Justice barely held back his wolf’s howl from answering his mate. He was on the private deck in his quarters, looking out at the dark forest at four-thirty in the morning, reliving every moment from the time the Vampire King entered the conference room to the moment he ran from him.

“Beloved.”

Justice couldn’t stop the painful yell that escaped him and likely filtered to the ends of the pack lands. It wanted out. Its mate needed comforting and Justice was preventing it.

He wasn’t ready to make the commitment. He had responsibilities. He needed time, but his wolf was making it his top priority, making Justice feel like he wouldn’t survive another day without the vampire. The mate pull shouldn’t be that strong so quickly. It made no sense. They also shouldn’t be able to communicate telepathically without having actually mated. He didn’t know what was going on.

“Justice!” Justice couldn’t answer his beta. Alek was banging on the door, in seconds he’d kick it down if Justice didn’t say something besides grunts and groans.

“Alpha.” Another voice called out with Alek. “My pack is concerned.”

Oh no. Now the Humboldt’s Alpha, Mikel, was at his door, too. Everyone could probably hear and feel Justice’s struggle, sense his anguish. Justice couldn’t focus on trying to shield his scent when he was using every bit of his strength to keep his wolf inside.

“Beloved, please.”

Justice heard it again – that gut churning plea, in the sexiest accent ever – and this time he had to grit his pain through clenched teeth as he fought against his instincts. to him and Justice wouldn’t answer. He tried to quiet the link but he couldn’t. All it did was give him a brain-splitting headache, something he’d never felt before and never wanted to feel again. He could still feel the King in his head. Talking to him and his wolf. Every now and then his animal would settle, but never for long. Wick’s pain was palpable, so were his anxiety and fear. Not only was Justice’s wolf hurting immensely, but he was too. Chadwick Bentley was the other half of him, but how? That wasn’t even possible. Or so he thought. Justice had never heard of a shifter/vampire mating. Just like no one heard of a shark and a lion mating. Where would they live? They were completely different species without a single thing in common. All Justice wanted was a couple days to pray to the Mother for guidance, consult his brothers. He wouldn’t take what he desired, what was easy. There was more at stake than his own selfish wants.

The loud crash of the door hitting the wall and splintering – into way too many pieces to repair – was the next sound he heard after he fell to his hands and knees.

Don’t shift. Don’t shift. Fight it. Justice chanted in his mind.

“Justice, my god.”

Justice looked up, his eyes heavy and unfocused, switching from his wolf’s vision back to human. His brother, Alek, and the Alpha Mikel were hurrying to his side, both of them with their mouths set in tight scowls with firm lines along their foreheads.

“There’s too much power in here,” Justice’s younger brother said, backing slowly out of the room. Justice could see their apprehension and it killed him that there was nothing he could do to calm the Humboldt pack or his own.

“Everyone out,” Alek ordered, still trying unsuccessfully to help Justice to his feet. “Farica, help ease the pack’s fear. Let them know the AZ is with his betas and is fine.”

“But, Al—”

“Go, now!” Alek ordered, cutting Farica off.

Justice heard her hurry off, leaving only his brothers just outside his door, and Alek and the Humboldt Alpha.

“Talk to us, Justice,” Alek pleaded, squatting next to Justice.

Justice slowed his breaths. He didn’t try to talk until he was certain he wouldn’t scream as soon as his lips parted. It was quiet in his head now and the thought that Wick was gone or had somehow severed the link himself made Justice break down and confess. He just couldn’t do this alone.

Justice huffed tiredly. Mother, he was so beat. It’d been only three hours since he’d met his mate, and already he felt an overwhelming need for him. Justice had a feeling he wouldn’t be able to fight this, although he should be able to. He was certainly strong enough. Wolves could deny their mates. Even true mates, though it was unheard of. The true mate pull was too wonderful and fascinating to ignore and any wolf would be thanking the Mother for years to come for giving them a mate made especially for them.

Frowning at his scattered thoughts, Justice finally opened his mouth, his voice sounding like claws against rough bark. “It’s the Vampire King. He’s my mate. My true mate,” Justice confessed, slumping down the wall into a heap of exhaustion.

 

 

Seven calls, all unanswered.

Did shifters not feel the same mate tug as vampires? His kind didn’t call them mates, they were called Beloveds and they were very rare and precious in his world. Practically recherché. If anyone, any vampires, knew Wick was being rejected by his Beloved, they’d attack him in no time. And defeat him. It was the only way. Not being able to have his mate’s blood would weaken and eventually, kill him. Wick was already famished for him. If only Justice hadn’t touched him. When he’d leaned in close to look into Wick’s eyes, the shifter’s large chest brushed his and that was all it took. Nothing else would occupy Wick’s mind. No one else would be able to satisfy him. He could never feed from another. Their blood would poison him. Wick hadn’t had to think twice about it when Justice got close to him. He’d never refuse Justice’s touch.

