Sleep had eluded her that night, the reason behind it being numerous and hard to pinpoint. There were too many thoughts running through her head that she had gotten too tired for sleep, if that was even possible. Even the indescribable softness of the bed she laid in only served to feed more frightening thoughts about her future… and about the past.

She thought about the girls that had been with her, if they were sleeping in good beds like she was, if they had been given dinner like she had. She could admit she did not know much about them, for many of them were new, and she had been the only one that remained there for that long. Even so, her thoughts drifted towards Blue, the tiny girl with wide terrified eyes. Was she ok? She could only remember faintly of her almost being beaten in the clearing.

God those moments felt like such a long time ago. Had it only truly been today?

And about the Claws… Where had they gone, Bruce and the others?

Jan….

It was… different… being alone that night. So so different without the restricting hands of Jan wrapping around her. He had always been there, and he had always listened to her sing as they both fell asleep. While she did not miss him, the vastness of the bed around her felt empty. Even though she never felt safe in his arms, there was still a bit of assurance that no other would touch her while he was there, and he would bring food most times, though scant they were. Like a routine beaten into her head, it felt as if her purpose was now muddied when she should have felt free.

But in the arms of another, there was safety…

She had wondered deeply, secretly wishing, that the Alpha would open those doors and sit by her side even just for a moment. He hadn’t, of course, but she lay facing the locked door (that she had unlocked right after) all night long hoping for even the faintest hint of movement on the other side.

He told her he would take the couch, and he kept that promise firm.

It bothered her why she craved him so. She had always thought that she would either end up with Jan forever or be taken by a master who she had to simply see as such… but it was different. The Alpha… Titus… had overtaken her soul in but a simple look, when their eyes had first locked in the field.

It was as if the world had faded away only to leave her and him.

She realized this feeling was problematic, very much so, since there were things that could ruin everything for her from this moment on. If he realized how much she longed for him, she was sure that he would grow disgusted. Jan had taught her that men only liked obedient women who remained silent and did not act irrationally. Even so, if she fully submitted herself to Titus and he accepted her, she would never be fully his because of Jan… Jan is not over with her yet. She doubted that he ever will be.

But… Titus was warm, a beautiful kind of warm, and he had been kind to her for the most part. He had wiped her tears, had given her food, and had even surrendered his bed for her comfort. Was that not proof enough that there was something there at least, something more than she believed could ever be possible? Like a bond… a mate bond…

Mate bond or none, there was something there that she couldn’t deny. It was the same something that had possessed her to start singing in the middle of the night, her eyes never leaving the door. It was her call, a final resort she thought, to see if he would respond.

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Sleep had eluded him that night, the sole reason behind it being the beautiful woman that he had invited to his bed. While he was pleased that she seemed to love his bed, he was very displeased that he was not there to share it with her.

If he were to be honest, he would not mind even if there was no bed… just the two of them together. Just the feel of his body wrapped around his where he could keep her safe… make her his. It did not help that his wolf was feeding these thoughts into his head, thoughts that were quickly going off the deep end in an effort to make him crack his resolve and just burst through the door where his beautiful mate would finally look upon him with those shy honey eyes.

He shook those thoughts away, knowing that while his thoughts were tempting, the health of his mate mattered more. He had waited for her for a long while, he could bear to wait for her for another night… maybe even more. At least now he knew that his mate was real…. He had one he could finally call his own.

The day had been complete chaos, but in the vast silence that enveloped him that night, he could at least rest a tiny bit knowing that she was safe in his room. He would have to deal with those problems tomorrow, even have to talk to his mate about the past, but tonight…. He had to let himself relax for the sake of his mate. She needed rest.

It was also difficult for Titus not to simply listen in on her. At first, he reasoned to himself that it was to keep watch for danger (which was highly unlikely in his abode), but he knew it was more to satisfy his hunger for her than anything else. Everything about her was addicting. Her long flowing hair, her beautiful delicate face, her soft little voice, and those wide honey eyes. A sweet trap, they were, and he would gladly be stuck in them any day. But now they were hidden behind the door separating the two of them, and all he had left of her was what he could hear.

The first few hours, he had honed in on her heartbeat and breathing, noticing that she was still awake, though she never moved. It worried him, thinking about the possible demons that may have been haunting her not on the outside, but within her mind. While he would be able to take down any physical foe daring to harm her, he knew that he did not have her trust to allow him to protect her from her mental demons as of yet. He promised himself that he would eventually get there, but he had to keep a slow pace.

After a few hours, he had decided to stop trying to listen in. It would only agitate him more and make him do something rash that could end up frightening her in the end. He simply laid on the uncomfortable couch that was much too small for his large frame and stared intently at the ceiling. His wolf was pacing within him, though he had given up hours ago in tempting Titus. He was now simply trying to control himself.

He had been thinking about the plans for tomorrow when his thoughts had been cut short as a sweet and beautiful sound enveloped the silent air. It was a song with words he could not really understand, but the voice was pure… it was heaven….

It was her.

“Robin,” he whispered to himself as he sat up on the couch, directing his gaze towards the door. There was no fear or urgency in her voice that he could detect, but there was an underlying call behind each and every perfect note. He knew now that she was calling for him.

His wolf that had been quietly pacing was now rattling at him, jumping immediately at the chance that had been given to them by their beautiful mate.

“She wants us….”

“She needs us…”

“Do you want to disappoint her?”

It was getting harder to deny those thoughts, especially when his wolf was right and she, herself, was the one calling them.

But his control was snapping….

The sweet and innocent call, one that only wished for his presence was igniting something far more primal within him, far rougher than he knew she wanted. He was not a man known for his control, and he knew at that moment he barely had any to hold on to.

With large but restrained strides, he had arrived at the door, just an inch away from him. The voice was much closer now, more enchanting, with a strength behind it as if she knew that he was outside just a few feet away. She was tempting him more than ever to come in. He was imagining then of the many things he could do to her… bring her pleasure…. Make her melt…

Oh God would he make her melt.

His hand had wrapped around the doorknob, his wolf practically panting in anticipation like a rabid animal, when something in him snapped, bringing him crashing back into reality. He quickly took his hand back and stepped away a few inches, the fire in his soul burning ever so badly.

It seemed she had heard his retreat as her song had turned silent, ending in an air of disappointment and rejection, that also resounded within him. His wolf felt even worse.

Not wanting her to feel that way and understanding his responsibility, he allowed himself to speak loudly enough for her to hear, swallowing back the evil thoughts that wanted to come to fore.

“Robin,” he heard her move at his voice, as if she had sat up on the bed. He could picture her then, those golden tresses brushing at her cheeks, over her shoulders, and down to her-

“Al… Titus,” her voice was soft, so so soft and he savored it for a second, shutting his eyes.

Mustering enough courage, he let out a breath. “I cannot come in tonight, not tonight.” She remained silent, so he continued. “I believe my control is not enough.”

She was starting to stand then, the sheets rustling about her as she edged off the bed. “I-I am yours now. You do not need to control yourself.”

Oh were those words of sweet temptation to him, igniting the flames even hotter and brighter within him. He could… he could….

But… he wouldn’t….

“But I respect you more than to lose control now, Robin. Someday soon, we will see all of each other. Tonight, I have to honor you more. Give yourself to me only when you completely trust me, only when you are truly mine in every way… Only then and never any less.”

It was a long while of silence that frightened Titus, thinking that he might have said something wrong, before he heard her finally return under the sheets and lay back down. She remained silent, but her actions had been enough a response for him, and he himself returned to bed.

The night had remained fierce, and sleep continued to evade them both.

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