To Tell or Leave it for Another Day?

PATRICK

Seeing Max all worked up over something like this was, I’ll admit, kind of funny.

Given his past as a ladies’ man, you’d expect him to react differently. But I didn’t dare laugh in his face or bring up his old ways. That would only make things worse.

When he showed up at my office a couple of hours ago, spilling the beans about last night’s incident and his encounter with her after she woke up, I was taken aback.

Max had developed a strong sense of self-control since Estella entered his life, and as far as I knew, he still saw her as a kid.

I’d tried to point out several times that she was growing up, hoping to help him realize that the time to claim his mate was closer than he thought. But he always brushed me off.

I’m sure a part of him didn’t want to face his destiny. So, he chose to ignore her transition into womanhood.

But now, it seems like he can’t avoid it anymore. But my cousin is a stubborn guy.

“I don’t get why you’re making such a big deal out of this,” I finally said, earning myself a glare.

“She doesn’t even remember,” I added.

“She’s fucking underage, and she was wasted last night,” he growled. “I shouldn’t have taken advantage of her like that.”

“Okay, maybe you’re right. But tomorrow’s the full moon, and it’s normal for you to be more primal.”

“I can’t blame everything on the fucking moon, Patrick!” he yelled.

“I don’t get why you’re so against embracing your nature, Max.

“We’re werewolves, part human, part beast—some things that humans see as wrong are okay for us.

“Estella’s already sixteen, and no one here would blame you for starting a relationship with her. It’s a bit unusual, but since she’s your mate, no one else gets a say.”

“What if it was your daughter?” he asked.

“What?”

“What if it was your daughter?” he repeated.

“Luz is still a baby.”

“Yeah, but she won’t stay a baby forever, will she?”

I didn’t like where he was going with this. My fists clenched at my sides, and I shot him a hard look, but he kept pushing.

“What if she was around Estella’s age, give or take, and an older guy like me took advantage of her vulnerability?”

“Enough,” I growled. “I get your point. But we’re talking about Estella here, who’s already in love with you. Maybe you shouldn’t be so hard on yourself.”

“I’m not being hard on myself.”

“I think you are. You’re stuck on doing what’s right. But what’s right depends on the situation,” I reasoned. “From where I’m standing, you’re a lucky guy.

“You’ve already found your soulmate, you get to build on the bond you share, and now that she’s almost of age, you can prepare her for the mating and the marking and help her through her first shift.”

“And then we can live happily ever after,” he mocked, shaking his head.

“Yes. Why the hell not, Max?”

“Because I’d be stealing her future if I did that.”

“You are her future. You’re her mate,” I reminded him. “Your destiny is to be with her, and hers is to be with you.

“I get that your situation is a bit unusual, but you can’t fight fate forever.”

“Fate!” He snorted. “Everything’s about fate! There’s no choice. The Goddess gives you your chosen one, and you just have to deal with it and spend the rest of your life with them.

“It doesn’t matter if you were complete strangers a few moments ago. When you feel the pull, you have to follow it. There’s no other option.

“And if you dare reject your destined one, you’re doomed to suffer for life. Even if you find someone else to love by choice, it’ll never be the same.”

I’d heard this exact rant from him several times over the years. My cousin is the most logical wolf I know, if that makes any sense.

I’ve never heard anyone else be so skeptical about claiming his mate (or about all the traditions he grew up with, for that matter).

At first, this was admirable and the right thing to do. Estella was a child when they met. Even in our world, claiming your mate at such a young age with that age difference is unthinkable.

Sadly, it has happened.

Not in our pack and not recently, but it’s been documented so future generations will remember.

On rare occasions, some male wolves of mating age have found their much younger mates and couldn’t control their urges, claiming them.

Besides being despicable to claim your mate without their consent, forced mating, even between destined mates, can damage the bond.

For the younger mate especially, it can lead to shifting problems or an uncontrollable and unstable wolf.

It’s the equivalent of rape in our world, and it’s punishable.

To prevent that, it’s suggested to separate mates until the younger one reaches the acceptable mating age.

When the deed has already been done, the penalty is death for both mates. The violator gets it as punishment for his terrible action, and the victim gets it as a mercy.

Max’s self-control and thoughtfulness were extraordinary. That’s why no one ever thought of separating him from Estella. Max would never force his will on his mate, so he was never seen as a threat.

If he had failed to control himself, I would’ve been obligated to execute him. I’m sincerely glad it never came to that.

“Max, I understand your concerns…,” I started, but he cut me off.

“You almost fucked Eva against a tree as soon as you found her,” he spat. “You’re a typical alpha werewolf male. You don’t understand shit.”

I shot him a hard look. Honestly, I was starting to get pissed off. I mean, I’ve always tried to respect his views.

