Chapter Chapter Sixteen
[Kin’s POV]
Next morning
When I opened my eyes, I was filled with joy and happiness. My little Mate was in my arms and safe. However, the events of the night flashed through my eyes and I growled as Julius woke up and came forward. ‘Solon better give her over to the High Counsel or I am going to kill her myself.’ Julius snarled in my mind. He was just as pissed off that Telani had been able to get into the rooms without even us sensing her as I was.
‘We will handle this a little later. We need to take care of Ra’ne right now. After last night he will need to soak in the water again.’ I said as I rolled over to look at my sleeping little ember.
Problem, he wasn’t there. I was holding Ra'ne's pillow that was soaked in his scent.
I lept from the bed, panic in my eyes as I searched the room quickly for him. I suddenly heard splashing from inside the bathroom and a small cry of fear, before I was in motion. Inside the bathroom Ra’ne had created a bubble land, with nothing but bubbles filling the tub’s surface. However, once again I could not see my little Mate and I was starting to really panic then. I stepped into the tub quickly and felt around for his little body, finding him quickly and pulling him above the surface.
He wrapped himself around me coughing and sputtering, whimpering coming from him as he nuzzled against me. “Shh, it all right my ember. I am here.” I cooed as I climbed out of the tub again to sit us on the white rug on the floor. I was sort of glad we had both fallen asleep naked last night. I wouldn't have cared either way but wet clothing was very hard to move in. Even for a Wolf.
Ra’ne leaned into me, sobs now coming from his small chest as he held onto me for dear life. He was so scared but he had tried to do all of this by himself. I was so proud of him, scared for him but proud of him all in the same breath. We sat like that for a few more moments before I pulled him up with me and set him on the marble countertop, making sure his bare bottom was not touching the cold marble.
“My sweet ember why didn’t you wait for me? I would have been right here with you so that you didn’t get hurt.” I cooed as I pulled his eyes up to mine. I needed to know why he had done all of this alone when he had already explained that the tub frightened him. He wiggled and winced a little before looking down again, sadness in his eyes. “Baby boy I will never be angry with you. I know you are in pain from last night and I was going to do all of this for you when I woke up. If you had woken before me you could have gotten me up with you.” I said trying to pull his eyes back to mine. He had no reason to be afraid of me. I could never hurt him.
“I-I didn’t want y-you t-to b-be d-disap-pointed i-in m-me.” He stuttered softly, still unwilling to meet my gaze.
My heart broke at his words. He didn’t want to disappoint me, and for some reason he felt like I would feel like that if he asked me for help, so he had tried to do all of this himself, causing himself to get hurt in the process. I was not happy but I was not disappointed or angry with him for anything. It was not like I couldn’t tell him I was a nice person because I knew I was far from it. It was because of last night. I had shown my true side to him and it had scared him I could understand that, but I don't know if I could live with him being afraid of me.
I sighed and pulled him closer to me, trying to get him to understand that all my anger and hatred was never going to be aimed at him. “Ra’ne, my sweet Mate. I could never be disappointed in you and I could never hurt you. I have said it before but I will say it until I die, you are the most important thing in my life and without you I am nothing but a monster of the worst kind.” I said trying to keep my tone soothing. “I am sorry I frightened you yesterday that was not my intention.” I added trying to get closer to him without scaring him away from me. I had been so furious at what happened that I had not thought about his past. I knew emotions of anger got to him far more than it would anyone else and I had just flew into a fit of rage because he had been in danger.
It took him a few moments before he enveloped me in his tiny arms. He tried to pull me against him and it made me chuckle at his actions. He was so small it almost pulled him from the countertop.
“I was afraid you were angry with me for what happened last night with Solon.” He whispered against my neck, his voice very small. He was trying not to let me see it but I could feel his tears on my skin and it made me feel that much worse at my actions yesterday.
I pulled away from him, making sure that he was stable on the counter as I quickly grabbed a few towels for us. I then went to him and lifted him into my arms, letting him curl up against my chest as I stepped into the warm water of the tub. I had to move some of the bubbles out of the way for us to see each other but it was more enjoyable to see his eyes light up at the sight of them popping at my touch.
“I will tell you this my ember, I was never angry with you yesterday.” I said getting a cute little gasp from him as he turned to look at me. “It’s true. What happened yesterday was never your fault it was my own and Solon’s. I want to do all that I can to keep you safe and for me that is pulling all of my power together and doing what I can to make sure you are safe. Solon has been a close friend to me for years and so has every one of his squad. They have been with me through a few of my more hellish moments and have seen me at my very darkest.” I explained as he leaned against me again. I sighed happily, just the feel of his much smaller body against mine was more than comforting to me. His very touch settling my mind so effortlessly.
“Then what was her reasons to do what she did? Not everyone does things just because they can and have the power to do those things. At least that is what Skie tells me.” he said curiously.
I looked at him, wondering where all of that just came from. I turned him around in my lap, trying to get him to look me in the eyes. When he did, I was shocked to see them a deep blue. They had changed again but this was something I couldn’t read as easily as the last time. I could see the stress in his blue eyes but I felt nothing between the Bond and I was beyond worried about that. I did not like this at all and I was worried for my Mate.
“Ra’ne, what’s wrong?” I questioned, wondering what the hell was going on with our Mate Bond. I should have felt his stress and feelings. I felt nothing, like the bond wasn’t even there, nothing but the connection of destiny was there between us. It scared me and I was going to get more answers but I needed to help my little ember first.
“What were you and Solon talking about? That whole protecting the future thing?” he asked me softly, his voice devoid of any emotion.
So, this was what happened when he was pulled too far into a loop of thinking. “Solon found out a few things for me at my request. The information was not for any harmful intent.” I replied truthfully.
“Information about what?” he asked softly.
Smart little thing already knew what about but he wanted me to flat out tell him. I smiled and kissed his forehead, “You. I wanted to know more about you and the things I wanted to know you wouldn’t even know yourself.” I replied truthfully.
I hadn’t lied to him or hidden anything from him yet and I was not planning on doing so any time soon. He looked up at me then, his eyes back to their normal beautiful ember color. They held curiosity and sadness. He wanted to know but was too scared to really find out. I could sense his emotions again and I took that into consideration. His eyes changing color was one thing but when they changed and I couldn’t sense him at all that was another all-together.
I loved him regardless that would never change and I was going to spend the rest of my very long life loving this very shy outgoing Beta Omega.