2
Denzel
Surprised it's me, right? Well, the last thing I ever imagined was having a second chance mate after all these years. I didn't know what kind of game the moon goddess was playing, but pairing me with Marion. That must be a wrong move. I wasn't expecting any of this, dealing with reestablishing a new mating bond. But here it was, and I didn't know what to do with it. I remembered from the night at the hospital where I was so close to him I felt his heated gaze and the sound of his heart thumping, beating in sync with mine. For a long time, I had never felt what I felt that night and thought it would just pass. I had spent the past weeks thinking about that encounter and when the moon goddess’s bond showed up out of nowhere. She cut me off guard. Maybe I would have gone for him even without the bond, but I still needed time to figure out things for myself and what I was feeling. Considering that my first mate left me broken-hearted after I gave all my love to her. I wasn't sure I was ready to fall into love’s ensnare again.
As wolf bloods said, the moon goddess always has a reason for the mating bond. For my daughter and her mate, it was for the unification of wolf shifters. What could Diana possibly want from me? What was I willing to offer to the witch?
These questions preoccupied my headspace after Marion had left. I had to ponder on the actions I had taken and his words. I had never heard such honesty from anyone in a long time. Damn, I should have dealt with this like an adult and I just sent him off like a whining child. The last thing I wanted was to hurt him or break his heart. I mean, for someone whose first mate didn't care about or give any of her love to. I couldn't let that happen to anyone else. I couldn't cause that unbearable pain to an innocent man.
I was supposed to return to my home and rest for the night, but the thoughts of the encounter I've had with the young witch couldn't leave my head. He was all that occupied my thoughts. The way he spoke, the light in his brown eyes, or the feel of his dark brown skin on my body. I never thought I'd see a man this way, but in every way, the young witch was perfection. Instead of returning home for the night, I headed for the witch’s side of the pack, hoping I'd find him and set things straight. I just wanted him not to tamper with the mating bond and apologize to him for what I had said earlier.
I used the power of the bond to find his home and was walking down the gravel path when I heard a scream. I didn't waste anytime to barge into his house uninvited. By the time I had walked down the foyer and entered the living room, I saw him lying on the floor, immobile. I knelt in front of him and raised his feeble body. He wasn't breathing. He just lay there, lifeless. I put my hands on his chest and pumped his chest and breathed into his nose to revive him. It wasn't working. It wasn't… What had I done? What if what I had said had caused this mishap? How could I have been so stupid to hurt him when he hadn't even wronged me in any way? “Marion, wake up!” I tapped his cheeks, hoping to stir him back to consciousness. “Come on, buddy. You need to wake up.” I called, but he didn't respond.
The last resort I could think of was taking him to the healer's enclave and letting the nurses do their magic. There was still a faint heartbeat, and I had to rely that he'd use the strength left in him to fight. I lifted his almost lifeless body from the floor and hurried out of his house. I took the nearest path that led to the hospital, and when I arrived, I passed him to the nurses. They took him away from me and administered him into a ward, asking me to fill some forms at the nurse's station, which I did. I had never been this frustrated all my life, and it showed as I scribbled the requirements in the patient's form.
After I finished, I called on Agatha because she was the only witch in the pack with enough experience to figure out what was happening to him if it didn't relate to my stupid act of rejection. I didn't even know this man. But why do I feel this way, this regret for letting him walk away, for not promising him all my love? How can I even feel this way? Damn it, I was so confused and in need of some clarity.
I was pacing the hallway with all these thoughts buzzing in my head. I just couldn't clear my head or even concentrate. I let out a frustrated groan, just when I felt Agatha’s hand on my shoulder. “I came as soon as you called.”
“I don't know what happened to him. Maybe it's my fault. I should never have said those things to him.” I was saying, trying to keep my voice bold and not let the sadness weigh me down.
“You need to calm down, Denzel. First, we need to get feedback from the nurses, ok?” She was reassuring me just when the nurses approached us.
“Is he still alive?” I questioned with urgency.
“He’s stable now, but resting.”
“Is it ok if I see him?” I inquired.
“Yes, sure, but only for a few minutes. He needs rest, but will start taking regular visits by morning.”
“Alright. Thank you so much. I'll be quick.”
I hurried into the ward, with Agatha right behind me. He was lying on the bed, and his chest was rising and falling as he inhaled oxygen. He looked so peaceful, and the thought filled me with instant regret. Maybe if I hadn't sent him away; this wouldn't have happened to him. I had said that my former mate was responsible for my loveless relationship, but seeing what I had done to this man. It was me. It had always been me. Because I said and did the wrong things without thinking.
I turned to Agatha, and she didn't look really surprised about the lad’s condition. She gave me a brief smile as she murmured, “We should let him rest.” She put her hand on my shoulder and patted it lightly.
