Chapter 29: Too Close Yet Too Far


    In the bright early morning, Einar struggled to open his eyes. Today had been the most pleasant day in


    his entire life. He felt content, he felt happy, overjoyed for he was not restless about a certain person


    the weing rays of the early sun, scratching its way through the window. The curtains added an


    orange glow to the morning light. He reached for the fabric beneath noticing the warmth of the material.


    With the warmth came a faint mesmerising aroma which reeled his senses on a high alert. He looked


    sideways and sucked in a lot of breath in astonishment.


    Sleeping besides him was a shirtless Can!


    He frantically moved his head around and noticed that he was out of his ce. He sniffed smells to


    confirm that the house belonged to Ashtons. He could note up with the exnation as to why he


    was in Can''s house out of all the ces. The more important question being; why was his mate


    sleeping besides him partially naked?!


    Unintentionally his eyes went to the torso of Can. He noticed small amount of hair surrounding the


    nipples to the the line of fine strands reaching from his chest to his belly button all the way to his groin


    area. However when he looked at his perfectly sculpted abs his mouth went dry. Can was beauty


    personified! His wless skin could put all the gods to shame. Though nudity was a norm in the


    werewolf world still Einar was being all shy and nervous in the presence of his mate. The urge to touch


    that physique was overwhelming. Einar in his own trance reached for Can''s rhythmic heart. He was


    about to touch Can''s chest when the handsome man hummed in his sleep. The sleepy melodic voice


    brought Einar out of his daze and he pulled his hand back.


    He wanted to distract himself from the beautiful body and so his eyes went straight for his face. That


    was even bigger a mistake..


    The pure bliss of watching this beautiful man sleeping with him was making Einar nuts. The shallow


    breaths Can took increased Einar''s palpitations. His perfect shiny ck hair covered his temples


    while his fluffy pink lips were inviting enough to make Einar crazy. He was thankful though that Can''s


    eyes were closed. Had it been otherwise, the fire in Can''s eyes would have burnt Einar through and


    through. Just a look and all of Einar''s senses would havee crashing through. Before his heart lost


    its control Einar decided to leave the ce and head for his home.


    He carefullynded on his feet. His head throbbed and his legs wobbled but he still managed to cross


    the door with great difficulties. In his rush he did not realise that he had been on medication and so the


    weakness. Moreover the fact that he was in his bare essentials lying with his half naked mate added to


    his woes. He made his way down to the main hall and searched for the kitchen. All the sexiness of his


    mate had made his mouth dry and elerated his heartbeat. He opened the lid of a few water


    containers but found it empty. He saw a jug of water lying near the burner and reached for it.


    Unfortunately there was not a single drop of water in it. He tilited it upside down in hopes to quench his


    thirst but it failed.


    Einar was startled when a ss of water appeared in his line of sight right in front of his chest. He


    gulped and sharply exhaled as a sexy half naked man was holding the ss with a smile.


    "Here.. take it." Can pushed forward the ss "You should have woken me up. There is no water in


    the house currently. The one barrel which was left was used up in your medication and healing."


    Einar just hummed and pretended to listen to what Can had to say. When in reality his mind was


    distracted by the sheer amount of flesh his mate was disying. The disheveled hair of his mate were


    dangling through his forehead while the beautiful forest green eyes were tempting Einar to kiss Can.


    His train of thoughts were put on hold when a hand was been waved in front of his eyes.


    "Do you need more?"


    "uh"


    "I asked if you need more water."


    "T-That will be all." He looked around in embarrassment and tried avoiding his mate. He could not take


    the proximity anymore and uttered "I think I should leave." He marched his way to find the door when


    suddenly his walk was interrupted by a hand.


    Can caught hold of Einar''s arm "You cannot go right now. Yourst decoction is yet to be consumed


    by you. I have alerted Aurora and she must''ve been on her way."


    Einar looked hesitant enough, like staying here for another minute would make him loose his sanity and


    he would take his mate here and now.


    Can noticed the dilemma in Einar''s face and thought that Einar must''ve been feeling out of ce,


    ufortable. Hence to aid him rx he offered him breakfast. "Why don''t you wait here for some


    time. I will freshen up and then we can have breakfast together."


