Her Forever

Parisa’s POV

“So this means,” Hades lifted his head from atop of mine. His statement was cut short as a thunderous growl ripped through the woods to our cabin. It echoed with such ferocity the dead leaves began to fall from the top of the highest trees.

“Ares,” I whispered.

“Um, I think he found his mate,” I giggled as Hades willed some clothes on his body.

“Come on,” he pulled my arm as we raced outside. The sun was high in the sky, almost past mid-day as we ran down the path to the central courtyard. The warriors had ceased their sparing and were all looking at each other in bewilderment as Michael ran up to us.

“Ares just took Mariah to the packhouse; he kept mumbling ‘mine,’ and that is the last we saw of them until we felt the ground shake.” Michael continued to look at everyone, but the rest of the wolves started to head back home.

“That’s because they are mates!” I gushed as I jumped up and down. Hades gave me a toothy grin as he pulled me by his side.

“How can that be? I thought pairings couldn’t happen right now, not without Selene?” Michaels’s eyes widened. “Did you have something to do with this, Parisa?” I nodded my head frantically as I clutched Hades’ arm. “Eeeek! Yes!”

“I think because Hades and I have mated, I might have gained some god-like powers.” I waved my hands in the air frantically while I spoke. Michael glanced at Hades and back to me.

“It’s true, we’ve soul bonded. She is like me; she didn’t just gain god-like powers. She is a god.” My eyes took a few big blinks as I felt the color drain from my face.

“Parisa, not only did we mate in the physical sense, but also with our souls. That can only be done as a god; you are like the rest of the gods of Olympus and me. I don’t know why it didn’t come to me sooner. You being able to wield the Sphere of Souls proves it. You have a gift, a gift that can help Selene with her work. More souls can be bonded quickly, and maybe she won’t have to work as hard.” My mouth dropped

“Are you okay with this?” Hades held both of my hands as I thought it over. This was a big responsibility, huge. Selene has been the one to pair souls for thousands of years. Of all wolves, I was to be the one to help her? This is insane; I was not worthy of any of this.

“You are worthy,” Hades kissed my lips. “It makes sense actually; your empath ability gives you the gift of sight. To see emotions, specifically the emotion of love and deep connection.”

“Holy cow, my sister is a goddess,” Michael laughed.

Several screams and howls came from the distance. The forest sensing the disturbance in the air, began to sway, pushing around smells that had become overwhelming. Wolves ran out of their homes while demons crashed into doors, and wolves jumped out windows running randomly throughout the territory.

“What’s going on?” Michael stared at the chaos.

“I might have paired eleven other souls….” I meekly spoke as Hades pulled me close.

“Oh s**t,” Michael deadpanned as Mama and dad ran up to us.

“What is going on?” Mama huffed as Jack pulled her in to protect her. Demons and wolves ran wild as they ran to each other, sucking face and groping out in the open. Michael palmed his face with a hard slap as it ran down his fuzzy cheek.

“Parisa can control the Sphere of Souls; she paired souls together.”

“The right ones, right?” Dad spat out. Offended, I stomped my foot and put my fists on my h**s.

“Of course, I did! They were all glowing when they touched each other, and their souls were satisfied once I combined them.”

My family stared at me with wide eyes; Hades bent over to whisper in my ear. “They have no idea what you are talking about. Besides, you may need to have all the pups leave the packhouse.”

My attention was brought to the large packhouse with screaming wolves running in and out. Some children were wide-eyed as they walked out, confused. Some were crying, clutching to one another as demons ran full force up the steps with their mates in tow.

“Mama,” I slapped her arm. Gasping, she sent out a mind-link letting all the parents know that pups needed to leave the recreation area. Too many paired wolves and too many innocent eyes staring at what could be nothing but emotional trauma later.

The heat houses may have to be put to good use; demons had a robust s****l appetite, maybe more so than wolves. Mama and I led the children out while parents came to pull them into their embrace. All of them ran back to their respective homes. This may be a pack of thousands of wolves, but ten or eleven pairs finding each other simultaneously was terrifying.

The screaming died down after a few hours in the packhouse. Many even came down to grab drinks and food and headed back up their rooms. Hair was disheveled, bite marks were all over their bodies. They were all thoroughly happy with their mates. None of the wolves were hesitant mating with demons, which was a relief, especially after the bonfire where they were reluctant. It did prove that there was a connection before Selene would connect their souls before they were soul mates. They recognized each other even before joining.

