Taming Her Beastly Mate

Titus, Lila, Brian, and Bella were looking at Rhea intently as she finished explaining everything that happened to Alexis. She looked over at Bella meeting with her grey eyes.

“I know it is a lot to ask… Do you think you can try to help, Bella? My Lee is talking to Grandpa Sage about it. He will be the one to train you on what to do.” Rhea watched Bella nod her head without hesitation.

“Of course. This won’t be dangerous at all for me. However, there is risk for Alexis.” Bella watched Rhea nod her head.

“Brian, can you help with her body temperature again?” Rhea watched as a smile spread over his lips.

“I should be able to help her better now that I don’t have a barrier around my inferno.” Brian could see the appreciation in Rhea’s eyes. “How is she?”

“Putting on the brave face like she always does.” Rhea listened to Titus snort.

“Just like her mother. You always acted like you were fine when you were hurting. “ Titus gave her a crooked smile and Rhea only shrugged her shoulders.

“I guess she gets it honestly.” Rhea smiled softly. “Cody and Kelsie went to speak with my mother about this. We also wanted to warn them about Erebus since he is threatening my father’s life.” She sighed and shook her head. “Just a normal day for our family.” A wry smile spread over her face. They had to laugh off these moments. There was always some sort of trial their family was going through.

Titus laughed. “Your family always has things to deal with. Remember right after the demon war Wyatt had to leave again to deal with the packs in the north?”

“Yeah, I remember. There was a brutal war with a species called the sheya. I don’t remember all the details but I know it was a big enough problem that the northern packs all joined forces. The Alpha’s council up there reached out to my brother for advice. They had found a werewolf pup at one of the enemy camps and weren’t sure what to do with it.” Rhea smiled. “Wyatt went up there and ordered the packs not to kill the baby. And he tasked the largest pack up there with its care… I think it was the Sulfur pack. It’s been over twenty years now. I need to ask my brother if he ever heard any more about that situation. I know it was a big mess. And let’s not forget Lucy’s fiasco with Beryl and Erebus.”

“Well, Bella you were bored before right? You will never be bored again.” Brian laughed as he flashed her a bright smile.

“I was just wanting people to talk to… but excitement sounds fun too.” Bella smiled with a small shrug.

“Were you incredibly lonely?” Lila asked softly.

“Well, no… I mean I had Shiva there.” Bella tucked her head down into her shoulders. She didn’t want to say anything bad about her life with Shiva. It was just that Shiva wasn’t always a big conversationalist. Shiva liked to talk but did not like to listen to others talk. Sometimes Bella just wanted to experience more of the world. “Anyways, I’m ready to start learning what I need to do. I want to help Alexis as fast as I can.”

“Thank you so much, Bella.” Rhea smiled and motioned for Bella to follow her. Brian also followed them out of the room and Rhea glanced back at him. “You know gramps isn’t going to let you stay.”

Brian chuckled. “Of course not. I am not you or Alexis, the favored ones.” He teased.

“Brian!”

Brian turned his head to see Ryker walking his way with his arm around Raine. He looked back at Bella and Rhea as he contemplated what he would do here.

“Gramps isn’t going to let you stay anyways. You know where we will be.” Rhea smiled at Brian and watched as his gaze settled on Bella.

“Don’t do anything dangerous… please.” Brian watched as a sweet smile spread over Bella’s face.

“I won’t be doing anything dangerous for me. Though it could probably kill you.” Bella winked at Brian with a sweet giggle.

Brian loved her laugh, her smile… yeah he was loving everything about her. His eyes followed her as she walked away with Rhea. With every passing moment, the pull was getting stronger for him while she remained oblivious to his struggling temptation.

“Who was that?” Ryker asked as he looked at Brian.

Brian finally looked away and turned his attention to Ryker and Raine. “We have a lot to talk about. Let’s head to my office. This needs to be done privately. But I will have a big job for you, Ryker. And I’m hoping I can selfishly ask Raine to help as well.”

“You know I will help you in any way I can.” Raine looked around. “Where are Alexis and Micah? And who was that woman with Aunt Rhea?”

“Like I said we have a lot to talk about.” Brian smiled and nodded for them to follow him. News of his mate couldn’t get out right now. It would be weird for him to bring his fated mate here when he took a chosen mate. This would all need to be kept secret until the time was right.

__

Micah bit into an apple as he leaned back into the chair. He looked over at Alexis and Aken on the couch. She was curled up in Aken’s side as he rested his arm around her.

