Ch. 96..100: The Werewolf's Vampire Mate Chapter 96-100

Chapter 96: The glass half full

Beau.

The burial ceremony ends with Lanis by my side.

Jules has been a big help, alongside Alby. I don’t know how I thought I could handle all this on my own. Okay, maybe I am not alone, at least I have Lanis and his family.

Lanis said he had something to talk to me about.

I know it has to do with the meeting with his father. I can’t handle another setback. The day is already over. Only two more days till the ritual. Everything has to go well. I am a little excited—scratch that, I am a lot excited for this. I have waited for this all my life. the supposed mating ritual that will join me and my significant other.

When I found out that Lanis was my mate, I was scared. Afraid that people would judge us, not accept us but now I am certain that he is the perfect one for me. I wouldn’t trade him for something easier, something more accepted. I like him and him alone.

’’Do you want to talk now?’’ I ask him as he drinks blood from a travel mug. We are at the rec centre. The usual dinner after a burial. This time, we had to bury eight people. I am so over losing my family.

I just want it all to end.

’’It’s not a big deal. We will talk about it after,’’ he brushes it off, even though deep down we both know that it is disturbing him.

Whatever he discussed with Cranwell is eating him up.

You know I won’t rest until you talk to me.

I send him a mind link. Mind links have become our favourite form of communication. I love that I don’t have to say my thoughts out loud. That he can read me like a book.

’’I know,’’ he responds out loud.

We are in a table with Bells and her mate and Rex. Jabi and Darrien haven’t come out of their house. I don’t really know if they have established their relationship but I will need to find out. Jabi is still my responsibility, although now I know he has found his mate. He won’t need me soon enough but I need to make sure Darrien doesn’t hurt him. I still don’t know the guy that well.

’’Come on,’’ I grab his hands and pull him off his seat. He drops the mug on the table, and I lead him out of the building. Once outside, I let go of his hand and look around. It is empty, except a few of the people on duty.

’’Spill,’’ I demand.

He sighs ’’I don’t think this is the right time. I was going to talk to you about it when you got back to your house.’’

I shake my head ’’You are evading. What happened when you went home?’’ I ask him because I need him to be completely transparent with me.

’’He gave me his blessing.’’

I don’t believe him.

He seems to have forgotten that I can read him like an open book. I know him a lot more than he thinks. So now, looking at him with that fidgety look in his eyes. I know there is something wrong.

’’That all that happened?’’

He shakes his head ’’I am not trying to keep anything from you. There are just some things he brought up that are kinda confusing.’’

I nod ’’Okay, what things?’’

He sighs and then I watch him run his hands through his hair ’’Let me put it this way. He seems to think that there will be consequences to our mating.’’

I don’t understand him.

Jules doesn’t think anything will happen. His father is trying to scare him. That must be it. this is a form of manipulation.

’’How does this work? Your mating ritual?’’

I don’t know the semantics. I only know what I have heard and read about it. there is a whole process, that will be explained to us on the day.

’’I mark you,’’ I tell him what I know.

He sighs again ’’Is that all?’’

’’What is going on Lanis. Tell me what is on your mind,’’ I grab his hand in mine gently and pull him closer to me. He rests his forehead on mine and closes his eyes like he is deep in thought. ’’Are you having doubts?’’ I ask.

His eyes open at once, and he pulls away from me ’’Never. I want to do this.’’

I release a sigh of relief because I can’t have him swaying away from me. I need him to give me the strength. ’’Then what is on your mind.’’

’’There is the probability that I will end up losing who I am,’’ he announces.

I am still confused ’’What does that mean?’’

He shrugs ’’Fuck if I know, the fact that we are different breeds makes him uneasy. Father thinks I could turn into your kind?’’

I furrow my brows in confusion ’’Like a Lycan?’’

He nods ’’He says that is the only way this makes sense.’’

’’That is not possible, I mean you are dead. How would that work?’’

’’I don’t know. I just know that I would rather be anything than not have you. I don’t fucking care about immortality. What is the point if I can’t spend the rest of my life with you?’’

His words are overwhelming and terrifying. I didn’t think about this. Am I being selfish right now? The thought that he could become just like me when this happens is exciting. I don’t want him to lose himself because of this relationship.

’’I don’t think that will happen,’’ I try to be optimistic.

