Bonded ✔️

Chapter 20: Part One

After Rowan had informed us that Lincoln was here, I was able to filter through the pain fogging up my brain and gauge how he was feeling. Since my heat had started, my connection with him had been buried underneath the unbearable discomfort I was feeling.  I cringed as I felt my mate's rage across the mate bond.

It dawned on me that it didn't make sense for Lincoln to be feeling anger. If he knew that I was in heat it seemed like he would be feeling longing or need, "Are you sure he's here because I'm in heat?"

Rowan's face morphed into a confused expression, "What else would it be?"

I gave him an incredulous look and pointed to the bruises lining my neck, "If he found out about this, I'm sure he'd be even more pissed about them than you were this morning."

"I doubt it's possible for him to be more pissed than I was," Rowan whispered under his breath. 

"So you think somebody told him that his father was here?" Leila piped in while standing up and walking toward Rowan. When she touched his arm, he visibly relaxed. The power that mates had over each other was amazing to witness, and I hoped that someday my relationship with Lincoln would be filled with moments like the one I had just witnessed. 

For a moment I weighed the possibility explanations for Lincoln's unexpected arrival. One reason for his anger could be that he had figured out I was in heat and was furious that he hadn't been informed. That didn't seem probably though, because before he had left we had discussed the topic. We had discussed that he would stay away. 

The only other option that made sense to me was that someone had tipped him off about his father's visit. His anger could be toward his dad, and he could just want to check up me. Rightfully so, since his father had left my covered with bruises. I doubted that he knew that I had been injured though, because if he did I'm sure that he would be fighting his dad instead of standing at my border demanding entry. 

Jonathan opened the door to the cabin and walked in. He was covered in dirt and sweat, it had obviously been difficult to keep Lincoln under control, "I got him to settle down long enough to agree to let me talk to you. You've either got to let him come here or order him to leave. We can't continue to fight him they way we were, someone's going to get hurt if we do."

"I'm really not sure what you want me to do Jonathan, I can't move," I snapped back at him. "Does he know that I'm in heat?"

He appeared to be momentarily surprised by my question, "He hasn't said anything about it, but I'm assuming that now that he's so close to the territory he definitely knows that someone is in heat. I haven't mentioned anything about you though, and he hasn't asked."

"I guess that means that our only option is to bring him here, because there's no way I'm going to be able to make it to the border in this condition," I let out a sigh and curled into a tighter ball in an attempt to alleviate some of my pain.

Rowan nodded his head in reply, "It wouldn't be safe for you out there anyway. There's too many males sniffing around."

The room was silent for a moment before Jonathan started to walk back out of the door, "This should be buckets of fun."

-

The atmosphere in the room felt suffocating as we waited for the men to arrive at the cabin. Leila and Rowan were both on edge, and it was only making my nerves even more intense. There was no telling how Lincoln was going to react to his father's attack on me or the fact that I was in heat. 

I heard him before I saw him. A deep growl echoed outside, and we all looked toward the door in anticipation of what would happen next. Suddenly, the door slammed open and Lincoln walked into the room giving me a once over. After seeing the distressed state that I was in, I saw him pull his hands into fists. 

"I told you that if you were in pain I wanted to be called. I thought I could trust you to take care of yourself," his voice was low and controlled.

"I'm fine, there was no-"

I felt his anger grow to fury, "Honestly Harley, you must think I'm stupid to think I'd believe that. You've not only intentionally kept me in the dark about my father's visit, but also are trying to act like right now you aren't experiencing the most intense pain of your life right now. There is nothing wrong with me wanting to take care of my mate, and I'm tired of you acting like you can do this all on your own!"

No one dared to speak. Wyatt quietly joined the group and immediately looked me over. His gaze fixated on the small portion of my neck that was showing from underneath my covering of hair. Wyatt's eyes held an unidentifiable emotion. His jaw was clenched tightly, and he looked down at the ground when my gaze met his. With a deep voice he questioned, "Did Malcolm do that to you?"

Lincoln noticed the bruises at the same time and moved to squat next to my position on the couch. His movements were stiff as is he was afraid that he would loss control at any moment. I felt his hand underneath my chin, and when he lifted it up I heard a small gasp leave his body.

His touch helped to soothe the fire that had been coursing through my body for what felt like days, but in reality was only a few hours. A whimper crossed my lips as he moved his fingers to cover the bruises. It felt like I was being given water after being lost in the desert for a month. As our proximity increased, I felt the need to get closer. It was like my body was driving me to remove all space between us.

Lincoln's voice was a whisper as he put his forehead against mine, "My mom said that he had came here, but neither of us knew that he did this to you. This doesn't change the fact that I'm pissed at you, but I'm so sorry that he did this."

"Lincoln, I can't stay here," Wyatt interrupted the moment and wore a pained expression on his face. 

Everyone's gaze turned to him, and Rowan answered before Lincoln had a chance, "I swear to the Goddess if you walked into this  cabin knowing that she was in heat and you don't have a mate, I will kill you."

"I didn't know what was going on, let alone that it would be Harley," he growled at my Beta. "I'm going back into our territory. I'll keep your father in the dark as long as you need me to."

"I have a feeling that I'll be staying here for a while," Lincoln mumbled in reply while looking into my eyes. His gaze never left mine as the door closed, indicated that Wyatt had left.

"Great," I rolled my eyes. Deep down I was relieved by his statement, because the idea of having him this close made me feel like I was capable of functioning like a normal person. 

"Shut it," he snapped at me. Even though his voice sounded serious, when I looked into his eyes I saw the fondness in them that  I had missed so much since he had left. 

----

Part 2 will be up either tomorrow or Saturday, what do you think will happen?

Friendly reminder that two part chapters tend to seem "shorter" because they are really one extra-large chapter split into separate uploads... that being said this chapter is still almost 1300 words, so you should be happy with me! 

Tell me in the comments: what's your favorite part of this book so far?

Much love <3