Not Mates #8
Grandpa sighed and ran a hand through his hair, “Rumors are running that you might take her as a chosen mate. I know that’s not true, I really do. I swore after I messed up big time with your mom, I would not get involved in love lives again.”
“I would counsel and give advice but take a serious step back; however, I’m breaking that damn promise to myself. Here me loud and clear Keaton Daniels; if you so much as think about marking this girl I’ll kidnap you and keep you tied up until you come to your senses.”
“Lisa is not a good person. Anyone who could type up this onslaught of degradation, and say these things, is horrible. She isolated you from your friends and pitted you against them. Lisa’s the only thing you and Keith have ever fought about.”
“That evil girl has this family stepping on eggshells to keep you from defending her and feeling attacked. Lisa’s clearly an abuser.
I don’t even need a therapist degree to tell me that.
She cheats on you and let me just guess, she blames you.
Doesn’t she? Lisa gives you these, god for lack of a better word, reports. ”
I sighed, “The first time she cheated on me, it was because I didn’t defend her when Clara said she cheated off her test. I told her Clara wouldn’t lie because I know Clara.
So, Lisa cheated on me for that, and because I was bad in bed.
It was my fault. I didn’t have her side publicly. Dad would always take mom’s side.”
Grandpa said, “Three people, one of whom was human, saw her cheat on that test. Lisa is not your mate so you can’t compare your dad’s actions with your mother to yours. Your mother isn’t an abusive, pathological liar either.”
“I hate to see you being brought down by the likes of that horrible she wolf. I can’t sit back and do nothing anymore. God, I tried. I really did. People noticed my personal growth. It was a time, but now it’s over.”
I asked, “What are you going to do?” Grandpa answered, “If I tell you, you’d know and then you could try and stop me.
No one gets away with hurting my grandpups.
It might take me time, but I’m going to help you with this.
You deserve so much better than the relationship you’ve been in.
I don’t know how that abusive piece of crap dug her claws in so deep I missed the signs of her abuse. I’m so sorry.”
I shrugged, “I didn’t want anyone to know because it’s embarrassing.” Grandpa argued, “Not for you it’s not. This is all on her. Plenty of girls in this pack would love to be with you. They’d tell you every single world written here was bullshit.”
I explained, “Lisa said she’s honest with me while everyone else would lie because I am an Alpha.” Grandpa said, “Of course she did. Your toxic I’ve decided ex-girlfriend was being the controlling, manipulative bitch she is.”
Grandpa shook his head, “Lisa is far more cunning than I thought. If she had a name that started with C, Haley would’ve watched her sooner.
Hell, I would’ve too.” I frowned. Channing snorted, “This will be good. Ratchet will lose his mind.” That was my grandpa’s wolf, but all the wolves and humans might lost their shit over this revelation.
Grandpa groaned, “What?” I said, “Her name does start with a C, but she changed her name to Lisa. It was Carissa Lisa. She liked Lisa Carissa better. Her mom legally changed it when she was ten right before they moved to our pack.” Grandpa groaned, “Why is it always the C names?”
He lamented, “We have so many normal ones. I really thought Haley naming Cassie would make this generation of C names normal. I was actually starting to think L’s would replace C with your generation. Then we had Charlene and Claire. Now we have Carissa.”
I corrected, “It’s Lisa.” Grandpa disagreed, “Nope. She’s a crazy C named she wolf.
For god’s sake, this shit is getting ridiculous.
Just know these reports are bullshit. There is nothing wrong with having conversations about what your partner likes in bed.
Nothing. That is normal. This though? This is god awful.
Burn those, Keaton.” He gave me a hug and walked out of my room.
Grandpa’s eyes were flickering black meaning his wolf was angry too. Channing said, “Ratchet had a lot to say. Mostly swear words and things about ripping flesh off bones.” That would Lisa’s flesh, and I wasn’t certain I cared at this point.
Grandpa would obviously know about more about sex than Lisa did. So, maybe it wasn’t… I literally let that thought trail off and die. Hoping that was a lie and I wasn’t an embarrassment felt like too much right now.
A pop sounded in my room. I looked up expecting one of our pack members or Preston. I was stunned when I saw who was in my room. I asked, “Aria?” Aria Lyons greeted, “Hello, Keaton Daniels.” I asked, “Are you ok?”
Aria nodded, “Yup and don’t worry, no one knows I’m gone.” I asked, “Why are you here?” Aria answered, “Sometimes I know things. Like when a soul needs encouragement. I know that your soul is in danger, and that your mate isn’t so far away.” Channing perked up in my head.
