Free mate

Bonding

The others are still sleeping when Daniel wakes up. I'm sitting in the armchair close to him, trying to read a book to stay awake but I kept turning the pages without remembering what I've read so far, skimming the words that I forgot instantly as my mind wandered. I tried to monitor Daniel but I must have gotten lost in my thoughts as his rough voice surprised me.

“Kate?” He still looks confused and half asleep but I put the book down and kneel on the floor close to him. I took a glass of water Sera had left and offered to him, watching as he drank it fast.

“How do you feel?” I whisper. It's stupid, Sera probably should check up on him now that he's awake, but I want to keep him for myself for a moment.

“Great”, his dry comment made me laugh but that stopped right away when he started to push himself to sit, a little pained grunt and grimace making it clear he shouldn't be moving yet.

“What are you doing, you need rest”, I say, pushing him back down. My hand on his chest stopped him from moving but he didn't lay down. His head shot up, so surprised that I questioned if he remembered me being here before. I pull my hand back, spooked by the joy I felt from our bond. I still felt his presence in my soul, muted conflict of happiness and disappointment shadowed by pain.

“You can't get up yet”, I break the silence.

“I'll live. Is Hanna here?” If I could say yes he might settle down but there was no sign of the other twin so I shake my head. Sera will kill us both if he goes out like that but Daniel doesn't care, moving slowly he tries to pick up the bloody shirt from the floor. He stays still for a second, I see the muscles on his shoulder tense when he leans his elbows on his knees, head bowed down so I can't see his face. His hand moves to the bite wound on his side, fist tight.

“Daniel, please don't”, I take the shirt from his hand and toss it away.

“I need to...”

“No, you need to stay here”, I cut him off. I lay a hand over his arm, trying to use the bond to convince him. I still didn't know how exactly it worked but I felt the connection.

You'll only hurt yourself I think, focusing on the worry eating me up. I tense when he puts his hand over mine but stay there, fighting the urge to run away. There is some animalistic desire hot in my lower stomach amplified by the bond growing stronger but more pressing is the genuine fondness he's giving me.

I've had worse, there are things I need to settle

I shake my head, refusing his explanation. I knew that smaller injuries had kept me from working before, if I tried it only got worse and I ended up wasting more time than if I had just rested a little longer. Of course, then I didn't have the choice, my family would push me forward until I collapsed but I wasn't about to let Daniel do that to himself. The pain was muffled by the bond but I felt some of it, a phantom pain that I can't do anything about.

His stubbornness was frustrating, I would sit on him if that's what it took to keep him here. I didn't mean to send that thought but surprised laughter burst from Daniel.

“I'm not the only stubborn one here”, he says, I hear the smile in his voice even though he still has his head down. My face is burning red but I try not to let it show.

“Yeah, well. Better stay down then.” My voice is shockingly strong considering that I wanted to sink underground. Daniel finally looks up at me, studying my face with an intensity that didn't help with the blush. Or the tightness in my stomach.

“I can't stay away for long.” He's serious, I understand the need to get out and show them that the cursed brats didn't hurt him too much. It had wounded his pride too, to almost be taken down even though it was already an unfair fight. I would be more than willing to make it more even if I ever saw those f*****g wolves. And if I could shift, my weak human body couldn't really do much but I tried to ignore that.

Reluctantly Daniel caved under my eyes and lays back down, his jaw tightening when he moved but he stayed silent, controlling his breathing too carefully to fool me into thinking he was fine. He moved to give space and after considering it I climb there next to him. The bond felt alive inside of me, buzzing with his happiness and my own pleasure of being close to him after fighting it for so long.

“Do you feel it?” Daniel whispers. We don't touch, I lay right on the edge and he keeps the distance, not pushing me. I can still feel his hot breath on my hair when he speaks. I don't say anything, just nod.