Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Nadia’s sudden awakening had caused Vance to wake up too. It took him a second or more to clear the sleep right off his eyes as he tried to fully regain consciousness. He turned to his left and saw Iris, his mate, awake. She sat on the edge of the bed and was speaking to herself. He wondered if she had just had a nightmare and was trying to calm herself down. He used his hands to wipe his eyes as he sat up straight to have a proper look around the house.

“Iris. Is everything okay?” He asked as he stood up from his side of the bed to meet her at her side of the bed. Vance bent on his knees to speak to his mate as he held her hand in his.

“It’s okay. Everything is fine now. You can tell me anything. I am here to help” he said as he gently squeezed her hand. Iris had just come back from a disappearance and he understood that it would take some time.

year! for her to adjust. Regardless, he was going to be by her side.

“Talk to me. I am here to help” he said as he leaned in closer to her. Iris was not saying anything, instead, she started to so b. Her little sniff turned into real tears and soon, she had turned it into a full blown wailing experience. This was new for Vance. He had never seen Iris cry. Iris was one woman who everyone considered strong. Her definition of strength meant not letting others seek her weakness. Everyone, including Vance- her mate.

The sudden outburst shook Vance but he hid his expression. He rather stood to his feet as he asked her to stand up and hug him. It must not have been easy for her to show weakness, he thought. He was glad she w

finally opening up to him.

“Talk to me Honey. What seems to be the problem?” He said as he h her tightly. Talk to me. I’m here for you” Vance said. He had planned give her all the assurance she needed, whether verbally or physically. matter the time.

Iris hugged him even tighter, allowing his big wide muscles to swallow he up. Her frame was tiny compared to his, but he didn’t mind. He engulfed her like the bread engulfed its meat in a sandwich.

“Tighter” she managed to say. “Tug me tighter, please” she begged softly.

Vance hugged her tightly. He felt that was not enough and so he squeezed her in a snuggle. It was almost as though he was squeezing the day life out

of her.

“Is that okay? Honey.” He asked as she was now one with his b*dy. Iris did not answer. She simply stood there as they shared that intimate moment

of silence.

After a few minutes had passed, Iris started to release herself from his embrace. It seemed like she had had enough comfort for the night. She was not usually the type to do all that intimate stuff and so Vance considered it an honor to even have her do this with him.

“All better?” He said to her as he finally set her free from his grasp. Iris nodded. “Thank you” she said to him as she finally rested. She had now calmed down and was on his bed. Vance cleared the pillows beside her as. he sat beside her.

“So tell me, Iris. What really happened?” He took a deep breath, “or to start off on an easy foot, what did you dream about?” He asked as he sat upright and held her hand in his. “You can talk to me. You can trust me”

“I need time”

****

The moonlight shone through the window of Nadia’s bedroom, casting a soft light on her face. Vance had just stepped out. She was lying in bed, her eyes closed, and her mind was filled with images from a dream she just had. It was a dream of a dreadful past, one in which she was wi man she loved, Lucian and her best friend who had betrayed her.

She had dreamt of the two of them being happy after they had killed Their laughter rang out in the air as they talked and teased each other. had felt so terrible and betrayed and as she thought about it, she wanted everything to end.

But then, suddenly, when the dream ended, she found herself lying in bed, tears streaming down her face. She had wanted to tell Vance about

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her dream, to share it with him, but somehow she knew that she couldn’t.

He had thought she was his mate and she could not risk telling him she wasn’t. How would he react to her?

At that moment, there was a knock on the door and Vance’s voice calling out her name. Nadia quickly wiped away her tears and opened the door. Vance stood there, his blue eyes searching her face. He walked in with a cup of water as he asked her if she was ready to talk. Nadia nodded. She would at least try to have small talk with him.

“Where have you been for the last year. Iris?” he asked, his voice soft but

firm.

Nadia looked away, unable to meet his gaze. She would at least pretend to act like she knew what he meant. It seemed his mate had been gone for so long, and he was scared of what she might have encountered on her journey.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I had a… nightmare from the last time I saw you.” Nadia lied.

Vance stepped closer and took her hands in his. “It’s okay,” he said gently. “You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to. But I want to know why you left.”

Nadia looked up into his eyes, tears streaming down her face. She opened. her mouth to speak, but no words came out. All she could do was cry.

Fake it. Fake it and buy yourself time

Vance pulled her into a hug and held her close. Nadia felt the warn his embrace and it comforted her. She clung to him, her tears soak his shirt.

“It’s okay,” he said again, his voice full of understanding. “You don’t ha tell me if you don’t want to. Just know that I’m here for you, no matter what.”

Nadia nodded, finally able to speak. “Thank you,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.

Chapter 8

Vance smiled and wiped away her tears. He k*ssed her forehead and then. stepped back, holding her at arm’s length.

“Let’s go for a walk,” he said.

Nadia nodded, and the two of them stepped out into the moonlight, their arms around each other’s shoulders. They walked together, not saying much, but just being in each other’s presence.

As they walked, Nadia thought about her new mate, her new b*dy and her new life.

What did it really mean?

Vance seemed like a nice man and she wished she could tell Vance about. it. But the words still wouldn’t come, and so she just kept walking, her heart aching with longing.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they reached the beach. They stopped and looked out at the moonlight reflecting off the waves.

“It’s beautiful,” Vance said, his voice full of awe.

Nadia smiled and nodded, her heart full. She knew that, even though she couldn’t tell him about everything, if he could get to hear it one day, at least, he seemed like the kind of person who would understand her and the longing in her heart.

Suddenly, Vance turned to her and grasped both of her hands in his. He looked into her eyes and said, “I love you, Iris. No matter what happens, I will always be here for you.”

Nadia felt a warmth spread through her b*dy as she looked into his ey tears of joy streaming down her face. She knew that, no matter what the future held, she was safe in his arms.

She wasn’t Iris, but who would know?

13.23 Fri, Jan 19