The Lost Mate

Lillian

My eyes found Jonas the moment I got inside. He was sitting on the floor in the living room with a tiny girl with blond curls. My baby was stacking blocks, only to have the smaller child smash each structure down. Jonas looked unconcerned with the destruction, since he was probably building for that very purpose, his eyes as intent on his playmate as on his task.

Then he caught my scent and his head jerked up. “Momma!” he scrambled over to me and threw himself at my legs. I swept him up and he wrapped his little arms around my neck. I felt a bit bad for Max that Jonas hadn’t noticed him, but shooting a glance at my mate, I found him watching me with a satisfied smile. I guess I shouldn’t have worried. My mate was as patient as he had ever been and our long separation hadn’t changed that.

After a long moment, Jonas released my neck by slow degrees, and I turned him to Max. “Do you know who this is?”

“My daddy.” He sounded so certain my heart fluttered.

I pulled Max closer so that Jonas was squashed between us, and he laughed. The smile between his chubby cheeks warmed my heart.

“He’s perfect.” Max said reverently.

For the first time in more than three years, my heart finally felt complete, in spite of my worry for my father and any other troubles that still might come.

—————

Jonas and I got situated in Max’s trailer. My mate received periodic updates about what was happening from the vampire Nathaniel, along with a request that I speak as a witness in Montgomery’s trial before the vampire queen.

I wanted to just put that nightmare behind me, but if it would keep him from getting out anytime soon, maybe it would be worth facing my fears. I didn’t like vampires in general and the idea of going into a group of them, legitimate or not, terrified me.

Max assured me the ones that abided by the accords weren’t so bad.

I trusted Max, but after all the horrors I had seen vampires perpetrating on their victims, I had trouble believing it, even from the safety of his arms. They were sadists who loved pain as much as they loved blood. But, if there was some subset who had control of themselves, ones more like Terry, maybe I’d want to help them put away the worst sorts.

That night, we fell asleep in Max’s bed with Jonas snuggling between us. In spite of my worry for my father, I had the most peaceful rest I had had in years.

The next day, Max showed Jonas and me around the pack and introduced us to everyone we encountered. Jonas was enthusiastic, climbing and exploring everywhere we went when he wasn’t being carried by Max piggyback style. He’d barely even seen the outdoors except in pictures, so it was all new to my baby.

Max was proud of what they had built, and I could feel that warm feeling emanating from him, bathing me in a sense of wellbeing and familiarity. I had missed our bond being so strong and vibrant. Although I had gotten used to the near absence, the three years away from pack and mate had been strange and disorienting.

But not now. Now I had Max, and I would join Glenshadow. I loved everything he showed me, and I paid strict attention to the security measures they had in place. It didn’t feel like enough, it probably never would as long as Wulfric was still out there somewhere, but it was something.

As we walked, Max looked off into the distance, clearly listening through the mind link. He looked towards me and said, “Nash is back, and I want to see what he says.”

I nodded. I was well aware of everything Nash had done from our time on the bus. He shifted, and crouched down so that a squealing Jonas could climb onto his back. I smiled at our son’s excitement. He’d seen my wolf before in the confines of the children’s wing, but riding Daddy’s back in the freedom of the forest was a novelty for him. I shifted too and carried our clothing in my mouth.

We trotted to the center of the territory where a small crowd of pack wolves was already gathered. We shifted and dressed before joining them. I’d met many of them already since my arrival, and of course I recognized a few familiar faces from Glenhaven, like the alpha of this pack.

Alpha Jason stood there, looking more intimidating than I remembered from Glenhaven, staring down at the jumpy werewolf I recalled from my rescue. They had already started talking by the time we arrived.

“Why did you come back?” Alpha Jason asked.

Nash looked off to the side into the dirt. “To...uh...confess?”

“I already know everything you’ve done, Nash. You’re a bit late with that confession.”

He flinched. I felt sorry for him, and I couldn’t help but want to support him since he’d played such a large role in the rescue of my son and me. I wasn’t technically pack yet, so I really didn’t have any stake in the situation, but...

I looked towards Max, who was watching with solemn eyes. He shook his head slowly, a clear signal not to do anything rash.

“I’m sorry, Alpha,” Nash said, hanging his head.

Alpha Jason exhaled slowly. “Do you have any ill intent towards Glenshadow?”

“No.”

“Or plans to work with Bluegorge again?”

Nash let out a harsh laugh at that. “No.”

“Then you’re forgiven, but don’t ever step out of line again, Nash. This is your last chance, and you’re only recieving this mercy because I don’t believe you wanted to betray us after you became a part of us.”

“I won’t, Alpha.”

“Next time, if something like this happens again, you come to me immediately.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

Jason nodded. “Take your mate, and help her settle in.”

He nodded. For the first time my attention was drawn to the quiet woman beside him and with a start, I recognized her as Montgomery’s favourite human toy, Marissa. The poor thing. As soon as Alpha Jason had finished speaking, she gravitated towards Nash and clutched onto him like he was the only solid thing she could find, and he started to lead her away.

“What’s going to happen to her?” I asked Max. The little blond toddled over to Jonas and they started drawing together in the dirt with sticks. I moved closer to Max for comfort as I watched.

“Since she’s his mate, they won’t modify her memories if she doesn’t want them to. And I doubt she will, since she seems comforted by him.”

Max ran his hand along my back, and I felt the first stirrings of attraction since I’d been snapped back to reality after he’d found me in that grocery store. Stress, exhaustion, and pure chaos had pushed any possible thoughts of intimacy with my mate from my mind. But now... “I want time alone with you,” I whispered through our link.

His eyes met mine knowingly, and I leaned closer into him. His voice went down an octave. “I’m sure Rosella would love a play date.”

“I hope so.”

Max was silent while he linked, and Krystal nodded towards us with a smirk. Then he knelt down. “Hey, Jonas. Your mommy and I are going to get some work done, but you can stay and play with Rosella and her mom for a bit, okay?”

Jonas nodded and then returned his attention back to the dirty masterpiece that Rosella was scribbling all over with her stick. He ignored her antics and just started drawing on a new section.

Max took my hand, and the two of us snuck off together.