Inaaya woke up with a heavy head. She grunted lowly, keeping her eyes closed and allowing her brain to catch her up with everything that had happened in the last few hours. Her memories were a hazy montage of meeting Axel in a train, jumping out of a moving car, walking through an elegant fortress and then watching him turn into a wolf. He'd turned into a fucking wolf. As much as Inaaya wanted to believe it had been a dream or some sort of a visual trick, deep inside she knew it wasn't.

Releasing a breath, Inaaya let her eyes blink open. The first sight she was met with was of a very muscular and neatly sculpted chest. "Woah," a shocked whisper escaped her parted lips as her eyes darted to the man's face. Axel. With her heart beating in her throat, her eyes moved down to her own body. Still decked in her tattered clothes. That was bound to be a good sign. She was swathed in a soft blanket and her legs were tangled with another jeaned pair.

A blurred recollection of Axel shifting back to a very naked human entered her mind, inviting along thoughts she never believed herself capable of. She blushed at the direction her thoughts were taking, which only deepened as she noticed the intimacy of their position. Her torso was half on top of his as her hand lazily rested on his shoulder while his arm was wrapped around her in a tight embrace.

Biting her lip, she pulled back enough to look at his face. His eyes were closed, his breathing was deep and no creases marred his forehead. She found herself admiring his chiselled face. Realising the implications of her actions, she began to pull away from him. Suddenly, Axel's other arm that rested underneath his head came to wrap firmly around her torso too, pulling her back into his chest. He nuzzled his face in her hair and to her surprise, she didn't resist. Rather, she rested her face on his chest again and closed her eyes.

It had been such a weird day. So much had happened in such a short while. This man, enwrapped around her, should have caused fear in her heart, should have made her want to run far away. Yet, his closeness was all she wanted to hold on to.

Inaaya suddenly remembered waking up across from him in the train earlier that day. Her eyes widened comically and her hand reached the corners of her mouth. A light laugh reverberated through Axel's chest, causing Inaaya to feel the vibrations. "Don't worry, you're not drooling. Yet," he said, peering down at her with amusement in his eyes.

Inaaya gasped in surprise, leaning back to look at him. "You're awake!" she accused, pushing at his chest to move away from him. This time, he let his arms fall to his sides, allowing her to scurry to the edge of the bed, her mouth gaping but eyes narrowed.

Axel copied her position, moving to lay on his side as he stared at her. "You don't say," he said, chuckling and affectionately flicking her nose. She felt sparks ignite on her skin where he'd touched her. Her brows furrowed as she touched her nose, bewildered by the tingling feeling.

Inaaya attempted to get off the bed but Axel was quick to stop her. "Stay! I'll get off." Inaaya's eyes followed him as he got off the bed. She sat up with her back resting against the headboard as Axel poured her a glass of water on his bedside table, smiling softly.

With a frown still etched on her face, she accepted the glass, taking a long sip from it. She didn't know what to make of his attentiveness but she sure was grateful for how the water relieved her parched throat and helped pacify her empty stomach. She hadn't eaten in a while now.

"I... I don't know what to make of you, of all of this," she said slowly, placing the glass back on the bedside table before dabbing at her mouth with her fingers. She glanced up at him, however, her eyes kept drifting down to his bare torso. So, she chose to let them roam around the room instead. "Is this your room?"

"It is." Axel raised a brow, patiently waiting for her eyes to meet his again. But Inaaya's were busy taking in the black and white interiors of his room. The walls, painted black and white alternatively, were bare of any pictures or posters. A set of sliding double doors stood next to a white twin sleeper sofa to the left of the bed. Inaaya heard an exhale followed by the slight whoosh of air as Axel sat down on the sofa. She could feel his eyes on her but she wasn't ready to meet them quite yet.

The black bedside tables, complimenting his white bedstead, were adorned with simple, elegant white lamps and were occupied by only a bottle of water and Inaaya's used glass. His sheets were black with a pattern of greys on them and a matching set of pillows lay on the bed in disarray. The modern interiors of the room, which posed a stark contrast to the otherwise medieval architecture of the fortress, lacked a personal touch. There was nothing in his room to intimate to her any trivialities of his personality.

"Inaaya?" Axel called, drawing her attention back to him. His eyebrows were raised, elbows were rested on his knees and his fingers were steepled under his chin. While Inaaya hadn't any luck in understanding the subtleties of his personality, he seemed to be having no trouble in dissecting hers. Inaaya felt uncomfortable under the intensity of his gaze.

"You are a... werewolf," she began, the word leaving a sour taste in her mouth. "And I apparently am your mate—"

"You are my mate," Axel corrected, his brows furrowing.

Inaaya flinched, taken aback by the sharpness of his tone. She cleared her throat, fidgeting with his covers unknowingly. "What does that even mean?" She looked into his eyes, her own asking all sorts of questions. "Us being mates? What, are we supposed to fall head over heels for each other all of a sudden?"

