Chapter 31 - By Your Side

Daemon POV

The second time I opened my eyes I knew I wasn't actually awake. I only knew this because when I went to move, I moved without a problem. Almost like I was flying or something. It didn't alarm me when I looked around either, seeing as I was outside. Once again, the only reason it didn't alarm me was that I actually knew where I was; still stuck in my own head.

Looking around, I realized I was outside Matias's packhouse. Everything was brighter though, almost like in those stereotypical dreams that people have when they meet someone who's dead or something. Oh shit...I'm going to meet someone who's dead, aren't I?

"Not dead."

"Holy fuck!" Spinning around with a rapidly beating heart, I came face to face with a very familiar-looking wolf. Its eyes were blue and purple and fur insanely black, seemingly glowing as it stared me down. I was taller than the creature, only slightly, but I still felt like this thing was glaring down at me. The wolf snorted at my reaction, not moving as I scrambled back away from it.

"What the fucking Hell are you?!" I rushed out, eyes wide, but surprisingly not in fear. I knew the wolf wasn't going to hurt me, but I was still surprised to see it. This never happened with my old wolf.

"That's because I'm not your old wolf." The wolf spoke, but its jaw never moved. Almost like it was speaking directly into my head. Which wouldn't surprise me, considering we are in my head.

"He's technically dead now," a pang of hurt wen through my heart at the wolf's words, but I didn't let it show.

"And I've taken his place." The wolf's voice, at least I think it's his voice, was low and rough. Deep, almost like Matias's. Matias.

"Are we home? Or was it all some sick prank?" My voice is quiet, I can barely hear it. The wolf does though and snorts in response.

"We're back with our mate. We're safe." He responds, shuffling on his feet. Slowly, he sits back on his hind legs, shaking his head slightly.

"So next time you decide to wake up, maybe don't go crazy." He rumbles, eyeing me with a weird look. I look down at my hands, fiddling them together as a small flush rises on my face.

"I...I didn't know. I'm sorry." I murmur, not looking at the wolf. My wolf.

"It's fine. Just know that we're safe, and not in harm anymore. We won't be in harm ever again." The last part is growled out, more animalistic than it is human. I didn't look up, just continued to stare at the grass beneath my feet, shuffling them around.

"How do you know?" I whispered, and if it weren't for the fact that it was a wolf, he probably wouldn't have heard me. But he did, and immediately after the words left my mouth, a very loud snarl came from his.

"Because I am not weak." His voice was grave, deep, and threatening. I flinched back, glancing up at the wolf. The purple and blue eyes were glowing so bright it looked like if I got any closer, they might burn me. His teeth were bared, a low rumble building in his chest and spilling from his mouth.

"Sorry, alright," I mumbled, looking away from the wolf and over to the woods. He didn't respond, but the low growl slowly faded away. After a few seconds, the wolf spoke again.

"You're free to wake up whenever you want. I won't talk much, but I'm still watching most of everything you do. Let Matias take care of you, let him do his job this time," He snarled and I flinched. "Try to be a little more conscious of the shit you're doing from now on, I'd rather not have to take over and kill people again." His voice slowly faded out, and so did the scenery. I didn't try to hold onto the "dream", instead, letting my new wolf's warnings, and advice I guess, sink in.

He most certainly wasn't wrong, I'd be paying attention more now. I didn't want to leave Matias again, I don't think I could. I don't know how he felt, but I couldn't only imagine he felt the same. He did come to get me from halfway across the world, after all. I'm glad he did, now. And I had Jamie now too. Jamie with a stutter and no other family. He had me now though, and Matias too. He was our family, and I didn't want to lose him either. I didn't want to lose anyone anymore. I didn't want to lose myself.

I felt something, something in the physical realm, the realm that seemed to avoid me, pressing against my body. Then shift the press against me again. I didn't try to move, because the weight was a comfortable one. I don't think I'm imagining it either. I could just barely hear voices too, muffled noises that were so soft that I might have actually been imagining it. But then they steadily grew louder, and I could just barely make out words.

"...Don't know..."

"...ok?"

"Maybe....different...."

I couldn't stop the groan that left my throat but wished I hadn't when it immediately felt like my throat was burning. I almost whimpered at the pain, squeezing my eyes shut tighter. I heard more whispers, then footsteps and a softly closing door.

"Daemon..?" I heard a soft voice ask. I wanted to open my mouth, to respond, but I couldn't. The same as how it felt as if my eyes were glued shut,

"Daemon?" The voice asked again before I felt something slip into my hand. Two something. Hands, I think. The one on my left was rough and large, comforting as I felt that smallest of sparks travel up my arm. The one on my right was small and frail, smooth and childish. I heard a sniffle before the hand on my right squeezed tighter. With everything in me, I mustered up enough strength to give the smallest squeeze to that hand. Then I heard a cry, and I was scared I had hurt whoever was holding my hand. The hand didn't leave though, and I heard a small sob before a small body flopped down on my chest, a head burying into my shirt. I could hear, and feel, the muffled sobs against my body, and then my left hand was squeezed also. That seemed to, somehow, be what my eyes needed to decide to slowly open. The weight was still there, but it was significantly less and it didn't take nearly as much to slowly peel my eyelids back, and see what was happening around me.

