Alx's P.O.V.

'Wake up'

Ignoring Eric, I tighten my grip around the body in my arms.
Wait......
What?
Opening my eyes, I blink a few times to clear my vision. Shayla? My arms are wraped around Shayla? Shit!
'Alx you need to get up now.'
'Eric!!!'
'That was all you. I hade no part in it.'
'But you didn't stop me either.' Slowly moving off the bed so, not to wake her up.
'Why would I?'
'Because I repetitively told you it was a bad idea. Repetitively.'
Shayla curling u into a ball stops me from telling him off more. Right, my body temperature is much higher than hers. She must be cold. I cover her with the blanket. Grabbing it, she wrapes it around herself. She's warm now. Good. Forgetting that I should be leaving, I watch her sleeping peacefully, slightly mesmerised.
'I still don't understand why you can't tell her yet.' Eric, just having to ruin it.
'One, we have no idea how she'll react. Two, we still don't know what she's hiding, or why she's hiding it. Three, she is human the chances of her even feeling the bond is little to none. Four, she is Chris' sister. And five, she has trust issues; she might not believe us.'
He just growls at me and I growl back at him.
Slowly and quietly walking out her room and down the hallway. Walking through that lounge, past Chris sleeping on the couch. I make an extra effort to be quiet; knowing that he's going to wake up soon. Safely out the door, I close it gently. And start to walk back to my house. Try to that is. It's harder than I thought it would be. I know it's just walking. But I'm walking away from her. My mate.
Shit.
All I want to do is run back to her. With every step I take away from her makes me want to two steps toward her. Whereas before it was more like 1:1 or 1:1.5. Now it's 1:3.
Finally arriving at my door, I stop for a moment. Catching my breath. Opening the door, I walk in and lock it behind me. Normally I wouldn't do this, but I feel like I need to today. Not really to stop people to come in. But more to give myself another thing to do before I can leave. Walking right past the counter where I would normally place my phone, keys and wallet. Locking doors is one thing, but that is another. I just walk straight to my office. Locking the door behind me. Looking at my desk, I see the pile of papers that need to be signed. It's not the biggest I've ever seen, but it's not the smallest either. Sighing, I run my hand through my hair. All I can think about is her. Why is it so hard today?
Looking at the pile of papers, I sigh again. I really don't want to do paperwork. But when have I ever wanted to? Since when did anyone want to do paperwork.
I might as well. It has to be done. It'll be a distraction. Just do it. Picking up the first one, I start to read it. Sign it. And place it in the completed pile. Repeat.
-
After finishing, I don't know, document No. 10. With, I don't know, 110 still to go. Rubbing my eyes, I take a deep breath in, preparing myself for the next round. Suddenly an image of Shayla pops up in my head.
"Not now."
Shacking it off, I carry on with the paperwork. Slowly making my way through the pile. And very slowly at that. Read it. Sign it. Place it in the completed pile. Read it. Sign it. Place it in the completed pile. Read it. Don't sign it. Place it in the rejected pile. Read it. Sign it. Place it in the completed pile. Read it. Place it in the further discussions pile. Read it. Sign it. Place it in the completed pile. Read it. Throw it in the trash, because it's bull shit. Read it. Throw it in the trash, because it's also bull shit.
*Knock, knock* It's Chris, I can smell him.
Walking up to my office door, I open it.
"Hello" he greats me simply.
Nodding my head, I let him in before returning to my desk. Sitting down, I offer the chair on the other side of my desk to Chris. Was my door not locked? How did he get in?
"How'd you get in?" I ask, not bothering with putting an expression on my face.
"I picked the lock." He answers honestly, taking a seat.
At least my door isn't broken.
"Why?"
"The door was locked." He answers plain-faced.
You don't say.
"Why do you know how to pick locks?"
"It's just soothing that Shayla and I would do for fun." He states honestly again.
"You stole things for fun?"
"No. What gave you that impression?" frowning, surprised that I would think such a thing.
"Picking locks and stealing things go hand in hand."
