Atlas POV
When the train finally screeched to a halt at the busy station, I reached out to grab Mia's bag. With a gentle grip, I offered her my other hand, the warmth of our palms meeting.
"It's going to be crowded here, so it's best if we stick together," I explained, guiding her through the narrow corridors of the station. As we stepped out into the open, Mia's eyes darted around, trying to take in the unfamiliar surroundings. The city enveloped us, with car horns blaring and distant sirens wailing.

"I take it you've never been to a city before?" I asked.
She admitted her lack of experience, as I stopped with her at a small information stand. I reached out and grabbed a map.
With the map in hand, I located a decent hotel for us, marked with vibrant symbols of stores, restaurants, and hotels. It was conveniently just a short walk away. "We should find a hotel first, before doing anything else. It's not safe to be walking around with all this money," I explained, my voice carrying over the city's constant hum. She nodded in agreement, and I took the lead, following the map's intricate routes.
Luckily, the hotel manager was willing to overlook our lack of identification for a little extra cash slipped discreetly into his palm. Mia secured a room with my assistance, agreeing to pay cash on a weekly basis.
I carefully placed her bag in the safe once in the room, the metallic click echoing. With the key in hand, I left a small stack of bills on the table. Mia's lips curled into a grateful smile. "Thanks for all the help. We should probably find some food and clothing. If you're tired, I can go alone. I can follow a map," she suggested.
"No, I'll go with you," I responded, the sound of our footsteps echoing as we left the room again. Soon, we stumbled upon a nearby clothing store. Its bright, colorful displays caught our attention. Despite my reluctance to shop, she insisted on buying whatever I needed.

The scent of new clothes filled the air as we quickly gathered the necessary items. We made our way to the cashier. With a few bags in hand, we then made our way to a nearby grocery store.
As we entered, the aroma of fresh produce and baked goods greeted us. Mia's eyes widened with excitement as she explored the aisles. She mentioned that her pack lands had smaller stores, nothing as grand as this one. Together, we gathered bags filled with snack foods and essential items. We even purchased a small prepaid phone for emergencies, she also had some contacts she wanted to call.
Returning to the hotel room, I assisted her in putting everything away.
"Do you mind if I use the shower?" I asked. Her response was a small smile and the reassurance that I didn't need to ask permission.

