Chapter 22: Afternoon of Wonders

I looked at the young man who finally drifted off to sleep. I sighed in relief as I sat beside him. He had looked so sleep deprived that I was so worried he would collapse at any point in time.

I noticed a petal which fell from the flower crown I had made. It was probably falling apart as I was pretty bad at stuff like this. I smiled to myself and picked the petal out as I tucked a loose strand of hair behind Sol's ear.

"Sometimes I wish time could stop just for you and me. Then I could remain close to your side just like this." I whispered to myself as I leaned over my knees, looking at Sol snoozing silently beside me.

"Oh... I still had this... It was a little embarrassing to give him when he was awake. But if its in secret, it should be fine right?" I wondered aloud as I looked at the light pink flower that I shaped into a ring on my palm.

No... It's better if I don't. It's fine just to stay beside him.

My thoughts were interrupted when Sol nodded off and leaned on my shoulder. My heart began to race as the familiar sweet scent grew stronger.

As the wind blew, the gentle rustling of the grass and tree leaves echoed in the distance as the flowers danced to its melodious tune. I combed Sol's hair back so that I could gaze at his peaceful face just for a while longer.

That reminds me... A new moon should be coming soon. Those people will be more active too. It was probably fine last month as Shadow had taken over my body. Likely he marked this place as his territory to keep them away but I don't want to spend too long away from Sol.

I leaned in closer to Sol as I whispered in his ear. "Are you awake?"

The soft breathing form Sol acted as a substitute for his answer as I nuzzled his neck and breathed in his scent. I just needed to do it fast and without much movement so he could still rest.

His scent was sweet with a faint scent of his body wash. He usually smelled like the smoke from all the explosions in his lab and a very faint smell of citrus. Somehow, today was different. I felt like I could make a mistake if I didn't pay attention.

I raised the hair on the back of his neck and pulled him closer to my chest as I ran my lips down the his nape. Checking to hear whether Sol was still asleep, I stayed silent and placed one of my arm around his waist.

His breath tickled my ear as he nuzzled into the crook of my neck. My face felt hot as I pinched myself with my free hand to make sure I didn't go overboard.

"Sol..." I whispered as I let my teeth gently graze his nape.

Sol groaned a little but settled comfortably in my arms, drifting back into his sweet dream. I smiled and gently stroked his head as my thoughts began to wander.

I didn't like to hurt him but it was the easiest way to make sure unwanted mutts kept away from him.

I kissed his neck lightly as I sniffed the spot which had a lingering scent from the last time I had marked him. I had done it many times before but today having him so close made me waver.

What if I had been preventing him from attaining his happiness by masking him as my mate? I gritted my teeth at that fleeting thought. No. I don't want him to be with another wolf. It would be too painful... For me or for him...? .... I don't want to find out.

As I had been dragging it on for quite some time, I ran my tongue down the area where I was going to mark him. Just like his scent, it was slightly sweet. Is it because I'm attracted to him that everything about him was different?

"This is going to hurt a little." I whispered before biting down on his nape. Sol grasped at my shirt as a strained moan escaped his lips.

I licked at the wound and kissed it as I gently stroked Sol's shivering back. He smells like me now... A little disappointing... but I don't particularly hate it.

I watched the wound slowly close up as I twirled Sol's hair, entangling it with my finger. Perks of being my mate I guess. But it doesn't change the fact that I had to hurt him before that.

I kissed Sol's forehead as I leaned him back against the tree. I won't leave you far from my reach again. Don't worry.

...

Sometimes I wonder whether the words I say to him are words to assure me and not him.

I frowned at the thought just as I heard Sol beginning to stir. He groggily yawned until he noticed me, falling onto the patch of grass beside him.

"Woah! You scared me! It's like waking up to see something divine before you!" Sol gasped as I laughed.

"I don't think so. I'm anything but divine." I laughed as I glanced at him.

"Regardless... how long has it been? My neck feels a little stiff." Sol said as he stretched his arms out.

"I lost track of time. Time seemed to move so slowly that I wished it could remain that way."

"Wow, deep." Sol remarked as he did a thumbs up in my direction, making me feel a little flustered.

"I'm not joking! Let me check the time on my phone." I said, whipping my phone out as I galnced at the screen.

"So?" Sol asked as he leaned forward.

"It's 5:30pm." I said as I tucked my phone safely back into my pocket.

Now that I think about it, I forgot to take a photo earlier. I guess I missed the chance.

"It's already that late? I wonder where Little A is..."

"Who?"

"Oh... Uh... Little... Aries..." Sol said in a soft voice as I looked at him inquisitively.

"I'm pretty sure I'm far from little." I joked as I watched Sol looking away from me.

"Who is this Little Aries, Sol?" I asked as I held Sol's shoulder.

"It's... the wolf... I mentioned about." Sol said as he refused to look at me.

"Wait, you... brought a wild animal and let it live with you? Even naming it?"

"Sol, are you out of your mind?! What if it hurt you? I wasn't even around to protect you if it were to hurt you!" I said as I grasped his shoulders tightly making him look at me as he winced from the strength of my grip.

"I knew you would react like this..."

"Obviously! No one in their right mind would put their life at risk just to take care of a wild animal! You're lucky it didn't hurt you!" I yelled as I grabbed his hands to check whether it had been bitten.

"I was just lonely... Little Aries is similar to you. So I..."

"Similar...? Me?"

"He is also protective of me. It felt like you were beside me when he was around. So I never felt so lonely. You understand right?" Sol said as he began to tear up.

I panicked as I didn't know whether he was crying from the strength of my grip or from the conversation. So I merely wiped the tears away with the handkerchief I had kept on me.

"Well... If you say so, then Little Aries must be pretty tame. Unlike most wolves. I still think it's not a good idea to keep him. Wolves aren't domesticated and are very dangerous."

"I know. I'll have to firmly tell him he can't come inside anymore then..." Sol sighed as he pushed my hands away and wiped the few stranded tears away with the back of his hand.

"Curiously asking... what does the wolf look like that it reminds you of me?" I asked as Sol was dusting his pants off.

"Huh? He has black fur and piercing blue eyes. The similarities are uncanny." Sol said as he ran his fingers through my bangs, raising them to look into my eyes.

No way... the wolf was... Shadow? Really?