“I have a joke about paper bags.” Micah grinned and then shrugged. “Eh, never mind it is TEARable.” He chuckled as he listened to Aken snort.

“Oh come on that one was funny. Look even Alexis cra.cked a smile.” Micah sighed as a wry grin formed over his lips. “Why do paper bags never win poker games? Because they always fold.” Micah laughed loudly and nodded his head to Aken. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean anything by it. I actually have a lot of respect for paper bags. One could call me SACreligious.”

Alexis giggled and tilted her head up to look at the still paper bag head. “You don’t have to wear that.”

“I know I don’t. I want to. No accidents for you. I’d rather wear this than put a blindfold on you.” Aken rubbed his hand over Alexis’ side.

“Right. Blindfolds are for the bedroom.” Alexis listened to the sharp breath Aken took in as Micah choked on his drink.

“Nope, that one is below the belt. That is nothing like me KRAKEN jokes.” Micah held his sides as they rumbled with laughter. “Oh come on even Aken knows that one is funny.”

“I’m so sorry I left you alone with him for so long. He is unBEARable.” Aken smirked in his paper bag and listened to Micah laughing.

“See that’s the spirit!” Micah looked at Aken and then frowned. “I need to make you a mouth hole.”

“It’s fine for now.” Aken wasn’t a fan of the paper bag. It was stuffy and very limiting. But it was worth it so that his mate could cling to him like she was. He didn’t want to upset her accidentally. If it was going to take a while they may need to figure out a better mask besides a paper bag. For now, it was worth it feeling her warmth next to him. The sweet sparks that tingled between them was comforting.

“Thank you…” Alexis whispered and gripped onto Aken’s shirt as she leaned into him. “It would have been really hard for you to leave me right now after… everything.” She didn’t want to be afraid of Erebus but it was the feeling of being helpless around him. Both times she had met him she wasn’t able to fight him off. And after what happened last time she was mildly shaken up. It lit something inside of her though. She felt her feral beast inside of her rage, demanding his b***d. She wasn’t afraid to fight him she just needed her powers and beasts.

Still, Erebus was crazy. And he has shown he is able to get to her. It was comforting being next to Aken even if she couldn’t see his face. She could smell him and feel his heat. She could hear his soothing voice and feel his soft touch. Her beasts needed this and she needed this.

“Lex…” Aken looked through his hole down to her. “I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. Your father needs to tighten his security up here. You know… if you were at my place he couldn’t find you. I wonder if it would be better to take you there.”

“No,” Alexis said firmly. “What if Erebus thinks I am with you when he can’t find me? And then he will kill someone in my family. I’d rather him get to me than for him to hurt or kill one of them.” Plus Alexis already was trying to work out a plan in her head. The next time Erebus showed his face to her she was going to leave him with a sting of her own.

Aken closed his eyes as his face became terse. It was all hidden behind the paper bag though. In order to fully protect Alexis, he also needed to protect her family. He couldn’t let anything happen to them because he didn’t want her to hurt like that. He knew just how unhinged Erebus was though. If Erebus was threatening to kill one of her family members it would only be a matter of time before he does just that. He needed to find Erebus… and fast. But how? How could he lure Erebus out without using Alexis as bait?

“I’m hungry. Should I bring up dinner?” Micah asked.

“Yeah, I’m hungry too. Although I’m really in the mood for a sack lunch.” Alexis smiled biting her bottom l*p. A low g***n came from Aken’s chest as Micah winced.

“Your jokes aren’t funny Lex. They ruin my appetite.” Micah shook his head in disgust.

“Funny… it increases my appetite.” Aken peered out through his little opening so he could look at his beautiful mate.

“Keep your tentacles to yourself, Squidward. Not in front of me. I’m getting out of here. I’ll just bring up a tray of food.” Micah quickly descended down the stairs. When he was about half way down he slowed. He balled his hand up into a fist and slammed it against the wall. Erebus had touched his princess again. One too many times. His beast was raging against him. He was trying to control it but it was finally getting away from him. Which was why he volunteered to get food. He needed to calm his head.

Micah slowly took one step at a time as he tried to manage his breathing. His fingers were trembling as his eyes flickered in color. He felt like there was an uncontrollable urge beginning to take over him. He knew this feeling, it has happened before. He needed to stop it before it went out of control.

Micah wanted Erebus’s b***d to be spilled. But that wasn’t even enough… he was the one who needed to drain it from his body. He wanted to personally rip the deity apart and watch the life drain from his eyes. It was only this thought that could soothe him… and it was that he would kill Erebus.