Chapter 21

CLEMENTINE

A few days later, I wake up to another sunny day here in Big Bear Lake. The light burns my eyes, and all I can think about is how stupid I was yesterday for not closing the curtains.

Alex told Ivan and me that we can stay in the pack house for as long as we want. People aren’t very comfortable with the idea, but they don’t have a say. After all, I can burn them with just one touch.

I remove my duvet and stand up, then go to the bathroom. After finishing my daily routine, I walk to my closet and take out a pair of blue jeans and a tank top.

I know you must be thinking that since I’ve become a true phoenix, I should act like a queen, but I like it casual. Besides, I want to continue working, so I shouldn’t draw more attention to myself.

I wonder what Erika will say when she sees me at the infirmary. I haven’t seen her in a long time.

When I leave my room, I can hear voices downstairs. I sense Ivan in Alex’s office, probably to discuss my brother’s next moves. I’m sure there will be a ball to introduce him as the new alpha and Nikki as the new luna.

I wonder where Luna Helen is. She wasn’t here when Jake was killed, and I haven’t seen her since. I am sure she sensed that he died, so where is she?

Concerned, I make my way directly to the infirmary, where Erika is examining a patient. Sensing my arrival, she turns around and gives me a huge grin.

“Should I bow to you or something?” she asks, looking proud as she inspects me from head to toe.

“You’re silly. Come here.” Giggling, I give her a big hug. “Don’t act differently around me—I’d hate that.”

Erika giggles too. “Don’t worry, I won’t. So, when were you going to tell me that Alpha Ivan is your mate?”

“Now?” I say, chuckling. “I didn’t know. He didn’t fucking tell me at first.” I roll my eyes, still annoyed.

She shrugs. “He must have had a reason not to.”

Nodding, I start walking around, earning frightened looks from some of the patients. “Anyways, how’s everything around here? I miss it.”

Erika glances around and says, “Not bad. People are spoiled, as usual. They come here even when they just have a headache.”

I chuckle, remembering Armano. One thing I’ve noticed in the werewolf realm is that they act tough, but they are babies. If someone gets a paper cut, they come here claiming that they are going to lose their finger. They are just…unbelievable.

“By the way, I want Chloe to meet your phoenix,” Erika suddenly says, making me smile.

~“I would love to meet Chloe!”~ Helia says excitedly.

Chloe is Erika’s wolf, and she is very nice and kind. She doesn’t belong here with all these vicious werewolves.

I’m glad Andrei is Erika’s mate. I don’t know him that well, but from what I’ve seen, he is loyal and kind—just what she needs.

“Of course. Helia wants to meet her as well.” I smile and give my friend a side hug. “So, how’s everything with your mate?” I ask.

Erika grins and takes me to a corner. “It is so good, Clementine. We are…trying to have a baby right now.”

~Fuck, yes!~

“Oh, my God, I’m going to be an auntie?” I say, not believing what I heard.

~Finally!~

Erika’s grin widens. “Yes.” She glances around the room, and then her eyes begin to sparkle. When I look in the same direction, I see Andrei standing with Ivan.

~Fuck. Why does he look so hot right now?~

Smiling, we both walk over to them. Andrei can’t remove his eyes from Erika’s, but when I look at Ivan, he just stares intensely at me.

“Hi, Andrei,” I say, waving.

“Luna.” He bows his head, making me scowl. I hate that title.

Then Ivan spreads his arms, and I hug him tightly. He smells so good.

~“I want to kiss him!”~ Helia says dreamily.

I wet my lips with my tongue, and Ivan’s eyes darken. He doesn’t remove his eyes from my lips, and I can’t help but feel that he is about to lose control. “Come with me,” he says, grabbing my arm and taking me out of the infirmary.

We walk to the room we now share, and as soon as Ivan closes the door behind us, he pushes me against it. I gasp. ~What has gotten into him?~

Ivan leans in, his breath hitting my face, and my heart starts beating crazy fast. His lips touch mine, and all I feel is giddiness.

~Why are his lips extra good today? They are always good, but today feels different.~

Our lips fight each other for who takes lead, but of course, Ivan wins. His mouth is 257 years old, after all.

~“Mhm…,”~ Helia moans in my head, making me unconsciously moan, which in turn makes Ivan groan.

~Fuck.~

We break the kiss, then touch our foreheads together, breathing roughly. Again, I can’t get over how good he smells.

“You smell so good,” Ivan suddenly says.

~He’s thinking the same thing as me!~

“You smell so good too,” I say, taking a deep whiff.

Ivan groans and buries his face in my neck. “I can’t wait to mark you, baby.”

“Me too,” I reply.

“I want to ask you something,” he says hesitantly.

“Yes?”

“Do you… Do you… Fuck.”

“Tell me,” I encourage him.

Looking into my eyes, he asks, “Do you want kids?”

I am dumbfounded by his question. I’ve never thought about it before, but fuck, he looks so damn cute that I realize I do want kids with him.

I smirk. “Only with you.”

He looks relieved. “Good, because I only want them with you.” He leans in and gives me a chaste kiss.

“I-Ivan…,” I begin.

“Yes, baby?”

“I—I love you.”

As soon as I say this, Ivan’s eyes darken, and in them I see a mix of lust and adoration. How? I don’t know.

He looks right into my eyes and says, “I fucking love you too—and I am sorry. So fucking sorry for not telling you that we are mates and for not making any moves. I tried so hard to stay away from you, but it did not work.”

I nod in understanding.

Ivan then places my hand on his heart and says, “My heart has never beaten for anyone like this before.”

And as cliché as that might sound, I don’t care. Right now, I’m more in love with him than ever.

***

That night, I’m in my room, about to go to sleep, when suddenly the window opens and Carl climbs in. My eyes widen in horror when I see the state he’s in: eyes halfway closed, werewolf bite marks all over his body, blood dripping everywhere. He falls to the ground.

At that moment, the door opens, and Ivan takes in the scene, eyebrows raised. “What is a vampire doing here? And why is there blood everywhere?” he asks, growling in annoyance.

“Can I answer your questions later—after I heal him?” I say as I kneel on the ground.

“Help him? Let him die! He’s a vampire.”

Rolling my eyes, I take Carl’s hand in mine. Ivan growls again, but I ignore him. Carl is my friend, and I have to help him.

Just like with Carl’s sister, Barbara, gold strikes go up to his arm, and the werewolf poison goes into mine. When the healing is complete, I feel dumbfounded by the amount of power I feel this time; it’s much more than before.

Carl’s body is healed, but he remains unconscious, probably because he’s tired. I pick him up and put him on my bed. Another growl from Ivan echoes throughout the room.

~He’s not a werewolf—he’s a damn gorilla.~

~“A very powerful gorilla,”~ Helia purrs, making me roll my eyes.

“How are we going to sleep?” Ivan groans, pointing at the bed.

“We can all sleep together?” I say, trying to ease his cranky mood.

“Hah, you wish. You and I are sleeping somewhere else. Now, tell me why there’s a vampire in our room before I kill him.”

Before I can answer, Carl slowly opens his eyes and looks around. When he sees Ivan, he backs away until his back hits the bedpost.

“Ivan, this is Carl, my friend.”

My mate’s eyes darken, and oh boy, is he mad.