It didn't take him long to find her in the single story cabin Jude is letting them stay in. He found her sitting on the couch with her elbows on her knees, one leg bouncing anxiously.

Onyx shut the door loudly as if to announce himself.

"You're upset," he observed as he watched her carefully.

Demi laughed dryly before standing up quickly. She began pacing in front of a lit fireplace.

"I don't ask about your past or the rumors because I don't care. I care about us now. But-" Her voice cracked.

Onyx immediately stepped closer as he felt his chest hurt at her sadness.

"That man called you Griffin. I don't know a Griffin, the only one I know is Onyx. You're my Onyx," Demi choked out as her eyes watered.

Onyx frowned deeply as he reached for her face, "I'm your Onyx, baby."

"But you were Griffin before and you never told me that. That's your name you never thought it was important to tell me your name? I-I mean my mate h-hasn't ever thought to mention to me his real name! Do you understand how crazy that is?"

Onyx tugged her face into his chest and held her tight. He carded his fingers through her hair.

"It felt like another life, Demi. I just wanted you and what we have. I didn't... I honestly didn't want to acknowledge my past. I haven't had someone call me Griffin since I was fourteen."

She sniffled and listened to his heart beat. If he didn't tell her that, what else hasn't he told her?

Demi sighed and pulled away, "I'm going to go unpack."

She went to walk away but Onyx tugged her back. "Will you talk to me please?" He begged.

"It just- You're name, Onyx? You didn't think that would be something I'd want to know? I understand your past is hard! I get that, but I had to hear from a stranger you've gone the past almost two months without thinking to tell me you're actual name!"

She rubbed her hands over her eyes. She walked away, gripping her bag and closing the door to their bedroom shut.

Onyx gripped his hair roughly, pacing to the kitchen only to slam his fist into the counter. He heard cracking of the granite.

"Fuck!" he cursed loudly, resting his forearms against the damaged counter.

She was right. Even though he didn't want to acknowledge any of it, he didn't even want to be on this land, Demi deserved to know.

He should've told her his name, at the very least, a long time ago.

He debated on what he should do.

Should he give her space? Should he comfort her now or later? Everytime they'd argued one of them left and that never went well.

How did he even feel about her knowing?

If he was completely honest, hearing her say his actual name turned him the fuck on.

Onyx sighed and looked around the cabin. It was small, quaint even. It was a log cabin, a small living room in the left corner, a round dining table across from it. He stood in the kitchen that was sized for a regular wolf, making him feel even larger than he was. He saw they had food stocked.

Onyx knocked on the bedroom door before walking in quietly. He saw Demi unpacking both of their things.

He walked softly behind her, towering over her small frame. He always thought it was interesting how such a powerful being was so small in comparison.

He wrapped his arms around her chest, tugging her back into him. He rest his head on top of her own.

"I should've told you. I know that, I have a lot of things I don't want to acknowledge about my past. Telling you my name would've made it all real."

She raised her hand to grasp his forearm, right over his markings.

She rubbed his skin, gently. "I know."

"I never meant to make you upset," he shook his head as if it was the biggest offense he could commit.

"I know, Onyx," she whispered.

She kissed his arm and felt him kiss her head.

Slowly Demi pulled away from his grip.

"Now," she took a deep breath. He fidgeted to hold her again but stopped at her determined look.

"I'm going to stress clean, this entire freaking house. You're going to leave me alone, and maybe you can sleep next to me."

Onyx's eyes widened in alarm at the idea of not sharing a bed with his mate.

"N-No Demi..." he reached for her but his hand was smacked away.

"I'm cleaning I can't hear you," he blinked in surprise as she made her way to their new bathroom.

There was barely even anything to clean...

Onyx slowly backed out of the room as Demi's voice echoed in the bathroom. She was talking to herself again.

Onyx pressed his hands to his forehead, trying to think of a plan to make her feel less angry with him.

If Demi mislead him about something as important as her name he'd feel some type of way as well.

His Beast whimpered in his mind, he sat in the living room. He tried to think of something to make her happy.

Onyx's black gaze caught sight of a cook book, sitting up. He wasn't the best cook...

But it was his only option, his old pack was known for its brisk weather. Not for any meadows or green grass that he could take her to.

It was already growing dark as night fell upon them, Onyx felt nostalgia hit him- he missed this weather.

An hour later, Demi trailed out of the bedroom. She'd taken out all of the quilts left in their closets, redecorated their room with certain things and cleaned everything.

She smelled something cooking, her eyes widening.

"Are you cooking?" She stopped in her tracks, to see Onyx setting a plate down for her.

He shrugged, "It's just pasta."

She was still thoroughly surprised, walking towards the food. It was pasta with marinara and shredded chicken, cheese mixed in.

"It smells good," Demi hummed with a small smile.

"It does?" He looked between her and the dinner.

She nodded while grabbing a plate, he noticed her shivering just a little. As she began to eat at the island, he went to get her a sweater.

"Yummy!" She called to him.

While he was in their room he heard a scream sound from his mate. He shoved the door open to get to her and saw her crouched on the ground.

She was squealing as she stared at something behind the island.

"Demi what the hell-?!" He cut himself off as he jumped. A cat hissed and clawed to wedge itself under the couch. Demi was cheering as she chased it.

"Baby- don't fucking touch it," he went to grab her away from the couch. She swatted at him, "You're still in the dog house. Don't tell me what to do. We invaded his home!"

Onyx pinched the bridge if his nose. "Are they even a he? Did I misgender you? Oh my gosh," she worried. Demi tried to push her face under the couch to look at the cat that swatted at her.

"The cats a male... maybe we should say they until they tell me..." Demi muttered. "You have to meet Ollie! I think you guys would hit it off!"

"Quick Onyx, what's a unisex name. If you think of a good one I'll let you sleep in the bed," she blurted quick.

Onyx's eyes widened in alarm once again.

"Fuck-"

"Wrong!"

She cackled as she pulled her face away from the pretty gray cat, going back to enjoy the meal her mate made for her.

"The correct answer is Doctor Finley. Not mister or misses, no- doctor. Because they're educated and anyone can be a doctor."

Onyx's mind was spinning as he tried to catch up, the pair had a cat now? And they were a Doctor?

"So... I can't sleep in the bed?"

Demi opened her mouth to say no, but hesitated. She wouldn't be able to sleep without him. She spun on her stool to look at him, "I'm upset still. But you can sleep with me... I wouldn't be able to without you." She kicked her legs as she fiddled with her hands, "Don't... hide anymore important things okay? You'll tell me about everything from before eventually right?"

Onyx grasped her face gently, bringing her gaze up to him. "I never intentionally hid my name, I was just being an idiot. I'll tell you everything soon, I promise."

He pulled her into a tight hug after pulling another sweater over her head. Demi listened to his steady heartbeat, "Okay." Her voice was quiet and demure.

"You forgive me?"

She nodded, "I wasn't mad I'm just upset."

"I never want to make you either of those things."

Demi gave him a small smile, leaning up for a kiss Onyx was happy to give her.

The Alpha proceeded to watch his mate eat his food, flushing at the compliments she gave him for dinner.

"You can give some to Finley!"

"Baby n- okay- fine!"

~~
SURPRISE UPDATE!! lolol yay spring break starts sunday so i'll be writing more i figured if i'm churning out more chapters i can post more for you guys!

friendly reminder that if Demi can call a cat by their pronouns then everyone can call a person by their pronouns :)

^^this isn't to make light of peoples pronouns it's just a small way of bringing awareness to the issue :))