10. Chapter Eight
CHAPTER EIGHT
MICHAEL
I quicken my pace as I walk toward Mae, but not too fast so I don’t cause her to panic more. Her eyes are watching me the whole time. I can see her face starting to turn a pale blue, and I start to panic inside. I don’t want to show her that I am afraid for her life. I need to remain calm in hopes that she becomes less agitated.
It is key. She needs to see that I am calm and confident so she can trust me, even if on the inside I am terrified, panicked, and falling apart.
I need to be strong for her. Her rock that she can lean on in rough times.
I look back at Rylee, who’s holding herself, sobbing.
“How do you say, ‘it’s going to be okay’?” I ask Rylee.
Rylee signs, her hands shaking uncontrollably, and I memorize the signs to my best ability. I know it’s not going to be perfect, but hopefully, Mae will be able to understand. I turn towards Mae and sign it a couple of times.
I sit on the floor in front of her and slowly reach out my hands toward her. Skin-to-skin contact with mates helps them calm down. I’m hoping if Mae will let me hold her hand or arm that she will calm down much faster.
As soon as my hand is about to touch her, her breathing picks up a little, and she scoots back into the corner.
I take in a calm breath. I know it isn’t going to work right away, but I am hoping that it will.
I sign ‘it’s going to be okay’ again and touch her hand. She flinches and tries to get away from my touch, but I don’t let her get far. She needs my touch right now, even if she doesn’t realize it.
I bring my other hand to her face, and she closes her eyes. Putting my hand against the side of her face, I slowly rub my thumb over her cheek. I don’t know if she even realizes it, but she leans into my hand. I can’t help but smile when she does this because she’s so beautiful.
Her breathing slows down, and her face regains color. I take my hand away from her face, and her eyes open immediately. She starts to panic again, and her breathing picks up. I don’t want to sit in this position for much longer because I am really uncomfortable, so I move to where my back is against the wall.
Looking over at Mae, I hold my arms open. I don’t think she will actually come to me but I’m prepared to hold her hand the whole time. Mae begins to slowly move and crawls into my lap, putting her head over my heart.
I lift my head up and look straight at Rylee with a shocked face. The look on Rylee’s face tells me she is in shock as well. I wrap my arms around Mae and hold her against me, slowly running my hands through her hair, and I feel her body relax into my arms.
The sound of a picture being taken breaks the silence and the moment. I look up to see Rylee holding up her phone. She winks at me before leaving the room. I look down at Mae, and she looks so relaxed in my arms.
Her eyes are closed, and her breathing is even.
I move slightly to get into more of a comfortable position, and I hear Mae whine a bit. She tightens her grip on my shirt and pushes her head into my chest. I sigh and run my hands through her hair.
My eyes close to take in this moment. I don’t know if this will happen again for a while, and I want to enjoy every second while I can. I’m definitely going to have to get the picture from Rylee and save it to my phone.
Maybe even put it as my lock screen.
I hear the door open, and I open my eyes. Xavier is walking through the door, and his eyes land on me. He stares at me for a while, taking in the situation. His eyes break away from me when Rylee walks into the room.
“What happened?” Xavier asks.
Rylee goes to the couch and sits down, Xavier follows after her. She looks at me, and her eyes are sad.
“I didn’t know it was going to happen. I wouldn’t have asked if I knew this was going to happen,” Rylee says.
What happened? I mind link Rylee, including Xavier into the mind link.
“When we got back, she went to the couch. After I finished talking with you, I sat down with her and asked how she was. I then asked her where she came from and why she is a rogue. That’s when she started to panic, and I called you,” Rylee says.
I wonder what happened to make her panic this bad with such simple questions. I really want to know, but I also don’t want this to happen again. Maybe if I am touching a part of her body, she can tell us what happened to her.
“As an alpha of this pack, I need to know if she’s brought any danger to this pack. You need to ask her again,” Xavier says.
I growl at Xavier. I feel Mae stiffen in my arms, and I quickly run my hands through her hair and rub her back, trying to calm her down. Mae relaxes in my arms, and I look up at Xavier, about to give him a piece of my mind.
At this moment, I don’t care if he is my alpha or not, this is my mate, and I don’t want her to suffer and go through this again.
“No. We’re going to give her a break. Let her get more comfortable around us, especially Michael, and then ask again. I don’t want to have a repeat of this,” Rylee pleads.
Xavier glares at her for countering his request. He opens his mouth to speak.
“No. You didn't know when you gave me space even though I was bringing danger to the pack. Give her some more time, she’s only been here a week. You gave me a month or more,” Rylee says before Xavier can say anything.
Xavier lets out an exasperated sigh. I know he doesn’t like this. I know for a fact that Xavier detests being disrespected in front of people, and talking back is at the top of his list. I feel a little awkward sitting here.
No alpha likes to be talked back to in front of his pack members, it is disrespectful and makes him look weak. I don’t see Xavier as anything else but a strong alpha for this pack.
“Fine, not like I have much of a choice,” Xavier grumbles.
I relax some when he gives his okay. It’s not very often that he denies Rylee’s requests, but there’s always a chance he might, and I don’t want it to be for me.
“I got this cute picture of Michael looking at Mae in his arms. It’s so adorable. I have to show you,” Rylee says, taking her phone out.
Before she can show the picture to Xavier, we hear voices.
“Uncle Michael!” Alexander screams, excited, running straight toward me.
Xavier quickly stands up to catch Alexander before he comes crashing into Mae and I. Alexander whines, and Xavier swats his butt lightly.
“Uncle Michael is holding someone right now. You can’t give him a hug yet,” Xavier says.
Alexander looks at Mae, and then back up to me. Xavier puts him down on the ground, and Alexander walks over to me. He looks at Mae’s face and back up to mine.
“Is she okay?” he whispers.
“She’s perfectly fine, Alex. She’s just exhausted and asleep right now,” Rylee says.
I look at Rylee and give her a smile. I don’t want to talk and risk waking Mae up with the vibrations. Alexander isn’t old enough yet to have a mind link, so the only way to communicate with him is talking.
This is one of the time’s that I’m glad Mae is deaf. If she wasn’t, she would have woken up to Alexander yelling.
“I think you should go put her in her bed so she can sleep better,” Rylee encourages.
I nod my head and think of a way to stand up with Mae in my arms. I hold her close to my body, bring my legs closer, and push myself off of the wall. Mae squirms in my arms, and I run my hands up and down her back.
“Now, Alexander. We need to talk about why you went straight toward Uncle Michael and not your own parents,” I hear Rylee say with a teasing tone.
I chuckle at that. Alexander loves me, and I feel like Xavier and Rylee can get slightly jealous of that. Alexander loves his parents, but he loves to spend time with me whenever I’m around.
I hold Mae close to my body as I walk up the stairs and into her room. I push the door open with my foot and make my way to her bed. I carefully pull the covers back and place her on the bed. Mae keeps a tight hold onto my shirt, and I try and pry them off, but she starts to whine and panic.
Alpha? I mind link Xavier.
Yes? he asks.
Is it all right if I stay the night? Mae won’t let go of my shirt and starts to panic when I try and pry her fingers off.
It’s fine. I know exactly what you’re talking about and are welcome to stay anytime this happens.
Thank you, Alpha. Goodnight.
Goodnight.
I climb into the bed and pull Mae close to my body. She snuggles herself in close and relaxes completely. I close my eyes and fall asleep.