13 - Chapter Thirteen - Adler Hain’s Point Of View.

An entire week went by where Wilder and I just went about our own things. Only sleeping and eating together, making small talk when we were around each other. I didn't know what I had done, but I had done something. I wasn't really sure how to ask him what I had done either; he didn't give me the chance to ask.

I had vented to Ocean about everything; she had been the only one besides Liv to even give me the time. She didn't know what to tell me other than not to take it to heart; it was Wilder and was just like that.

He was hunting with the others. I could see him from where Ocean and I were on the beach. While she was old enough to hunt, she didn't. She couldn't keep up with the others and was good at it. She confessed that to me when I told her about the fact I wasn't old enough to hunt with them and that I wouldn't either.

"You know he can see you watching him, right?"

"I am aware, thank you, Ocean."

"Just wanted you to know."

"I just want him to tell me what I've done wrong."

"So you can fix it, whatever it is. You wear the face of an abandoned lover."

"I do not!"

"Adler, you do. I know it's because of the gift you have and that no one else can even begin to understand that. Or even understand the bond you two have because of it."

"I feel like he has shut me out, and it's distressing to me."

"Are you sure you're not in love with Wilder?"

"Shut up! You know I'm not!"

She laughed, flipping to get the sun on her back. I laid back down, not wanting to look desperate for his attention. I knew the closer he got to us, I could pick up on him, so I knew he felt me, too. Ocean touched me with her hand.

"Show me what you feel when he's around?"

"I don't know if I can. But I can try."

I grabbed her hand and tried to show her. She tightened her grip on my hand before letting go.

"No wonder you're distressed. That's a lot of intense feelings."

"Is it? It doesn't feel like it."

"You might just be used to it, but as someone who isn't, yes, it's very intense. I don't know whether I want to smile or cry."

Wilder and the others were hunting fish and other sea creatures. Ocean frowned, watching them show off their catches to each other.

"The way they flaunt their fish, childish."

I snorted before I burst out cackling about it. She looked at me before using her finger as a makeshift moustache.

"Look at my fish. I got the biggest one. I can feed you and what not if you let me give you a child? Like no. Not even close to what I'm looking for." She said in a funny voice before rolling her eyes.

She looked at me before she too cackled with laughter. We had drawn the hunting parties' attention too. A few of them even got closer to listen to what we were actually talking about. Ocean saw this and laughed even louder.

"Look at them. They are so noisy!"

One of them held up his large fish, showing it to us. The action alone made me laugh again, all because of what she had said before.

"Hey Ocean, look, he's showing you his fish."

"Gross."

I looked back, only to look right into Wilder's silver coloured eyes. They drew me to them. I looked down back at the towel under me. He got closer, but not enough where I needed to worry about us having some kind of conversation.

"Ocean, I would like to speak to you. Please." He said, getting her attention.

She got up, looking at him with a look I could only describe as annoyed by his presence. They walked away out of earshot and the others got closer to me.

"Hello." The one who had the fish said.

Ash, the one from before, waved.

"Hey," I said back.

They all seemed to sit down in the next few seconds. I was confused about their actions, but didn't make a move to make them know that.

"What kind of gift did you end up with?" One asked.

"It's hard to describe, but I could show you?" I said, knowing that it wasn't likely for me to leave an aftereffect on anyone else.

"Alright..."

"I need your hand. I promise I won't do anything funny."

Ash was the first one to offer his hand. He got closer, so I didn't have to stand up, and I grabbed his hand. I felt the connection start, and I gave him a moment before I showed him some of my feelings. I didn't want him to know about how I felt towards Wilder, but that didn't seem to be safe, as I felt his pity for me.

"That is something... Can you feel my emotions, too?"

"Yes, it's an open connection."

"Oh."

I didn't even have a second to take my hand away from Ash; It was ripped out of his grasp. I didn't even feel him getting closer to me, but I knew when he touched me it was Wilder.