Hell, he was even right about some things. But that didn’t give him the right to look down on the rest of us for following tradition.

“Do you think you’re the smart one here, cousin?” I shot back. “The best because you’re not like the rest of us?

“You think my love for Eva is less because I was drawn to her instantly? Or because I didn’t waste time questioning what if?

“Do you dare to think that my connection with her is weaker because the Goddess chose her, and I accepted her without a second thought?”

By the end of my outburst, I was shouting.

I swear to the Goddess that Eva is my everything. In fact, I value her more than my own life. I don’t give a damn that we were brought together by the Moon Goddess instead of personal choice.

It doesn’t change anything for me. I love who she is, and she loves me in return.

Sure, the bond intensifies everything, but I refuse to question my own feelings because Max or anyone else has a different viewpoint.

MAX

I had upset Patrick.

That wasn’t my intention. I have my own thoughts on the whole mating thing, and everyone knows them.

It’s not that I completely dismiss their relationships with their mates, just that eagerness to declare love for someone they’ve just met. To me, love takes time, otherwise it feels rushed.

My cousin was hurt by my comment, however true it was, and since he’s my only friend in this life, I wanted to try to soften my words a bit because I was being unfair to him.

He’s been there for me ever since I found Estella. He has patiently listened to all my thoughts, doubts, and rants while he has a pack to lead and a family to look after. I owe him.

“I know it sounds like I’m trying to diminish your relationship, but I’m not,” I said calmly.

“I know you love her. I know she loves you. But would you love each other with such intensity if you didn’t know for sure that you were destined to be?”

“I don’t bloody care,” he scoffed.

“We are who we are, and we have what we have. If it will put your mind at ease, yes. I know deep down that even without our bond, I would love her.

“The bond just speeds up the process. It just gives us more time together. I don’t see how this is a bad thing.”

“It’s not.” I smiled sadly. “I’m sorry for being hard on you.”

“That’s okay.” He exhaled. “Just don’t do it often because I might lose it. I was never as patient as you are.”

“Now, how can I not call you a typical alpha? Quick tempered and all?” I teased.

He laughed, and I knew we were okay.

“True,” he agreed and then gave me a serious look. “You’re going to have to tell her, Max. Sooner than you think.”

“I will try to avoid that for as long as I can.”

“Max…”

“Patrick, I’ve made up my mind. I may have slipped yesterday, but nothing really changes about it. I want her to have a future. I can’t use the bond to trap her with me.”

“As you wish. But you know that she loves you, so it won’t really be trapping her into anything.

“Besides, completing the bond doesn’t stop her from having a future. Both Eva and I got more than one degree after we mated.”

It was true, of course, and in this aspect, Patrick and Eva were different than the alpha-luna couples I knew.

Most of the time, the alpha role was so demanding that in packs like ours, when the next alpha had to take over as soon as he turned eighteen (provided they found their mate), there was no time to further one’s education.

The fact that my cousin and his mate managed to do so while having to care for their children as well was beyond impressive.

Still, I prefer to do this my way. I’ll let Estella decide what she wants to do with her life before I break the news to her.

One might wonder if I’m sure this is the right way, and the answer is I don’t know.

Yet, it’s what makes me feel safe, so I’ll stick to it.

EVA

The bond between Lucia and Estella is somewhat magical.

Luz loves no one more (excluding myself, Patrick, and the boys), and when Estella is here, my clever little daughter completely occupies her time.

So, and I know it’s a bit mean to say this as a loving mother, I was happy that I had my little friend all to myself today.

Patrick had taken the children out as per our agreement. Managing three lively kids is not an easy task for any mother.

Sometimes, I do need time for myself, and thankfully Patrick is not as clueless as other guys.

Despite his alpha duties, he makes time to dedicate to our children and occasionally takes them off my hands for a few hours.

They had gone for a picnic in the forest, an activity all of them love, and I was sitting with Estella on the balcony.

She was sipping her tea, and I was drinking fruit juice.

One would expect the opposite, but I’ve always hated tea, and my young friend had picked up Max’s habit of drinking the awful beverage.

At least hers smelled like forest fruits and was less offensive to my nose.

“I wanted to ask…,” she began hesitantly, and I became curious about what she wanted to know.

“Yes?” I prompted.

“Those powers you have…” She paused. “I mean that you see things… Well… Is there a chance that Caleb and Sarah are mates?”

I looked at her wide-eyed, not because she was spot on, but because from her, I would expect a different question.

I always found it impressive that it never occurred to her to ask if Max was her mate.

Naturally, this would put me in a difficult position, for I wouldn’t be able to tell her anything, but it would be normal for her to want to know, given that she was in love with him.

