His Forever Mate

by Jenny Tia

“Goldleaf lesson number two, Julian is always right.”

  Casius chuckled and placed a hand on the small of my back. “Like I said, so far so good. We’ll see if it lasts. But if I get heatstroke—”

  “Then we’ll go straight to the hospital. My best friend is a nurse, so—” I stopped in my tracks. “Shit.”

  “What? What’s wrong?”

  “I promised Stef I’d have dinner with him tonight.” I grimaced. I was going to have to let him down, and I could easily imagine how hurt he’d be that I was canceling to spend time with Casius.

  But Cas just smiled. “That’s fine. I have to check in with Alpha Truitt tonight anyhow. And you should spend as much time with Stefan as you can.”

  I looked him over warily. “But you’ve only got a few days here.”

  “Sure. But if things go well between us, which I think they are, then I’m hoping you’ll consider moving to Everglow sometime soon. No rush, but… You should see your friends now, as much as you can.”

  I lowered my eyes and let out a soft sigh. I hated it, but he was right. I couldn’t deny I was falling for Casius in a way that gave me withdrawals every time he was gone. I bit my tongue and cursed the moon for giving me a mate with important ties to Everglow.

  “Hey, you’re losing some precious booza,” he exclaimed as he grabbed my wrist and brought it up to his lips. As he lapped at the booza melting down my arm, it sent a thrill racing along my spine.

  “Now you are!” I giggled and smeared my finger through a dribble of the dessert trickling down his wrist, and then I flicked it onto his nose.

  “Hey!”

  I took off across the park at high speed, barreling through the long grasses and bounding over benches while Casius kept right on my tail, laughing and yelling for me to stop. I howled, leading him through the park in the midday sun until he tackled me and we ended up wrestling on the banks of the pond. Our booza became a puddle of milk beside us as we pinned each other, cackling with laughter. Of course, he had the advantage in weight and skill. I could tell he went easy on me. He didn’t even break a sweat. But that was probably because of the scarf…

  11

  Casius

  The dinner with Alpha Truitt and his mate, Elijah, went well. I’d felt very welcome, and their relationship not only reminded me of my parents, it also made me see how a strong relationship with a mate could make someone a stronger leader.

  After I’d said my goodbyes, I got into my car, and as soon as I’d buckled my seat belt, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out to see a smiling photo of Julian on the screen that I had taken last weekend, with his curls falling all over the place. I grinned and felt the familiar tug in my abdomen.

  “Hey, handsome,” I answered.

  “Hi!” Julian said with a giggle.

  “I love hearing your voice.”

  “You do?”

  “Yeah. Not only is it sexy, it simply warms my heart.” I easily visualized Julian’s blush, and I smiled. “Are you done with your dinner?”

  “Yep, want to come over?”

  “Absolutely, I can be there in ten minutes or so.”

  “Well, that’s almost fast enough. I’ll take it. I’m just walking in now. I’ll see you soon.”

  “Can’t wait.”

  When I pulled up to Julian’s apartment building, I was impatient to see him. I bounded out of the car then took the stairs in twos. I wondered if I would always approach him this way or if some of the intensity and thrill would wear off. Either way, there was no escaping it—I was deeply attached to him, and I rushed all the way to his door.

  The second I saw him, I dove right for his lips, pressing against him as he walked backward into his apartment. I managed to close the door behind me without breaking our kiss. As Julian wrapped his arms around me, warmth traveled to my groin, and I pulled him in tighter before reluctantly moving back to catch my breath.

  “Nice to see you too,” I said, laughing.

  “Oh my gosh, it’s like I just get lost in your mouth.” Julian rested his forefinger on my lower lip.

  “I know what you mean,” I said softly, then kissed his forehead.

  “Come, sit on the couch with me.” Julian grabbed my hand to pull me over to the corner of his couch.

