Chapter 389: 1-2

"Please... sit..." with a slight smile Justine sat, Hunter next to her, his heart racing. "I was just speaking to your father and mother, about mates," I began, "wondering if the children born on the island here understood the workings of mates when it came to those in rank..." "Rank?" Justine asked confused. "Yes, as in, if you're mate is an Alpha or Beta, or carries those genes, when he or she finds their true mate, regardless of who he or she is with that mate bond is very much still active." She shook her head, pursing her lips, "No, why does that matter?" she asked me turning to her parents, then back again, and I could literally see when Helen and Marlon both put the pieces together. Why Kiley wanted to give up her wolf... the rejection that wasn't common, but insinuated. "Who is your mate Justine?" she beamed at me, "Hunter," she said with such pep and freeness. "Oh god..." Helen whimpered. "When did you two find out you were mates Justine?" She smiled again, "We were together when we were younger, it's like we just knew, and then we shifted when we went on a camping trip." "Is Hunter your true mate?" the smile dropped and she looked at Hunter with a side-glance, "Is he your true mate?" Marlon demanded. She shook her head, "but we love each other, we - decided together... we waited until we knew for sure that neither of us had our mates on the island, we had the party, when neither of us-" "Hunter who is your true mate?" I cut Justine off. "We didn't know..." he whispered pained, "Hunter?" Justine rasped out. "Kiley... is my true mate," he closed his eyes, his body sagged and both mother and daughter whimpered letting out their cries each for a different reason. "Justine and Helen get out, now!" I commanded, already working out on a plan since that night. Whimpering both women left, although I could see the wolf that had bonded with Hunters didn't want to leave, Helen had to drag Justine on. "How long have you know that Kiley is your mate?" I asked once they left. Hunter shook his head, "Not very, just a few days..." I nodded. "Her wolf has already accepted your rejection..." his frame shook, his wolf was fighting for dominance, "While Justine was unaware of your bond because of your unclaimed title, were you aware that your bond with your true mate wouldn't be broken?" his thoughts were honest, as his words. "I knew... but Luna, we were born on this island, the people coming here were far and few, we - I - didn't think I would get my mate when I entered the hall that night after what Justine and I discuss," I nodded. "Kiley accepted your rejection, however I don't feel it's fair that she is punished when you chose to be intimate with your selected mate..." I started off after seeking advice from Mother, and even thinking about my own mother, the pain she suffered because of Jay. "I can't tell you whom to pick, you already have, either way someone would get hurt, if you were to decide you wanted Kiley when she was of age, you hurt Justine. If you continue on with Justine, Kiley suffers because of a decision you made, the two of you made selfishly." "From now on you will carry the burden of your decision, not Kiley." I said sitting back, pleased with the decision I made, the solution I was able to devise for the time being, that is. Marlon's face went from jaw clenched, eye twitching and nose flaring to puzzlement. "I don't understand Luna..." Hunter said. Getting my laptop, I pulled up video feed of what Kiley endured the night of the sleepover, turned the screen to Hunter and pressed play, when it was done he looked positively green, eyes wide and fearful, "She felt that pain because of your actions, there is no reason why an innocent girl should suffer while you are free to do as you please, follow your heart as you have... so from now on, instead of her feeling those pains, you will feel them instead," I said brightly. When I learned of this - that Kiley's mate was in fact mated by his choice to her sister - Gabriel mentioned just how similar this was to the Fae's he knew - Etta. Her mate Kaden, had nearly been in this situation with his wolf mate - but he was now happily with a new mate. "You can go..." I waved Hunter off. Shaking his head, he opened his mouth, closing it immediately, "How - how long will I be carrying the burden?" he whispered but it was strange because he already knew. He just wanted me to say it out loud, "How long did you believe your mate would have carried that burden of you mating with another?" I just countered. He knew the answer; I didn't need to spell it out for him. "Thank you Luna," Hunter said surprising me. Kiley won't suffer, I cocked my head to the side in understanding, "I can't break your bond Hunter, I don't have the power to do that, but what I can do is make sure Kiley never suffers that pain she has once already. However, that ache of knowing that her mate doesn't want her, that he chose her sister over her, I can't erase that, you were selfish, eventually her wolf is going to die and if she is tightly wound in that connection, you've signed her death warrant," his eyes widened.