James Purefoy as High Lord Rafael 'Rafe' Klyne

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Did he just say another mate?

"Are you saying you're his mate, Salim?"

"Me, no, no, no but are you sure he's your mate?"

"I almost strangled my only niece because I got a whiff of his scent on her, confirming he's my mate. So yes, HE. IS. MY. MATE!"

"Well then, you're welcome to come see your mate, but I'll caution you to be prepared."

"I'm prepared to do more than see my mate, I'm coming for my mate. Be prepared for what?"

"Nothing, nothing, when will you be here?"

"Tomorrow. Alpha Salim do I have permission to enter your territory?"

"Permission granted, High Lord Klyne. See you tomorrow."

Another mate? What on earth is going on? I sit back on the bed, wondering what my mate has in store for me. No matter what, I am not losing my mate to anyone, not even to the Sun god himself.

Waking up on the softest mattress, in a warm and comfortable room on my own time is divine. My alarm didn't go off at four am but I woke up because my body is so used to getting up at that hour and had to force myself to go back to sleep. What luxury, I'm liking it here.

We're making more rounds of the pack and so far, Summer has shown us all the amenities in the house. The gym, swimming pool, spa, sauna/steam room, basketball court, tennis court, theater room, several kitchens, you name it they have it. No wonder these cubs are always hanging around. There's something for everyone.

Roland and Serena have decided to continue with their online high school classes. They feel that transferring to the pack school may delay their graduation date. Roland hangs around the pack construction crew after school much to Joaquim's dismay. Roland with all those muscled werecats and their bare six-pack chests is frustrating his mate.

Serena loves to hang with the cubs, and they are wearing her out, but she loves it. These cats are fast. She says she'll love to have a daycare center which surprisingly the pack doesn't have. The cubs love her and when they all shift and run around in the yard it is a funny sight. A werewolf and cubs playing around and chasing each other is freaking hilarious.

Raven is also looking into online colleges, she says she wants to be a medical doctor, a psychiatrist! Is this girl nuts? She wants to know what makes people tick. You would think she'll know that by now with all we've been through. On a good note, she and Serena seem closer now after the big reveal that they are mates.

I visit Dr. Derek Granger with Summer and Raven at the pack hospital. He is a character that one, asking a lot of questions, rattling them off one after the other: how the herbs are made, how I started, can I work with him? He is a lot to take in.

Personally, I'm more interested in the forest, particularly the types of plants and herbs growing in this area. I hope to find most of the ones I use for my products. So, I take a more focused walk through the forest making sure I wasn't crossing park land. I find the herbs we need for our products and bagged some new ones to experiment with.

I take off my clothes, shift,and decide to let Sköll out for a run. He needs to familiarize himself with our new home.

"Feels good to be out and about doesn't it," I ask Sköll.

"It does. We're really part of this pack now?" he asks as he picks up his pace.

"Yes, we are."

I retreat as I let Sköll run through the forest. He dodges and jumps over logs and fallen trees along the way. I can feel his excitement and I'm glad he seems to accept this change. He runs until he got tired. He flops down near a small river, barely lifts his head and drinks some water. He lays his head on his paws and closes his eyes, sighing in content. About half an hour later, Alpha Salim mind links me.

"Cal, Alpha Salim here, where are you?"

"In the north end of the pack, by the river, sir."

"You need to come back to the house, you have a visitor."

"A visitor? Is it Esme? It's Esme isn't it; I'll be right there."

I don't wait for an answer. I wake Sköll in my excitement and he races back to where we started, he shifts back, and I put my clothes on, I run to Alpha Salim's office. It will be so nice to see my favorite bitchy witch.

Inside I am as nervous as a teenage boy waiting to ask his crush out on a date, but I look calm and calculated on the outside. Salim tells me that my mate is on his way. God, I wonder what he looks like? I bet he is a scrumptious as can be. I just want to take him back with me and love him.

