14.

CHASE.

It's been more than six hours since she fainted, and the sun had already dipped below the horizon, casting a soft glow of the moonlight peeking through the window blind.

I watched Zara sleep; her features softened in the gentle glow of the moonlight. Watching her be in indescribable pain before slumping on the floor of the garden filled me with a rage I didn’t think was possible. I was even more angry that I couldn’t do anything about it, nor did I know why or how it happened.

Her chest rose and fell rhythmically with each breath, her hair spilling across the pillow in a sea of black, thick curls. Gently, I reached out and brushed a strand of hair away from her face, my fingers lingering against her skin for a moment longer than necessary.

The longer I sat there, I noticed there seemed to be something that pulled me to her, a feeling I couldn’t explain or control. And just like the last few times I’ve touched her in this state I could feel subtle tingles of the mate bond wherever our skin made contact. The best part surprisingly, though amazing, wasn’t the tingles. It was the slight reactions she’d have whenever I touched her. Apparently it wasn’t anything major that would bring her back to me, and sometimes it was barely even noticeable. I could feel a smile creeping on my face at the thought of knowing I had an effect on her. At times she’d sigh, other times the edges of her lips would curl up almost as if she was smiling, but my favorite was when she’d slightly lean in the direction of my touch.

It was these little reactions that helped me hold on to the bits of my sanity that I had left as I waited for her to come to. I was raging inside, but these little touches and little signs of the mate bond were holding me together. It also made me wonder about the strength of this mate bond. How is it that even with the muted features of the mate bond because of our situation there seems to still be something still happening for her? I know why I can feel it, but why is she still feeling it so strongly even in its muted state?

As I traced the curve of her cheek with the lightest of touches, I couldn't help but think about the depth of my feelings for her.

From the first moment I’d seen her in the club, Drew and I had been completely drawn to her, my wolf screaming for me to protect them at all costs. That was even before the mate bond had snapped into place right before her wedding. It was like a part of me already knew she and her wolf were mine. Ours. And now, as I watched her sleep, I felt a fierce determination welling up inside me. I would do whatever it took to keep her safe, to shield her from the dangers that lurked in the shadows of my world.

With a soft sigh, I leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, my lips lingering against her skin for a moment and I noticed her visibly relax, before I reluctantly pulled away, and took the seat by her side where I wanted remain until she woke up.

“Why don’t you tell her you’re her mate?” Pearl, my cousin, asked. She was standing beside me with Shane, and Ryan.

Pearl had found me as I cradled Zara to my chest, running to our room. I was panicked, scared witless at the possibility that I was probably going to lose her. Later, she explained why she had left her position at the medical wing to come to the royal wing, it was because Ryan had contacted her and asked that she finish the tour he had started to give Zara because he couldn't get in contact with his sister.

I shook my head at Ryan’s suggestion, knowing that revealing the truth to Zara would only complicate matters further.

“It's not the right time,” I insisted. “Besides, how do I explain it to her when she doesn't know? She can't even feel what I feel.”

Pearl frowned, clearly unconvinced by my reasoning.

“But keeping her in the dark won't do her any favors either,” Ryan argued, his brow furrowed with concern.

“She deserves to know the truth, Chase,” Shane added.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair in frustration.

“I know, but I can't risk it,” I admitted reluctantly. “Not until the bond is fully formed. What if she decides I am insane and want to leave? Can't risk that.”

Ryan opened his mouth to protest, but I held up a hand to silence him. “Trust me,” I said, my tone pleading. “This is the only way.”

I leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to Zara's forehead again, and with that, we all moved out of the room together, leaving her to rest.