Chapter 40: Truth Time

SOAIRSE

I’m so nervous! Did...did Willow just say that the wolf was my mate? I glance at her as she leads me to a room and points out some fresh clothes laid out on the bed.

The room is spacious and pretty, but I’m still reeling from that word “MATE”. I don’t think I’m ready for that. Sure, the wolf was beautiful, there’s no doubt about that, but what exactly does...

Stop it, brain! Mates mate! For crying out loud, Saoirse! Quit being stupid! Great! Now I’m belittling myself.

“Saoirse? Are you alright?” Willow interrupts her tour of the room to look at me.

I feel myself blush. “Okay, you said that... that wolf was my mate. Exactly what does that mean?” I whisper the last part.

“Hmm. Okay, sit down here beside me.” She takes a seat at the end of the bed.

“Supernaturals, wolves in particular, but I’m beginning to think all of us, really, believe that there is one soul out there for each of us. One person to love for all our lives. Humans refer to them as soulmates. I met mine in Andrei, although because the man has been around for centuries, I’m his second beloved.

“His first was actually another Warrior wolf a long, long time ago. Somehow, he messed that up and they never really mated. I guess you could say I’m his second chance mate, but this time he got it right and we are together.

“Now, my brother Boris, who also happens to be the Alpha king here, is your mate. Johannes, the wolf you met, is his wolf. He’s waited for you. You will be his first. His first everything, you understand?

“He’s never loved before. So... he will be just as nervous as you are, but understand, this can be forever if you accept him. We mate for life because we believe the Goddess gets it right the first time. We let her and our hearts lead us. Am I making sense to you?”

“So, you’re saying he already loves me?” I ask nervously.

“Johannes does, Boris has yet to meet you, but I’m sure he will as well. They are a package deal.”

“Does your wolf love the vampire?” I have to ask.

“Genesis loved him first. I was tempted to drag my feet at first. I thought having a mate would keep me from doing my duty, but I’ve come to realize that him being by my side only makes me stronger. Now I have someone to share all my feelings with, and he helps me make decisions that keep us safe. He’s my future, my love.”

There is such a smile on her face. I want that. What she has. Someone to love, to share love with.

I take a breath. “I’ve never had anyone that was my own before. I’m not really sure how to love someone. I’ve cared about people in the past, but never went so far as to love. I’ve always been afraid of being left behind. Kind of like I was when I was found washed up on the shore almost twenty years ago.”

“Well, while you shower and settle, just give it some thought. Examine those feelings that are fluttering around in your tummy right now, because I know they are. We all get them when we encounter our mate.”

She smiled then stood back up and went to the door. “I’ll give you an hour then come get you. We have dinner together in the big dining room. My uncles and the rest of the family may or may not be there. Depends on who has stayed here at the pack.”

She closed the door as she left, giving me privacy.

I move to the bathroom and discover a huge clawfoot tub. What woman in the history of womanhood could resist a clawfoot tub? Not this one, I can tell you! I start the water and find a pink and blue bath bomb and drop it in.

Beautiful colorful suds with a blueberry scent fill the bathroom. I strip down and climb in. The warm water feels so wonderful on my tired body. I lay back and relax into the bubbles and allow my mind to float.

Could I do the mate thing? Could I trust my heart to a man I have yet to meet, yet already feel my soul reaching for?

Then I have to consider what I have already decided takes precedence in my life right now. There is a huge organization of humans out there working tirelessly to bring total destruction to all supernaturals. I need to get to the Isle of Man and retrieve those thumb drives and files. I hope Peter can pull through this change as well. I’ll need his help.

With resolve, I wash up. After drying off, I dress and ready myself for dinner and the meeting with my mate. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

I do want love; I do want a future. But I know in my heart that I’ll need a mate who can support me in what I’m about to take on. I hope Boris is up for the challenge.

WILLOW

No sooner had I stepped out of the shower than my mom came in. She sat on my bed, grinning.

“Your brother is wearing a path at the bottom of the stairs,” she said, her smile contagious.

“I’m happy for him,” I told her softly. “He’s been without a mate for a long while. It was time the Goddess rewarded him.”

“She seems like a very strong woman. Smart too! I can’t wait to work with her in the computer room. Finding this cell of hunters will be dangerous though. Humans outnumber us, and in recent years their weapons have become more deadly to our kind.”

