Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Jin felt a strange, warm energy growing within her.
The light fluctuated, giving birth to a new power.
She could almost see the various energies swirling within.
She sensed the gentle breeze that connected her to Chasen.
This energy started to surge and spread throughout her body, merging with her own power to create something more potent deep inside her.
As it fastened, she felt additional connections.
She could now sense Chasen's mind, but there was more to it.
She sat up, confused, and looked at her hand.
Chasen quickly sat up beside her, comforting her by rubbing her back.
“Are you okay?” He continued to move his hand in slow circles as he studied her face, his warm fingertips brushing over her bare skin ever so gently.
Jin concentrated on what she was feeling. Power seemed to flood into her from his mark. It was more than being connected as mates. She closed her eyes for a moment, focusing on the invasion. The sweet, warm energy swirled inside her, asking for her acceptance, blending into her body.
“Chasen. I think …” She tilted her head to the side to look at him.
“I think I’m a guardian now. I can feel Hunter.
I’m connected to him differently. And while I am here to protect him, it’s a different feeling now.
Like it’s my purpose to protect him.” She smiled up at him and touched her head.
I can feel you in here too, now. She was excited to be able to mindlink with him.
And feeling him as part of her was amazing.
She knew she would never be lonely again.
Chasen wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his bare chest. The skin-on-skin sensation from his new mate made his body tingle.
“This is amazing. I can’t believe you’re a guardian now, too.
This had to have been my mother’s doing.
” Chasen chuckled quietly, thinking about how his mother always thought ahead.
Since his mate had become a guardian, his own guardian duties wouldn’t be a problem because they would now also be Jin’s duties.
Chasen leaned his head down, resting his face in the mark on her neck.
His chest felt so full and happy. When he woke up that morning, he never imagined that by late evening he would be marking her.
He pressed his lips into her sensitive skin and continued to warm her body against his.
“I know this is fast, Jin, but this just feels so normal and right.”
“I guess it should feel fast, but it doesn’t. At least not to me. How long have you known? Why didn’t you tell me?” Jin turned around, wrapped her arms around his neck, and looked into his chocolate eyes, which were now hers.
“I’ve known since our second day together.
I was feeling drawn to you, and then I heard this inner voice.
It was hard not to come on too strong with you.
I didn’t want to scare you off. And just being around you and being close to you kept me happy.
I love seeing you smile. This is all new and is a lot to take in.
I never planned on taking a mate, let alone having a fated one.
Now, though …” He leaned his head in and kissed the tip of her nose.
“Jin, I need you. You are so much a part of me now that I don’t know how to exist without you anymore.
” The mate bond was truly amazing. The way it connected and united two people so completely was fascinating to him.
Jin leaned forward and pushed her lips against his, licking his bottom lip and gently sucking on it. She closed the distance between them, and he responded to her with a very slow, warm, passionate kiss as they bared their feelings to each other.
She smiled as she slowly parted from his lips.
“I can’t explain what this means to me or how this even happened.
I don’t think I’m someone who traditionally has a mate either.
Being connected to you … it’s so nice to have you be a part of me, Chasen.
I’ve been so …” She bit her bottom lip, not sure if she should say it or not.
She looked into his eyes and her bottom lip quivered.
“I’ve been so empty since my parents were killed.
The loneliness almost swallowed me up before I met Ciana.
I’m a bit emotionally overwhelmed, but in a good way.
I never imagined that the mate pull would be this powerful. ”
Chasen rubbed her shoulders. “Jin—”
“Chasen!”
Chasen jumped, a bit alarmed. That was Hunter yelling for him.
He hopped off of the bed and threw his shorts on.
“I’m going to see what’s wrong. I’ll be back.
” He immediately shut the door to her room and ran down the hall.
He flew to the far end where Hunter’s room was and flung his brother’s door open to see Hunter holding his head.
“Hunter? Hunter, what’s wrong?”
“Thank goodness you’re alright. I thought something happened to you.
” Hunter looked up at Chasen and shook his head slightly.
“Something feels weird. I came in to grab some towels and my body started feeling this weird energy and connection. I was afraid something happened to you. But now that I’m studying it, that isn’t what this is.
It’s …” He studied Chasen for a moment. “I can feel … this is Jin I’m feeling.
She—she—she … holy shit, she’s my guardian now.
How did that happen?” Hunter looked up to see a crooked grin on Chasen’s face. “You know, don’t you?”
“I think I’m the reason Jin’s your guardian now. Sorry about that. I didn’t know that would happen.”
“Is everything okay?” Jin walked in, dressed in a t-shirt and her shorts. She couldn’t just sit there. What if Hunter was in trouble? She was his guardian now and needed to be there, too. She was now drawn to Hunter but not like a mate … more like an overprotective mother.
Hunter took one look at Jin and the fresh mark on her neck. A smirk spread across his face and he straightened his body posture. “I see you finally marked your mate.”
“Mutual mates,” Chasen corrected, putting his arm around Jin. “She also recognizes me as her mate. We’re not sure how or why, but we aren’t complaining about it.”
Hunter smiled. “Welcome to the family, Jin.”
She blushed slightly and leaned her head into Chasen. “Thank you.”
Hunter’s eyes glazed over, and he looked at Chasen.
“Chelsie’s back.” He immediately felt worried, especially since Abaas had just reached out to his sister.
“Jin, please wait here. I don’t want Reiya to find out about Chasen’s mate yet.
I’m hoping we can give them this good news in person.
” He smiled, knowing this would mean a lot to Chasen.
“Let’s go, Chase. There could be a problem. ”
Chasen kissed Jin’s head and smiled down at her. “Why don’t you get a shower and start moving your things into my room?” He gave her a crooked grin and looked up at the ceiling. “I mean, I figure that after … you know … that we should just, ummm … share a room from now on? That is, if you want.”
