Chapter 45

It wasdark when I woke from this most recent nap. It had been three days since I'd seen the healers. I didn't have much endurance and tired very quickly.

Bredon had helped me shower earlier, and afterward, I couldn't wait to crawl into bed.

As much as I appreciated how gentle he was and understanding that I needed to rest, I wanted to spend time with him. My end was nearing. I didn't want to waste the time sleeping. I'd indulged in feeling safe. Now, I needed to refocus on Bredon.

I threw back the covers and padded to the bathroom. I splashed water on my face, brushed my teeth, and combed my hair. When I entered the living room, Sig and Talia sat on the sofas, engrossed in their laptops.

"How did you sleep?" Talia asked as I neared.

"Good." I looked around. "Where's Breed?"

"He's a…" She looked toward Sig.

Sig was typing and did not look up.

"What's going on?" I asked. Bredon was always here.

I realized how selfish that sounded. He had been tied to the condo for days because of me.

"We'll talk while you eat." Talia got up and ushered me to the kitchen.

I wasn't hungry, but I knew better than not to take a few bites; otherwise, it upset them.

"We had burgers," she explained. "They had what the server called ‘comfort food,' so I got you chicken and noodles."

Surprisingly, that sounded good. "I haven't had that in ages."

She took the plate from the oven. "What else would you like?"

"Fruit."

She wrinkled her nose at my choice.

When I started to eat, Sig joined us.

I didn't bring up Bredon. I knew that if I were patient, they would tell me if they could.

I'd eaten a small bowl of fruit salad and half of the entrée when Sig asked, "What do you know of Lycan Mating?"

I put my fork down. "Not much. I know that your Goddess can make a match for you. That seems risky because the world is big, and how can you be sure you will meet your mate?" I sipped my water and continued, "It has to be a right place/right time scenario." I shook my head at the enormity of the change of finding the one who is the other part of your soul. "When you do find your mate, for it to become official, there has to be a ceremony."

He nodded as if urging me to continue.

"You are correct. The world is large. Most Lycans travel extensively, hoping to meet their mate."

Something occurred to me. "But you guys, I mean many of your Pack, they don't leave the village. How do they find their mates?" That seemed like a needle in a haystack situation.

Talia snorted and frowned. "There is a second kind of mating. It is called Contracted Mating. It takes place when you agree to be mated to another. You still have a Mating Ceremony, but that is usually after you have been together for some time."

"Does The Lady bless the union?"

"Rarely," Talia said.

"Then why do you have it?"

"The elite families and Packleaders make matches to improve their standing," Talia explained.

"How very…medieval of them." I widened my eyes in fake surprise. Jade, the Lycan I met while traveling, had briefly explained this occurrence.

"Anton wishes to make a contracted match for Bredon," Sig shared. "He has attempted to do so many times over the years."

I stilled as I considered that information.

His gaze met mine. "Bredon refused. He believed that his mate was out there. He would not settle for anything less."

I huffed a breath. "Anton wanted to use Bredon to improve his status." I felt my cheeks heat as I grew angry. "Then you know what? It serves him right that Bredon is the better brother who found his mate, and even though I'm human, I outsmarted you for weeks." I let out a harsh laugh. "Unworthy, my ass." My laugh caused a tickle in my throat, and I coughed.

Talia pushed my water closer to my hand, urging me to take a sip.

When the coughing ended, I had trouble taking a deep breath.

They watched me closely.

I wasn't going to sleep until Bredon returned. I could be stubborn when needed. "I know that Anton hates humans. Is that the norm for all Lycans?"

"Anton does hate humans. He rarely interacts with the human world; it's beneath his dignity." Sig said.

"Some cling to that attitude. They are driven to feel superior." Talia rolled her eyes dramatically. "Many packs allow humans to become members and protect them from other Lycans. They are called Articles."

Sig nodded. "Other packs live actively in the human world. If they discriminate, they do so very quietly."

"Why do you think Anton didn't kill me when he had the chance?" It would have been so easy. I'd had no protection with Sig and Bredon in Nebraska, and Talia was banished to her rooms. "Don't get me wrong, I'm happy he didn't." I grinned. "I keep thinking about it. He thinks he's so powerful and scary. Why not snap my neck in my room at Miriam's?"

Sig frowned. "Anton can be rash, and I cannot guess his reasoning. Perhaps he thought you would disappear, and Bredon would be upset for a time. He must have gambled that you would die from your infection, and he could keep his hands clean so as not to offend Bredon. Then he would eventually forget about you. Problem solved."

"Is Bredon…" I had to clear my throat. "Are you in trouble for searching for me?"

"There most likely will be punishments," Sig answered. "We received help from a few parties that Anton finds unsavory."

Talia rested her hands on the table, tapping her fingernails on the finish. "Anton does not like us. However, I earn money for the Pack, which always needs money. Bredon and Sig have power within the Pack and have connections with the other packs. That buys us a little latitude most times."

"He will make threats," Sig said, "but we are used to it."

Anton was an ass.

"You know that our wolf spirit is always with us, yes?" Sig asked.

"I figured."

"Some stories say that finding a mate strengthens and focuses the Lycan. It calms our wolf but also causes us to want to be near our mate."

I nodded.

"If a mate is lost, the surviving mate often dies."

"Wait. What?" I said, my voice sharpening.

"They mourn. Their wolf mourns. The stronger the mate bond, the more likely they will leave this Earth."

Suddenly, my arms broke out in goosebumps. "You are worried about Bredon."

"Yes," Talia answered for them. "He loves you. When we were searching for you, he cared for nothing else."

"Did that upset Anton?"

Sig narrowed his eyes as he studied me. "He was initially upset because he wants Bredon to focus on Pack matters. As time passed, and it became obvious that Bredon was not giving up, Anton backed off."

"If they," Talia pointed at Sig, "aren't working on Redds' business, then Anton can take credit for everything."

"He will fuck it up, and it will take years for us to undo the damage," Sig said. "Or it might not matter."

"How worried are you about Bredon grieving my death so much he will die?"

"He will choose death," Sig answered quickly.

I glanced at Talia.

"I agree." Her gaze was filled with sadness. "Bredon has sacrificed so much for the Pack. Anton has asked things of him that left scars. You are the only bright light in his life—his reward for enduring everything."

"But…can't you do something to help him?" I asked, feeling helpless. "I don't want him to die."

Talia took my hand. "Then, you must fight."

They had more faith in me than I did.

Suddenly, Sig got to his feet and headed out of the kitchen.

"Somebody is coming," Talia told me.

Sig returned, following a harried-looking Bredon.

"I know what to do," Bredon announced.

"Do about what?" Talia asked before I could.

"To save Sage," he announced, then kissed me. His hope was infectious.

I smiled at him.

"I need more of an explanation," Sig told Bredon.

Bredon sat. "Something was bothering me since we met with the witch. She attributed your reaction and illness to our mating or lack of completion."

"Where did you go?" Talia asked slowly as if she were trying to understand.

"I was on the roof."

I glanced at the others to see how they were taking this information. When nobody asked, I had to. "Why?"

"I wanted to speak with The Lady."

I raised my eyebrows. "So, you needed to be close to the sky?"

He tilted his head a little to the left. "I wanted a clear view of the moon. We believe that it is her symbol."

Sig and Talia didn't seem to think he was acting crazy, so I waited for him to go on.

"I asked for Her help," Bredon announced proudly. "I pressed for an audience."

"What happened?" Talia was giving him a narrow-eyed look.

"It was like nothing I have ever experienced. I traveled to what must be her Plane."