Chapter 18 - This is why we listen

I like this song...Thought I'd share. It sort of resembles Daemon too. Also, anyone wanna share how I add more than one video? I'm a noob at this :)

Daemon POV

Well shit. Didn't think this would actually happen. Actually...I kinda knew this was what I was getting myself into....but that didn't stop me in my moment of rage.

Very slowly, I turned my head to see who stood behind me. Biting on my bottom lip, I saw who stood behind me, and when I turned my head forward again, I saw three large rogue wolves approaching from the forest. Oh shit...Matias is gonna be mad.

"What are you doing out, pup?" The man behind me growled. I immediately shifted to the side, so neither this man nor the approaching wolves would be to my back. I could see the man more clearly now, and let's just say he was not a pretty guy.

He was big, there was no doubt on that, and had military cropped short hair, which looked to be a blackish color. His face was grim, a large scar running from his hairline down to his jaw, going directly through his left eye, which looked to be sealed shut. I grimaced at his sick smirk, glancing back at the three wolves that now were crouched in the weeds just before the clearing. The man moved to stand directly in front of me, and I took a step back as he took one forward.

"You didn't answer my question." I scoffed, my wolf growling at me in my head for the risky noise, but when I have ever listened to my wolf?

"I'm not a pup, to start with, old man." I snarled back, crossing my arms across my chest. His eyes darkened and a snarl formed at his lips, twisting them up, the scarred side of his face wrinkling oddly. I turned once again, slipping away from him slightly, so my back was to the house instead, and now all four rogues were in front of me, and I had a clear view of the forest. The man turned too, glaring at me, and if looks could kill, oh boy.

"You look just like the person we came here looking for. Although I'm starting to think of just killing you here." He growled, his voice low and threatening. My eyes went wide at the threat, and at this point, I was starting to get a little scared. My eyes darted to the wolves behind him, one of which let out a low warning growl when I met its eyes.

"I don't think that's really a good idea, to kill your objective," I mumbled back, my wolf whining at me to shut up again. The man's working eye narrowed on me even more, and I took a step back.

"You're lucky we're being paid for this, or you'd be dead." Well shit. That's good to know. I bit back a smile, curling my lips inwards.

"What do you think you're laughing at, fucking brat?!" The man snapped, and I swear I watched a vein pop in his forehead. Goddess, this guy had no patience.

"Jeez, you have no self-control." I laughed, not being able to hold it back. The wolves snarled as the man went from confused to furious.

"You son of a.." He started towards me, hand raised as if to hit me, but was interrupted by a loud, and when I say loud I mean fucking loud, growl. All eyes snapped towards a dark wolf that was running out of the woods, burning golden eyes narrowed in on the man in front of me. Oh, I was so fucked.

"SHIT!" He shouted, shifting quickly, his clothes tearing to shreds in front of me. He darted away from me, the other wolves following close behind, the newcomer quickly turning to chase them. One of the slower wolves, the one I had made eye contact with, was immediately tackled into the weeds and the only thing I saw was the thrashing of the weeds and the back of the new wolf before a loud, dying shriek pierced through the air and everything went silent. The rogues were now gone, leaving their friend behind who was now dead. I stood frozen in my place and the new wolf stood to its full height, turning himself towards me. I knew exactly who this wolf was too, and oh boy I was in deep shit. The damn thing started stalking towards me, and I could feel the anger radiating off him. My eyes went wide as he shifted halfway, and Matias's very, very, furious eyes bored into mine. I didn't even process the fact that he was butt naked.

"What. Were. You. THINKING?!" He roared and I flinched, my legs deciding to give out as I fell back. I stared up at him and he stopped a few feet away, a hint of guilt in his eyes for what must have been yelling at me. I dropped my gaze away, staring at a patch of grass as to not have to look at him. I knew it was my fault, and I knew I was rightfully being yelled at, but it still hurt a little none-the-less.

"Daemon." His voice was rough and low, angry. And I couldn't help but feel bad that I had caused that anger. I closed my eyes, thinking of anything but the fact that he was yelling at me, even if I deserved it this time. That, someone, was yelling at me again.

"I.." My voice caught in my throat and I couldn't speak, so instead, I shuffled back slightly, my hands starting to shake.

"Daemon, just tell me why you left the house." His voice was slightly softer, but disappointment and a hint of anger were still present. I could feel my whole body start to shake, the sheer dominance leaking off him was starting to get to my head, starting to freak me out.

"I...I'm..I'm... Sor-Sorry.." I forced out in a stutter, staring down on the ground to try and show some form of submission just to get him off my case. I hated having to do it, but at the moment I didn't have a choice. I stared at a patch of grass, trying to will the water that was building up in my eyes away. I was not going to cry in front of this man, he didn't need to see how weak I was. I didn't notice as Matias stepped forward, but I did see the hand that started coming towards me, and I immediately scrambled out of the way, trying not to get slapped.

"Please...please no!" I cried, a tear slipping down my cheek as I stared at my mate in horror, not really processing that he had stepped away, his hands in tight fists as he stared down at me with an emotion I couldn't place, but it wasn't a hostile one.

