One True Mate_Shifter's Haven

by Erin Lafayette

  But it was too late for Rex. The beast barely had time to look up from Alex when Silas smashed into it, driving it backwards to the ground, skidding through the leaves and dead branches. Rex rolled wildly, trying to climb up and face the enraged bear, but Silas was on it again in a flash, continuing the attack from above with Rex on the ground. Silas drove a huge paw into the beast’s chest, claws extended and ripping long furrows through its flesh. The beast threw itself back, scrambling along the ground, desperate to stay ahead of the bear when it saw the lean black wolf closing in on it from behind.

  A strangled grunt left Rex’s mouth as he curled up into his chest and fell back to the ground. Blood flowed from huge gashes and he lay still. Silas and Jason both sprang forward to deliver the killing blow, but just before they could reach him, Rex screamed out in agony and frustration and disappeared in a cloud of black smoke. Jason’s teeth snapped shut on the smoke, where Rex’s throat had been an instant before. Silas pulled back and drew himself to his full height, standing on two legs, roaring his frustration to the sky.

  Alex spun in a circle, scanning the woods around them, ready for an attack from behind. But the forest was quiet. He couldn’t hear anything beyond the sound of their breathing and the crunch of leaves as they circled, looking for Rex. Where did he go?

  Alex heard Merlin’s ruhi coming to them. I can’t sense him anymore. I think he’s gone. Elation surged in Alex, followed closely by stark relief. Thank the Light. He looked at Silas, the huge bear moving slowly through the woods to stand next to him. He pushed his thoughts at it. You are one badass bear. Thanks for getting our back.

  Silas responded with a shaggy grin, hanging his tongue out of his mouth past his huge fangs. Always. We’re friends now.

  Sarge interrupted them, much louder. Get back to the house dammit!

  Silas closed his mouth, smile fading, and hung his head. He responded in a somber tone. But I think we’re in trouble now.

  ____________________

  Alex and Jason limped out of the woods, walking slowly towards the house. As they reached the back porch Alex could see a number of other trucks and vans parked in the driveway. At least a dozen other wolven were on sight, both patrol officers and plainclothes. Sarge stalked out the back door and onto the porch. He stared down at them, eyes blazing with fury. Alex saw everyone stop to watch as Sarge ripped into them. “You stupid assholes. Day one and orders don’t mean anything to you! You’re lucky that beast didn’t kill you, or worse, get around you. Think about what teleporting means tactically.”

  Jason glared back defiantly but Alex hung his head as pain and humiliation caught up to him. He hadn’t thought about that at all as he raced after Jason. He knew that male hadn’t thought of anything more than attacking, but Alex had chosen to go after him instead of sticking to the plan. That was stupid. He was better than this.

  He heard a quiet voice from behind him then. “Gentlemen. My office. One hour.”

  His heart sank as he turned his head and saw Wade standing behind him. As quiet as they were, the words hit him like a sledgehammer.

  Chapter Four

  One hour later, Alex sat quietly in the hard chair in front of Wade’s desk. Jason fidgeted in the chair beside him as Wade stared at them. Averting his eyes, Alex glanced around him at the news clippings lining the walls of the office. There were no stories of grand triumphs or heroic acts by the wolven. Instead, each clipping told the story of an attack by Khain and his henchmen. The humans might never know what they were up against, but the wolven certainly did. And the male sitting across the desk from him knew better than most. He had devoted his life to this fight. More than anything, Jason felt the weight of disappointment, the weight of letting this male down.

  He hoped he wasn’t getting kicked out already. It was only his first day and already he was in the boss’s book as a screw-up. How had this even happened?

  Wade sighed and ran a hand through his silver hair, breaking the silence. “First of all, that was an incredibly brave thing you two did in taking on Rex. That beast is not to be underestimated. And stop worrying, you aren’t out.” He paused, and relief flooded through Alex.