    "Uh." Einar looked puzzled.


    "Don''t worry. I am not a bad cook." Can chuckled on the startled look of Einar and leaved for the


    door. He came back after some time with a bucket of water and a clean pair of clothes. "Your wounds


    have almost healed but still if you feel any difort don''t apply water to it." He then kept the clothes


    to a nearby table. "I guessed that since we are of the same height the clothes would fit you. I am sorry


    but I have no new washed pair. My mother usually does theundry and since you can see she is not


    here I have no choice but to hand you these." Einar fidgeted his fingers as he kept looking at the


    clothes intently. The unwashed clothes where the scent of his mate was lingering.


    When he looked at Einar''s face Can thought that he had insulted him or made him angry. Einar''s


    face was stoic and glued to the clothes. "I am sorry if I have insulted you in any way. Don''t worry about


    the clothes. You can call Garrick and..."


    "NO! The clothes will do." Einar quickly snatched the fabric and turned his back. He leaned his head


    and breathed in the mesmerising aroma of the clothes.


    Can was confused for a moment but he recovered quickly and went to do his morning chores. After


    some time when he came back to the kitchen he saw that Einar had taken his seat on the food table


    already. He was wearing the clothes Can had provided him while he admiringly red at the fabric


    from its cuffs to the shoulders. Can smiled that the alpha had liked his clothes and went straight to


    the kitchen table. Heid down the water container he had filled on his way to the house and looked at


    Einar. "So what would you like to eat?"


    ''I..I don''t know. Surprise me."


    Can smiled and started picking up the utensils to make a dish. All this time Einar just focused solely


    on the bare back of his mate. The sheer amount of muscles, the perfect skin and the curved bottom.


    These were making it difficult for the alpha to think straight. He wanted to distract himself from the


    vulgar thoughts he had for his mate but his manhood had a mind of its own. It was struggling to


    maintain its position and tried to sneak out of the now tightened pants. Einar breathed heavily to calm


    himself but nothing seemed to be working right now. He could not stand from his ce as it would


    show his arousal and embarrass him even further. He clenched and unclenched his fists and took deep


    breaths.


    Can was all smiles when he returned soon with a tter full of food. Eggs, pork cuts, piles of fried


    potatoes were all decorated in the short space of the container. He kept it on a side of the table and


    returned again with a teapot and muffins sprinkled with strawberry sugar cubes. There was a joy in how


    Can ted the food. There was a feeling of love in his subtle smile and soft gaze. For the first time


    ever Einar could see every day of his future he desired. He wanted this happiness; he wanted this


    contentment. Most importantly; he wanted Can.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    These thoughts brought so much joy in him that Einar''s eyes could no longer control his emotions as it


    freely flew.


    "What happened? Are you hurt?"


    Einar blinked his eyes rapidly andposed himself. "Don''t worry. Its just the wounds. It will subside


    soon."


    To cry on a healing wound was not the Einar he knew. Can thought that probably Einar had recalled


    the moments from his attack which got him emotionally weak. "Do you remember anything from the


    attack?" he asked cautiously.


    Einar nodded "I remember everything. By the way, how long have I been out and why am I in your


    ce rather the pack house?"


    "It has been four days. To bring you here was my idea. We thought that you must recuperate


    somewhere aloof so that the pack does not know of your attack."


    "That was a wise decision." Einar smirked. "And why are you not wearing any shirt?''''


    Can instinctively looked at his bare self and chuckled "It is an old habit of mine. I usually sleep naked


    in my bed but since I was sleeping with you, I had to make apromise and cover myself partially."


    "You should not change your habits for someone." These words halted Can''s action. His mind


    suggested that Einar''s words had a different meaning. He just rebuffed the thought as he looked


    intently at the alpha.


    They red at each other awkwardly for a few moments before Can cleared his throat "Have some


    food. Some sugar in your system will do you good.''''


    Einar coyly smiled and nodded at his mate. He then shyly dug in to the food and when the first bite


    entered his mouth; he moaned in ecstasy. He had never tasted delicacy as such. The food was more


    than delicious. Einar just forgot the world and started eating the food as if there was no tomorrow.


