Chapter 11

11

CHRISTOPHER

T he training arena echoed with the sounds of exertion – grunts, the thud of bodies hitting the mossy flooring, and the occasional crackle of newly awakened magic. I wiped sweat from my brow, watching as Aria sparred with Zephyr. Her movements were becoming more fluid, more confident with each passing day. Pride swelled in my chest, followed quickly by a pang of longing.

Since our kiss, things had been... complicated. I couldn't shake the memory of her lips on mine, the way her body had fit perfectly against me. But more than that, I couldn't forget the spark I'd felt – a connection that went beyond physical attraction. It reminded me of the stories I'd heard growing up, tales of werewolves finding their true mates. I'd always dismissed them, not thinking I'd ever find such a thing, but now...

"You're staring again," Lydia's voice broke through my thoughts. I turned to find her watching me, a knowing smile on her face.

I shrugged, trying for nonchalance. "Just keeping an eye on everyone's progress."

Lydia raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. And I suppose Aria's progress is of particular interest?"

Heat crept up my neck. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, come on, Chris," Lydia said, her voice softening. "I've seen the way you look at her. And the way she looks at you, for that matter. What's holding you back?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "It's complicated."

Lydia nodded towards an empty corner of the arena. "We've got time. Talk to me."

As we moved away from the others, I tried to organize my thoughts. How could I explain the turmoil inside me? The hope and the fear warring for dominance? The memories of rejection and isolation that still haunted me?

"When I kissed Aria," I began, keeping my voice low, "I felt something. Something I've never felt before."

Lydia's eyes widened. "You kissed her? When the hell did that happen?"

"A few days ago now, I'd been feeling drawn to her, and wanted to be around her, and one thing led to another…" I gritted my teeth as I glanced back in Aria's direction.

"Wait, do you mean…"

I nodded. "I think... I think she might be my mate."

A smile broke across Lydia's face. "Chris, that's wonderful! Why aren't you shouting it from the rooftops?"

"Because I'm terrified," I admitted. The words came out in a rush, as if a dam had broken. "What if I'm wrong? What if she doesn't feel the same way? And even if she does, with everything that's happening – this new world, our training – is it fair to burden her with this?"

I didn't add the other fears swirling in my mind. The memory of my pack turning their backs on me, of the loneliness that had been my constant companion for years until I met Samantha, who then broke me. What if I opened my heart to Aria, only to have it broken again?

Lydia placed a comforting hand on my arm. "Chris, listen to me. Everything has changed. Nothing is certain anymore. But that doesn't mean we should push away the good things that come our way."

"But what if?—"

"No 'what ifs'," Lydia interrupted gently. "Life's too short for that, especially now. If Aria is your mate, that's a precious gift. Don't let fear rob you of it."

I mulled over her words, watching as Aria laughed at something Zephyr said. The sound made my heart skip a beat.

"I thought I found love before. Met a coyote shifter. She even moved in with me. I know these soulmate things can happen, but they're not common. Sometimes you just go for the best option. Thankfully, I never marked her as mine, as she didn't want me to, saying that our love didn't need a claim."

"Right," Lydia scoffed, as if she knew where this was going. "How did that turn out?"

"Found out she was cheating on me when he marked her, another coyote shifter. She came by to end things and told me she'd found someone she wanted to be claimed by. Guess I was just her meal ticket while she hunted around for someone she felt a proper connection with," I muttered darkly.

"Coyotes, one of the worst bunch," Lydia hissed. "I'm sorry she used you like that, no one deserves that."

"It is what it is, but I closed myself off after that, told myself I wouldn't try to find a companion in any way, shape, or form."

"And now?"

"Now, I feel something I've never felt. But she's human. I know the bond can happen across species, but I didn't realize humans were included. Can she even feel it in return?" I frowned, confused by this whole thing.

"She clearly feels something. I imagine it might not be as strong, since she has no shifter side that feels things super strongly, but I'm sure it's there. Even after you two stopped talking, she still looks at you. She even asked me after dinner last night if I had any idea what had gotten into you."

"She did? What'd you say?"

"The truth. That I had no idea."