  I kicked off my shoes on the way and gratefully fell back into the cushioned right angle of the corner seat. Julian snuggled up next to me and lay his head on my shoulder while I wrapped my arm around his shoulders. I buried my nose in his curls and inhaled his delicious scent then sighed happily. He sighed as well, and we sat in contented silence for a moment.

  “Julian? Can I ask you something?”

  He lifted his head and looked at me. “Of course, what about?”

  I swallowed, not sure how to broach the subject, but knowing I needed to. “When I spoke to your parents, they told me you’d never had a heat.”

  A dark flush colored Julian’s cheeks and he pushed away from me to sit at the other end of the couch. “I knew this was too good to last,” he said, his voice cracking.

  I frowned. “What was too good?”

  “You, us. My parents told me you knew, but I assumed since you hadn’t said anything, you didn’t mind.” He turned his face away, and I could see his lower lip tremble.

  “I don’t mind! Honestly. I just wanted to talk to you about it, to let you know I was aware of—”

  “My inability to conceive, to have children.”

  “Well, yes. I was going to ask you if you’d been tested—”

  “Of course I have. What kind of idiot do you think I am? I’ve had that many tests done, they could start a new medical journal about my condition.” He stood up and began pacing the floor.

  Damn, this was not going well. I got to my feet so I could stop his pacing. “Julian, it’s not a big deal—”

  “Yes, it is. You’re Supreme Alpha Select, you need a mate who can give you children, an heir, not someone who can’t even go into heat. But you were the only one who’d shown any interest in me, and I thought… I let myself believe…”

  “What did you let yourself believe?” I asked him gently.

  “That you liked me.”

  A tear fell from Julian’s eyes, and my heart broke. “Oh, baby, I do like you. I—” It was too soon for declarations of love, especially as Julian was so vulnerable right now. He probably wouldn’t believe me, but I did have to make him believe I wanted him for my mate, whether he could have children or not.

  “What do you think about visiting me in Everglow next weekend?”

  He looked up at me, his bright blue eyes still swimming with tears. “You want me to come to Everglow?”

  “Yes. I want you to see where I live, to get to know me, so you can understand that having you as my mate is more important to me than having children. If you want to have children in the future, we can talk about options. I’m sure there are possibilities to adopt, if that’s the route you want to go.”

  He shook his head. “I—”

  “Please, Julian. Give me a chance to prove my sincerity, to prove I’m the right alpha for you.”

  Julian snorted. “As if any other alpha would want me.”

  I wasn’t sure if that was an attempt at humor, but I smiled nonetheless. “You are my mate, and as I said before, I doubt the moon goddess would have put us together if we weren’t mean to be.”

  When Julian didn’t protest any further, I risked taking his hands in mine. “So, will you come to Everglow?”

  After a moment, he nodded. “I could be convinced,” he said with a touch of his usual sass.

  I sighed in relief, and after peppering his forehead with kisses, I dragged him back to the couch. “Okay, how can I convince you?”

  He wiped away a loose tear. “Well, where would you take me?”

  “We’d definitely have to go see some waterfalls. The water glows in Everglow, you know.”

  “So I’ve heard.”

  “Maybe a walk through the pine forests as well.” />
  “Oh, pine forest. Now we’re talking.” He slowly rubbed his thumb along my forefinger.

  “Yeah, come to think of it, I have seen lots of mushrooms growing out there. I’m not sure what kinds exactly.”

  “Leave the identification to me. Alright, I’m sold.”

  “So mushrooms are all it took?” I laughed and feigned taking offense, but to be honest I was just so glad he was going to take a chance with me. I leaned in and gently kissed him, already dreading having to go back home. I don’t think I’d ever see Everglow the same again without having Julian there.

  When it came time to leave on Sunday night, after spending the weekend making sure Julian knew exactly how much I wanted him, I stood in the middle of his living room, holding his hands.

  “I’ll see you soon,” I said, not at all surprised at the emotion in my voice. I didn’t think Julian would change his mind, but I wanted to extract a promise out of him.

  “Yes.”

  “That’s it, just ‘yes’?”

