Bonding [noun] - the establishment of a relationship or link with someone based on shared feelings, interests, or experiences.

author's note: weekends are updating days from now on! also SLOW BURNNNNN

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I hadn't slept that well in over three years.

My eyes slowly opened and he was still holding me against his body. My head was tucked into his neck and I couldn't help myself when I inhaled his scent. It was addictive already and it was interesting to experience how strong the mate bond was getting.

I had wished for a mate for so long and it wasn't lost on me that my fear aside, Kane was more than I could ask for. I didn't know if we were ever going to discuss my nightmares—I didn't want to. It helped that he didn't know about them and assumed I couldn't sleep solely because I was scared of him.

My fear of him wasn't natural and the mate bond was slowly breaking it down. Being able to fall asleep in his arms helped too. He was protecting me and my brain took that in.

I closed my eyes again and pressed the tip of my nose against his pulse. It was strong and steady. I didn't want to move from his arms just yet.

His deep voice vibrated against my nose as he spoke and my eyes flew open. "How did you sleep?"

The warmth spread across my face and I slowly lifted my head to look at him. Being face to face with him while awake and alert was far more nerve-racking than it was before so I slowly sat up onto my knees. He sat up too against the headboard.

"Very well. Thank you." I lifted a hand to my back and pressed against the skin. It may have been discoloured still but the pain was gone. "I feel much better."

He cracked a small smile. "I'm glad."

I glanced at the window where the curtains were open. It was dark outside. I looked back at Kane with wide eyes. "How long did I sleep for?"

"About five hours. It's five in the evening now."

I deflated slightly. "I wasted your day, I'm sorry."

He reached out and his warm hand covered mine. The tingles shot up my arm. "Don't apologise. My day was well spent."

My heart began to race and a soft smile climbed onto my face. This was what having a mate felt like. I looked down at his hand on mine and I switched mine on top before I turned his palm side up. I traced the lines with my fingertips until I reached his wrist.

Rina. I traced the letters with a sense of awe. It felt surreal to see my name on his skin. We were part of each other no matter what. I pulled his sleeve further up when I noticed scar tissue that wrapped around his wrist. It was faint but there. "How did this happen?"

A shadow crossed his face. "War scars."

I shuddered. The war was bloody and affected all the packs. Six months had done irreparable damage and every pack lost something. Kane's was the only one who gained something—territory back, power and influence.

He turned my arm over and copied my movements. I shivered at his touch and focused on the way my wrist tingled. He was distracted and worked on distracting me. I guessed the war wasn't something we would talk about.

"It doesn't burn anymore..." I murmured.

Maybe because I wasn't fighting the mate bond anymore.

His thumb pressed against his name and he moved it in slow, gentle circles. "Neither does mine." His gaze rose to meet mine. "Who knew teamwork makes the dream work?"

I laughed and smiled. "Who knew you were so funny?"

His deep laugh filled the air between us and it put me in a trance. I gravitated towards this Kane, the one who smiled, laughed and made me feel comfortable. I stared at him, taking the sight in.

He noticed and returned my stare. "Rina...tell me what you're thinking."

I was hyper aware of him in my bed, the way I could feel his body heat from where I was sitting and the way his heart raced in his chest.

"I'm thinking this is nice, Kane. Being here with you like this."

His eyes softened and he lifted my wrist and brought it to his mouth. I shivered as his lips pressed against my skin softly. This was a first. "We can do this more—whatever you're comfortable with."

"I'd like that," I said softly.

He smiled and squeezed my hand. "How about we have something to eat? We can go to a restaurant so you can get some fresh air."

My stomach grumbled as if on cue. I hadn't eaten since breakfast and now that my body wasn't preoccupied with the lack of sleep, I could feel the hunger. A sheepish smile covered my face. "I think that would be a good idea."

I climbed off the bed, stretching my limbs as he followed suit. My suitcases were sprawled open on the floor and where I would normally care about the mess, I wasn't ready for the alternative—settling in and unpacking.

I wasn't sure if a part of me still had one foot out of the door but all of this didn't feel real. My life had changed so quickly and I was still finding my footing. We had a lot to figure out, how we were mates and how it was possible that I dreamt of him before meeting him but for now, we were putting that aside.

