by Leia Stone
I winced, and licked my lips. Suddenly, a raging thirst took over me.
“Water,” I croaked.
My mother dashed out of the room and returned quickly with water as I reluctantly let go of Gavin’s hand to sit up and drink.
“What happened?” I asked after wetting my throat.
My parents shared a look. “You have both been unconscious for about twelve hours. When we tried to separate you, you got worse.”
What the? I looked at Gavin again, he had 24-hour scruff and messy hair. He was shirtless. As I scanned his torso and the tan tight muscles, I had to suppress a moan. I’d never been so attracted to someone in all my life.
My mom cleared her throat and I snapped out of my trance.
“That’s not all. I tried to contact Nahuel and he never came.” My mother told me, concern in her eyes.
My mouth dropped open. “What? Has that ever happened before?”
Nahuel was my only hope that Gavin and I weren’t ticking time bombs slated for death. I needed to learn more about what was ailing my mate and me.
Suddenly, Gavin groaned beside me and opened his eyes, squinting. I handed him the water glass and he met my eyes. His eyes flashed yellow for a brief second as our fingers touched and I watched as he took a swig, placing his lips where mine had just been.
Sitting up, he looked around the room, at my parents, and then me. “Didn’t expect my first time in your bed to include your parents,” he joked and I saw my mom suppress a grin. My father on the other hand, didn’t look so happy.
“He’s funny. I like him,” my mother declared and Gavin blushed.
Looking at my father’s grim expression, Gavin cleared his throat. “I tell jokes when I’m nervous,” he offered, and that finally got my dad to give a half smile. I slipped out of the bed and saw that I was wearing my short soccer shorts and a tank top.
My mother met my eyes. “You were both burning up, got hotter when we tried to separate you. I think you need to stick close together. Whatever is ailing Gavin, affects you, Anya, and it’s worse when you’re apart.”
I tried not to meet Gavin’s gaze but the sexual tension was getting to be stifling. “I need to go for a run or a walk or something. Clear my head.”
Gavin stood, shirtless and in gym shorts. “I’ll come.”
I nodded and my parents shared a look before silently leaving the room.
‘Don’t stray too far. If Nahuel shows up, you need to come back quickly,’ my father told me.
I could feel Jax near; he must in the basement. My parents would update him. I needed air, trees, nature. I didn’t bother changing, my skin was still hot with fever. Stalking barefoot out of the house, Gavin trailed behind me.
It looked to be mid-morning; the sun shone through the trees making small shafts of light on the blades of grass.
I was about to strip down and shift when I realized Gavin couldn’t shift with me. Instead, I slipped on flip flops that were piled on my porch as Gavin did the same. Wordlessly, we walked to the back of my house and the thick trees that rested there. I wasn’t sure what to say or do. My wolf was dying to touch him. At that thought, his hand slipped into mine and I smiled. Ducking into the woods, hand in hand, we walked for a few minutes before he finally spoke through the matebond.
‘Do you believe in fate?’
My belly warmed at his voice inside my head, an intimate thing reserved for only the closest bonds. I noticed him looking at me with a side glance, eyes trailing up and down my body.
I mulled over his words. I liked the idea of fate. Of mates that were destined to be together, but I also wanted to be in control of my reality. I didn’t want to feel helpless for my future, thinking everything was written for me.
‘Yes and no,’ I told him.
He stopped, dropping my hand, and faced me. My long dark hair was down, splayed out around my shoulders and I was suddenly very aware of the lack of clothing both of us had on.
“I think that no matter what, I was meant to find you. Whether I was adopted or not, we would have ended up together, eventually.” He paused and I felt his nerves through the matebond. “I think you’re my destiny.”
My breath hitched at his words and he took two steps closer to me, closing the gap between us. My eyes fell on his soft, full lips as the words he had said bounced around inside my brain. Destiny. I needed more of him then, not this cautious display we had been doing. At my thought, we crashed into each other. My mouth sought his and when they touched, an explosion of pleasure released in my belly, heated and warm. His arms came around me, pulling me closer with a hunger that I matched. His rock hard body felt so good against my bare skin. Opening my mouth to deepen the kiss, our tongues brushed and a moan escaped me. His hands roamed down my back and to my butt as he lifted me up and I straddled my legs around his waist. Gavin walked a few paces and gently pressed my back against a tree as I continued to kiss him, letting our tongues find a perfect slow pace.
