Her Forever

Previously…

“I promise,” I said, whispering in his shoulder.

“Not weak,” Elea growled in my head.

“No, we’re not. And we will prove it.” I replied.

Present….

“You will not,” Hades growled into my hair.

“Oh s**t,” Elea whispered through me.

“Did, did you just hear me speak to Elea?” My head reared back, looking into Hades. His head tilted to the side.

“What?” He shook his head. “I heard you clear as day, Parisa. You will not prove anything. I will keep you, safe and you will not have to bring one claw out to protect yourself.” My mouth hung open as I took in his words.

“I spoke to Elea in my head. Can you mind-link now?!” I squealed. Hades shook his head as I slumped my shoulders.

“Can you hear me now?” I concentrated on speaking to him. My lips did not move, and while the light bulb went off in his head.

“Kronos, I can hear you,” he breathed. My heart leaped for joy that we could mind-link each other. Bonds were as new to me as they were to him; we could speak to one another and have no problem.

“I didn’t even have to create one. It happened on its own,” he mused as his thumb trailed my cheek. “This is amazing. What a gift this is.”

“You mean you can talk to others through a mind-link?”

“Only if I have created them, and even then, it takes a lot of time to secure the bond. It’s also one way with demons; they cannot summon me. The only exception is Cerberus because he could keep my secrets.” I clapped my hands in excitement while he pulled me closer. “That doesn’t excuse that you think you will prove your strength. I know you are strong, Parisa, don’t go looking for it. I am a full-blooded god, and nothing is as strong as that.”

I grunted as I nodded my head. He was technically correct, but if I had to show my strength, I would. Elea and I haven’t trained like the other wolves in our pack. They have 11 or so years on us, wolves my age, and just being an Alpha doesn’t mean I’m a great fighter. I needed to learn the technicalities of it all. Weapons, dodging using my wolf skills such a hearing, taste, and smell. I had no training; it was like I was human turned werewolf-like my mama.

“Alright, I won’t go looking for it,” I laughed as his cloak hid me from the night air. The air temperature had dropped considerably while we talked. The sun was just on the horizon, about to dip for her slumber, meaning that dinner would be ready soon, along with the giant bonfire and thousands of wolves prepared to gather.

Our pack was large, the biggest in North America, and also the strongest. If there was a werewolf king of Earth, dad would be such a king. Everyone wanted alliances with dad, but he was picky. He would often choose smaller packs over the larger ones because of how an Alpha ran his pack. Dad only accepted Alphas with their true mate or second chance; he wouldn’t accept a pack that would mate outside of a bond.

Howls were heard in the distance. A tiny ember glowed a thousand yards away. I could smell the fire burning and the pigs being cut into. “I guess we need to make an appearance,” I sighed as my thoughts went back to the Sphere.

“We will find it when the time is right. Selene is all about time; you should know this when you grew up and saw people find their mates. As long as the fates play their part, mates will find each other, even with the Sphere being gone.” The thick cloud that hung over my heart started to lift. If fate played a role in all of this, this was all supposed to happen. Meaning, people are not missing their mates just yet?

I shook my head; it was all too confusing. If that were the case, I should act as if nothing was wrong and things should fall in my lap. Something I was not willing to do. “You are certainly more stubborn since we have mated,” Hades kissed my temple as he willed us to the bottom of the tree.

“Maybe I got it from you,” I poked his chest. “You are leaking all that ‘I’m the bad guy, fear me, I do what I want, bishh.'” Throwing his head back and laughing, he willed his cloak off to show nothing but his black dress pants and a deep crimson dress shirt. The first few buttons were unbuttoned, showing off his godly glow.

“And so sassy too,” he nipped my ear while my breasts pebbled.

The short distance to the bonfire was met with comfortable silence. His arm was tight around my waist, fearing I would run away from him. That was far from the truth; I wanted nothing more to be by his side. However, these were the people I grew up with. They had missed me, and if I had remembered them, I would have forgotten them just the same.

Familiar faces came to view as I saw my classmates. Several had mates beside them while others were still without. The large group came charging towards me, and I stepped forward to speak, but of course, Hades had to go ‘dark Lord’ mode.

“Stop,” Hades growled while everyone stiffened. One girl dropped her drink in a red cup and splashed a few drops on Hades Italian leather shoes. Her face became beat red as she kneeled to the ground.

“I’m so sorry, forgive me!” Darting away from Hades, I go to help pick her up.

“Sorry, we just mated. He’s a bit tense. How are you, Tina?” Tina’s eyes brightened as she gave me a hug. I felt Hades’ worry through our bond but quickly soothed him with my calming words.