Jin giggled and kissed his jawline. “That sounds wonderful. I don’t think I could sleep away from you now.” She blushed slightly.
He grinned widely and pulled her up into a hard, rushed kiss.
“I’ll be right back,” he said excitedly, practically gushing over his new mate, then trotting after Hunter.
He would have to hide his euphoric high from Chelsie.
He couldn’t wait to tell Brody and Reiya.
And the next time his parents visited, they were in for a huge surprise as well.
Hunter listened as his brother caught up to him outside. He didn’t get a chance to say anything to him since Chelsie was briskly walking toward them.
“Chelsie, what’s wrong? What happened?” Hunter asked, a bit concerned.
“Reiya has sent someone to the Black Ice Pack to help in case the demons show up,” Chelsie said hesitantly as both men furrowed their brows.
“What? She’s sending someone here? A dragon?” Hunter rubbed his hand over his face. What was his sister thinking?
“No, she’s not a dragon,” Chelsie said quietly.
“She? Reiya is sending one girl here to help US with the demons?” Chasen chuckled a bit condescendingly.
Chelsie cleared her throat. “Reiya told me to stress to you both that this is someone she trusts and that she expects you to accept her.”
“Fine,” Hunter groaned. “Give me more details, Chelsie.” This time his voice was laced in annoyance.
“Her name is Freja. She’s a demon huntress.
She is also a dhampir.” Chelsie saw their agitated faces.
“Look, she’s already on her way here. Reiya gave her a letter to give to you so you will know it’s her.
Reiya trusts her. In fact, she risked her life saving her.
So please take that into consideration.”
“Reiya would risk her life for most people. That’s the way she is … it doesn’t mean anything about this person.” Hunter snorted. He hated the idea of his sister being in danger and putting her life at risk. What the heck was going on? Where the heck was her guardian while she was risking her life?
Chasen growled and scowled angrily. A demon hunter? A demon hunter was heading their way. What about his mate? His mate was a demon. There better not be any problems.
Hunter knew exactly what Chasen was thinking. “I don’t like having a stranger here. We don’t know anything about her. What if she causes problems?”
“I understand. But Freja has promised her life to Reiya. She is indebted to her. She wouldn’t do anything that would upset Reiya. Please … believe in her,” Chelsie said quietly.
“This is an odd stance for you to take, Chelsie. You normally don’t like anyone.
” Hunter frowned slightly. “We’ll be prepared and ready for the demons when the time comes.
IF the time comes. And … I guess there isn’t anything that can be done if she’s already on her way here.
It looks like you both trust her and have faith in her abilities. ”
Chelsie nodded, smiling. “She’ll be here soon, so be on the lookout.” Chelsie took a small step back. “Well, I’m off.” She had delivered her message, and now she was going to get back to Reiya and Brody as quickly as possible.
Hunter looked up at Chasen as Chelsie trotted away. “It’s going to be okay. She won’t touch Jin. I promise.”
Chasen growled again lowly. “I’ll kill anyone who touches her.”
Hunter grinned and bumped his shoulder into his brother. “And look at you. Growing up instantly and marking your mate … and also warming up the bedsheets.”
Chasen’s lips curved up in a smile. “It’s amazing, Hunter. The connection is indescribable. She is so much a part of me. And so instantly.” He then frowned and looked out in the distance. “I can’t lose her, Hunter. I’m worried. Especially with this Freja coming.”
“Hey, it’ll be fine. And if Freja can’t handle it, she can leave.
She doesn’t have to stay here. In fact, she doesn’t even have to stay within pack grounds.
She can do whatever she needs to do from outside the pack borders.
We won’t let anything happen to Jin,” Hunter reassured his brother.
“But Reiya wouldn’t send her here unless she really had faith in her.
She wouldn’t put us in danger. So try not to worry.
Let’s push this from our minds for now. No need to mention this to Jin, either.
We don’t want to worry her. Let’s just wait and see. ”
Chasen nodded his head and turned to look back at the pack house. It was like he was being pulled to his mate. He would be forever drawn to her, no matter where she was. It was an incredible connection.
Hunter slapped Chasen on the back. “I’m happy for you, Chasen. I really am.” His wide smile was genuine as he looked back at the pack house with him.
“I want this for you, Hunter. You’ll have this, too. It’s amazing, and I can’t wait for it to be your turn. You have someone else out there for you, even if it isn’t your fated mate.”
“I’m not worried about it, Chasen. I have time.
Plus, I’m still trying to figure out this whole Alpha King thing.
Sometimes I get this incredible rush of intense, feral strength that pours into me.
Like an overflow of animal testosterone or something.
I’ve been able to control it and rein it in.
But still, it’s intense. I wouldn’t want to hurt my mate.
In a sense, it’s a good thing that I don’t have a mate right now.
I don’t know how powerful the mate bond would be like this.
And I don’t know how intense … you know …
” Hunter trailed off quietly, not needing to say the rest.
“Oh … ummm … yeah … I’m sure it’ll be okay with your mate.
Your natural response is to take care of your mate and protect her.
And …” Chasen cleared his throat then. “And during that time … despite how much you, um … you know—you’ll still be thinking about her first. You’ll be able to hold back because you want to make sure she’s okay. ”
Hunter chuckled nervously. “I guess this is as far as bro conversations go, right?”
“Hey, I think we did pretty good.” Chasen chuckled back and swung his arm around Hunter’s shoulders. “All I’m saying is don’t let something like that hold you back. You’ll figure that all out.”
Hunter smiled and nodded. He looked up at the moon that had entered the sky. The white light shone brightly, and its beams kissed his face. When the time came, he hoped he would feel more ready.