Disclaimer: I don’t own them Jim does

72 Hours

By

EMI

Max’s P.O.V

72 Hours ago I made a decision that has changed the lives of everyone.

Y’know sometimes I have these really intense dreams, where I’m stalking through dense jungles or running across the open plains.

Hunting.

Searching for my prey.

And other times I dream of being surrounded by warm, fur covered bodies; and I’ll wake up with the scent of musk, and wet fur in the air. They’re so vivid that they almost seem real. The really strange thing is though, that I actually feel comforted and content when I awake from these dreams as though the kitty-kat inside me has been soothed; and I find myself almost struggling to stop from purring my pleasure.

72 hours ago I admitted to myself that if I wanted a future, it wouldn’t be with the man that I thought it would.

That feeling of comfort and warmth is how I feel now; which is strange in itself because I’ve done anything but sleep in the last three days.

72 Hours ago I made my choice.

I’m laying here with strong, warm arms wrapped around me, with the scent of musk, man and cat in the air. And I can feel the heartbeat of the person next to me, beating a steady rhythm in time with my own. In this moment I feel warm, safe, protected as though I’ve been thoroughly loved.

I haven’t felt this way since before I escaped from Manticore. I suppose I shouldn’t really be surprised that I feel like this. Not when I’m with him.

After all as a child the one person who could always make feel this way; who would sit up with me all night, when I couldn’t sleep and make shadow puppets for me on the walls, was the brother of the man whose holding me close. Protecting me even in his sleep. I turn my head to the side, and watch him.

In slumber he looks peaceful, as though the mask he wears during the day has been dropped and the real man can be seen. I try to remember if I’ve ever seen him look this way when he’s been awake; and I can only think of three occasions since meeting him, that I’ve seen him without his mask.

72 Hours ago I broke a man’s heart for the second time.

I smile slightly to myself as I feel him shift in his sleep, nuzzling his face into my neck; and I realise that I’ve been stroking his arm while I’ve been lost in thought. I take the time to actually study him, to trace my fingers softly over his face, caressing his cheek and brushing his lips.

Those same lips that are usually curved into that annoying smirk of his are now a soft sweet smile instead. And without realising it I find myself raising my hand to my own lips, only to find the self same smile curving my own.

72 Hours ago I accepted who and what I am.

Y’know I’ve been out in the world ten years longer than him; and yet I haven’t actually felt free; not really anyway. I’ve tried to fit in, to be a ‘normal’ girl and not a freak. But I’ve never really succeeded. Oh for a while I was able to convince myself that I was; that by helping Logan with his Eyes Only missions, that I could somehow make up for the horror’s that I committed on Manticore’s behalf as a child.

72 Hours ago I was able to distinguish between the fairytale and the reality.

I even convinced myself that what I felt for him was more than just friendship; that I loved him as much as he loved me. For a long time I didn’t realise how miserable I was making myself, by trying to be the girl he wanted, hiding those parts of myself that I knew he’d never be able to really accept or understand, no matter how much he loved me. I just couldn’t see it, almost as though I didn’t want to see it.

72 Hours ago the reality became my fairytale.

No matter how much I’ve fought it, to deny that part of myself that craves his nearness, that relishes the arguments and the fights. I’ve finally realised that it’s these same fights and arguments that have made me ‘ordinary’, to feel like the ‘Normal’ girl that I’ve always wanted to be; and was never able too, whenever I was with Logan.

72 Hours ago I went into heat.

With Logan it was always long soulful looks. Candlelit pasts diners. Miscommunication and trying to make something more out of a friendship, than what was actually there. With Alec it’s always been passionate, physical both mentally and emotionally.

We’ve driven each other to distraction and still we’ve kept coming back for more. He comprehends me and accepts me for me. And I’ve never once had to hide any part of myself from him. In fact it’s scary sometimes just how in tune with each other we actually are. It’s as though we’re two sides of the same coin. As though we were made for each other. And knowing Manticore we probably were.

72 Hours ago Alec finally became my mate.