‘Mine,’ he said and my inner wolf howled.
‘Mate,’ I replied.
I’d been dreaming of this moment since I first saw him. I wanted more. All social rules and insecurities flew out the window. I wanted to take him right here and now on the forest floor. At that thought, he pulled back, looking into his eyes. I saw so much passion and need. My body ached for him, for more. This was crazy … but felt so normal. Like we had been together for a thousand lifetimes and were just now reconnecting in this one. I made fun of chicks that fell for guys this quickly, and yet here I was … falling.
‘Nahuel is here.’ My father’s voice broke our heated display. Shit. I could see from Gavin’s face that my father had sent that to both of us. He took a second to catch his breath and then slowly sat me down, his hand came up to cup my cheek as he placed a sweet kiss on my lips once more.
Smiling, I took his hand as we walked back to the house and I tried not to think about the amazing kiss we just shared and the promise of more.
Nahuel stood talking with my parents on the porch. Behind him, I saw a dusty, red pick-up truck in the driveway and assumed it was his. Huh. I never knew he drove. I assumed he astral traveled or something. Jax came out the door then and tipped his head to me. As Gavin and I drew closer, I noticed Nahuel was covered in ceremonial war paint. Interesting … nerves suddenly clawed at my belly.
Cutting to the point, he looked directly at me and Gavin. “You both need to come with me. We’ll be gone a few days. Pack light. No food.”
My father growled, staring Nahuel down. “I don’t like this! What if they get sick again, go unconscious, get the fever? We need to be there to help them.”
Nahuel sighed, looking tired. “Alpha, when have I ever steered you wrong?”
Something passed between them then because my father looked defeated. My mom rested a hand on my father’s shoulder. “They must go. I’ve seen it.”
My heart stopped. I hadn’t gotten around to interrogating her about that vision yet.
“You’ve seen what?” I stood firm, holding her gaze as she looked up at me.
Staring into her bright blue eyes I suddenly felt grown up. For the first time in my life, I was getting visions, I was finding that I had a life purpose and it looked like mine was very separate from my mother’s.
“I’ve seen you go with Nahuel,” she stated and I could almost smell that she was hiding something.
I tilted my chin up and stared her right in the eyes. “What else?” My voice was much more demanding than I intended and a flash of hurt crossed my mother’s face as she strode over to me.
“Doesn’t matter, baby, the future can change.”
There! In her face, fear. Shit. She’d seen something bad. It took a lot to scare my mother.
Jax cleared his throat. “Good, if the future can change, then I will be going along whether I was in your vision or not.” My brother stood tall and gave off an air of ‘Don’t mess with me.’
Nahuel nodded. “Your path is intertwined with Anya’s.
”
Huh. That was easy. Jax looked smug as my father balked. Before they could begin to argue, my mom linked her arm with mine and led me into the house. Feeling her warm skin on mine, I became sad. I felt like I was finally flying the nest and no longer would be seeing her or needing her every day. It was exciting and sad all at the same time. We entered my room and my mother began shoving my clothes into a duffle bag.
“Mom, tell me. What did you see?”
She looked up from the duffle bag and I nearly stumbled back at the yellow eyes and feral expression that she gave me. Her long blonde hair hung in tousled waves framing her face. Striding across the room, she cupped both sides of my face.
“My birth mother had a vision when I was born that I wouldn’t make it to my fifth birthday.” Her voice was strong and didn’t waver. I knew the story, my mom and her twin were hidden away with humans, magiked the humans to think they were their own biological children. In doing this, it had broken the chain of events that would have led to my mother’s death at age five. But her twin brother still died pulling her from a raging creek. He drowned. I knew then that she wasn’t going to tell me what she saw because she believed I could change it. I also knew with 100% certainty that she saw my death.