Wick was still lying down on the ground staring up to where the sun was due to make a glorious appearance in about an hour. Maybe he’d go ahead and lie there and cook for a while, get the process of death moving faster… no need to delay the inevitable. His inside was deathly silent. He felt nothing, no beating heart, no breaths, no beast. Just loneliness. Suffering. Wick squeezed his eyes shut at what he supposed would be one of his final thoughts. At least I had one small sliver of contact with my Beloved before I died.

“Do you think I’d gift to you one of my greatest creations and only allow you a sliver of contact with him, my dear Chadwick?”

Wick heard the question spoken softly aloud before an angelic figure floated down to him, her bare feet landing gracefully on the ground next to Wick’s outstretched hand. When had he done that? What was he reaching for?

“Get up, dear heart. Be the true mate my son was given.”

Wick squinted, but that was ridiculous because there was absolutely nothing wrong with his vision. Though he was hungry, he wasn’t in a lethargic state from starvation… yet. He knew he was wide awake and actually seeing the beautiful, long-haired woman only a few feet in front of him. Her glow, or maybe it was her aura, attracted more wildlife to them as if she was manna from heaven. He was captivated. She was magnificently ethereal and she looked so warm… and so familiar. Her sparkling blue eyes were shinier and more majestic than the Upsala ice caps. Wick stood and brushed off the larger pieces of debris from his suit, still watching as she returned his gaze with a peaceful smile. 

“That’s more like it.” She crossed both hands in front of her long, ivory sarong that dragged dramatically behind her as she moved.

“Are you Mother Nature?” Wick had to ask. Who else could she be, if not—?

Her bird-song laugh cut him off but he didn’t mind. It sounded nice to him and Wick felt the entity inside him come back to life. Wick almost dropped to one knee in relief. When had he grown to need and rely on that part of himself? Not until Wick couldn’t feel his beast anymore did it threaten to consume him. Wick was starting to need it too much.

“No. I’m not the Mother. That was her message for you, though. She had a more stubborn person to visit with tonight. I decided to come see you.” She wore a sorrowful expression. “My heart was breaking for you. For your defeated spirit. I know my son can be a proud man. He’s his father’s son, but he’s also the…” She stopped and turned away. “I can’t say very much. You and Justice have to figure this out together. He will come around, I promise, Chadwick. Please don’t give up.”

“You’re Justice’s mother?”

“I am.” Her smile returned as quickly and easily as the morning dawn. “And the Mother sent me to you. She’s always been with you, dear Chadwick. There was so much you had to learn before it was time to fulfill your destiny, but she never left you alone. You and my son are meant to do such wonderful things.”

Wick shook his head as he choked out his words. “He doesn’t want me. I’m vile to him. He’d rather throw his body on a sacrificial altar than allow me to feed from him.”

She responded by walking right up to him until she was only inches away. Wick welcomed the calming breeze and the earthy scent she brought with her. “I shouldn’t say too much, but you need this.” Her words were only a gust of sound on the wind. Secrets. “Justice’s wolf is one of the most powerful that has been and will ever be. It can get through to the man, the human in Justice – that part that struggles with the idea of a vampire mate – his wolf will claim his mate and have it no other way. You’ve been blessed with a gift inside you, Chadwick, to get through to Justice’s animal.”

“How?” Was Wick’s only reply.

“Haven’t you already felt them communicating?” She tilted her head.

Wick tried to think back to the feelings he started to experience the moment his jet landed here. Like he was being called.

She placed her slim, glowing fingers on his abdomen. “Your beast is finally ready to meet its mate. He’s lain dormant for many years, but he’s always had his purpose.” The sound of thunder shook the ground beneath him and a bolt of lightning flashed in Justice’s mom’s eyes. In that moment Wick felt a strong presence burst alive inside him. Nothing like what he’d felt all those years past, no, now Wick could see eyes within him, looking at the world through his. Blue eyes.

“How does it—?” Wick hissed and jerked his head up to the sky. The sun was rising.

Next thing Wick knew, Justice’s mother was smiling down at him, her sweet hum lulling him into a fast approaching slumber. He blinked, then he was lying in the bed in the cabin with the heavy drapes pulled tight. Wick looked around, trying to understand what had just happened. Something inside told him to rest, that all would work out soon. So Wick did just that.