“Reign?” I asked making his head snap to me before relaxing a bit making me ask “Dox, you awake?” Nodding his massive head, he tried to stand up but only succeeded in flopping down again. Holding back a laugh, I asked “do you wanna shift?” Nodding again, I said “okay, let me move back a bit and take your time.” Standing, I backed away about ten feet before kneeling again and digging through the bag for clothes as he began to shift again. Another twenty minutes passed before he was fully human again and I could see all the bruising that had yet to heal. Standing up with only the sweatpants in hand, I walked over to where he lay on the ground having rolled onto his back. Moving to stand at his feet, I carefully slipped them into the sweatpants up to the knee before moving to straddle him with my back to him as I shimmied them up to his butt. Moving to kneel next to him, I rolled him onto his side facing me pulling up the right side before gingerly laying him back down just to repeat the process with his left. As I lay him back onto his back carefully, I noticed him watching me while I adjusted the front of the sweatpants with the emotionless mask on my face. After a minute of just watching, he said “you're doing it again. I thought we agreed you wouldn't do that when we're alone.”

“We did but right now my emotions would be no good to you. Right now, I have to view you as a patient who needs my care and not my best friend who is in a lot of pain that I'm useless to do anything about” I said my voice finally cracking under the weight of my emotions as I continued “if I don't I'll end up in tears and then I'll be completely useless. So, for now I'm gonna hold onto my mask and take care of you because that's what I can do right now.”

“Alright, then answer me this. How did I get here? I remember being beaten in the woods then nothing until I woke up here in wolf form. I assume Reign took over and forced a shift but how did you know to come here?” he asked all of which I was prepared for.

“You're right. Reign forced the shift after you passed out from the pain. Apparently, you lasted longer than the last time this happened. He contacted Moon since they can still talk after last time and told him you needed help. I told Moon to have him meet here as planned since it's technically neutral territory and would be safe from both packs in your current state. When I got here, I saw Reign limping out of the woods to where you are now. I took care of him the same as when we first met until you came too and here we are” I explained taking a seat on the grass next to him and focusing on his face.

“Okay, next question. Why are you intently staring at my face instead of examining the damage?” he asked raising a brow as he watched me.

“Because I got a good look while I was dressing you and if I keep looking I won't be able to hold back the tears” I said honestly with a shrug.

“You seem to cry a lot these days. I'm sorry that I'm part of the reason for it. Though I am curious about something” he said turning his gaze to mine more intently.

“What's that?” I ask curious now.

“Well two things really. The first is this lingering thought that someone might use me against you and I need to be wary of everyone because of it and the second is why I feel this uncontrollable desire to be near you all the time now and it only gets worse when we're apart” he explained.

“Well the first, I'd say it's because you saw that guy hanging around Wind Walker. Maybe it's because of how he kept staring at us during Kyles' wedding and Alpha ceremony. Maybe he gave off the jealous vibe and since he kept seeing us together and holding hands some part of you thinks you need to watch out for anything he might try...” I said making deductions that all sound plausible.

“Okay, that kinda makes sense I guess. What about the second thing?” he asks still watching me.

“Crap, the second is because of the mate bond but I can't tell him that” I thought then aloud said “I'm not really sure.”

“Hmmm yeah I figured that would be your answer” he said making me look at him confused. I must've stared at him long enough for him to decide to answer my confusion because he said “I've asked a few people in a round about way what they thought it might be and they said the only times they've heard of such a thing is when one wolf in a pair of mates is old enough to activate the mate bond. They said it's even stronger and can be felt by both if they're a Fated pairing.”

“A what now? Fated pairing? What does that mean?” I asked genuinely confused and shocked that he'd come so close to the truth already.

“The Fated pairs are those destined long ago to be mates. Like before we were born our destinies intertwined and set into motion assuming we are a Fated pair. Since it's the only explanation that makes sense, I was ready to accept it but you said you didn't find your mate at your birthday unless you lied to everyone but then you'd have had to had a good reason though” he said and just then a caramel and chocolate wolf with blue eyes came racing up.

“Liah, what's wrong?” I asked getting kinda worried.

“There are visitors at the pack house. They're looking for Madox. Apparently, his dad and brother woke up. They're still not in good shape up they're awake and asking for him” Liah said through our link. Turning to look at him, I said “you need to get back to the Wind Walker pack house” then before he could say anything I added “Beta Charles and Anthony are awake. They're not fully healed or anything but they're awake and asking for you. Alpha Derek went so far as to assume you came to Blood Rose for a visit and sent visitor to find you.”

“Alright, help me up” he said wincing as he tried to sit up quickly.

“Slow down. I know you're excited to see them but you need to be careful not to hurt yourself more in the process” I said moving to stand in front of him.

“Yes mom, or should I say Doctor” he said then once we got him on his feet added “by the way we aren't done with that conversation.”

“Yeah. Yeah, here put this on to hide the bruises” I said handing him a dark colored shirt. Then walking him to the edge of the trees, I said “I promise to explain it to you one day but for right now you'll just have to trust me. Now go, your family needs you” before turning to walk back to Liah who was standing back watching us. As we started the walk back, she opened our mind link again and said “I already told your mom and Kyle that I'd found Madox and sent him home so they can send the warriors back. Now can you tell me what Madox meant when he said 'by the way we're not done with that conversation'?”

“He's pretty much figured out the truth that we're mates. He said he feels this uncontrollable desire to be near me and it's even worse when we're apart. He said he's asked some people about it in a vague sort of way and they said it only happens with mates. He said they told him that it only activates when one of the pairing is of age and is stronger when they're a Fated pair. He was explaining what that meant and that he was ready to believe it despite everyone believing I didn't find my mate though he accused me of telling everyone I didn't when I never actually said that” I explained as we walked.

“Oh my god. That means you'll have to tell him sooner rather than later” she said looking at me.

“Yeah, though it's not like I didn't give him hints through every conversation we've had since last night. Hell, I pretty much already explained why I'm doing all this to him and he seemed okay with it even if I told him in a round about way. Besides I get the feeling I'm gonna end up telling him soon whether I want to or not” I said shrugging.

“Meaning what exactly?” Liah asked.

“Not sure exactly. I just have the feeling something bad is about to happen that will force me to reveal it and my true feelings for him. I just have to hope he takes it well and doesn't reject me for it” I said fighting back the tears I knew were coming.