She kissed my forehead. “Nothing is stronger than the bond between the Matefinder and her mate.”
I paused thinking of that. My mother was immune to silver and when my father got silver poisoning she could ‘share’ her silver immunity. But Gavin didn’t have any gifts to share with me and I certainly didn’t have anything that could heal him. Then my mother reached around her neck and pulled off her sacred protection pouch, putting it around me. My energy sizzled with the power as it saturated me with protection magic. This necklace was a treasured item to her; it was powerful and she told me that she had earned it. Gotten it from Nahuel.
“No, Mom, I can’t.”
She put out a hand to stop me. “On loan until you get your own.” Then all of a sudden she pulled me into a huge, tight hug, the kind that felt like goodbye, the kind that squeezed your heart. I let her lavender and sage scent wash over me.
“You got this,” was all she whispered and it gave me strength. Sometimes all we need is to know that someone else is cheering us on in this crazy world.
*
The drive to Canada was long and tiresome. I was hungry but Nahuel said we were fasting and would not be allowed anything but water and herbs for the next few days. Can I just say FML? Food was my favorite thing in the world, and being without it for a ‘few days’ was nothing short of torture. Gavin and I rode in the car with Nahuel as Jaxon followed behind in our Land Rover. Why we were going to Canada, I had no idea. But if my mother’s stories could be believed, then we were about to take some hallucinogenic drugs and trip out with some Native Americans.
‘Do you think Nahuel knows who my real mother is?’
Gavin’s voice in my head stopped my random thoughts. Oh my God, I had been so selfish. Here I was worrying about the next time I could have ice cream and Gavin was wondering big life questions like who his mother was.
Never one to shy away from opening my big fat mouth, I decided to ask. “Nahuel, do you know who Gavin’s parents are?”
Leaning over to gauge the shaman’s reaction, I saw the telltale signs on his face. Tense, withdrawn, jaw clenched. “I have a theory. We will know for sure when we get there.”
Ah Hah! He had a theory. My gaze fell onto my mate and the apprehension there. Who the hell would give up their kid like that? Especially a kid with magic powers, and not tell him what was coming. It must have been so scary for him to discover all this shit on his own. I slipped my hand into Gavin’s and squeezed.
We drove the rest of the way in silence, until finally we pulled into a thick wooded area about thirty minutes inside of the Canadian border. As we drove up to the small open clearing, I saw three teepees surrounding a fireplace and a larger tent in the back. It looked like there was no electricity, running water, or house type of shelter around here. As Nahuel pulled his truck further onto the property, I saw six hulking males decked head to toe in Indian ceremonial garb and wearing war paint on their faces. I swallowed, unexpectedly nervous. What the hell were we getting ourselves into here? As I turned to look at my mate, I saw something I had never seen from the guy before … complete and utter peace. Like his soul had returned home. His face held none of the apprehension I was sure that mine did. Instead he looked ready, excited, content.
Nahuel put the car in park and we all filed out. Jax pulled up behind us. I saw one of the flaps open to the tent and out stepped a gorgeous, tall, exotic woman. She was in her late twenties, wearing a long heavy woven skirt and loose white linen top. Her long brown braid hung down over one shoulder and her neck and arms were littered with turquoise and silver jewelry. As she stepped closer, I saw her face was also painted with red and white streaks and her almond-shaped eyes bore into my mate. I had to suppress a growl. Nahuel opened his arms and took the girl into a big hug. She seemed transfixed at staring at Gavin and he was doing the same with her. WTF. My wolf was two seconds from shifting and attacking her.
‘Down girl,’ Jax told me.
I glared at my twin. He didn’t understand.
Nahuel turned to all of us. “This is Lina, descendant of Alma, spiritual leader of our tribe.”
I swallowed hard. Dammit, she was an Alpha.
Lina stepped closer and extended her hand to me. “Well met, young wolf.”
