Rejected Mate and Following Fate

“If you are satisfied with the terms of the treaty then there’s no need to delay in signing it. I came here with the support of my coven, and this will put an end to two decades of unrest.” My father sits back in his chair across the table and smiles somewhat eerily. I think it’s meant to translate to warm and kind but with his eternally stiff and frosty aura, it’s not.

“Finally, we get to know what peace is. Something I barely remember in my lifetime.” Colton lays the pen on top of it and slides the document to me. I don’t need to read it if he has and approved, so I quickly scrawl my name on the bottom and slide it towards Varro. It seems such a minor act for such a huge outcome. My feelings seem somewhat understated considering this is such a huge thing and I guess it hasn’t sunk in yet.

“Now all the formalities are out of the way. I was hoping on some time to get to know my daughter.” Varro shifts forward slightly, that pointy tooth smile that makes me uneasy and eyeballs me directly. The mood of our topic changing, and he seems instantly softer.

“What did you have planned exactly?” I ask somewhat warily.

“A walk around your grounds?”

“Just the two of us, or…?”

Colton’s gaze lands pointedly on the side of my face and the instant change in his stable mood sparks through my body like an electric volt. He perks up and the intense ‘hell no’ hissed in my internal mate link makes me jump visibly so that I cough to try and cover it. Colton is still a firm believer that Varro has a long way to go before he can begin to think about us trusting him. Being left alone with him is not going to happen anytime soon, even if I feel no threat coming from him. Colton still has many reservations about vampires.

“I don’t think your mate is all that enamored with that idea. Maybe a stroll, with him and his guards wandering a little behind us. So we can talk, without the presence of others.”

“Four feet…” Colton breaks in without hesitation

“Ten at a minimum is a little more realistic” Varro smoothly fires back. Stubborn and unfazed.

“Five!” A snarl this time as Colton’s temper rises at the haggling. When it comes to me, he doesn’t like to be undermined.

“How about we just see what feels natural and if I need you closer, I can easily wave or link. I truly do not see how a few feet makes a difference given you can jump that in the blink of an eye.” I point out sternly, giving my mate that ‘please back off’ eyebrow raise. He never knows how to tone down the overly aggressive borderline controlling tone when he gets all protective. I don’t want this somewhat peaceful meeting to turn sour. We need to show a modicum of trust here.

“Fine, but only you, Varro. None of your shadow men you left standing in the hall are to accompany you. And I follow with my second in command and the two Luna guards who follow her at all times.”

I inwardly sigh knowing there’s not a chance of negotiating with him as he thumbs my way with that glowering frown going on. He’s been ten times worse since my pregnancy bump started to show a little in the last few days. I’m growing fast now life has calmed down and I can spend my days eating and resting to my heart’s content while my pack restore two homes for the later splitting up of the pack.

Lychens don’t carry their young for the same term as humans and we birth our pups after half a year. That means I just hit the phase where I will expand like crazy and experience the biggest changes to my body. It’s important that in this time I step back, take it easy and prepare for what’s coming.

“Dear boy, I appreciate your love and need to guard your mate, but I am her biological father and started wars in the name of her and her mother. If anyone is going to hurt her, it’s not going to be me.” He raises his brow quizzically.

a point.” I try to soothe Colton’s way and meet only a cold glare as he locks

then what’s the issue with us following at

way from the far corner of the room where she had been silently standing all this time as guard and observer. I know she had been itching to say something but held her tongue as long as she could.

the sincerity of my father’s peace treaty. He came all this way and kept true to his word about bringing no more than his immediate escorts. He brought the treaty and we have had nothing but peace and tranquility for the past weeks. I am sure a walk unaccompanied is just fine.” I stand up and brush down my loose fitted dress, making a point that as Luna I should still have say. Making it clear they won’t be stopping me. They have both been cotton wool

starts again but I cut

he looks instantly wounded. His expression crumbles a little. The puppy eyes and reversion to young boy

had enough and want to decide for myself’. He still hasn’t ever gotten used to the fact he is not the ‘be all and end all’ in my world at all times. I sometimes have a mind of my own.

I snap around to glare at it, cutting her off instantly. She should know better

I can still throw a vampire fifty feet across a room with the flick of my wrist if needs be. I doubt Varro here is going to

where we can see you on the security camera’s and I

never relent but this is

outwardly questioning his motives. He doesn’t hesitate in getting up and heading for the end of the table, reaching out his arm in a gentlemanly manner and offering it to me. Rather grandly and I wonder if it’s to annoy my mate while putting him in his place.

I feel odd about linking my arm through his, aware my

back in the years of holding my mother’s hand as though it was only yesterday. It gives me an odd sense

and put them out of mind as we make our way to the hall and out into the open space of a beautifully sunny day. It seems like everything we endured these past months is in another time and place. An almost forgotten memory. Surrounded by calm tranquil beauty of this forest dwelling manor and the peaceful joy of a bright day, filled with birds and the rustle of trees. It seems like a far-off dream, and I don’t think back then I could ever imagine taking

for you to feel at ease with me, but I cannot get over how much this feels like Marina is here with me in spirit. I feel like I already know you. You look alike, yet don’t. There’s something

in his presence. He’s a complex person and as I walk in time, almost perfectly matched, I wonder how many layers there are to these creatures I used to only think of as murderous

forget what her voice sounds like. It feels like it’s been longer than ten years since she was last by

you need me then I’m

lurking figure of my mate keeping his distance but not losing sight of us. Further back are the two Luna’s guard and Meadow. I smile without thought at how much he still loves and protects me fiercely and

He’s headstrong, a little cocky, and infuriatingly bossy, but he loves you and would die for you. I can see that about him. He puts

the other half of my soul, even when he’s being this feral, although I didn’t pick him. The fates did. I should thank them for their good judgement.” I point out with a cutesy smile, being funny, and turn back towards our destination. Relaxing in the company of this strange man. This unplanned conversation is I

and imprinting is not an outside force, but comes from within when two of

interpretation of what our kind does and has done for centuries. I doubt I had any part in what happened the night of my

is something inside of you that craves and searches for it until the two are ready to be united. Vampires believe in kindreds, or twin flames; it’s a similar idea. We don’t imprint but we can find the other half to our soul, although it’s very rare. We call it Sacrorum, which means coming together as one. I wanted your mother to be that for me, but

truly never believed vampires could really love the way we do, but it’s written all over him and I feel sorry that my mother left him in that way. My empathy kicking

from now?” I query, intrigued by the differences yet similarities between our species. Wanting so badly for the answer to be yes as I feed from the loneliness of his soul and pick up on subtle hints