His hand reaching for one of Marissa’s, his fingers linking with hers gently, he stretched his legs, allowing his head to fall back and closed his eyes. A short nap would do him good while he waited on Ash returning. With his mate’s hand in his he remained connected to her and he finally relaxed, lids drooping, until he fell over into a dreamless sleep.
When he woke, Shade saw it was pitch dark outside, checking his phone he saw it was two in the morning. Damn, Ash had obviously not disturbed him but now he was ravenous but he didn’t want to leave Marissa. He sent a quick text and when his friend replied immediately Shade couldn’t help but smile.
“I’m downstairs, be up in min.”
Sure enough, Ash appeared shortly with a tray of food, freshly warmed up. “It’s just out of the microwave but I didn’t want to wake you earlier. You needed to rest.”
“Thanks,” Shade whispered, taking the tray and devouring the food while Ash sat on the window seat, leaning forward, arms on his knees.
“Have you tried contacting her?” Ash asked quietly.
Shade stopped chewing the burger in his mouth, frowning then raising an eyebrow in question.
Ash shook his head as if Shade should know what he meant. “Your Wolf, you know, in your head via your bond. Have you tried that?”
Shade quickly rid himself of the food in his mouth, almost choking as he swallowed. “What? No, we’re not mated yet. I don’t think that would work until after we’re actually bonded.”
“It might,” Ash returned quickly. “We don’t know, that’s the point, Shade. She might respond to your Wolf on a subconscious level or what about actually sealing your bond now? I’ve heard of other Wolves doing that when their mate is injured and they do it to help heal them?”
Shade shook his head firmly. “No, Ash. I couldn’t do that. It feels wrong to force that on her. I want this, so fucking bad, but I won’t force it on her. She’s not injured in that way. If she were I’m sure I’d think differently about it, but she’s not.”
Ash sighed. “I suppose you’re right, I’m just trying to help because I can feel your turmoil, Shade. Sorry if I overstepped. You can think about trying to contact her beast though, that can’t do any harm, but you can leave that for tomorrow. Let her rest tonight and try in the morning. See what happens, if it works then great. If not, at least you tried.”
“I guess it can’t hurt,” Shade conceded. “I agree I should wait though. She needs rest and I won’t disturb her tonight. Thanks for the food, Ash.”
“I’ll be staying until she wakens,” his friend advised firmly. “I won’t leave until I know she’s going to be all right. Your attention will be on your mate, as it should be, but that leaves you both vulnerable and I can’t have that.”
Shade’s throat closed, emotion rolling through him as his friend rose. He managed a nod but no words made it past his lips. Ash stopped at the bedroom door, looking at Marissa then back at Shade. “She’s going to keep you on your toes. Don’t ask how I know that. I just do.”
Shade smirked, his eyes lingering on his prone mate. He’d thought the same thing more than once since he’d found her. Visions of her spunk when she’d faced down her father running like a loop in his head. She was full of fire and strength, that was for sure. When he looked over to answer his friend Ash had already left, leaving Shade alone with his worry once again. Not a condition he was used to and one he wasn’t comfortable with but feelings he’d need to suck up and deal with. At least until Marissa awoke and he knew for certain that she’d be all right.
Only then would Shade’s intense fear for her abate.
The long hours of night dragged by so slowly that Shade wondered if time had slowed somehow. He grew jumpy, anxious, and bad-tempered. The first two were new to him, the last not so much, but all he wanted was for morning to arrive so Lana would come by to look Marissa over and advise him that she wasn’t declining.
She didn’t look as if she were, not to Shade’s eyes, and he’d spent hours scrutinizing Marissa closely. He was certain her pale skin wasn’t as white, a faint hint of color now staining her cheeks. Or was that just wishful thinking on his part? He’d also felt her fingers twitch once or twice while he held her hand. That definitely wasn’t a figment of his imagination. He’d almost fell out of the chair when it happened the first time, leaning forward eagerly to see if she were about to wake up. Unfortunately, that did not occur, but it did give him some hope in an otherwise bleak and lonely night.
When the sun’s rays finally broke over the trees Shade breathed out a long sigh of relief, now counting the minutes until Lana arrived. His impatience growing as time passed. Ash appearing with breakfast didn’t improve his mood either, until finally he’d asked his friend to summon the Healer. Shade could wait no longer to test Ash’s theory but didn’t want to proceed until Lana had given him the all-clear. He would never do anything to endanger his mate in his own haste for a connection but he was growing desperate for that first tendril of their bond to connect him to Marissa.
Shade still held her hand when Lana rushed into the room, her face flushed and concerned as she asked. “What’s wrong?”
“Pardon?” Shade looked at the state of her clothing, obviously thrown on in haste.
“Ash said I had to come immediately. Has something happened?” Lana put her satchel on the bed before starting to check Marissa.
“Shit, sorry. I didn’t mean for that to happen. I just needed
