I snatched it from her and ushered her out. “Just ask, cupcake.”

After a few more emotional exchanges and understanding nods, Penny and Reire left for the Circle.

“Welcome to the Moonstone Pack, Yula.”

“Thank you, Alpha,” she replied, bowing in respect. Unlike our past encounters, she actually smiled at me, light brown eyes sparkling.

“It’s not yet official since I have to talk to Liam about it, but you’ll be fine. After all, I’m the one asking.”

“I heard Alpha Liam doesn’t let his pack members leave for their mates,” she said. “I’m sorry for putting this burden on you.”

“It’s nothing,” I replied. “We can talk more about your living arrangements some other time. Just enjoy yourself for now.”

Luan took her bag and handed it to me. “Where will she be staying?”

“Come on. We’ll take you to Raph’s house.”

After dropping her off to a two-story cabin near the clinic and making sure she was comfortable to be in her own, Luan and I headed towards our hopefully, permanent residence.

“You’re not taking me to the packhouse?”

“I figured we’d need a little more … privacy.” I smirked, pleased at the honesty of her cheeks.

I made sure the cabin was about a five-minute walk away from the greenhouse so she could sneak out to it whenever she wanted. It wasn’t anything too fancy, but we could make it a home.

“Welcome to our home,” I said as I led her in.

“Wow. It’s beautiful,” she said dreamily.

“I’m glad you –” I paused when I saw that look on her face again.

Luan burst out laughing, grinning widely at me once she calmed. “Got you again.”

“You’ll keep doing that, won’t you?”

“Maybe,” she replied smugly. “Now show me around.”

Show. “You’re lucky I like you.”

“Maybe I am.”

As I gave her a tour of the house, I made sure to slow my steps down so she could count them. The first floor had the kitchen, dining area, and the living room. I dropped the basket on the island before leading her out the back door and into the garden, which sported a variety of herbs and spices. The only flowery plant I had was butterfly pea. I should’ve added flowers.

“So … what flowers do you like?”

“Don’t you know what I like?” She raised a brow. “You were pretty confident earlier.”

“Roses? Asters? Cardinals? Dandelions? Wait, that’s a weed.”

“I’m not too fond of any flower in particular,” she answered with a laugh. “What about you?”

“Butterfly pea. It’s not exactly a flower, but I like it.”

“What does it look like?”

Words jumbled in my head as one word kept popping up. I glanced back outside for a clue; to get any other word to describe it. “It’s blue.”

“What do you like about it?”

That was easier to answer. “It’s different. You hardly find the color blue in nature.”

Attached to one side of the cabin was the laundry area. A little further away were stacks of firewood.

“The second floor has three bedrooms and an office,” I explained. Luan just kept nodding, a smile on her face every now and then. Her hand glided along the railing as we went up the last flight of stairs. “The third floor has a small library and three more bedrooms.”

“Why do you have so many bedrooms?” she asked.

“Guess.”

“Guests?”

“No, guess.”

“Exactly how often are we having guests over?”

She pouted when I laughed. “You’re adorable.” It’s obviously for future plans.

“This is our room,” I said as I opened the double doors for her. It had almost the same layout as our room at the packhouse, but more spacious and the bed was a king size. I dropped her bag on the floor then I led her around the room again before sitting her down on the bed.

“It doesn’t smell like you,” she frowned. “Is this really your house?”

I plopped back on the bed, taking her down with me. We bounced for a bit before it stilled. “I don’t live here. I have a room and office at the packhouse. But … that’s going to change now that you’re here.”

“Why don’t you live at the Alpha’s home? It’s a little weird that the Alpha is living with the Omegas and the Gammas.”

I pinched her nose gently, earning me a frown. “I’m the i***t here. You should be able to figure it out by yourself.”

“Oh.” Her face fell. “You don’t have to stay away from your parents for me, Kyhan. I understand that they’re your family.”

They’re not exactly my family. “I only need you and my pack. Don’t worry about them. They’ll be fine.”

She scooted closer to me then rested her head on my chest. I let myself relax as I closed my eyes.

“You’re supposed to be smarter between the two of us, cupcake,” I teased. “I live in the packhouse because I’m different. Also, we shared that room. It was the one place I could rest.” In sorrow. But she didn’t have to know.

“Sleep,” she said softly.

“I’m not that tired.”

“That … Alpha, is a lie. I’ll be here when you wake, so get some sleep.”

I ran a hand down her back, assuring myself that she was real. Her scent wrapped around me like a soothing balm, calming down any opposition in my mind. With the voices silenced, I found myself drifting off to sleep.

XXX

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A/N:

This chapter has way too much fluff imo, but let me know how y'all feel about it.

I'm still working on the second half of this chapter (Maples), which should be available soon.

Also, HBM now has 285 hearts! ^^ Thank you for the love!