04

"Mae."

A voice echoes through my head, my eyes flickering open.

"Harry, you have to go back to bed," I say, sitting up from the bed.

"I'm fine, Mae. I heal extremely fast," he says, lifting his arm and shirt to display a healed rib.

I sigh and he comes closer to me, grabbing something from the table. He hands me a mug of tea and he brushes his hand through his hair.

"Can I ask you a question?" he asks, my head nodding. He moves closer to me and I look at him, his eyes looking at me intensely.

"Why did you do what you did last night?" he asks, my fingers playing with the teabag as he watches me.

"Because I can't stand when people are hurt," I say. "You, more so than others."

He looks at me softer than other gazes, my eyes meeting his again. Out of curiosity, I reach up and brush his hair over his shoulder to see the same mark on his neck. He turns to allow me to see it better and I smile, his body moving back.

"Harry, I know you're angry at the way this happened," I start but he shakes his head.

"Who said I'm angry?" he asks, my lips parting slightly.

"You don't show me any other emotion. It's like you're mad at me for being here, for helping you. Last night was the only time you held my hand because you needed me," I say, his eyebrows frowning.

"What do you want me to do? Smile all the time like a fucking creep?" he asks, my amusement starting to grow as I see him slowly allowing himself to accept me.

"You don't have to smile all the time. I don't. But I want you to let yourself go around me. You don't have to be all mean and tough because that makes you scary," I tell him, his hand ruffling his hair again.

"It's all I know how to be," he explains, moving to sit on the bed across from me.

"My father was an angry man, but I was nice and happy with my friends in the pack. Once my father passed, I was in mourning, but my friends' death crushed me. Then the other pack started doing shit and made me angry. It's my shield; my anger only causing me to prove myself."

I nod and bite my lower lip as I think of my question, his eyes on me.

"Are you having second thoughts?" he asks, my head shaking.

"No, just that I've wondered something but I don't want to ask it," I say, his eyes looking all over my face.

"Ask it."

My head shakes and I feel my chin lifted up, his fingers warm against my skin.

"Ask me the question," he says, my eyes adoring his.

"Have you ever dated anyone?" I ask, his hand touching my neck. His touch incinerates my skin and he brushes his thumb against my jaw.

"Never. I was taught to save myself for my mate. And that's what I did. I've kissed a few girls but it was nothing serious. Just stupid parties out with the pack. "

I nod and he doesn't look away from me, my heart pounding.

"You kissed my forehead last night," he says, my eyes closing as I retract myself from his touch.

"I-It was an accident. I didn't mean to," I say, but he grabs my hand.

"Mae, don't apologize about doing that. It was the first show of affection towards me and that means so much and you don't even realize it."

"What do you mean?" I ask, his fingers warm on mine.

"It means you accepted me...as your mate."

_____

My arms carry firewood to the fire-pit, adding to the flames already crackling. A jacket sets on my body and a hat is on my head. As I sit, Harry's wolf jumps towards me and shifts as he comes closer to me.

"Did you eat something?" he asks, walking towards the house.

"Yes," I say, his head nodding. We walk inside for a minute while he puts a shirt and jacket on, my lips curving at Anne and Gemma.

"He's being nice to you," Gemma smiles, my head nodding.

"I want to see him smile," I whisper, her lips releasing a laugh.

Harry comes back out and grabs my hand, taking me outside and sitting beside me.

"What did you have to do tonight?" I ask, his hand holding mine tightly.

"Secure the pack line. My alliance helped. We're safe," he whispers, my head nodding.

"That's good. Do you want some hot cocoa? Your mother made some," I say, holding a thermos out for him.

"I'm alright. Thanks though," he says, my head nodding. I look up at him and see him already looking at me, his green eyes sparkling.

"What do you eat anyway?" I ask, his thumb brushing my knuckles.

"The same thing you do," he says, "but I eat alone because it gets messy with how much I eat."

I smile, his head leaning next to mine.

"I like your hair in a hat," I tell him, his usually long curls pushed into a beanie.

"Do you? Because I think I look ridiculous," he says, fuddling with his hat.

"No, you look good," I smile, waiting for his.

It slowly creeps, his cheeks a light pink. I admire his beauty; his lips parting to reveal a perfect smile with prominent dimples.