"It's ok. I'd never hurt you," His voice was soft, no longer holding any anger. Still, a whimper forced its way past my lips when he took a step forward, and I squeezed my eyes shut as my hands gripping the grass beneath me and tearing it from the earth. I knew he wouldn't hurt me, I really did, but that didn't stop the year's worth fear from being hit whenever I messed up from surfacing.

"Matias!" A voice shouted, and I glanced up to watch a clothed, thankfully, Sam come running out of the forest. She came to a kneeling halt directly in front of me, placing large hands on my shoulders as I looked up at her in surprise.

"Are you ok?" She asked softly, eyes flashing from amber to dark gold, assessing my face. I just stared at her for a moment, before shakily nodding yes. My eyes darted just over her shoulder to see Matias standing there, staring at us with hurt and worry in his eyes. I dropped my gaze back to Sam though when his eyes met mine.

"Why did you leave the house? You know it's not safe." She spoke softly, calming my frayed nerves slightly even though I was still being reprimanded. I sniffed, staring down at my still shaky hands.

"I...I didn't think anything...anything would happen." I whispered, ashamed to look up. It sounded dumb when I said it, but in the heat of the moment I just really didn't want to be in that stupid room anymore.

"Look, Daemon," She began, and I could already hear the lecture she was about to give me.

"We know that you're uncomfortable and that everything here is new for you, but when something like this happens? Matias is just trying to protect you, he doesn't want to see you hurt. Nobody does." She whispered to me, staring into my downcast eyes. My wolf whined in my head, and I couldn't help but feel a little guilty when she said that. I knew she was right, but that didn't stop the fact that my brain told me I wasn't worth it, that he needed someone better than me, someone who actually listened when he told them to stay put. I heard Sam sigh before the rustling of clothes signaled she stood up. I watched her feet as she walked over to Matias, and whispered something to him that I couldn't hear, despite the advanced hearing that came with my wolf. A few seconds later, she walked away, and it was just me and Matias. I watched as he plopped onto the ground right where he was, crossing his legs in a childish fashion. I raised my head ever so slightly to look at him, and when my gaze hit his face I realized that he wasn't actually looking at me. He watched the forest that was now calm, his hands at his sides as he played with a strand of grass between his fingers. I admired his strong features for a second, his sharp jawline and straight nose.

"I'm not mad at you," He spoke, and he turned to look at me. I held his gaze for no less than a second before I dropped my head again to stare at my own fiddling hands.

"I don't want to push this on you. If you're not ready for it, I understand. I'll let you go if that's really what you want." He whispered, and my wolf howled as he finished his sentence. I raised my head with wide eyes as I stared at him, his sad eyes locking onto mine. I watched as he forced himself to give me a smile that didn't meet his eyes, and he tried to blink away the steadily forming tears in his eyes.

"I..I," I stuttered, genuinely baffled. Was that really what I wanted? For him to let me go? I know I had been running from him, from the fear in my own head, but did I really want him to stop chasing after me? Did I actually not want this? Or when I had made my decision to run, was I some stupid teenager afraid of commitment? My wolf whined, and there in the back of my head I heard my answer. I could hear it over all the self-deprecating thoughts and feelings of worthlessness. No, I didn't want to go.

And with that silent answer to my own question, I did something I didn't think I'd ever do. I pushed past my un-ease, and I crawled forward to sit directly in front of my mate. I glanced at our knees, which were now almost touching, then to his hands that were now in his lap, then up to his face. He looked surprised, and I could see the little bit of hope shining in his watery eyes. I didn't want to disappoint him, even though I knew that was all I was capable of doing, disappointing my own mate. I didn't want to hurt him anymore, I didn't want to keep hurting myself because of my stupidity.

"I don't want you to go," I said softly, looking up and watching him with a sudden determination. His eyebrows raised, and a small smile played at his lips. My wolf was yipping happily in my head, wagging his tail. And in these few moments, I couldn't hear any of the bad thoughts in my head.

"I'll try, I'll do better," I whispered again, and I actually meant it. I didn't want to lose this, and I was just now realizing it. I didn't want to lose the one person that could actually love me. I'd fucked this up a lot already, and he'd given me so many chances. So many chances I didn't deserve, but he still gave me them. Three years ago when I ran, he continued to look for me and didn't give up, despite knowing the possibility of rejection. But there was something in me at the time that knew I couldn't reject him, that maybe one day I'd be ok with the idea of a mate and that I could go back to him and maybe he'd still be waiting, as insanely selfish as that is.

So here I was sitting in front of my mate in a field with a small smile on my face, and a dead wolf only a few yards away, letting myself have a chance. I wanted Matias to be happy, I wanted to be happy. So maybe we could try and do this together. Maybe I could let myself learn to love someone, and not be so afraid of something like rejection that isn't even likely to happen.

Ok, ok, first, possibly the longest chapter so far, I'm pretty sure at least.

Also, I have no idea if I've mentioned Matias's wolf's eye color yet, but if I have and I got it wrong this chapter, please let me know. I don't think I have, but who knows. (obviously not me)

Lastly, Thank you so much for reading and voting, it means so much to me! It's my first story and I'm super happy that people are seeing it and enjoying it. Thanks so much! <3