A Veela's Mate || Draco Malfoy

Sᴛᴀʀᴛɪɴɢ Tᴏ Hᴇᴀʟ

Iris slowly blinked her eyes open. This time her brain was much more alert and she had little trouble figuring out where she was. Especially since she was resting against Draco's chest, her head raising in sync with the Veela's breathing. Taking a deep breath, Iris slowly let it out again, a little surprised at how relaxed and content she felt. Considering the meltdown she'd had earlier, this was not the aftermath she'd been expecting.

"How do you feel?"

Iris smiled slightly and stretched, not surprised in the least that the blond knew she was awake. "Good," she said, sitting up and scratching her head. "I'm a bit hungry though. And I really need the bathroom."

Scooting to the edge of the bed, Iris took a good look at the room she was in for the first time, and paused when it registered that this wasn't her bedroom. Unfortunately, nature was calling most insistently, and Iris had no choice but to seek out the bathroom.

Once her bladder had been dealt with, Iris walked over to the sink and washed her hands. Drying them, she looked into the mirror, pleased that for once it was one that didn't talk back at you. Gripping the sink with both hands, holding so tight her knuckles went white, Iris looked herself deep into the eyes.

Merlin, was her life forever going to be one fuck-up after another? All her life she had only one person she could count on. Only one person she knew would always stand by her. That person being herself.

She had done fairly well as long as she was staying with the Dursleys. The rules then had been simple: keep your head down, don't make waves, and never ever talk back. Then she found out she was a wizard, and she had been thrown into an entirely new world with no idea what to expect. No one had shown her the ropes. No one had bothered to tell her what the rules were. They had just thrown her to the wolves and expected her to manage on her own. And she had. She had managed, but at what cost? The school either loved her or hated her. Hell, the entire fucking world was forever judging her, and usually she was coming up short.

Sighing, Iris hung her head, suddenly feeling tired. All her life she had wanted only one thing. For someone to love her. Now her wish had been granted, and what does she do? She almost kills that person. Was this the gods' way of telling her that she was better off alone? That she was the freak the Dursleys had always accused her of being? Should she just walk out now and hope that that would save the people around her?

Iris sighed once more, her shoulders sagging. Deep within her heart, Iris knew that leaving was the right thing to do. But Merlin, she was so tired of being alone! Squeezing her eyes shut, Iris did her best to prevent the tears from falling. Now was not the time for self-pity, but by the gods, why did it always have to be her?

~ ϟ ~

Draco watched Iris enter the bathroom with a soft smile. Sighing, he put the book he'd been reading down and got out of bed as well. He and Iris needed to talk, and Draco didn't think the bed was the best place for that. Pacing back and forth, the teen ran a hand through his hair, contemplating whether he should ask his father to join them or not, when suddenly his head shot up. The sudden flood of negative emotions was strong enough to make his knees buckle, and Draco had little doubt as to where they were coming from.

Firming his resolve and straightening his back, Draco marched over to the bathroom and wrenched the door open. This shit ended now!

The sight of his mate hurting caused Draco's anger to evaporate, and in two strides he was next to the brunet. Giving Iris a concerned look, Draco didn't hesitate before wrapping Iris up in his arms. Two startled eyes looked up at him, then Iris crumbled, burying her face in Draco's neck, and she broke down and started to sob. Draco did the only thing he could think of: he tightened his grip and allowed his mate to purge her soul. When Iris's knees buckled, Draco gently guided them down to the floor and he pulled Iris even closer, all the while humming softly in the hopes that it would help soothe his mate and calm her down.