Alex's POV

Anna and Charles had left for their business trip and no matter how much Anna tried I didn't feel any better about it. They stopped by to talk with Bran one last time before they went, I couldn't help but stop them before they got to the front door. Each of them were given a hug and asked to be careful, Anna returned the hug, while Charles hadn't. He stood there during the hug then watched me curiously for a moment then patted my shoulder shaking his head as they left. Once the door was closed behind them it was my intention to do some cleaning, but Bran was standing in the doorway of his office. He had a grin on his face that kept me distracted for the majority of the day. These Cornick's were interesting creatures, maybe no one was supposed to be able to figure them out.

It took two days for Bran to leave the house now that Charles was not here. I didn't dare call Sam when his father was home knowing Bran would do his best to interrupt the conversation. The phone rang three times before he picked up and for a moment panic set and seriously thought about hanging up. That would only make it worse since he no doubt had caller ID and could just call back. Sam didn't let me make the decision though, he politely said hello, included my name to make it clear he knew who it was. That made it so much easier and let out a breath that had been holding and said hello back. He chuckled and asked what he could do for me and then the words started to tumble out.

"I was just wondering if you could explain something for me. It was mentioned to me a while ago to ask you about something else if I ever wanted to know, so I thought maybe you knew about this too."

"Oh?" It was clear I had his attention.

"It kinda sounds silly, but I made dinner the other night and he kinda acted funny. When I asked him about it he said it reminded him of something he'd had a long time ago and then he got this far away look that was.. I don't know just off. It came with this.. feeling and a..taste? Does this make sense to you or do I sound crazy?"

The more I began to explain it the more crazy it made me feel, and the long silence didn't help.

"I may not be the one that should explain some of these things to you Alex. Some of it sounds like your mate bond with Da, the feeling and the taste. That is why it sounds crazy because otherwise it can't be explain. Your bond must be strong if you can already accomplish that much." Sam sounded hesitant at first.

"Okay, so that doesn't sound like a big deal. What about the way he was acting, that was is my main concern?"

"What happened after that Alex?" Sam questioned seriously.

"He sat there like that for well over an hour then snapped out of it like it never happened. He hugged me and asked me to go for a walk with him."

"It doesn't sound like anything you really need to worry about. Just brought up an old memory and he worked through it, wolves like to stay in the present. If they spent too much time in the past it can.. become something to worry about. I feel fairly confident that we would be aware of something being wrong with Da before it's time to worry."

A breath rushed out of me relieved. "Thank you."

"Thank you for coming to me with your concern. Please don't hesitate to call me or Charles if you have a concern about Da."

There was something in Sam's voice that said this wouldn't be the only phone call. "I won't thank you."

"Alex, you should talk to Da about your mate bond. Most don't get that strong or develop that fast."

"Okay thank you Sam. Have a good day."

"You as well."

The phone call with Sam gave me a lot to think about during the day. The house got really clean and dinner was made by the time that Bran got back home. Bran walked into the kitchen looking around, his face telling me he was aware something was bothering me. I offered a smile, but stayed silent trying to see if Bran really could tell exactly what I was feeling. His eye brows rose when I did that and after a few moments sat at the just watching me intently. As the food was placed at the table there was a hint of a grin on his lips as his eyes burned into me. I had just taken the first bite of food when Bran spoke, taking me by surprise making me choke a little on the food.

"Why is it important I know what you feel?"

"Holy Shit it worked."

"Of course it did. Would you explain to me why you find this important?"

There was a hint of a grin, the corners of his mouth kept turning up.

"I want to know how our bond works. I find it rather interesting."

He nodded grinning into his plate. "What have you experienced?"

"Some feeling and tastes, you can help me calm down when I'm anxious. You were in my head once."

The last few words came out softly, distracted by the thought of the other voice that was also in my head. For a moment I wondered if it was Bran, but I had heard his voice in my head before and they didn't sound the same. There were similarities, but they were not the same, the other voice was rougher, not as collected as Bran is. It made me wonder why it took a mate bond to hear Bran and could hear the other wolf without one. The other wolf had numerous conversations with me and Bran had had only spoken in my head once. The difference bothered me, but didn't know who to go to about them, not sure I was supposed to even be talking to the other wolf. Bran spoke now pulling me from my thought, the look on his face told me that he caught on to me being lost in thought and was intrigued.

"Those things are part of a mate bond, we do seem to be developing them rather quickly. Are you concerned about that?"

"No just want some answers. How does it work, How do we control them, make them stronger?"

"Stronger?" Bran grinned with a chuckle." Always a surprise. The mate bond is different for each couple, some have very little extra qualities."

Bran had struggled to find the right words and he still didn't seem happy with them, but I nodded encouraging him on.

"Others have very interesting extra qualities. We seem to be one of those."

" Well what do you expect you're the big boss."

There was something in his smile that made me think me comment may have been not quite accurate.

" One would think so. Control and strengthening comes with time, experiencing things together, becoming closer as a couple."

