Chapter 36
Lyle looked at Amaris. She was the most beautiful woman that he had ever laid eyes on. When he had first seen her and realized that she was his mate she had been a young 13 year old girl. Just starting high school, and just discovering herself. Even then she had been kind, smart, witty, and always looking out for others. Anyone who had paid any attention to her would know that this girl would grow to be something special.
Lyle looked at her now as a woman. One who was destined to be his mate. After having watched her for four years he knew that she would be able to lead his pack, and lead them fairly and to better things. Lyle began simply with a basic explination. "Mates in wolf packs come in two forms, true mates and chosen mates. Chosen mates are when two people choose to be mates for life. True mates are when you see the other person for the first time and you just know, you get that feeling of electricity and of an overpowering magnetic attraction. That is the most powerful bond. It is more powerful when both sides feel it.”
“So there are times that only one wolf is a true mate?” Amaris sitting forward curious now.
“Yes. It usually happens when one of the pair has already chosen a mate. They choose to stay with their chosen mate and the true mate call does not reach them. This will leave the one true mate that can feel the bond, alone and rejected. Many wolves do not survive this. They say that the pain is so unbearable that they either kill themselves, or they die of grief. They relate it to experiencing the death of their mate. It is a very hard thing to live through. Once two true mates have found each other however, they are much stronger and live longer than unmated wolves or wolves with chosen mates.”
Amaris was taking this all in. Since this was all so new to her and suddenly she found herself a true mate, she needed to take time to process this all. She also needed to learn all that she could. She knew nothing about werewolves or what it meant to be one.
Lyle took both her hands in his “We are true mates. If you will have me. The connection is completed by marking each other with a bite here.” And Lyle pointed to where his neck, shoulder, and collar bone all converged. Each marks the other and then once we have mated the process is complete and we are mates for life. If the process is not completed, and one of the pair rejects the other then you do not get another chance for a true mate, and that opportunity is gone forever. There is no second chance with your true mate either.” Amaris nodded her head that she understood. She also knew why he was telling her this. She would have to make up her mind about whether or not to reject him or accept him and mate with him. She knew what he was asking.
“What happens if neither of them marks each other and does not reject their true mate? Is there a time limit?” Amaris looks up still in thought.
Lyle seemed almost pained by her question. “If the two true mates do not mark each other and do not reject each other, than they slowly go insane. There is not a set time limit, but apparently this intense energy will keep building without a release and it will become too much and they will loose their minds. Some even get violent. It is said to be dangerous to be around a true mate that has not mated and not been rejected.”
Amaris sat horrified. She did not know what to make of all this and it was all still very new to her. Everything about it seemed to have a time clock on it. She was not being forced to mate or choose by Lyle like Adam was trying to do, and yet she still had to choose to mate with him soon, or reject him. The alternative was that they would both go insane if she waited too long. It was not fair. She liked Lyle very much, and there was no denying the connection they had, but she was not sure that she was ready to commit to him for life and seal it by sleeping with him. She had never been with anyone before and the whole idea made her very nervous. She knew she was not ready, but she really did not have time to think about her choice.
“What does this mean for me? I have heard about this prophecy and that I have to choose and take a mate on the day that I first become a wolf. This is the day that I have found my wolf. Does this mean that I need to choose a mate right now?” Amaris turned frightened eyes on Lyle. She did not want to hurt him but all this is a lot for anyone to take in all at once.
Lyle took his hands back and ran his fingers through his hair. “I can see this has you on over load. I will leave you here to think some of this over. I am going to be right down that hall checking on Gran and talking to Anna’s parents about what they know and see if we can come up with a plan.” Lyle got up and walked to the door just as there was a knock on it. He opened it to find Anna. She had two mugs of hot cocoa. “I thought you two would like something to drink.” Lyle gave Anna a quick smile “Thank you but I’m heading over to check on Gran. I think you two may need it.” He gave her a quick smile and looked back at Amaris. With that he quietly walked out and closed the door.