10. Ten

Ten

Griffin

"I'm your mate, Rainbow." The words echoed in my head, repeating the stab to the heart, as I got up and stalked from the cafe.

How dare that vampire come along and try to take my mate! Who did he think he was? Rainbow was mine. Wasn't he?

Not that you want him , that infernal inner voice reminded me.

No, he had to be mine. My senses were never wrong, which meant the vampire was out of his mind. Rainbow couldn't be his.

It really didn't matter what Sunny believed if I wasn't going to accept Rainbow as my mate though, did it? I didn't want him, so why didn't I want him to be happy with someone who did? Was I truly so selfish I'd deny my mate someone who already cared about him?

Sunny was wrong, though. There was no way he could be Rainbow's mate. This was just a flash-in-the-pan infatuation. A mistake. The vampire was clearly confused.

What would happen to Rainbow when it wore off? Vampires could be obsessive and unpredictable. In the fallout, Rainbow could end up hurt.

No, if denying Rainbow's claim on me protected him from me, allowing him to be with a vampire who was so badly mistaken could only put him at incredible risk. He had to be kept safely away from both of us. I would do anything to make sure of it.

Unable to wander too far, caught in turmoil, I was only a little farther down the street when the vampire emerged from the cafe. His face was an impassive mask. What had happened after I left? Was Rainbow welcoming the attention of a being he feared? I doubted it, though Sunny was a good-looking guy. Once you looked past the undead thing, of course.

I could only hope Rainbow had politely rebuffed Sunny and that the vampire would get bored once I cut off access to the witch. No more getting into our territory so he could visit Rainbow. I was putting a stop to that.

What if Rainbow wanted the vampire back? I couldn't stop Sunny visiting if Rainbow wanted to be with him, could I? Or would that be a way to get the witch out of the way too?

No, he was too scared of the vampire. He wasn't afraid of shifters and Weres.

When Sunny first appeared at Rainbow's table, I'd heard Rainbow's pulse spike with his fear. I had watched the way his eyes had widened and then he'd broken out in a cold sweat. My senses were so tuned into Rainbow, the slightest change gave me knowledge about how he was feeling. The vampire had terrified him, though he mostly hid his expressions to avoid panicking the others in the cafe. Just reacting to the vampire's words rather than his presence. I'd been ready to step in if I felt like he'd needed it, though he let Sunny sit with them so they could talk.

I gathered from what I'd understood of the conversation that Rainbow had picked up a vampire stalker. Once Rainbow had time to process what Sunny had done, I wondered what he would do. Could he get over his fear to be with the vampire?

There was no way I could risk it. Sunny could end up killing my mate if things went wrong. I had to figure out a way to keep my distance and protect Rainbow at the same time.

In need of someone to talk to, I returned home and called Tor. "Could you come over?"

"Everything okay?"

"Tell you when you get here." I ended the call without more of an explanation.

Tor lived a few houses down and came over minutes later armed with a six-pack of beer. He handed me a can before putting the rest in the fridge. He settled back on the sectional and took a swig of his drink.

"So? What's happening?" He looked perfectly at ease considering how soon his mating ceremony was. We only had a week to go.

"The witch might be a problem," I finally answered, stewing over what to say to my best friend.

"You were following him today. What did you find out?"

"Rainbow didn't know the vampire was in the house." I filled Tor in on the conversation I'd overheard and my thoughts about Sunny stalking Rainbow.

"So let them be together," Tor said easily, as if it was the most natural option. "They aren't our problem. As long as they keep the drama away from us, we don't have to worry. Not our problem," he repeated.

"Rainbow is."

Tor looked puzzled. "How?"

I took a long drink of my beer, emptying the can before I spoke.

"He's my mate."

My friend sat forward, his forearms on his knees, a huge smile on his handsome face. "What the hell? That's awesome!"

I frowned in response. "No. It's not."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm no good for him, Tor. I'll ruin his life," I said, bluntly. In my frustration, I crushed the can in my hands.

Tor ignored that, focusing on my words instead. "So you're going to let him be with the vampire?" His mouth was practically hanging open in shock.

"Hell no!"

He frowned. "Why not? You don't want him."

We were only going over the things I'd said to myself before, so it shouldn't have stung as much to hear my thoughts repeated by Tor.

The words, though true, hurt, because deep down, way deep down, I wanted Rainbow. He was my fate's chosen mate. Not accepting this gift went against everything we were told.

When I was finally accepted into a pack it was one of the things they gushed about. Mate bonds this, mate bonds that. It was the highest honor to meet your fated mate.

Yet, risking my mate's life was unconscionable to me. And life with me would be a massive risk. One false move could ruin everything.

It took me a minute to find the words to respond. "Because Sunny can't be his mate since I am. Which means Rainbow is in danger when this crush the vampire has wears off."

"This bullshit about ruining his life needs to stop. A mate is a gift. If you're mates with a witch, his magic should protect him from the virus."

"Should. That's a big risk to take with my mate's life. Then there's the full moon."