My theory is that by being around us for so long and seeing the mating happening only between wolves, it never occurred to her that a wolf’s mate could ever be a human.

She’d just found out that some packs, like Sarah’s, despise humans completely.

I shook off my thoughts and noticed her looking at me, waiting for a response.

“What makes you ask that?” I asked, avoiding her question.

“I think they’re in love. They’re both too stubborn to admit it, but I remember them being pretty close at the club.

“Also, I’ve had my suspicions for a while now. It would be a shame if they were meant to be with other people.”

I laughed as she took a deep breath, having said all that in one go.

Yes, I knew about their secret rendezvous a few nights ago, on Estella’s birthday. And before you think Patrick spilled the beans or that I used my gift, let me tell you, I saw them with my own eyes.

Lucia had a nightmare because the boys had told her scary stories before bed. I was coming back from her room after calming her down.

So, I saw them, and it was a beautiful sight. And yes, my enhanced eyesight is that... well... enhanced. I could see all the way into the car.

Besides, it’s easy to see when you know what you’re looking for.

Anyway, I decided I wouldn’t mention it unless Estella did. Patrick had told me she wasn’t sure if there was a kiss because she was pretty drunk.

“If Sarah is my brother’s mate, he would have sensed it by now,” I pointed out.

“You’re not answering my question,” she said, her tone stern.

“Estella, you know I can’t reveal things like that,” I replied, matching her tone.

“But I’m not asking about myself, Eva! Besides, I have a feeling they are. I just need confirmation. It’s not like you’d be telling me something I don’t already suspect.”

She gave me that sweet smile she always does, and it was contagious.

“They are,” I finally admitted. “And they’re destined for greatness. That’s all you’re getting from me.”

“I knew it!” she exclaimed, bouncing in her seat.

“Sweetie, you can’t interfere,” I reminded her.

“I won’t.” She gasped in mock shock, but I could tell she was faking it.

“Estella.”

“I promise I won’t say anything. But I’ll give them a little nudge. They’re being ridiculous pretending they don’t like each other. We’re not twelve anymore.”

“Our little Estella is turning into a matchmaker,” I teased.

“No... I’m just tired of those two idiots. If they’re meant to be, why delay it? I wish I had a destined one.”

“You do?”

“Of course. My dad had my mom, Uncle Julian has Aunt Lydia, and they were some of the lucky ones.

“From what I understand, all humans would kill to have what you werewolves have—a destined soulmate that you know just by their smell or touch. Someone to spend the rest of your life with.”

“Sweetie, no gift comes without a price.” I reached out and gently stroked her hand.

She gave me a sad smile.

“Maybe it’s better to risk a bad outcome than to live in doubt,” she murmured.

“Would you like to be one of us?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Being a werewolf has its advantages, and I could ditch my glasses, but I like being human.

“If nothing else, it motivates me to do the best I can with my ‘limited’ abilities. But when it comes to the soulmate thing, I wish I could know…”

Her voice trailed off, and I held back a sigh that was threatening to escape.

“Would it change how you feel about someone, sweetie? If you already love someone, would you love them less if they weren’t your destined soulmate?” I asked.

“No. I don’t think I could ever love him less.” She chuckled, biting her lip. “But I would move on eventually. I’d have to, right?”

“Yes, sweetie. You would.”

The guilt I felt for not being able to ease her mind was overwhelming at times like this.

Knowing what I know, seeing what I see almost every night in my dreams, even watching the few strands of white hair on her head shimmer silver in the sun... a clear sign of what the future holds for her...

It makes me wish I could throw my gift away.

ESTELLA

It’s been over a week, and I can’t stop thinking about the kiss. The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that it really happened.

As I said, the thought of kissing anyone but Max is unbearable, so I’ve convinced myself it was him.

Yes, I know I’m repeating myself, but the problem with not being able to get the kiss out of my head is that I dream about it every night.

Imagine dreaming about the man you love, kissing you every night, and having a vague, blurry memory to base your dreams and fantasies on to make them seem more real.

Well, it can be a bit much.

What I mean is, it affects me. Every time I see Max, I want to throw myself at him and kiss him senseless, just to see if it feels the same as in my dreams.

I find myself staring at his lips when he talks, and the worst part is, I think he’s catching on. I’ve even seen him blush a couple of times, which looks adorable on him.

Then I want to kiss him even more, and it’s my turn to blush at the thought (and the thousand others that follow the kiss) and… you get the idea, right?

I decided I needed a distraction, or I’d end up doing something stupid.

That’s why I decided to focus on Caleb and Sarah.

Those two have barely spoken to me since my birthday, and if I didn’t see Sarah at school, I’m sure she’d avoid me.

What am I thinking? She does exactly that. Alpha girl won’t hang out with me after school, even when I assure her we’ll be alone.

