The Mating Season

by M. L. Briers

  “More than sleep-“ Hope bit out and Faith flicked her again. “Damn it Faith I will send a thunderbolt right up your backside if you do that one more time, so help me goddess.” Hope bit out between clenched teeth absently rubbing the pained spot of the invisible touch.

  “Try it sister and you’ll be eating through a straw for a month.” Faith shot back before turning her attention back to Fay. “We need to talk.”

  “That’s what he said- it didn’t go so well-“ Fay pulled herself up against the pillows and pulled her hand from Faith’s- she didn’t much trust her right now and then her frown turned into a scowl as she eyed Faith with uncertainty. “You’re not a-?” she gave a little shake of her head as though denying her own words.

  Faith raised her brows and stared down her nose at her friend before she grinned back at her, “No. I don’t howl at the moon personally-“

  “Dance naked under it-“ Hope shot back unable to bite her tongue in time and Fay turned to give Hope an old fashioned look.

  “What does that mean?” She demanded and Hope shrugged her shoulders with a look of apology towards Faith.

  “Ok. Well as I saw you use your powers today- I’m guessing the Fae law doesn’t really apply anymore-“ Faith was looking to Hope for confirmation and all she got was a shrug from her friends shoulders.

  “Fae? “ Fay repeated pulling herself up further and dragging her knees to her chest to hug them.

  “Fae. It’s what we are- what you are-“ Hope blurted out and then stopped on a grimace- well nobody had appeared to strike her down- so she guessed she was in the clear for now and she had finally said it- after all of these years with that statement burning her tongue to come out. Damn that felt good, she thought smirking back at Faith.

  “What the hell Faith?” Fay turned to look at the saner friend on her bed and Faith gave her a little look that said ‘what can I tell you- she’s not wrong.’

  “We discussed Fae back in the dorm-“ Hope started and Fay’s head snapped around.

  “I know what a damned Fae is Hope.” She snapped the words out one at a time- the raw power of annoyance raging within her after so long of inaction to feeling anything.

  “Well there you go then. It’s simple- you’re Fae like us.”

  “How do you think you stopped that vase from breaking earlier Fay? If you didn’t have magic? –“ Faith offered gently- it was as if her long time friend had become all grown up all of a sudden- unless this was just another Faith prank like so many before her- but the one thing that wasn’t a prank was what she had asked- there had been magic- it was something that had been inside her for a long time- just bubbling under the surface trying to get a foothold and although she had spent most of her life denying it- it hadn’t burned any less within.

  “You kind of gravitated towards your own kind at Uni, because your magic knew us even if you didn’t-“

  “So why the hell didn’t you tell me all the way back then?” Fay bit out and Hope was taken aback, she had never seen Fay assert herself with Faith before- it was a new experience.

  “We weren’t allowed- it’s Fae law- you had to come to know it by yourself- we wanted too-“ Faith offered looking to Hope who blew out a long sigh.

  “Damn did we- “ Hope bit out rolling her eyes and throwing herself back in her chair and folding her arms- still angry inside that Fae law was so stupid.

  “Wait- so you’re Fae and Adam’s a –“ She stopped on a scowl- with a small shake of her head she still couldn’t bring herself to say it again.

  “Wolf- or Lycan- or shifter- but that sounds like shifty so some of them don’t like to be called that-“ Hope was babbling until she caught Faith’s eye and clamped her mouth shut.

  “Werewol-“ Fay started and Hope jumped in again.

  “Technically no. Werewolves can only change during a full moon and they are all fangs and claws and blood hungry-“ Faith crossed her arms over her chest and stared at Hope until she caught her eye and shut up.

  “So Adam’s wolf is-?”

  “Part of him- all the time- he can change whenever he wants- moon or no moon- it’s symbiotic- he’s just Adam- the guy you got to know before you knew about the wolf.” Faith hoped that sounded good enough to placate Fay’s fears but in truth she knew it was going to take a lot more than that.

  “No he’s not-“ Fay spat out a wry laugh.

