In the hall I see pack members staring at me. I look right back at them. One of them is a warrior and tills up his upper lip, a warning. My eyes narrow, which is a sign of strength according to Amanda.It conveys the message that I am not afraid of him, and I really am not afraid. Yes, he can kill me on the spot, but I know Igétas and a lot of the other pack members have my back, and thatâs all I need to give me strength.
I go around the corner and meet Igétas in the hallway.
âI thought I felt you close by, is something wrong?â He closes the space between us. âAre you okay?â
Sometimes I like his concern for me, but he really needs to stop asking me how I am doing. Or maybe I need to get used to it. Who doesnât want a man who wants to take care of you?
âI am fine. Well actually, I am not fine.â I see his face fall and I take his hands in mine. The electric feeling of his touch warms me instantly.
âI want to be with you, not on the other side of the freaking building. I am your mate, and we should be together.â I am determined to see this through. His hands leave mine to take place on my back.
âDonât be sad. Do you know how difficult it is for me and Vasil? It is much worse.â
âHow do you know? You canât feel what I feel.â I mumble in his chest.
âNot yet,â he says, âbut you know it is not a good thing for you to be with me at night.â
âBecause you donât trust yourself?â I ask, we never had a good conversation about this.
âVasil, he can take over when I let my guard down.â
âRight,â I roll my eyes. âI want to talk to him, is he listening?â I look up and see little flecks of gold in his eyes.
âHe is always listening when you are around.â That makes me smile.
âLetâs go inside.â He opens his door, guiding me to the couch.
âSo, we never had a real talk about the danger of starting the mating process. But thereâs one thing I know for sure. I need you close, Igétas. My whole body screams for your presenceâ¦â He listens patiently, but I know he wants to tell me it isnât possible. âI want to spend the nights with you. Not to have sex...â I just say it as it is and see the gold in his eyes shimmer. âStop it, Vasil.â I tell him firmly and his eyes turn back green. âI just want you to hold me when I sleep. I want you by my side when I wake up from nightmares, I donât want to be alone in a little room far from you.â I feel a tear escape my eye and Igétas caresses my cheek, drying it with his thumb. I sigh, loving his small gesture of care.
âI know Violet. I feel it too, but can we take the risk?â He asks me, and I feel like I am taking part in the decision.
I sigh âYou will jeopardize more than me, but just a second ago I told Vasil to stop and he left. Why donât we ask him what he wants to do?â
A low chuckle fills the room, âHe wants you to stay, obviously.â
âCan I speak with him?â Before Igétas can answer, his eyes are gold.
âHi mate, you look pretty today. Igétas doesnât tell you enough how pretty you are.â
âThat is not true. He tells me a lot.â I pout.
âNot enough.â He shakes his head quickly and I reach out for him, my hands on his.
âI want to ask you something. Actually, I need your help.â
âI will help.â He says it so quickly that I laugh.
âYou have the best laugh and the nicest smile.â He says, a little dreamy.
âThank you. Listen, I need your help. I have a little trouble with the mating thingâ¦â
âDonât leave us!â he squishes my hands, giving me his best puppy eyes.
âI wouldnât leave you, Vasil. Now let go of my hands, you are going to end up injuring me.â I say in a joking tone. Not only does he let go of my hands, in a second heâs standing in the corner of the room.
âI am sorry.â He says with pain on his face.
âIt is okay, I am a big girl. Now come back here, I need to ask you something.â I feel my hair lift from his speed as he sits on the couch next to me. âLike I said, I need to talk to you. I want Igétas and of course you by my side all the time, but during the day it is almost impossible with your tasks in the pack, so I was thinking about spending the night with you. But there can be no mating. You canât go switching in the night and starting the process. If that happens, weâll need to leave the pack, your family. You wouldnât want that, would you?â
He shakes his head and I can see heâs trying to control himself. I understand, I did just talk about mating.
âSo I need to know, can you handle me in your room? Can you leave the control to Igétas? And the last question, do you even want me to stay?â
He answers eagerly. âI want you to stay. Iâll try to be in the back of our mind and not at the front. I donât want to leave my family. I will behave. Everything for my beautiful mate.â
âThank you, Vasil.â A warm smile escapes through my lips. Heâs adorable. âCan I get Igétas back? We still need to decide.â
Igétas comes to the front and hugs me tightly. âI think he will be a good Beta and stay in the back of my mind.â
âSo we can try sleeping together?â
âYes, I want to fall asleep with you in my arms.â He kisses my head and I sigh with contentment. The tingling of the mate bond embraces me.
âLet me get my stuff for the night and we can try it out. If it doesnât work, I will stay in my room until we complete the mate bond, but I think Vasil will be a good Beta for me and for his Pack.â
He kisses my forehead. âI know it too.â