Chapter 15

M y father always said humans were temperamental and always used their mouths as weapons since they were powerless. I’d already forgiven her. I just needed to get her to the village. Somewhere warm where she can regroup. Maybe if she thought I was being helpful and not trying to harm her, then she’d give me an inch.

I could woo my mate, but even the words sounded foreign to me.

My father taught me, “ Everything comes to you at the right moment. You just have to be patient.”

Even though her emerald eyes kept slipping to get a view of all of me, I could tell she would not come along easily. At thirty-five, I could be patient. I’ve waited too long for this moment to mess it up more than I already have. I’ll get on my knees and beg just to convince her.

“So, how about you let me help?” I said with a hand open to her as a peace offering.

She looked at my outstretched hand like it was the plague. Her small hand found its way to her wrist as I waited patiently with my hand to her.

“No,” she said.

When she passed me, her shoulder bumped into my upper arm as she headed back down the pathway. Her pace was slower than before, allowing me to see her back, which was just as appealing as the front. I had the most stubborn mate on earth. Shaking my head, I picked up the broken, discarded purse and followed her down the path. My long legs ate the short distance between us. The sun peeked out over the horizon, illuminating the dark dirt pathway and showing our shadows.

“Hey, Kaydian,” I said the moment I got in front of her. “It’s about thirty minutes to town from here even more if you’re walking. How about I make you something to eat, and then you can leave? I don’t have a car, but I can walk with you there.”

That stopped her in her tracks, “Why? Why would you do that for me? I’m just a lowly human that got lost out here.”

“Because you’re my fated mate, Kaydian.” I paused to let my words sink in. “I’ve been waiting for the person who would complete my life since I turned sixteen and shifted for the first time.”

I continued, “I know you’re probably wondering what I’m talking about. A fated mate is your eternal twin. Someone that has been chosen by the Earth Creator to be your perfect match.”

She wasn’t budging.

With her hands on her hips and her plump lips pinched, she looked adorable…tired and beautiful. A moment of silence passed between us until her stomach decided it was fed up. She wrapped her arms around her stomach while the tips of her nose and ears turned a deep red.

I tilted my head, “Can we be honest with each other, Kaydian?”

She nodded. I guess that was good enough for me.

“You’re thirty minutes away from town. How did you get here without a car? You don’t smell like a shifter or another supernatural? A human walking along these roads is dangerous. A female human…even more dangerous.”

I paused and let my eyes roam her body, “I haven’t seen anyone human with those colored eyes before, but it’s okay. Maybe one day you’ll come to trust me. Now let’s get you some food and maybe a nap?”

I held out my hand again. If her eyes were any narrower, I would have thought she had fallen asleep on me. After a ten-minute stare off, she took my hand and shook it.

“Fine, but no funny business, and if you attempt to touch me without my permission again, I will cut your cock off and feed it to your people,” she said with her shoulder squared and her frown back on her face.

Smiling, “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“You lead the way then. Just in case this is a setup.”

Turning from Kaydian, I led us down the right path to the village. The smile that was plastered on my face was impenetrable. This small feat was well earned from my Hiema…. my sun.

The path to the village was a ten-minute walk from the cliff. Usually, I wouldn’t return home until I couldn’t hide my wolf in the shadows anymore. I wouldn’t want a human to see me especially since my uncle and I couldn’t come to an agreement on anything lately. But none of that mattered now because I knew my path would be clearer with my mate by my side.

The Earth Creator had truly blessed me today, and maybe I was losing my wits, but a jubilant sensation, somewhere buried deep in my soul, filled me. From the orange-brown Rufous hummingbirds that flew above, luring me with their sweet melody. To the poppies that opened their petals for the morning sun. The closer we got home, the more the scent of pine and baked food filled my nose, making my stomach rumble. Along with Kaydian’s scent that threatened my sanity, I wanted to pull her behind the old wide trees and rut inside of her until I passed away. My face felt flush with the thought. She hated me today, but hopefully, soon, she’ll see fighting me wouldn’t get us anywhere.

“Wait!”

Kaydian POV

Turning on my tattered shoes, I moved to get away from Greyson, who had practically gained wings and flown in front of me, stopping me in my tracks. I folded my arms, but not before I caught myself digging into my sore wrist.

“I don’t believe it’s wise for me to return with you,” I stated, clearing my throat.

“What? Why? No one will bother you. Especially since you’re with me,” he pleaded.

“Please don’t make this harder than it already is, Greyson. We come from different worlds with different rules.”

He took a step toward me, and I took one back. I’ve waited almost twelve years to meet my mate, just to be rewarded with someone who, by the coven rules, couldn’t rule. A deep sigh slipped past my lips, which made Greyson shuffle on his feet, and in those few minutes of silence, regret set in with each blink of my lids.

My parents would kill him before he uttered a word to them. His scent made him easy to detect, and I would have to work hard to keep him alive. I had no other choice but to leave before I fell too hard. I wondered what the backlash would be. It would probably be a thousand years before my mother or the coven entrusted me again. Now I’m wondering if it was such a bad thing to go crazy from the curse of glut.

I’ve been waiting to cry since I left the castle, but now, I wanted to ever so more. Biting into the bottom lip, my eyes burned as I blinked back the salty, useless tears.

“You wouldn’t understand…”

Greyson POV

“Well, make me then,” I said. My weaning patience got the best of me, and I couldn’t tell who I was more frustrated with, her or myself.