Blinking a few times, my eyes watering from the foreign feel, I stared up at a ceiling. There weren't any lights on, thank the Moon Goddess herself, and the only source of light must have been coming from a window somewhere. It wasn't a lot of light, just enough to see around the room. My eyes shifted over, because my neck currently couldn't move, and immediately fell on someone.

Cropped hair that was starting to grow out, watery brown eyes, and bronze skin that seemed to shine. Matias. My mate.

My own eyes watered as he offered me a smile, a small, relief-filled sob escaping past his lips. His hand still held mine, and I looked down at it briefly, giving it a small squeeze with whatever strength I had. He dropped to his knees beside me, immediately burning his face into the bed right next to our hands, pulling our hands to the side of his head. He brought his face out of the bed after a second or two and looked back at me. His hand still held mine to the side of his face, and I tilted my lips upwards just enough to offer him a smile.

I felt the weight on my chest move, and I looked down right into the face of a child. Glistening brown eyes, and a pale freckled face, along with messy brown hair that curled and struck up in every direction. Jamie. My boy.

I smiled at him, my eyes watering as he let out another sob, before launching himself back into me, his face sinking into the crook of my neck. I felt his tears against my neck and shoulder as he cried, his release on my hand gone as he clutched my shirt. Shakily, and with a stupid amount of difficulty, I managed to move my arm and gently set it over the small boy's body. He squeezed me tighter at the action, and I closed my eyes again, smiling as I breathed in his scent. I opened my eyes again to look at Matias, who was still staring at me with awe on his face.

"Daemon." He whispered, bringing a shaky hand up to touch my cheek. I didn't flinch away at the action, and I leaned into the touch as his finger slowly caressed down my cheek.

"I missed you so much." Matias's voice was raw and pained but filled with relief. I opened my mouth to speak, but the second I tried to force a word out, it constricted and burned.

"No, no, no, no don't talk baby. I'll get you some water, just hold on." He rushed out, his hand pulling away from my face and going back down to grip my own hand. I gripped his back to the best of my ability, loving the feeling of his fingers interlaced between mine. He went silent for a second, eyes gaining a small far-away look. Mindlink. Then he blinked, and his eyes met mine again. Jamie nuzzled further into my neck, and I squeezed him slightly tighter.

"Sam is on her way up." He said softly, rubbing his thumb against my hand. I nodded, before looking back down at Jamie. I shifted my own arm, bringing it up closer to his hair and sliding my fingers through it. It felt nice against my hand, and Jamie whimpered slightly into my neck, hands squeezing my shirt tighter. I heard Matias let out a small chuckle, before his other hand slid across Jamie's back, rubbing it.

"He hasn't left your side since you got here," Matias whispered. I smiled softly, moving my fingers to scratch Jamies head softly. I looked to Matias, not needing to voice the question. How long?

"You've been here for three days. You woke up once shortly after we got you here, and freaked out," Matias says, looking at me with sad eyes. "I think your wolf came out and calmed you down though."

I nodded, remembering that. My wolf assured me I'm safe, and I'll trust him for now. He snorted in my head, and I could practically see him roll his eyes.

I'm not weak. I refrained from rolling my eyes at his response, ignoring him, I turned my attention back to my mate, who was staring at me with something in his eyes. He smiled again as his eyes watered, and a small tear ran down his cheek. My eyebrows furrowed, worry etching its way onto my face. He chuckled when he saw my reaction to his tears, before pulling his hand off Jamies back and wiping the tears away.

"I'm okay, I'm okay now." He whispers, kissing the back of my hand that was in his. I smiled softly at him, reaching out and touching his cheek. Jamie had fallen asleep on me, and I could feel his steady breaths against my neck.

Kiss me. I mouthed to Matias, and his eyes widened in surprise. I snorted at the look, before pulling on his hand to make him come closer. He snapped out of his shock, before smiling once again and leaning down, sealing his lips over my own. My eyes closed in bliss, his lips warm and comforting; welcoming. I felt warmth spread through my chest, up to my cheeks. Matias slowly pulled away, but not far as he rested his forehead on mine. Our eyes stayed closed, sharing breath and mention.

"I love you. I love you so much." Matias whispered, and I smiled.

I love you too. I mouthed the words back against his lips, and I think he understood what I said because he softly covered his lips with mine again.

I love him so much.

Oh yea, btw, Trigger warning for the feels.

Early update, thank you for reading. :) <3