  “Ok well not exactly-“ she admitted, her neck sinking down into her shoulders as she grimaced and Fay snorted. “But I have known him my whole life and Adam is just one big old-“

  “Fun furball-“ Hope chimed in and Faith closed her eyes and sighed hard but the sound of Fay spitting out a chuckle made her eyes snap open and she saw the amusement in her green eyes.

  “I slept with a wolf-“ Fay shook her head in disbelief and Faith shot Hope a look. Needing help but knowing that Hope was only bound to make things seem worse.

  “That’s why he was an animal between the sheets-“ Hope put in and Faith spat out a laugh as Fay gave her a look of disdain- but Hope was relentless, “So how was he exactly?- you didn’t say-“

  Fay’s jaw dropped open as Faith chuckled behind her hand.

  “Leave it to Hope to ask the really important questions.” Faith mused as Fay rubbed a hand over her forehead and closed her eyes.

  “God I can’t believe that there are really Fae and Werewolves and Lycan’s and –“ She stopped in mid thought and opened her eyes looking at Faith who suddenly looked a little uncomfortable. “And?” Fay nudged and Faith sighed as she shrugged her shoulders toying with a patch of braiding on the bedcover by her knees.

  “Elves-“ She offered quietly and Fay nudged her knee with her foot and she swallowed hard, “Pixie’s. Gnomes-“

  “Oh- trust me stay away from the Gnomes – they are mean-“ Hope spat out crossing her hands over her chest and nodding to herself as Fay nudged Faith again.

  “Vamp-“ She let the word slip away as Hope took the chance to chuckle into her hand.

  “Vampires? Are you shitting me?” Fay demanded dropping her arms from her knees and her knees to the bed as she sat forwards and Faith shot a look at Hope under her lashes as Hope grinned mischievously back at her.

  “Oh no sister this one is all yours.” She shot out as Faith bit down on her lower lip and sighed.

  “Really Vampires?”

  Faith brought her gaze up to Fay and held it, a small wince crossing her face as she stared back at her, “About Jake-“She said slowly- too slowly and Fay’s jaw dropped open as she choked on the imaginary word in her throat. Faith winced again.

  “That’s it- I’m out of here.” Fay shot down the bed like a speed demon- pulling her butt along the covers with her heels as her hands brought up the rear.

  Faith jumped to her feet and sprang off the bed onto the floor in front of her holding out her hands- palms forwards as she started talking really fast in sheer desperation.

  “Ok so Vampires and Lycans get a really bad press but hell Fay you have been here with them for what- two days now and they haven’t eaten you yet have they-?”

  Fay grabbed her suitcase from beneath the bed and hoisted it onto the mattress as Hope chuckle to herself. “Define eat- I mean Adam must have licked-“

  “Hope!-“ Faith screeched over at her friend as Fay stood frozen still staring at her in disbelief. “Not god damn helping here!” she snapped bringing Fay back to action as she marched towards the nearest dresser and yanked open the top drawer reaching in for her underwear.

  “Look Fay- I love Jake and he may be a vampire but he’s not a bad person-“

  “Person?” Fay shot back stopping only for an instant to give her a poignant look before continuing to her case where she dropped her clothes before setting back off for the dresser.

  Faith grimaced but let it slide, “He’s loving and kind and thoughtful and I’m going to marry him because I love him and because he loves me and you and Adam-“ Fay rallied on her, clothes clutched to her breast as sh
e almost dared Faith to continue.

  Faith took a long deep breath, “are mate’s Fay- whether you believe it or not-“ Fay snorted as she started back for the suitcase dismissing her friend. “Whether you like it or not- you are mates and that means something-“

  “Not to me-“ Fay snapped on another wry laugh as she dropped the clothes and turned back- Faith reached out and snagged her arm bringing her to a halt her eyes imploring her to listen.

  “To Adam it means his whole world. For a Lycan to find his mate is a gift-“

  “One he doesn’t get to keep-“ Fay snapped back and Faith sighed.

  “You’re Fae and Fae are drawn to their own kind- Lycan’s- vampires- it’s who we are.”

