DAY 36

B.E.A.R. LABORATORIES

LEVEL 5

9:27 AM

A sudden weight on my chest wakes me from my slumber. I blearily open my eyes to see myself in a room that is not my bedroom. The walls are white and the bed isn't nearly as soft as my one at home. Where am I? I sit up frantically only to be stopped by the very thing that woke me. A mess of dark brown hair is settled on my chest and strong arms are wrapped tightly around my waist, restricting my movements. My breaths come fast and my legs kick at the unknown person.

"Holy..." It is only when Theseus' startled eyes look up to meet mine that I remember where I am. The phone call, searching in the forest, Dr. Vanderwall, falling asleep... With the lights now turned back on, I watch as Theseus picks his head up from my chest, concern etched across his features. His eyebrows are furrowed and his eyes are wide, his lips parted slightly.

He stretches and hand up to my face and gently strokes my cheek. My breaths return to normal. I place my hand over his and gently push it away, his lips pursing in a frown.

"I'm alright, I just forgot where I was is all." This doesn't seem to convince him, as he pulls me against his large frame once more and entangles his legs with mine. He pushes his head underneath my chin and places a chaste kiss underneath my jaw.

My eyes widen in shock, my body freezing in his hold. He has never kissed me before.

"Safe," he whispers against my skin, his hands stroking up and down my back soothingly.

"We should probably get up," I say. When I fell asleep I wasn't expecting him to climb in the bed with me. Theseus shakes his head, mumbling incoherently. "Get off, Theseus. I may have to leave soon," I say sternly. This time, I tug at his arms and push myself into a sitting position.

He looks at me in surprise. I'm not sure if it is surprise that I effectively sat up, or that I would get up against his wishes. Either way, the look is quickly replaced by one of determination.

My eyes widen as he shoves me back down on the mattress, laying his giant form on top of my petite one. His legs squeeze around my thighs and his arms cage me in possesively. I am now made harshly aware that I am alone in this room. There are no cameras; there are no speakers.

"Mate stays," he growls, his hands tightening around my wrists.

This definitely WAS NOT the reaction I thought I was going to get. I wiggle in his hold and try to calm my racing heart.

"T-Theseus. I-I'm not leaving. Just let me get up, okay? You are scaring me." And he was. Underneath the gargantuan form of a possesive, instinct-lead, lycan is not where I want to be. "Please, just let me go."

"No!" He yells through gritted teeth. "Mate won't leave me!"

I look up at him with terrified eyes, my chest rising and falling with my fast breaths. I bite my lip as his claws start to sink in to the flesh of my wrists.

"You. Stay," he demands.

"Yes, I-I'll stay."

He glances down at my shaking form beneath him before looking back at my face. I plead with him through my eyes to let me go. I'm not sure where this possesive behavior came from, but it terrifies me.

He releases a warning growl before letting go slowly. Theseus stands up, regarding me with a passive expression. I sit up and push my back against the wall, too afraid to move anywhere else.

"Theseus. What was that?"

He runs his hands through his hair and tugs at the ends. He paces back and forth in front of me.

"D-don't leave me!" he pleads. His eyes are frantic as they meet my fearful gaze. In reality, we are both afraid. He is afraid that I will leave him. I am afraid at what it means to stay.

"Mate...safe here," he says quietly, kneeling in front of my tense form. I pull myself back even further when he reaches a hand towards me, my wrists leaving a small droplets of blood on the pristine bedding.

I felt safe when he was being gentle, but now he is anything but gentle. His claws are still out and fur trails down his spine. I shake my head at him. Regret and apology shine in his eyes.

"You hurt me," I say, holding up my wrist. His eyes widen at my marred skin. "You have lost a lot of the trust I had in you. What happened to the gentle lycan who petted my hair; who got excited at my attention; who lulled me to sleep last night?" Regret settles upon his shoulders, red rimming his eyes. "You scared me."

He grips the bed sheets in his fists and rests his head on the mattress, his legs curled underneath him. Theseus looks up, tears slowly dripping down his cheeks. His gaze slides to my wrists and he clenches his eyes shut at the sight, canine-like whines emitting from his chest.

"S-sorry!" He gasps through his tears. "I-I'm scared."

"What are you scared about?" I say apprehensively.

"Scared for Mate," he says, finally meeting my gaze.

"Why are you scared for me?"

"I-I can't pro-protect if...you not here."

I take a moment to decipher his words. "You want me here so you can protect me? I thought you wanted me here so you didn't get sick again."

He lowers his head. "I...sick from worry."

My heart clenches at his broken admission. "So you worry yourself to death. Literally." He nods solemnly. "Does it have to do with me being your 'mate?'" Another nod. "And that's why you were so aggressive. You wanted to protect me."

He looks up at me then, sorrow and pain in his eyes. He reaches his hand out to my wrist before pausing, making eye contact as if to ask permission. I nod once. He tentatively takes my wrist in his large hands. I notice his claws are no longer there.

"It's fine, I can just go to the infirmary--" I am cut off by his tongue darting out across the flesh of my bleeding wrist. If I didn't know any better, I would say it was a sensual thing, but he doesn't stare at me--choosing instead to focus his attention on the affected area--and the low whines that escape his chest show that apology and sorrow are the only things on his mind, not intimacy.

He sweeps his tongue over each wrist one more time before placing my hand back in my lap, rocking back on his heels, refusing to meet my gaze. I open and close my mouth like a fish before I finally am able to form words, clearly still shocked by his actions.

"Uh w-why did you do that?" His eyebrows furrow and his head tilts. He gestures to my hands. I look down only to see no remaining blood and no cuts. My wounds are completely healed. If I was shocked before, that was nothing. "H-how in the--" I trail off, unable to form coherent sentences. Does he have super powers that I didn't know about?

"I heal Mate," he says, a small, proud smile adorning his otherwise down-turned lips.

What would the others say about this if I were to tell them? What would they say about any of the things that have happened in the last 7 hours. Should I tell them about this?

"I shouldn't tell them about this, should I?" I say, voicing my thoughts to Theseus. He growls. "So, you can heal people?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "Just you."

"This...this is wild. Are there any other powers I need to be made aware of?" I ask.

He chuckles slightly, "No."

I look down at my wrists, running my fingers across the unblemished surface. Theseus watches my movements. "Thank you," I say quietly, "Even though it was your fault." I smile teasingly at him, but his eyes remain downcast, most likely still upset by his previous actions. I would be angry with him for being so aggressive, but he seems to be pretty upset on his own.

"Hey, just don't do it again, and we will be fine. Alright?" He nods silently, still staring at the floor. I slide to the end of the bed and lay a gentle hand on his shoulder. His muscles relax and a sigh slips passed his lips.

"I have to go get us some food now, okay?" I tell him. He whines, pushing his head underneath my palm.

"G-go with Vee?" He says, peeking up at me through his eyelashes. A small smile teases my lips as I take in his puppy-like state.

"I don't think so. You are kind of a secret. Not many people know you exist, which is why you are locked up in here. They are trying to keep you safe." It is a lie, I know. They are trying to keep others safe, not him. It pains me to lie to him like this, but I am afraid of what he might think of the truth.

He growls softly, pushing his cheek further into my hand. I giggle as his beard tickles my skin and I pet his head.

"I won't be long. I promise."

Theseus follows me as I make my way to the door. I place my badge over the sensor and open the door. The security that stand on the other side immediately ready their guns. I signal them to stand down as I turn back to the sullen lycan. "I'll be back in a few minutes. You will be fine," I say, gripping his hand one last time before closing the door.