Damon's P.O.V

Patience. 

Patience was something I'd always lacked when dealing with humans, well really any other living thing which wasn't my family or Blaze. It was stupid and pissed me off when my talons usually got the point across much faster. To be suddenly practicing it, at such an extreme level, was fucking hard. 

I was quickly learning that patience was not a virtue I possessed and trying to practice it with Will was driving me absolutely crazy. I look across at my mate who was sitting innocently by the table, looking out the window with a longing gaze. 

He had absolutely no clue what hell I was going through.

For one, I had to refrain from grilling him about what happened last night, about what led to him being in the state I'd found him in.

He was so damn jumpy that I knew even if I hinted at it, he'd bolt. He'd probably run faster if I tried asking about the crying, the walls weren't necessarily thin so it'd just set off alarm bells.

Then there was the no-touching thing, it shouldn't have pissed me off as much as it did. But fuck it bothered me to not be able to even brush my skin 'accidentally' against his own.

So I just had to be patient. It went against every bone in my body to stay a safe distance from his while act as if nothing happened when shit fucking happened.

It was straight-up torture.

Somehow, not being able to just know what happened hurt me more than that one fight I had with me against twenty rogues. And that fucking torture went hand in hand with the confusion which spread through me at being mated to a male human. Just the thought of it made me cringe uncomfortably.

I look back at him with another frown, somehow expecting for him to magically became female. Yet my heart still thumped at the sight of him, a stream of electricity rocketing through me as my eyes study him. He seriously was gorgeous, that much was undeniable. I knew it wasn't just him being my mate, that helped yeah, but he was indisputably beautiful.

I pull my eyes away once more, gritting my teeth to bite back a groan as my mind swirled with confusion. It made my skin crawl to think of him in an intimate way, yet my instincts urged me to.

It was a big blend of different emotions that left behind a shitstorm.

Just give it time Damon - Theo whispers supportively. Give yourself some time and let things work themselves out naturally. You'll adjust, trust me. Soon enough it won't matter to you in the slightest. 

I'm having a hard time believing that - I reply as I sneak another glance at William, he was too zoned out to even ask about the food.

I know but if it helps, you're handling this very well - Theo says eagerly and I can't help but smile a little at his joy. 

And you? - I ask, checking in on him. 

Oh, I'm fine. I'm just happy for you - He answers, his voice testifying in favor of his words. Now go before he notices you're doing nothing.

With that Theo fades away leaving me feeling a little better but with worries that still surfaced for him.

Theo had made it abundantly clear to me the moment we'd met that he believed himself to be 'chaste'.

He did not want to experience or even try anything sexual in life and when I'd asked him about a mate, he'd simply said that there were other ways to show someone your love.

I'd always brushed it off, thinking that all that bullshit would go out the window the moment he met his other half. But now, suddenly, it made a whole lot more sense seeing as William was a human and he didn't necessarily have his own other half.

But would Theo really be okay? 

"How long does it take to make eggs?" Will asks suddenly drawing my attention back to him. I find him looking towards me with clear suspicion, his leg perched on a pillow on a small stool I'd placed there for him.

"I didn't make only eggs," I reply as I look down at the plates of pancakes, bacon and finally eggs. I make my way around the counter and towards him. "I made pancakes and bacon too." He follows my every move as if expecting me to throw the plate at him at any moment. I set them down gently just to prove his thoughts wrong if those even were his thoughts, for all I knew he was thinking about ketchup. 

"Looks good." He says giving me a small smile which makes my heart squeeze itself. 

Every time he smiled it made me feel just a little bit lighter inside, it was like a light shining into the darkness I'd been living in ever since I left home. I force myself not to stare and to go back for the cutlery.

"Water or orange juice?" I ask as I open the fridge.

"Water." He answers making me frown. 

"What kind of person chooses water over juice?" I ask, unable to stop myself from voicing my thoughts.

"A person who likes water." He replies comically. "What kind of person offers up their opinion without being asked for it?"