    Can was dumbfounded by the appetite Einar possessed and kept looking at him in amusement.


    When Einar was about to finish the food, Can offered his own te and the alpha happily obliged.


    The childlike behaviour of Einar brought a smile to Can''s face.


    In his hurry to consume it all, Einar had spilled some of the food on the table while some of it was


    smeared on his lips slightly outwards towards the chin. Can could no longer control himself and he


    "What?" Einar asked confused. His focus had been shifted from the food he was eating to the


    captivatingugh of his mate. Einar grinned from ear to ear without any reason.


    Can picked up a napkin from the table and went over the other side. He started cleaning Einar''s face


    with the cloth but the closeness was making it difficult to breathe for the alpha. He could take no more


    as he grasped Can''s cleaning hand with his own. There faces were now inches away as their eyes


    bored into each other. The forest green eyes were making the alpha fall to his knees while all Can


    did was to stare at Einar in bewilderment.


    The moment of blissful frenzy was disturbed when Einar smelled a familiar but unwanted smell at this


    time. He reluctantly jerked Can''s hand away and looked to the other side in annoyance.


    Can still confused looked at the iing shadows piercing through the door. He saw a worried


    looking Rosaline followed by a relieved Garrick and Arthur. She quickly ran towards the alpha and


    embraced him in a tight hug "You cant even begin toprehend how much worried I was for you.


    Thank Luna you are safe." She kissed Einar''s cheeks much to his dislike. Einar on the other hand just


    hummed and caught Rosaline from the arm to make her stand in front of him. "Are you all right? Did


    that bastard of an alpha hurt you?"


    "I escaped in time."


    Einar weakly smiled at her and asked her to take a seat on the dining table. Then it was the time for his


    best friend to greet him. Even before he could touch Einar, Garrick sobbed his heart out and clung to


    his best friend like he would loose him should he let him go. Both of them cried in each others embrace


    with no words spoken.


    Seeing the emotional reunion made Can''s eyes glossy and he decided to cheer them up. "Who is


    ready for a breakfast? I have made plenty of food today."


    "Than I will have it all." All heads jerked to the door as a smiling Archer entered through the doors


    followed by Fayette and Aurora. Archer quickly held Can''s waist and hugged him. He picked him up


    and swirled him around. This made Einar burn with jealousy.


    Aurora approached the alpha "How are you feeling?"


    "I think I will survive. How long will the medications take to bring me back to my original self?"


    "You would be back to normal before sunrise tomorrow." she put her hand in her bag and retreated a


    small bottle. "Take it. This is thest of your doses."


    "Thank you so much. Garrick told me the efforts you all people did to heal me." Einar looked around


    everyone in the room as all of them nodded in acknowledegment.


    ****


    After a few chitchats food was served again to the table. This time Fayette and Archer helped Can to


    serve the dishes. The wolves sat with the healer on the dining table while Can and his friends sat on


    the couch nearby as there was no more space on the table. The food was appreciated by everyone.


    Can smiled and thanked his guests for theirpliments.


    Einar had his eyes to the food but his ears were perking up to hear what Can was talking with his


    friends. By the looks of it all, the three of them looked pretty excited and ted. However the constant


    touching of both of his friends to Can''s naked torso was agitating Einar. He huffed in annoyance and


    looked at Can "Why don''t you put on some shirt. You are making thedies ufortable."


    "Whichdies?" Archer asked bluntly. "Ohh them.." he looked at Fayette and Aurora. "Dont worry about


    them. This is not the first time they are witnessing him without a shirt. In fact they have seen the naked


    god in his full glory many a times." All the peopleughed at this statement but Einar growled in


    agitation. Soon the devilish part of him wasing to the fore. He wanted to kill everyone present in


    this room to even think of seeing his mate bare.


    Garrick realised his cause of frustration and linked him Control yourself Einar. There are people here.


    Breath in his scent, It will calm your nerves he then looked at the beautiful man. "We have the Luna


    here Can. It is of basic decency that you should be presentable In front of her. I hope you know how


    jealous a mate can get."


    Can nodded for he understood that right now Einar was thinking him of as a rival who had his eyes


    on his mate. It was a basic animal instinct. He quickly went inside his room and wore the first piece of


    fabric that came to his sight- The white shirt.