"Wilder, his gift is so interesting."

The hand he had around my wrist was tighter than he needed to have it. I tried to move my hand from his, but he wouldn't let me. Ocean hadn't returned with him either. She was gone.

"Where is Ocean?"

"I asked her to do something for me."

"Oh, guess there go my plans for the day."

Ash perked up, as did the others.

"We could show you how to hunt and fish?"

"Adler isn't old enough. He is only twenty-two falls old."

"Wilder, one lesson——"

"Anyone else want to see my gift?" I asked lightly.

"Sure!"

One of the others scooted closer and Wilder actually pulled me away, like I weighed nothing.

"Excuse us, Adler and I have things we need to do."

"No, we——" His other hand covered my mouth.

I waited until we were out of range of the others to speak.

"Just what the hell is your problem?"

"I thought we agreed not to show anyone else."

"We didn't, and if we did, that was before you started avoiding me."

"I'm not avoiding you. I'm right here."

"Says the one who, for an entire week, went about your own thing, only seeing me to eat or sleep."

"It's not like that."

"Let go of my wrist."

He looked down at it. Rather than letting go of me, he slipped his hand into mine and didn't say another word.

"I've been busy stopping my mother from meddling with things."

"What did you ask Ocean to do?"

"I asked her to find me a shell, one for a blade."

"Why? Do you need a new blade? I don't know what's been going on?"

I felt something from him, appreciation.

"You said you would do anything to help me, and I am asking you a lot."

"Wilder, please just tell me what you need?"

"It's taken me a week to commit to even getting this far and I still hesitate to say the words because it's wrong and I'm being selfish again."

"Just tell me what you need. I said I would do anything, and I meant it."

"Be my life mate—-"

"What!"

"Wait, please! Adler, hear me out!"

I couldn't believe he had even just asked me that. He barely even knew me. We had never kissed or done anything like that. Why the hell—— Oh, this had to be to stop his mother from meddling in his life further.

"Can I think about it?"

"Yes, take as long as you need, I understand it's a lot, but it would help me solve a lot of my problems and you would be fine with me, we have been staying together for a little now, nothing would have to change."

"I'll do it."

I really wasn't sure what I was getting into, but it would solve a lot of problems of his, but also mine. If he had to get a life partner, where the hell was I going to go? Then you had the problem of the bond we had because of my gift. This was the best option for us both.

I felt how grateful he was through the bond and the connection of our hands. Any part of me that would have screamed this was a mistake was silent. It was like this was how it was supposed to be.

"Wilder, please tell me what your mother was meddling in?"

"She told Liv she was going to have me meet with others my age. So I could look for a life mate. Liv told her to stay out of that part of my life, that I was already building a bond for a life partner. I didn't understand why Liv would tell me this. Then I thought about it, In the little time you have been here, you are closer to me than anyone. Your gift has allowed us to connect in a way normal people can't. I don't know why it was me, but that is saying something. I've decided I'm going to listen to whatever is pointing me to you. You are here for a reason. We are emotionally bonding and connected for a reason."

The scary thing was that Wilder was making sense to me, with what he was going on about. Why would I connect with him? I had touched Ocean before him and I never bonded with her, only him. My gift allowed us to connect, and that had to mean something. It just had to. I was here for a reason, and maybe that reason was him. If it wasn't, at the very least I wouldn't die alone and he would improve my life more than what it would have been on the beach.

"You still never told me what that new blade is needed for?"

"It's for when we make the life promise as life partners. It's nothing to worry about, I swear."

"Ok, but you need to explain everything in great detail to me. Everything. I need to know what I'm in for, and what they expect of me, as your life partner."

"Just be you, that's all I'm asking for."

Something new entered his emotions, but he removed his hand from mine before I could figure out what new emotion he was showing me. Whatever it was, he wanted to hide it. The after-effects this time were the strongest yet. I was hyper-aware of him the minute his hand wasn't in mine any longer.