Five long days passed with Ibhan laid up in the guest room. Remus and Robin popped in every once in a while, but he seemed content to sit by himself. I caught him playing around with the flowers in his satchel once, sorting them into piles or sketching them in his spell book. I never stayed in his room for too long though, the feelings were too much. I constantly wanted to be around him, or I found myself thinking about him when I was working or training the younger wolves.

At night I wandered if he thought of me. Then I would kick myself for being pathetic. But I couldn't help it, the mate bond demanded I stay close, that I know where he is and how he was all the time. When I tried to push him out of my mind, I got a headache from all the mental gymnastics it took to distract myself from him.

"Kyda, go take your man some food," Kalina said, snapping me out of my daydream. I sighed and took the plate from her.

"He is not my man," I reminded her and she kissed her teeth.

"The amount of time you two have spent together? There is no way you aren't feeling the bond yet," she said and I winced as her words hit home. "Oh, girl," she said, taking me by the shoulders, "you got it bad."

"thanks for the support," I said, wiggling out of her grasp.

"Talk to him, Kyda," she said, reinforcing her grip on my shoulders, "tell him."

"Tell him what? That I know almost nothing about him other than the fact that he smells like he was made for me, and that his stupid hair is the softest thing in the world and that I need him to stay here forever?" I whispered angrily, suddenly aware of how close the guest room was.

"Girl, you better say something or he is gonna walk on out of your life and you are gonna be the damn fool who let him get away!" she hissed back and I clenched my jaw. I hated it when she was right. I headed up the stairs before the food could get cold and knocked on the door. I was surprised to see Ibhan open it himself, leaning heavily on the frame.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked. He huffed and turned to limp back into the bed.

"I was exercising my leg," he said as he all but flopped onto the bed. I followed him into the room and set the plate on the nightstand.

"Running a marathon tomorrow?" I asked and he shot me a sour look.

"I have a long walk home, remember?" he said and I sucked in a deep breath.

"Right, well, you should probably eat something then," I said and handed him the plate. I headed for the door, but stopped at the threshold.

"What is it, wolf?" he asked and I sighed, leaving without giving him an answer.

"Chicken," Kalina said as I came back down. I swatted her arm as she invaded my space.

"Leave it alone, Kalina, he's getting ready to leave and I'm not going to stand in his way. He should stay because he wants to." We stood facing each other for a long moment. I could feel her concern and her need to help through our bond. She only wanted to see me happy, and while I appreciated that, I wasn't about to force someone to stay in my life.

"I love you, " I said quietly, hugging her close to me. She wrapped me up in her arms and I let her hold me, gently swaying.

"It'll be okay," she assured me and I nodded. Letting go, I left the house and headed for the northern border of the woods where a coven of witches lived. I liked to visit the witches from time to time, they always had gossip from the citadel to share, and they made the most amazing tea. I shifted into my fur and ran, working off some of the tension as I quickly covered the distance.

It wasn't long before I reached the Thornwood territory. The woods here were not as heavily infused with magic as the Heavenly Thicket, serving more as a boundary between the pack and the rest of Raynor. I like that it was here, encircling us and keeping us tucked away like a safe haven. Nestled amongst the trees where small cottages and huts, each one brimming with flowers and the most intoxicating smells you could imagine, because naturally, almost all the witches here were of the garden type.

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I shifted back into my skin as I approached, and a head of messy blonde curls immediately popped out of the closest hut.

"Kyda, my darling!" Imogen cooed. Her eyes were vibrant with energy as she looked me over before pulling me into a hug.

"Always good to see you too, Imy," I said as I hugged her back. Witches, like wolves, were very contact friendly people for the most part.

"Oh, do come in darling, I've got a new tea recipe brewing," she said excitedly, practically bouncing.

"I really shouldn't stay," I said, "but I can always come by another time," I reassured her as she pouted.

"You wolves, always moving so quickly," she tutted and turned back to her home. "Come on, I know what you're here for," she called over her shoulder and I followed her into her cottage.

The cottage was small but overflowing with flowers and herbs and warmth. I loved coming here, it was like a whole other world. Three pots were bubbling away on the stove, and several small birds chattered in the rafters above us. Imogen sauntered over to a tall, crooked closet And rifled around inside as I drifted over to a fresh batch of flowers.

"How's it going with that warlock of yours anyway, hm?" She called out from the depths of her mess.

"He's leaving," I said and she stopped digging for a moment and turned back to me.

"You know, I have a love potion that can fix that. I'd give it to you for free too," she said wiggling her brows.

"Thank you, Imy, but I don't want to force it. If he's going, so be it," I said and she gave me a sad smile.

"But you've waited so long," she said as she finally found what she was looking for. Ibhans robe had been torn badly in his fight but Imogen had done an excellent job repairing it. You couldn't even see where it had ripped from.

"I can wait a while longer," I said as I took the robe from her. It was heavy and warm, the fabric soft in my hands.

"Well, if you change your mind, darling, you know where I am," she said, hugging me once again, slightly suffocating me in her curls.

I thanked her and turned to leave, but those flowers caught my eye again. They were large and white, the petals looking almost like they were made of crystals. "Hey what are these flowers, I don't think I've ever seen them before," I asked Imogen and she lit up at the chance to talk again.

"Ooh, these are from the silver lace trees, terribly hard to come by," she said as she gently lifted one from the pile. "Give me your hand," she placed the flower in my palm and I gasped as my skin cooled from its touch.

"Why is it cold?" I asked and she giggled excitedly.

"Silver lace trees bloom spontaneously, and their flowers nectar has incredible healing properties, if you can brace the cold of the tree to pick them," she said and I smiled as I admired the flower.

"It's so pretty," I lifted my hand back to Imogen so she could take it but she shook her head.

"On the house, darling, off you go," she said, pushing me out the door before I could argue.

"Thank you!" I called through the window before I started walking home. I didn't shift this time, I hadn't brought a satchel with and I didn't want to risk losing the flower.

Eventually, when I reached home, I sighed heavily, suddenly remembering that I also had to give Ibhan his robe.

I walked up the stairs with a heavy heart but shook myself out of it before I entered his room. I deserved a better chance than the one he had given me.

"Hey," I said loudly as I opened his room door.

"You're back," he said dryly, until his eyes landed on what I was carrying. "Is that my robe?" He asked, sitting up a little straighter.

"Mhm, and I got you a little something else." I sat on the edge of his bed and held up my palm, the silver lace blossom shimmering in the light from the window.

"Is that what I think it is?" He said as he focused on the flower.

"One silver lace blossom, from a very cold silver lace tree," I said, watching how his attention never wavered.

"How did you get it?" He asked and I smiled coyly.

"Ah, I can't tell you that now, can I?" He narrowed his eyes at me and I handed him his robe.

"You can have the flower," I said and he looked up from inspecting his robe, his expression a little bewildered, "on one condition."

"Of course," he sighed, "what would you like, a song?"

"No, I want you to be honest with me," I said and he sighed.

"Wolf, I already told you, I'm leaving, there really is no point in prolonging this anymore," he said and I clicked my tongue, leaning back from him.

"That's a shame," I said softly, "I heard this flower is pretty good for healing things, and we both know that leg can't get you home in one peice."

He chuckled and I couldn't help but stop and watch. The sound was deep and rough, and his smile was wide as he looked at me, head cocked to the side.

"You've got bite, wolf," he admitted.

"Of course I do," I said, sitting up. "Now, do we have a deal?" He eyed the flower once more and sighed, leaning back against the headboard.

"Fine, we have a deal."