His Fated Mate: A Werewolf Romance

Rowan

After showering, we all began searching through the documents, files, and the laptop found and removed from Quinn’s house. Fiona kept Cormac’s key card and Rian realized it unlocked the computer without a password.

While Rian searched for tracking devices, the rest of us sifted through the documents and records we confiscated. “All clear,” he said and began clicking away on the laptop’s keyboard. Meanwhile, I reviewed Cormac’s fastidious note-taking and uncovered the stomach-churning torture techniques he used for his supposed scientific studies. They also contained summarized information about the torture he inflicted on each specimen, including their age, sex, and race.

Rian printed off a long list of names he found in a file on the computer and pointed to a slim folder on the desk. “Fiona, please check that folder over there?”

Fiona opened it and shrugged. “I don’t understand, but it appears to be a list of company names or something.” She handed the paper to Rian, who studied it, and his face turned pale as a ghost.

“What is it?” I asked him.

“It’s a list of suppliers and their products,” Rian explained. “Over the last year, the dirty bastard has been receiving certain races of Creatures of Primordial as payment from an anonymous individual…”

“Can you find out who that is?” I asked, crossing my arms.

“No.” Rian shook his head. “He has the list sorted by race. Wolves, vampires, witches, and so on…” Rian raked a hand down his face before studying the paper again. “Wait… I just noticed something that’s important. The only race not delivered to him by this undisclosed source are the fairies.” He looked at me with narrowed eyes, shaking his head.

“He’s reprehensible,” Kat said, rubbing her arms and appearing shocked.

“It looks like the brilliant scientist was having an experiment funded… And guess what the name of his experiment is?” Rian’s brows soared to his hairline as he gazed at us.

Fiona peered over his shoulder, reading from the paper in his hand, and slapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh my God, no!” She moved from behind Rian and dashed from the room. My body tingled on high alert as I sensed her repulsion, rage, and pain. Whatever she saw on that paper must have been horrific.

Rian scoffed and held out the document for me to take. “The experiment is called Sexflex, Rowen. You were right, and Cormac Quinn has been behind this drug epidemic the whole time.”

“I’m going to check on her,” Kat said, following Fiona from the room.

I nodded and grabbed the paper, scanning each line. The names of other packs and races intermingled with those of my pack members.

“I can access each one on the computer, since every name has its own file,” Rian said. “It seems there are notes of the components used to make Sexflex and from what I’ve read, it’s already spread to other countries.”

“That sick bastard!” I slammed my fist on the desk and handed the paper back to Rian.

Fiona’s pain was palpable, yet given the day’s events, her feeling of being overwhelmed was understandable. She appeared distraught, hurt, and wounded, learning what a monster her father was. Somehow, my hatred for the infamous scientist and notorious hunter increased.

“Okay, I say we call it a night,” I told Rian. “We all need to rest up for the wolf council meeting tomorrow. Our discussion will cover the search and rescue of Kyra and a briefing on our discoveries. I think we should inform the other races and get their help to stop Quinn and his experiments before the situation gets any worse.”

Rian nodded in agreement. “Yeah, that all sounds about right. But I’ll kill that bastard if he lays a hand on Kyra. Okay, I’m going to check in on Fiona before going to bed.” He yawned.

“Go to bed and I’ll check in on her.”

“No,” Rian said, shaking his head. “You’ve been a cocky asshole to her, and she doesn’t need that shite tonight.”

“I know how to be sensitive, Rian. Everyone already knows you are the King of Personality…” My frosty glare caused him to flinch. “But Fiona has been through hell, especially today, and I plan on treating her with nothing but kindness. So, go to bed, bro.” I felt my jaw twitch as we stared at each other.

Rian glanced away first, yanked the papers, journals, and laptop off the desk, and placed them under his arm, and I followed close behind him up the stairs. I stood waiting until he entered his bedroom and went in search of Fiona.

I knocked and Kat opened the door, looking pale and fatigued. “How’s Fiona?” I asked.

“Come in.” She took a step back to allow me to enter. “We are just trying to take it all in, but it’s so confusing.” Kat shook her head and ran her fingers through her long blonde tresses. “So much has happened that I’m not sure what to concentrate on first, ya know…”

“Listen, lass, we will work it all out together. Try not to become too overwhelmed, okay?” I patted her arm, trying to reassure her. Then I realized all this affected Kat like the rest of us. Imagine finding out, after spending your whole life as a human, that you are not only a fairy, but the daughter of a fairy queen. Guilt gnawed at me as I searched her scared-looking eyes. “Tomorrow at the council meeting, I’ll speak to some of my top-ranking members and ask around about your mother.”

She gave me a flat smile, nodding. “Thank you, Rowan, but I’m most concerned about Kyra and her safety. I can’t help feeling responsible.” Kat looked down at the floor, and I suspected she was tearing up again.

“I’ve told you already that was on me, not you,” I said in a careful and kind tone. “We will get Kyra back, so try to get some rest. And stop blaming yourself for things you are not responsible for. You aren’t liable for anything that has happened except choosing the wrong man to take a pill from.”