    Looking at Can wearing his favorite shirt eased Einar''s mind "I am really sorry for what I did. I


    apologise."


    "You should apologise. Cause had it not been for my best friend the blue moon pack alpha would have


    been dead by now." Archer spitted his words in distaste as he red at Einar.


    Einar gulped this brazen disrespect as Archer was one of the people who helped save his life. "I


    understand and I will always be grateful for that."


    Even after expressing his regret Einar could not back down from the hateful stares which were directed


    at him by the friends of his mate. The spiteful looks in their demeanor clearly indicated that Can had


    denigrated his alphas image in the minds of the non-wolves. Einar was agitated and slightly hurt for he


    himself had created an image to be despised of. However this was always what he wanted. He wanted


    Can to hate him, detest him and stay at a distance. Then why did it hurt so bad? Why did Einar''s


    image in Can''s mind mattered above all else?


    Einar gently put his spoon down and dejectedly sighed. He faked his smile when Rosaline looked at


    him with concern. Above the shoulder of his Luna, he could see that the friends had resumed their


    joyous chitchat. By the looks of it they seemed to be excited about something. Even though it was of no


    business of Einar still he wanted to know what they were talking about. He wanted to know what was


    making his mate all cheerful and happy. He lost to his insecure mind and connected with Garrick.


    Garrick


    Hmm


    Do you know what they are talking about?


    Yes


    Einar raised his brow in annoyance indicating Garrick to speak up what he knows.


    It is bad to intrude. Besides why don''t you use your own hearing to know what they are talking about.


    My senses are weak right now and I desperately want to know what they are talking about. Einar


    pleaded with his eyes.


    Garrick sighed in amusement They are talking about visiting some ce. Maybe it is some kind of


    asion. They are saying that they will have more fun thanst year.


    This is not helping Garrick.


    I am sorry but I have told you what they are talking about. I could hear as much.


    Are you really not impatient to know where your mate is going? What is making her so excited?


    This sowed seeds of curiosity in Garrick''s mind. Since Einar had talked about it, he was impatient all of


    a sudden. He took a long pause, cleared his throat and smiled at the three of them. "You guys seem


    really excited. May we know the reason?"


    "And why do you want to know anything?" Archer replied annoyingly.


    "J-Just because we can join in the fun."


    "You may not know. Besides it is the secret of our three friends."


    Both Garrick and Einar were agitated by Archer''s response. Garrick even wanted to reply his snark


    to deal with." she smiled embarrassingly.


    "It is all right if you don''t want to share your secret with us. I was just curious that''s all." Garrick replied.


    Einar angrily red at his best friend because the purpose of this conversation was to know their


    secret.


    "It is not a big deal as such. We were talking about the carnival that urs every year in our vige.


    There are people from all over, foods of various kinds and different booths holding various events.


    People cheer and meet each other and have fun all day long. Archer, Can and I have been attending


    this carnival on a regr basis. This time our settlement is going to be the host." Garrick could see the


    gleam of excitement in his mate''s eyes as she exined herself.


    "So the carnival happening in your ce is the big news?" Arthur questioned all of a sudden.


    "No. The big news is that it is decided to be organized on the full moon day this month." she gleefully


    looked at Can.


    Einar widened his eyes. The full moon day! It held a special meaning because it was the day when


    both him and his mate were born. The day when both of their souls were bonded as one.


    "Would you all like to join us this year?" Fayette asked in her innocence much to the dismay of


    everyone around. Only Arthur and Rosaline seemed to be excited about the event. Rest everyones


    face fell for their own reasons. Einar was not very excited about the idea of Can and him being


    together or even in proximity on that fateful day. He remembered his sixteenth birthday when


    everything went fine until Can had showed up. He messed up with his mind and his beasts became


    out of control. What if his monsters overpower him this time? What if they crave their mate and hurt the


    people he loved?


    Einar thought to himself that it was better if he stayed away from Can for good. He opened his mouth


    to reject the proposal when Rosaline beat him to it. "We will definitelye to the carnival with you all."


    Garrick looked at a worried Einar for he knew that he waspletely doomed.


    ********