Warring Mates

Thunder rumbled in the distance, roaring through the air. Rain clattered against my window, the wind never far away. A symphony that soothed me, made me forget about the world around me. That was until a knock interrupted my peaceful state of mind.

“Lexi, can I come in?”

A lengthy groan escaped my mouth upon hearing my dad's voice, and I untangled myself from my blankets. Easier said than done…

“One mom—Aah!”

“Are you all right?” My dad barged into my room and hid his laugh behind a fist when he saw me on the ground, feet in the air. “How is it you keep falling off your bed?”

“Shut up.” With a grumble, I stepped out of the blankets and off the ground. “Why are you here?”

He sighed out, and I didn’t have to look into his eyes to see what he was thinking. It was going to be one of those conversations.

Leant against my dresser, his eyes raked over the many sketched that adorned my bureau. “Can’t I just talk with my daughter?”

My eyes darted over the mess I called my room, clothes laid everywhere, crumpled sketches, and all the while I stayed silent. He could talk to me. That wasn’t the problem at all. It’s just that he always tried to pry into my business, wanting to know why I had been acting this way for the past two years. And mom was no hair better.

A hand tipped my head up and my eyes connected with a pair of silver ones. “We are worried about you, Lexi, and before you open your mouth to make some witty comment, it’s fine if you do not want to tell us what is going on, but please don’t push us away.”

Tears choked me—a lump I couldn’t swallow.

I lunged myself into my dad’s arms, burying my head in his chest as a sob wrecked my body. “It’s hard to talk about.”

“I know...” He kissed my head, rubbing soothing circles on my back. “There is also something else I wanted to talk to you about.”

“If it’s about yesterday, I know it was wrong of me an—”

“It’s not about yesterday,” he interrupted me before I could go on a rant. “Though I do not want you to go out of the city anymore—not without Lachlan or someone else.”

“Why?” I went out of the city on my own more times than I could count, and every time I returned safely. Not a scratch on my body.

“Because women have been disappearing in all the kingdoms. And not just a couple, Lexi, but dozens of them.”

My eyes widened at the news, and I saw how much my dad was struggling with it. This was not nothing. People disappearing without a trace. I could only imagine the horror those women were feeling. Though one thing I didn’t understand… Why would a kingdom kidnap them?

“I thought we were at peace with the other kingdoms?” The war had been over for almost twenty years and we came out stronger—alliances in every kingdom, annual meetings to talk about the events that happened the past year.

“We are...” He rubbed his face. “This is something else. Now promise me you will not go off on your own.”

With honesty in my eyes, I gave him a hug as I said, “I promise, but what about the other women? And what about mom? Does she know already?”

Nikai let go of me and shifted on his feet whilst refusing to look at me.

“Dad?” I drawled out, a soft smile creeping up my face.

An awkward cough filled the air. “Not yet.”

The smile on my face turned brighter, my cheeks burning. “Sorry, I didn’t hear you.”

“If you don’t remove that smug look on your face, I will give you house arrest,” he threatened. Though the mirth in his eyes told me a different story.

“Good luck with telling her she can’t hunt anymore.” A favourite hobby of my mom and I couldn’t wait to join her as soon as I shifted for the first time.

“I will surely need it,” he mumbled under his breath, and I shook my head as he went on his way again.

Dressing into something comfy, I walked out of my room and sauntered through the lively corridors. I had no idea what to do today. Going out was no longer allowed, and I didn’t want to spend the day with Lachlan.

Not after his confession. A confession that confused me as I had never thought he saw me in that way. We grew up together like brother and sister—knew every little secret about each other. Though it may not be too far fetched as I couldn’t imagine a life without him and I was sure the same could be said about him.

“One more step and you will collide with that plant.”

The sound of Lachlan’s voice brought me out of my daze and I jumped up, a small yelp leaving my mouth. With my heart in my throat, I turned around. Adoration shone in his eyes, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“Hii.” Was all that I could manage, and I shook my head to clear my mind. “W-what are you doing here?”

His brow raised as if he couldn’t believe I had just asked that. “Didn’t know I needed permission to walk in my own home.”

I stood there—mouth agape. He had me there. This was as much as his home as mine, and I fumbled with my fingers, my eyes darting everywhere but him.

“I have to go.”

Not wanting him to catch up to me, I dashed into the private sitting room, my heart racing inside my chest.

“Mom.”

She sat on the big leather couch; the sunlight creating a halo around her, causing her auburn hair to lit up like fire and her eyes gleamed with happiness, a ghost of a smile tugging on her lips upon seeing me.

“Did you just take a run?” she asked as she laid her book down. “And what is with the blush?”

Words disappeared as soon as they came—my mind not able to make coherent sentences. The truth… or an innocent lie.