  “But you used up your freebie.” Wade locked them in place with a gaze. Alex froze, knowing this was the most important lecture he would ever hear. Even Jason went still.

  “The reason the KSRT works is that we function as a team. Each male does his own job and carries his own weight. You two were lucky Silas was there to back you up. Now, there’s no shame in that, we’re a team and that’s what we’re here for. But you never should have been in that position in the first place. I handpicked each of you for this team. I know how capable you are, and I know you can do this job. Hell, I need you to do this job because like I told you, we are short on numbers, short on resources, and we have more important work to do then ever before. But you have to do the job. And you have to do it right. That means following orders. When Sarge says jump, you say how high, and all of that. And if you don’t, then I’m not going to have a choice. I’m going to have to transfer you right back out. Chicago PD really needs help too, so if you can’t get onboard here that’s where you’re going to end up. Understood?”

  Alex swallowed hard. He was lucky to still be on the team, lucky to get another chance, and Light knows he didn’t want to end up on patrol in Chicago. “Understood. Yes, sir.”

  Wade nodded once. “Good. Dismissed. Now come back tomorrow ready to work.”

  Chapter Five

  Rose Porter pulled her old Harley to the side of the road. It was covered in scratches and more than a bit beat up, but it was hers, and as comforting as an old friend. She stared into the stone eyes of the red wolf statue marking the entrance to Serenity. Warning strangers and welcoming old friends. She couldn’t be sure, but she thought it was grinning at her, welcoming her home. At least she hoped it wasn’t trying to warn her, but after eight years, she couldn’t be sure.

  She couldn’t remember much else about Serenity, the town itself faded to a blur in her memory, but the statue stood out vividly. It was comforting and protective, but still held a sense of fierce wildness. She wasn’t sure why she thought it might have changed, but it was still here, right on the edge of town. Seeing it again, staring into its eyes, brought the weight of this town, the weight of her history, crashing over her. She couldn’t believe she was back. Eight years on the road, taking care of herself and not answering to anyone, going wherever she wanted, wherever the wind took her, and now she was back in Serenity. A place she swore she would never come back to.

  But she wasn’t the same person she had been when she left. She was just a child then, dependent on her mother for everything, her entire life in her mother’s hands. So, like a child, she had been able to blame her mother for everything. But she had seized control of her own life when she left, needing and taking her freedom. And her time on her own had softened her feelings towards her mother and this town. Now she knew what it was like to struggle against the world, to feel like you didn’t fit in anywhere, and to keep going in a desperate search for something you couldn’t quite identify, never quite finding a home. Maybe that was what her mother felt all these years, alone in her own head, desperately seeking something that she could never find.

  She thought back to her mother’s last call, remembering how weak and how frail she had sounded. How old. The words that had shattered Rose’s sense of freedom, pulling her back home, were seared into her memory. “I’m sick. Dying actually. And I really need to see you one more time.”

  And now Rose was back. Here to see her mother again and to say goodbye. She owed her that at least. And maybe this would be a chance to make a place for herself, to truly come home. Maybe the reason she had never been able to put down roots in the last eight years was that she belonged here. And if not, she could be back on the road again, with nothing left to tie her here.

  With one last glance at the wolf, she yanked the throttle and jerked her Harley back onto the highway, the t
ires squealing behind her. As she raced away she felt like she could almost hear the wolf howling.

  ____________________

  Fifteen minutes later, Rose pulled up in front of a faded yellow craftsman. She sighed to herself as she shut down her bike and climbed off. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. But here she was. And if she left now, when would she get another chance to see her mother?

  Eight years had not been kind to the house. The paint was fading, the landscaping and the yard were a mess and the porch was covered in a layer of dirt and grime that had never been there before. She shook her head as she climbed the front steps and crossed the porch. Her mother really must be dying to let the house get to this state. Even when she couldn’t keep track of anything else, her mother had always kept the house tidy and insisted Rose do her part as well.

