My Fated Mate Can Have Her-Chapter 40: Into The Wild II

Violet

I sat on one of the flat rocks near the stream and scooped water into my mouth. The burning in my lungs had gone, and arms and legs had stopped shaking. I wiped my lips and turned at the sounds behind me. He was already moving, efficiently unpacking supplies, and already setting up what looked like the framework for the tent.

I took a moment to fully take in the clearing. It was beautiful. The ground was covered in thick moss, soft and springy beneath my feet. In the center of the large clearing was a barren patch of land ringed by smooth stones as if someone had deliberately arranged it there.

’A fire pit?’

A sharp thud resounded in the space and I watched him again. He drove wooden stakes deep into the mossy earth with clean, brutal thrusts that made the muscles in his back ripple beneath his fitted shirt. When he yanked one of the ropes taut, the muscles in his arms shifted, and I noticed veins I hadn’t seen before pulling against his skin. And when he bent forward for another pole, the hem of his shirt lifted just enough to flash his skin. A single bead of sweat trailed down his spine and disappeared underneath the band of his pants.

I soon found myself watching his fluid movements and the casual display of strength that made setting up the tent look effortless.

Heat coursed low through my stomach so suddenly I immediately jerked my gaze away, frowning.

Why was he even wearing something like that?!

I forced myself to look at the stream. At the trees. At literally anything else.

"We’re five hours from the inner district." His voice startled me, and I looked up to find him securing the last rope, not looking at me as he worked.

He tested the tent’s stability with a final firm tug. "No one will disturb us."

His words sent a flutter through my stomach that I absolutely did not want to acknowledge.

I was going to be alone with him for days...

He moved the rest of the bags into the tent and a jarring realisation made me go still. There was only one tent.

My pulse quickened for an entirely different reason now. "Wait. Is that... is there a second tent?" I asked as he was coming out of it.

Kael paused, glancing at me with that same carefully neutral expression he’d worn all week.

He eyed the tent. "No."

"But—" I looked between him and the single tent, my mind racing. "Are we sharing... Where are you going to sleep?"

His eyes widened in surprise. "No. I will stay outside."

He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Outside?"

He pulled the flap. "The tent is for you. I will sleep outside."

I struggled to find words that didn’t sound like I wanted him in the tent with me. Which I absolutely didn’t. Obviously.

He had an immediate look in my eyes that prevented me from protesting. His word was final.

"Such would be second nature to you if you were—" His expression hardened instantly, and it didn’t take another second for me to realise just what he was about to say.

If I wasn’t an Omega.

I looked away, bitter. "I understand."

"I am used to this, don’t worry. And it’s far more comfortable than you think." He went back into the tent and within minutes returned with a small warm clothed wrap, nearly dropping it into my outstretched hands. "Eat and rest. We will begin after sunset."

I cradled the warm bundle, staring at it. "After dark?"

He walked away. "Yes."

"Please, wait..." I murmured. He stopped and turned back to look at me. "Ila was supposed to be the one training me?"

The sudden thought came out of my lips when I thought back to Tow’s reaction in the study.

For him to personally want to teach me like this...

He looked to the side as if in thought. "Your improvement is impressive... and insanely rapid despite not being trained. I determined Ila would not be able to handle you properly, so I changed my mind."

"Aren’t you busy?"

"I have put Tow in charge of things until our return." He touched his chin as his other hand rested on his hip. His eyes shifted to meet mine. "You need to be able to sense threats in the dark, to accurately track movements, and more importantly learn how to fully utilise your power. Your stamina comes first before all that."

He turned towards the tree line. "I will be back. Need to scout the area."

Soon I was the only one left in the clearing. I wordlessly opened the clothing to reveal a strange metallic paper wrapped around the warm mound. I tried opening it carefully, but it ripped in many places that I just gave up and tore it open.

A thick bread bun sat in the metallic paper with melted cheese wedged in its center.

My eyes widened.

I hadn’t taken cheese in years.

The meals I had eaten in his estate were richer in protein, but I guess they must have felt this was too casual to be included.

Still, the snack brought me both joy and sadness, and for a moment, I thought of home.

’Granny would always make me these back then...’

My eyes stung as I silently ate, fighting back tears in case Kael returned anytime soon.

Some time later, Kael had still not yet returned when I went into the tent. The inside looks simple, yet comfortable.

The same thick material the tent was made of covered the floor. There was a thick bedroll spread out, and the bags were placed against the tent fabric. I laid down on the soft bedspread, fully intending to just rest my eyes for a moment. But exhaustion claimed me faster than I expected, and pulled me into a dreamless sleep.

[ - ]

The closeness of him hit me first. Followed by the heat of his body, and the quiet rasp of his breath as he called out my name.

I sat up quickly, my pulse spiking as I found Kael inside the tent and leaning over me.