Chapter 28
Victor
It’s been several days since Taryn’s water ritual and to say it got attention would be an understatement.
It’s national fucking news.
That ritual not only cleared all the oil from the spill; it’s a full blown miracle. The water has never been cleaner. The saltwater life is thriving. Everything along the coastline and up the river ways for miles was cleansed.
But while it’s national news, nobody has answers. The religious folks have plenty and a lot more people are accepting that right now, because there’s no other explanation. Some people think aliens showed up and helped us. Or Elvis, depending on which side of crazy the conspiracy falls on.
“Is it still the top headline?” Taryn asks, walking into the living room, fresh from a bath and looking absolutely delicious in her blue gown.
“Yep, you’re on every channel,” I chuckle, flipping them to prove it. “Well, not you, but what you did.”
“And people used to think I’d never amount to anything,” she says somewhat proudly as she plops down and snuggles closer.
“Who used to think that?” I growl, tensing up a little.
“More of an expression,” she sighs, patting my thigh. “No need to get all wolfy.”
“Wolfy?” I growl, smacking her ass. “I don’t get fucking wolfy.”
“Hey!” she says, pushing at me. “Fine, you don’t get wolfy!” She laughs and scoots away a bit. “We need to decide where we’re doing the next ritual. I’m getting antsy. Like… I feel like I need to do it.”
“Probably because you’ve already done two of them,” I say, running my hand down her thigh. “Or you just want to create another news headline.”
“I might,” she says, looking away. “Remember that wildfire that tore through California a few months ago?”
“Yeah, we had some shifters who came through New Salem that got displaced because of that shit,” I answer. “Oh, I get it. You want to heal it.”
“If I can,” she says hesitantly. “It worked for the ocean, so maybe it’ll work for the land, too? I don’t know. There are other places. Probably some places where people are hungry, too, and could use the vegetation. I’m feeling so antsy about doing the ritual, I keep changing my mind.”
“The book just says you have to do the rituals. It doesn’t say you have to save the world,” I grunt. “Once Mother Nature is back, that’s her job.”
“Maybe you’re right,” she says. “I shouldn’t be overly ambitious. We’ll go with the wildfire damage.”
“Alright, let me make the arrangements,” I reply, leaning over and grabbing my phone.
I send a message to Saul outlining the plan.
We’ll need to use his jet again and we’ll need another helicopter when we land.
It’s a good thing I’ve got plenty of money in the bank because helping my mate perform miracles is expensive.
Then again, Saul probably won’t even let me pay him back.
I think he’s as invested in this as we are.
I’m stroking Taryn’s hair and listening to her list off pros and cons of her choice when I get a response from Saul.
“Alright, the jet is ready for us,” I interrupt. “Let’s go do this before you change your mind again.”
“I won’t change my mind,” she sighs, sitting up. “Let me go get dressed.”
“I’ll come watch,” I chuckle playfully.
“If you come watch, I’m going to have a lot of time to change my mind because you never just watch,” she teases as she stands, spinning around in her blue gown.
“Fine,” I growl, slapping her ass. “Hurry up.”
She’s not wrong. We’re in no danger of letting our bond wither. It feels like we get closer every day, and it’s going deeper than the bond. Emotions are stirring. I know we can both feel them. The mating bond brought us together, but it’s become so much more than that since the frenzy.
Taking care of my mate is my reason for breathing, but kissing Taryn’s lips makes every breath intoxicating.
I’m slowly being wrapped around her beautiful little finger, and I don’t even hate it.
If she wanted to turn the Sahara into a paradise, I’d be along for the ride, making sure nothing stopped her.
She’s the key. I’m just the ignition to start the engine.
But the faster we’re done with these rituals, the better.
Then I’ll have her all to myself for the rest of my life.
I’ll damn sure put a baby in her belly. I won’t stop breeding my mate until we’ve got an entire pack nipping at our heels.
My instincts are burning for it, but the rituals come first. Saving the fucking world comes first.
She emerges from the bedroom looking ravishing in jeans and a t-shirt because she looks ravishing in everything. Ravishing and radiant, framed by auburn hair. My beautiful mate.
“Everything is packed and ready to go,” I say, slinging my backpack over a shoulder.
“Then so am I,” she says, walking past me, our hands touching just enough for me to wish I’d watched her change.
We take the Land Rover to the airport and Saul’s private jet to California. It doesn’t take as long as flying to Alaska, thank fuck, but it’s still a few hours before we’re on the ground again.
“There’s the helicopter,” I nod my head in the direction we’re heading as I help her off the jet.
“This one isn’t as nice as the one we had last time,” she says hesitantly.
“Well, this time Saul knows we have to blow it up after we’re done with it,” I chuckle. “The jet flies unregistered, but we don’t want to leave anything behind they can trace.”
“Great, I’m solving ecological disasters and you’re blowing up helicopters,” she sighs.
“You aren’t as affected by the wildlife this time,” I comment. “We’re not far from the wildfires.”
“I noticed that too,” she says. “I feel it, but it’s not as strong. Maybe because I know I can help.”
“Maybe,” I grunt, guiding her onto the helicopter. “Or maybe you’re just becoming a more powerful druid.”
“Hmm, I wonder if I’ll get special powers or… become stronger,” she speculates, sitting in the passenger seat and flexing her muscles dramatically.
“You’re the only druid, so your guess is as good as mine.” Settling into the cockpit and putting on the headphones, I gesture for her to do the same. “Let’s get this over with.”
I don’t care what kind of powers my mate develops while we do these rituals, because it just means she’s safer if something comes for us. I’ve been keeping a lookout and we haven’t been followed. Once we’re in the air, I don’t see any other aircraft. We seem to be in the clear.
“Alright, you’ll have to do it in about ten minutes,” I prompt.
“I’ll get everything ready,” she says, moving my backpack to her lap.
We get close enough to call it the center of the area devastated by wildfire and I turn, nodding for her to do it.
She lights the ingredients, slices her finger deep enough for me to wince, and some blood runs into the bowl.
A second later, greenery spills over the top of the bowl and she tosses it out the window.
“Ritual done,” I chuckle, turning the chopper away from the scene of the crime… or impending miracle.
We don’t get very far before the ravaged ground is swarmed by greenery that flourishes for miles in every direction. It’s like time is reversed, and the wildfire never turns the landscape to ash.
“Oh fuck,” I groan. “Yeah, that will definitely be noticed.”
“It’s still going, too,” she says, watching with amazement.
“Yeah, I can see that,” I mutter.
I get us back to the airstrip where we landed the jet, fire off a text to Saul, and practically drag her toward the jet. I don’t wait for her to get seated before I start the engines and accelerate down the runway.
“Damn, fuck, shit,” she grumbles as she stumbles into the cockpit and sits down. She quickly puts on the headphones. “We don’t have to flee like criminals.”
“No, but the faster we’re out of here the better,” I growl, tugging the controls and taking off. “Fasten your seatbelt.”
“Sir, yes, sir,” she snips, settling into her seat and following directions.
“Good girl,” I chuckle, winking at her.
She looks over at the greenery until we can’t see it anymore.
She’s excited. There’s no denying that. More ravishing and radiant than ever, if that’s possible.
Doing these rituals does something to her.
So far, it’s been a good thing. Caution is natural, especially when it comes to my mate, but I have to trust that we’re doing the right thing.
“The next ritual is the one that brought us together,” she says, finally leaning back. “The Ritual of Fate. Except it was a spell then… I guess?”
“Just enough magic to rattle the fate-block,” I say. “But I’m sure your blood had way more to do with it than anything else.”
“This time, I won’t be using it for myself. According to the book, I have to use the blood of an unmated wolf or a druid who is ready for Mother Fate’s blessing,” she says. “Since I’m the only druid, do you know any eligible bachelors?”
“I might,” I hum, thinking. “There’s another member of Silver Pack who believes Mother Fate forgot him. Maybe we can give Mother Fate a nudge, if he’s up for it.”
“We don’t even have to leave the penthouse for this one,” she says. “We can just do it in the living room, if you invite him over.”
“I don’t like the idea of performing one there even if Ingrid says it should be safe. We’ll do it at a different hotel. I’ll have Saul make the arrangements.” I pull out my phone and send the text.
By the time we land, we’ll have a location. I just have to call Donovan. He’s back in New Salem, but he can get here quickly if it’s important.
Once we land, I send Taryn to wait in the SUV and make the call. I’m not sure how he’ll take this, but I’ll offer it to him first before I start looking at other options.
“Victor? Everything okay?” he asks.
“Yeah, everything’s fine,” I assure him. “How would you like to find your mate?”
He scoffs into the phone. “You’re trying to set me up on a blind date? I thought you found your mate.”
“Not a blind date. A ritual that will make Mother Fate remember you. Seriously. It’ll work,” I say bluntly.
He’s quiet for several long moments. “What do I have to do?”
“Come to Covington,” I say. “Saul will text you the location. Fly. We need to do this quickly.”
