You did as Rhysand had suggested. You took a couple of days to think over everything and what the mating bond really meant to you, regardless of who it was with. You were torn between the part of you that was desperate for keeping your independence, keeping your world how it was but then part of you tore at the fact that so many people were desperate for finding their mate and you had found yours without even thinking about it.

It had taken over your mind for a couple of days before you were prepared to face everything and finally talk to Azriel. You waited until you found him alone, not wanting the others to be involved in this conversation and had to act quickly before he exited the room to keep clear space between you.

"Azriel," you said softly, stopping him from walking away. "I'm sorry."

He turned to you. "Pardon?"

"I'm sorry for snapping at you," you said. "I'm also sorry for saying that I didn't want you as my mate. I didn't mean it personally; I just didn't think that I would ever want a mate in general."

Azriel nodded his head in understand. "I am sorry too for assuming the worst. At first it was my job to make sure we were safe, then it was more of a personal task to understand you and the bond."

Although you had thought it all through so many times, you needed a second to settle anything that was stuck in your mind to be able to be honest and open with someone that could very well be a large part of your life from now on.

"I am not rejecting the mating bond, I'm just not accepting it, at least not yet, not until we know each other a bit better."

He offered you a gentle smile. It wasn't the most ideal of circumstances, but it was better than what he was expecting to come from the relationship between the two of you.

"I would very much like to get to know you better," he admitted. "And then one day, when you are ready, we can discuss the mating bond again. There is no rush or expectation, just the two of us getting to know one another."

You smiled back at him, also surprised by the direction that this conversation ended up going, assuming that there may only be the option of immediate acceptance or rejection.

"That sounds like a smashing plan."

~*~

Written by Charlotte.

Tumblr Request.