He runs his hands through his hair ’’But it could... would you still love me if I am no longer the vampire mate?’’

Now he is just saying rubbish.

’’I’m kidding. Shit, I am scared out of my mind right now,’’ he confesses.

’’Do you still want to do this on Thursday?’’ I ask him because I need to be sure. If he has doubts about this mating. Then we will hold off on it, I won’t do this unless we are both complacent. I love him too much to take what he doesn’t want to give me.

’’Yes, fuck that is all I can think about,’’ he exclaims.

I smile ’’Even if you become one of us?’’

He nods ’’Even if I have to eat raw meat for the rest of my life,’’ those words tug at my heartstrings.

’’Don’t think about the what-ifs. Don’t think about all the things that could go wrong. I want you to look at the glass half full. All the things that we will get from this.’’

He smiles, coming into my arms again, I continue ’’Think about all the sex we will finally have.’’

He looks at me with the smile still on his face ’’I can’t believe we haven’t had sex. This is the longest I have been without it.’’

I can’t believe through all that is happening I can still think about sex. Fuck, I am horny as hell. His hands wrap around me from my words and he slides them into my back pocket.

’’You better live up to all the expectations,’’ he glares at me with the same smile on his face.

’’What expectations?’’ I ask him, wanting to know where he is getting his information from.

He chuckles ’’You are popular for no strings sex. People talk and I happened to have heard.’’

Okay, that was the old me. The beau that was searching for something. Now I have found that lost treasure and I plan to take care of it with my heart.

’’I wasn’t the best person,’’ I confess.

He nods ’’Neither was I.’’

’’I fucking tried so hard. The search was never-ending when you were right in front of me all along.’’

The fact that we were two different people a year ago still baffles me. I have known about Lanis since they moved into town, but I have never actually cared about him. Now he is my only concern, he is the reason I wake up in the morning.

It is funny how life can take a turn for better.

’’We will be fine,’’ he says but to me, it sounds like a question. I don’t know what the future holds but I know that I am going to hold on to him for as long as I can. No matter what happens. I don’t care if I have to become a fucking vampire to be with him. I will take whatever I get with open arms because that is what you do when you love someone, and I love him.

I lean forward until my lips are on his in the middle of the compound. I wave the flag as I surrender to Lanis.

I wave the flag as I give him my all.

’’I promise, I will never stop loving you,’’ I assure him as he rests into my arms for comfort and that is what I give him.

The only thing I can.

Assurance.

Chapter 97: The punishment for betrayal.

Cassius.

’’I am sorry,’’ she cries but I only hurt her more as I tighten the chains around her neck. The burns deepen as the scars reveal themselves.

The pain in her eyes the only thing that gives me joy at this moment. When someone misbehaves, they need to be taught a lesson. This is my way of controlling her.

’’Will this happen again?’’

She shakes her head as the tears fall out of her eyes profusely. I haven’t had time for Maddie. The fact that she went to meet Alanis without speaking to me first. Her punishment for that is the only thing I can give her—pain.

’’Never, he threatened to kill my parents. I had to help them.’’

I freeze at her words because I can’t sense the remorse in them. She should have regrets, but she is justifying her actions. ’’That was an act of betrayal. Do you know the punishment for betrayal?’’

She opens her eyes wide and for the first time, I see regret but not the kind I was looking for. She regrets getting caught.’’

’’Do you know something about vampires?’’

She shakes her head. I don’t even know why I used her in the first place. At this point, I don’t think there is any use for her. Alanis doesn’t love her, at least not anymore. Her betrayal to him has made her dispensable.

She is pretty much useless to me.

’’We feel pain, all kinds of pain.’’

Her eyes open as she trembles ’’I will never do anything to upset you again. Please don’t hurt me,’’ her cries echo in the darkness.

Hurt her?

I plan on killing her.

I walk over to the table by the corner and grab the sharpest knife out of the bunch. I know she is watching me; I feel her stare as I walk back to her. Her eyes are not fixated to the knife in my grip. I don’t feel any emotion. She died the moment I gave her this gift.

’’Cass, please don’t hurt me.’’

The pleas of the desperate. That is what she is to me. there is nothing she can say, no words that will convince me of my decision. People are only needed when they add value to your life. there is nothing I can get from her. I forced a bond to make her think she needed me, I don’t need her anymore, so she has to be eliminated.

