Mates Conquer Everything, Right?

“So, how are you doing?” Dr. Brown asks the minute I sit down.

“I am okay, still alive, kicking and breathing.”

He looks up from his iPad with a raised eyebrow. “You know that your sarcastic comments are a coping mechanism?”

“Yes, I know.”

“Last time we talked about the changes you’ve experienced since the fairytale came to life. You had a hard time dealing with your thoughts. How are you doing now?”

I sigh, where should I begin? “Well, I felt better after our little chat. It gave me some perspective on Igétas and me. We slept in the same bed. And then…” I sigh, “he kissed me in front of the pack. The Alpha was extremely mad. We slept together again last night.”

“Violet…,” Dr. Brown starts, “don’t try to walk over issues as if they are nothing. It is okay to talk about them. Let’s take a couple steps back. You slept with your mate?”

“Yes, but it was just sleeping, nothing sexual,” I add.

“And you suggested it? How did Igétas react to it?” Dr. Brown is sitting on the tip of his chair.

“Do you want to know for my mental health or is this curiosity about how your Beta reacted?”

He looks up, rubbing his neck. “Both. I would like a perspective on your communication, and I am also very curious as a person to know how he reacted.”

“Okay,” it seems like he is speaking the truth, so I carry on, “Igétas wasn’t sure, especially with Vasil wanting to speed up the mating process. We considered everything and I talked with Vasil. We agreed to try it to see how it went, and it was very nice.”

My cheeks heat up thinking about waking up in his arms.

“You look well rested and happier than two days ago.” He commented.

“I really am. He is a wonderful mate, very concerned about my safety and happiness.”

“Is that what changed?” he asks. “Wasn’t Igétas a good mate a couple of days ago?”

“Well, maybe I changed? Don’t get me wrong, everything is still a lot for me. I learn new things about werewolves and about being a mate every day. Right now I feel like I am okay with Igétas. Mates are meant to be together and mated, but we have rules to follow. That’s why we’re trying to push on the breaks, which is unnatural. Sleeping together helped the both of us be well rested.”

“It must be hard to ‘step on the break’.”

“It is,” I sigh. “I am not even a werewolf, but I feel the mate bond wanting to be stronger. Tharros was angry about us kissing, but it was inevitable. We’re trying to keep things the way they are, but we can only do so much.”

He nods, writing something down. “Last time you told me Igétas was coming to get you before the bell rang. How strong is your connection?”

This is tricky. Do I tell him about the Gold tier? We don’t even know if Igétas theory is correct.

“Very strong” Is my answer.

“Can you tell me a little more about that?” he asks, and I shrug.

“What do you want me to say? I don’t know much about mate bonds, but I can say it is more than I thought love could be. Everything about him invites me into his life. He is so perfect.”

He nods and leaves it, for now.

“Tell me about your family.”

With that question we went into a whole different direction. I talked about my family and my life in The Netherlands, before I went to Rose and Joe. We discussed what I used to do for fun, and what I like to do now. We talked for half an hour before he suggested an assignment.

“You want me to go see Joe and Rose?”

“Yes. I know that it will be difficult for you to go to school full time with Igétas’ restrictions, but I think it is important that you are not isolated and pack life isn’t the only communication you have.”

“And you think I can leave without Tharros or Igétas objecting?”

He writes something down and looks at me with a little smile.

“If someone knows how to compromise it is you and your mate. But if it helps, I’ll give you a note so you can show it to the guards. Run it by your mate first, make some agreements. I am sure if you tell him you need to do this for your health, he will escort you.

Dr. Brown was right. Igétas wasn’t happy about it at first, but understood it is important for my health. I called Joe and Rose, and they were happy to hear from me. Igétas and I are welcome to go any time, so I suggested to go see them today and they were okay with that.

Igétas drives us. We ride by the pack’s houses slowly, so we don’t overrun any playing kids. There are a lot of them. Becky sees me and waves while she is running around with a young boy. I smile, and we are almost at the checkpoint. They don’t open the lever straight away. I squint with my eyes and recognize Zack and Sweaty Chris keeping guard.

“Is there a problem boys?” Igétas asks in his Beta voice. The two look at each other and Zack answers.

“Hi Beta. Where are you two going?”

“Why should I tell you?” Igétas growls a little.

Zack and Chris share a look again and I roll my eyes. The Alpha must have instructed them to ask.

Before things could escalate further, I answer: “We are visiting Joe and Rose, doctors’ orders. Now please let us through before I have a wolf shifting in the car.”

“Do you have a note?”

“Yes,” I hand over the note to Chris who is standing by my door.

“Okay, let them through.”

“But the Alpha…” Zack begins, but Chris cuts him off. “ The alpha isn’t here and dr. Brown’s orders should be valid for the Alpha if it is for health reasons. “

Chris goes to hand the note back to me, but Igétas interrupts him.

“Wait, keep it here so we don’t forget it next time.” Igétas tells Chris, and he nods.

“See you in a couple of hours!” he yells while Igétas drives away a little faster than necessary.

“Relax,” I tell him.

He sulks. “You try to relax when your own men try to stop you.”

I place my hand on his thigh, and immediately he is less tense. “I know that was hard. But looking at the positive side, we are going to visit some humans before we go back to your crazy world.”

His face softens, and he smiles at me gently. “It is your world now too.”

“I know,” I sigh, “hopefully it will feel like it soon.”