  “Fodder- the bottom of the food chain- good to know. Thanks for the insight.” Fay tried to pull her arm away but Faith held her firmly.

  “Look this is all new and scary- I get that- but running away isn’t going to solve anything-“

  “It’s going to mean that I’m not here- with- with-“ She bit down on the roar of emotion that she wanted to release. Frustration- anger- disbelief- disdain- fear- hate- love-

  Fay dismissed the last one on a shake of her head.

  “Give him a chance Fay- he loves you.”

  “He doesn’t even know me- we had a night of unbelievable sex Faith-“ She spat back and Hope pumped the air with her fist.

  “Yes- knew it.”

  Fay and Faith turned towards Hope who crawled back into herself and winced- looking decidedly remorseful as she chewed her bottom lip contemplating silence as her best option.

  “Last time I looked that was lust- not love.” Fay gave her a poignant look and Faith shook her head, a small smile playing at the edges of her lips.

  “Lycan’s have unconditional love for their mate Fay. You were made for him and he was made for you- you can deny your feelings and call it lust- you can sneer and say it’s not real-“

  “Well thanks Faith- I feel comfortable with that so I’ll go with it.” Fay pulled her arm out of Faith’s hold and turned back towards the dresser as Faith sighed long and hard, turning she stomped over to the bed and pushed the suitcase aside before slumping down.

  “I’ve known Adam since I was tiny- I grew up with his family- he’s always been there for me Fay- he’s the kind of guy I hoped my sister would end up with – but you know what- he’s too good for Jules- he deserves someone like you- well actually- you and you’re one of my best friends and I can’t think of anyone in this world I would rather see you with than Adam.” Faith felt a little part of herself weep inside at the thought of Fay and Adam not being together, it wasn’t right- it wasn’t fair and she didn’t like it one little bit.

  “I can’t get my head around this Faith-“

  “You don’t have to right now- you’ve got time to-“ Fay dropped another pile of clothes into her case and shook her head.

  “I can’t stay here Faith- and I can’t watch you marry a –“ she waved her hand in the air dismissively as she turned towards Hope who looked shocked by Fay just standing there staring at her.

  “What?”

  “You’re ok with Faith marrying Jake?” Fay demanded and Hope frowned with a shrug of her shoulders.

  “Jakes great- I like Jake- I like Adam too so-“

  Fay groaned as she turned her back on the two of them.

  Has everyone gone nuts?

  “Please don’t go.” Faith begged as she walked on one side of Fay and Hope walked on the other side as Fay carried her bags to the car- immediately dismissing Jake and Sebastian’s offer to help her as she eyed them cautiously.

  “Look Faith- I wish you happiness I really do- but I just can’t do this.” Fay admitted as she popped her boot with the key and slung her bags inside- turning to Faith after she slammed it closed with a little more force than was necessary, she reached out and pulled her into a quick embrace- she felt the wave of guilt rush through her.

  “Stay til you see Adam at least.” Faith begged again but her pleas fell on death ears as Fay ignored her and turned to Hope grabbing her and giving her a quick hug- she was eager to be on the road and seeing this place in her rear view mirror.

  “So text me some photo’s of the big day Hope-“ She felt the tears welling in her eyes and knew she needed to leave now before she was a blubbering mess on the floor.

  “I will- safe journey sweetie.” Hope took a step back and Faith stood in front of the driver’s door.

  “Please don’t go Fay.”

  “I’m sorry Faith.” Faith hesitated only briefly before she moved aside- seeing the look of steely determination in Fay’s eyes and Fay pulled open the driver’s door and breathed a sigh of relief when she closed it behind her- closing out the world she had just discovered existed and didn’t much care for at all.

  She didn’t want this it felt so wrong to not be there for Faith’s big day- but she couldn’t stay- not knowing what she did about the groom and not with Adam being there.

  Faith stood fast and watched until Fay’s tail lights had disappeared around the bend- still hopeful that the fates would be kind and her friend would have a change of heart and turn the damn car around.

