DAY 46

B.E.A.R. LABORATORIES

LEVEL 5

"Quit moving, Theseus!" Veronica commands to the grumbling lycan. She is currently trying to cut his hair, but he keeps pushing his head into her hands, making her progress much slower than it should be.

Theseus sighs under his breath; she really doesn't know how much she affects him. He can't get enough of her touch, hence him trying to get her to pet him. He normally wouldn't do this, it's weird, but sometimes he forgets he isn't a wolf.

He was quite relieved when she asked if he wanted a hair cut. Finally getting rid of his insanely thick hair will make bathing much easier, and he will look handsome for his mate. He wonders if they will allow him to shave or if she will just be cutting his hair. It was a trying ordeal getting them to consent to having scissors in his cell, let alone a razor.

"I think that's got it," Veronica says, pulling him out of his daze. "Here, look in the glass and you might see your reflection."

Theseus stands up and brushes some of the fallen hair off of his shoulders. He looks into the glass and takes in his new appearance. His hair is short, but not buzzed. It falls just above his ears. A few parts are crooked, but he barely notices, for he only glances at himself briefly before instead looking at Veronica's reflection next to his.

Her hands are clasped in front of her and she looks down at the ground shyly. Her lower lip is tucked between her teeth and her cheeks are tinted pink. He smiles at her cute blush.

Veronica didn't realize how handsome Theseus was until he had a more clean-cut appearance. She knew he was good looking, but not drop dead gorgeous. Yes, she had seen men who were extremely handsome before, but something about Theseus makes him 1,000 times more attractive.

His hair is much shorter, showing off his eyes better. The wild, untamed appearance is gone, only to be replaced with raw masculinity and strength. His eyes are dark and brooding set above a straight nose. He has high cheekbones and a well defined jaw. He is wearing a shirt today, though she isn't sure why. A part of he wishes he wasn't. She looks away blushing, realizing she was staring.

"I-I'm sorry if my hair-cutting job is horrible. I'm not the best at it and I'm surprised you actually let me cut your hair. I think you look good though," she rambles aimlessly, still keeping her gaze on the ground.

Theseus steps towards her and places a finger under her chin. She looks up at him and he wishes he could kiss her reddened cheeks. "Thanks," is all he is able to say.

She bites her lip, something that instantly catches Theseus' attention. "No problem." He pushes himself away and sits down on his bed. "I'm going to go get a broom. I'll be back."

Theseus can't help the small whine that leaves his lips as she closes the door behind her. He knows she will come back, she always does, but he just can't help being afraid that this time she won't.

▪▪▪

Veronica returns after a few minutes, Theseus perking up at her arrival. She sets to work cleaning her mess and Theseus watches her from his spot on the bed. He takes in her casual attire: skinny jeans, a T-shirt with the words AC/DC on the front (he isn't sure what those mean), and a pair of Converse. He is glad she is wearing casual clothing, he finds himself too distracted when she wears skirts and more revealing tops.

Theseus likes that she is so comfortable with him--explaining newer technology and trends. He still has a hard time understanding what a meme is, though. He doesn't even try to grasp the concept of films, much to her displeasure. She says she will show him sometime, but he doesn't see that happening.

He remembers what it was like when she was afraid of him. He could smell her fear from a mile away and it was killing him--that he knew his mate was afraid and there was nothing he could do to fix it.

"Can you tell me what a mate is?" Veronica says suddenly. It is something that has been on her mind for a while now.

Theseus takes a moment to consider his answer. Part of him wants to tell her, but the other half is terrified her reaction. He has waited so long for her, that he fears her rejection will kill him. But he also knows that he will have to tell her eventually. But he knows she will be afraid of what a mate truly means. How could she possibly want to stay with someone she could never leave? If she said yes, she could never have anyone else. She could never choose her own spouse, or lover. Her choice would be taken away from her--something he could never want for her. She is independent, that is what he loves about her most. She is strong and values being in control of her life. What would she think of him if he were to take that away from her? She would hate him.

He sighs heavily. There is the possibility that she will stay with him just to keep him alive. He is a project, after all. He is her main source of income and that of her colleagues. No, he won't make her stay with him against her will. She doesn't have to know his life depends on her answer, right? He would die, as morbid as it is, and she would be none the wiser. It would be a burden lifted, actually. He isn't oblivious to the fact that she hates living here. Yes, he decides, it would be for the best if she rejected me. As much as it pains him, he knows that her happiness greatly outweighs his pitiful existence. She deserves better. With that thought in mind, he starts with his story, intent on leaving out the part where his life depends on her answer.

"C-can...hold Mate?" He asks her, wanting to hold her for moral support.

"Theseus, you know they don't..." she trails off, the pleading look in his eyes instantly silencing whatever rebutle she had. "Fine, just this once, but you have to promise me you will explain everything. I know you have been hiding something from me," she says with a knowing look.

She sits down next to him, Theseus wrapping his arms around her and nuzzling his nose into her hair, breathing in her luscious scent. Oh, her scent, how lovely it is. It calms him completely and he momentarily forgets what he was even worried about.

He pulls back to take in her every feature, commiting her image to memory. How her hair cascaded around her shoulders in perfect waves of fiery red, her deep, green eyes looking back at him, her plump lips an open invitation...

"Well, are you going to start?" Her melodic voice asks, breaking him out of his reverie. He nods slowly, bracing himself for the coming moments.

"Ev-ery wolf...has mate," he starts. She nods, indicating that she understands. "Mate chos--chosen by Fate."

"What do you mean? Like, written in the stars kind of deal?" She asks, shifting to look up at him.

