The bond

Pov.Asteria

I sat behind Emily, running my fingers through her hair. It was soft as silk, and she wasn't complaining. My mate has been gone for almost two hours, and the sun was setting.

I didn't want to admit it, but I was nervous and worried. I reach out and grab one of the berries I found.

"Are you okay?" Emily's sudden equation surprised me. Even Bloodstar turned her head waiting for my answer.

What worried me was that I didn't know the answer.

"I don't know," I answered honestly. I cleared my throat and gave a fake flashing smile.

"It's okay though, I'll be fine," I assured. It came out so believable that for a second, I fell into the lie as well.

"So I have concluded that maybe we could settle here for a few days," Emily said while playing with her fingers.

"What? NO!" I boomed, standing up in an instant. "We are leaving tomorrow after I talk to the Hydras. If we keep moving, it'll be easier for your mate to find you."

She looked up at me and gave me the puppy eyes. That single action made me lose my stance.

"It will be easier for him to find me if we stay still, and what about your mate?" She asked, not losing the teary eyes.

"What about him?" I asked softly.

"Don't you want to be with him?" She tried reasoning.

"No," I declared. "And the faster we leave, the better."

"Please A, just three days, that's all I ask for," she begged, almost kneeling.

I growled, debating with myself and Cahya what was the best option. Of course, Chaya wanted to stay.

"Fine," I growled out in defeat.

She jumped up, wrapping her legs around my waist, almost making me fall. I chuckled as she lost her act.

I hear a growl behind me, which makes Emily jump off me in fear and hide behind Bloodstar.

I turned around, and it was my mate growling. I had to stop myself from scanning him to see if he was okay. When mates separate even, for a few hours instinct, kicks in to inspect them. It can be for injuries or traces of another female or male's scent.

I looked straight at him, trying to figure out at who or what he was growling. I followed his gaze and ended in Emily. Bloodstar snarled straight back at him.

I cleared my throat, trying to get this attention. "What's wrong?"

"You idiot!" Cahya snapped. "Can't you see he is jealous?"

"Why would he have to be jealous? That is nonsense," I said.

I blocked Cahya's voice and focused once again on my mate. His eyes seemed to soften when they made eye contact with me.

"It's everything okay?' I asked, trying to get his attention off Emily. I could see Emily trembling under his gaze.

"No, everything is okay," he said through gritted teeth.

I nodded and turned around to go back to Emily. I heard him snarl at my actions.

As I got closer to Emily, I could hear his snarls getting louder. Emily was giving me signals with her eyes. She looked terrified, I turned around once again, and his glare disappeared.

I gave him a pointed look and walked straight to him. I kept us at a reasonable distance but close enough that I could feel the pull between us.

"What is your problem?" I asked, getting fed up with his attitude.

"My problem is that you are my mate, and I don't like to see that girl all over you," he said, pulling me closer where we were sharing breaths.

His gaze averted between my eyes and lips, but my eyes seemed to get lost in his blue-dark depths. I couldn't move. My body was at his complete mercy. If he hadn't been holding me, I would have fallen weak to my knees.

Although, I knew it was his touch itself making me this weak. My breath picked up by the second, and his face seemed to be getting closer.

I don't know what compelled me, but so did I. When our lips were about to touch, he moved his hand to my lower back, and that snapped me out of those beautiful sea depths.

I didn't understand what happened seconds ago. I only felt disgusted with myself and my body. I turned around, walked towards Emily scratching my wrist raw.

What the hell were you thinking?

"You were thinking about how those lips would taste," she said, chuckling. "You were thinking about how they would feel while goi..."

"Shut up, and get out of my thoughts," I said, flushed.

"We share thoughts," she said. "You only need to focus."

"It doesn't matter that, will never happen again," I snapped, trying to convince myself.

"Aha," she said sarcastically.

I reached and patted Bloodstar.

"Do you want to stretch those wings a little?" I asked.

Her answer was layin low enough for me to get on. I reached out for Emily and threw her on top of Bloodstar, jumping on after her.

"Hey, where are you going," my mate's voice made me freeze.

"Somewhere," I murmured, looking anywhere else but him. I didn't want to get jealous in those blue depths again.

"Will you come back?" he asked, almost begging.

I didn't know if I should be answering. "Your mate will come back to you. I'll make sure of it," Emily answered for me.

I looked at him, and he was looking at Emilly with a grateful smile.

I cleared my throat and patted Bloodstar. She took that as my okay to fly away. As we hovered, I could feel his burning gaze on me. I didn't look back, and I didn't know why yet.