"Now that's a smile the world should see," I say, causing a laugh to escape his lips.

"Sure," he sarcastically says, my hand grabbing his shoulder.

"No, you need to smile. You are so attractive and the smile makes you look really good," I blurt unthinkingly, Harry's eyes staring at me.

"You think I'm attractive?" he asks, my cheeks flushing.

"Yes," I mumble, looking down in embarrassment.

His fingers are under my chin in a moment and he lifts my head up, his eyes looking at mine.

"You're beautiful," he says, my lips parting. He just complimented me.

A smile takes over his lips and I smile, blushing even more.

"Come here. You're shaking," he says, opening his coat and wrapping his arm around me.

His body is so warm compared to mine, my arms wrapping around his torso.

"Why are you so warm?" I ask.

"Because I'm a wolf. It comes with the part," he says, my hand holding onto him.

"Then don't leave during the winter. You're a radiator," I smile, his lips releasing a laugh.

"I don't plan on it," he says, kissing my forehead and pulling me closer.

Since yesterday morning, I've agreed with him and the two of us accept this. We've accepted each other in the mating relationship, and I asked he help me understand everything. He nodded and gave me a hug; engulfing me in his arms.

I hear a growl behind me and Harry is immediately on his feet, shedding his coat and tossing it to me before he's a wolf in seconds. He stands in front of me and the growling continues, a black wolf with blue eyes across from Harry.

Harry moves back, covering me as I grab hold of his fur. Harry growls, the other wolf advancing towards us. Harry turns to nudge me backwards and he braces himself for the attack from the wolf.

He shoves the other wolf away and I watch the wolf turn into someone I once knew. His face is wrinkled and his beard is close to his face.

"Get off my land," Harry grits once he's back to his tall, muscular form.

"Not until you let me see my daughter," he says, my father standing a few feet away. He left me and my mother to become a wolf full time.

"No. You will not come close to her," Harry says, his protection to me admirable.

"You kidnapped her. The least you can do is let me take care of her," my father says, but I shake my head. I bury my body in Harry's coat and I close my eyes, listening to the interaction.

“I didn’t kidnap her,” Harry retaliates, my father snorting.

“Sure,” sarcasm laced in his voice, “because she willingly came to your little cabin.”

“She came out here with friends, that your son killed, and I brought her here where I marked her.”

That’s when growls and anger occurs, wolves reappearing. My hands cover my ears and I shake from the cold, hating anger. But one thing rings through my mind; the fact he has a son.

Two arms lift me up and I curl closer to the warmth, Harry holding me into his chest tightly.

I’m set on my bed and Harry wraps his arms around me after taking the coat off, his body ten times warmer than the coat.

“He has a son?” I ask, my shivering going down as he keeps me in his arms.

“Your older brother, yes. He’s 27 and has lived in the pack his whole life. Your uncle took care of him, but he’s weak. He doesn’t have full wolf blood because he was from your father’s previous marriage,” he says, my head nodding.

I knew of his previous marriage but the fact I have a half-brother is completely new.

“Your mother has wolf blood, believe it or not, but she never turned because your father never claimed her. You’re pure wolf blood, but I’d have to try and activate that part of you,” he explains, my head nodding.

“That’s why you’re a threat to their pack,” he finishes, my chin resting on his chest to look up at him.

“What did you fight about?” I ask, his hand touching my cheek lightly.

“He doesn’t approve, but I can’t stop it. When you mate, you don’t want anyone else. So he’s furious and threatened me to let you go or he’ll take you from me. It’s bullshit, really,” he says, my lips frowning.

“That’s scary though. I don’t want him to come here,” I tell him, Harry holding my cheek.

“It won’t happen. I won’t let him,” he states, his lips pursing.

I watch as he begins to get up, my hand grabbing his. He turns to look at me, his green eyes watching closely as I pull him closer.

“Stay here. Please,” I plead, not wanting him to leave.

“I don’t- I can’t,” he says, my head shaking

“Yes you can. Please,” I say, tugging his hand closer. He sigh before he pulls the blankets down, climbing into bed beside me. His arms hook around my waist and I grab his hand, holding it to my chest.

He exhales a deep breath and I close my eyes, falling asleep in Harry’s arms.

__________

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