  A slow tear ran down Faith’s cheek and she felt Jakes arms wrap around her from behind, leaning back against his chest for the comfort that having him there provided her with.

  “It’s not right- she should be here.” Faith sniffed back another tear and Jake spun her in her arms pulling her as close as he could get her and she crumpled against him.

  “Do you want to postpone the wedding sweetheart?” He breathed out against her cheek and she shook her head.

  “No. I want to be yours-“

  “You are mine and I’m yours.” He soothed her- running a hand down her bare arm as she curled against him.

  “Poor Adam-“ Faith breathed out, knowing that she wasn’t the only one who was going to be devastated by Fay’s leaving and it would be a thousand times more painful for him having lost his mate.

  “Yeah- I actually do feel for the guy- I can’t even imagine how it would rip me apart, losing you.”

  Fay got as far as she felt she needed to be from what she had left behind her. What she was running from- before she started to relax a little in herself- she’d come to the conclusion by the fourth hour on the road that Faith had been right- she was running away and with little wonder- she had found the impossible to be right there all under one roof and it had scared the hell out of her.

  Lycan’s and Vampires and she was a Fae. What did that even mean? What the hell was a Fae anyway? Bit’s and pieces of the drunken conversation she had with Hope had come back to her during the drive- but it was all jumbled within her mind. She knew the little things that she had found herself doing- magic- but what more could she do- what was she capable of and how did she tap into that were all questions that had her brain on overload. She needed to do some serious research into folk lore when she got home.

  Home.

  Just the word felt so good to her right now. She wanted to curl up in her own bed and sleep forever and a day- put this all in the past and move on with her life. She was no one’s mate- certainly not a Lycan. Those thoughts didn’t sit quite right inside her own mind and she found herself feeling antsy in her seat.

  Bum’s gone to sleep is all.

  She told herself as she focused on the road ahead. It wouldn’t be long now and she’d be home. She felt the guilt niggling at her for Faith’s big day- Faith loved Jake, even if he was a damned Vampire- perhaps she should have just gone to a hotel for the night away from all the mythical creatures in the house and returned just for the ceremony- but then could she stand up there beside her friend knowing who she was marrying?

  Damn it, just don’t think anymore. She told herself hitting the indicator and pulling off the main road. Easier said than done.

  Faith sat on the front steps of the mansion and waited for Abel to get back. She wanted to know that Adam was ok- well, maybe not ok but saf
e at least- when she saw the brothers trudging back towards her down the drive with Adam shooting glaring looks at Abel and Abel looking away from his Alpha, she dragged herself to her feet and wrapped her arms around her waist.

  As they drew closer she raised her brows at the sheer state of them. Cuts and bruises adorned their bare skin and both brothers faces had taken the brunt of the action.

  Adam and Abel had regularly fought growing up and she had witnessed more than her fair share of their tangles- but this was carnage on an epic scale, she was surprised one of them had not been more severely injured from the look of them- they had certainly gone at it.

  “Abel what the hell?” Faith admonished and Abel shrugged his broad shoulders a wince crossing his face briefly from the pain of his brother’s claws that had ripped through the skin on his back and although already healing, was still damned painful as she turned her attention towards Adam.

  “Adam-“

  “I know- I can’t feel her- she left.” He said blandly and Faith felt her heart break a little more inside her as she nodded and Abel cursed out into the night.

  “Why didn’t you stop her?” He demanded and Faith gave him a look of disbelief.

  “What tie her down and keep her here against her will? That would really have accomplished a lot don’t you think knucklehead?” She admonished him for the second time and he rolled his eyes.

  “Fine we go get her-“

  “No.” The growl in Adam’s voice put paid to that idea before it had even been put in motion and Abel sighed raising his arms and dropping them in frustration.

  “Then what are you going to do? She’s your mate-“ Abel spat out in disbelief and Adam growled at him again before walking to Faith and dragging her into his arms. He could see the look of total devastation on her face and knew that she was hurting too.

  “How you doing?” He whispered against her ear and she wrapped her arms around him and held him tighter.