"Well shit," I mumble in response making him laugh, while I stayed slightly stunned at his response. 

Will was possibly the first person outside of my family who spoke to me without a single care. He didn't know anything about me and so he had no reason to fear anything. Not that he would have to if he did, I'd never lay a hand on him.

Unlike the humans in my school or the wolves in my pack, he wasn't afraid of me. He just thought I was Damon, his next-door neighbor who helped him out. It made a smile pull at my lips.

"Thank you." He says when I set the glass of water down. 

He struggles to sit himself up while I slip into the chair opposite him, making my jaws lock at not being able to help. He manages and I quickly pick up my fork ready to dive in but freeze when he doesn't do the same, he just stares at the plate and the food in it.

"What? Do you want to say a prayer or some shit?" I ask, only to bite my tongue at my aggressive tone. I hadn't eaten anything since yesterday morning and hunger made me cranky if not more prone to violence.

"No." He answers, shaking his head dismissively as he picks up his fork. But still, he doesn't make a move to eat.

"Oh shit, are you allergic to something?" I ask, my eyes widening as I look around for an EpiPen I didn't have, true fear building inside of me. 

Humans were allergic to stuff like food, weren't they? Fucking waste of space species fucked up my mate.

They were also allergic to animals. I immediately send a glare Blaze's way, but he just continues to eat his leafy veggies completely undisturbed. What if he was allergic to bunnies and that's why he freaked out over Blaze?

"I'm only allergic to shellfish and last I checked pancakes didn't contain shrimps." He replies glancing up at me, his gaze playful which just made my stomach swirl. "Or are you a weirdo who puts shrimps inside of pancakes?"

"I'm not," I reply after swallowing, hating and loving the way my body seized under his piercing eyes. "So then what is it?"

"Nothing." He says visibly retracting as he begins to eat. He avoids my eyes, his heart picking up making my grip around the knife tighten with anger. It upset me that he was lying to me, but hurt more that he was still being cautious.

Patience Damon. Let's try having some fucking patience...

"So, how long have you been living here?" I ask after I get a few bites in and so does he. 

"A couple of weeks, not that long." He replies keeping his answer vague. Leaning against the table by his wrists as he chews slowly. "You?"

"Today's my third day," I reply, looking away when thoughts of my parents swarm my thoughts suddenly.

"So we're both kinda new." He offers, voice growing quieter with each word. "The only two on this floor too."

A blessing and a curse.

"Yeah," I say instead with a nod, grabbing the syrup to drench my pancakes a bit more. "Is that something that bothers you?"

"What? No." He says quickly before snorting a little. "I don't really like people. One person more than enough."

Doesn't like people? Yeah, he's my mate.

"You took the words from my mouth," I reply with a small grin that only widens when he shoots me one back. 

A bit of the new tension that'd plastered itself on top of the previous layers that'd built up over the last couple of days, eases away at the sight of his smile. That stupid, perfect smile. It seemed effortless and he actually looked happy. I wanted to keep him happy, that much I could accept for now.

I'd seen him when it was the other way round and Goddess knew I never wanted to see him so miserable ever again. I experienced a new kind of pain last night by seeing him so scared, seeing him on the floor, shaking. Then, as if that wasn't enough, I had to endure hearing him cry. 

Goddess, hearing him in pain, hearing his broken sobs on the other side of the wall where I knew he was alone... it completely shattered me last night.

Took me down easier than any fight ever had while I stayed against the door, forced to listen to his anguish and not be able to do a single, fucking thing about it.

It was fucking awful, each sob inducing another round of endless torture. Just the thought of ever being the cause of his misery made Theo howl from the agony.

"This is seriously good," Will says, gesturing to the food with his fork. I refocus my attention on him, allowing myself to bask in his praise, struggling to not show him just how much his words affected me. 

"Thanks." I manage with a voice relaxed enough to sound normal.