"I really didn't handle it right. I panicked and left, and haven't been able to talk to her since," I muttered as I ran a hand through my hair.

"Yeah, great work there, dumbass. She likely thinks you regret the kiss or don't like her in that way," Lydia said pointedly.

"I need to fix it, don't I?"

"Uh, yeah," she said with exaggeration. "Tell her the truth."

"How will I know for sure though? What if it's something else I feel?" I asked quietly, still torn by the whole thing.

Lydia's eyes took on a distant look, a small smile playing on her lips. "When I met my husband, I felt a spark right away. But it wasn't until we... well, until we were intimate that I knew for certain, and we marked one another. The mate bond solidified then, and it was like everything in the world suddenly made sense."

I nodded, absorbing this information. The thought of being that close to Aria sent a thrill through me, but it also terrified me. What if I lost control? What if I hurt her? My wolf nature was powerful, and without a pack to ground me, I sometimes felt adrift in my own skin. The magic of a pack kept us in full control, without it, we had struggles at times.

"What if she doesn't feel it? How would we even share a mark if she's human? She has no shifter side to harness and bite me with?" I mused, troubled by the logistics of it all.

Lydia squeezed my arm. "Don't overthink it, Chris. Aria cares for you, that much is clear. And with everything that's happened, life's too short to be scared. Talk to her. Be honest about your feelings. And whatever happens, happens. I understand your worries, she is human, but what you feel can't be denied either. Just go with your instinct."

"Right," I murmured, my wolf whining within me at the heaviness of it all.

They said it was better to love and have lost than to have never loved at all. But was I ready to risk that?

The next day, I threw myself into training with renewed vigor. If we were going to face whatever challenges lay ahead, I needed to be at my best. But more than that, I needed to prove to myself that I was worthy of Aria, worthy of being her mate if that's what fate had in store for us.

I watched her during our session, marveling at her determination. For someone who had been thrust into this world of magic and supernatural beings, she was adapting remarkably well. Her strength, both physical and mental, never ceased to amaze me.

As we practiced our newly awakened abilities, I couldn't help but imagine a future with Aria. When we beat this Void and returned to Earth. The thought of building a life with her, no matter where we ended up, filled me with a warmth I hadn't felt in years.

But doubt still nagged at me. What if she didn't feel the same way? What if the connection I felt was one-sided? The thought of losing her, of ruining anything between us, terrified me. I'd been alone for so long, estranged from my pack, broken by the one female I'd tried to love, that the idea of having someone to call my own seemed almost too good to be true.

And then there was the guilt. As much as I tried to push it away, I couldn't help but wonder about my pack back on Earth, my parents. Were they safe? Had the shadow creatures attacked them? Despite everything that had happened, despite the rejection and pain, a part of me still cared. They were my blood, after all.

During a break in training, I found myself staring at the walls around us in the Training Grounds, lost in thought. They pulsed with a soft glow of otherworldly magic, beautiful and terrifying in its strangeness. I wondered if I'd ever see the forests of home again, ever run beneath a full moon with the scent of pine in my nose. We'd not been granted leave from the Keep, and my wolf was getting restless being confined.

Not that I was the only one, the other shifters were getting antsy, and I'd noticed some of the other werewolves butting heads. We needed to shift and run, it was in our blood, and yet the Dracarians wanted us right here, confined in the walls of the Keep.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Aria's voice pulled me from my wondering. I hadn't even sensed her walking up to me, which was pathetic for my wolf side. It paced inside me, anxious at her presence now.

I turned to find her watching me, concern etched on her beautiful face. For a moment, I considered brushing off her question, hiding my worries behind a smile. But something in her eyes, a depth of understanding and compassion, made me want to open up.

"I was thinking about home," I admitted. "About my pack, my parents."

Aria nodded, moving to stand beside me. "You must be worried about them, even after everything."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Yeah, I know I shouldn't care…" The old pain welled up, but I pushed it down. "But now, with everything that's happening... I can't help but wonder if they're okay."

"I keep wondering about my dad and best friend too. Just wish there was a way we could know," she admitted.

"Same."

"Chris…" Aria hesitated, a war raging behind those soft, earthy brown eyes. I knew the feeling.