I had flown to Riverbend, North Dakota mid-morning with my butler, Jeffery. Salim was kind enough to have a car waiting to drive me straight to Crimson River Pack. Now that's a were I can be friends with. I was slightly disappointed to find out my mate is out gallivanting through the forest looking for herbs? Herbs, what on earth for?

How long I have waited for my mate! I was losing hope that the Sun god had left me mate less for eternity and now I found him. And he's a wolf, that was a twist I never anticipated. Nonetheless he is all mine and I can't wait to hold him.

Jeffery stands quietly at my right side with my coat and gloves. He's here with me as protection for my mate. He is in a werecat pack, and I want to be prepared for any usual incidents. These weres are temperamental at best.

"Cal is on his way; he should be here in about half an hour? Something to drink, High Lord?"

"Please call me Rafe, a cup of tea will suffice, thank you."

After he calls for tea, I ask him the question that has been killing me softly.

"Salim what was that you said about 'another mate'?"

He pauses momentarily and seem to fidget a bit before he gives me this vague look.

"If he is your mate as you say, I think you should hear that from him. But for whatever it's worth, I'm rooting for you."

What does he think this is, a football game or something, rooting for me, really? Just when I think he's a reasonable were, he goes and proves me wrong. I sit back and try to relax; Salim goes about his business and Jefferey of course is stoic and unmoving as usual.

The aroma just hit me out of the blue, my heart speeds up, I inhale deeply and stand up so fast the chair falls back. Salim stops his conversation and gives me a puzzled look. Guessing my reason for the abrupt move, he hangs up his call and gives me a warning look. The footsteps draw closer, the scent more delicious, and the waiting seems longer. A tentative knock on the door is followed by the loveliest voice I've ever heard ask, "Alpha may I come in" almost made me cum in my pants.

"Come in" Salim answers.

In walks the most beautiful angel I have ever seen; his face is flawless with shiny red hair that gently frame his face. His mouth has the delicate shape of the moon and his lips are a striking mauve color. He stands at about five feet eight inches with a slim build. He's dressed in cream-colored slacks, and blue and white fitted top. He brushes his bangs away from his face as he walks in and shows the deepest sea blue eyes I have ever seen, and all I could do is exhale the word "Mate".

"Mate" replies the young man as he eyes changes to gold and he moves towards me, but something stops him, and he yells 'vampire'.

"You're a vampire!"

"And you are a wolf and my mate," as I move closer to my prize, itching to touch him.

"That's not possible, you're a vampire, you'll suck my blood dry," he steps back as I step forward mimicking a dance.

"Callum my love, not your blood, but I plan to suck something else dry and trust me, you'll love every minute of it."

"Hellooo, there are folks with delicate ears in the room," interrupts Salim.

Hating the interruption, I give Salim a hard look which he returns. Knowing I am in his home and will probably need his help, I concede.

"You are really mates! Wow didn't see that one coming. Well Cal, my friend, seems you will be leaving us."

"You're throwing me out?"

"Yes, I am, into the arms of your mate."

"Alpha Salim?? What! No, no, no, I just got here. And he is a vampire," he whispers.

"I think we all know that by now. Time to go, Cal. Pack up, your mate's here. Stands to reason you want to leave with him, right?"

"No. I don't even know him, not even his name!"

Trying to diffuse the problem rising, I interrupt them, introducing myself to my mate.

"I'm High Lord Rafael Klyne. Leader of the Silvern Clan in Redwood, South Dakota and your mate. I think you may have met my niece, Freddy?"

"The vamp that almost grazed my neck in Esme's store is your niece?"

"Yes, she is. She can be a handful sometimes. Do forgive her. Just know that we vampires don't go around sucking people's neck unless in self-defense. And if not for your smell on her, I wouldn't have found you, my mate."

"Yeah, remind me to send her a gift, not!" he says sarcastically. "You said leader of a clan and not pack, why? What's the difference?"

He is curious and wants to know more about my kind, I like that.

"We vampires consider the word 'pack' to have an unruly meaning to it. But 'clan' on the other hand, to us means family, loyalty, love, togetherness. 'Packs' mostly fight first and ask questions later but 'Clans' ask questions and render justice appropriately; we don't like regrets. There's a calmness to our madness but an irrationality to yours."

