11. Chapter Nine
CHAPTER NINE
MICHAEL
I wake up and feel something squirming against me. I hold on tighter, trying to get the person to stop moving. This is one of the best night’s sleep I’ve had in a while, and I just want to sleep more.
To get the rest my body has been craving for years.
I feel the person push against me, and I finally open my eyes, looking down at the struggling body. My eyes focus and realize that Mae is trying to get free from my embrace.
I unwrap my arms from around her, and she scoots back to the wall, her eyes filled with confusion and disbelief. Her hands move rapidly as she tries to communicate with me, and I look at her, bewildered. With each motion, her movements become more forceful and intense. I can feel her frustration and fear in the way she moves her hands, and yet, I am helpless to understand since I can’t mind link her yet, not until she’s in the pack.
It’s going to be okay, I sign to her slowly and with much concentration, hoping this will calm her down.
It doesn’t, and she just keeps signing away. I look over at the clock and groan. It’s only seven in the morning, and I know for sure that Rylee won’t be awake.
Rylee? I mind link, hoping she’ll wake up.
Silence, so I try Xavier. Xavier is normally awake at this time.
Alpha? I mind link him.
Yes? he replies.
Can you please wake up Rylee? Mae is desperately trying to tell me something, and I have no clue what she’s saying.
She’ll be there in a minute .
I feel so helpless, and I know that Mae is feeling the same way right now. I’m sure she is trying to figure out why she woke up in my arms.
I hear the door open and as I turn my head to look and see who it is, Mae follows my movement to see Rylee slip into the room. Mae’s hands are all aflutter, and Rylee’s taking in everything. She glances my way before she starts to sign to Mae.
“What are you guys talking about?” I ask.
“She just wants to know why you’re in the bed with her. I’m explaining that she wouldn’t let go of your shirt last night. Don’t worry, I’m not saying anything that will make her hate you,” Rylee explains.
My heart is pounding. It never crossed my mind that she would wake up this morning and not really remember what happened last night. Or not remember that she wouldn’t let go of my shirt.
I’m really hoping this won’t set us back any. I finally got a taste of what it’s like to hold my mate in my arms at night, and I love it. It was nice to feel something different. To wake up to someone in my arms, even if they were panicking.
“Can you go start breakfast? I’m going to talk to her more about everything,” Rylee says.
I nod my head and get out of bed. I stretch really quick and feel Mae’s eyes on me. My whole body tingles when my mate’s eyes are on me.
I make my way out of the room in a hurry and shut the door. All I want to do is go back to bed and snuggle with her. Mae is changing me, and she doesn’t even know it. We haven’t even had a proper conversation yet.
I walk into the kitchen and start making pancakes and bacon. I really need to ask Rylee what Mae likes to eat and if she is allergic to anything. It’s important because I don’t want to hurt Mae at all.
I move around the kitchen, turning on the oven and stirring the batter for the pancakes. I know this recipe like the back of my hand. Once the batter is made, I get the bacon out of the fridge and put it on a pan.
The oven is almost preheated, and I want to get the bacon in as soon as possible. I’m not sure how long Mae and Rylee are going to take, and I don’t want to leave them waiting.
I grab a pan from the cupboard and turn on the stove. There’ve been several times I’ve made breakfast for Rylee’s kids and herself. I help out around the house when I can so Rylee can get a little break.
Not that she really needs one. I’m with her almost every day, and when I’m not, Xavier’s with her.
Ever since we found Mae, Rylee’s kids have been staying at her mom’s house. I’ve missed hanging out with them, but it’s been so nice to hang around Mae without a lot of distractions.
“She’s okay now. She’s embarrassed about everything that happened, but she’s okay,” Rylee says as she enters the kitchen, bringing me out of my thoughts.
I turn around after pouring batter into the pan, smiling.
“Great. Breakfast should be ready in a couple of minutes,” I reply.
Before I can turn around, Mae’s eyes connect with mine, and her cheeks turn bright red. She timidly signs good morning.
“Good morning. How are you?” I sign back.
“Good and you?” she signs.
“Good.”
As I finish signing, I smell something burning. I turn around to look at the stove, and I realize I’ve been distracted, so the pancake is burning. I panic and quickly take the pan off the burner. I open the trashcan and throw the burnt pancake away.
I wanted this morning to be perfect, but it isn’t turning out that way. I wanted to impress Mae, to show her that I can make more than chicken noodle soup, that I can take care of her. But that doesn’t seem to be happening.
Cleaning off the pan, I quickly put it back on the heat and place some batter into it. Maybe this time I’ll be able to actually make a good pancake instead of burning it. I can feel Mae’s eyes watching my every move.
So many times, I want to turn around and look at her, but I don’t want to spook her, and I can’t burn another pancake in front of her. I also don’t even know what to say or how to say it. One week of learning ASL is not enough.
“Rylee, can you ask Mae if she wants a pancake?” I ask.
“She would like one, but only if you have enough batter to make her one. If you don’t, then she doesn’t want one,” Rylee replies.
