Blood Rite: MATE

Chapter Eleven ~ Man's Best Friend

"Tala" Luke whispered still fast asleep. "Tala" he whispers again. He was dreaming of Tala's soft, sweet lips on his but was instead greeted with wet slobbery licking.

As he opened his eyes, he was greeted by a very beautiful but very excited golden wolf nuzzling up to him. "Oh, hi Rudy." He greeted her, scratching her ear as he yawned.

Realization finally setting in.

"Wait. Rudy?!" He exclaimed startled and falling out of bed. Startling the pup as well. "But how?" He looked over to find that Tala was missing. He knew instantly it was Tala's wolf, identical to his dream. As he pet her again he almost expected her to disappear. "What's this mean?" He asked the wolf as he looked deep into her golden eyes. Hoping for a sign of something. Anything.

When he got back on to the bed they sat in silence, Luke just staring at Rudy in awe. When Rudy had gotten bored a short while later, Luke took that as his cue to call for the others now.

Opening the bedroom door he shouted down the stairs to the others.

"Mom?! Tami?! Diana?! You guys might want to come see this but all of you need to stay very calm!" Leaving the door open as he walks back in he notices the wolf on Talas bed, now fast asleep.

"Tala?!" Tami desperately asked as she ran into to the room. Stopping dead in her tracks as she looked at the wolf laying in her daughters' bed.

"Woah!" Diana exclaimed almost running into her mom. She looked over to what Tami was gawking at and gasped.

It was so quiet that they could hear as Tia and Gela bickered all the way up the two flights of stairs leading to Tala's room. They too were soon to be stunned into silence.

Everyone gathered around the now very excited wolf. No one saying a word. All still too stunned to speak.

"Can this seriously be Tala?" Diana asked. Finally breaking the silence as she stared hard at the wolf.

"That's her wolf." Luke confirmed.

"I'd recognize her anywhere." Tami said with a hint of sadness in her voice as she sat down beside Rudy. The wolf laid down and rested her head on Tami's lap. Tami began to stroke her fur.

"All of her injuries are gone." Reika gasped as she looked her over.

"This is all so crazy." Blaidd chimed in.

"According to some old scriptures, she could be stuck like that forever. It does mentions trying the wolfsbane again." Tia informed them. She was currently at Tala's desk looking at the documents her associate sent her.

"I think we can all agree this time that that's a huge no." Diana said with a slight chuckle.

"So once again we have no idea what in the Hades is going on or how to fix it. . . that's just fanfuckingtastic!" Luke growled, he couldn't help but become furious. No one ever has answers. He thought to himself.

"You need to calm down dear, everyone is trying their best." His mother advised.

"Their best?! Are you serious? Their best would have been to have come to us about the threats in the first place! Long ago and recently. What would of been best would of been to tell her about who she really is because now she's stuck in a war within her own body and its all of your faults!" he pointed to Tami "Why couldn't you have just told her. Even if her wolf was asleep, she still should of known but you left her in darkness." He pats Rudy's head goodbye and storms outside. Rudy tries to follow him.

"Tala stay here." Tami commanded.

"She won't respond to that." Luke informed them with a snarky laugh as he walked further down the long hallway towards the stairs. "You'd think her mother would know that." