4. Home

The bear shifter, the father of the Alpha Mate, had invited the elves to accompany him and his darling daughter to the factory the pack ran. It was one of the most prominent businesses the pack owned. Of course, it was something that was endlessly fascinating to Hakeem, our resident expert in shifter behavior. In Abrocaelum, shifters were not as unified as this pack.

Hakeem was already vying for permission to stay and study the pack since they were one of the healthiest ones he’d ever seen. Even his beloved books and histories had never described one so closely bonded. Yes, there were still outliers in the pack, but the majority were there out of a deep love and loyalty for the Alpha Pair.

Our queen had already given us leave to stay as long as necessary to study the beta sickness and to look for any link tying it to our fertility issues. There had to be a reason our goddess wanted us to help the shifters. We had been sent to their worst affected pack, one who behaved so differently from anything previously known to us, for something important. I felt it to my very bones.

Walking beside Axel in his wolf form felt like a privilege. His wolf was a stunning creature. He was not shifting nearly as much as he should be, perhaps because we could not talk properly with him in his alter form. With a sly grin, I sent out a tendril of magic towards the young beta, the one who occupied all of my thoughts.

Axel? Can you hear me?

The wolf stumbled, causing the others with us to shoot shocked glances at him.

Teárlach?

Yes. I wondered if my magic could link us like your pack link does.

So you’re just speaking to me, not everyone else.

No. Just you.I felt some strange possessive emotion pass over him. Why? Would you prefer I spoke to the others like this too?

I was teasing. There was no one else in our group that I would want to speak to like this. It was intimate, being able to hear his thoughts. I was sure he could shield anything he did not want me to hear.

Just me, he interrupted. I don’t want anyone else to have this. I didn’t know your magic could do this.

Elven magic is all about intent and I wanted to speak to you while you were shifted. Perhaps now you will assume your wolf form more around me?

Through our link, I felt his embarrassment at being caught out.

I’ll shift more.

Good. I felt a smile stretch across my face and the wolf by my side caught the expression.

Passing closer to the charcoal wolf, I sifted my fingers through his dense fur. Axel was a thing of beauty, whatever form he took. It shamed me to admit I was jealous he had another form. The freedom he had to give in to his natural instincts, to be free, in wolf form, made me long for one of my own.

Axel gave a pleased rumble at the petting.

You really are beautiful.I hadn’t intended for the sentiment to escape, but I couldn’t deny the satisfaction I got when Axel’s pleasure registered.

In my wolf form?

Both, obviously.

Our arrival at the factory cut our flirting short. The manager, a nymph named Shelby, led us into a room where the shifters could regain their human forms. Axel followed Dakota and Dakota’s daughter, Angelica and I heard them shuffling around and shifting. Axel seemed to take a long time.

Dear one?

Axel jolted with surprise, finally back in his human form. I’m okay, T. I felt him slump into the seat provided for him and slowly begin dressing. His exhaustion from the shift weighed heavily over our link, which was likely more emotional than the usual pack links. Axel would have found it invasive, so I vowed to be careful not to let it slip just how much he was broadcasting.

As soon as I was able, I was by his side, providing comfort and support to the shifter who had already stolen my heart.

The revelation of my feelings stunned me to my core. I had already felt drawn to the man, yet I had not expected to have given my heart away so quickly, especially knowing our time was limited.

No, I would find a way to keep him.

Dakota was repairing a machine when Angelica spotted the bear tattoo the alpha bear had. It must have held great emotional significance for him to put in the effort, considering tattoos were typically applied with magic on supernaturals.

“Tattoos aren’t that common with shifters because of the magical ink required to suppress our healing long enough to accept the design. This one was really important to me, though. I’d love to get another.” Dakota was patient with his young daughter as he explained the bear etched into his skin.

“You would?” Hakeem asked. “You should have Teárlach work on you. He did a remarkable piece for me that wraps around my leg from thigh to ankle. Teárlach, my friend, do you have any of your supplies?”

“No, but it wouldn’t be much of an issue to use the portal and head home for a bit and grab them.” Leaving Axel behind after the discovery of my feelings would be difficult. I wanted to push for more time with him. To finally go on a date.

“Could I come with you?” Axel asked.

That would not be wise. As much as I would like to show you around my home, it will have to be another time.

To the others, it would look like we were having a wordless conversation, so I didn’t want to say too much.

Axel slumped with defeat, and I feared exhaustion. The urge to soothe him was immediate.

“Next time. When you can enjoy it better. I fear you are tired.”

He gave in and allowed me to bear his weight to the car Dakota called for him and Angelica. The little girl was also feeling the strain of shifting and the excitement of the factory.

“Are you sure that’s all it was?” Axel questioned.

“Of course, dear one. When you are better, you can come see where I come from.”

Hopefully, he would forgive my lies.

The floors of the palace clacked with the sound of my rapid footsteps as I dashed for the safety of my rooms. All I wanted to do was get in, find my equipment, and then leave.

My thoughts were back in Sweetwater, with Axel, who had looked so forlorn at me leaving him behind. He was ill-equipped to deal with any hostility he may face in Abrocaelum. Especially at such an early stage in our relationship. No, I wanted him to be more secure in what we were to each other before he ran the gauntlet of the court’s expectations.

I flung my door open and drew up short to find my mother perched on the edge of my bed.

The picture looked so out of place I was sure my jaw was hanging open. I’d never seen my mother look so… un-queen-like. Sitting as she was, she looked so… human. Her ears were hidden under her sleek hair, the same platinum blonde as my own.

Gone was the usual finery. Her long dress was simple. All she wore of jewelry was a broad cuff with the snowy owl on her slender, pale arm. So unlike her, it took me a moment to recover.

“The magic told me you were in the palace. Luckily, I assumed correctly that this was not a son missing his mother, or a soldier reporting up the chain of command on the progress. Tell me, my son, what has brought you home in such a hurry?”

“Apologies, my queen. If you require an update on our progress, I can get you a report tomorrow. This is merely a brief visit home to gather something I need to help with the shifters.”

“How are the shifters?” she asked, genuinely curious.

“There is little change from the last report. All who had the sickness are recovering at various rates. A link has been found to age and rate of recovery. However, the sickness itself is still a mystery.”

She looked displeased by this, yet unsurprised. We all knew this would take time, and it was only a handful of weeks since the shifters had awoken.

“Your ruse?” she asked as she absentmindedly picked at the blanket on the bed. Her behavior was troubling. I didn’t doubt she truly wanted to know, she just seemed so far away.

“Mother, are you well? Is there something I need to know?”

Her eyes rose to meet mine. “All is well.”

Lie.

“Mother…” I pressed.

“Just the usual rumblings in court.” She waved a delicate hand. “They are dissatisfied that I allowed you to go on this mission.” I swear she huffed a sound. Clearly I’d been with the shifters for too long. “None of them appear to care if it is our goddesses’ will.” There was a lengthy pause. I waited her out, aware she would speak when she was ready.

“She came to me in a dream.” Her eyes had a far away quality. “I have not seen her since before you were born.”

“A vision? Truly? This is remarkable timing! Does it not prove we were right to be involved?”

My queen’s gaze turned bitter. “If they were not dismissed as the fantasies of an old queen. They believe I should call you home, ignore this portent. I cannot.” Her tone was filled with bitterness and regret.

“Each day I am with the pack, the more sure I am, it is the place I am supposed to be,” I assured her. “I vow to bring back something useful to our people. A way to bring us out of this crisis.”

“I would caution you to not over promise, my son.”

“Of course, Mother.” I needed to cut this talk short, or we would talk around the subject for hours. Getting back to Sweetwater and Axel was my priority. I was sure half of his unhappiness was a fear I would not return. “I have some things I need to take back to the pack.”

Crossing the room, ignoring my mother’s questioning look, I went to the walk in closet. Elves were much like the dragons. We liked to hoard the finery. I was no different. Each of the walls of the closet held rich fabrics, jeweled crowns, necklaces, and trinkets from all over Abrocaelum. Most were bespoke pieces, gifts with our snowy owl emblazoned, or owls crafted in precious metals.

The elves had long forgotten why the owl was the symbol of our goddess and her wisdom. All we knew was the goddess Athena was forged in her image. We had long since lost her true name. Over the eons, we had lost so much knowledge. Perhaps the past had the clue to the current crisis.

