It’s not like I’ve never…I know how this goes.
“I’m sorry.I fucked up.This is my fault.”Will scrambled out of the bed, the wolf inside him yearning to stay, even as his human side pushed him to run.
“Hey, wait.”Sage wasn’t good at mornings, and it was barely even past moonset, but the man was on his feet, stumbling after Will.
Will, either because his wolf gave him the strength to do it or because Sage was enough of an alpha to command him, stopped.He was trembling all over, and he wanted to run, but he stopped.He kept facing the stairs.The prospect of looking at Sage now was terrifying.Now, Sage knew Will was cracked, damaged, broken.Will couldn’t even do such a simple thing without losing it.
Sage walked around Will and looked at him, concerned.Will could have hit himself, he was so ashamed.He hid his face, feeling the sting of tears.
“I’m sorry for whatever I did that wasn’t right,” Sage said.“You don’t have to leave, but you can if you want to.And we don’t have to do anything, anything at all.Come back to bed?”
Will hugged himself.“I don’t deserve this.I don’t deserve you.”
Sage scratched his head.“That’s…an assumption.Did you ever consider that people don’t end up with one another because of who they deserve?And if you don’t deserve me, it follows that I don’t deserve you either.Should’ve known when I saw you shift into that gorgeous wolf.”
Will snorted and looked at the ground.This shouldn’t be hard.People jumped into bed together all the time, didn’t they?One-night stands, casual encounters.He’d been excited for this, physically excited, only moments ago.Will’s mind was reeling.
Why am I so fucked up?Why can’t I enjoy this?
Will took a deep breath.“I can lie down, and you can just—I mean, if you take charge, it’ll be fine.”
Sage gaped.“Yeah, we’re not doing that, ever.Listen, I really want to hug you.Would it be okay if I just hugged you?You can tell me when to let you go.”
Will nodded, desperate.
Sage approached slowly, carefully, and the moment he closed his arms around Will, his heart eased out of its thundering race.He relaxed.
“I’m sorry.I messed up.I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for.”
Sage’s breath was warm against Will’s hair, and he smelled good.Will’s wolf was still present enough to crave it, but Will no longer could.
Sage held him for a long time.Nothing more happened.It was safe.He managed to calm down, but the moment of desire had gone.
“Hey, Will, do you want to lie down?Not to do anything, just to get some more sleep.It’s really early.”
Will nodded.Sage stepped back, releasing Will from the calming hug, and held out his hand.Will took it and let himself be led back to bed.
Sage didn’t seem to have much of an issue letting his eyes fall closed again and going straight back to sleep.Will liked that about him.It was a small thing, but adorable.
“Can I… Would you mind if I cuddle?”Will asked, and Sage blinked his eyes open again.
“Go ahead.I’m all yours.”A lazy grin spread over his face before he closed his eyes once more.
Will curled against Sage’s chest and went so far as to move Sage’s arm around his shoulders, where it felt right.Sage gave him an amused huff.
They spent a few more hours like that.Sage fell back to sleep fast, but Will didn’t, couldn’t.He wasn’t as panicked as he had been, but he was going over the morning again and again in his head.
Would Sage eventually grow tired of this if Will couldn’t get himself to do something physical?Would Sage bring home other people?Will hadn’t really considered that, but Sage was too handsome not to, and this was his house.
Or worse, would Sage start to pity Will?Would he tell Will they shouldn’t be doing anything other than what was required for an apprenticeship?Would he claim it was for Will’s own good?
Will wasn’t sure he could handle either scenario.Truly mended, that was what he wanted to be, but he had no idea what spell to use for that.
12
Will
