Chapter 11

Third-person p.o.v

Ezra observed as saffron's eyes fluttered open, meeting her gaze he watched her blue eyes widen, fear and confusion clouded them as she shot up from his chest.

Ezra reached out for Saffron as she scrambled backward, only to get her foot caught in the covers and land them both tumbling to the floor due to Ezra lurching to save her before she fell, which obviously didn't go as planned. They both groaned in pain, Ezra opened his eyes only to find a very flustered and frazzled saffron pinned under him. His mind momentarily turned to mush as he stared at her. Saffron broke his daze, her soft voice ringing shyly “u-um” Ezra focused back on her. “Oh! I'm sorry love.” he quickly got off her, offering her his hand as he stood... Ezra watched the hesitation shine in her eyes before she grabbed his hand.

Hosting her up, Ezra put a bit more strength than he’d meant which ended her body pressed closely to his chest and one hand on her waist. Ezra's gaze darkened. He could feel the bony protrusion of her ribs against his hand. She was clearly malnourished, but this, this was unacceptable. He couldn't wrap his head around how a parent could do this to their child.

But, As horrible as it was, he knew it wasn't the priority, his priority was saffron so it was his job to put meat on her bones and make sure she was taken care of.

Looking at her he finally broke the silence. "How About you take a nice hot shower and I'll make us some breakfast. How does that sound?" Saffron nodded her head in wordless agreement. "Ok, the bathrooms in here," he said, leading her across the room. "You can take a hot shower in here or I can go run you a bath in the guest bathroom, completely up to you. All the soaps are in the shower and there are clean towels in that cabinet," He spun back around to her as he finished. "And just holler for me if ya need anything." She nodded at him. Ezra stroud back towards the door, "you ok sweetheart?" He asked, stopping in the doorway. "Yeah, thank you." Saffron uttered with eyes cast down. With that Ezra made his way out of the room, saffron shutting the door behind him. Walking over to the shower saffron turned the knob for the hot water. After striping, she stepped into the steamy hot shower. The hot water felt so good on her achy muscles and cool skin. She picked up the soap that sat in the corner. ‘3-in-1 Typical man’ she chuckled at the thought, but she didn’t mind the thought of smelling like him.

quickly Saffron stepped out of the shower as the water turned icy. grabbing a big fluffy towel from its place on the hook next to the shower, she wrapped it securely around her shivering form, enjoying its softness against her skin. Saffron stepped to stand in front of the Mirror. gazing at her reflection with scrutinizing eyes.

Too skinny, too boney, too bruised, too scarred… she didn't deserve Ezra… he was too good for a mess-up like her...

Disheartened saffron averted her eyes from the mirror but something caught her eye.

She turned her gaze down at her right hip to find an odd-looking mark, She almost didn't catch it because it almost blended with her scars but, this one was different… The mark was in the shape of two interlocked hearts. It looked so bizarre.. but as she brushed her fingers across it something stirred in her heart and she found herself eying it fondly. So bizarre but so beautiful. It was like it was perfectly carved into her hip, it wasn't jagged or discolored like some of her scars that marked her skin but instead, it was smooth lines almost like it was just indented into her skin.

she kept running her fingers over it, it's like it had her in a trance. But, as hard as it was to tear her gaze from the odd mark, She decided to figure it out later. She decided she might look it up if she can find her phone or just maybe work up the courage to ask Ezra. but for now, she just needed some clothes seeing as she didn't want to put her gross work uniform back on...

So much had been going on the last few days she had forgotten About changing her clothes but now she was very aware that she was in a strange house with no clothes that were hers to change into...none of her belongings, except that of what she had grabbed out of her work locker.

Ezra's clothes would have to work for now.. saffron cupped her ear to the door trying to see if it was clear. ‘Ezra said he was cooking breakfast so he should be downstairs’ she thought. Just then she heard the dissent sound of metal clanging together, which she assumed was Ezra in the kitchen. “Ok… he's in the kitchen.. saffron you can do this! just dash for the dresser you saw earlier and grab a shirt or something, then Back to the bathroom.” Saffron whisper pep talked to herself.

Looking down at her only towel-clad body she pressed her ear to the door once more just for good measure. Silence… slowly she cracked the door open, peeking her head out.. the coast is clear.. she tiptoed out, but as soon as she made it to one end of the bed she heard footsteps coming up the stairs.. oh no! Saffron thought. She bolted for the other side of the bed to hide but as she perched for the cover of the bed her towel did not come with her for it had gotten stuck on the bedpost. So now she hid crouched on the floor, naked as the day she was born in the room of a man she barely knew yet was supposed to spend her life with… wouldn’t this be a story for the grandkids. She thought humorlessly to herself.

Ezra walked into his room, his eyes tracking the source of a whimpering squeak, coming from the other side of his bed. “Holy smokes!” Ezra thought, his eyes widening in awe

“What in thunderstorm are you looking at, mate boy! Didn’t your momma teach you any manners?” saffron bit out in embarrassment.

Ezra’s face grew warm as it turned an alarming shade of red, “oh god, oh god! I’m so sorry, love!.”

“Well, I might believe that a little more if you’d actually turn around” saffron couldn't help but smirk.

“Yes...yes..of course” Ezra murmured as he turned and dazedly stumbled to the door, a huge grin on his face

Saffron sighed and smiled as the door clicked closed. Her face grew warm as her mind sank in with what she just did… ‘did she really just say that’

she hadn't even thought about it, she was just startled and embarrassed. Saffron held her face as she stomped around in a circle of embarrassment squealing quietly into her hands.

With a deep breath to compose herself she walked to his dresser, she found herself a t-shirt that was by far too big, but that was just in her luck cause none of the pants she found would stay up but luckily the shirt went well past her but so she figured she was in the clear. With embarrassment still lingering she made her way to the kitchen, following the heavenly scent of whatever Ezra was concocting in there. She shyly made her way past the threshold of the kitchen doorway. walking past Ezra at the stove she made her way to the island seats when she heard him let out a low, quiet chuckle before lowly muttering “mate boy huh?” Under his breath. Saffron walked for her seat with a little more speed as her ears and face grew hot. ‘Why did she call him that?’ She mentally facepalmed. She sat down, keeping her eyes down for a moment as the dog came and laid under her feet. Bear was his name she was pretty sure, nonetheless a warm smile formed on her lips as she gazed at the big mass of white fur.

Saffron looked back up as Ezra’s voice rang out with an undertone of uncertainty. “So… Uhm.” He cleared his throat as their eyes met, a cute blush painting his ears red. ‘How cute!’ She couldn’t help but think. Turning on his heel Ezra begin again. “So uh I made breakfast! There’s bacon and oh my god! You eat meat right, stupid self I didn’t even ask-“ a small giggle made its way past her lips… but, something caught her eye, it peeked out of the edge of his Sleeveless shirt. “You have it too…” Saffron whispered under her breath as Ezra turned back around. “What was that?” He asked her...

“Y-your shoulder… T-the mark.. you have it too.”

In confusion, Ezra reached back brushing his hand against the back of the shoulder that saffron had her eyes on. He felt it.. his heart stuttered in his chest...

“She was right.. we are soulmates.” All the pieces fell together, he hadn’t not believed his grandmother when she told him but, now it was real, every piece fit.

“Wait.. wait what do you mean she was right? Who? And what do you mean soulmate? You meant truemate right?” Ezra met her eyes once again, those deep oceans were once again drinking him in, they were searching for answers...

“No, saffron. I meant soulmate.. we are soulmates our bond is far deeper than just truemates and runs far deeper than you could imagine…”