Stepping into the bathroom, the warmth of the water enveloped me, washing away the tension from danger that seemed to follow me. Despite recently ending a relationship, my thoughts were consumed by Mia. It was strange how I had never felt this drawn to anyone before. I couldn't help but wonder if she felt the same way.
Recalling the train conversation about mates and her calling me mate while tending to her wound, I pondered whether it was the fever or something more.
Once out of the steamy shower, I wrapped a towel around myself, feeling the warmth and softness against my skin. As I stepped into the room, I noticed Mia sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Are you finished?" she asked, her voice gentle yet filled with anticipation. I nodded in response, and without another word, she gracefully made her way to the bathroom.
As I started to get dressed, Mia's movements were swift and efficient. By the time I finished setting up the phone for her, she was already done. "Thanks, Atlas. Can we talk for a moment? I have to ask you something," she said, her eyes flickering with a mix of emotions. I joined her on the couch. There was a brief silence before she locked her gaze with mine.
"What do you feel when you're with me?" she asked, catching me off guard. I furrowed my brow, unsure of how to respond. She shook her head, as if internally debating her own thoughts. "I feel like I don't want to lose you," I confessed. "It's as if I've known you for a long time, even though we just met. There's a strange connection I feel with you, unlike anything I've felt with anyone else. I want to keep you safe. Is that what you're asking?" I asked, trying to understand.
Mia nodded, her expression now tinged with sadness. "So, you do feel it," she murmured to herself before meeting my eyes again. "I don't like keeping things from people. It's dishonest. I'm usually open about everything. But with you, it's difficult. My entire life, I've been told not to trust humans. Not just that, but association with a human is not allowed in our realm. But you...you're different. You're also forbidden. Atlas, you're my mate. But for both of us, it may be easier if you reject me, so you don't have to feel this connection."
"What if I don't reject you, Mia?" I asked. Her eyes flickered once again, uncertainty clouding her features. "We will both feel the connection, then. We'll instinctively want to be together, yet we'll never be able to. In the end, it may only cause pain," she explained, her voice laced with a hint of sorrow.
In that moment, I felt a wave of conflicting emotions crashing within me. As she admitted what I had been contemplating, the room seemed to grow heavy with tension. The soft hum of the air conditioning filled the silence.
I was torn. If I followed through with rejecting her, as she had suggested, it felt like she would vanish from my life. But, deep down, I knew that if she didn't truly want to be with me, I couldn't force her, no matter how much it pained me.
"I need some fresh air," I muttered, my voice barely audible. I had to step away, if only for a moment, to gather my thoughts before letting my turbulent emotions guide my actions.
I took a room key and left, I walked the city streets for what seemed like hours, the sound of cars honking and people chattering filled the air. I tried to clear my mind, but no matter how hard I tried, the only thing I continued to think about was Mia. As the sun started to set, a sense of regret washed over me for leaving the hotel in the first place. Thoughts crossed my mind that she might not be safe alone. With a surge of worry, I took off running towards the hotel.
Once back in the room, I found it completely dark. I searched the room and discovered that Mia was gone. Did she leave on her own accord or did someone take her? If only I had listened to her out on the couch, she might still be here.
Leaving the room again, determination filled me as I set out to find Mia. As I walked the streets, the neon lights of a nearby bar caught my attention. Loud laughter emanated from inside, blending with the bustling nightlife. I spent several hours searching the streets, but who was I kidding? There was no way I would locate one person in this big city.
Defeated, I started heading back to the hotel. My eyes briefly glanced into the bar, and there she was. Sitting at a small table, surrounded by a group of people, she had a drink in hand. I quickly entered and went straight to her table. Her eyes seemed slightly foggy, suggesting she may have had a little too much to drink.
"You came back," she said, looking at me with a small smile. "But you disappeared," I responded, as the other people she was with got up and left. The smell of alcohol lingered in the air as she spoke.
"Sit, I'm sure you're hungry. They have food here," she explained, passing the menu to me. I glanced back at the group of guys that were talking with her for a moment. "They weren't causing you trouble, were they?" I asked, concern evident in my voice.
I've never been the jealous type nor social with many, but Mia's allure was undeniable. As a girl alone in a city bar, she became a target for unknown dangers and I honestly did not like the idea of other guys with her.
I scanned the room, searching for a server so I could help her settle the bill. "We should go back to the room," I suggested, my eyes darting around.
"Get some food first. I'll stay with you unless you prefer to be alone," Mia responded. I let out a sigh and settled back into my seat.
Mia chuckled softly. "I'm not forcing you to eat, Atlas. If you really don't want to stay, we can leave. I just assumed you would be hungry," she said.
"I'll stay," I replied. "I didn't mean to upset you at the hotel. I know I'm overwhelming you with everything you've learned and experienced in the past few days. Part of me even thought I might never see you again when you left earlier, especially after our final conversation. I just needed to be honest with you. It's only fair since you've already done so much for me," Mia confessed.
As a server approached, I ordered something light before responding, "Since you're being honest, I will be too. I like you, Mia, even though I still know so little about you. You say it's because I'm your mate that I feel this connection, and maybe that's true. But I want to know you, every part of you. I've never felt this way with anyone else I've dated. With you, I can't bear the thought of someone else being with you, even if we're still somewhat strangers. You asked me to reject you, believing it would end these feelings I already have for you. But I don't want to. Mia, I want you to give me a chance," I explained honestly.
Her eyes began to flicker, almost glowing, as she looked at me. Swiftly, I shifted closer to her so no one else could see her eyes. "I want to give you a chance too, even if it's forbidden," she whispered, resting her head against me. Her admission surprised me, but it also brought immense happiness. Those words made me happier than I've ever felt before.