The surge of electricity shooting up their arms rendered them speechless. Yet, neither made a move to retract their limb. Despite the bizarre sensation, it felt utterly amazing and undeniably exhilarating.

Warmth.

It spread from their fingertips and slowly encased every fiber of their being. Along the way, it caressed and soothed, easing the tension in their bodies.

Feeling drowsy, Eira blinked slowly, her amber eyes unable to break away from his chocolate ones. She couldn't physically look away. Instead, her body urged her closer, closer, closer.

"What's this?" She whispered, her voice hoarse and throat dry. "What's going on?"

However, Carwyn remained frozen in place. His heart raced, and his jaw hung agape. He appeared to be even more stunned.

"Carwyn?" She called, forcing herself to take a small step back. It hurt to even think about putting some distance between them. Her hand was still attached to his, both sealed shut and refusing to budge.

The buzz subsided but lingered still. It licked deliciously at their hearts and teased the skin where they were joined.

His fingers flexed before he cleared his throat and shook his head, blinking back into focus. "I've felt this earlier but I," he trailed off. "Woah."

"What? What's happening?" Anxiety leaked through her words, her body missing the heat as she finally withdrew her arm.

Carwyn heaved a sigh, rubbing down his face before looking up with a shy grin. "Uh, well..." He scratched his head. "I think we're mates. No, I mean we are mates." He chuckled, his cheeks flushed. "You're my mate. Woah."

Silence.

There was nothing but wild hearts and heaving chests.

"We're... what?" Eira spoke at last, taking a cautious step backward. A pout formed on Carwyn's lips, and she found herself oddly drawn to it, her mouth watering. What's happening to me?, she wondered as her knees buckled.

Carwyn rushed forward, encircling her waist with his arms. Reluctantly, he pressed her against his chest, burying his nose in her silky strands. Despite the growing confusion, she strangely found comfort in his hug.

Eira froze. Her arms dangled limply by her sides, and her heart stuttered. They remained in that suspended state for an eternity, or perhaps just a few minutes. A whirlwind of thoughts raced through her mind. Was this what he experienced when he first encountered his mate?

A shaky inhale, a muffled sob, and pain. Betrayal stung deeply. It hurt to be discarded, cast aside, and forgotten amidst the memories forged over years of love with the pledge of eternity. However, it hurt more to understand the reasons behind the sudden abandonment.

Tears welled in her eyes, tracing a tortuously slow path down her cheeks. Gradually, she reciprocated his embrace, burying her face in the crook of his neck. When her body shook from the silent laments, they held on tighter to each other.

"Shush," Carwyn murmured, caressing her back. "It's okay. You're okay."

Eira clung to him as if her very existence depended on it. It was the first time she'd allowed herself to properly feel. The anger that had once consumed her had transformed into a numbing force, eroding her emotions and interactions. She had become snappy, grumpy, and withdrawn from everyone, neglecting the yearning of her heart to release pent-up emotions. 

Now, those emotions flowed out in heart-wrenching weeps that gradually slowed into occasional hiccups, paving the way for embarrassment to surface. 

And it did, with full force.

Eira pushed out of his arms, hastily wiping her face before turning away from him. "I'm so-"

"No," he interrupted. "Don't."

There were only sniffles for a brief moment before her red-rimmed eyes and tear-streaked cheeks returned to view. Eira smiled sheepishly. "Thank you. I needed that."

Carwyn mirrored her expression. "I'll go take a shower before changing. Is that okay with you?"

At his question, she couldn't help but chuckle. Relief washed over her when he didn't pry about her little crying episode. "Sure. Let me check your injuries first."

A boyish grin spread across his face as he tore off the bandages to reveal his wounds or lack thereof. Eira, however, was salivating at the mesmerizing sight before her. She didn't know if this was due to the bond between them but she was sure she'd still appreciate his carved torso nonetheless.

"Oh, yeah, you- you're all good," she stuttered, her face reddening by the minute. "I'll whip up something real fast while you shower."

"Thanks, you're the best!" Carwyn cheered on his way to the bathroom. 

Once the door was closed, she took a moment to compose herself before heading to the kitchen. After accidentally breaking her mug during her preparations for a late breakfast, she'd lost her appetite. The protest of her rumbling stomach made her aware that she hadn't eaten anything since dinner the previous night.

Feeling a bit indulgent, she chose to whip up a creamy spinach, chicken, and mushroom Alfredo pasta, complemented by a hearty vegetable stir-fry. For some reason, she wanted to impress him. 

With newfound determination, she dove right in.

It wasn't until her name was called that Eira realized how much time had passed. Looking up, she found a fresh and pristine Carwyn fidgeting by the couch.

"The smell is nice."

His hair was damp, dark chocolate that clung to his round face and swayed over his eyes. The green sweatpants were snug around his muscled legs, while the grey hoodie draped loosely. She couldn't help but laugh.

"What?" He grinned. "Runway worthy, isn't it?"

She nodded. "You'd make headlines." She genuinely believed he would. He was a sight to behold. When he kept standing, her heart swelled. Motioning to the stool, she said, "Come on, I'm almost done."

Carwyn took a seat, resting his head on his palms, and playfully dangled his feet as he observed her.

"Hey, Eira." When she hummed, he continued, "I wanted to apologize if I scared you earlier."

She shot him a quick smile. "It's alright. I got used to patching up Daniel's wounds." A breathy laugh slipped out. "You werewolves are quite aggressive in your training."

"True," he laughed. "But, you...you're just so calm about this. You weren't afraid when you realized what I am and still, kinda, maintained your cool when you found out we're, uh, mates."

A blush spread across her face, and she avoided his eyes while handing him his plate. "So, you knew the reason for my little breakdown?"

He shrugged, inhaling deeply before groaning. "Smells heavenly." He paused, toying with his fork. "Do you...not want a mate?"

"What? No!" Eira spluttered. "I mean, it's not that. It's just," she sighed, "as a human, I never thought I'd understand what it felt like to find your mate. It's a strange concept that someone was created and meant to be your other half forever. It felt far-fetched when I first learned of it."

"And when did you?" His serious expression looked out of place on his kind features, a reminder of what he was – a werewolf who had killed a couple of vampires just hours ago.

"When he dumped me for her." Strangely, saying that didn't hurt as much as it used to. She glanced at Carwyn. This mate bond thing was stranger than she thought.

"What? You didn't know before?" When she shook her head, he blinked. "How long have you two been together?"

Anger furrowed his brows. A muscle in his jaw twitched. "Three years."

"Damn. He's a total asshole."

"He is." Eira's lips twitched in amusement while Carwyn kept cursing her ex-boyfriend. She called his name. "The food is getting cold."

"Oh, crap!" He quickly dug in and then spoke through a mouthful, "It's so good."

As she watched, Eira couldn't help the soft smile that slowly tugged at her lips. Warmth spread throughout her body, gradually melting the ice surrounding her aching heart.

Word count: 1312.

Total word count: 3343.