Chapter 124: Chapter 18

COLE

The thought that both Dara and Lexi could be my mates is one I can’t shake. I don’t understand it. One is practically human and the other is a Goddess, a Starlight Sister.

How is this happening? No one gets two mates, simultaneously, no one. I’ve always been attracted to Dara, the times that I’ve been around her.

But when she kissed me, it was like she opened a floodgate and I can no longer stay away. Lexi, on the other hand, fits me. She’s so laid back, so comfortable.

They’re both incredibly beautiful, and I’m highly attracted to them. Bristol elbows my ribs, making me grunt. She always has such perfect aim.

“Are we going or what?” she asks, grabbing my attention.

I rub my eyes with the heels of my hands. “Yeah, let’s do this. Is Johnny ready to go?” I ask, then yawn.

Johnny is a half breed from my mom and dad’s camp days. He stayed in the Redd pack until he went to school to become a pilot. He’s been flying our family ever since.

“He walked by like five minutes ago. Everyone is already out there loading up.”

I look around then get to my feet. “Thanks, Bristol.”

“No worries. You need to sleep before we get there. It’s a good thing we have a five-hour flight ahead of us.”

I nod in agreement and grab her bag and mine, then head out to the plane. I make sure everyone is accounted for then inform Johnny’s mate, Hanna, we’re ready to go.

I take my seat and lay it back. Everyone is pretty quiet and I’m able to fall asleep with thoughts of Lexi and Dara on my mind.

“Wakey, wakey, big guy. We’re here.” Bristol plops in my lap, causing me to grunt in annoyance and a bit of discomfort.

She throws her arm around my shoulder and crosses her legs on top of mine. She plants a sloppy kiss on my cheek. “Come on. We have a pack to rescue.”

I sit my chair up and she finally climbs off of me. “You know, you could’ve just said wake up. I’m generally a light sleeper.”

“Well, you were snoring louder than a bear with sleep apnea.”

“I don’t snore.” Honestly, I don’t.

“I beg to differ, sir.”

I notice her change of clothing for the occasion; a pair of short denim cutoffs and a black tank top with skull hands holding up her boobs. At least she has appropriate shoes in the form of combat boots.

Alpha Eric Branston is waiting with two SUVs to cart us all to his pack. He and the other drivers, his dad John, step out of the vehicles. Eric extends his arm.

“Alpha James. We’re so glad you and your group are willing to help us, but I’m not sure how a bunch of wolves can combat a firestorm. The Oracle said everything would be fine, but I still ordered an evacuation until everything is cleared up. My beta is with my pack.”

I grip his arm. “My crew is a special bunch. I have every faith in them. I am awaiting one more, but she will show up in her own time.”

Bristol snorts beside me and I side-glance her, partly annoyed that she’s laughing because of my mate.

“This punk is Luna Bristol Abbott. We have former Luna Realta Weston, former Luna Natalie Ramirez, her daughter Emily, beta mate of the Castleton Pack, Natalie’s cousin Ian Kirkland, my Uncle Dave James, and Madison Cox of the Blackburn Pack. If you’ll take us to your territory, we’ll get started.”

The fact that there are gifted wolves again is not common knowledge, so I’m not going to reveal their powers. That’s for them to do if they choose.

The sky is tinted a dark red from the smoke of the fire. We’re taken to the western edge of their now empty territory. We all step out of the cars and look toward the direction of the fire.

It’s still about a hundred and fifty miles out, but it’s moving pretty fast. Dara steps up beside me.

“Dara. What do you think?”

“I think it’s moving faster than Haley thought. It’s going to hit the territory before midnight.”

“All right. Natalie, your team head west, southwest. Bristol, your team west, northwest. Dara and Aunt Realta, you two hit it straight on. Let’s clear out as much vegetation as possible to try to keep it contained. Make sure to get the top of the trees to prevent the fire from jumping. Once that’s finished, we’ll work on getting it put out.”

“Yeah, we,” Bristol comments, knowing I’m only supervising.

Despite her quip, everyone immediately gets working, and the two alphas’ mouths drop open as Uncle Dave, Bristol, Aunt Realta, Natalie, and Dara start manipulating the plant life with their glowing green palms.

They work fast and clear out a span of five miles, containing the fire farther away from the territory. I ask the alphas to provide food and some chairs so my crew can rest and refuel as needed.

Uncle Dave returns to the territory, clearly tired. He grabs some food, then takes a seat. I let out a howl to make sure everyone is listening.

“All right. Let’s break for now. You ladies need your strength if you’re going to keep going out there,” I call out.

Pretty soon, they walk out of the woods and plop down. Dara sits with Ian, and I’m immensely jealous of their comfortable conversation.

Granted, they’re only talking about the fire, but the ease they’re able to converse sets me on edge.

“Alpha James?” Alpha Eric grabs my attention, so I head over to speak to him.