Aria glanced away then said, “I think she’ll be around here soon, but there are souls that want to keep you both apart. There are dangerous souls around both of you. Your soul nor hers will be happy without each other. I don’t know who she is yet, but she needs you as you need her.”
I growled, “What do you mean there are dark souls around her? Someone wants to take her from me?” Channing snarled, “I’ll kill them all!
THEY CAN’T HURT MATE!” Aria nodded, “Yes. There is a very dark soul around her. I’m sorry I don’t know more.
I just know that if the dark souls win, it won’t be good for anyone.
She’s not the only one surrounded by darkness though. ”
I didn’t want to talk about that because I might lose my mind. I needed facts and data, but I couldn’t get any. Channing growled, “We need to protect mate.” I replied, “We need to know who mate is to do that.” I asked Aria, “Is it hard, knowing what you do?”
Aria shrugged, “Sometimes it makes me very sad knowing the suffering around me. I just didn’t want to repeat the mistake I made with Cousin Alexander, with you. My mom always respects when people don’t want to be told who their mates are.”
Aria confessed, “I knew Melanie was Alexander’s mate along with the fact there were many dark souls that wanted her, and that she needed him. Sometimes I woke up screaming, about the number of dark souls that surrounded Melanie. I think it would be very scary to be my cousin’s mate.”
“Your mate doesn’t have as many dark souls after her.
No one does, but they are still several very dark souls.
She is a pure soul, but if she went dark everything in me tells me that would be very bad.
So, I’m telling you to watch out for your mate and to protect both your souls.
I don’t feel like that violates you not wanting to know who your mate is. ”
I snorted, “I asked your mom if she knew my mate at Alexander and Melanie’s reception.” Aria answered, “She doesn’t. Someone around here does though. I can sense that someone knows her. Maybe a few people.”
I snorted. Maybe Finn would get his wish about Resistance members. Or the likelihood Melanie knew my mate was decent. Channing said, “Little does Finn know, you’re an honorary member basically.” Except I wasn’t in it. Channing replied, “We kind of are.”
I said, “Thanks, Aria.” She nodded. I asked, “Do you know who your mate is?” Her lips twitched into a soft smile. I smirked, “So, you do.” Aria sighed, “It’s not our time yet. We do communicate though.” I laughed, “You sneaky little Fairy. Does he know what you are to him?”
Aria answered, “I didn’t tell him.” Evasive, which meant he knew.
I offered, “Well, if you need anything you let me know. Thanks for the heads up on my mate. Get back home before an alarm goes out because you’re missing.
” Aria smiled, “Aaron has that covered.” I snorted, “You Fairies are devious.” Aria winked at me and was gone.
I stood up to pace. Channing demanded, “We need to find our mate, Keaton. I don’t want anyone to take her from us.
” I told him, “We won’t let anyone take her from us, she’s ours.
” Channing said, “I will not accept Lisa. I would never come forward to mark her. I’ve told you all along her sex reports are wrong. ”
We’d actually argued over those papers. I usually blocked him out when I read them because well, I don’t even know why. Dear god, was I in an abusive relationship? Lisa had hit me with items and slapped me sometimes; but it’s not like it hurt. I closed my eyes, trying to think.
If Emma or Allison was in a relationship like mine. Would I say it was abusive? I didn’t even have to pause to know the answer. I would say it and kill the guy. Shit. I grabbed the folder that held two years and change of the reports.
I walked downstairs to our fireplace, quickly built a fire, and tossed them in. It felt freeing. Keith asked, “What on earth are you doing?” I answered honestly, “Setting myself free.” Keith pressed, “Are you going to tell me what’s in those papers? I’ve seen you studying them before and crying.”
I repeated, “It’s embarrassing.” Keith said, “I’m your twin, and we don’t hide things from each other.” I told him, “I’ll tell you soon. Right now, I’m just reeling from the revelations from my talk with grandpa.”
Keith was silent for several moments. Eventually he said, “Lisa apparently walked into a Warrior practice and told Justin he was taking her to the dance. He held her back when another girl said that was because you turned her down.” I shrugged.
Keith winked, “Well, I’m proud of you. Normally, you’d just take her.” My twin wasn’t wrong, I would’ve. Was grandpa right? Did she have some kind of magical hold on me? Keith asked, “What are you focused so hard on?”