’’You have never felt the kind of pain I am about to show you.’’

She shakes her head.

I grab her arm until it is faced in the way I want it. her pale flesh illuminating in the dead of the night. The knife is sharp, so the cut is deep. The blood spills out and I smile as I watch it drop to the concrete floor. Her screams are loud, the pain clear.

No matter how invincible we think we are, no matter how strong. We still have weaknesses. The wound heals immediately, and I watch as the cut closes. She is sweating profusely, her legs shaking.

The more they heal, the more I cut her. I watch her squirm, wince, and moan. I don’t feel anything for her. No pity, remorse or regrets for my actions. The moment those Mutts killed my family. I shut off my humanity. There is nothing that she will say that will change my mind.

I want her dead.

The more blood she loses, the weaker she gets, the weaker she gets, the slower she heals. Now her scars linger longer than they should. I watch her with the blank expression plastered on my face.

’’I am sorry that it had to come to this,’’ I apologise because she doesn’t actually deserve this.

This is the only way I can feel alive. This is the only way I can mask my hurt. Plant it deep in others. I wouldn’t have lasted this long if I had emotions. I can’t let go until my mission is complete.

Discard the people that are not needed anymore and make sure they don’t come back to bite you in the ass.

If I let her go, she will end up betraying me.

The last time wasn’t fatal, but I won’t take the chance.

I have to survive until all the werewolves are extinct. I will succeed in wiping out their whole kind.

’’Please, stop.’’

Her words won’t help her. the pleas, the desperation. The fear in her eyes. I will eat her up until she doesn’t exist anymore.

’’This is going to happen. No matter what you say.’’

The honesty in my tone is surprising, even to me. I usually never feel the need to explain all this. The only time I explain things, are to the Alphas. They are always the last to die. They have to watch everything they love as it disappears right in front of their eyes. The Alpha is supposed the be the protector. The strongest in the pack.

Slowly, Beau will come to learn that he wasn’t meant to die. He can’t die until they all die.

That was the plan all along.

Maddie on the other hand doesn’t have to die. The fact that she betrayed me so early on in this just proves that she needs to. I can’t stand cowards and she is a fucking coward.

’’You said I could trust you,’’ she stutters the pain etched in her voice.

I manage a sympathetic smile, yeah. I don’t want the last thing she sees to be the joy in my eyes.

’’Could I trust you?’’ I ask her.

She manages to nod; the chains tighten around her neck causing her to scream in agony.

’’You see, the moment you went to Alanis. You severed that trust.’’

’’It won’t happen again,’’ she cries.

I laugh ’’Those are the words of a coward.’’

He eyes close, the excruciating pain takes over her emotions. This is the kind of pain I love. The one before death. She knows already, there is no going back from this. i didn’t plan to kill her, I thought I could keep her until the end. The bond I created with her, the one that she thought couldn’t be severed. The moment she betrayed me, I let her go.

’’You said I was your link,’’ she sobs.

I smile ’’You were nothing. You will die as nothing. Never trust an angry vampire.’’

I rip the shirt off her body and she shakes uncontrollably beneath my grip ’’This wouldn’t hurt. I promise.’’

That is a lie.

Death in itself is painful.

My hands go into a fist. I will soon feel her heart in my grip. The final moment of her life. my hand dives into her chest, I try to be as fast as I can. Make this quick. This time as I push into her, I see the look. The one I wanted earlier.

The regret.

Regret for her actions.

’’The punishment for betrayal is death.’’

The light in her eyes disappears as I pull out her heart. The heart she gave to me when she drank my blood. I toss it to a corner and use the shirt on the floor to wipe off the blood. Looking at her, the aftermath of my anger. I don’t feel a thing. There is no pity, no remorse as I walk out of the room and out of the house. Her body is already cold.

I look out at the cold night wishing things could speed up. The moment my mission is complete. I will take the punishment.

I will die a happy man.

’’Cassius Blade.’’

I turn around slowly as I recognise the voice. Without even seeing her face, I know she is the one.

’’Lucinda Thana,’’ I smile welcoming her even though I shouldn’t.

