Twenty-One

Dedicated to Angela-F-Bryant! Hope its worth your while! Let me know how I did!

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"Caden you have to let me do something," I said as I leaned on the counter beside him.

"Trust me, you're doing a lot," he said with a smirk.

I rolled my eyes, "I can cut up some vegetables."

"Remember the second day you were here and Dan and you had pizza?"

"Yeah..." I trailed off.

"You said I could've shown some hospitality."

"That's because you still had a stick up your-"

"Nevertheless," he cut me off, "I'm showing it to you now. I have weeks to make up for."

"Well the first week doesn't count considering you were, well, you know."

He looked down and I almost regretted what I said. Almost. He was still a jerk that first week, even if he had his excuses. I didn't lie, I don't hold it against him, but it happened.

"Blake, I really am sorry. It killed me to be so cold to you. And my wolf was trying to kill me for being that way to you. I just- I thought since you're an alpha, born alpha, that if you were doing it for your pack you would agree. And you would see that I had to do it for our pack."

"Caden. Stop apologizing. I know why you did it. I forgive you, I truly do." He still didn't look at me so I put his hands on my waist and ran my hands slowly up his chest, keeping my eyes on my hands. "I acted distant to you too. My wolf was killing me because I was cold to you. I can't blame you when I did the same thing. I've never treated anyone like that before, excluding my father. It was no way for me to treat you either."

"How can you be so forgiving when I basically ripped you away from your pack and family, treated you like a jerk and ignored you?"

I shrugged, "I relied on my privilege of freedom," I said trying to lighten the mood.

"You really are amazing Bee."

"No, I just can't hold a grudge."

"Which is a-"

"If you say amazing one more time I might find it in me to hold a grudge."

He smiled, "Also one of the things I love about you." He said hesitantly.

"Sure," I rolled my eyes and he tucked a piece of hair behind my ear.

"It's true though."

I sat on a stool as he continued cooking. It had gotten really awkward after he said that and I didn't even know how to break the tension.

'One of the things I love about you...'

Does that mean he thinks he loves me, or just loves aspects of me? Like how I love that Daniel never flirted with me? For some reason it seemed a lot more serious. Maybe because we're mates. I got up and grabbed two plates from the cupboard and placed them on the counter.

"Thanks." He said.

I nodded before standing there awkwardly as he stared at me. "So you and your brother cook?" I asked hoping to break the awkwardness.

"Yeah. I actually didn't really know he cooked a lot of different foods, but I knew he cooked. I used to do most of it for us and I guess I gave up on that too."

"Caden don't be so hard on yourself. Daniel is a great guy, and I know without you he wouldn't be as happy and carefree as he is. You've got to take some credit for that."

He gave me a smile before going to pull me closer. I swatted his hand away and handed him a scoop. He looked pained but blinked it away in a blink and I looked away. I hated when he hid his emotions, it was like being back to the first week again. And I know if he ever does that I won't be able to forgive him. I may not hold a grudge, but I don't easily forgive people twice.

If ever.

We grabbed our food and sat at the table on the back deck. We slowly started eating and I tried to remain normal as I saw him glancing at me every few seconds. It was irritating because I know I would look up and he would look away. So instead I didn't look up, I spoke up, "What is it?"

"Nothing."

"Don't ever lie to me."

"I wouldn't lie to you, it's just not important."

"That's different than nothing. Just ask."

"How do you know it's a question?"

"It's always a question from you, so ask."

"Are you mad at me?"

"What?"

"I know you heard me. Are you mad at me?"

"No. Why would I be?"

"Because of my comment earlier."

'One of the things I love about you...' I thought.

"Caden I'm not mad. I hardly ever get mad. Why do you think I'm mad anyways?"

"Because you quit talking, it got really tense, and you pulled away from me."

I definitely didn't mean it like that. "I'm not mad. I swatted you away because you wouldn't have let me go until the food was cold. And I didn't know how to break the awkwardness or I would have tried."

He seemed relieved as he relaxed, "I thought I messed up again. God Bee, I can't lose you. I was dying thinking that you were even the slightest bit angry with me."