Kaydian stood before me, trembling as she chewed on her plump bottom lip. My heart wanted to grab her and kiss the doubt away. She rolled her shoulders multiple times as her inner thoughts played out on her beautiful face. Even the dirt on her face made her look alluring. Swaying slightly as those hypnotic emerald eyes slipped closed.

“I’m a witch…” Her eyes opened with a hint of fear in them.

She winced and turned her attention to the broken pile of trees that we had chopped down. Hiding her face as she moved the thick pieces of hair in front of her face. It was as if that move would stop me from having a meltdown.

Which was too late…

The pounding of my heart drowned out the voice in my head. Standing there in the small pathway, my mind raced with her words. She had to be lying! The creator wouldn’t have been so cruel. Not when I’ve waited this long just to allow my mate to be the one thing I hoped never to cross paths with. The other half of me I refused to acknowledge even till this day.

“A witch!” I said. My eyes burned a hole in her face. “So, did you sense I was your mate?”

“I—Yes,”

Kaydian looked weak as she took a step toward me. Instinctively, I took one back. Her narrow eyes stared back at me, hurt laced throughout those gems. Even though she had extended no sympathy to me when we first met. For the second time this morning, we were at a standstill. Only this time, I was the one with the scrunched nose and an upturned upper lip.

I had long since wiped my mother’s side away from my memory, only leaving the moments we had together. My magic, or lack of it, hadn’t stirred inside of me until I touched Kaydian. As happy as I am to find my mate, the thought of my mother’s gift awakening inside of me petrified me.

“I just can’t believe the Earth Creator would do this to me,” I whispered what was meant for only myself spilled out into the morning breeze.

“I’ll just walk it to town. I don’t want to cause any trouble, plus I am going home soon.” Kaydian folded her arms around herself and chewed on her bottom lip.

I should have let her leave and forgotten about this encounter. Hoping the Earth Creator will send me another fated mate, even though those chances were slim to none. However, my wolf told me she would be the one to fix our broken pieces…and we wanted her more than the air in our lungs.

Kaydian took one look at my indecisive face and turned to leave… or tried to leave. When she turned halfway, she tripped over her foot and almost went face-first into the dirt for the second time today. Luckily, I saved her—again as I grabbed her upper arm and spun her around.

“T-Thank you,” Her eyes were glued to my shirtless chest.

My heart pounded against their cage, and before I knew it, I was forgiving her for being a witch.

“Listen, if we’re going to get you into the village, then you’re going to be honest with me.”

The night’s events showed on her as she started trembling in my arms. Warm tears collected in the small gap between her and me, dripping onto my damp skin. My shoulders slumped as I racked my hand down her back. The turbulent thoughts of my new witch problem slipped away with each of her tears. All I wanted to do was to carry her off to my home and hide her away from everyone.

Selfish, yes, I know...

“I’m a…” she paused as a tremor passed through her. “Witch. Are you okay with that? I came out here for peace and quiet. I used a magic spell to hide myself from everyone, but it seems I can’t even do that right. Listen, I will be out of your hair tonight. I just need some rest.”

She couldn’t be serious. As I stood there with her, my heart raced with the thoughts of not being able to inhale her scent that became etched in my soul. I knew she meant the words she had spoken as she leaned her slick forehead onto me.

“How about I get you home, and then we can talk about it after I have fed you and you’ve rested?”

She tilted her head as her narrowed eyes inched closer together. Kaydian swayed a bit and my hands reached out to steady her. At this rate, she’d pass out before I could get her home. We stood at a standstill. She sucked in her lower lip, trying to suppress her yawn as a subtle throaty sound left her. I held out my hand as a peace offering, and her green orbs stared a hole into it.

And she continued to stare at it until the crooks of my arm ached. My hand slipped just an inch before she grabbed the lonely hand. Placing my arm under the back of her knees and her back, I lifted her into my arms. Kaydian yelped as I adjusted her. Her mouth dropped open to protest, but she closed her mouth, rested her head on my chest, and closed her eyes.

I carried her the rest of the way, with my nose buried into her hair, to the small clearing that was open to our village. Fry bread scent overpowered the fresh rain scent now that I was at home. Each of the wooden home's doors was open, with the children already running around squealing their delight as they played. The elders were already outside in their favorite chairs with their colorful plates in their hands. I’d wanted to avoid their hawk-like stares, so I dipped behind the homes, using the forest behind them as cover. As I got closer to my home, there was an enormous gap between Hawk’s home and the other homes. Peeking around the pack members’ home, I saw Hawk in the middle of the clearing. He was flipping the fry bread over the smokey wood fire. Like his name, Hawk turned to my spot. His keen eyes spotted me behind the home. Those thick eyebrows scrunched as he tried to call me over.

“Hey, Greyson!” Hawk yelled when I made my way across the wide gap.

I loved Hawk, but I wasn’t in the mood to talk right now. I was almost home when I saw the red door of my home.

“Not now, Hawk. I’m busy!” I yelled out.

Not wanting to wait, I picked up speed and pretended I didn’t hear Hawk yelling wait again. As I reached the red door, I closed it gently without waking Kaydian. I made my way to the small room and placed my sleeping mate onto the small, unmade bed. I dug my nose into her hair to get another whiff of my newest addiction and covered her with the yellow comforter I received from Hawk’s mother, who made it by hand.

Staring at my Hiema, I wondered if the Creator was aware of the mountains I would have to move for her. The Pack would undeniably push back on her, especially since I wasn’t fully accepted myself.

Am I strong enough to withstand the rocky currents? I guess only time would tell. I just hoped the Creator knew what he was doing.