I pace around Acacia's hospital room in silence, glancing at her every once in a while to make sure she is breathing. It's been almost a day since she passed out again and I'm really concerned. This is hardly normal behaviour, especially for someone who is also a wolf.

How many times is this going to keep happening? How many times is she going to try to run away? How long will it take her to open up to me? I have so many questions, but at this point in time, none of them can be answered and that's what upsets me.

I go and sit down in the chair next to her bed and watch her. I gently grab her hand and start to rub soft circles into the back of it with my thumb, looking down at it in thought.

Teresa had to put the I.V. drip back into her arm to try and get more fluids and medication into her because of how dangerously underweight she is.

Acacia's breathing begins to shift and I eventually look back up at her face to find her staring back at me with a nervous look on her face.

I quickly take my hand away from hers in an effort not to scare her and she frowns. I think she can feel the wolf mate pull and I smile at the thought. Maybe I will get to have my mate sooner than I thought.

I yell out to Teresa and she comes running in.

Acacia gives her a small smile and Teresa grins back at her.

"How are you feeling Acacia?" she signs, glancing over at the fluid bags of the I.V. for a moment.

"Weak. Sore"

"As expected then. You should hopefully start to get some energy back soon, love. I've also given you medication to try and help aid your body in healing itself a little faster"

"Okay. Thank you Teresa" Acacia signs back, her green eyes shining with gratitude.

We both watch as Teresa then walks out of the room, leaving me by myself with Acacia again.

She looks at me nervously and bites her lip.

Fuck, why am I turned on by that? I quickly dismiss the dirty thoughts and give her a small smile.

"Grayson?"

"Yes, Acacia?"

"Why does my skin feel hot and tingly when you touch me?" she asks, signing slowly as if she has to think about how to word the question.

"Why does my stomach flutter and my insides feel funny?"

Oh god. Well, how do I explain this?

Better question. How does she not know about the mate pull? Surely she would have learnt about it growing up?

"Do you know what a mate is?" I ask her, watching her carefully. She nods her head and smiles slightly.

"My parents used to tell me stories about how every wolf has a mate and how they are the one."

"That's cute. So do you know what the pull is then?"

She looks at me confused then shakes her head, frowning.

Shit. How am I going to explain the pull? Why does she not know this if she was told about mates? I always thought it was something that you learnt when you were educated about how mates work.

"Well, the pull is the bond werewolf mates have that joins them together for life" I start, signing slowly as I think about what to say next.

"It's the hot, tingly, lovey-dovey, protective feeling you get when you touch your mate. It gives you butterflies and makes you yearn for them when they are gone. It's stronger than any human bond and finding your mate is like finding your other half, your missing piece."

I pause to check if she is still following my explanation. She nods for me to continue and I give her a small smile.

"The two wolf spirits always figure out a way to find each other, no matter how far apart they are and you know it's your mate as soon as you lay eyes on them. Something clicks inside of you and you can no longer live without them. It's like love at first sight and you'd do anything to keep them safe and protect them."

"You feel each other's pain and happiness, you have the ability to communicate with one another and if they were to die, you'd be condemned to a life of misery. Very few times are there second chances given so when you find your mate, you should never let them go" I finish signing, with a guilty feeling in my stomach.

She continues to nod and begins playing with her fingers as she processes the information and then something clicks in her face and she looks up at me.

"No" she signs, shocked.

She starts to panic again, shaking her head. She's pieced it together. She knows we're mates, she can feel it.

Shit.

Once again, I watch in horror as she rips the IV out of her arm, screaming in pain before running out of the room.

Goddammit, I thought I locked the door this time. Teresa mustn't have locked it on her way out.

I know I need to go after Acacia but I don't want to scare her yet again.

I sprint out of the room to find Teresa. I eventually find her in the storage room sorting out medical equipment with one of the other doctors.

"She ran again. She ripped out the IV and left. I thought I had locked the door this time but obviously not."

"What? Why? What happened?" she asks, stopping what she is doing to look at me, shocked.

"She asked why she felt tingly and hot when we touched so I explained and she realised we're mates and ran," I say shakily.

I'm going to lose her again if I don't do something quick.

"You need to help me, she won't listen to me" I continue, trying to hold it together.

She nods and grabs a first aid kit before grabbing my arm and running out the door. We follow her blood trail out past the houses and buildings and into the forest. Soon enough, we find her not far from the village, collapsed on the ground crying.

She looks up at Teresa and I and whimpers.

She's terrified and it's my fault.

"Acacia, we're not going to hurt you" Teresa signs, kneeling in front of her. She touches my mate who flinches but doesn't back away. Teresa slowly helps her to sit up and she leans her against a tree before setting to work on her arm.

I watch her, pain and hurt consuming me. I don't care how long it takes, I need my mate and I will wait forever for her.

She looks up at me with terror in her beautiful green eyes and I feel even worse. She's scared of me.

"I'm gonna go for a run," I say to Teresa quietly. Teresa stops and looks up at me with a sad expression but nods and juts her chin out toward the trees, signalling for me to go.

"Just keep trying Alpha, she'll come around eventually" she replies before going back to work on my mate's arm. I give Acacia one more look before walking away and shifting.

"It'll be okay Grayson. She'll come around eventually," my wolf Dante says warmly as I start to run, letting him take over.

"Really? Can you even feel her wolf, Dante?"

"I can, it's very very faint but she's definitely there" he replies back, restoring my hope a little for a moment before the sadness returns.

"You've just got to give her time," he says wearily.

"But I hate not being able to hold her and look after her. Have you seen her? She's tiny! Her body is a wreck and on top of that, she's got newly broken ribs thanks to Levi. Although, me tackling her yesterday definitely wouldn't have helped" I reply defeated. At this point, I want to cry but wolves can't cry so I let out an earth-shattering howl instead.

"Dude, it'll be okay. Trust me and trust the moon goddess" he says quietly. I sigh and continue running. He's right and I hate it.

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Hey Guys,

Oooooo things are about to get intense! I hope you're all ready! I'm so excited to write the next chapter for you guys so keep your eyes on the lookout for that as it will be out very soon! In the meantime, check out my other books haha!

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- Allamy xx