"Well," Axel began, sighing as he leaned back on the sofa. With his index finger and a thumb, he attempted to rub the worry lines off his forehead. The movement caused his biceps to flex and his chest muscles to stretch, drawing Inaaya's attention involuntarily. Axel seemed to notice this as an amused smile spread across his thin lips and an impish glimmer sparkled in his eyes. "That would be ideal, yes."

Inaaya's eyes snapped back up to Axel's grey ones. The mischief shining within them paired with his words caused her eyes to roll. She raised her brows at him, imploring him to say more but when he didn't, she turned her face away, concentrating on picking a thread on her tattered white jeans instead.

Another sigh came from Axel before he walked closer to her. "How about this, you take a shower while I get you some food, eh? Then, I'll tell you a story that will help you understand this better," he proposed, offering her a congenial smile, extending his hand for her to take.

Inaaya looked at him before staring at his offered hand. Sighing, she nodded. "Okay." She got off the bed, though choosing not to take his hand. Axel chuckled, shaking his head at her as he led her to the sliding double doors beside the sofa. "How long have I been asleep anyway?" she asked.

Axel glanced back, pulling open the doors to what appeared to be a walk-in closet. "I'd say you had ten hours worth of a good night's sleep," he answered, grinning.

"I slept through the night?" Inaaya asked, stopping at the entrance of the walk-in closet. "And... you slept in the same bed with me?"

Axel turned to look at her. "You had a panic attack and clung to me, asking me not to leave you," he reasoned, his grin never fading as he shrugged.

"Yes and then it stopped and I slept. If that's not a cue, I don't know what is," she mumbled, rolling her eyes, knowing all too well it was no use arguing over it now. it was just that, she had never shared her room, much less her bed, with any male outside her family. She remembered sharing the same bed with her brother about eight years back when he was thrown out of his room. The brother she would never share anything with again.

"Thanks for helping me through it," she said, changing the topic from the hurtful memory. "It was unusual though. I am never comfortable having someone touch me in... in that situation," she whispered, eyes roaming over the interiors of the brightly lit, spacious closet. She had never had anyone to rely on and over time, she had learned to manage on her own somewhat. If it happened at home, she usually sat at a hidden corner of her terrace till it passed or locked herself in her room if the terrace lacked privacy. When outside, she hid any private space for hours. It was better that way. That way, she could ensure her father would never find out. After all, her panic attacks had started occurring because of him and his heartlessness.

"It's because we are mates. It helps me help you. I'll explain soon," he said, shrugging and giving her a small smile. He bit his bottom lip for a moment, seeming to consider something before speaking again, "Does it happen often?"

Inaaya held back a sigh at his tentative question. She was already feeling embarrassed about it, the last thing she wanted was to have a lengthy discussion on it. "Not anymore," she gave him a short answer, quickly changing the topic. "Why is that section empty?" she asked, pointing at one of the two sections of his walk-in-closet.

It was divided into two identical sections by the door to the room and a door parallel to it, which led to the bathroom. Both sections had several shelves, cupboards and mirrors. One section contained Axel's things, neatly placed with space for a lot more. The other section was completely bare.

"I wanted my mate to have her own space when she moves in."

Axel's words halted her into a stunned silence. "Oh," came her evermore eloquent reply in a mere mumble. How else did a person respond to that statement?

Axel let out a soft, amused chuckle. Calming down, he gave her a winning smile. "Come, I'll get you some clothes."

"Why don't you get yourself some as well while you're at it," Inaaya quipped, eyes pointing at his unabashed nudity and mind glad that the stunned silence hadn't lasted forever.

Axel smirked, looking exaggeratedly down at his muscular torso, arms spread wider apart. "I do understand the reason for your annoyance. This has been distracting you since the moment you woke up, hasn't it?" Brazen devilry masked his face.

"Modesty, never heard of it, have you?" Inaaya remarked, rolling her eyes, though a slight shade of pink in her cheeks betrayed her embarrassment.

Axel chuckled again, shaking his head as he pulled out a shirt at random and put it on. A white collared button down shirt that showed off his defined abs. "Modesty won't get me these blushes, now would it, love?" he asked, grinning. Inaaya looked away, her blush deepening.

Axel picked out a light grey tee and black boxer shorts, handing them to her. "Inaaya," he began seriously, placing a hand on top of hers, keeping her from taking the clothes. "Please don't attempt another escape while I'm gone. You won't be able to. Even if you manage to do it by some miracle, I'd catch you much sooner than you think is possible. So, just don't, okay?"

Inaaya snatched the clothes from him, her jaw clenched in defiance. She knew he was right. The castle would be like a labyrinth for her and matching his werewolf speed an impossibility. Though her vexation stemmed more from the fact that the idea of escaping hadn't even occurred to her before he warned her against it. Why didn't it? Escape should have been her number one thought.

"Close the door on your way out," she ground out, obstinance dripping from her voice but there was an undertone of surrender that she resented. She walked into the ensuite bathroom, slamming and locking the door shut. Placing the clothes on the light grey marble counter, she let herself lose.