"That doesn't sound too hard."

Bran nodded, but stayed silent after that just watching me move around the house, that is until I sneezed, as silly as that sounds. It was one sneeze, but truth was I hadn't really been feeling well all day and knew now I was sick. Bran had me in his arms looking me over as if there was something fatally wrong with me before the frustrated grown escaped my lips. Despite my reassurance that there was nothing to worry about he was just not listening at all. It appeared as if this was one of the 'experience things together' moments by the way his emotions were rushing over me. I didn't know why exactly it was such a big terrible deal that I was sick, but it was and it needed to be dealt with.

It took some convincing, but we ended up on the couch cuddled together and watched a movie for the afternoon. Bran made me stay on the couch wrapped up in a blanket as he made dinner. He growled softly at me when he watched me come into the kitchen sometime later to get a drink. The amount of worry he had over me was over the top and part of him knew it, but couldn't contain it. It confused me, but this was Bran so there had to be a reason for it I just didn't know it yet. I just smiled when he grumbled that he could have gotten it for me if I had just asked, but didn't really like being babied. On my way back to the couch as ordered he told me dinner wouldn't be much longer.

'Jeez what are you gonna be like when I'm pregnant?'

The question had been a bit snippy and in my head only meant for me to hear and hypothetical. The metallic clang that came from the kitchen stopped me in my tracks just in front of the couch. Curiosity begged me to go back into the kitchen and find out what had happened, but the worry from the mate bond stopped me. There was not another sound coming from the kitchen, and I couldn't help but ask if everything was okay. Bran assured me that it was as the kitchen sink turned on, curiosity was killing me. We ate in the living room that night and when it was time for bed Bran carried me up the stairs. Bran piled the blankets on me then pulled me into his arms and sleep was exactly what I needed even if it was freaken hot as hell under all the blankets.

Morning came and every ounce of me wished that it hadn't, man did being sick ever suck. It was just the flu, but everything hurt, from my head down to my feet, and it wasn't even noon yet. Bran was downstairs so for the moment it was possible to try and pull myself together a little bit. The shower was a hot as my skin could stand it to work out some of the soreness and clear out my airways. When the water finally ran cold there still was not much motivation to face the day. Dressed in my down day clothes ventured down the stairs and made myself some tea and toast. Bran was watching me the whole time while talking to someone on the phone, after a few minutes he passed the phone to me.

"Hello?" I asked watching Bran with a frown.

"Hello Alex." Sam chuckled."Da has told me you are not well and asked me to find out what it is that is making you ill."

"You're joking me right?" My words had been to Sam, but my eyes were still on Bran."Everyone remembers that I am still a nurse right? And fully capable of knowing what wrong with me?"

"We are aware of that. Da is just not used to a mate that can be sick. He is a little out of practice."

That explained a lot.

"Sam it's just the flu I'm fine. I'm drinking tea, eating toast, taking it easy. Please talk some sense into your father."

Sam merely snicker and stated that we seemed to have it in hand and hung up. I stared at the phone as it beeped loudly at me not sure how to feel about what just happened. It was both amusing and irritating, but couldn't figure out which emotion was more intense. In the end it didn't matter, just hung up the phone and went back to my breakfast. The toast slowly disappeared as did the tea, but the real focus was what Bran was feeling. He really tried to reason that there was no need to worry about me and continued to reassure himself. Despite that the dred and panic was there, choking him, pulling at the control between human and wolf.

Bran had gone to his office when Sam hung up the phone and I found myself in the doorway. He sat in front of the fire place watching the flames flicker not moving since my apperance. This was the second time I had seen the fire place lit and both times he had been rather upset. A shutter went through me thinking of what brought it on the last time before pushing it from me mind. This was the closest I had been in his office other than to clean it, this seemed like his space and hadn't seemed right to invade it. That thought is what kept me at the doorway, while the knowledge that he needed comfort pushed me forward. For a long, long time I stood there in that door way fighting with what to do and Bran didn't give any indications to help me out. Finally a little nervous, bitting my lower lip, knocked softly on the door to get his attention.

When he looked back at me his eyes had lightened a little more than they normally were. At my soft smile he returned one to me and held out his hand bidding me into the room. A little nervous I crossed the room pulling the blanket around my shoulders a little tighter. When our hands were intertwined he pulled me down onto his lap and rest his chin on my head. After snuggling in comfortably to him laid in his arms watching the flames in complete bliss. As we sat there in silence his body began to loosen up, from the rigid board like stance he had taken since yesturday. When he finally pulled me a little tighter into his arms and sighed it was a sign that he was almost back to his normal self.

"I'm sorry I worry you." I whispered playing with the blanket.

"You have nothing to apologize for. It's not as if you can control it."

"No. but it's my job to help you keep your control not make you lose it and that's all I seem to be doing lately."

"We're both adjusting. How are you feeling... really."

"Like I have the flu."

He chuckled. " Beyond that."

"I could go for a nap. Will you come with me?"

"Until you fall asleep, then I have some work to do."