“They are friends, Hades. These wolves are my family.”

“Does not make me any less protective of you, my flower.” Hades grabbed my hand and pulled me back to him. My grade school friends had only changed in appearance and not in their humor. Dirty jokes of mating filled the area. Even though my dad made it perfectly clear you should wait to mate, some wolves couldn’t. Their animal drive to have pleasure was too intense, especially if a she-wolf was in heat. These were all friends, though, and did it in good fun to help the women out if they wanted it. I personally found it repulsive, but everyone is entitled to their own opinions.

One wolf my mother warned me about and wanted me to stay away from was Lyle. He was the pack DJ. He was always adorned in black clothing, chains, and piercings. As a child, I found him scary, so I had no desire to talk to him. From the looks of it, Lyle was still mateless and talking up a few of the unmated she-wolves. He could sniff out a woman that was in heat before she even realized it.

Dad was walking towards Lyle with a determined look and pulled him to his side to speak with him. “Your father said he was going to speak with him; he’s the head tracker as of 10 years ago. We have come to light that Demeter is the one that took you. If you hadn’t wandered off without me, you would have known this.” I gasped at the new information.

“Demeter!? Why would she-” Hade’s finger came up to my lips.

“Not tonight, flower. We will be having a meeting tomorrow about it. That is all I know, and we aren’t doing anything about it tonight.” The no-nonsense tone let me know he wasn’t kidding. Even I knew when to back off on that tone.

“Your father mentioned he was a bit different. Is he trying to have the underworld vibe?”

“Did you just say vibe?” I joked.

“Maybe, the slang I have picked up just in this pack alone is deafening.” I snorted.

“I could see that coming; Lyle is said to have a strong nose. He can tell a she-wolf is about to go in heat.” Hades growled as he pulled me closer. “I just finished my heat!”

“I know, but if he can probably smell the remnants of it.” Lyle looked over and gave a wink while I cupped my mouth with my hand.

“Oops, think he heard you,” I said in a sing-song voice while Hades pulled me away.

…

The party was in full swing; there were drunk wolves and even demons who ended up coming to the party. Hades thought it would be good to bring both Ares and his own demon warriors to surround both the party and the large territory. No one was going to be getting in or out of the area. While the warriors watched, the others drank until their bellies couldn’t hold anymore.

Ares was dancing with Mariah; they both looked ethereal as Ares twirled her in her red dress. Ares was dressed the most casual I had ever seen him. Grey muscle shirt with dark-colored jeans. They both had smiles, and the flickers of light every time they touched could still be seen. I had asked Hades several times if he could see the light around Ares and Mariah, but he just shook his head as he drank his whisky.

At one of the outlying tables, I saw Vulcan tapping his finger on the tablecloth. Vulcan was a god, so of course, he looked handsome but had a rugged look to him. He had one of the longest beards of any god I had seen, and his clothing matched his ruggedness. Tonight, he looked completely different.

His hair was combed back, his beard was trimmed and oiled, making him look nicely groomed. He had taken a razor and cut away stray hairs around his face. Clothing was that of dress pants and a dark brown blazer. He looked like a hot lumberjack! Why was he dressed like that?

Vulcan’s eyebrows flew up as he looked through the crowd; the pack doctor was dressed in a jean dress with a black cardigan walking up to Vulcan. The look in Vulcan’s eyes softened as he stood up from the table and buttoned his blazer. His hand went out to take Tamera’s and pulled her close into his chest. The same flickering of light when their skins touched brightened and dimmed all the same when they lost touch.

I stuttered.

“Are you alright?” Hades linked me. I nodded as I held his hand.

“Yes, I think so. I think… I think Vulcan found his mate.” Looking up at Hades, he frowned.

“No one can find their mates right now, not with the Sphere missing and away from Selene. Why would you think Vulcan found his mate?”

“I think Ares has found his mate too. When their hands touch the women they are with, it glows. I see it, it glows, and then when I reach out to feel their emotions, it is so strong. It’s overwhelming. I have to block it off.” Hades tapped his glass with his finger as he stared at Vulcan. His eyes never left Tamera’s as he grabbed food from the buffet table.

“Do you think you can sense a bond between people?”

“I’m not sure. Their emotions are just strong. It is the same when I think of us. Overwhelming, and I can handle ours. Theirs, I cannot maybe it is because it is not meant for me to know.”

Hades and I both sat at our table. Wolves and demons were too engrossed in the party to realize who the party was for. The intermingling of laughs and applause while demons did tricks for small audiences made me smile as they all stayed in this little bubble of happiness.

My own parents had taken me to the dance floor several times, even with their lack of alcohol. They were so in love, and their worries about me had faded away now that I was back home.

