Page 13 of Season's Greetings
But it wasn’t to be.
Daniel was wiggling out of bed.
Matthew had expected him to head to the bathroom, answering the call of nature. So when Daniel turned to the window instead, Matthew was confused.
Immediately, he shuddered, feeling the cold air where Daniel’s warm body had been. After so many nights spent cold and alone, he didn’t want to be parted from his bond mate.
Part of him wanted to call out, to demand Daniel come back to bed. But the stiffness in the bear shifter’s posture spoke of unease—unease that made Matthew question himself.
So he stayed. And waited.
Watched the faint dawn light chase away the last shadows of night.
He was torn between giving Daniel space and offering comfort. The need to reach out and hold his mate was too much. Slipping from beneath the sheets, he padded over to his alpha and pressed soft kisses against his back.
A tremor ran through him—a physical manifestation of the conflicting emotions. The need to soothe and comfort warred with the fear of overstepping, leaving his hands trembling slightly as he slowly grasped Daniel’s arms and leaned in close.
His heart hammered against his ribs, a frantic rhythm mirroring the anxiety churning in his belly. The scent of Daniel—usually a source of calm—now seemed to intensify the raw vulnerability flooding his senses.
Daniel shifted away from him as if his touch burned.
The sting of rejection hit almost as hard as a physical blow.
Matthew stood motionless, his brain struggling to compute what his eyes were showing him. Daniel’s words of regret swirled around him, and still he stood there—watching his mate gather up his clothes, pull them on, and leave.
Gone.
Leaving Matthew alone with thoughts that swarmed like angry bees.
His stomach lurched. His hands flew to his belly as his knees gave out and he crumpled to the floor. He lay there, body shaking with quiet sobs, the morning’s cold seeping deep into his soul.
All the while, his bond mark burned.
Hot—like the regret that lingered and festered.
If only he’d been strong enough to go against his parents’ wishes.
But he hadn’t.
He’d complied. Like the “good omega” they’d tried to mold him into.
He’d let them take him away from his love and his life. Let them coerce him into a loveless marriage of alliance.
The only solace he’d found was in his bond—and the child he and Daniel had created together.
Chapter 8
Daniel
Snow fell soft as ash, erasing his tracks.
If only life were so simple.
Daniel stood at the edge of the grove, fists clenched, breath steaming. He’d left the lodge hours ago and was still struggling to figure out what had driven him outside.
Matthew hadn’t followed.
Not then.
