Angelina Jolie as High Lady Georgiana Klyne

*********************************************************************

I can't believe he just up and left. Drops a bombshell and then he leaves. My heart is still racing, and I want to leave with him so bad. That kiss was wow! How can I describe it? It's not my first kiss, but it's my first heart throbbing kiss. Goddess, I want more. He's so tall and those eyes, mesmerizing purple. I get lost in them. They can make me do anything for my mate. Did I say mate? Crap! Too soon, too soon, too freaking soon!!! Sköll has been too giddy for words and been bouncing around since he screamed 'mate' and warning him that our mate is a vampire doesn't scare him at all.

"Cal? Are you okay?" asks Alpha Salim.

''I'm fine, he's a vampire and my mate, I don't understand."

"Yes, he is, only the Goddess understands her ways but all I can tell you is to give him a chance. I don't know him very well, but I what I know is that he's a good, just, tough motherfucker. He's the best friend you can have AND the worst enemy you really want to avoid."

"Great, just fucking great! Now I have a contradictory mate after I rejected an egomaniac. It just keeps getting better and better doesn't it," I say sarcastically. "But I get to stay until I am comfortable leaving with him, right?"

"Yes, you can stay, besides he's moving in with you. Oh, come on, don't give me that look! Pull up your big boy pants, your mate is coming to town." Alpha Salim bursts out laughing.

Rolling my eyes and seeing that I am smack dab in the midst of crazy people, I leave the office to seek the advice of my bestfriend. I walk out of the house, stroll down the driveway, pull out my phone and call Esme.

"What now?"

"Hello to you too." Slowly kicking the pebbles on the driveway as I continue my stroll, "so, umm, looks like I have another mate, and he's a vampire."

"Lord Leech showed up, good for him!"

"Wait a minute, you knew, and you didn't tell me? A simple phone call to warn me would've been great, you know."

"What's the fun in that? Okay, two reasons I didn't call you. One, I know you and you would've hightailed it out of there. Second, he's your mate and a higher ranking one too. He'll protect you when that mutt comes sniffing around you."

"Your thinking is so warped, Esme."

"Whatever. Did he suck your blood yet, how was it, did you like it?"

"ESME!"

"Seriously though what's the problem? That he's a vamp? Please! A wolf just like you almost beat you to a pulp remember. Give him a chance. You need a mate. You're not meant to be alone, and honestly, you're not good alone. One thing about you Cal is that you genuinely like people and you don't like to be alone. You surround yourself with the other three mutts..."

"Friends if you please,'' I interrupt her.

"Whatever! Truth is you need a mate; you want a mate so now another one is in your lap and you're worried because he's a vampire? If he does anything to harm you, I got your back. Besides, I know where to get you instant blood transfusion," she giggles.

"Not funny Esme."

"Come on! where's your sense of humor? Don't tell me you're already turning dull after spending one day with Lord Leech."

"Goodbye Esme."

She's right though, I need to give my mate a chance. Because I still feel that hot kiss and to be honest, I want more.

Damn! what was that? My heart is racing like crazy, I felt dizzy and incredibly turned on at the same time. This can't be happening now, I need to know more about my mate's life and the bombshell his father, correction, stepfather just dropped on me. I excuse myself from father and daughter to use their bathroom. I need to collect myself.

I know that I'll feel my mate's intense emotions since I didn't accept his rejection. That's every were's punishment for incomplete rejection. And that is my cross to bear until I find him. Now, he's turned on? By who, for who? Salim? I'll kill that cat if he so much as touches my mate.

I come back to the living room, and they are having some heated argument. Minerva is walking up and down, arms folded and screaming at her father. The news is a shock to Minerva and she's not taking it well at all.

"Beta Yorke, I need to know more about this Elder and how your mate can have a child with someone else even with your mate bond in place."

"You're right Alpha. I don't know exactly what happened between them but when my Belle came home that night, she was different, stronger, bolder."

"Belle, where have you been, what happened to you? You look flustered, leaves in your hair and dirty clothes? Where have you been?" I held my wife as she staggered into the house.

"I don't know, I woke up and I was under him, David," she answered crying.

"Under who, WHO?" I grabbed her arm and shook her.

"Elder Sorenson! I'm so sorry David. I don't know what happened. I went to the forest to pick herbs as usual and was on my way home, and he just appeared in front of me. The next thing I was under him, in a daze, and we made love. I couldn't fight him, and worse, I didn't want to fight him. I don't know why," she pulled away from my hold and sat on the sofa.

"HOW COULD YOU?? YOU'RE MINE. MINE. MY MATE."

"I don't know what happened, it was all so surreal. He called my name and I was under a spell, a pull. I'm so sorry. David, what are we going to do? I think I'm pregnant?" she cried out.

"Pregnant? How can you know, you just, you just... ?" I couldn't say the words.

"Somehow, I just know, everything about tonight has been strange." She wrapped her hands around herself, shivering.

I whispered "Belle, you can't keep it," as I knelt in front of her.

"I am keeping him, David," she replied defiantly.

"Him?"

"Yes, somehow, I know my baby is a boy," she held her stomach protectively.

"She changed. It was like Cal's impending birth took over her own existence. Everything she did from then on was for Cal. It was a few weeks before his birth that she informed me of seeing Esme's friendship though I had no idea who the friend is or that it will be a witch."