She frowns not returning the smile. The fact that she is here means they have found me. I haven’t really been hiding, I knew this day would come. Lucinda is the one they used to recruit me, and now they think they can use her again to bring me back. I know what will happen if I follow her. The fore ones are pissed. There is a bounty for my head. no one has been strong enough, or should I say smart enough.

The fact that they sent an Eli should be terrifying, I have already run out of fucks to give.

Nothing can faze me.

’’You have been a very bad boy,’’ she walks closer to me.

I look at her closely. Her hair is longer than the last time I saw her. the gold flecks in her eyes shine and she comes even closer to me, dressed in a short black dress and sneakers.

The outfit shouldn’t go together but Lucinda pulls it off well.

’’The worst of them all,’’ I grin with my reply.

There was once a time where this smile could melt her heart into pieces. A time where she would do anything for me.

Now all I see in her eyes are anger.

Chapter 98: Lucinda.

Cassius.

Running for your life.

That is what I did. Gyles made me promise to leave. That was the agreement if anything ever happened. I had to make it out alive.

I always thought he was messing around.

I didn’t know how dangerous it was to be a vampire. He wasn’t always like the rest of his family. The moment he became one of them, I saw the change. He was different, stronger, more beautiful.

I should’ve known how I felt about him. it took me a while to understand my emotions. He watched me grow. He cared for me, never let me suffer for all the years I have known him. now he is gone.

Dead.

I know it even though I haven’t seen the bodies.

How is he going to come out of it? he walked to the screams bravely. Gyles has always been brave. That is one of the reasons why I love him.

I run through the woods even though my legs hurt. I run until I can’t run any more. There is nowhere for me to go. I have no one. They were my family and in just one day, they are all gone.

I don’t know how long I run. It’s been hours since I last saw him. I don’t know what to do. I want to go back home, confirm that they are really dead. From what happened, me going to confirm will just be torture. I don’t want to see his body. That would be the last thing I remember of him.

Right now, I am hiding out in an abandoned cabin in the woods. Gyles and I have snuck away here a couple of times. There are memories we have shared in this place, now all they bring to me is pain.

I stay in the cabin for two days, two days of pain and anger. Angry with myself for thinking my happiness would last. I thought I had found my forever and in the blink of an eye, I lost it all.

I go back to the house. The place I had called home for years. I just have to make sure, see things for myself. I need to know if he is dead. I didn’t even get to say goodbye to him.

Now he is gone.

Everywhere looks straight out of a horror movie. There is blood everywhere. Their bodies already ash. They burnt them all, to get rid of the evidence. Now I am all alone.

The moment I see it, I know he is gone. On the hardwood floor in the family room. The chain I got for him. the chain he vowed to never take off. The tears start to fall out of my control because how do I go on. How do I continue living?

I don’t want to live in a world where he doesn’t exist.

I don’t want to go on without him.

’’Killing yourself won’t bring them back,’’ I turn around to the voice and it is a lady. A very beautiful lady with the darkest eyes I have ever seen. She is dressed in black pants and a white shirt. Her hair is up in a ponytail. She walks closer to me with a warm smile.

’’Who are you?’’ I cower, taking a step away from her.

Her smile is welcoming. Her eyes are kind. ’’Someone that wants to help you,’’ she tells me, and I sense the honesty in her words.

’’How can you help me? I have lost everything.’’ I shout out all the anger that has been pent up within.

’’Gyles wouldn’t want you to die. He died fighting for you. Never forget that.’’

How does she know Gyles?

’’He was a special friend.’’

She answers my question even though I never asked. I don’t know what is happening. I don’t know what to do but I will never trust another person. I will never be in that state of vulnerability.

Never again.

********************

’’The Elis are angry with you,’’ she continues, taking slow strides towards me.

’’You all knew that I couldn’t be controlled. You made me who I am today. so let me finish my task.’’

She stops walking.

A frown on her face.

’’There is a contention, there shouldn’t be any killing.’’

I laugh ’’I don’t give a fuck about a contention. I don’t care about those monsters. I will destroy them all.’’

This is all the anger I have carried my whole life. the only reason I have survived this long. Nothing can kill me at this point. I am not even scared of anything.

My will to survive is stronger than all the threats.

’’You know what will happen... I have tried to understand you and all your actions. You got the people that hurt your family. You got your revenge. The rest is just unnecessary.’’