I strolled to the bookcase, my eyes lingering over the many titles. “Nothing.” If my mom knew the truth, I would be a long way from home. We would talk for hours upon hours—time I didn’t want to waste like that.

She hummed, and I could feel her eyes burning in the side of my head as my fingers skimmed over the rough back of the books.

“Is it a boy?”

Her question mortified me. “Mom!”

A chuckle rung through the air. “So it is a boy.”

With my eyes cast to the ground, I shifted on my feet, the chamomile scent of my mom’s tea doing little to calm my nerves. “Maybe.”

“Care to tell me who?”

Heated by the warmth of the sun, I glided my fingers over the dark wood to the desk that stood against the window. Papers covered it, scribbled down with words—a story. One I hoped to read as soon as my mom finished them.

“Lachlan confessed to me yesterday.” My voice, a soft caress—a whisper. “And I don’t know what to think of it… I thought he only saw me as a friend.”

A hand touched my shoulder, followed by my mom’s voice, “only a blind man would not see the love he has for you, Lexi.”

I whipped my head up, my mouth open as I stared at my mom. They all knew! “Is it that obvious?”

“Maybe you didn’t want it to be true.” She squeezed my shoulder, and added in a softer voice, “scared he would break your heart too.”

“You know.” My voice wavering as if the smallest touch could break it, and I stared out of the window. She knew I had met my mate… A mate that hated me with every fibre in his body.

“I will never want you as my mate,” Collin growled, his claws digging in the palms of his hand.

“Why!” My voice broke, unshed tears burning in my eyes as something moved inside my head. “Because I am a shifter?” The hatred in my voice drowned out the desperation—the longing for my mate.

“Leave now or I will kill you,” he threatened, and he bared his canines at me. No doubt wanting to rip me to shreds…

“Lexi?”

My mom’s voice brought me back to reality, a sob leaving my mouth as I hugged her tightly to me. “I want to hate him so much.”

Calm strokes over my back soothed some of the hurt brewing in my chest as she whispered, “just let it all out…”

After a while the sobs slowed down and she pulled back, wiping my tears away with her thumbs—tears that matched her own as I saw them burning in her eyes.

“Can I ask you something?”

“S-sure,” I hiccuped, drying my cheeks with the sleeve of my shirt.

“Was he your mate?”

My lower lip trembled, and I slowly nodded my head. “He… he doesn’t want me.”

“Oh, honey.” She kissed my forehead. “You are an amazing person with a heart of gold. If he doesn’t see that, then he isn’t worthy of your love.”

A broken chuckle rumbled in my chest. “But Lachlan is?”

The corner of my mom’s mouth tugged up as she squeezed my shoulders. “You are still young. Zak and Nikai were over eight centuries old when they found the one.”

“Thank you.” Her words meant a lot to me, and I gave her one last hug before leaving. “I’ll see you at dinner.”

The guffawing of guards piqued my interest, and I came to a halt in front of a window, my body shielded by a plant. Maids were busy cleaning the corridor as a group of guards passed by. They were clearly talking about women as they clasped their friends’ shoulders.

I leant my head against the window, my eyes closed. Peace… Twenty years of living carefree, not a worry in sight, did this. Though it might break soon. At least if I could believe my dad’s words.

I shook my head, opening my eyes as I turned to the sky.

Dark clouds—a deep gray I had never seen before—painted them… Spelling doom.

But I didn’t let it scare me. It was autumn, after all.

As I walked back to my room, my fingers trailed over the wall, the rough texture grazing my fingertips. Once—before I was born—blood painted these walls, dead bodies lying everywhere. But now… children ran through the corridors, their squeals of laughter gracing our ears.

My parents told me the stories—the big war. How dad lost his parents… my mom pregnant with me while running from the rogues. Not to mention my mate, who was hell bent on killing her.

I scoffed out. The irony of it all. Mated to the shifter killer.

My fingers stopped, lingering on the doorknob of my door. It wasn’t the best place to hide from my friend, but safer than roaming the corridors. So I walked in, grabbing my sketchbook, and sat in the window bay.

Minutes passed by—turning into hours as the sun set. A phenomenon that occurred without me noticing… My mind too enthralled with my sketch.

Piercing eyes. Wavy hair that reached his ears. Dimples in his cheeks every time he smiled as if there was no care in the world.

A presence walked into my room. One I didn’t notice until his feet came into my vision and with haste, I hid my sketch behind my back, crumpling the paper.

“Really, Lachlan?” I grumbled. Though everyone could hear the slight hitch in my throat, my heart racing inside my chest.

He shrugged his shoulders, a smirk adorning his face. “I knocked, didn’t I? Not my fault you were too consumed in your work of art.”

“What if I was naked!” Goddess, he might be kind and mature, but he certainly lacked manners.

