Chapter 28 Chapter 28
Nausea brewed to the brim of Suki’s stomach. There was no way she could confess such a thing; it would jeopardise not only her but her two mates, too. One part of her knew she could and should trust Amelia, but the other part of her could feel her father shunning her if he were to ever find out.
‘Tell them,’ Reynard said down the bond.
Suki inhaled a faint gasp. ‘I can’t.’
‘You can. It’s okay.’
‘What if telling them destroys the potential of an alliance? My father would be furious.’
Under the table, Rey placed his hand on top of hers. ‘It’s true, there is a risk, I suppose. The choice is yours, and I support whatever you decide. I don’t mind them knowing, I know that’s what you’re scared about. I can feel it.’
Taking hold of his hand and squeezing it, Suki stuttered, “If I tell you, it cannot go further than those of us in this room. Can you promise me that?”
Amelia looked at Everett. This time, they made it perfectly clear that they were communicating through their mate bond.
Suki’s hands began trembling as they waited for a response, but Reynard squeezed her hand to help pull her out of her spiralling mind from overthinking too much.
“Is the room charmed?” Everett asked out loud.
Nodding, Amelia confirmed, “Yes, charmed for privacy by Sybil herself.” Facing Suki once more, she smiled, “Your words are safe here.”
Inhaling sharply through her nose and exhaling slowly through her mouth, Suki centred her mind and finally spoke her truth. “Well, both of you already know that I’m mated, right?”
They both nodded and agreed.
“Well… I don’t just have one mate,” she bit her lip and sighed, annoyed, knowing she’d have to force out the words. “I have two mates.”
“What?” Amelia furrowed her brows, looking at everyone in the room. Her gaze met Everett’s as she asked, “Is that even possible?”
Everett shook his head, “I’ve never heard or read such a thing happen before. Suki, are you sure?”
“Oh, positive. Trust me…”
Amelia’s eyes glistened with sympathy as they widened at her realisation. “That’s why you want to talk to the Moon Goddess, because you want to find out why, right?”
A nod. “Both of my mates are two very different men, and,” she sighed, “it just doesn’t make any sense.”
Everett crossed his arms and narrowed his gaze at Suki, who was ever so slightly leaning into Reynard. “So, one mate is back at your pack, and one sits right next to you, right?”
Amelia’s face grew even more surprised with the additional question.
Suki’s eyes became wider, and she shook her head, wanting to reject his claim, but she knew all too well that denial wouldn’t work. “How did you…”
“You lean into him for comfort. Perhaps he’s a brilliant guard, or even a long-time friend, but the way he became extra protective of you when I touched your face earlier, it all just makes sense. I had a gut feeling when I saw it initially, and I’m usually never wrong.”
Amelia rolled her eyes, “My mate, egotistical as always.”
Smirking, Everett placed a hand on her shoulder and whispered something in her ear. Heat bloomed in her cheeks at the mysterious words he said.
Ignoring the moment the two were having, Suki swallowed the lump in her throat. She knew she couldn’t hold back any longer. “Yes, Rey is my mate.”
“Who’s your other mate? Do we know him?” asked Amelia.
“You don’t, no. Right now, you don’t need to know. I promise I’ll tell you more when I can, but for now, the less you know, the better. I’m hoping you can help.”
Amelia smiled sympathetically. “Of course, I’ll help you.”
“No,” Everett rose to his feet and stood beside her chair, protectively. “The last time you tried entering the spirit world, you were bedbound. It took you over a week to recover. I won’t let you put yourself at risk like that.”
“It’s not up to you, Everett.”
Before Everett could retaliate, Suki stood. “Please,” she began, holding her hands up to soothe the situation, “if it’s too much to ask, then don’t do it. We’ll find another way.”
“Yes, you should.” Everett stormed over, towering over her intimidatingly.
Reynard sped in front of Suki and snarled at Everett, “Back off.”
Everett scoffed, “Or what? Will you fight me to protect your mate? Go ahead. I’m only trying to protect mine.”
“Everett!” Amelia hissed, slamming her hands on the table as she too came to her feet. “Enough of this, all of you. It’s my choice, and I’m choosing to help.” She walked over to her mate and took his hand, placing it to rest over her heart. “You feel that? The reason my heart beats is because of you. You saved my life, you helped me learn who I am and what power I truly possess. What kind of Alpha would I be if I didn’t use this power to help others?”
His hand moved up behind her neck to hold her as he frowned. “I can’t… I can’t lose you again.”
“You won’t, I promise,” she leaned into him.
Suki shifted where she stood, grabbing her arm and turning away from the two to allow them privacy. At first, her eyes were locked on Rey’s chest, but she slowly looked up and met his gaze – soft and warm, like always. Safe.
She always felt safest around him. When something would happen in her life, he would always be the first to know. She always wanted to spend time with him. Nothing has changed – not her feelings towards him, nothing. Yet, this additional mate has sent her over the edge, questioning everything about herself. Who am I? What do I want? Who do I love?
Rey brushed a thumb over her cheek. It was only at that moment that she realised a tear had escaped her eye.
‘I’m scared, Rey.’
‘I know, Ki.’
“Hey,” Amelia said softly. Suki and Rey turned to face them. “It’s getting kind of late. Why don’t you spend the night here, and we’ll try to connect with the spirit world tomorrow? It gives me a chance to gather some extra strength.”
Suki hesitated, “Oh, we wouldn’t want to impose.”
“Oh, nonsense,” Everett simpered, “I have just the place you both can stay so you’re comfortable and don’t feel like you’re imposing.”
Eyes widening, Suki knew exactly where he was talking about.
“Everett,” Amelia whined, “we have more than enough room here. Why are you being extra intimidating to our guests?”
He laughed, “Oh, Amelia darling, I’m only teasing. Besides, it would be nice for the two of them to have their own privacy.” His eyes narrowed at Suki. “Something tells me they don’t get privacy often.”
Suki’s cheeks burned with a fiery heat.
“Ev!” Amelia slapped his arm as he laughed. Shaking her head, she sighed, “Please, join us for dinner tonight and then you can rest. Tomorrow we will attempt to contact the Moon Goddess.”
“That would be lovely, thank you, Alpha Ama– I mean Amelia.”
Later that evening, the four of them feasted on a divine dinner crafted and presented as if it were for a hundred kings. Suki finally relaxed, allowing herself to converse with Amelia in a much more friendly manner.
She finally got to hear what the world was truly like outside of werewolf packs, what humans were like and how they behaved in the world. Though the lives of humans were relatively similar to werewolves’, humans still had no idea of the existence of werewolves or magic, or anything of the sort.
Dining together was exactly what they needed to finalise their friendship.
Once they finished eating, they all decided to walk off the abundance of food they had devoured, which was a perfect opportunity for them to direct Suki and Reynard towards where they would be staying.
Approaching the beautiful and secluded home in the forest, Everett gestured to the front door. “Suki, I don’t have to remind you of this lovely temporary home you stayed in before, do I?”
She smiled and shook her head, “No, I remember my way around, thank you.”
He smiled, which quickly shifted into a smug grin, “And Reynard, you already know your way around the outside, don’t you? After all, it was you who trespassed on our land before…”