  Julian giggled, and I smiled in response, drawing him close so I could kiss the edge of his mouth. If I gave him a full-on kiss, I’d never get out of here.

  “Yes is all you need. Go, shoo.”

  “Well, before I go…” I pulled out a small box from my pocket. I’d meant to give it to him the first night I’d arrived, but I’d become distracted. Julian frowned, but before he could pull away, I opened the slim case. “This is just a little something to demonstrate my intentions.” I opened it to display a necklace with my name engraved on a thin gold plate between the fine chain. “So if anyone has any questions about who you’re fated to, you can show them this.”

  I was serious, I didn’t want any other alpha or beta sniffing around my mate.

  Julian’s beautiful eyes widened as he stared at it. “I can’t—”

  “Yes, you can, for me.”

  I took the necklace from the box, and then placed it around Julian’s neck. It sat perfectly at the base of his throat, where his pulse beat strong and fast. He touched it with his fingertips, and then smiled.

  “Wait.”

  I watched as he ran off to his bedroom. When he came back a few moments later, he held an intricately woven bracelet made out of the colorful fabrics of Goldleaf. In the middle were the initials JR. He tied it around my right wrist, and as I admired it, he leaned up and kissed me.

  “Now, if anyone has any questions about who you’re fated to, you can show them this.”

  12

  Julian

  The week between April and May dragged on for an eternity. All I could think about was my upcoming weekend trip to Everglow, and I couldn’t help but count down the hours and sometimes even minutes until I’d arrive at Casius’s house. I tried to focus on work to keep my mind off it, but for once in my life, the numbers didn’t hold my attention. My whole body was alight with desire and yearning, and my logical mind just didn’t have the power to pull me away from such visceral urges.

  So I spent my afternoons in the woods, with my paws in the earth and my snout deep in fungi blooms. The woods were alive with spring growth, and petite brown porcinis, lacy and delicate Japanese umbrella mushrooms, and of course the year-round bright red amanita toadstools dotted the forest floor. I scratched around the roots of the few pines and cypress trees we had in our woods, to encourage the spread of dormant fungi spores that might be hidden, hoping to cultivate more crops for next year.

  However, as I trotted down my well-worn paths of the forest, I realized I might not be here to see the bloom of the next season. I might be in Everglow, and for a moment, sadness filled my heart.

  Before I was to leave for my first weekend at Casius’s home town, I had to see Stefan for a quick debrief and a pep talk. I was packed and ready to leave when he arrived at my door with a bag of freshwater mussels, a loaf of bread, and a bottle of wine.

  “Let’s talk!” he announced as he pushed into my house and headed straight for the kitchen.

  We used up the last of the vegetables in my fridge and threw together a tasty mussel stew. Once it was cooked, we sat at the small table on the balcony under the glow of the setting sun.

  “Important fact—these are freshwater mussels from those clear and pristine waters of Everglow.” Stefan grinned as he cracked one open with his hands.

  “So this is my first taste of the city, huh?” I tasted one of the mussels and had to admit it was good.

  “I’m pretty sure you’ve tasted something from that city before…” Stefan let out a high-pitched giggle while I groaned and shook my head.

  I sipped some wine and Stefan dipped a piece of bread into his stew. A moment of silence passed, and I knew he was considering something serious. He was never quiet for long unless he had something on his mind.

  His voice was low when he asked, “How are you feeling about everything?”

  I let out a short laugh and sat back against the chair. “Confused. Excited. Terrified.”

  “Terrified? Well, that’s dramatic.”

  “I know, but it’s true. Everything is going so well—”

  “So what’s there to be scared about?”

  “Are you kidding? It could all fall apart in an instant. Something bad is bound to happen because it all seems too good to be true. He doesn’t even mind I’ve never had a heat and can’t conceive…”

  Stef turned toward the last moments of the sunset, but I caught a glimmer of wetness in his eyes and my heart ached.