“Sure.” I nodded and followed her out of the ward. I shut the door and released a trembling sigh, leveling my gaze at her.
“If you must know, Denzel. This isn't your fault. His name is Marion Devereux, and he's been like that since he came to terms with his magic.”
“What do you mean?”
“He has episodes where he screams and thrashes in pain until he passes out. We don't know how to fix it. The boy has no hope of being normal again. Thankfully, we're able to revive him every time it happens.”
“So if I wasn't there. He might have…” I mustered with a tortured expression, and Agatha bobbed her head in affirmation. I just couldn't say the word. This was all my fault. If I hadn't asked him to return home. If I had just been with him, perhaps he would still be safe. How could I be so stupid to let myself almost lose my second chance mate?! “I’ll keep an eye on him.” I said to her.
“Call me if anything changes.” She beamed as she sauntered away.
Opening the door, I quietly crept into the ward and settled into the seat closer to his bed, holding his hands with a smile. I stayed awake most of the night, watching him until I got the reassurance that he was fine. I fell asleep with my hands knotted around his arms. All I wanted was for him to be alright. Yes, this new sense of attraction, this thing I feel for him regardless of the mating bond, was all new to me. But I was giving the thoughts of exploring the parts of me that remained hidden most of my life a consideration.
The following morning, before Marion woke up, I left his ward and called on my daughter to explain what was happening to the young witch. I only left out the part of being his fated mate. I didn't think I was ready to disclose that to anyone just yet. Frey reassured me she would do everything within her power to figure out what was wrong with the witch.
I returned to his ward with a tray of breakfast containing hot coffee, fruits, and toast. I knocked on the door and waited for a reply, which came after a short while. Unlocking the door, I stepped into the ward, seeing Marion, who sat on his bed with a distraught expression on his face. “Mate is hurt!” my wolf, Silver, cried. “This is all your fault, you crackhead.” Silver growled at me.
“Hey, I brought you breakfast.” I said as I put the tray on his bed.
“What are you doing here? I thought you said you never wanted to see me. Please leave.”
This was the exact reaction I expected from him. I tried to reason with him, speaking as calmly as I could, “I’m sorry, Marion. I was being inconsiderate of your feelings.”
“My feelings? Please leave Mr. No name and don't come back here.” He asserted.
“Ok,” I sighed and put the tray on the side table beside his bed. I wasn't expecting anything less from him, not after the way I acted toward him last night. In fact, I deserved this. “If you need anything, call me.”
“I don't need you!” He added with anger in his eyes.
All I wanted right now was to hold and comfort him. He was hurting, and I saw it from the tortured look on his face. I didn't want to leave him this way, but I didn't think I had a choice. I was respecting his wishes.
Turning on my heels, I headed toward the exit with an exhale. I was almost out of the ward when I heard a soft whimper. I wheeled back to the young witch and saw him shaking as he cried. “I thought I was going to die.” He murmured with tears in his eyes. My mate was crying in front of me and I desired to console him. I didn't want him to be like this. His life was hanging by a thread, and I wouldn’t let him give up. Not just yet. Not when he hadn't experienced that passionate love he desired so much. So fuck his wishes of me leaving. I'd be damned if I left him like this. I was never leaving his side again.
“Hey, hey, hey. It's ok. You're safe now,” I took hurried steps toward him and climbed onto his bed, holding him close to me. The hospital bed wasn't big enough to contain both of us, but I had to squeeze myself in and give him the comfort he deserved. “I’ll figure out what is wrong with you, and I'll help you get through it.” I reassured him, and he nodded as he relaxed to my touch. Our mere contact sent irresistible sparks flying through us, and I held him tighter in my arms.
“It hurts so much, you know. The pain. I've had to deal with it for a long time, and I don't think I can anymore. I just want it to be over.”
“It breaks my heart when you say that, Marion. I'm here for you, and I'll help you in any way I can.” The fact that my mate wanted to die and leave me all alone in this world was disheartening. I didn't want that for him. I would do anything to keep him alive, no matter the cost. That was a promise I made to myself last night when I saw him lying on the floor barely alive, when I saw him at the hospital and treated his wounds. That night when he saved me from a hound. Just now I realized these feelings came even before the mating bond. This might still be conflicting, but I was willing to learn and accept this new part of myself that was blooming in my heart. This part Marion had planted in the depths of my soul the moment I set my eyes on him. The moment he pushed me against that tree and pressed his perfect body against mine.
“Excuse me, but you haven't told me your name yet.” Marion pulled me out of my thoughts with a chuckle.
“Denzel Hemming. Something else you should know is that my wolf, Silver, adores you.”