I guess she doesn’t want to risk my nosiness, and I let her off the hook because I have an easier target.

Caleb avoids me too, claiming he’s swamped, but he’s easier to get to since his pack welcomes me.

I don’t drop by often, but I’ve met his parents, and they’ve told me I can come over anytime I want to see Cal.

So, I take advantage of my open invitation, hop on my bike, and pedal over to his pack.

After getting the all-clear from the patrollers, I walk through the open door of the pack house and head straight to his bedroom.

I knock because I don’t want to see more of Cal than necessary, and he invites me in.

“What are you doing here?” he asks rudely, instead of greeting me properly.

“You’ve been avoiding me since my birthday. You should have seen this coming,” I reply, deadpan, as I sit down next to him on his bed.

“I haven’t been avoiding you,” he scoffs, looking away to stare at nothing in particular.

“You know you have, so cut the crap. And don’t even try to tell me you still feel guilty about letting me drink too much because that won’t fly.”

“For your information, I do still feel guilty,” he snaps back. “And by the way, remind me never to cross Max. The guy is dangerous when he wants to be.”

“Are you telling me this, of all people, Cal?” I ask, raising an eyebrow mockingly. “I’ve seen him in action.”

“Yeah, I keep forgetting about that,” he mutters.

“So, why are you avoiding me?”

“I told you, I’m not. I’ve just been busy.”

“Doing what? Lying on your bed?”

“I still train every day, you know!” he says, sounding offended. “I deserve some rest.”

“Okay, you’re boring me, so I’m going to get straight to the point. Has something happened with Sarah?”

“What?” he squeaks, looking away again. “No. Nothing happened. Well, nothing more than usual.”

“Are you sure, Cal? Because I remember you two dancing pretty close in the club.”

“You were wasted that night,” he reminds me.

“Yes, but that was before that. You were getting pretty handsy with her, and she was reciprocating.”

He mutters something under his breath, and I know I’ve almost got him. I promised Eva I wouldn’t mention the soulmates part, but I can still tease him a bit. He deserves it.

“Do you have a thing for her, Cal darling?” I ask, wiggling my eyebrows.

“Me?” he scoffs. “Have a thing for her? Her, of all people? That red-headed firecracker who loves to argue with me about everything? Are you still drunk, human?”

I give him a serious look to let him know I see through his act, and he sighs in defeat.

“She’s my mate,” he admits quietly, and I wouldn’t have heard it if I wasn’t expecting him to say just that.

“See? That wasn’t so hard,” I say, ruffling his hair.

“You aren’t surprised?” He frowns. “Why aren’t you surprised?”

“Because I kind of thought you two would be good together.” I wink at him. “Have you told her?”

“No. I don’t know if I should since she can’t feel the bond yet.”

“And you’ll wait for two years? She’ll be furious with you, Cal.” I pause before adding, “And with me, too, if she finds out I knew and didn’t tell her.”

“I know, but what can I do, Estella? I can’t mark her yet, and even if I tell her, I still have to wait until she’s of age. I mean, would you want to know or not?”

“I don’t have a mate,” I remind him, trying to keep the bitterness out of my voice.

“But what if you did and he didn’t tell you?” he persists.

I see the desperation in his eyes, so I humor him, even though it hurts.

“If it was someone I knew and cared about, I think I’d deserve to know. I also think I’d be really mad at him for letting me live in uncertainty about something so important.”

“Sarah hates me,” he argues.

“Like you hated her?” I laugh. “Come on, Cal! You two have secretly liked each other for years, but you’re both too stubborn to admit it.”

“She—”

“She has a strong personality,” I interrupt. “Would you prefer her to be meek and always agree with you? The last thing you need, my dear old friend, is a mate who will stroke your already inflated ego.”

He gapes at me, his face turning red with anger. “I don’t have a big ego,” he growls.

I can’t help it. I burst out laughing. This is the funniest thing I’ve ever heard.

“Stop laughing,” he orders.

“How can I?” I ask, gasping for breath.

“Stop it.”

“You don’t even realize how full of yourself you are!”

“I’m not full… You’re supposed to be my friend, Estella,” he whines, and I laugh even more before I speak.

“I am your friend. That doesn’t mean I think you’re perfect. The challenge is loving you, knowing that you’re not.”

The bear hug that comes my way? Totally unexpected and totally welcome. I hug him back, and he pulls me onto the bed so I can lie next to him.

“So, should I tell her?” he asks, biting his lip in thought.

“I say yes, but that’s up to you.”

He gave a nod, and we fell into silence. If he chose to keep his lips sealed, Sarah would surely give him hell. But really, what damage could come from not spilling the beans immediately?

They’re soulmates. They’ll figure out a way to mend things. Right?