For the first time in my life, I found myself grateful for Peter's forced cooking lessons. The happiness simmers at the thought of him, I wondered if he was okay at school and in the pack without me, I could only hope that the twins and Mehki were watching out for him. I wondered if he would like Will, he probably wouldn't with the way he retracted to a bunny. 

I glance at Blaze from across the room, he had finished his food and was sleeping under the couch. Blaze was fat, sure, but he wasn't scary and he definitely was not big enough to be mistaken for anything other than a bunny.

Yet, Will had screamed like he saw a monster. He didn't seem like an idiot but maybe I missed it because he's my mate. That would actually suck if he was stupid.

But I didn't think that was the case, something else possibly but I couldn't imagine what it could be. Perhaps he was afraid of bunnies, but that didn't make sense because he seemed unbothered by Blaze now. And how could he fear a bunny and not a dog like his own?

A dog which for some reason, did not see me as a God, as it should.

"What is wrong with your dog?" I blurt out without a thought and immediately regret it when he looks up at me with a deep frown. 

"Nothing." He replies, his voice sounding less relaxed than it had a moment ago. The effect prompting a string of curses in my head directed at none other but me. Maybe I was the stupid one.

"Not what's wrong with it, just why does it hate me so much?" I reword, scrambling to fix my mistake.

"Sassy's just protective." He answers, cheeks filling as his anger fades.

"You named your dog Sassy?" I deadpan, leaning back into the chair since I was done eating.

"You named your bunny Blaze?" He retorts using the same tone.

"Oh, please," I say rolling my eyes while I fold my arms over my chest. "Blaze is an awesome name, what kind of name is Sassy?" I say not letting this go. His mouth hangs open, wobbling a little as he struggles to not laugh, a smile forming while he leans forward with a pointed figure.

"Firstly, it's a fucking amazing name that suits her personality very well." He starts, between small, adorable giggles. "And second of all... I didn't name her."

I can't stop the way my body rolls with laughter at the revelation, I stretch my hand over my eyes while I laugh, Will laughing from his side. I glance up at him to find him leaning against his chair, his small body rumbling as he releases those sweet sounds.

"You have no right to come after Sassy." He says when he's managed to recover. "You named your clearly, obese bunny Blaze but I don't see him running anywhere."

"Blaze is not obese!" I protest but he swats me away with one of his hands.

"He probably is twice my weight." He retorts, his over-exaggeration only making me laugh more. "So don't come after Sassy, at least she's healthy."

"He's healthy!" I argue and look to Blaze who is chewing on the couch. I let my hands fall at the sight, my argument going down the drain in an instant. "The one time you had to perform, you let me down," I mutter making Will giggle again.

I return my gaze his way, a smile resting on my lips as I watch the way he caves in on himself with laughter. His eyes shadowed with joy while his cheeks filled at the size of his smile. My body warms at the glorious sight and sound which rippled its way through me, convincing me that I couldn't continue living my life without hearing more of it.

"So she's a bitch, in both ways?" I ask making him laugh even harder.

"You're horrible." He breathes, looking back at me with a kinder gaze than I'd ever received in my entire life. It felt weird, having it directed my way instead of just witnessing it go to someone else.

"Guilty," I say with a shrug. He sobers slowly from his laughing fit, his smile refusing to leave. "So if she was to see me now, she'd be fine?"

"I think so, her usual attitude is indifference." He says as his fingers circles the rim of his now empty glass. I glance at it, wondering if he wanted more but not wanting to part from this moment for a second. I suffer through my internal turmoil for only a second before deciding staying close to him was better. "I guess she was just scared, it was her first time in a situation like that."

"But not yours?" I ask and his lingering smile immediately fading. Mine drops alongside his own as regret crashes into me. I watch the domino effect I'd triggered; his smile falling, his relaxed posture going rigid, his thumping heart picking up. Before I could stop it or redirect it, he cages back into himself. 

I'd barely caught a glimpse of him before it was washed away.