He shrugs. "M-may...maybe?" He mumbles. He continues: "Know mate by s-scent and--and..." he trails off, a frustrated look marring his features. Veronica gently lays her hand on top of his, removing it from around her waist. She settles herself crosslegged, facing him on the tiny bed.

"Don't get frustrated," she says softly, taking one of his hands in her's. It isn't often that she initiates physical contact. Actually, she never does, so the fact that she willingly held his hand has a wide smile stretching across Theseus' face.

"Know Mate b-by s-scent and...and si-sight." He swallows thickly and watches as a confused expression settles on Veronica's face. A little crease forms between her brows, something Theseus finds infinitely endearing.

"You know a mate, as in, you recognize a mate by sight and smell?" She guesses. Theseus nods, surprised that she figured out what he was trying to say.

"Mate smells g-good--like h-hon-ey. It calms m-me," he stutters with a sheepish smile. Most of the stuttering was because of his temporary speech impediment, but the other half was because of his nervousness. Is it weird to tell someone they smell like honey? Theseus questions himself.

"Is that why you are always sniffing me?" Veronica asks. His explanations keep getting more and more strange. A mate is chosen by fate, recognized by sight and smell, and has a special scent that is calming to the wolf?

Theseus nods his head, reaching up and tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. Veronica shivers slightly at the action.

"Lycans l-live for e-ever until...m-meet mate," he says. "Then age."

"So lycans are immortal until they meet their mate? That's crazy," Veronica says, mumbling the last part.

"Yes," Theseus says, stroking her cheek, relishing in the softness of her skin. He inhales a deep breath before continuing, ready to admit how much he loves her.

"Lycan loves Mate," he whispers, knowing he is getting closer to the end of his speech. He leans his forehead against her's, wanting to prolong the inevitable for as long as possible. He could get lost in her essance. Having her so close to him, his hand on her cheek and the other around her waist, makes him realize how lucky he is to have finally found her. Only the sound of the voices down the hall and the stench of cleaning supplies remind him that he is still here on earth, and not in heaven--the heaven that is her--his mate. Her touch--how intoxicating it is! The feel of her skin against his, the scent of her hair, the sound of her voice...

He has no need to breathe--he has no need for air--for she is the air he breathes.

"Wolf...w-would die for Mate."

Veronica sucks in a harsh breath at his admission. He would die for her? All wolves would die for their mates? It is one thing to say you love someone, but to openly admit you would die for them?

"You would die for me?" Veronica whispers incredulously. At first she thought of this as some fantasy taking place inside of his head, but no. This is real.

She can feel his hands shaking as they cup her face gently. He brushes his nose against her's, an action that has Veronica closing her eyes involuntarily. Theseus takes in a shaky breath.

"To m-make Mate hap-happy...would die f-for her."

Veronica pulls away from him and stares at his defeated form, his shoulders hunched. "What makes you think I would be happy if you died?" She asks, a hurt expression on her face.

Theseus hangs his head, he wanted to avoid this topic. "W-wouldn't be...burden," he says.

"Who told you you were a burden? I don't think you are. No, I don't like it here, but that's because I hate that you have to stay here. You don't deserve this life."

Theseus stares into her determined eyes. This is not how he planned this going. How can she reject him if she already cares so much?

"If Mate stay with me, must s-stay for-forever. No other l-lover. M-me only," he says, a pained expression on his face.

When he fantasized about finding his mate, he expected her to just come running into his arms and want to stay with him for eternity, just as he would stay with her for eternity. But now he realizes how wrong he was. How could she want to stay with him, an experiment, a project, a beast--a beast who can't even speak! She deserves so much better. She has to reject him. She deserves someone stable, someone who can provide for her, someone she can hold a conversation with!

"Y-you need better," he whispers, pleading with his eyes for her to understand him. "I'm not g-good for Mate. Mate sh-should go."

"Absolutely not!" Veronica says, standing up from the bed and beginning to pace angrily around the room. Who does he think he is to control how she feels. They are her feelings! "You think I'm stupid enough to believe you?"

"N-no--"

"You think I don't know what would happened to you if I left? Do you really want to die that badly? Well, getting rid of me will be a lot harder than you think," she says.

"I w-want best for Mate," he says, standing up as well.

"And who is to say you aren't what's best for me? If I agree to stay with you, I can have no one else and my life will be spent with you, I get that, but would I find someone who cares for me as much as you do--loves me as much as you do?"

Theseus wants to lie to her. He wants to tell her that she could find someone who loves her as much as he does, but he knows she couldn't. His love for her is infinite. Nothing can match the love he has for her.

He shakes his head. "No," he whispers hoarsely, lowering his gaze to the floor.

Veronica sets her hands on her hips. "Well then its settled. I agree to be your soulmate, lover, whatever you want to call it."

Theseus looks up at her with frantic eyes. "Can't p-provide! Can't leave! N-no choice," he says urgently.

"Why do you need to provide? I am providing for myself just fine. And I don't need anyone else if their love for me would never amount up to yours. Yes, we can't leave this place now, but who knows what the future brings? Keep in mind: I'm not ready to just jump in bed with you," Theseus shakes his head at this, a blush coating his cheeks. "But I recognize this is a forever thing. Just wait for me, yeah?"

Unable to stop himself, Theseus rushes forward, throwing his arms around his beloved Mate. He pulls her into him and peppers kisses all over her little face. Veronica's giggles permeate the air.

"Theseus! S-stop that!" She says through a laugh.

Theseus settles for resting his face in the crook of her neck, breathing in her intoxicating scent. He never thought she would agree, especially after knowing all of the conditions.

"Love you, Mate."

"I love you too, Theseus."