Chapter 20: With Him I Stay

Seeing him in this manner with so much dismay and heartache is utterly devastating. It’s like I’m a part of him; I feel what he feels. I become sad when he’s sad. I suppose if his mate was hearing all he’s saying now, she’d rather have a fractured arm than a broken heart.

That phrase triggered Zarion, eyes blazing with fire. I’ve never seen him upset like this. I immediately looked away. “Right, you must have your reasons.”

“I love that you could catch up real quick.”

In a heartbeat, both of us fell into a staring contest. Basically, Zarion will leave me after helping me with the process of rejection. That’s what the deal is. In the end, it’s all about him giving me a charity case. In the end, we will still part ways. In the end—

I will still be left alone. And he will still live mateless regardless if I convince him to stay or not.

But I don’t want to be his charity—I want to be part of his life. His mate. Maybe, if I could work it out between us before the successful rejection process of me and Alpha Brandon, he’s going to change his mind.

And I surely will.

***

Zarion and I went to the place of what he called a healer or the doctor that could help me with my situation.

We had a stop-over when there was a blizzard, also my stomach began to grumble. He can handle the cold, yes, but I cannot. While I almost froze to death, he was the one who gave me warmth. I thought it’s a good move, but he was damn silent all the time.

He does it like he just needed to—not that he wanted to. Not that he desired to. It feels like a duty, and I so much hate that idea. Duty, not desire. Need, not want. “We’re near,” Zarion whispered as I was on a piggy back ride with him. “Okay,” I whispered back, teeth chattering as he continued walking towards an unfamiliar cabin.

“Thank you,” I muttered as I looked at the small wooden shelter. We were at the top of the hill, somewhere hidden from society and the world. A man living here seems to safely guard his soul. That is if he’s a man.

Zarion knocked on the door thrice. But still, no one answered. “What if he’s not here?” I murmured, distress evident on my face.

“He’s here. Look above,” we both arched our heads and I saw the stainless steel roof ventilator moving in a circular motion. I thought this was just a wooden cabin. Turns out it was more than what the eyes see. “Maybe he’s afraid of the people, or the…” Yes, someone must be here inside as commotion shattered the brief quietude that was present. “...werewolves.”

Zarion licked his lower lip and knocked again. This time, it was louder than I thought he was going to crumble the door into splinters. “Elliot! This is goddamn Zarion!”

A couple of minutes later, a man in a white lab gown with gloves on his hand was standing in front of us. I thought him to be more old-fashioned looking than I thought he’d be. “You’re here,” his throat bobbed as his eyes studied my figure. “And you’re with someone.”

Elliot looked at me from head to toe. He looks young, like really young. He has frizzy and curly brown hair with Asian eyes and a long pointed nose. Plump lips pouted as I gave him a pair of knitted brows. Elliot wholly looks messy, and anyone could tell he’s freaking good-looking without so much of a blink.

Maybe I was staring too much at him. Zarion obviously made me realize that as he cleared his throat. “Cassidy, this is Elliot Osborne, the person I was talking about that might help you with your—” He inhaled first before resuming.”... situation. Now, if you please?”

Zarion strode between us when I was about to shake my hand with Elliot, leaving me behind. Elliot smiled a little and told me to get inside due to the cold threatening me to devour whole. I removed my coat and hung it on the top of the couch, where a nail was tacked on the wall, ready to receive my coat.

Elliot sat on the couch as soon as we reached the foyer—or the living room, I don’t know. I remained standing as Zarion inspected the old cylinders, small plants, rats inside a wooden jar, and several stones on Elliot’s kitchen table. Is he really a doctor or a witch doctor? Is he also a wolf who could shift from a human? Well, I guess I should wait for it to happen, am I?

“Don’t touch it, you idiot!” Elliot shrieked at Zarion like a child bellowing at his older brother. Miraculously, I saw Zarion smirking—the second time I caught him doing it. Or was it the first? Jokes aside, the two must be so close. Like real close. I could sense it from their gestures and their jolly interaction with each other.

“How are you, man?”

“I’m doing fine, not until you appear at my threshold.” Elliot wrinkled his nose as he answered Zarion’s question. “You know the last time you appeared in front of my door, it was bad news. I doubt it’s the opposite right now. Please tell me I’m right, Miss—?”

“Bentley. Cassidy Salem Bentley,” I poked out my chest with pride. “And you are certainly right, Mr. Elliot. Zarion still bears bad news in his palms.”

I held my laughter as Zarion rolled his eyes at my statement.