"I think I should go." He says with a different type of smile, a polite one that didn't warm me nearly as much. I feel my talons extending beneath the table, rage and anger forming inside of me, but for once I felt it for no one else but myself. I nod and return the smile, retracting the talons before standing. 

I walk him to the door, helping him as much as he'd allow me, wincing at the way he limped to his door. He turns around to face me before he reaches his door, giving me one of the smiles I liked, it helped calm the anger a little.

"Thanks again for last night and for this morning, breakfast I mean." He says quickly, hand gesturing wildly to me before he slaps his hand over his face. "Your shrimpless pancakes were amazing."

I smile at that, unable to remain angry when he didn't seem to be. But I could already tell that he wore a poker face better and longer than most. I wanted to see what was beneath it and for that reason, I'd wait as long as I'd have to.

"We should do this again," I say, the offer seeming to take him by surprise. "I don't know much people here and I don't really want to, but you don't piss me off... that much."

His smile only grows from the teasing as he looks at me, visibly trying to figure me out but epically failing to do so.

"You don't piss me off that much either." He replies raising his chin almost challengingly. "I'll cook next time, any allergies I should know about?"

Your species.

"None," I reply stepping behind my door when he opens his own, I needed to look a whole lot less attached that I felt. "Just let me know whenever you're free."

"Okay." He replies before stepping into his own apartment, eyes still on me despite the way Sassy came jumping against his leg. He leans against the door with most of his body behind of it, heat rushing up his neck while his leg swayed behind him to create the most tempting image.

"Bye Damon." He whispers, looking up at me as he bites his lip right before he closes the door. 

I close my own door and manage to make it to the furthest corner of my apartment before I release a groan of frustration and pure joy. I slide down against the way, burying my face against my knees as shivers run through me, the image of William replaying itself in my mind to drive me absolutely crazy.

My mind seesawed between my two, most prominent emotions; unhinged delight and progressing dread. 

It made me happy to know that my mate didn't have any immediate issues with me that I could see. He was a little introverted, an enemy to physical interactions and extremely mistrusting but those seemed to have stemmed from his past rather than me. As far as I could tell, he didn't hate me and he didn't know enough about me to fear me. He seemed to be okay with me. That was one hurdle out of the way, but looking down the track, there seemed to be a million more. 

Getting him to open up, letting me touch him, even building a single brick of trust all seemed like a life's worth that may still end in a maybe. My biggest hope at the moment was that the mate bond was on my side and would help despite him being human. Then there was the fear that was slowing building the more I got to know him and liked what I was finding, the fear of him finding out about my past.

But even with the chaos that was going on in my mind, I was still smiling against my knees while my heart beat so heart I thought it burst. Goddess, I hadn't had that much fun in a long time. Hadn't felt that comfortable in an even longer time. I hadn't noticed until I was sitting there, laughing and smiling in a way that had escaped me for so long.

I raise my head when I feel Blaze wiggling himself between my feet. I laugh when he clears a path for himself, sending my knees down so he can jump on my lap. He makes himself at home and nibbles on my shirt.

"Will thinks your obese," I tell him but he doesn't reply. "I think you're just big-boned."

I smile at the memory and laugh when I realize I was thinking about him yet again. How was it even possible to think about him this much? It hadn't even been five minutes since he left and I was already reliving moments and hoping for more.

One day and I already knew that I had absolutely no chance against him.

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I JUST NEED THEM AND I NEED MORE! I FUCKING NEED MORE!!! (then write more bitch - shut up)

Fuck I'm speaking crazy like Kittykitty406 . Lol, soz for calling you out like that LMFAO.

Thoughts???? What did we think about this chapter??? Did we enjoy? 

I'm happy I went with the breakfast, thanks for advice guys. I thought it was mad cute like fuck I'm so happy for Damon and he hasn't even experienced the good shit yet. 

Anyways, vote and comment like you lovelies always do. 

Until next time,
Byeeeeeee Humanssssss

(P.S - I love those of you who sometimes say bye back)