"I really wasn't angry."

"Why were you so quiet then? You explained the other two."

"I was thinking."

"No, you were worried. And you looked a little scared and shocked."

I shrugged and he tilted my chin up to look at him, "It's hard to eat when you're holding my chin."

"You haven't eaten five bites yet, why were you worried, scared and stunned?"

"I guess my brain just went on overdrive. It does that."

He studied my face before running his thumb over my bottom lip, "Did my comment scare you?" He asked as he locked eyes with me and pulled his hand back.

"No." Maybe.

"Did it worry you?"

"No." Maybe.

"Shock you?"

"No." Yes.

"Your face said differently."

"Maybe a little."

"Of which? Each?"

I shrugged.

"How come you talk to everyone else so openly but you close yourself off to me?"

I looked down to my plate and pushed food around as he looked all over my face.

"Blake, my comment was true." That still doesn't explain what part he means. Does he love that part of me? Or does he actually love me? I doubt he could love me. He said it so calmly though. 'Love.' Like it was any other word. He sighed, "You look like I just told you a ghost story."

"I'm just thinking."

"About? What scares you?"

Why is he so worked up about me being scared? He said I looked worried yet he hasn't asked about that. "Death."

"What about my comment scares you?" He paused, "Blake why when I said that it was one of the things I love about you, did you freeze up and go on high alert?"

"Why does it matter? Can we just eat lunch Caden?"

"Blake please don't shut me out. Please. You opened up to me yesterday and today. You told me all about your grandpa and sister. Even your mom. Don't shut me out."

"I'm not shutting you out. I just want to eat lunch in peace. Okay?"

He looked away before nodding, "Fine. Yeah, we can do that."

Twenty minutes later I was done half my plate, not even, and he wasn't done much more than me. I know he was glancing at me and I kept my eyes on my plate.

"I should see if Dan needs help in my office."

I nodded and grabbed both of our plates before heading inside to the kitchen. I didn't stop I just kept walking after dropping them off and leaving the kitchen. I found my small little room and climbed into bed.

I heard a small tap on the door and sat up telling them to come in.

Sam walked in and stood beside the bed, "Want to come for dinner? Daniel and I are making shrimp on the BBQ."

"Sounds great, but I had a late lunch."

"Are you sure? You've been sleeping for a while."

"Yeah, I'm not hungry. But thank you. You and Daniel can enjoy it."

"Are you sure?" I nodded and she walked back to the door but looked back at me.

"Go, eat. You need food I can hear your stomach from here."

She laughed nervously before closing my door behind her.

I got out of bed and went upstairs to change before going outside and climbing on my bicycle.

When I got back it was completely black outside but I didn't feel like sleeping, so I sat on the back porch. I sat on the steps with my arms resting on my knees.

Not too long later, I heard footsteps and knew it was Caden. My wolf got excited our mate was coming but I knew he would ask again and I just wanted to forget his comment.

"Do you mind if I join you?"

"No."

He sat beside me and I knew it hurt him because he left inches between us. The summer was ending and the nights were pretty cool. Even with my advanced body heat I got a chill run over me and I shivered a bit.

"Did Daniel need help?" I asked and he looked down to his hands.

"No, I returned a few calls."

"That's good."

"No, it wasn't. I shouldn't have taken off. That was a jerk move."

"I took off too, so I guess we're even."

"What did you end up doing?"

"I took a nap before cycling in the woods."

"But you weren't in our ro-oh."

"I used the one downstairs."

He nodded, "Did you sleep well?"

"No. You were right, that bed sucks." I said with a slight laugh and he smiled.

"Good thing we have a better one upstairs." I realized I said 'that bed' rather than 'my bed'. He seems pretty adamant that I call his room ours. Same with the pack. "Still tired?"

"Yeah. I should head to bed soon."

"Upstairs?" He asked hopefully and nervously.

"Would you mind?"

"Not at all. It's yours too Blake."

"Would you mind joining me?"

"Not in the slightest." I rolled my eyes and he stood up, grabbing my hand making me follow suit. "Let's get you to bed sleeping beauty."