"We didn't steal anything. We just hade competitions. Like you know, who could pick it in the least amount of time. Stealing has never been on my agenda. Other than the fact that we didn't like the idea of stealing. No one really had anything that we wanted to steal. We had everything that we wanted. We weren't spoilt rich kids that got everything they asked for. But we had everything we needed and wanted."
They know how to pick locks but never stole anything. Right. Ok.
"We had loving parents, a roof over our heads and food than we probably needed. Sure, there were a few tough times. But there was more good than bad. And school was hell for both of us. But our parents taught us how to deal with that. Whether that be by the means of our words and lack thereof. Or by the means of our fists. And they taught us what called for what action." Chris explained.
"I thought that your mother was against violence?"
"Yea, she has always been. But when it comes to someone threatening or hurting those she holds dear, all that goes out the window. She wasn't a pushover and didn't want us to be either. Shit. At times she was scarier than my dad. And that's saying something."
"The more I find out about you and your family, the more I understand why you are who you are." I state honestly, returning to my work. There is a moment of silence.
"Alx?"
"Yes?" still not looking up from my work.
"No offence. But why do you look like shit?"
Do I look like shit? Well, I feel like shit. So, it only makes sense that I look it too.
"The paperwork is getting to me today." Pointing at the pile of still unfinished papers. Not a complete lie.
'Not the whole truth either.' Eric grows at me. I just ignore him.
What's really bothering me is that Shayla's not by my side. It's bothered me before, but it's really getting to me today. Why?
"Am I able to help you?" Chris asks, breaking me from my thought.
My eye dart between him and the pile of papers. I don't see why he can't. Definitely not normal. But I don't see why not. If he could just read them that would be great.
"Ok." Standing up. "There are three piles. Cleared, rejected and further discussions." Pointing at each pile. "You should know me well enough to know what I would and wouldn't agree to." Handing him the pile of papers.
He nods his head.
"And what do I do with the ones that are just a load of bull shit?" He asks, bringing a smile to my face.
"Throw it in the trash."
He huffs a laugh at that, picking up the first document and getting to work.
-
"Well, that was the last one." Chris, placing the last document in the cleared pile. "Is there anything else you need my help with?"
"No. Thank you for your help." I thank him, not looking up. Still not done with my side of the paperwork.
"Ok. I'll just go back and check up on Shayla before going onto my other duties for today." About to leave.
Shayla.
Hopefully, she's feeling a bit better.
"How is she?" lifting my head.
"Um... I don't really know." He states non-caringly.
How can he not know?
"She was still asleep when I left."
Oh.
"Which is odd. She's normally up before I am." He confesses with a slightly puzzled look on his face.
"But that's good she needs sleep."
"Yea, um... did you take her to her room?"
...
"Yes, I did. Didn't think that the two of you would have liked sharing the couch. Why?"
"Oh. Just wondering. I didn't remember doing it. And for her to get up and go to bed herself, you would have to wake her up. And you didn't seem very fond of that idea. Thanks anyhow."
I nod my head, looking back down at the paperwork.
"Ok, bye. See you when I see you." Chris leaving me with my thoughts.
I feel like I've run across the country. Dam paperwork. But that's not why I'm tired. I'm tired because I'm trying to stay away from her. Not something that I'm meant to be doing. Maybe I should get some shut-eye. That sound like a good idea.
But first I must sign the rest of this paperwork. It doesn't take long. But it feels it. There done. Walking out of my office, I make my way to my bedroom. Lying down on my bed, I realise just how exhausted I am.
'You wouldn't be so exhausted if you stopped fighting the bond and told her.'
'Could you please tell me why it's been so bad today? Compared to all the others.'
'Physical contact not only heals one's mate but also strengthens the bond and it's effects.'
'You prick. You knew that this would happen. You knew, yet you still didn't stop me.'
'It still would have happened sooner or later.'
'Well, it could have been latter. Why'd you do it?'
'Like you insist on reminding me; she's human. Her healing rate is painfully slow. I wanted her to heal. This is just a bonus benefit.'
'You're a prick. That's all I have to say to you. You're a prick.' Trying to go to sleep. To regain some energy.
'Going to sleep won't help you much.'
"Shut the fuck up Eric!'