“What are all these people? How are they able to control the vegetation?”

Alpha John adds, “And that one with the red hair, we didn’t meet her.”

“Dara,” I say. Her eyes meet mine. “My lady. These alphas would like to meet you.”

She gives me a soft smile, then traipses over. “Gentlemen, may I present the Starlight Sister Dara.”

The alphas both fall to their knees in respect, clearly shocked to be in the presence of a Starlight Sister. I decide to shock them even more.

“Aunt Realta?” She smirks with a shake of her head but stands to chat with the alphas.

“Gentlemen, my Aunt Realta is also a Starlight Sister.”

“Was, Cole. I gave up my immortality,” she corrects me.

The alphas are no less stunned and remain on their knees for her.

“My daughters Natalie and Bristol both inherited my powers. Emily is my granddaughter. The rest were gifted their powers, although Ian thinks his is more of a curse.”

Ian swallows as Aunt Realta looks his way. Dara just giggles, and I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face at the delight of hearing her melodic laughter.

“You two don’t have to kneel,” Aunt Realta tells them.

They finally get to their feet.

“Aunt Realta, are you good to keep going, or do you need more time?”

She’s looking a little tired.

“A little more time. My power is based on my energy. Since I’m no longer immortal, my energy is limited. Dara, I’m sure, can keep going.”

I reach my hand out to take Dara’s. Her skin is warm with a slight buzz to the touch.

“Are you all right, Dara?”

She gives me her slight, sultry smile. “Of course.”

“Go ahead and start working on extinguishing the fire.”

I look to Madison, Emily, and Ian. “You guys are up. Bristol, Natalie, and Aunt Realta will join you as soon as they’re ready. Ian, stay with Dara until Natalie is ready, then Dara, you and Aunt Realta team up.”

I run my thumb over her knuckles. She gives me a nod then starts toward the fire with the rest of the group.

Aunt Realta has her hands on her hips as she glares at me. I look to her in question. She cocks her brow.

“We need to talk. Now.”

She practically drags me off to where no one will overhear our conversation.

“What the hell was that?” she asks as soon as she drops my wrist and turns on me.

“What?”

“Dara? You have a mate, why the hell are you messing around with my sister?” She crosses her arms and juts out her hip.

I remember Lexi. I wipe my hand down my face and exhale.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but I feel like Dara may also be my mate,” I confide in her. If anyone could figure out what’s going on, it would be a Starlight Sister.

“That’s impossible. No one has two mates, not at the same time at least.”

I toss my hands up. “I know that. But I’m connected to both of them. Their scents, their touch, their eyes. Our hearts even beat in tandem when we’re together. When I’m with Dara I completely forget about Lexi. At first, when I was with Lexi, I kept thinking of Dara, but the longer I was with her I stopped and Lexi was my world. I don’t know what’s happening, Auntie. I only just figured it out this morning when I was with Dara and I salivated to mark her.”

“But Dara isn’t a wolf,” Aunt Realta points out.

“Neither were you. Lexi isn’t exactly a wolf either. She’s almost completely human. You would have no clue unless you were looking closely or spent a lot of time with her. The idiot that tried to rape her even called her a human and I guarantee he was all over her.”

The thought of anyone touching Lexi gets my blood boiling, and Aunt Realta has to get my attention by splashing my face with a mist of water.

“Calm down, Cole. You’re clearly Lexi’s mate… and Dara’s. I’m not sure how, but you need to stay away from them until you figure this out.”

“Stay away?”

What the fuck is she thinking?

I can’t stay away from my mate… mates.

“Auntie…”

“You don’t want to mate one on accident.”

“I’m not even sure I can.”

“Well, you don’t want to be screwing around behind their backs. Neither would be very understanding of that.”

She does have a point there.

I can barely resist Dara, and if Lexi said so, I’d lose myself in her also.

“I promised Lexi I would be back… Shit, she dumped me anyway. I need to get back in her good graces.”

Aunt Realta nibbles her lip and looks down as she thinks for a minute.

“Then get back on her good side. Dara knows you have a mate; maybe she’ll give you space. I take it Lexi has no knowledge of Dara also being your mate?”

“She doesn’t even know she’s my mate. She was raised human and knows nothing of our kind. Even her brother treats her like a human,” I explain as I scratch my head.

“That’s one thing you’ll need to fix immediately. I’ll contact my mother and see if she’ll give me any insight. In the meantime, don’t be alone anywhere you might be tempted to mate, got it?”

She points a fierce finger at me.

“Yes ma’am. I would be an idiot not to listen to you.”

Aunt Realta gives me a nod. Then we head back to finish working on the forest fire.

I see Ian side-eye me as Aunt Realta and I return, and I wonder what that’s all about.

Aunt Realta grabs Dara. Bristol and Natalie lead their groups to start extinguishing the fire.