Kane wanted to spend time with me to show me he wasn't a threat. It was hard not to relax in his presence when all I felt was comfort when he touched me or came near me.

His eyes fell on a red knit sweater of mine. He felt the material between his fingers. "This is a nice colour. Red looks good on you."

I smiled. I hadn't planned on wearing it but his comment changed my mind. "It's warm too," I said as I took it from him. "I brought more winter clothes than I did summer."

He walked around my suitcase. "I'm surprised you only had two suitcases." He turned at the door. "In the summer, we can go back and you can pick up what you need. I'll meet you downstairs?"

I nodded and watched him leave. I wanted to shower and wash off the feeling the fight had left with me. I brought a change of clothes with me and stripped once I got to the bathroom. As expected, the bruise was a light purple mixed with yellow. His touch had literally sped up the healing process. 

That was one of the benefits of having a mate. The bond had a healing effect, and it made everything better.

When I freshened up and put new clothes on, I made my way downstairs to find Kane tying his shoelaces. He looked up at me and gently inhaled. My scent was still all over him but my shower had rinsed off more than just the fight.

His scent wouldn't mix with mine until we were fully mated. Close contact until then would keep his scent on me.

He stood up and slid his hands into his pockets. "We live on the outskirts but this restaurant is part of human territory. Some of the pack have jobs within it and at the restaurant so we'll see them."

Human territory meant hiding our true nature no matter what.

"Okay." I walked over to him. "Ready to go?"

He nodded and held the door open for me. It was a short drive to the restaurant and when we pulled in, the lampposts lit up the semi-filled parking lot. I could smell food already and my mouth watered.

I almost opened my door to follow Kane out when he strode over to my side, covering distance much quicker with his long legs, and did it for me.

"You don't open doors when you're with me, Rina."

I got out of the car and fought a smile. "Okay, Kane."

I was so used to doing things myself that I didn't expect Kane to want to do things for me. He chuckled when I let him open the restaurant door for me and followed in after me.

There was a mix of humans and wolves in the restaurant. It seemed family-friendly with a few small families dotted around. The wolves in his pack noticed our presence and tipped their head at us in greeting.

I didn't recognise many faces since I had been pretty preoccupied at the party. I didn't miss the way some looked at me with apprehension. My hand found Kane's and I linked our fingers, finding solace in his touch.

He glanced at me and noticed my nerves. He leaned down and murmured in my ear. "Show them the luna you want to be. I'm right here with you."

I nodded and exhaled slowly. His shoulders were raised and his presence dominated the room. I knew he had an effect on me because he was my mate but alphas exuded a natural power that entranced even humans. It was like a pull that demanded attention, and from other wolves, submission.

He chose a table by the window and a waitress approached our table almost instantly.

"Alpha. Luna," she greeted us by our title quietly. "What can I get you?"

Kane smiled up at her. "Hi, Lauren. The shepherd's pie would be great please." He turned to me. "I recommend getting the shepherd's pie if you're feeling something warm and hearty but you can look at the menu if that doesn't interest you."

I looked up at Lauren and scanned her eyes. Admiration. She wasn't one of the wolves who were apprehensive about me. I relaxed and gave her a cool smile. "Two shepherd's pies please, Lauren."

She wrote it down and nodded. "Coming right up. It's nice to meet you properly, Luna."

"That means a lot. Thank you."

As soon as she left, Kane's hand slid across the table to mine. He caressed my knuckles gently before he lifted them to his mouth and laid a soft kiss on the back of my hand. He wanted his scent on me.

The corner of my mouth tipped upwards slightly. "Tell me something about yourself."

His lips pressed against my skin again and he looked up at me with warm eyes. It was so interesting to see how differently he looked at me since we discovered we were mates. "What do you want to know?"

I tried not to be distracted by his affection. "How old were you when you became alpha?" I kept my voice low.

He sat back and linked our fingers across the table. His hand was warm. "Twenty-one. I went away when I was five and returned when I was eighteen. I spent three years training the entire pack with my father until it was time for me to become the alpha."

The war started six months into his reign. It made sense now how he was able to turn the tide. He played the long game, preparing his pack for what he inevitably wanted to do.

