Bambi wasn't ignorant of the seriousness of the situation.

She also wasn't foolish enough to think that not informing Maia was the right thing to do.
Bambi held confidence, that even if her friend locked herself up tightly in her own little world, she was slowly gaining confidence in leaving it.

Maia wasn't dumb like everyone in their old pack stated.

Immature, selfish, and an artful escapist? Maia is all of those things, but she is also empathetic, clever, and loyal.
Bambi wasn't in a position to argue, and her own confidence could be considered mediocre, but she still believes Maia should be told the truth.
Why she's being nearly imprisoned in her own room, why her mate is constantly leaving, and the information gathered on the monster who started their nightmare.

"You look distracted" Micheal was sitting at his work desk, reading over several documents which had to go through him before being sent to the Alpha.
The most recent ones being requests of other packs to travel through their lands.

Begrudgingly, Lucien had agreed at the conference to allow short term travel in the hunt of a specific blood bat.

Bambi felt her mate's stare, and looked up from the half completed sketch of him which she dazed off in the middle of completing.
She met those warm eyes, stern but filled with a hint of mischievousness of youth most wouldn't find in someone his age.
Her wolf felt restless sitting inside all day, and she knew his did too.

Want to go for a run, Sir?

She wasn't disappointed in the lack of attention lately... nor was she sad he was gone far too often...

Bambi gripped the pencil in her hand tighter, her wolf ready to turn on her for such lies... because he hadn't initiated anything after their first time.

Was she bad? Was it punishment? Did she do something wrong?

Was she not as good as his past lovers? Her first night in the territory, she had met such a glamorous female completely naked and confident.
Bambi didn't have to look down to know she wasn't equipped with much..

"A run? Sorry love, we have to wait till tomorrow. We're having full inspections today" Micheal looked away from her, focusing back on the papers competing for his attention.
Bambi felt her wolf itching for something, anything from him. Urging Bambi herself to go and take it, she was his mate, it was her right wasn't it?

What if he hated it?

She shook off the discomfort, going back to sketching.

Several hours passed in silence, as was their new norm.
Sometimes, when Micheal left for his duties, she would sit in the bathroom and practice her voice.
It was difficult, not thinking of how much trouble her words have gotten her into, but he seemed so excited when she spoke.

Tonight, he stayed home.
Bambi cooked dinner, a simple lasagna with garlic bread. She had been the main person to feed her father and brother back home.

Bambi paused, her eyes wondering outside for a moment.

"Finish all of it Bambi" she flinched, the stern tone he used reminded her... she wasn't trusted. Not with herself or anything.
Her irritation was building, and she wasn't entirely sure why.

Her wolf restlessly disagreed. She nearly panted as images of that night flooded her... she clenched her thighs.
Her hand gripping her fork tightened, and the food in front of her wasn't filling anymore.
Her gaze traveled across the table and up at Micheal's face. Those eyes, sometimes looking deep mocha, sometimes nearly a dark cherry. His harshly defined features and scent which drove her wild.

And he was punishing her- for his mistake. Not touching her, barely even putting a hand on her waist if they were in public. Not letting her out to run. Making her feel such anger and irritation. She wants her mate... not this warden.

She felt conflicted, Bambi was never usually so aggressive.
Was her wolf's emotions making her feel this way?

What did she want to do?

"Little girl, I better see an appropriate reply in the next three seconds" the growl Micheal released had her shivering in pleasure.

She scribbled, but he seemed satisfied enough to let it go.
Bambi ate the rest of the food, before taking the plates and cleaning up the kitchen.
Micheal went back to his office... not even saying a word.
The running water over her hands, the too bright light in the kitchen, the setting sun outside.

She felt suffocated and depressed.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket.

Bambi finished the dishes, wiped her hands, and checked the text Maia had sent her.

It was a selfie with Lucien giving her a foot massage...