It wasn’t just the bond that kept them together; Selene used her blessing to cement a firm foundation of their love. It strengthened not only their souls but their bodies as well. Both are stronger, healthier, heal faster, and not to mention their s*x drives were strong. Two souls could find each other much easier in a sea of souls with a connection. Selene made the process easier. She eliminated any doubt if one was your soulmate by feeling firey touches, looking into their eyes, and aphrodisiac smells. No one should argue that they didn’t have a choice in their love for their mate because it would be there whether the bond was there or not.

My thoughts drift to Tamera and to any that are rejected by their mate. Were they soulmates to begin with if they accepted their second chance, mate, instead? Many more questions bloomed as the first question haunted me. Could one be soulmates with two? Even if they are not twins?

Identical Twins were shared; that was a given; they were conceived in the same egg that the mother produces, only split into two once fertilized. Their souls, shared along with their bodies.

“You are thinking awfully hard,” Hades whispered in my ear. We were all gathered in the living room, me in Hades’ lap getting updates on Bohdi. Bohdi was healing, but her aura had been sucked dry; it made her weak and defenseless. It would be days before we could plan a search party or attack in Bergarian.

“I’m just thinking about Tamera. Was the first mate that rejected her, was that her mate or is Vulcan her true mate?” Hades hummed while stroking his chin.

“That will be something to learn with Selene when we get her back.”

“What do you mean? Vulcan is her mate?” Dad’s eyes widened in curiosity while the rest of the room went quiet.

“I don’t know,” I mumbled, hiding my head in Hades’ chest. Selene doesn’t go around telling who is mated to who. It is supposed to be a big surprise for the couple, I didn’t want to ruin it.

“Aw, come on, I wanna hear!” Thomas shouted until Vulcan came into the room. Mama gave Thomas a stern look to be quiet, and he settled down.

“Nothing,” dad spoke. “Just surprised about all these mates popping up out of nowhere,” he chuckled while still glaring at Hades. I guess he still isn’t over Hades’ almost rejection towards his daughter.

“Oh, yeah,” Vulcan looked sad as he played with his beard. “Anyway, I was looking for Tamera. Has anyone seen her?” My eyes lit up while I jumped out of my seat. Hades tried to grab my hand, but I ran to Vulcan too quickly.

“Come with me! She’s tending to Bohdi in the clinic!” I pulled Vulcan towards the medical wing, only to be stopped by Hades pulling on my other arm.

“Let them be,” he glared. I wobbled my l*p in protest, trying to pull away from him. “Not now, Parisa.” I stuck out my l*p some more, and he only sighed with a growl. Picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder, I squealed in laughter as he put me back on the couch.

“But I wanna watch,” I whispered as Vulcan made his way down to the clinic.

“I didn’t think you were into that,” Hades whispered in my ear.

“Not that!” I squealed as embarrassment flooded me.

Vulcan’s POV

Many had found their mates today, which is surprising since I didn’t think anyone could discover mates without Selene. My heart sank thinking that Tamera did not have much time; her bonding with Alpha Santos had depressed her almost beyond repair. I had hoped I would be her second chance because she fit in my life like a ray of hope.

Hope that I will have a mate one day, one that would understand me and I to her. I’ve wanted nothing than to take care of the one I would be destined with and have waited since the day I split with Aphrodite. We were not bonded, just a marriage of guilt from my father, Zeus. He never listened to my pleas not to marry her, yet I did anyway, and my heart was broken by her constant betrayals.

A mate was my second chance. A second chance at love and hopefully would be fruitful. Someone I could spoil and protect. I’d give anything for that, anything.

Until she came until Tamera came into my life. We weren’t mates, but my feelings have grown for her each day. She’s kind, loving, and selfless. Even with her failing health, she takes care of others, not thinking of herself and her rejection.

The hall was long, several exam rooms held empty beds as I approached the nurses’ station. Several she-wolves were cleaning, putting up charts, and typing on the computer until they saw me. One of them smiled and pointed to a door. She had seen me far too many times the past few days to know exactly who I was looking for.

I closed in on the last examination room when I smelled something floral. It was robust, feminine, but not overpowering. Hints of sugar cubes hung in the air as my hand trembled at the door. Could the fates be so cruel to have Tamera and my future mate in the same room? Who was in there with her?

My heart trembled, afraid it would jump out of my throat if I dared open my mouth. My hand hovered the door handle, do I dare?

