Chapter 8

XAVIER It's hard for me to breathe, Draco is in agony, and he wants out. If I let him take control now he'd either kill someone or go and claim Stella on the spot. And I cannot have her scared more of this place than she already is. Damn it. I place both my hands on a cold stone wall and close my eyes, trying to breathe slowly and calm down, when I feel my brother's hand on my shoulder. "She is your mate, isn't she?" Carter asks calmly. "Yes." I almost growl at him. He should really get away from me right now. I can't hurt my baby brother of all people in the middle of all this. "So, I don't get it then." He sounds puzzled. "What is going on between the two of you? Why aren't you all over each other?" He leans on the wall next to me, and I roll my eyes. My naive little brother! "Because, Carter, not everything comes as easy to other people as it does to you!" I snap at him. "What did I do again?" he shrugs. "I am trying to help. And you are not the unlucky one in the world. You've got a mate! Yay for you! You do know how rarely that happens, right?" "Are you stupid or something? Can't you see.." I try to say it out loud but my voice breaks. "See what exactly?" he looks at me dumbfounded again. This i***t. "She doesn't feel it," I say quietly. "Doesn't feel what?" "She doesn't feel the bond!" I shout at him, losing my temper. "The connection between us! It's non-existent to her! She is a f*cking human, you moron! Apparently, she doesn't feel what we feel! She would never feel what I feel!" For a moment, he is quiet, and I feel my whole world crumbling. "Nah," he says finally. "That's not possible!" I look at him with fierce eyes. He has always been mischievous and, plainly speaking, annoying, but this is complete overkill! "Run, Carter, or I am going to kill you!" I growl at him, but he doesn't move. "Relax, bro!" He looks me in the eyes. "I know how mate bonds work! It is a power beyond anything! Human or not – she would feel the same thing sooner or later. There is no escape! It's destiny!" He has never sounded more serious. And for the first time in my life, I feel calmer after talking to him. Does he even have a clue what he is talking about? Can I really trust his judgement? "It's just…" my voice breaks again. I am not a fan of talking and pouring my feelings out. If anything, it is torture for me. But I need to get my answers. "I remember when you guys met. How you ran to each other the very moment and all…" Carter looks at me as if I am some kind of an id*ot and starts laughing hysterically. Brother or not – he is dead! "You think that was the first time we met?" He wipes the tears from his eyes. "Xave, I met her months before that! We just didn't tell anyone as we didn't know what to do with all that... Enemy packs, mates… It was complicated." "Why didn't you tell me anything?" I am shocked at his revelation, to say the least. "Well, you had your hands full back then. Dropping out of school, taking over the pack after Dad died… I didn't want to bother you." His eyes look sad, and I hate it. "Carter," I start speaking but don't know what to say to him in the end. "Look, this thing with Stella… Elle and I would do anything to help you two, you know that, right? She is a nice girl, and I can see why the Moon Goddess chose her for you. Even though she is human. But give her time. Humans are slower than us at everything. I am sure she'll get there one day. You need to hold on until then, bro." Carter smiles weakly, and I nod and throw my head back, sighing. "I hope it'll happen sooner rather than later," I say firmly, closing my eyes and calming my nerves. "I won't lose her." "Of course, man," Carter chimes. "Positive thinking is…" "No," I stop him. "You don't get it. I won't let her go. I know that now after today. Whatever it takes… I am not losing her. She is mine, even if she disagrees." I can't believe I just said that... But Draco growls approvingly inside. I look back at my little brother and see the fear in his eyes. He knows the darkness inside me. He has seen it first-hand when I had to fight for our lives. I hate to disappoint him, but I hate lying to him even more. Stella would never leave me or Springwood. Ever. No matter what it takes. No matter what I have to do to keep her with me. NOTE: Don't worry, Save is not a creep. He is desperate at this point in the story. P.S. Don't forget to join Marion Artwood: Den of Dragons group on sss for more fun, discussions etc.