She glanced up at her frayed reflection in the huge vanity mirror behind which her inner turmoil glimpsed through her eyes. It was all too much to take in. She closed her eyes tightly. The image of a grey-white wolf appeared behind her eyelids instantly. She lived those moments in the clearing again, watching Axel turn into a wolf and then turn back again. Her eyes opened with a start and her breathing became laboured.

Wanting to prevent another panic attack, she splashed her face with cold water, letting it soak into her heated skin. She glanced back at the door, ensuring it was locked securely before diverting her attention to the interiors of his bathroom in an attempt to keep her mind off of what he was.

It was perfect. Double sink vanity with a bathtub to its right and a shower with glass doors to its left and a toilet beside the shower stall. Everything in here was in the shades of white and light grey. The lighting here was duller with blue tones, creating a calming effect on her nerves. It was quite well-kept and clean.

Almost robotically Inaaya removed her clothes and put them in their designated places in the darks, lights and colours laundry hamper kept on one side of the door. Then she headed into the shower, letting the cold water drown her worries. Cold showers were Inaaya's go to. There was nothing that could relax her like the cold water. It always helped her deal with her anxiety.

Sighing in the freshness, Inaaya dried herself with a spare towel. For the lack of a fresh pair, she put on her used underwear again before wearing Axel's clothes over it. The tee hung off her shoulders and the boxer shorts reached her mid-thighs. Yet, the whole look brought a smile to her face. She wrapped a smaller towel around her wet hair, inhaling a deep breath to compose herself. She smelled just like him. A deep earthy smell that reminded her of outdoors and nature.

Her smile broadened as she inhaled again, walking out the bathroom and crossing the walk-in closet to reach his bedroom again. Axel was sitting on the sofa, a covered tray in hand. He turned when Inaaya entered the room and his gaze flickered from her head to her toes and back again. Inaaya fiddled with the hem of his tee, feeling rather self-conscious. She was acutely aware of Axel's fervent eyes on her as she crossed the room and took a seat on the bed, opposite him. When his gaze didn't stir, she cleared her throat.

"Uh," Axel whispered, clearing his throat too. "Here," he said, extending the tray towards her and uncovering it. There was a glass of milk, a plate of chocolate chip cookies and another filled with sandwiches.

Inaaya sniffed the sandwiches, giving him an embarrassed smile. "Are these chicken sandwiches?" she asked, her nose wrinkling slightly as she looked at the sandwiches again. Axel nodded, frowning. "I'm a vegetarian."

"You are?" Axel asked, looking surprised. "Oh, goddess! I'm so sorry, I'll get you something else," he rushed, snatching the plate of sandwiches from the tray and standing up at once.

"No, it's okay," Inaaya said, holding his wrist, stopping him in his tracks. She was quick to pull back as Axel's eyes moved to where she'd held him. She gestured to the cookies and the milk, "I've got my favourites right here. I don't need anything more. You can have the sandwiches."

Axel looked unsure for a moment but when Inaaya gestured to the sofa again, he resigned. He sat back down, taking a bite of the sandwich. A small smile formed on her lips as she ate the cookies dipped in milk. It was comfortable sitting with him and eating in silence. Almost felt like a routine.

Soon enough though, Axel was wolfing down the sandwiches. Amused, she raised her eyebrows at his animalistic ways before the truth behind the thought hit her hard. The image of the grey-white wolf flashed in her mind again and she quickly averted her eyes. She kept the tray aside, having lost her appetite. To focus her mind elsewhere, she asked, "What was that story you wanted to tell me about mates?"

A/N:

First things first: Inaaya's panic attack.

In chapter 3, we see Inaaya having a panic attack. I wanted to show it in the most realistic manner possible and did my best to attempt it. I didn't want to show it as anything less difficult to go through than it really is or try to romanticise it because I understand it isn't something to be romanticised. It's a highly sensitive subject and a scary experience for those who live through it. If I was unable to achieve that, I sincerely apologise. Please do let me know what needs to be corrected for it to be more realistic and I'll be sure to make necessary edits.

As for Axel hugging her... While reading up about panic attacks, I concluded that touch and hugs, especially coming from strangers, are largely unwelcomed by most people when they were having a panic attack. But seeing as this is a werewolf story, in which exists a magical bond between two people- the mating bond, I hope this slight preference won't be too far fetched. The mating bond pulls them towards each other, letting them calm each other down, make each other a bit happier. Therefore, it seemed befitting that Axel's nearness might just be appreciated by Inaaya. If you disagree, please do let me know and we can discuss how it can be done better. Thank you!

Now, on to a lighter note!

Who's ready to learn more about mates?? Axel's story time is about to begin soon, people! :D

Reminder: Sneak Peeks of the next chapter will go up on Monday & Thursday mornings (IST) on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. You can find them using the hashtag: #ToWSneakPeek

Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to a friend and a loyal reader- racsmat. If I publish a new story on Wattpad or if I get a paperback published, I know I will have that one reader who will immediately add my story to their library or will pick up my paperback from the shelf. Racsmat is that one reader. She is an avid reader, a loyal supporter and an engaging writer. (Her stories are only a click away. *wink, wink, nudge, nudge*) Thank you so much, love! You're the best. <3