Her head jerked up, and I almost laughed at the incredulous expression on her face. My smile broke the ice, and she grinned, wiping the moisture from her eyes before giving me a light punch to the arm. “Such an asshole… but thanks. I would appreciate any information about my actual mother. It seems Fiona and I have both been living lies our whole life, but to find out that my birth mother is a fairy queen…” She stared up at the ceiling, shaking her head. “Well, it’s just unreal and hard to fathom.”

“I know, kid. I know, and I promise you, we will get everything sorted out. You are not alone.”

“Thanks, Rowan. Fiona is pretty upset, too. Maybe you can cheer her up like you did me.” She smiled and gestured toward Fiona’s crumpled figure on the bed.

After sitting on the edge of the bed, I watched Kat slip from the room, giving me some privacy. “How are you, lass?” I fingered the hair from Fiona’s eyes, tucking some strands behind her ear, and she glanced at me with a sad smile.

“I’m doing about as well as anyone else.” She shrugged her shoulders and closed her eyes. “Thanks for checking on me, but I’m just exhausted, Rowan, and want to sleep.”

“All right.” My breath hitched in my throat as I stared at her. She appeared so small and vulnerable that it made my chest constrict. “There’s just something I wanted to tell you and then I’ll leave so you can rest…”

She opened her eyes and stared at me. “Sure. Go ahead. I didn’t mean to be rude.”

“You didn’t deserve how I’ve been treating you and I hope you can forgive me, but I just needed some time to think and be alone.” Her eyes widened, but she remained silent and I watched her pulse thump in her slender neck and almost lost my nerve. After clearing my throat, I said, “You have no idea what you mean to me… what you are to me.”

Fiona reached over and took my hand. “I feel the same way, Rowan.” She pushed herself up from the bed, her fingers still entwined in mine.

I tightened my grip on her hand and smiled. “I’m glad, lass, but that’s not what I meant…” She reared back, tearing her hand from mine, and moved away from me with her knees pulled up to her chin. With a groan of frustration, I wiped a hand down my face. “Listen to me, Fiona, because this is important…” The look of confusion on her face made me want to blurt it out, but I refrained. “You’ll have to be patient since I don’t have a way with words like my brother, but—”

“Just say what you mean, Rowan. I told you I’m so fucking exhausted and I can’t handle any of your stupid games right now!” She glared at me and I felt all the emotions swirling inside her, causing my heart to race and ache.

“I’m trying, love. But I’m asking you to let me do this. Maybe I should leave and we can speak tomorrow.” She grabbed my arm as I moved to leave.

“No, stay. I’m sorry.”

“Let me first say that I’m in love with you,” I told her, and sensed her swift jolt of affection and my racing pulse as my heart thundered in my ears, causing an overdrive of emotions to course through me. “But there’s more…”

Her eyes narrowed to slits. “What does that mean?”

“It means that you are the only one for me, Fiona, but it’s complicated.” My hands found hers, lying atop her knees, and I searched her eyes. “You are my fated mate… my luna.” I swallowed hard, waiting for her reaction.

With eyes round as plates, she whispered, “W–What? I mean, what does that even mean? Destined mate… Luna…”

“It means we were born for each other, Fiona.” Tears formed in her eyes and I felt her hands shake. “But we will face a lot of opposition…”

“From your pack members,” she said, blinking away the teardrops ready to fall from her lashes. “Because Cormac Quinn, the supernatural hunter, and lunatic scientist, is my father.” Fiona pulled her hand from mine, wiped her eyes, and sighed. “And wait until they find out he’s responsible for Sexflex and all the experiments on your race.” She shook her head, crying anew.

“Calm down, love. We will take it one day and one step at a time. Remember, I’m the alpha, and you, my luna. I have fought this for too long and refuse to live my life without you.”

“When did you realize? she asked, peering into my eyes with such intensity that I felt it in my soul.

I remained silent for a beat, watching her eyes narrow. “From the moment I saw you. Well, that’s not true… I smelled you first.”

She jumped from the bed, pacing the room with one hand on her hip. “You mean to tell me you’ve known this since the night we met at the club?” Fiona whirled around and rushed at me. A grimace marred her delicate features. She stood before me, appearing much taller than she was from my vantage point, sitting on the bed. “All this time…” She threw her head back, letting loose a crazed cackle that sent shivers crawling over my skin. “You put me through hell, Alpha O’Connell! Pure hell!”

“Lass, I’m sorry, but you don’t understand what—”

“Shut up,” she shouted, gripping the sides of her face and I watched in fascination as her eyes turned an unnatural shade of crimson red. “My God, what is happening to me?” Fiona stumbled to the bed, thrashing in agony. The lights flickered before a gust of wind rushed through the bedroom, knocking pictures from the walls and destroying the once-neat room.

As the wind died down, I cradled Fiona in my arms, rocking her while holding her against me. The door burst open and Kat and Rian stood in open-mouthed dismay. “What in the fuck?” Rian asked, looking astounded, while Kat rushed to Fiona’s side.

“I do not know,” I said, shaking my head. “But if I had to guess… I’d say Fiona has found some of her powers.” In quiet awe, everyone looked around, taking in the room’s destruction.

Kat broke the silence. “This is some badass shit, Fiona. If you can do all this…” She motioned around the bedroom. “Just imagine the hell I could raise!” Kat winked.