It was the best sleep I’d ever had in seventeen years of life, and the last full night’s sleep I would have for years. When I woke up, my bed was cold, the covers were pulled up over me, but Scott wasn’t on top of me, or beside me, or in my arms at all. The sun was up, the curtains drawn just enough to keep all but a sliver of light out of the dark room.

When I pushed myself up, I immediately looked over at the bedside table, but the silver locket was gone, and in its place, was a folded piece of paper with my name on it. I hesitated for a long time before reaching out, picking it up and falling onto my back as I unfolded it, holding it up so I could read it.

Malcolm,

Sorry I left before you woke up, but I know you well enough to know you would have started an argument with Alpha Wade to try and get me to stay. I don’t want you fighting with your father because of me, so I left before the sun came up. Maybe someday we can sleep all night together and stay in bed all day. I would like that.

I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, but I know I won’t see you again for a long time. Don’t get discouraged though. You’re a strong alpha, and I trust you with my life, I know you’ll do great things. I look forward to hearing all your stories when I get back.

Remember to be a good man, I don’t think I need to tell you that though. Being an alpha means a lot more than having power and commanding the warriors beneath you, we learned that from Alpha Wade, remember? It means sacrificing things, sometimes things you really want, for the good of the entire pack, and the good of the customs.

For us, being alphas mean we must sacrifice each other. I must leave you, you need to let me go, because of duty, because it’s for the good of the pack. It hurts me to do this, I don’t want to, I never did, if I had a choice in the matter I would stay beside you forever, to hell with the goddess, but I can’t do that. Neither of us can.

So, we need to deal with it. I don’t know why I feel this way for you. I mean, if it’s such a crime against our people to have relations outside our mates, then how is it the goddess allowed me to fall so hard for you? Is it a test? It doesn’t really make sense.

Anyway, it doesn’t matter. I meant what I said before. If in the next few years neither of us have found our mate, then when we reunite, I fully intend to marry you, goddess blessed or not. Just don’t purposely ignore your mate if she does show up. You’re not that cruel. Besides, that would be cheating.

I’ll see you soon. Don’t forget me, and don’t forget our deal. I love you.

Scott Dannell

I refolded the paper and dropped my hand against my chest, staring up at the ceiling for a long time before someone knocked on my door and my mother poked her head in, clicking her tongue in disappointment when she saw me still in bed.

“Malcolm, sweetheart, you have chores, you can’t sleep the day away.”

I forced a smile onto my face as I rolled my head to look at her, “Sorry. I’ll be up in a sec.”

She leaned against the doorframe, frowning and tipping her head, “Are you okay?” she asked me, “I asked Scott if he wanted to wait for you, but-.”

“I’m fine,” I cut her off, pushing myself up, “I’ll be out in a minute.”

She sighed and nodded before shutting the door and leaving me alone. I tossed the covers back and threw my legs over the edge of the mattress, looking down at the letter once more before setting it on my dresser while I got ready for the day, tucking it carefully into the chest pocket of my shirt and shrugging on an overcoat before heading towards my door, turning when my hand was on the knob so I could stare at my bed.

He was gone, and he would be gone for years yet, but somehow, looking at the messy blankets piled onto the bed I was too lazy to make, I knew I’d never forget the night we spent together. I could only hope he would remember it just as vividly as I would.