  Rose knocked on the door. “Mom?” she called out. She waited a few seconds but there was no response, so she knocked harder. “Mom? It’s me.” When there was still no response she tried the knob. It turned, left unlocked, and she slowly pushed the door open.

  Stepping into the living room, she looked around. The same cozy furniture, the soft couches and overstuffed lounge chairs facing a warm brick fireplace. The same pictures of Rose as a girl sitting on the mantle. A low fire was burning, spreading heat to the room. Everything was just a little more faded, a little more worn than she remembered. Most of all the small form of her mother, sleeping curled up on the corner of the couch, tucked under a fleece blanket.

  Not moving, Rose stared at her mother for a few minutes. Even though she was sleeping, she was breathing shallowly and tossing in discomfort. Her eyes were sunken in her face and her skin was pale, the color drained away. Worst of all, the golden hair that was a mirror of Rose’s own had lost its shine, fading to a dull, brittle yellow. Her mother had been beautiful once, but time and illness had taken their toll. “Oh Mom,” Rose whispered sadly.

  Even though she shouldn’t have been able to hear, her mother’s eyes slowly opened. She blinked the sleep from her eyes slowly, then gasped as she saw Rose standing in front of her. At least her eyes were still bright green and lively, just like Rose remembered. “Rose? Is it really you? Or am I dreaming again?”

  Feeling tears building behind her own green eyes, Rose was barely able to respond. She choked out “It is me. No dream.” Her mother opened her arms to Rose and smiled. “Oh Rose. Thank God. You came.”

  Before she even knew what was happening, Rose was crossing the room to her mother and wrapping herself in those arms. “Mom. I’m here. I’m sorry I’ve been gone so long. I’ve missed you.”

  She buried herself in her mother’s embrace, tears flowing down her cheeks. Seeking comfort as if she were a little girl again. Before her mother had faded away from her. Before she realized what a hard place the world could be. She breathed deep, soaking in her mother’s sweet scent of lavender and mint. “Oh my sweet Rose. I’m so glad you’re back.” Her mother smoothed her hair out of her eyes and wiped away a tear as Rose sat back.

  “I’m so glad you’re here. Thank you for coming.” Rose smiled back at her mother. Somehow now that she was here, the road felt really far away. How could she have stayed away so long? How could she have even considered not coming back?

  Her mother continued. “I know why you had to leave, and why you had to stay away for so long. You have no idea how sorry I am that I lost myself. That I couldn’t take care of you. And now, I have barely any time left and all I want to do is hold you in my arms again. Nothing could make me happier than seeing you, having you here right now.” Her mother squeezed Rose tightly, cherishing the hug. Then she pulled back, and Rose could see her gather her courage. “And while I still can, there’s something I owe you. Something big.” She looked directly into Rose’s eyes, completely serious. This must be why her mother had called, asking her to come home. “There’s something I need to tell you, and something that belongs to you that I need to give you.”

  Wondering exactly when and how she had made the decision Rose tried to soothe her mother. “Mom, stop. You have plenty of time to tell me anything. I’m not leaving again.” Her mother patted the spot next to her on the couch. “Sit.” Rose shifted over, taking her mother’s hand as she snuggled in next to her.

  Her mother put her other arm around Rose’s shoulders. “No matter how much time we really have, you came back just to hear this. It’s important. And I really don’t know how much time I have. Not much in any case. And even worse, I’m not sure how long I will be myself. I’ve gathered my courage for this for years and I promised myself that if I were ever lucky enough to see you again I would tell you, no matter what. I’m not waiting another minute.”

  This wasn’t like her mother. Not being this direct. Rose started to worry. She had spent so much time running from the past. And even now, here in the moment and happier with her mother than she could ever remember being, she felt their history pushing its way in.

