Chapter 15: Fifteen.

Sammy spent her afternoon torn between her office duties and visiting her new friend in his enclosure. There was something about him, she wasn't entirely sure what, but he made her heart feel less achy.

Where as Daniel spent the rest of his afternoon sunbathing on a large flat rock, while looking out for Sammy from his new enclosure. He even found time to debate over mindlink the rationale of his decision with Shane.

*"Daniel, you can't just stay a wolf to be near her, it won't work."* Shane argued, annoyed by his Beta's stunt. *"And anyway, you have pack duties to attend to. You are needed at the house."*

*"Shane, it isn't forever, and my pack duties got me into this mess in the first place."* Daniel bit back irritated.

Shane sighed, *"Look, I'm sorry I didn't think this would happen. I had no idea she would be feeling the bond this fast. It's just her rejection talking. Give her time to calm down and don't be an idiot."*

Daniel growled lightly, disagreeing with Shane completely. *"This isn't your fault, I should have called her before I left. Or at least mindlinked you to do it for me. I was just so angry, all that was in my mind was to get it over with as quickly as possible. It was a really stupid decision"* He sighed, absolving his Alpha's guilt. *"But, combined with her time away, it has now been two weeks I have been without her. I need this. I need to see her laugh and smile, and she needs this. If she is feeling our bond, the separation will be hurting her as well."*

*"This isn't a good solution, Daniel."* Shane growled exasperated. *"You can't stay in your wolf form permanently!"*

*"And I'm not intending to. I just need to be able to be close to her, at least until I think of a way forward."* Daniel sighed. *"And, if it reassures you, I want her in my arms too much to stay like this permanently."*

Shane sighed, *"I don't like this, Daniel."*

*"It will work out. It has to,"* Daniel answered *"But, I'm going to go give my mate my focus, she's back, and oooh and she brought food."*

Shane snorted as Daniel closed the link, and turned to see Sammy appearing with a steel bowl of what smelled like venison.

Normally he only ate fresh raw meat he had caught himself in his wolf form, but he found himself happy to play the part since it was Sammy bringing him the food. He enjoyed being cared for by her.

Daniel stretched out, as she approached the enclosure door, then without much acting needed, he bounded excitedly down to see her. Skipping playfully on his paws as he awaited on his side of the large gate.

"Someone's excited, I see." Sammy said smiling as she approached him.

"Here, you want a treat?" She asked, picking up a chunk of meat in her gloved hand and tossing it on the ground before him.

Daniel, dutifully went over and ate her offering, swallowing it down in one bite, before turning to to watch his mate. Sammy smiled throwing another chunk in front of him, as he repeated the process till the dish was empty.

All while muttering "Good boy" to him repeatedly.

Daniel then went and washed his mouth out with the small stream trickling through the enclosure. The meat had left a strange taste there, and he wasn't sure why the venison tasted so funny.

Shaking off the thought without worry, he presumed it was just something transferring onto the meat from the fridge it was stored in, and he bounded back to Sammy, yipping happily and making her laugh.

Chancing his luck, he jumped up, resting both his paws on her shoulders, as she shrieked with laughter at his behaviour. It was the closest he could get to hugging her and he was almost tempted to lick her face. But, he presumed she wouldn't appreciate the taste of raw meat dribbled across her face, and opted to simply chuffed out a bark at her instead.

Sammy pushed the large animal from her shoulders with an oomph. But, as soon as Daniel's paws hit the ground he was butting his head against her stomach, in search of affection.

Sammy dutifully responded, caressing his large head, before coming to scratch behind his ears. She laughed light heartedly when his back leg began to twitch and pound in time with the rhythm of her scratching.

"You are a sweetheart, I'll give you that, Mister." She cooed at the large animal. "But, I'm afraid I have to go, I have more wolves needing their wormer."

Daniel froze, his stomach suddenly dropping.

'Wormer?'

She wormed him, as in for parasites?

Shit.

He was too disturbed at the thought of the medication in his system to notice his mate had left and was outside the enclosure talking to Shane.

When she then walked on, Shane stood staring at him, with poorly contained glee.

*"Serves you right, you soft headed idiot!"* Came his laughter down the mindlink. *"Protocol is to perform routine parasite prevention on all incoming animals, and Sammy just told me tomorrow you're getting sedated for a physical examination, you remember how vets take animal temperatures, right?"* He openly mocked his suddenly terrified Beta.

*Author's Note: Silly, silly Daniel. 🤣🤣🤣*