"Look, I'm sorry I bailed after we kissed. I panicked, Aria. I felt something, and… shit, it's not an excuse, I know that, but I've been cast aside so much in life, it's hard for me to let someone in. I was able to until I realized how real it was, and I freaked…"

She stared at me, her expression softening as she hesitantly reached out to touch my arm.

"It's okay."

The simple gesture had a warmth spreading through me as my wolf whined.

How could she be so understanding?

Elowen called out for us to return to training, and she sighed as she let her arm fall away.

"Can we talk after this? Please?" I asked, searching her eyes hopefully.

"Of course, we'll talk," she said, a small smile touching her lips and easing my worries just a little.

"Maybe in private?" I suggested, and she nodded.

"Come to my room after," she said as she turned to return to where she'd been working with Lydia on dodging the barriers and scaling the magical rock walls and ropes.

I watched her go before returning to Zephyr, a new hope burning within me. I'd explain everything, and just pray she still felt something for me. That'd she'd forgive me and truly understand.

And maybe…

No, I wouldn't get ahead of myself. One step at a time.

My wolf grumbled at this, but I pushed it down. I had training to focus on, but I couldn't help how I counted the minutes down.

As our training session wound down, I made my way over to Aria. Lydia arched a knowing brow at me before bidding us farewell, and Zephyr was dragged off with her.

"Mind if I walk with you?" I asked Aria carefully.

She looked up, a mix of emotions flashing across her face – hope, nervousness, and something else I couldn't quite identify. "Of course, I'll need to shower first before we chat, I'm a mess."

"You look fine to me," I said earnestly, and a smile spread across her face, lighting her up in such a way that my wolf whined once more.

"Says you, you shifters don't even work up a sweat doing that stuff, look at you," she said as she indicated at me. "It's unfair. I feel like I'm the only one who really gets all sweaty and yuck doing it."

"You're doing incredibly well for a human if that's any consolation," I said, and she rolled her eyes, but her smile didn't falter.

I was just grateful the tension between us was lifted.

We walked in silence the rest of the way to her room. My mind raced, rehearsing what I wanted to say, then discarding the words as inadequate. How could I explain the depth of what I was feeling? How could I make her understand that she had become my anchor in this strange new world? My hope? It was a lot for her, considering she'd only really just met me, and yet here I was feeling things that one would feel after dating someone for weeks if not months. Not a mere few days.

Once inside her room, I turned to face her, my heart pounding in my chest. Aria stood there, her brown eyes wide and expectant, and I was struck anew by her beauty – not just physical, but the inner strength and kindness that radiated from her.

"Aria, I... I wanted to apologize properly, I know I tried to before, but… I pushed you away when we kissed, and I regret it."

"Chris, it's okay. I get it. Just let me shower, I'll be quick. Then we can talk this out, okay?"

I nodded, my jaw hardening as she turned and headed for the bathroom.

I went over how I wanted to explain it all to her as I listened to the running water.

Too bad I found myself distracted, gazing at the closed door, wondering just how she looked naked. My wolf whined as my cock twitched, and I scolded myself. Considering the way I'd messed with her emotions, I had no right thinking of her like that. I needed to win her favor back, not expect her to offer it freely.

But still, the memory of her lips flooded my mind, and I wished I'd seized the moment more, kissing her deeper, feeling her body more, maybe even…

I banished the thoughts away as I glanced down at my arousal. Great. That had to leave, right now.

I willed it down, hating that it took a solid moment, and it was barely flaccid by the time the shower shut off.

When she stepped out, her hair wet and falling down to one side of her face messily, it took every ounce of willpower to keep my dick from standing to attention once more. Not to mention the casual clothes she wore did little to hide her figure from me.

"Okay, let's talk," she said as she moved to the bed, sinking onto it and crossing her legs as she watched me expectantly.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. "The truth is, I was scared. When we kissed, I felt something. Something intense and profound. And it terrified me."

She frowned at me, studying me hard as I ran a hand through my hair.

"Like what? What did you feel?" she finally asked.

"A connection, something deep, primal. Something shifters feel when…"

Her eyes widened as it sunk in.

"Like a shifter bond?" Her voice was so soft, anyone else might not have heard it.