The danger was still around us, but it felt good that we were in a small bubble of time where nothing else mattered. My family was here, my pack and my mate.

Michael hovered around the buffet table, never joining in on the fun. His eyes were distant as I felt his emotions. He was still wracked with guilt, but now there was something else he was longing for. A mate. Seeing his older sister had to strike a spark in him, now that I was home, he could go do that. He could go out and find her since I was home. His eyes darted from our parents to Vulcan and Ares, who all held each other as a slow song had started.

Lyle was playing his DJ equipment, shooting glances at the new couples dancing. Several demons had caught the eyes of the she-wolves, but the hesitation was there. Demons looked menacing; they had tales, red skin, and horns that grew out of their head. The attraction was still there, though; I saw it in at least two wolves’ eyes.

One wolf stepped forward, walking towards a tall demon. He had to be 7 feet tall. This she-wolf’s 6. Her eyes fluttered as I saw her lips move. The music was too loud, and my hearing wasn’t trained, but I swore I heard her ask for a dance. The demon’s tail swayed quickly, and his hand extended as that light glowed between their palms.

“GODS!” I whispered yelled as Hades pulled me tighter.

“What is it?” Hades panicked as he looked over the crowd.

“That demon! That she-wolf, her name is….” I hit my head a few times with my palm. “Laura! That’s it, Laura! Their hands, Hades! They glow when they touch too!” Hades let out a breath as his hand ran down his face.

“Maybe you are just seeing things,” he muttered, and I shot an evil look.

“They are mates, I feel it. Are there others? Come on!” I pulled Hades through the crowd while he mumbled under his breath. Several more demons were becoming bolder in asking the opposite species to dance. Some cowered away while others hesitantly took their hands. Ten couples, there were ten that had the glow. The emotions were as powerful as Ares and Vulcans.

“Mates,” I whispered again. “Mates!”

We have to find the Sphere, all these pairs. They were all here because I was taken. The fates had a funny way of having soulmates meet. My short time of suffering led to all these couples finding each other. They could have met another way; it was possible. Still, destiny had a way of working it all out.

“My flower, will you forget about everyone else and just think of me?” Hades eyes traveled to my mark that was poking through my white blouse. I had been worried all this time about everyone else; I had ignored my mate during the whole party.

I noticed he had been clingy since I left to go to the treehouse alone. I didn’t mean to upset him, just wanted to help. Hades had saved me, and I wanted to help him.

“I’m sorry, Hades,” I laid my head on his chest. “I just want everyone to be happy.” Hades’ chuckle sounded of gravel as he held me close.

“And I only want one person happy, that is you,” he tipped my chin to his lips as he kissed me softly. “Now, dance with me.”

Hades gripped my lower back with both his hands. My arms automatically wrapped around his neck as he swayed with me. The whites of his eyes blackened as he ground his e******n into me. “You are too worried about everyone around you; why not worry about me?” His graveled voice let me know he was not playing around; he was upset.

“I’m just trying to help,” Hades growled again, his blonde hair darkening while his facial features changed. He had turned back into his human-like form with his dark hair, dark stubble, and pointed features. As much as I loved his true self, this form would still give me shivers of the memory of our first time meeting each other.

He was frightening-looking, yet peace had surrounded me at the same time. The menacing look he gave Nero, the angel that tried to buy me. The resounding number he placed on my head to take me home from danger made me shiver. Now, it made me feel light with butterflies to waste such money on some lonely soul like mine.

“What are you thinking?” Hades’ finger traced my temple with his index finger. It swept down to my jaw to my neck straight down the scepter tattoo on my chest. The jolt that shook my heart as he touched it made my insides quiver.

“The first time we met, how scared yet, intrigued I was.” Hades chuckled as his e******n swept past my h*p. The height difference was humorous.

“I remember,” his lips kissed my forehead as he ducked down lower to meet my lips. “You were as frightened as a lamb.” The music must have sped up because wolves around us were moving their bodies faster. However, the only music I heard was the whispers of Hades’ words.

“And you were the hunter, seeking out its prey.” Hades’ hands traveled down my side as his body dipped lower, making sure to touch every part as his h**s rode past my core.

“I got my prey. I conquered it just a fortnight with my tongue, and then again with my c**k just four nights ago.” My fingers gripped his shoulders as his lips trailed my neck. My legs wanted nothing but to part for him, have himself sink his body into mine as we made love under the stars. I craved him like the cat craves the saucer of milk. Hades’ smile was felt as he buried his mouth into my shoulder.

“Your wish is my command,” as the smoke covered us, keeping out the remaining light of the fire.