Chapter 5
Kodiak
Raven Hollow Wolf Pack Territory
We’d been back home for two weeks and it was as if Raziel realized we knew something about him.
He usually made an appearance at an Alpha Talk meeting at least once every fortnight.
He hadn’t shown his cocky ass in almost a month now.
Maybe he’d settled down with a chosen mate or something.
Maybe he knew what we knew and he didn’t want to talk about it.
If he did show up, I didn’t plan to mention anything.
I’d watch him extra carefully now because for better or worse he was likely destined to be part of our lives.
It was almost dinner time and I was wrapping up some paperwork for Alpha Talk when my office door opened.
It was Creon. His scent was raw and sweet like honey in the wild.
I stood up because everything inside me did the same as if I had never smelled him before.
He’d been ours since before the war ended.
For a second, I thought he was in heat. Then my shoulder stung.
I patted it absentmindedly. Maybe a sweat bee got me.
No. It was the shoulder where Creon had pressed his seed into me.
The shoulder that was opposite of the one where Silas laid his claiming bite.
Was it possible? Was this actually possible.
We were already linked. Had been linked since the war when a gland popped up on Creon’s shoulder.
Barry said it was Uriel’s way of giving his blessing. Was this…?
“Knock, knock. The baby’s with Zoey and them,” he said. “Silas is meeting us—”
He stopped and we stared at each other. The realization lit up in his eyes as the true-mate response hit him too.
“I thought---” I started.
“I think this is different. I think before…” he said but stopped.
“Remember all the reading we did. Those blessings are just for a lifetime. It’s like a dead mate’s way of choosing someone to make you happy for a lifetime.
I think this—Kodiak, I think this is the forever sort.
I think I pulled off a feat witches and scientists alike have been trying to do for years.
I think I went further than a chosen mate or a second-chance mate blessing.
I think… I think we have to call Silas!” he said and sank down into the chair across from mine.
“I’ve bound us together forever. I might be—We might’ve been the first ones to ever do a binding ritual like this on this side of the door of life and death. ”
His brain was buzzing and magic danced through his eyes as I reached out for Silas over our mating link. We made the quick decision to skip the restaurant and head to our favorite spot in the forest. He’d pick up something to eat on the way, and we’d celebrate in our own quiet little way.
My shoulder throbbed and I rubbed it again. This time there were two tender spots. I pulled off my shirt and Creon smiled. I smirked despite my confusion. What else was I going to do when my mate looked at me like that? I felt around my shoulder and Creon joined me on my side of the desk.
“Two new ones,” he whispered. “One for me and one for…”
He didn’t say Raziel’s name. He didn’t have to.
For a second, I had the very clinical thought of wondering if there had ever been a group of four true-mates before.
Then it sank into every cell inside my soul.
Whatever we’d done had tied all of us to Raziel.
If he came back to Alpha Talk and ran into me or Silas he’d have the true-mate response just as if he crossed paths with Creon.
Would he know ahead of time? Did he know?
“Maybe his came up first and that’s why he’s staying away,” my bear chimed into my thoughts.
Creon ran his long, nimble fingers over my new claiming glands and then down my chest. I swallowed a longing-filled growl and kissed him once before pulling away and reaching for my shirt.
“Silas is waiting on us?” he asked and I nodded before starting out of the room.