"Father, why didn't you tell me?" 

"I'm sorry dear. Your mother and I worked to make sure that things stayed the same around you. I wanted to protect you from any fallout from what happened."

"Where can I find this Elder Sorenson?" I ask.

"He died."

"Died? How? When?"

"According to Belle, it was a punishment for what he did to her that night, he gave his life, so Cal could live. To whom he gave his life, she wouldn't tell me. He died a few months before Cal was born. That's why that boy scares the shit out of me. He hadn't been born yet and all these strange things were happening surrounding his conception and birth."

"Thank you Beta Yorke and I'm sorry for bringing up these sad memories." I get up and shake his hand.

'I'll see you later and Minerva, spend some time with your father, I think you both have some things to talk about and I'll see you in a week."

"I'm fine."

"One week, and that's an order."

I walk out and get into my car, I have one more person to see, a very powerful witch. What is my mate to you Esme? What's your connection to each other? I'll find out, but I need to sort through everything I learned today.

My journey back home was sweeter. And why, because I found my mate, and he is scrumptious. I kissed him, and I can still taste him. He tasted so delicious and I plan to spend more time with him. To be honest, I was afraid he would reject me, and I don't know what I would've done. Now I need to put somethings in place while I'm out of town.

"Jeffery, pack my things for an indefinite stay at Crimson River pack. Send Marcus and Sarai to my office. Also have the chef prepare everyone's favorite dish tonight, I need them compliant when I deliver my news."

"Yes, my Lord."

I walked straight to my office; some would say a rather opulent one. The room looks more like a den than an office. I sit in my soft brown leather chair, lean back and wait for Marcus and Sarai.

Marcus Webley and Sarai Lawley are soldiers in the clan, also known as 'third blood' in rank. They are a rank below 'fledgings' or 'second blood' and a rank above 'hybrids'. Soldiers are exactly what they are called, they are trained to protect the clan.

"My Lord" they greet me as they walk into the office.

"Sarai, Marcus have a seat. I will be out of town for a while and I need you to hold down the fort until I return."

"How long will you be gone for?" asks Sarai.

"Not sure. I found my mate. And I need to be with him for a while."

"Congrats. It's an amazing thing, isn't it?" replies Marcus. He met his mate five years ago.

"Better than amazing. Any ideas how to break this news to the family?"

Sarai and Marcus, look at each other and burst out laughing. Sarai holds her hands up. "Can't help you there, you're on your own".

"Much help you two are, I'll see you when I get back."

I wave them off and go back to reading some important information I just received. There's a problem brewing in my clan and no matter how hard I try, I cannot figure out who is at the bottom of it all. This is not a good time to leave, but leave, I must. I cannot leave without someone I trust working on this issue.

It's time to call him. I pull out my 'other' phone and make the call.

"Took you long enough, always waiting till the last minute."

"We need your help; I'll forward what I have on the issue to you"

"Since when do you forward information, we always meet."

"I found my mate and I need to spend some time with him."

"You poor, poor sucker," he says laughing.

"Wait until you meet your mate."

"The Moon Goddess knows better that to pull that stunt with me." He hangs up abruptly.

He has never believed in 'matehook' as he puts it and doesn't want a mate. But karma as I'm learning is a bitch and bites you when you least expect it. I send him all the information I have through our encrypted link. I can breathe easier. He has never failed me before.

I have Chef Ramsey prepare all their favorite dishes: my dad Nikolas, mum Nessa, sister Georgiana, niece Freddy, cousin Julian, and my best friend, Raul. There's an eerie silence as they eat their food. Now is the time to drop the news that I'm temporarily moving into a Werecat Pack.

"I met my mate. His name is Callum Yorke, he's a werewolf. He needs a little time before he can move here, so I want to spend that time with him at Crimson River Pack."

"That explains all our favorite dishes. Not too subtle little brother. When do we leave?" my sister asks.

"What do you mean 'we'?"

"We as in, me, Freddy, Jeffery of course, chef, Julian, and Raul if he wishes."

"I wishes, I wishes," replies the smart-alecky Raul, raising his hand.

"Shut up, Raul. You all cannot come with me when I'm trying to get to know my mate, he's a werewolf, remember? All you vampires descending on him might spook him."

"Rafe, we're going, you might need your big sister to smooth things between you and your mate. I love you little brother but when it comes to romance, you're kinda awkward. And if the werewolf is going to be ruling the clan with you, we need to see what type of leader he's going to be. And if he has the backbone to lead."

I hate when she pulls that 'I'm the reasonable big sister card'. So, I try one more excuse.

"I don't know if Salim can accommodate all of us."

"I'm sure he can. The way those weres breed, they'll have plenty of room, so again, when are we leaving?"

Resigned to my fate, I answer. "Tomorrow afternoon."

I think I need to give my mate a 'heads-up' before we all descend on him. My sister vetoes that thought right out of my head with her reply, "By the by, I wouldn't tell your mate we're coming, if you do, he may just skip town and leave you hanging." I hate when she does that.

Callum, get ready the vamps are coming to town.

So, some haughty vampires fly into a Werecat pack, can someone say 'blood-curling trouble ahead...😊.

Please don't forget to vote and/or comment, thank you. Toodles!