"Yes. The inkling of one," I said as I moved to sit beside her, watching her face for her reaction.

"What… what does that mean?" she asked as she reached out and touched my arm. The contact sent a jolt through me. "What are you saying? Do we have a bond?"

"I have no clue, I just felt something. Considering how you're human, it could all be skewed, work differently. But I think... I think you might be my mate."

The words hung in the air between us, heavy and suffocating as her eyes widened. Her hand dropped from my arm, and for a heart-stopping moment, I thought I'd made a terrible mistake. All my fears came rushing back – of rejection, of being alone again, of losing the one person who could be everything to me.

"You left, Chris, and that hurt," she said softly, and my wolf howled pathetically inside me. I'd messed it all up.

"I know, and I'm so sorry, Aria. I… I really was scared. My pack rejected me, I fell for a woman who ended up cheating on me and leaving me - rejection and being abandoned is all I've known, so I panicked. I know I can't let my past ruin a good thing, but… I'm stupid, I know," I muttered, but held her gaze, "I want to fix it though."

"You're not the only one who has been hurt before, Chris," she whispered, and my wolf snarled.

"Who hurt you?" I asked, my tone more demanding than questioning, and her brow dipped even more.

"My ex, he cheated on me and kicked me out of our shared apartment so he could move the new chick in," she said as she averted her gaze, the pain still evident in her face. "That was just over six months ago, I moved to a new city after, got a new job, started fresh."

How could anyone ever leave her? Hurt her like that? The thought had my wolf's hackles raised, growling within me. Whoever that man had been, he'd not been worthy of her love.

"I'm sorry, Aria. I really am. You didn't deserve that, nor me running away either. Please let me fix it," I said softly, touching her arm and drawing her gaze back to mine.

"You really think it's something like this?" she murmured.

"Yes, I think it's a real thing, Aria. That what I feel for you can become something great."

She stared hard at me, as if she was contemplating everything, if she could trust me again after my abandoning her. How I wished I could undo it and turn back time.

But then she smiled, a brilliant, beautiful thing that lit up her entire face. "Chris, I... I felt something too, still do. Something I can't explain."

Relief washed over me, followed quickly by a surge of joy. I pulled her close, capturing her lips with mine without a second thought. The kiss was different from our first – deeper, more urgent, but just as earth-shattering. I poured everything I felt into it, all my hope and fear and longing.

As we kissed, I felt something shift inside me. My wolf, always restless, always searching, seemed to settle. It was as if a missing piece had finally clicked into place. This was right. This was where I belonged. With Aria.

Her hands fisted in my shirt, drawing a deep rumble from my chest as I drank her up, unable to get enough of her. My wolf was ready, nudging me to test out just how true this connection was, but in order to do that…

"Guys! There's a commotion with the vampires!" Zephyr voice was accompanied by a sharp knock at the door.

We broke apart, breathing heavily, as we stared at one another. Aria's eyes were dilated, her desire evident in the air around us as my wolf whined, my cock straining.

I blinked as her brow furrowed, Zephyr's words registering. Before I could say anything, Aria was on her feet and to the door, and I had to focus and will my erection down as she yanked it open.

Zephyr stood there, looking agitated. "The vampires are arguing with some Dracarians. They're demanding sustenance – apparently, they're not happy with the lack of blood options. It's getting heated."

I frowned, frustration bubbling up inside me. We'd barely had a moment to process our feelings for each other, and now this. My wolf was pacing, focused entirely on Aria now, not wanting to fret about the damn bloodsuckers. "That's not our problem. Let the Dracarians handle it."

Although as I said it, my keen hearing could hear the outbursts from the communal area, and from what I could make out, it sounded like a vampire had lunged for a Dracarian.

That wouldn't go over well.

Aria shook her head, her expression serious. "If they go into a bloodlust, it will be our problem. We have to hope the Dracarians can come up with something for them."

Zephyr stepped aside, and I growled softly as I rose and followed after Aria, who was already out in the hall. Zephyr arched a brow at me, a knowing look crossing his face as I drew closer.

"Was I interrupting something?" he asked, his lip quirking. Fae couldn't scent things as well as shifters, but this close, he knew what had been transpiring.