  “I know I wasn’t the best mother to you. I know I lost my way. I spent a lot of my life searching for something I could never have. Something that I did have once for a brief moment and that I should have treasured for what it was and moved on. But I couldn’t let go. I drifted away into a dream world instead of being a mother to you. And as I watched you growing into a woman, I couldn’t handle it. I couldn’t handle the harshness of the real world. And I’m so, so sorry for that.”

  Rose felt the tears sliding down her cheeks again. She rested her head on her mother’s shoulder. Even though she could tell this was important for her mother, she didn’t want to hear this right now. She just wanted to savor the moment. “I don’t know what to say. Let’s just forget about it. I’m here now and I forgive you. Please let that be enough.”

  But her mother didn’t seem to hear her. The light in her eyes faded and she withdrew into herself, replaying old memories as she pushed on, as if Rose’s words didn’t register. “You were the best thing that ever happened to me, but the second best was your father. I’ve told you lots of things over the years, but never the truth. I’ve spent my time wishing and dreaming for him to come back, but he never did. And now I know he was never meant to. So I can finally give you the truth.”

  Rose sat back, stunned. Of all the things she had expected, this was the last. She had long since given up on finding out anything about her father, and now her mother was offering to tell her the entire story. Rose met her mother’s eyes, squeezed her hand, and said “Please.”

  Her mother didn’t respond. Instead she slowly reached back behind her neck. She unclasped a necklace and held it out to Rose. A gold pendant dangled from a delicate chain. Warmth flowed through Rose’s fingers and up her arm into her body as she took it. She held it up high, floating in front of her face as she stared at the pendant. It was an angel, with filigreed golden wings spread behind it and a bright green jewel clasped in its hands. As the angel spun on the chain the back came into view. Instead of the body of the angel, there was a running wolf stretched out at full speed, jeweled eyes glowing gold with reflected light. The thick fur somehow rippled with black, even though it was crafted of gold. She stared at the wolf as it hung in front of her face, mesmerized. It reminded her of the statue, fierce and wild somehow, even though it was contained. She loved it.

  “Thank you, Mom. But what does this have to do with my father?”

  “Your father left this for you. It’s yours, directly from him. I’m sorry. I’ve had it all these years but I never gave it to you.”

  Rose stared at her mother past the pendant, the golden eyes of the wolf seeming to watch her. Her sense of contentment shattered, confusion building as she lowered the chain. She held the pendant in her lap. “From my father? But why?”

  “He said it was important that you have this. That it would protect you and show you the way. I thought that if I kept it I might have a link with him, that I might be able to see him again one more time. That he might come back for me. But I was wrong. It’s y
ours, for you, and I want you to have it.”

  Struggling to understand what she was hearing, Rose raised the pendant again. She slowly clasped the chain around her neck, wanting to have it close, to feel it’s presence against her skin. Everything about this was really strange. But she needed to keep going. She might not understand what was going on, but she didn’t know if she would get this chance again. She was ready to hear the truth. “Ok Mom. Please tell me about him.”

  Her mother smiled. She leaned forward and Rose could hear the raw emotion in her voice. “He was an angel Rose. And I don’t mean just a nice person. I mean he was literally an angel. Just like the angel on that pendant.”

  Ice formed in her stomach and her eyes went wide as her mother continued. “He came to me one night. Right here in this house when I was young and living here with your grandmother. He was the most beautiful man I had ever seen, and he stepped right out of a dream. Time seemed to stop, to hold completely still, and I wasn’t sure if I was awake or dreaming. The next thing I knew we were together, completely wrapped up in each other. I felt passion like I never even knew existed, and I’ve never been happier in my life. After we finished, he held me close, safe in his arms, and we talked for hours. He told me that he was on a sacred mission and that our daughter would be the most precious gift we could give the world. That one day she would save the world from darkness. And that I should cherish her and not be afraid. When I woke up, he was gone. But that pendant was on the nightstand next to me with a note that said ‘For Rose’.” Her mother squeezed her hands again. “Rose, he was the angel, and you are the wolf.”