I was glad to finish one ritual today, and we’ll need to kill a little time, but we’ll get another one done tonight.
That’ll be four rituals down and three to go: grandeur, wonder, and life.
We’ll have to spend a few days figuring out where the miracle of grandeur should occur, but she’ll be the one who decides. She’s holding the leash right now.
“Donovan is on his way,” I tell my mate as I get into the Land Rover.
“Wow, okay. I guess he’s eager to meet his mate?” she asks.
“When you believe Mother Fate forgot you, the feeling never really goes away,” I mutter. “It’s like part of you is missing.”
“Is that your wolfy way of saying I complete you?” she asks, smiling.
“There you go with that wolfy shit again,” I snarl. “I’ve still got a switch left from your grandmother’s place.”
“Okay, no more wolfy stuff!” she yelps, but she rubs her thighs together and I catch the scent of her arousal.
“Let’s just focus on the ritual,” I growl, even though everything inside me screams otherwise.
We get to the location Saul sent us to and discover that it’s a conference room, rather than a suite or a just a room.
Saul arranged food and a mini bar. I’m not sure this is what Mother Nature had in mind when she envisioned a Ritual of Fate.
Then again, in her time, the oceans were never polluted and wildfires didn’t wipe out cities. The world was still balanced.
“Well, I was getting hungry,” Taryn says, walking over to look at the food. “Oh wait… Victor, this is catered from Frank’s Diner.”
“The fuck?” Storming over, I pause when I see the spread. “Wait, most of this food actually looks pretty good.”
“It… does,” she says hesitantly. “The restaurant consultants must already be doing well.”
“Or Saul just wanted me to see that my investment is paying off,” I shrug, grabbing a plate. “Let’s see how well.”
We fix some food and drinks, then sit down at the table. The food is surprisingly good. I wouldn’t have known it was from Frank’s Diner if there wasn’t a fancy new logo next to the food with several menus. They even offer delivery now.
“Frank is really turning things around,” she says, sipping her drink. “Maybe all those fancy places actually will be competition one day.”
“Perhaps,” I say. “As long as he doesn’t go and fuck it all up again.”
“Hopefully not,” she says.
We eat, drink, and talk for a while, then take a walk. When we return, I have a text from Donovan saying that he’s close, so we set everything up. I really hope this bowl doesn’t explode, billow smoke, or grow shrubbery that covers the room.
When Donovan arrives, I introduce him to my mate. He seems both anxious and nervous, which is understandable. His world is about to change in ways he can’t even imagine. I know, because I thought I understood what having a mate would be like, just enough to ache for it, but I was so fucking wrong.
“Everything is ready. The only thing you have to do is add a drop of your blood once she lights it,” I say, gesturing to the bowl.
“Then it’ll be like what happened to you? I’ll get my mate’s scent and…that’s it? No more Silver Pack?” he asks, sitting down and picking up the razor.
“I don’t think Silver Pack will ever be very far away if you need them,” I say. “I certainly will be, once we get these rituals done.”
Donovan pauses for a moment, then nods, bringing the blade to his finger. “Alright, I’m ready.”
Taryn lights the ingredients. He bleeds into the bowl. A second later a shimmering light pours out of the bowl, then dissipates with a puff. But I see the change in Donovan immediately. The snap. He barely avoids shifting before he gets his wolf under control.
“I’ve got her scent,” Donovan growls, practically in a daze. “Time to hunt my mate.”
“Good luck. Call if you need anything,” I say, watching him walk away.
“I guess that’s it,” Taryn says. “Four rituals down.”
“Three to go,” I mutter, sitting up and gathering everything.
“Grandeur next,” she says. “It just says that Mother Nature allowed grandeur to flourish, inspiring generations. I don’t really know what that… means.”
“Me either. And we’ve asked everyone we know,” I say. “We’ve just got to pick somewhere and do the ritual.”
“Maybe we should go somewhere Mother Nature inspired grandeur,” she says, standing up.
“She was long gone by the time most places were built,” I growl, slinging my backpack over my shoulder.
“I know, but the inspiration was still there. It didn’t go away,” she says.
“Where would you like to go?” I ask curiously, holding her hand as we leave the conference room.
“What about Paris?” she suggests. “I’ve never been. Have you?”
“No,” I say, letting the idea tumble around in my head for a moment. “I suppose there’s plenty of grandeur there, if that’s the kind you’re looking for.”
“I think so,” she says, squeezing my hand.
If it’s what my mate wants, it’s what my mate will get.
We’ll see Paris for the first time together.