"Growing up away from your parents must've been hard," I replied, noticing the way his grip tightened slightly.

"They visited every summer and on any other holidays they could. But yes, it wasn't easy leaving as a young boy and coming back a man. I know they wished they could've raised me full-time."

I frowned slightly and tried my hand at comforting him for once. I covered our joint hands with my free one. "It must be nice being back now, though."

He glanced down at our hands and smiled. "This has always been my home. I'm finally where I want to be." A content expression crossed his face. "It's taken a lot of work but I've brought the pack where it needs to be."

I was suddenly reminded of Luna Melia's words. Kane is a fierce alpha and a man who loves fiercely. I could see it. He fought to reclaim what was taken from him and made sure the pack could handle the war it would take to get it.

I didn't know how I was going to measure up as a luna. Being a beta was all I knew how to be.

"I never expected to become a luna," I voiced my thoughts.

He leaned forward and looked into my eyes. I had to force myself to stay upright. It wasn't easy for me to be an open book, much less with Kane, but I knew that his being my mate meant he was going to get to know me better than anyone. For now, I could manage with him knowing my low-level fears like this one.

"I see it in you, Rina. You're brave and you don't back down without a fight." He paused and fought a smile. He experienced my determination first-hand. "I knew the second I met you that you'd give the pack everything I couldn't."

His words warmed me from the inside. "I'm sure you do more than enough."

He squeezed my hand. "A pack without a luna is incomplete. You've completed us."

I closed my eyes and sighed. This was all I ever wanted. I wanted to feel like I belonged somewhere with my mate. I never realised what I was missing. I felt his hand lightly brush my face when a waft of food came over me.

I opened my eyes to see Lauren holding two plates. She looked apologetic for interrupting but I plastered a smile on my face. I was glad for the interruption because all of it was getting intense.

"Here are your shepherd's pies."

We unlinked our hands and I pulled my plate closer to me. Kane's choice was a good one once I dug in. It was warm, hearty and flavourful. A comfortable silence settled between us as we ate and when we were done, he paid and led the way to the door.

It was colder outside and his arm came around me protectively. His body heat emanated from him and I let him pull me against him. I could smell his scent and it was like a drug. His cologne smelled like musk and sandalwood and his natural scent brought out a primitive urge in me.

The mate pull was compelling me to stay in his embrace so I could feel his power, his essence and everything that made him my mate. When we stood in front of the car, I stopped him from moving away and instead turned in his arms so we were facing each other.

I acted on instinct when I stepped onto my tiptoes and wrapped my arms around his neck. I pulled him into a hug and his strong arms came around my body, lifting me off my feet as he straightened out his back and held me up. He buried his head in my neck and inhaled deeply.

"Your scent has been driving me crazy since I met you," he breathed into my neck and I shivered as his lips moved against my skin with his words.

My fingers curled at the back of his neck, feeling the soft strands of his hair. It was an intoxicating thing. It was like I could feel him with every fibre of my being. He was destined for me and my soul yearned for that connection.

I tightened my arms around him and took a deep breath in. "This is so much more intense than I ever imagined."

I could feel his heart beating in his chest. "I know." His voice was deeper and I could tell our embrace was beginning to affect him. He lifted his head and his cheek pressed against mine.

I didn't dare move. He tilted his head until his forehead was on mine and my eyes fluttered closed. The tip of his nose brushed against mine and I felt my breath quicken. I anticipated him closing the distance between us.

He inhaled deeply again and his lips pressed against my cheek instead, dangerously close to the corner of my mouth. He slowly pulled back and I opened my eyes to see his closed. His jaw tightened and he shook his head gently.

"There is nothing I want more than to kiss you, Rina. But I want you to do it when you're ready." His eyes opened and they were close to golden, wilder, like he felt drawn to me in ways we only imagined we would get to feel. "When there is no fear in your heart towards me."

I felt cold when he gently placed me back on my feet. My hands slid across his chest to feel his heart. I couldn't begin to imagine what was in his until we marked each other. Only then would we feel each other's emotions and hear each other's thoughts.

We didn't move for a long while, and his arms around me told me one thing. He was prepared to wait for as long as it would take.