6. Day 6
1063 Words
IRIS
I woke to sunlight streaming through unfamiliar curtains and for a moment I was confused until I remembered. I was in Ronan’s house and I had slept for nearly twenty-four hours straight.
I buried my face in the pillow and groaned. The pillow smelled like him and so did everything else. The scent made my wolf curl up in a contented little ball instead of helping me panic like she should be doing.
Mate's scent is so good, she hummed.
Traitor, I thought back at her.
I dragged myself out of bed and assessed the situation. I needed a shower. I needed clothes. And I needed to figure out how I was going to survive six more days in this house without losing what was left of my mind.
The bathroom was down the hall and I crept out half-convinced that Ronan would jump out from behind a door, but the house was silent.
I could feel him, that strange awareness that came with the bond. He was somewhere nearby but not inside and that was enough to calm the panic that had started rising.
After the shower, I unfortunately had to wear Elara’s clothes as Ronan had not left me anything else that was his since the previous day.
I dressed quickly, ignoring my wolf, who was not too pleased by the decision.
Once done I stood at the top of the stairs, listening and there was still nothing. I could still feel Ronan, he was close enough that the bond didn't scream and far enough that I could breathe.
I descended the stairs slowly and found a note on the kitchen counter, propped against a coffee mug.
Iris
I am around the perimeter. I didn't want to wake you. Pancakes on the counter, coffee in the pot. Help yourself to anything in the house. I’ll be back soon. R
I stared at the note. Then at the plate of pancakes, still slightly warm, covered with a clean kitchen towel. Then at the coffee pot that was half-full.
“He made breakfast,” I whispered.
For us, my wolf corrected softly.
I swallowed hard. No one had ever made me breakfast, I thought. Leo and I had ordered in, cooked together sometimes, but the act of someone getting up early, preparing food, leaving a note... that was new. That was something I had read about in books and watched in movies, never experienced.
I sat down and ate every single bite. Halfway through my second pancake, that's when I remembered something. Leo.
I was supposed to be checking in even in from my “retreat” My phone was somewhere upstairs. I fetched it and winced. I had several missed notifications and all were from Leo.
The guilt was already eating me from inside.
Hey. Sorry, reception here is spotty and everything has been pretty intense. I am doing well. Will call you soon. Love you. I typed.
It was vague, something that would not raise any suspicion.
Three dots appeared immediately.
Miss you. Can't wait to hear about it. Please call me when you can. Love you more.
I stared at the screen. He had no idea. He trusted me completely. And I was sitting in my mate's house feeling warm because he had made me pancakes. I did not want to think about it anymore and I set the phone down and didn't pick it up again.
An hour later, I was going stir crazy.
I had washed my plate, organized the spice rack and even rummaged through the fridge thrice. It’s how I found myself wandering into the living room and noticed for the first time that the photographs were gone. Every single one.
The walls were bare except for faint rectangles where frames had hung yesterday.
Had Ronan taken them down because of me? To make space for me? The thought should have felt like victory, but instead I felt like Elara was being scraped out of existence to make room for her replacement.
I needed to stop thinking. My mind always took me to some of the darkest places and I did not need that. I needed something to do.
That's how I found myself in Ronan’s study. I told myself I was just looking for a book. Something to pass the time.
The study was neat, there were maps on the walls, a heavy mahogany desk, bookshelves packed with books and ledgers and my fingers itched to touch everything.
I was halfway through a shelf when I spotted the folder. It was thick, labeled in block letters NORTHERN BORDER DISPUTE – SILVERFANG. I shouldn't have opened it but I still did.
The Silverfang pack was pushing boundaries and were staking claim over a strip of land that bordered both territories. I was so absorbed in the report that I didn't hear the front door open and did not realize Ronan was home until his voice came from behind me.
"Find anything interesting?"
I turned, guilt written all over my face. The folder slipped from my hands, papers scattering across the floor.
"I..I'm so sorry. I wasn't....I was just looking for something to read and I..."
Ronan stood in the doorway as he raised his hand in a placating gesture. He wasn't angry. He was holding a massive bouquet of lilies, and then he was looking down staring at my clothes.
I watched as the warmth in his face drained. My wolf whined, low and anxious. Mate unhappy? Why?
He missed her. Why had I not thought of that? Guilt twisted through me.
“I didn’t have anything else,” I said quickly. “I can change. I mean, I’ll change...”
“You’re fine,” he replied as an awkward silence fell between us. He then cleared his throat, lifting the bouquet slightly. “These are for you.”
“For… me?”
“Yes.”
"I.." My voice cracked. "Why?"
Ronan's expression shifted, "Because yesterday was difficult for both of us and today doesn't have to be. Because I don't know what I'm doing, Iris, but I know I want you to feel welcome here. Not trapped."
He then set the bouquet on the edge of the desk, within my reach. "I also have something else. Something that's yours, really. Wait here."
And with that he disappeared upstairs before I could respond.
- Writer