She doesn’t understand. No one understands. The day I lost Gyles. I lost everything. I lost all the good that only he saw. Now they all think I can just put it back on like a fucking switch.

Being numb to everything.

’’Are you here to kill me?’’ I ask her because I am over this conversation.

She shakes her head ’’You know we don’t kill our kind. You were one of us. I am here to bring you back home.’’

’’Your home is not my home. Your fucking cult, you all think you are doing good. Like you are some kind of messiah. I will never sit back and act as if I belong with you all.’’

She sighs ’’You know what is going to happen Cassius. You know how this will end.’’

She looks pained. Almost like it hurts her to see me. I know the relationship we had. She loved me; I know that much but she had to know that I was beyond love. The moment she found me, the look in my eyes; should’ve told her that I couldn’t be saved.

’’You have to stop chasing me, let me go.’’ I walk over to her until I am directly in front of her. I grab her hands in mine, she doesn’t fight me or push me away. This is the only person from the Elis that doesn’t want me dead. She is the only one that believes I could be saved.

She is the fool.

’’If you are not here to kill me, then I suggest you leave,’’ a tear slides to her cheek. I reach for it and she closes her eyes. Lucinda was the only one that believed in me. she is still the only one that believes in me.

What is the point in believing in me when I don’t even believe in myself?

’’They are coming for you.’’

She is talking about the rest of them. Funny enough I have been expecting them for a while now. Unlike them, I will kill anyone that gets in my way. The Elis are strong, I should be afraid of them.

I am not afraid of anything.

I was one of them—they trained me. I can win over anyone.

’’Let them.’’

She sighs ’’I wish you could let go of all the anger. That is the only way you would be free.’’

I shake my head; she opens her eyes and watches me with sadness ’’I will never be free as long as I live.’’

If only she had let me kill myself all those years ago. I wanted to die; I was ready to go with him, but she convinced me to fight. She convinced me to get the revenge I deserved.

Now she is here trying to convince me to let go. It should’ve stopped with the people that killed them. That was the plan, but I didn’t get the satisfaction I thought I would once they were dead. I didn’t want anyone to have to go through that kind of pain. I wanted the world to be free of their kind. I still want that and nothing Lucinda says will change that.

The only way I will let go is death.

’’Come back with me, let go of all this hate. I will convince the rest of them. You will go into hiding for a couple of years. Please.’’

She means well. I know she does but I don’t want that. I don’t want to go into hiding. I should’ve been done with this town. This is taking a lot longer than it usually does.

’’I am not done.’’

I am sure they don’t even know she is here. She came here to try and convince me to turn myself in. Almost like she never learns from her mistake.

Kill me.

I know she can hear my thoughts. She heard but she wouldn’t listen. Just like in the past. The only way this will stop is if she kills me.

Kill me.

’’You know I can’t.’’

I raise a brow ’’You can’t or won’t?’’

’’I won’t’’

She turns around and I watch her walk away from me like she was never even here in the first place. Lucinda is a distant memory. She is a friend. A person I had come to trust.

I wish she could see my intentions.

I wish she understood.

No one understands.

Chapter 99: Change the narrative

Darrien.

His bed is small. So, fucking small but somehow, I love it. we are sprawled under the covers; I have to hold him tightly because there is literally no space for the two of us.

Something has changed between us.

That kiss.

That amazing kiss that I denied myself of.

I can’t believe I held on for that long. I don’t even feel as guilty as I thought i would. I liked it so much. I felt so much from just a kiss that it washed all the guilt out of my mind.

He doesn’t seem concerned about the age thing.

I need to speak to someone about it because the longer I stay with him, the more I wouldn’t be able to resist him. It is like torture, being so close but unable to devour your favourite meal.

Jabi has become my favourite meal.

He has become my favourite everything.

’’It’s already night-time,’’ he points out and sure enough, I look out the tiny window in his bedroom and the moon shines brightly. It is at that point of reaching its peak. In two days, the moon will be full. When Alanis told me about the mating ritual; I was envious. I want to do the same with him. I am so fucking ready to be one with Jabi. I don’t want to overwhelm him though. Especially when I don’t even understand how this all works.

Not once have I thought that it would be easier if it was anyone but him. the moment I met him; I have wanted him. there is no fear in my mind, no worry that this will be a mistake.