Shaking it, I tried not to point out that she was pretty young herself. I was pretty sure that Nahuel brought us here because he thought this woman could help save my mate, so I needed to play nice. Then Lina did the same to Jaxon, who totally checked her out. As she moved toward Gavin, I saw her nostrils flare. Instead of shaking his hand, she grasped both sides of his face and brought it inches from her, peering into his eyes. I was about to intervene when I saw white mist float around her feet and swirl up, spinning around her body and Gavin’s, creating a cocoon of magic. WTF? Shamans were magic users? We didn’t really know much about them, so much so that we didn’t even consider them a supernatural species. We had no documentation of what their abilities were. Other than performing our mating ceremonies, we never saw them. Gavin held strong, locking Lina in his gaze. Suddenly, his eyes went bloodshot, the white completely filling with blood. I stepped forward to rip her away from him when Nahuel grabbed my arm.
“She’s hurting him!” I shouted at Nahuel ready to throw his ass off me and douse Lina with magic. But Nahuel gave me a look that sent chills racing up my spine.
“She is the only person left in this world who can help him.”
His words crushed me and I couldn’t help the tears that lined my eyes. Looking back at the cocoon of magic, I saw it dissipate and then slowly her hands dropped down and Gavin stumbled backward, falling onto his butt, eyes wide. I ran to his side, helping him up just as the fever flared to life within me and patches of fur rose on his skin. Gavin and I shared a ‘What the hell is going on’ look.
Lina spoke over us all. “True Mates. He is a Light Keeper, one of your descendants, Nahuel.”
My mouth popped open in shock.
Glancing at Nahuel, I saw his face pinched with pain. “Haseya.”
Lina nodded in understanding and gave Nahuel a warm look of pity.
‘What the hell is going on here?’ Jaxon asked, but I didn’t have an answer. I also hated to admit that I felt Gavin retreat from me and he wasn’t using our bond to speak. What the hell had she done to him?
“What’s the Light Keeper? What is Haseya? What’s going on?” I directed my questions at Nahuel and threw in an Alpha glare for good measure.
There was silence for a beat but just when I was about to ask again, Nahuel spoke.
“Haseya was my daughter.” Crossing the space between us, Nahuel took Gavin in a big hug, surprising us all. “We are well met, grandson.” His words sent a shock through both Gavin and me, and then I felt it
... the reason he closed off the matebond. He was seething with rage and I bristled at the dark feelings coming off of him.
Gavin, who hadn’t spoken since we arrived, pulled back from Nahuel, his face drawn with malice. “Seriously? You think a hug can fix this!? Your daughter dropped me off at an orphanage twenty years ago and you didn’t bother to look for me! Didn’t bother to tell me I was a shaman. Instead, you let the fevers and pain take me. You let me think I was dying! I thought I was a freak! A monster!”
His anger made the fever blaze hotter inside of me, as more fur continued to ripple on his arms. Suddenly, thunder crackled overhead and dark clouds rolled in as if by magic. Jax and I shared a look.
Lina looked intrigued. “He still has his power but he’s losing it. Taking her wolf.”
Nahuel looked hurt by Gavin’s words but didn’t say anything, only nodded to Lina to agree with her comment.
Gavin stepped closer to Nahuel straightening to his full height. Muscles flexed, he looked like a UFC cage fighter ready to rip someone’s head off. Shit.
“You let me die! I’m dying!” He screamed and I swore I heard the undertones of a wolf growl in his voice. The clouds opened up and rain pelted down on us.
Lina stood strong and cut him down with her words. “No, young Light Keeper. You will not die, that was a farce. Anya will. Your True Mate takes your fever and you take her wolf. In the end, if you cannot right this wrong, she will burn alive and you will stand on four paws.”
Chills broke out all over my body as I stumbled backward into Jaxon’s outstretched arms. My hand went to my mouth as the rain tumbled down on all of us. All traces of anger fled as Gavin turned to me, looking vulnerable.
But just then, my mother’s words came floating into my mind as if by magic. “The future can change,” I said aloud and got a smile from Lina.
“Yes, it can. That’s why you’re here.” She looked fierce then and I decided that I liked and trusted her. The rain died off to a sprinkle and then the clouds thinned, letting the last of the day’s sunlight in. Gavin’s hand slipped into mine as he fully stepped into my space, meeting my eyes. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” he declared.
