DAY 35

B.E.A.R. LABORATORIES

LEVEL 4

3:18 A.M.

Apparently there are showers on Level 4--something I am exceedingly grateful for. I sigh as I step put of the shower stall with a towel wrapped around my skinny body. A hot shower was exactly what I needed after searching through a forest looking for a grieving werewolf.

Theseus was quite reluctant to let me go after we arrived back at the lab. Finally, after sitting in his arms soaking wet for 20 minutes, he let me go, on the condition that I would return to him after I was cleaned up. I talked to Dr. Anderson and I will be spending the entire day with him, even though it is just now 3:30 a.m.

I slide a pair of sweatpants over my hips and pull a T-shirt over my head--clothes that were provided by B.E.A.R. Labs. I pad out of the bathroom in my bare feet and make my way to the elevators.

I am greeted on Level 5 by an angry Dr. Vanderwall, our argument still on his mind, no doubt. He holds his hands behind his back and stares at me with a guarded expression. I raise my chin and meet his gaze.

"Morning, doctor."

Clearly not wanting to skirt around the subject, he cuts straight to to the chase. "Your behavior a few hours ago will not be tolerated, Ms. Odair. I hope you understand that I can and will remove you from this project if such actions repeat themselves."

How dare he be angry at me. Yes, my disrespect was rude and unbecoming, but it wasn't without reason. They should have at least consulted with me before hand, seeing as I have the closest relationship with the project

"Actually," I say. "You can't fire me," I cross my arms, a smug smile twisting up my lips.

"I'll have you know--" he says angrily, jabbing a finger at me.

I cut him off, "No, I'll have you know. You need me on this project. How much progress had you made prior to my arrival? Hmm? Not much, as I have been told." His expression melts into pure malice as I continue my rant. "Unless you want this project to fail, I suggest you keep me. What you did was, in all honesty, unbelievably stupid. You are lucky I was able to get to him before anyone died!" I finish, my nose scrunching up in a snarl.

"You have no idea who you are dealing with, Ms. Odair," he says stepping closer, his nose merely inches from my own. "If I were you, I would watch my back."

I disguise my fear with a blank expression. "Good day, Sir," I say through gritted teeth, completely dissregarding his last statement.

He pins me with a deadly gaze before stepping aside, allowing me to pass. I stare him down as I pass, conveying as much hate in my gaze as possible. I continue my long, purposeful strides until I come to a stop in front Theseus' new cell.

I take a deep breath, calming myself from my altercation with Dr. Vanderwall. What I did was rash and stupid. I doubt making enemies with someone of his status was a good idea, as he so clearly mentioned.

I scan my badge and enter the cell. It looks exactly the same as the old one; same white walls and bedding, just the attached observation room is gone. Theseus, now freshly cleaned as well, sits on his bed, a shredded T-shirt on the floor in front of him. I tilt my head in confusion at the strange item.

He looks up at me when I make my way towards him. Something in his stance changes after he sees me. He seems more...relaxed. I suppose this is normal, given my affect on him. Though, I'm still unsure what exactly that affect is. Sometimes I feel as though it is something of his imagination, but with the events of a few hours ago, I feel like this connection is something much more.

I take a seat next to him, not really knowing what to do. I no longer fear what he might do to me. If he wanted to hurt me, he would have done so already. Although, I don't think I want him touching me quite yet. As that thought passes through my mind, I feel a weight settle around my waist. I squirm a little bit and make a noise of discomfort.

"Theseus, what are you doing?" I sigh. It's way too early to be dealing with his possessiveness. I only got two hours of sleep last night.

He pulls me into his lap, surprisingly easily, and tucks my head under his chin. "Mate needs sleep," he mutters. I scrunch my eyebrows together.

"I can't sleep with you sniffing my hair the whole time," I say with distaste. He groans in frustration before standing up and dropping me on the bed. I land on my back, and before I have a chance to sit up, he pulls the blanket over me and sits on the edge of the mattress, effectively trapping me under the covers.

"Now can Mate sleep?" He questions, cocking his head to the side like a puppy. I struggle to hide my amused grin.

"Thank you, but this is your bed," I say.

He fervently shakes his head. "Anything mine is Mate's."

My heart swells at his meaningful words. I mean, sure, he is a wild beast with speech problems and a hair fetish, but no one has ever said anything like that to me before.

"That's really kind of you, Theseus." He smiles at me before sitting on the floor with his back against the bed. I watch his movements as he seats himself on the concrete floor, his shoulder muscles contracting as he does so. Its remarkable how he can stay so athletic looking while being stuck in a cell all the time.

Laying here, even while locked in a cell with a werewolf, I feel a strange sense of calm--as though I couldn't be safer. All I want to do is curl up and sleep--to forget about my argument with Dr. Vanderwall--and be swept away by dreams of being famous and having unlimited supplies of cosmic brownies.

Despite my strange feelings of safety and immense need for sleep, I shake the drowsiness from my eyes and prop myself up on an elbow. At my movements, Theseus tilts his head to look up at me, his eyes blinking rapidly.

"Why is there a shirt on the floor, and not on you?" I ask, gesturing to his naked chest. He shrugs.

"Unconf...uncmfer--"

"Uncomfortable?" I suggest. He nods. That's weird. I would imagine fur would be a lot more uncomfortable than a T-shirt. I flop back onto my back.

"Not sleep?" Theseus questions, his eyebrows scrunched. "Cold? Too light?" He asks, pointing at the florescent light above us. I shake my head with a smile. He really is quite caring.

"I'm not tired," I say.

"Lying," he says while shaking his head.

"Erm, no. I'm fine, really." He raises an eyebrow at my attempt to reason with him. I nearly jump out of the bed in fright when he suddenly knocks his fist on the wall. "What are you doing?" I say, startled. Just then, the lights dim to where they are just a soft glow. The light is just enough for me to make out Theseus's features, but not enough for me to be able to see the definitive outline of his hair.

"Good?" He whispers.

"Yes, thank you," I whisper back.

He reaches a hand out and strokes my hair gently, his calloused fingers sliding through my red locks effortlessly. My eyes close of their own accord and I feel his hand stroke my arm in a soothing pattern. I shouldn't be letting him touch me like this--I shouldn't be liking him touching me like this.

"Rest. Mate is safe," he whispers gently, his deep voice coaxing me to do what he says. It's almost as if he knew I felt insecure.

"What does 'mate' mean?" I ask in a final attempt to stay awake.

He sighs wistfully before responding: "Soon."

I ignore his short answer, continuing with another question. "Is a mate something every lycan has?"

He hesitates. "Yes."

Maybe a mate is someone special to them? It seems like a role mates play. From the way he treats me, I suspect mates are some kind of significant other in a lycan's eyes, but what made him choose me?

"Is 'mate' another word for lover?" I ask, suddenly unsure of my current position if I am correct.

His smile falters just for a moment before it resumes its wistful state. "Soon, Vee. Sleep now."

"But--"

"No," he says shortly. He pulls the blanket up to my shoulders and resumes stroking my hair. The last of my willpower finally crumbles and my eyes close.

I am vaguely aware of the bed shifting and a body lying down next to me. Strong arms pull me into a warm chest, a steady heartbeat pounding under my ear. I finally lose conciousness in the hold of a very content, and very happy, lycan.