This is the most certain I have been about anything.

’’Are you hungry?’’ I ask him, leaning forward till my face is in the crook of his neck. He shakes his head as he plays with the strands of my hair. See what I mean when I say I will lose my mind the closer I get to him. Just innocent touches from him and dark thoughts running through my mind.

He is pulling my hair and all I can think of is how hard he will go at it when I am inside him, naked and sweaty.

Fuck.

I pull away from him subtly. I don’t want him to have to worry about anything. There is this fear in him—the fear that this will end.

I have tried to assure him that I am for real.

’’We should get you something to eat,’’ I stand up from the bed and he watches me with confusion etched to his face.

’’Are you hungry?’’

I shake my head. I don’t need food. He does. Besides he is too skinny. My goal is to fatten him up.

’’It doesn’t seem like you have anything edible in this house. I will go look for food for you.’’

He jumps up the bed and grabs me by my shirt ’’I’ll come with you,’’ he suggests.

I don’t want him to come with because I need to discuss somethings with Beau. I don’t know if he will have the time right now. They are supposed to be wrapping up the burial. There are things I need to know. I can’t stand all this uncertainty.

’’Uh... Okay,’’ I pull his hands off my shirt and grab them in mine tightly.

’’I will be back with something delicious. Don’t worry yourself.’’

There is a worry in his eyes, the kind that makes me want to stay back and hold him in my arms. Let him know that this is real, and I am not going anywhere. I lean forward until his lips are on mine. Kissing, that is how far I can go with him. I don’t want to cross that line, but I also think about other things I can do to get closer to him. His hands slide until they are holding me by my waist, he pulls me closer and I don’t fight it. the minute I kissed him, I let go. There is no going back from that kiss; not like I even intend to.

This kiss is soft, moist, hot and breathy. At this point, I am not trying to win aa battle, but I am seeking union and closeness with him. my tongue slides into his mouth, touching his in a quick yet determined curiosity. Letting out a heavy breath, he moans against me. the sound I will come to love, crave, need. Slowly I pull back from him because that is all this can be until I am sure. Until I know that this is not wrong.

The heat in his cheeks rise with a smile ’’Do you still want to go?’’ he knows that he is my weakness. He fucking knows how to get me to waver.

’’You are freaking cunning,’’ I groan because I am unable to leave him right now.

He chuckles, his lips are red and swollen from the kiss. I want to have another taste. Fuck all this temptation. ’’You need food though,’’ I interject.

’’I will be fine. I have gone days without food. This is nothing to me,’’ he tells me so nonchalantly but my heart stops against my chest.

He is talking about enduring hunger because that is what he is used to. I won’t let him endure anything again. I will take care of him for as long as I am here.

’’Come on, let’s go together.’’

He opens his eyes wide. Probably surprised.

We walk out of the tiny house with my hand gripping his. I want it to be known that he is mine. We get to the front of Beau’s house. A woman walks out of it, I don’t know who she is, but I see her eyes on our hands entwined together. She doesn’t look too happy about that. the thing about this, in the past I wouldn’t prance around showing off my relationships. I didn’t feel the need to but now, I don’t care if it makes people uncomfortable. I don’t care if they look at us and say ’Eww.’ I just want to let the world know that he is mine and I fucking love him.

’’Is Beau in?’’ I ask her.

She shakes her head immediately ’’At the recreation centre. They are having the burial dinner.’’

I furrow my brows, Jabi squeezes my hands ’’I know where it is,’’ he interrupts almost like he read my mind.

I thank the woman, even though she was not really accommodating ’’We missed the burial,’’ he says sadly.

I stop walking ’’I have a question.’’

He nods ’’Do you even give a shit about these people?’’

He opens his eyes wide ’’They are my family.’’

I want him to understand something. These people are not his family. They treated him like trash. He felt like he had to remain in this situation because he didn’t have anything else, but I am here.

I am here to show him what it is like to be loved.

What it is like to have a real family.

’’They are not your family, your real family died. During the war and these people felt obligated to take care of you—they did a shitty job at that.’’

He sighs ’’It’s not their faults.’’

I frown ’’The fact that you were left to fucking starve for days? How is that not their faults?’’

’’They had their own issues. I am just an omega.’’