  When he spoke, his words came out strained and broken. “You have everything going for you, Julian. Stop focusing on the what if’s and the negatives. Enjoy the blessings you’ve been given. Do I have to remind you how damn lucky you are to have found your fated mate?”

  He turned to me and I swallowed nervously before shaking my head. “No, you don’t. I’m sorry.”

  Stef’s chin pulled in tight and his bottom lip started to tremble. I hadn’t seen him so upset since we were kids. It hurt to think I hadn’t even taken a moment to consider how my courtship and possible mating with Casius might affect my relationship with Stef.

  “Are you alright with all of this?” I asked him gently.

  He squeezed my hand and nodded as he looked off at the darkening sky. I watched him from the side as he blinked away tears.

  I remained silent, knowing full well he couldn’t hold off telling me the truth for long. Sure enough, he caved. He laughed and wiped his eyes with his free hand. “I’m fine. I’m fine. I’m just deathly jealous.”

  The fairy lights that circled my balcony switched on as the last of the sunlight faded from the sky, and Stef’s face took on a beautiful golden glow. Just then, I knew it wouldn’t be long before he found his mate.

  “We’re always going to be best friends, Stef. No matter what. If I move to Everglow—”

  “When you move to Everglow.”

  I had to relent. He was right. As far as my wolf was concerned, I was already saying goodbye to Goldleaf and preparing to say yes to Casius’s offer to be my mate…

  “When I move to Everglow you will always be welcome in my house. Casius’s and my house…” Hearing the two names together sent a thrill of excitement up my spine.

  Stefan sighed and turned to me. “I know. I know. You are my best friend now and forever, no matter what. I don’t care what happens, you can’t get rid of me.”

  I laughed and squeezed his hand. “Good. And you know, I would feel exactly the same if I were in your shoes.”

  “Damn right you would. Can you imagine if I ran off to Everglow? You’d be livid. You’d go on a rampage about government conspiracies and accuse me of working with the enemy.”

  I laughed and let go of his hand. “I would, it’s true. I’d rant about you being a traitor. You’ve been really very kind to me, all things considered.”

  “Are you excited to see the city though? Even though they’re full of snobby Everglowians…”

  “Yes. I’m mostly excited to see the nature, of course. You’ve h
eard their streams have an ethereal glow, day and night? Incredible. I can’t wait to see that. I’m pretty pissed fate put me together with a government official, but the silver lining is that it’s opening up my world. Maybe I’ll get an inside glimpse at the workings of the machine of capitalism.”

  “Maybe you’ll see it’s not as evil as you thought.”

  I grunted and ripped a chunk of bread off the loaf. “I guess I have to admit that anything is possible these days.”

  We ate and drank and laughed late into the night until I had to kick Stefan out so I could finish packing and get a decent amount of sleep before my trip. I ended the night on a shot of a liver-cleansing mushroom tonic and made my way to bed, hoping to prevent a hangover.

  It worked, mostly—I woke up without a headache or nausea, but my heart felt heavy. I stared up at the ceiling with a frown on my face, wondering where this bad mood had come from. Was it just a biochemical reaction to the wine? Or was there something else to it? Instinct? Intuition? Had I had another bad dream I couldn’t remember?

  I didn’t have much time to wonder—my phone buzzed and pulled me into reality. My heart sank when I saw that it was Casius calling. He was going to cancel. He was going to tell me to stay home.

  “Hey.”

  “Hey, gorgeous. Are you ready?”

  “Yeah… Why? What’s wrong?” I glanced at the clock and figured I had a good half an hour before I had to leave for the bus—plenty of time to shower and get dressed, if he still wanted me to come, that was.

  Casius chuckled. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m sending a car for you. It’ll be there in about fifteen minutes.”

  “A car?”

  “I’m not going to have you catching a bus. Those things are nasty.”

  “I’m going to look like a class traitor,” I grumbled as I threw the covers off and hurried to grab an outfit from the closet.

  “Huh? What’s that?”

  “Nothing. Never mind. I meant thank you, that is very sweet of you.”

  “There’s just one thing…”