Green eyes darkened. Bambi grit her teeth, taking deep seething breathes to calm herself. Why was she even angry? Jealousy? When wasn't she jealous though... she brought these things upon herself.

Right?

Yet inside, she didn't want to keep living like this with her own mate.
The house was dripping in more than silence... it was hostile. At least her father and brother acknowledged her.
Micheal merely watched her eat meals, made sure she followed the list of rules he created, and then left her to sleep before him. Alone. She woke alone. She made the food alone. She cleaned alone. She was alone even in the same room as him.

Bambi felt her feet carry her to the bedroom. Her habit of brushing her teeth immediately after eating was being ingrained quickly.
Her eyes flickered to her hair, which had grown a little. It'd only been a month since they left their old pack. Why did it feel like she aged nearly a hundred years?

She began undressing for a shower, her movements mechanical.

For some reason, she paused. Bambi disliked looking in a mirror. It reminded her of her mother, seeing herself. The older she got, the more she resembled her.
She stood naked, her skin looking healthier due to her increased calorie intake.

Find him

She blanked.

See him, just like this

Bambi didn't hear any words spoken, but she felt them... inside her.
She was stark naked, why would she go find Micheal like this?

But the seed was planted, and her heart rate increased. She flushed, thinking of all the terrible possibilities which could meet her... yet unlike before, they didn't seem so realistic.
Wasn't this also her home...? She had a right to wear what she wanted, and therefore, the right to wear nothing at all too?
A small tongue darted out, licking her bottom lip. Her toes curled, but she was feeling energetic.

Wasn't it his fault for making her so irritated? No, it wasn't anyone's fault but her own... she could've just done this sooner.

She swallowed, squaring her shoulders back, before whispering at her reflection.

"M-Micheal" still difficult to talk, still raspy... but she was improving.
Slowly but surely.

Go

She clenched her hands, and let her body take control and lead her towards the closed office door.
Her hand trembled, but before she could knock, a deep rumble called her inside.
Bambi bit her lip, debating whether to go in, or go back and put clothes on. It might annoy him if she comes in like this at such a busy-

"Bambi, I said come in" the edge to his voice had her twisting the handle and opening the door fully. She didn't step totally inside, but her racing heart didn't calm despite Micheal's head still facing down towards the paperwork littered about the desk.

Call him

The feeling inside her was bubbling higher, and she felt compelled to listen to it for once.
He was her mate. Belonged to her. Why should she be afraid of her own mate?

"Micheal"
It was a soft whisper, spoken softly to hide how cracked her voice still was.

Her voice had his head snapping up in surprise, but what stood there had him speechless.

His beautiful mate, was standing in front of him, completely naked.
He felt the pen in his hand snap, but couldn't favor it much, as he pushed himself up to stand.
Bambi took a half step back, her arm moving up as if to cover herself... but she growled and took a step forward, dropping both arms now. She was panting, her brows furrowed and her eyes narrowed in an emotion he couldn't quite place.

She looked frustrated. Opposite of the usually docile woman.

He wasn't complaining. Her breasts moved with her breathing, captivating his attention.

"What's the matter baby?" Micheal forced himself to look away from her body to her eyes. She didn't have her notebook or whiteboard.
He barely registered she didn't call him "sir".

Bambi was trembling hard now, her mind in chaos.

She wanted to rip his clothes off, as well as give him a piece of her mind.
Could she do both?

She licked her lips again, trying to slow her breathing again.

"I want..." her throat hurt. What did she want? Attention? Sex?

She stopped midway.

"Say it..." she felt the overwhelming urge to shift coming over her. Her body heated. Her wolf was fighting for control now. The guttural note in her voice was a telling sign of the shift.

He looked confused, oblivious to her turmoil.

"Say you're mine" she began to walk forward, her steps slow and oddly methodical.

"Tell me who you belong to"

She pressed herself right up to his chest, his eyes darkening with her own.

"Oh" Micheal paused, the hypnotic woman before him, seeping in sensuality, made him forget...

She was going into heat.