"Damn vampires," I muttered, knowing Zephyr was not to blame, although he seemed rather amused as I moved past him.

As we hurried towards the source of the commotion, I couldn't help to worry about the potential danger if the vampires lost control, especially with Aria here. A human wouldn't stand a chance against frenzied vampires, even us shifters would be tested.

I reached out, taking her hand in mine as we hurried down the hall. She squeezed back, but her focus was on up ahead, where the shouts were becoming more prominent.

I wouldn't let any wretched vampire lay a damn finger on her. Not on my life.

We paused at the end of the hall, watching quietly as the Dracarians stood their ground.

"We need food, you can't keep having us sit at those damn tables at meal times with nothing on offer," one vampire snarled. Another male one was holding him back, presumably after he'd rushed one of the Dracarians, while Ossian and the female, Valeria from what I'd heard, stood off to the side, watching quietly.

The Dracarians present were some of the ones who helped us with our training, using their magic for the obstacles. Elowen and Eirian were the main two leaders, while there were three others that sat with them at their table in the dining hall, although they didn't seem to have as much of a hands-on nature as the other two. In saying that, Elowen was the main one, Eirian having only joined us twice in the past several days of endless training sessions.

"By tomorrow, we will have something for you, you just need to be patient, we have more pressing matters with this whole Void situation," one of the Dracarians stated.

"Really? Considering you want us fighting this stupid fucking war of yours, you should be a little more giving and mindful!" the same vampire snapped.

"We need nourishment," Ossian said as he stepped forward. "As you can see, our hunger is getting to some of us. We will take whatever you can provide, but please know we do need it."

"Don't need a bloodlusty vamp tearing apart your great soldiers, now do we?" Valeria added with a toothy grin. "Might make winning this big war hard."

The Dracarian sighed as he nodded and glanced at his two fellow Dracarians.

"We will have something for you as soon as possible. We're working on it, I will see to it myself that we speed things along. Thank you for your patience."

"Right," the original vampire scoffed, his companion finally releasing him. His other fellow vampire stood silently by him, as if he'd been waiting to see how this had played out.

From what I could gather, as much as they swarmed together, their group segmented from the rest of us earthlings, Ossian and Valeria were the most civil, their other three male companions sticking true to the cold and distasteful vampires we knew.

The vampire situation was just another obstacle to overcome.

I watched the Dracarians leave as our groups all dispersed, having come to the communal area to watch the commotion play out.

"Could've gotten messy," Lydia mused quietly from where she leaned on the wall.

"Yeah," I muttered as the vampires flitted back to their hall.

Save for Ossian and Valeria, who conversed quietly to the side and cast a glance towards Aria.

My wolf rumbled within me, and I pulled her closer to my side.

"You okay?" I asked, and she nodded.

"They're probably just getting hungry. We get to eat every day, and they don't."

"You know you are their main diet, right?" I reminded her as Lydia turned to give her an equally disturbed look.

"Yes, but it's not like they kill people," Aria said quickly.

"They used to, it just got harder for them to get away with," I scoffed.

"They're just overgrown mosquitoes now really," Zephyr said as he stared at the two remaining vampires.

"Who can still tear you limb from limb, they've got some crazy ass strength," Lydia said pointedly.

"As do shifters," Zephyr shot back.

"How strong are fae in comparison?" Aria questioned, shifting the conversation somewhat.

"Stronger than humans, but weaker than shifters and vampires, vampires have the most strength, with wolves coming in second," Lydia shared.

"But fae have reflexes faster than most supes, and magic that we can use to protect ourselves," Zephyr spoke up quickly to defend himself. "And we have our own plane of existence."

"Wow, love this pissing contest," Lydia said with a snort.

"Let's just be glad the Dracarians are handling it," I stated as Ossian and Valeria flitted off finally. I squeezed Aria's hand, my wolf rumbling contentedly as she squeezed it back. Things had definitely shifted between us, and I couldn't wait to spend more time with her, get to know her on a deeper level.

And test out if this was truly a potential mate bond.

For the first time in years, I didn't feel alone. I had found my potential mate, my partner, my home.

And made a couple of friends.