“Dang it. Just missed it,” he spoke, feigning his disappointment with a pout.

I threw a pillow at him, hoping to hit him square in the face. But luck wasn’t on my side. He caught it with ease, hugging it as he plopped down on my bed.

“What do you want?” I asked as I watched my toes, wiggling them.

“I wanted to know if you would like to join me for dinner.”

Dinner! Was it that late already?

I glanced outside only to see the dark night sky; the stars hidden behind the clouds.

“I didn’t even notice it was this late already,” I murmured, my hand on the window.

“Well, you do forget the world around you when you are drawing.” He pushed himself off the bed and walked over to me, our eyes connecting. “Now, would you like to join me for dinner?”

“Like a date?” The word itself sounded appealing to me. Dating him. Did I want that?

“Do you want it to be a date?”

The hopeful glint in his voice did not go unnoticed by me, and my eyes darted back to my toes. “I don’t know.”

“Then as friends.” He held out his hand, waiting for me to take it. “We’ll see where the night brings us.”

A smile adorned my face and at the touch of his warm hand, a fuzzy feeling fluttered in my stomach. “Lead the way.”

Arm in arm, we strolled through the palace and to where—I did not know. He refused to tell me, even when I gave him my famous puppy eyes. Eyes that could get me anything.

“Can’t you at least say if it’s inside or outside?” I was never good with surprises, and I had no clue what to expect. For all I knew, he was going to throw me in the lake.

“Have a little more patience,” he breathed out. “We are almost there.”

“And where is there?”

He stopped walking and tugged at my arm, letting me fall onto his chest. “Ask me one more time and we’ll just have dinner in your room.”

“Fine,” I grumbled, following him again as we walked through a door.

My eyes darted through the room. Dust laid everywhere, covering the old paintings… Paintings of my ancestors, and I recognized my grandparents. Greying hair. Laugh wrinkles. They were a happy couple. Everyone could see that by the love that gleamed in their eyes as they looked at each other.

“Why are we here?” This was an old room. One that was only used for storage.

“Because you have to go through here to enter the staircase.”

The staircase? There was no staircase in here. Not even a door, except for the one we used.

“Are you sure?” I asked, my eyes once again wandering around the dusty room. “This room is a dead end.”

He ignored my question as he strode over to the bookcase. His fingers glided over the shelves, the dust sticking to his fingers.

“Lachlan?”

“Just wait and see,” he spoke, and he pressed on a particular spot.

A creaking noise echoed through the room, and my eyes widened in amazement. The bookcase… It was a door.

“Are there any more secrets I should know about this castle?” I inquired as he led me up the stairs.

He hummed in response. “This one I found a year ago. Though I think this is the only one. I haven’t found others yet.”

“And you didn’t bother to tell me about it?” I could use a spot like this. One where nobody could find me.

“Revealing the only spot I can hide? No way.” He wrapped an arm around my shoulder, and we halted in front of a wooden door. An old one, the wood creaking as Lachlan opened it, revealing an open place.

My eyes darted everywhere, unable to stay still on one thing for too long.

Strings of lights hung all over the place—tiny fireflies were what they reminded me of. A big blanket on the ground, a picnic basket beside it.

The place reminded me of the caves in Eros’ kingdoms, the glowing crystals, the cool air. The only thing that differed was the open air.

“I thought you said this wasn’t a date?” I asked, quirking a brow at him.

“Well…” he drawled out. “I planned everything to be one, but we can just be here as friends.”

“Lachlan…” The disappointment in his voice didn’t go unnoticed by me. He wanted this to be a date and here I stood, pitying over a mate that didn’t want me while there was a perfect guy standing right in front of me. “It can be a date.”

“It doesn’t have to be on—”

“You planned all this. It’s a waste not to enjoy it.” I grabbed his hand and pulled him down with me onto the blanket, eyeing the basket. “By the way, the food smells heavenly. What did you bring?”

“A bit of everything.” He handed me a glass of red wine and grabbed the sandwiches and fruit. “And before you open your mouth. There’s no meat.”

A ghost of a smile danced on my lips. “Thank you.”

I bit a piece off the sandwich, moaning at the taste of it. Starved came close to what I felt. Though my moment of peace got interrupted by the stare of my friend. His eyes burned into my head and I was about to speak my mind when he beat me to it.

“What were you drawing when I walked in?”

With my mouth open, I hesitated. No words formed in my mind. What was I supposed to say?

“Lexi?” A smirk played on his lips.

“I… I have no idea what you are talking about,” I hasted out, focusing back on my sandwich as I picked the salad out of it.

“Awh, come on. What were you drawing?”

He poked me in the side.

Once… Twice…

“Stop that!” I swapped his hand away, a giggle escaping my mouth. “It tickles.”

“Not until you tell me what you were drawing.”