"Again, witch, he can make a potion. Griff, you deserve to be happy and Rainbow is cute!"

I let out a growl. Tor grinned. When I didn't say anything more, he sighed.

"So what's the plan?" he finally asked.

"We make sure the vampire knows he's unwelcome here."

We finished the six-pack and went around in circles. Tor tried to convince me to accept Rainbow as my mate to get rid of the vampire. Under the terms with Ray and Southridge, a mate joining the pack wouldn't break the truce. They, like us, held mates in high regard. That was if they believed Rainbow was truly my mate. They could argue he wasn't and I was trying to sneak a witch into the pack to gain power. I knew how Ray's pack worked. They'd be suspicious.

I was aware I wasn't treating Fate's gift with Rainbow right, or maybe I was. Maybe this was a test and I was supposed to protect him from afar. It was just so confusing. My head told me one thing, my instincts another. I just had to hope it didn't all blow up in my face.

Tor had long since left, done with my attitude and willingness to leave Rainbow alone. He argued being with Sunny was better than Rainbow being lonely. At least Sunny cared, was his reasoning.

A couple of hours had passed since the cafe. Rainbow was still at his shop, my spies said. He was safe and the vampire was nowhere to be found.

Light shifted and caught my attention coming from Rainbow's house.

He had an unwanted visitor.

Without thinking, I charged over to Rainbow's house. I circled and entered through the open back door and caught some of Sunny's conversation.

"I thought it would be a nice thing to do for him. What do you think? Looks good, right?"

There was no reply. I couldn't tell if he was on a call or who he was speaking to until I got closer. My amulet which controlled Daisy warmed against my chest. Her words came in loud and clear.

"He'll be so grateful, Sunny. Rainbow has been so tired and lonely trying to get this all done. This is so nice!"

"Thanks, Daisy. I felt bad about earlier so wanted to make up for it. I need to make friends with Jinx, too. What did you say he liked best?"

"Oh, the crickets with the powder Rainbow puts on. I tried but I made a mess. A cricket got free! Jinx caught it eventually, but I felt so bad!"

As plans went to win Rainbow's affections, this was pretty benign. Effective even. Not many people wouldn't be charmed by this level of wooing. It had already worked on the damn ghost!

Clearly, Daisy adored Sunny, she had never talked so much to me, and cared a lot about Rainbow, which was why she wasn't doing her damn job.

"Sorry, Daisy, but the werewolf wants to speak to me. Could you watch out for Rainbow returning, please?"

"Of course, Sunny!"

Sunny walked through the house, closing the door to the master bedroom on his way, and met me in the kitchen, which looked a damn sight better than the last time I'd been in there.

"Hi. I'm Sunny, but I guess you already know that."

"I do."

"What do I call you?" His posture, though relaxed, suggested he could surge into action in less than a blink. This vampire was dangerous, yet I didn't feel any fear. Only a pull to be closer.

"Me? I'm Rainbow's mate."

His full lips quirked. "That's a mouthful. Got a name?"

"Griffin. I'm the pack alpha here. You're in my territory without permission."

"The only permission I need is my mate's."

"I'm guessing, after this afternoon's performance, you don't have that." I knew he didn't. The urge to needle him was too strong.

Sunny blushed. It was paler than it would be on a human, but it was there.

"Not quite. He'd love what I've done for our mate though."

"Our mate?" The words were out without thinking.

"Yes. You say he's yours, I know he's mine. So he must belong to both of us. You've seen a poly bond before, haven't you?" Sunny was so calm.

He was so confident! My claim had done nothing to make him question his. I hadn't even considered the possibility of there being a poly bond, having never seen one.

"Oh! You haven't! I can tell by that expression. This is delightful." Sunny leaned closer to me, encroaching on my space. "Do you know what's better?"

This close, all I could smell was the copper, earth and rain scent of him. I nearly stepped closer until we were touching.

"What?" I ground out, frustrated at my body disobeying me by swaying closer.

"We are mates too!" His expression was one of glee.

"No," I denied automatically.

"No? What d'you mean?"

"We can't be."

Sunny reached out and cupped my cheek, his hand cool against my skin. My eyes closed of their own volition as a spark of electricity went between us.

He was right. Not only was Rainbow my mate, Sunny was too.

My eyes snapped open. "Not happening!" I couldn't get a grip on what I was feeling. Two parts anger, one part joy.

"What? Me and you? I think you'll find Fate has a different plan for us."

"All of it. You and me. You and Rainbow. Me and Rainbow. None of it. Fate is wrong, and if I catch you here again, I'll…" I couldn't finish the sentence.

"You'll what? Kill me? Fate won't let you, my mate."

Sunny darted forward and pressed a kiss on my lips. "I can't wait to be bonded to you both! Two handsome mates!"

"What? No!" My lips still tingled. I had to get away! I ran for the back door, stripped my clothes off on my side of the property line and vanished into the night in my wolf form.

Two fucking mates. A vampire and a witch. Fate was laughing her ass off at me.