“Thank you. Can you ask her if she wants one, two, or three?”
“Two small ones, but if you make one big one she’ll eat it.”
I pull the pancake off the pan and place it on the cooling rack. Cooking for me can be therapeutic. I don’t do it often, but when I have time, I find it relaxing. This time, it’s different. I’m so nervous Mae isn’t going to like my pancakes.
Huffing out a breath of air, I place two smaller pancakes on a plate and douse them in syrup. I’m getting softer, and it’s starting to show. I cut up the pancakes and put the fork to the side. Alexander likes his pancakes plain with only syrup.
“Here’s Alexander’s pancakes,” I say as I hand them to Rylee. “Can you ask Mae if she wants anything on them or just syrup? You know what toppings we have.”
I turn back around and start some more pancakes. Mae’s eyes track my every move. I can’t help but wish that I paid attention when I went with Rylee to her ASL classes over the past few months. Instead of making good use of my time to learn something new, I chose to sit and read or just space out. I could be interacting with Mae right now and learning more about her. If only to talk to Mae right now.
“A light layer of peanut butter on hers,” Rylee replies. “With syrup on the top.”
Pulling the pancake off the pan, I spread a thin layer of peanut butter on the pancake before drizzling the syrup on. I turn and place the plate in front of Mae.
“Thank you,” she signs.
A smile erupts on my face, I nod, and get back to making pancakes.
“Are you going to eat any this time?” Rylee questions me.
“I wasn’t planning on it. I’m not really hungry right now.”
I turn the heat off as I pull Rylee’s pancakes off.
“Do you want to doctor them?” I ask.
Rylee’s already out of her seat and walking my way. What am I supposed to do now? Mae’s sitting where I normally sit, and I don’t want to make her uncomfortable by sitting next to her. Anyway, that’s Rylee’s spot.
“Thank you,” Rylee says with appreciation.
“Welcome.”
I decide to work on cleaning up. It really isn’t that messy, but there are several things I can wash right now, and it will keep me near Mae. It’s also something to keep me occupied as I wait for them to finish eating and move on to whatever they’re going to do for the day. The sooner I finish the dishes, the sooner I can start studying some more phrases and signs.
“You know, you don’t have to do those,” Rylee reminds me. “I’ve told you that several times.”
“I know, but I want to. I’ve got nothing else to do.”
“Besides learning ASL for your dear mate.”
I roll my eyes and continue washing the dishes. “I also guard you.”
“That doesn’t take much. Especially when we’re in my house,” she replies. “And you know that. The only time you really have to pay attention is if we step out of the house.”
She’s right about that. I don’t technically need to be on high alert as much when we’re in the house.
“Do you miss it?” Rylee asks.
“Miss what?” I turn to face her.
There are a lot of things she could be talking about. I’m not a mind reader, and she knows that.
“Miss training all those hours and being with the pack?”
I shrug my shoulders. “Some days I do. Some days I don’t. It is taxing physically and mentally. I helped a lot of people improve in so many ways, and I also put people in their places. But it was no way to live when that is the only thing you are doing.”
“I feel bad taking you away from that sometimes,” Rylee whispers.
“Don’t feel bad. Alpha told me that if I ever want or need to go back for a day or two, he will find another guard to watch over you. I’ve got options, but I’m not leaving.”
“So, when do you train?”
I lean up against the counter and cross my arms. “At night. After the alpha gets back here.”
“So, you don’t sleep?”
“I do sleep.”
“But not enough. You should be getting at least seven hours of sleep. I don’t know how you function without it. Before you started to guard me, did you get a lot of sleep?”
I give her a look of ‘are you serious’. Does she want to hear the truth? Does she really expect me to sleep that much? When I wasn’t her guard, I was working out, training, and doing patrols. I slept maybe four hours a night or less, and then did it all over again. Though, patrolling around the pack grounds changed times.
“Right, I should have known the answer to that. Forget I even asked that.” She scoffs. “Here are our plates.”
Grabbing them, I turn to wash them.
“Mae wants to help you with the dishes,” Rylee states.
“Tell her I don’t need any help,” I reply.
“Tough luck. She’s coming over to help. She’ll rinse and put them in the dishwasher.”
I can feel her presence before she even touches my hand. Little electric shocks fly through my hand, and I hear her gasp.
“Is this a good idea?” I ask as I glance at Rylee.
“She wants to help and said she won’t take no for an answer. Go with it,” Rylee replies. “I’ll be here in case you need to communicate with her.”
I turn back around to see Mae looking expectantly at me. Right, I need to start washing what’s left so she has something to do. I slowly wash the plate in my hand before handing it to her. Our hands connect, and the sparks dance across our skin. I know she can feel them like I feel them.
“You guys look so adorable doing those dishes together,” Rylee says. “Maybe it’ll become the new morning routine. Or even after every meal…more time together.”
By the time I wash the last cup, Mae has put her head on my shoulder and is rinsing it. I am in shock, but I refuse to let my body move too much so I don’t startle her. I don’t want her to leave.
A step in the right direction, I would say.