The laugh in his voice told me this was far from over, and I scrambled off the ground. But it was too late. He had already grabbed me by the waist, tickling me relentlessly.

I begged him to stop, gasping for air. “Lachlan, I mean it, stop!”

But he didn’t abide by my request, only tickling me even more. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I squirmed in his hold. It was too much. Breathing became difficult, the laughing hurting the muscles in my stomach. So I did the first thing that came to my mind… kneeing him in the stomach.

A groan filled the air as he laid on his back, clutching his stomach. “Goddess, did you have to do that?”

“I told you to stop.” The laughter couldn’t be more clear in my voice. Though as soon as I saw the frown etched on his face it turned to worry and my fingers skimmed over the place where I kneed him, assessing the damage. “Does it hurt?”

“Nah, just peachy.” He jerked at my arm, his arms wrapping around me and our eyes connected, hypnotising me.

“I was drawing you,” I breathed out without thinking.

“You were?” He leaned on his elbows, his nose touching mine.

My eyes darted to his lips as I nodded my head—a second of weakness. And I couldn’t help but wonder if I should take the risk… To kiss him.

There was no denying it. I had feelings for him. Maybe not as strong as his, but they were there and with time they could turn stronger. Though I didn’t get a second chance to think about it…

His soft lips touched mine—a feather light touch… A brief one. One that was enough for me to lose mind.

Euphoria coursed through me as I pressed my lips on his, my hands cupping his cheeks and a shudder went through my body. His fingers glided over the back of my leg to my ass, my back—all the way up to my hair where he entangled them.

A moan slipped past my lips when he bucked his hips against mine and he slipped his tongue into my mouth, fighting for dominance. Dominance, I easily gave away as desire overwhelmed my every sense.

The first raindrops fell on the ground. On our skin, clothes, hair… And Lachlan pulled back from me.

“Don’t stop,” I mumbled, the haze of lust not lifted yet from my mind. I wanted more, more of his kisses, more of his featherlight touches. Touches that sent my body ablaze.

He leant his forehead against mine, his hands gliding over my back to my hips, slipping underneath my shirt.

“It’s raining,” he murmured. The water poured from the sky, soaking our clothes, but I didn’t care.

“Shut up and kiss me.” I grabbed the collar of his shirt, smashing my lips on his. He made me forget—something I desperately needed right now.

A chuckle vibrated in his chest, reverberating through my body, sending delirious sparks through me, and his fingers climbed higher and higher only to stop right below my bra. He teased my skin, drawing circles as his mouth left my lips to my jaw, my neck, my collarbone… Kisses that drove me insane.

“Lachlan…” I moaned, arching my back, and I tugged at his shirt. Faster—it needed to go faster. I needed him.

“Lexi,” he warned.

Tears gathered in my throat. I needed this.

“Please.” My voice broke—the first tears falling down.

Lachlan pulled back from me, leaning on his elbow as he wiped a stray tear away. “You are not over him yet, Lexi.”

More tears followed, and I wrapped my arms around him. Why did he have to be so perfect?

“We should head back inside before we get a cold.” He kissed the crown of my head before letting me go, and I stood from his lap, wiping the last couple tears away. Embarrassment didn’t even come close to what I felt, and it was noticed all throughout our walk to my room. We didn’t talk or so much as glance at each other.

Coming to a halt in front of my door, I turned to him. “I’m sorry about the date.”

“Don’t be.” He cupped my cheek, his thumb rubbing over the smooth skin. “I can wait.”

I offered him a small smile—a broken one—and walked inside my room before leaning my head against the door.

This night had been amazing, and his presence… It did something to me. The sliver of hope inside my chest grew again, and I knew Lachlan could make me happy. But was it fair to him? He would always come second place to my mate. I couldn’t help that.

“Goddess, what am I going to do?” I mumbled and walked out of my room in search of my best friend.

I had to tell him… Tell him I wanted him, but that I wouldn’t be able to love him like he did me.

Giggles reached my ears, and I halted in my steps when I rounded a corner. Lachlan stood by a window with a girl—her hand on his arms.

Tears burned my eyes, a heavy feeling in my chest. This girl… It wasn’t family of him. I was sure of it. But who was she then? More important, did he have a relationship with her? Was it all a lie?

Questions swarmed my head, doubt clouding my mind, and I ran back to my room, the tears pouring from my eyes.

“Why? Why do you hate me so much?” I cried out as I dropped myself to the ground. Why couldn’t the Moon Goddess give me a mate who would love me like my dad does my mom?

And with each passing second, the heavy feeling inside my chest increased until I couldn’t breathe anymore. Tears choked me, my entire world crumbling in front of me.

Breathe, I told myself.

In…

Out…

Again.

But it didn’t work.

I had no one—all alone.