Reinforcing the veil as we did years back saved a lot of exposure, but during the thinning, it may have caused more damage than we realized.

“I know that humans have been aware of vampires for years, even werewolves, because of the hype Hollywood makes of them, but for entire species to become exposed would be a catastrophe. They’d be hunted down more than ever, and scientists would dissect them and even experiment to find better weaponry to kill us off. If she is the weapon the Gods and Goddesses have sent to aid in this, then I will back her one hundred percent. Boris will be that strong mate for her too. I feel it.”

“I only know what the Goddess has shared with me. She wanted me to free the Phoenix. I have done that. It will be up to them and Saoirse where it goes from there. It’s preordained.”

Mom rose and walked to the door. “Oh, I came to tell you that the helicopter is ready. The master vampires will be here in about fifteen minutes. You will need to travel as soon as they arrive. That way it gives Andrei time to fill them in.”

“Thanks, mom. Don’t lay a plate out for me. I’m leaving straight away. I can dine with my mate instead,” I told her with a grin.

She winked then slipped out the door.

I had barely come downstairs with my to-go bag when Uncle Otto walked in with the two masters. “My lady,” they both bowed in greeting with a fist to their chests.

“Welcome, gentlemen. I’m Willow,” I extended my hand for a handshake.

Both kissed the back of my hand and continued to bow.

“Our Queen,” they said in unison.

Which caused me to giggle. Yeah, there’s that!

“I have a chopper waiting. Andrei is impatient at best, so let’s get rolling, shall we?” I took them outside and dad was standing there directing the soldiers to take the luggage to the chopper for me.

“I had them load extra supplies. Lira requested blood. Says it will be needed for the new turns until they are properly trained not to kill,” Dad told me.

I kissed his cheek and started walking backward as I spoke. “Love you, Pops! We’ll be back as soon as we can. Help Saoirse for me, will you? She has been raised as a human. Her exposure was with an insane vampire. Can’t have left fond memories. Remind Boris of that when she breaks down. Because that will happen. It always does, until we pick ourselves up again.” I waved and blew a kiss.

“On it, baby girl!” He called to me as I got into my seat and strapped in.

“Okay, gentlemen. Time to go to work!”

We flew in and landed, and my mate met me with a hug. He pushed the hair from my face and looked deeply into my eyes.

“I missed you,” he whispered against my lips.

I smiled. “I only left this morning,” I whispered back.

“As it is now midnight, love, it was yesterday morning.” He pulled me into his body and his erection dug into my tummy.

“Hmm... seems you did miss me,” I teased with a little shimmy against him.

He gave a growl into my ear and goosebumps played across my skin.

“Ahem!” One of the men behind us cleared his throat. “You sent for us, King Andrei?” He asked in a respectful voice.

“Ah, gentlemen!” Andrei greeted as he turned to them. “Phillip and Andronis, welcome! We have about nine new vamps that need work. They were created and turned out in battle, although the so-called battle was pre-empted. Only the nine survived and we need masters to guide them.”

“I would be greatly honored if I could count on you to assist in this matter. It would free me up for more important endeavors, such as getting rid of the leeches my brother surrounded himself with and cleaning up our ranks.”

Both men bowed.

“Always a pleasure to assist you, King Andrei.”

“Please, I am not Mihai. Andrei will suffice. This is my beloved, Willow. She will be working with us side by side. Her welfare is the most important thing in this work,” he said sternly. “They are, after all, new turns. Deadly without souls.”

“We understand.”

“Rueben and Eros will escort you to the caves and you can look at the vampires. I have them in a deep sleep at the moment. Tomorrow that will change and we will begin training.”

Rueben and Eros stepped forward and showed the masters to the caves.

I walked with Andrei towards my tent.

“Why only nine? Did we lose one?” I pushed the flap of my tent open.

“No. Peter is no longer a vampire,” he stated.

I stopped in my tracks.

“What do you mean he is no longer a vampire? I saw him. I smelled him. He... he was definitely a vampire this morning!”

Andrei put his arms around me and held me.

“After your visit this morning, when Saoirse spoke to him, he went back to sleep. Then about three hours later he stumbled out of the caves fully awake and walking into the sunlight. Human. Fully human again and asking for Saoirse.”

My mouth fell open.