I stalked to the back where I kept the things I had saved from my many journeys around the human realm, including what I had come for.

I picked up the box, finding it covered in a layer of dust, since the servants did not venture this far into my space. It was something I had picked up from a witch and updated whenever I got the chance. Tattoos had moved on from the stick and poke method, even with magic involved.

“That thing?” Mother wrinkled her nose in disgust when she caught sight of the mahogany box in my arms. It was covered in runes, demon, elf, fae, and witch symbols in their differing runic languages as well as our family symbol.

“Yes, a shifter wants a family tattoo. His mate is pregnant and he would like to have them tattooed.”

“So the shifters are still having babies?” My mother’s face was lit with hope and curiosity. I supposed she wondered what made them different to us.

“They are, though not quite at the same rate as the Sweetwater pack are. The Alpha Mate, Kade, is pregnant with triplets!”

Mother raised a hand to her mouth in shock. “By the goddess, they are so blessed!” She took a moment to process the news, then stood tall and determined. “This is exactly what I need to explain your presence there. Go! Return to us with good news soon.”

I smiled, happy to have helped her, to have restored her faith. “I will.”

“Be blessed.”

“Where did you learn to do this?” Dakota asked as he lay on the bench in front of me. We had gone to the clinic so the surprise wouldn’t be ruined.

“In the army, much to my mother’s horror.”

“She doesn’t approve of tattoos?”

Without saying too much, I explained my mother was important to our people, and while she did not look down on the soldiers, she was more refined in her tastes. She did not see the beauty that I did in covering skin with ink, especially when it had to be spelled to stay put.

Mother had finally come around to my own tattoo when I explained the significance of it, though I didn’t reveal my own inked design to Dakota. It was something personal.

The design Dakota wanted was easy enough to sketch, so I could ensure it was right for him before I began. My tattoo gun ran on magic. The ink was spelled colored powders turned into liquid with more magic. All of it was designed to keep the ink on the skin and not let supernatural healing erase the design before it could be set with more magic.

Dakota sat well and answered many of my questions about pack life as I covered his back with his chosen design. The sentiment behind it was beautiful.

I envied him for his family. I wanted a partner of my own, children too.

Truthfully, my heart had already decided on Axel. He was all I wanted. We could make children happen if he wanted that, too.

As if Dakota had heard my thoughts, he asked me about the wolf. “What’s happening with you and Axel? You appear very close.”

“Axel is… I care for him very much and wish to explore our growing connection.”

“He’s… fragile now. Don’t play with his feelings, please. I respect you and don’t want that respect to be ruined.”

“You care for him,” I stated, sensing Dakota’s worry and growing agitation.

“When Kade mated Blake, those brothers all became family. They belong to us and we protect what is ours. Even from well-meaning elves. I know that Kade and Blake have expressed their concerns. We just want what’s best for Axel.”

“I understand. Truly, I do. Axel is precious to me. Causing harm to him would be to hurt myself.”

Mollified, Dakota settled. “Good. I like you, T, and want to keep it that way.”

The tattoo did not take long after our talk. I settled into the routine of the ink and the needle, quickly drawing the family scene on Dakota’s back.

He thanked me with a hug before returning home. He had asked me to go with him, but my host family needed time together without me along.

Also, my heart was pulling me towards the mansion, where Axel was likely eating dinner with the pack. He liked to do that a few times a week to give Dakota and Jasper time as a family. The betas, Grady and Trey, also made themselves scarce on those nights. This pack was so family oriented.

While I walked, I dreamed about what it would be like to be one of them. To not be a prince, to be a shifter and not an elf, so I belonged by Axel’s side. We could shift together, explore the forest, protect our home. We could be mated, for life, without others worrying.

There, under the rising moon, I wished for a life with Axel. I just prayed it was what he wanted, too.

The dining room was full when I entered. I caught sight of Axel immediately. He was sitting surrounded by his kin, his pack, yet looked so alone and withdrawn.

Like he sensed me too, his head snapped up, his eyes met mine. A smile stretched across his face.

Yes, the feeling was mutual. My heart sang with rightness and I couldn’t contain my answering smile.