I knew if I said no he would be in more pain so I just nodded. Once I stood up he let go of me, giving me space. I slipped my fingers through his and he smiled at me. "I'm sorry about earlier."

"You apologize too much."

"No I do too many stupid things. I don't apologize enough." He said sincerely.

"You didn't do anything."

"Yeah. I shouldn't have said you close yourself off to me. If you did I wouldn't know any of the things about your life, but I do."

"Well, I wasn't exactly letting you in either, so I should apologize as well," I said before I yawned.

We entered his room and he led me to the bathroom, "Do you need clothes?"

"My pjs are in here from earlier."

He nodded and closed the door before I changed and walked back out. He was already changed into plaid pants that hung loosely around his hips giving just a tease of what's lower from the lines forming a v.

I made it to the bed and he motioned to the bathroom, "Ill just be a minute."

"No rush."

I climbed in as he left and my eyelids got heavy. His bed was seriously like laying on a cloud. I heard the door to the bathroom before the bed dipped behind me and I felt the heat from him reach me.

"Caden?" I said tiredly.

"Yeah Bee?"

"You know I'm not mad at you, right?"

"Yeah, I do."

"Are you mad at me?" I asked and he gave a small laugh.

"God no."

"Then please stop keeping your distance. You usually always have something holding me or touching me, but now you have inches between us."

"I don't want to lose you Blake. I can't lose you. I can't mess this up."

I rolled over and traced my finger lightly on his bare chest. "You haven't done anything wrong. But if you keep staying away my wolf is going to go crazy."

He grabbed my wrist stopping me from teasing him, "My wolf is already going crazy, thanks to that tantalizing little finger of yours."

"Then hold me."

He rolled me over and pulled me against him, "I will always hold you. Always." I leaned back into him and he moved my hair to the side away from my mark. I felt him kiss beside it and blow over it, "I'm so happy you have this," he said as he ran his lips over his mark, "You're mine." The way he says it all possessively makes me melt like putty in his hands, "Tell me so Blake. Please? I need to hear you say it."

I was so tired and yet he seemed to be able to wake me up, all by the sound of his voice, "I'm yours."

"Damn right you are," I heard the smirk in his voice and gasped when I felt his teeth remarking me. I felt them sink in and moaned his name again in complete pleasure at the feelings running through me. I felt him seal it as he placed his lips to it, "Mate." He said huskily and I knew his wolf was fighting to come out, and I don't even think I would care if he let him out. "You're mine. My mate." His teeth grazed my skin again and I craved him like a drug, like a new high.

He was quiet for a while before he kissed my temple, "I couldn't calm him, so I did the only thing I could think of."

"I didn't know you could actually mark someone twice."

"I could mark you everyday for the rest of our lives. It didn't hurt did it?"

"It felt even better than the first time," I said still out of breath.

"Really? I knew I could do it again, alpha thing, but I didn't know it was so strong."

"Caden it felt.... I don't even know how to describe it."

"No pain though?"

I shook my head, "Honestly, it was all pleasure. Wave after wave until you pulled your teeth out."

"It lasted that long?"

I nodded shyly. "Well I know how to get you to moan my name now, without a single finger." There was definitely more to that comment, I thought, but let it go.

I rolled over and put my hand on his chest, "Really?"

He nodded with a smirk until I lowered my hand and ran it across the top of his pants, "Blake," he warned.

"Yes?" I said innocently and he let out a shaky breath when I bent my finger and hooked it into his pants.

"Blake," he warned again but it came out shaky.

"What was that?" I asked innocently.

I kissed his jaw and ran my hands down his chest before tugging his hair, "Blake," he moaned after I pulled my lips away from his.

"I can get you to moan my name too." I said with a smirk and heard him return his breathing to normal.

I yawned and he chuckled before laying me on my back. His eyes roamed over my face and he settled his gaze on my lips. I didn't realize I had been biting my lip until he shook his head slightly, "I guess that day is today."

"What day?"

"When I replace your teeth with my own."

He took my mouth with his before I could respond.