"TMI, dude."

"Then DNA, love."

"DNA?"

"Do Not Ask. If it's too much information, then, do not ask."

He suddenly bursts out laughing, "you're funny." His laughter is like music to my ears and his face lights up when he laughs. I want him to laugh more, it is so charming.

"Thank you."

"But I'm still not leaving with you."

"I understand, you are wary. I will like to get to know you and I hope you want the same. I have the perfect solution. Salim, may I request a longer length of stay for myself in your pack?"

"Emm, sure. How long are we talking about here?" Salim asks.

"Until my mate is comfortable enough to leave with me."

"I can kick him out and you can take him with you?"

"But he won't be comfortable with me. You wouldn't like a mate forced to be with you now, would you?"

"You're right, okay I'll get your accommodation ready."

"I need to go back home, and I'll be back in a day or two."

"Hellooo, forgotten mate still in the room here."

"Forgotten, never! Just making things easier for you my love," I say and move closer to Callum.

This time he doesn't move. I look into his blue eyes, that are blinking rapidly, and I gently cup his face. I lean down and kiss him slowly. Waiting for his withdrawal and getting none, I kiss him again looking into his eyes, as those sea blue orbs slowly widen and turn gold then blue again. My instinct and desire kick in and I nip him a little on his lower lip.

"Ouch, you bit me," he purrs and licks his lip.

"Just want a taste to hold me till I return. Salim, I appreciate all your help and I will see you in a day or two. Jeffery?"

"My Lord," he hands me my coat and gloves.

Without another look or word, I leave. Leave when the going is good, that's my motto. Be ready mate, I will be back, and you will leave with me, that I swear on the Sun god's name.

All that the so-called report has on Esme Wood, is her name, age, and location of her store. I spoke to my father and he revealed that she is a High Priestess which explains her great powers. I want to know more about my mate. I believe I am missing something about their relationship. If anyone would know more about Cal it would be his parent. So, here I am in the former Beta's house with his daughter, Minerva, to learn more about my mate. Beta David Yorke is a tall, muscled man with black hair and dull grey eyes. Minerva looks very much like him.

"Thank you for seeing me Beta Yorke."

"You're welcome Alpha."

I decline his offer of a refreshment and cut straight to the point.

"You may know by now that your son Cal is my mate. He left, and I believe his friend Esme knows where he is and probably helped him. Now I need you to tell me why a witch is involved in the life of a wolf, especially an omega."

"They've been friends since they were five years old, Alpha."

"Five years old, that long and you knew about this?"

"Annabelle, my wife as you know died a few months after Cal was born. She had given me some strict instructions on her death bed. She told me that Cal was going to meet the one who will save his life when he turned five and I was not to stop their friendship no matter who she is, or I will suffer the consequences."

"And you believe that crap?"

"No, not at first. I tried to keep them apart, a werewolf and a witch, unheard of but something happened. Do remember when the pack was attacked by that band of hunters and rogues, the biggest raid on our pack ever? You and Cal were six, Minerva was ten, and I almost died? Belle appeared to me and told me that that was a small consequence of trying to stop Cal's friendship with Esme."

"That was just a coincidence, I'm sure."

"Well, I wasn't going to take that chance, especially not with my child's life."

"She wouldn't have hurt Cal."

"Not Cal, Alpha."

"What are you saying, Beta Yorke?"

"That Minerva is my natural child; Cal is not my blood."

"What?"

At the same time, Minerva jumps up and screams, "Father, what are you saying?"

"I'm sorry my dear. This is a secret I meant to take to my grave. I didn't plan on telling you at all. Your mother, my mate got pregnant by an Elder and Cal your brother, does not have my blood in him. Callum Yorke is not my son. Callum Yorke is no ordinary omega. Callum Yorke's existence scares the shit out of me."

Oh, my Goddess, Cal is an elder's offspring, the Moon goddess's blood grandchild, what have I gotten myself into?

Hold on to your hats there's more to our Omega's creation...

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