Gritting my teeth, I stepped back. My body wouldn’t be able to take it; I’d be crushed into a million pieces. I cannot know who my mate is because I all wanted was Tamera. I turn my back to the door; the coward in me rears its ugly head until I hear the examination room door creak open. “Vulcan?” Tamara’s whimpered voice halted me in my heavy steps.

Turning, I see her hands clutching her chest as her eyes flood over her eyes. “Vulcan?” She says again, knocking me out of my stupor. She was just so damn beautiful; my body wanted her, my mind, and I didn’t have the heart to reject her. I couldn’t deny her for someone else I did not know.

Tamera walks silently up to me; my body stiffens on the contact as her hand trails up my hairy arm. My body reacts to the tingles. Her touch was fire, radiating up my body and straight to my loins. “Mate,” I breathed as I engulfed her into my plaid-covered chest. My neatly trimmed beard gets caught in her bracelet and pulls my chin tight, but I didn’t care. The pain of her not being my mate would have been greater. I’ll take any sort of pain.

Tamera breathes in, and her worried stance grows into a gentle sigh as she leans forward. Picking her up, her legs wrapped around my torso, face buried into my neck. Wetness filled my shoulder; small sobs shook her body to the core. Petting her hair, touching her, feeling her, it was better than it was before but all so familiar.

Tamera was my mate, she was mine, and I was hers.

Bohdi, lying in bed, does a silent clap as she smiles. Making a shooing motion, she beckons us to leave while we talk about this miraculous discovery. A nurse nearby saw the entire scene and opened the Luna hospital room for me to duck into. Nodding my head in thanks, I lock the door, but Tamera doesn’t let go.

“My mate, my sweet mate,” my voice choked, brushing her hair behind her ears. A giant sob racks her body as I sit in the oversized rocking chair. Her face was wet, her hair a mess, and it was all mine.

We could be messy together for the rest of eternity.

Tamera rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand as she petted my beard. “How can this be?” she hiccuped. “How did we not know?”

Thinking back to Parisa, her eagerness was quite intriguing, wanting to lead me to Tamera. With the Sphere found and an overly curious Goddess of the Underworld, I could piece it together. “We’ve been paired; that’s all that matters.” My face goes stoic.

Tamera had been through a lot with her first mate. Alpha Santos mated her the same day, claimed her, and not a month later decided to rid her since she did not want to become a werewolf. His mistake would be the most significant victory for me.

“Will you have me?” My voice shook. Not once had I been afraid; I took my challenges head-on, but this, this challenge was the greatest of them all. She could reject me, throw me aside. Tamera quickly nodded her head and grabbed my shoulders.

“I will have you, I wanted you before the bond, and now I can have you after. I chose you before the bond chose us. As long as you don’t ever break my heart,” Tamera whispered as her nose went into my neck. I growled.

“I would do no such thing,” my voice rumbled in my chest. “Anyone that dares to hurt you will have a death wish. And I know people who specialize in torturing.” Tamera laughed as her grip became impossibly tight. We held each other for hours. Breathing each other’s scent, touching each other’s hair, talking, listening. It was far more intimate than that I ever could imagine. It was something we both needed to mend our hearts so they were no longer broken. Thanks to the fates, we both had been healed.

Tracing my calloused finger around her jaw, I dared to do the unthinkable. I leaned in closer, only halfway to give her the space if she so desired. To my surprise, she leaned forward and planted her puffy lips on mine. My hands wrapped around her back while hers dug into my hair; I m****d in her lips.

This k**s would be written down for all the gods in history. I poured my love into her mouth as she drank it willingly. Gulping it down to give her life and hope. To fill her empty heart. Her skin instantly brightened as we stopped to catch our breath. She no longer looked like the broken woman I met just a week ago.

“I know you have been wronged before, beautiful. I will wait to solidify our bond until you are ready.” Tamera twiddled her fingers and thought contemplatively. “Thank you,” she whispered. “But I,… it sounds strange, but I feel closer to you than I ever did with Santos.”

“Because we spent time together, we fell for each other without a bond. Bonds are blessings, and it enhances our love. Makes us stronger, dependent on each other, and so much more.” Tamera smiled, and a blush tainted her cheeks. A playful smile greeted me.

“Then, do you want to go back to my place?” She winked as her hand rubbed the top of mine.

“Is that code for something?” Tamera winked again as she pulled my arm from my chair.