The anger boils within me from that word. He is just an omega? Does that judge all their actions? So, being an omega means you’re fucking trash?

’’Don’t ever say that again. You are not just an omega. You are a person. You are smart, beautiful, your smile lights up the fucking universe.’’

Tears well up in his eyes. I want to hold him, in the middle of this compound. I hate that he thinks so little of himself and I will be damned if I don’t change that narrative.

Can’t have him thinking all this about himself.

’’Darrien,’’ I turn around before I can say anything else and Alanis smiles as he walks over to us. Jabi goes behind me, still unsure of my brother. I don’t blame him, but there is a joy in me that he finds safety with me.

’’We didn’t think you’d ever come out of his house,’’ he looks at Jabi.

I shrug ’’I actually want to have a talk with Beau and this little guy needs food,’’ I say gesturing to him.

He smiles ’’There’s food inside. Do you want to go have dinner?’’ he asks Jabi.

’’Go on,’’ I urge him, and he obeys at once.

I watch him walk inside.

’’What do you want to talk about with Beau?’’

’’Just some stuff, you don’t have to worry about it’’ I assure him, but this only gets a raised brow in suspicion.

Alanis still doesn’t trust me, and I don’t blame him, but I will prove myself to him and everyone else.

Show them that I can be trusted.

Chapter 100: Mine.

Darrien.

’’So your boyfriend is not here anymore. What’s bugging you?’’ Alanis asks me with that smug smile still on his face.

He is enjoying this a little too much. He has no answers for me. I need to speak to someone that can explain this shit to me. the minute I find out that this is okay, I plan to let go completely.

’’It’s none of your business.’’

He laughs ’’Well someone is feisty.’’

I roll my eyes ’’What if I want to do the ritual on Thursday too... with Jabi?’’ I ask him, totally contradicting myself right now. I don’t know what I am doing right now. I want to speed things up so fast. I am getting impatient.

’’Uh... wow. Have you thought this through?’’

I nod. ’’We kissed. At his place. I got so fucking tempted. It was a mess. I can’t continue living like this,’’ I admit running my hands through my hair from all the frustrations.

’’You know what, let’s go get Beau,’’ he grabs me by my arm and leads me into the building.

The place is packed. I look around the crowd on all the tables for my Link. It is like there is this pull. I know where to find him instantly. He is seated on the same table with Rex and some other guy with long hair. His plate seems to be full from where I am standing. Our eyes meet at once, and he smiles, the kind that tugs on my heartstrings.

I return the smile ’’There he is, let me steal him for you,’’ Alanis walks away from me and I watch him go to his mate.

Beau looks up immediately and I see that look. That look that I have when I see Jabi. The excitement, the love, the pure joy of seeing the only person that matters. Alanis brushes his hand on Beau’s arm and whispers something in his ear. slowly he looks up to my direction and smiles before walking up to me.

’’So... I hear you have questions?’’

I nod ’’Can we talk outside?’’

’’I’ll leave you guys to it,’’ Alanis walks away from us and I watch him as he sits down next to Jabi.

Hesitantly, I walk out with Beau who just has this warm smile on his face. we get to the front of the rec centre. The night sky looming above us with the stars shining brightly. The wind blows and I feel a chill as I look at Beau.

’’Is it wrong?’’ I ask him, getting straight to the point.

He furrows his brows ’’Is what wrong?’’

’’Me and Jabi. I know he is just a kid and I shouldn’t be having the kind of thoughts I am about him. I have tried to control it. tried to stop seeing him in that light but I can’t.’’

He smiles.

Why is he smiling?

I need fucking answers.

’’Because he is sixteen?’’

I nod and run my hands through my hair in frustration. Because he is sixteen and all I want to do is bury myself inside him.

Fuck.

Even just thinking about him turns sexual.

’’You know, age doesn’t matter with us. He would’ve never connected with you if he wasn’t ready.’’

’’He is still sixteen, he is still a child.’’

He shakes his head ’’Yes, he is young, but he is a wolf. Our age is different from humans. Let’s just say right now he is old enough to be with you.’’

I don’t understand him. fuck, all I can hear is him telling me that this is not wrong. ’’What do you mean?’’

He sighs, obviously unsure of how to explain this to me. ’’Hold on, lemme just get someone.’’ He runs back into the building before I can stop him and a couple of minutes later with Rax in his grip.

