SUMMER

Sansa sat against the tree, thinking back to the previous weeks. It had been a blur.

She stared at the empty tree in front of her, where he would be sitting across against in just a few hours.

Slowly, she closed her eyes, smiling as she reflected on Warren's words.

"You can stay. Don't worry about anything. You can stay here for as long as you like."
Sansa breathed in a deep sigh of relief, letting the warmth of the sun, shine down on her.

She frowned at the dark clouds overhead that were threatening that warmth. A burst of wind flew past her- an ominous sign for an approaching storm.

She had met him before in rain. It worried her now because meetings like those usually didn't last long. He ended up leaving early, shaking his head in concern at the fact that he was making her stand in the rain. He worried about her health- that she would get sick.

She wanted to laugh at him now and say that she knew what to do if that happened. She knew how to heal herself if she ever caught a fever or fell prey to a number of illnesses.

But he never would listen. To make sure she left, he would leave.

Whenever it rained, he didn't stay long.

"Go away," she looked up at the sky, frowning at the stubborn clouds.

"Urgh, please. I have so much to tell him," she shook her head at the sky, watching it only grow darker before her very eyes.

She did have much to tell him.

She didn't know how to talk about her meeting with Jacob or the pack's threat. She didn't know how to let him know about those events, so she carefully had spoken around them, detailing her life as if it had never occurred.

She knew he was aware of her omittance. As if he was aware that she was leaving a key part of her story out for him to not hear.

But something about it caused a bitter taste to come to her mouth when she tried to even start with what had happened. She felt guilty for not telling him.

But also relief.

As if the clouds were listening in on her thoughts, the first few drops of rain began to fall.

Sansa held up her hand, sighing.

She knew better than to curse such a blessing from the Moon Goddess. Rain was something that contained life. She should have known better than to wish it away.

Soon she was soaked, her clothes sticking closely to her. She sighed again, wishing the tree she was under could provide more protection.

And then he was there.

She gasped at the suddenness of his appearance.

But then smiled when she took in the disapproving look on his face.

She stood, moving closer to see him better against the rain.

But then something happened.

Maybe it was because of the rain.

Maybe it was because of the rain, that Sansa was not able to smell it at first.

The water diluting her senses, washing away the smell. Only when she stepped closer, did she realize something.

She stood there, in shock.

Looking up, his face mirror her own.

"Your birthday-,"

"Last week," Sansa whispered.

Night's eyes widened even more.

"I didn't realize I- I shouldn't have come-,"

"Wait!"

Normally she would not have pressed him. Normally she would have given him the space he wanted. Not pushed him so far.

But this wasn't one of those times.

He gasped in shock as she collided with him. As she pushed him against the tree, surprised that she had been able to pin him down.

And then she was gasping with him as a flash of starlight burst within her eyes. An explosion set off inside her soul.

"You're my mate."

His breathing was quick and panicked.

Sansa however, felt oddly calm.

Everything made sense now.

She smiled up at him, and his face only reflected more panic with the action.

"Night you're my...you're my mate!"

She began laughing.

It all made sense.

Of course, he was her mate.

She had just thought it to good to be true, to hope for - to wish for- this beautiful male to be hers.

For her to be his.

But the look on his face showed anything but the pure joy the she was feeling.

A sudden realization came down on her.

"How long have you known this?"

He didn't look away. For that Sansa was grateful. Because she was able to see the truth in his eyes.

"You've known from the start...from the very beginning..."

Night groaned, a deep groan full of pain and longing.

Sansa gasped as she felt his arms wrap around her, the heat searing away the effects of the rain.

"I knew the moment I saw you."

"Why didn't you say anything!"

Night looked away now. He gave no answer. Sansa could already guess.

"Please Night. Please look at me."

She gently took his face in her hand, pulling his eyes to her.

He shook his head, "I'm sorry I wasn't able to stay away. I should have. I should have been stronger for you but I-," he grit his teeth together, shaking his head and spraying water off of him.

"Night."

He met her eyes.

They both stared at each other.

"You're my mate."

Sansa moved closer, shivering at the feel of his body pressed against her own.

Maybe even she had not been aware of the change it had undergone. Of how she was not that child in the woods anymore. Of how she was not the friend who talked to her imaginary person. She was a woman.

And Night was now something more than the person who she saw comfort in. Peace. Who took away her fears, or was something she thought of as a shoulder to cry on.

He was here. He was real. He was holding her.

She blinked back against the rain, trying to look at him clearly.

And something in that moment changed.

She felt her body turn, felt his hands grab her waist and move them so that the trunk of the tree hit her back, the bark scratching her skin.

And then she felt his lips.

She responded immediately, gasping at the sensation that she would dream about. That she would have fantasies of before going to bed, or during the day- when she looked at other couples.

Her hands wrapped around his neck, her legs rising to lock onto his own waist as his hands raised her up to elevate her.

He pulled back, a look she had never seen before, on his face.

"To hell with it," he whispered, "I'm damned anyway."

And then he was kissing her again. She felt her lips exploring his skin- the skin she loved. The color she loved. Down his cheeks, his neck, to his ear.

Everywhere.

The rain only came pouring down harder, but the water allowed Sansa to taste it off his skin.

He was her mate. He was her mate. He was her mate.

He seemed to realize something in that moment. His head snapped up, eyes turning to stare past her at something.

"I need to leave."

"What? No don't-,"

He slowly lowered her and smiled.

"Don't worry. I'll be back."

"Why can't you stay? Please. We should be together. Please Night-," she grabbed his hand, marveling at how easily he let her touch him now, "you are my soul."

He laughed, startling her.

"No Sansa. Can't you see now? I have no soul to give you. Only the shell that I am. It's you- you are the one that is my own sol." 

Sansa shook her head, so many questions surfacing in her mind.

He smiled as he watched her.

"I'll see you again?"

"Always."

He bent down, letting the lightest brush linger on her lips.

She couldn't stop there though. She moved closer to him, grabbing his shirt and twisting it in her hands.

He laughed deeply, the sound vibrating on her lips and traveling down her spine.

He pulled back.

She looked at the small part of his chest that she had exposed, taking in the ink markings. These stood out more than the others, purely because the stains to his chest were white instead of black.

"What is this?"

He quickly pulled back.

"It is the reason why I can't stay with you."

Sansa opened her mouth to ask more questions, but he only smiled and put his finger to her lips, shaking his head.

"How can I keep going if I know you're out there somewhere?"

He stilled at her words, frowning.

"Sansa...I may be connected to you...but you are of your own mind and body. You have more strength inside you than you even realize. I know...after all...what person has the patience to have a mate like me?"

Sansa laughed at his words.

The rain had died down some. Only small drops were falling on them now.

He pulled away, his hands clenching and unclenching at his side.

"I will see you again my sol."

She felt a frantic feeling rise at his words. As if something in her mind needed his physical presence to reassure her.

"Come back to me soon Night," she said it as a threat, which only made him smile- the goal she had been aiming for.

"I never really had left." He whispered, vanishing before her eyes. 

Note: Before you ask, I DID NOT misspell the word "soul" when Night talks. Hint. 

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. I was excited for this one :)