Rex pushes his glasses up his nose as they both stop in front of me ’’Look, I didn’t pay attention when this was taught when we were younger. So, he can explain things to you better.’’ He pushes the guy forward.

Rex sighs with a nervous rumble, still fidgeting with his glasses ’’What do you want to know?’’

This is fucking awkward to me. I don’t do all this talking about my feelings. I like to figure things out on my own. Jabi what are you doing to me?

’’Tell him about the age thing,’’ Beau interjects as I am about to speak.

Rex furrows his brow ’’Is it about Jabi?’’

I nod.

’’What do you want to know?’’

’’Is it wrong to want to speed up mating with him?’’

He furrows his brows ’’It is only natural. Mating rituals are supposed to be instant. The minute you find out is when you should be preparing.’’

’’Even if he is just a kid? I don’t know how I feel about violating him.’’

He laughs with disbelief in his eyes. I look at him with a blank expression. I don’t know what is funny, but I guess I will find out ’’You’re serious?’’ he asks.

I nod.

’’How do you violate someone that is yours? The minute you met him; this was going to happen.’’

’’Even though he is still underage?’’

’’He is not underage. We are not humans. This is different. You wouldn’t have connected if he was. He has come of age.’’

’’What does that mean?’’

He looks away from me for a second. I glance at Beau who seems to be attentively listening to him. Rex looks back at me ’’Think about it this way, for every, one human year, a wolf is five years older. So now multiply Jabi’s sixteen years by five. That is how old he is.’’

I do the math in my head.

’’Eighty?’’

He nods ’’We age differently. You’ve got yourself an oldie, just so you know,’’ Beau laughs out loud.

I don’t know how to comprehend all he has told me, but I am fucking excited. This is good news. All this while I have been panicking because I didn’t want to ruin what we have. I have been pushing him away, trying to be a good person when it wasn’t even needed.

’’Another thing. I want to do the ritual at the same time Beau does his.’’

’’I can’t say anything about that. I mean at the end of the day, it is up to you. It is your choice. like I said the ritual is supposed to be instant. The only reason why theirs got delayed is because of all that has been happening.’’

Beau nods in agreement.

’’I want to do this. I can’t wait.’’

’’I’ll speak to Jules and Alby. In the meantime,’’ he stops and stares at me ’’No fucking, that shit will mess things up.’’

’’What does that mean?’’

He laughs ’’Do not put your dick in him... is that clear?’’

’’What will happen?’’

He shakes his head ’’You don’t want to know. Just hold off until the ritual Is complete.’’

’’Wait, you mean to tell me you guys haven’t...’’

He sighs ’’Fucking blue balls this whole time.’’

Rex coughs nervously, obviously uncomfortable with the conversation. I laugh because this is hilarious. Its been a while since they found out, how have they held on that long?

It is just for two days. I can handle two days without sex with him, but I want to complete the ritual. I want to be one with him. There are no doubts in my mind that I want this.

I just have to find out if he wants the same thing.

’’Thanks, guys. I really appreciate this.’’

Beau nods and slaps my shoulder with so much energy ’’Anytime, you are family.’’

At this point, I believe him.

We are a family.

*******************

I go in search of Jabi and he is still where I last saw him. the plate in front of him is empty. Alanis stands up from the chair next to him and whispers in my ear ’’Did you get the answers you need?’’

I smile with a nod ’’Yes I did.’’

Sitting down next to Jabi, I grab his hand in mine with a gentle squeeze. He shifts the chair closer to me ’’You were gone for a while,’’ he comments.

I had somethings to discuss with Beau.

’’About us?’’

I nod.

’’Is it bad?’’

I shake my head immediately ’’Get up please,’’ I ask him.

He stands up obediently and I lead him out of the building. There is something I need to do. Something I can’t do inside with all those people around. We walk until I get to an empty part of the building. Because of all that is happening, people aren’t allowed to roam around.

’’Is something wrong?’’

He asks.

’’Everything is perfect,’’ I push him to the wall and he gasps in surprise. This is me letting go of everything. there is no guilt whatsoever. He is mine, in all ways and there is nothing that will stop me.

’’You are mine,’’ I declare as I smash my lips to him for the most exciting kiss of my fucking life.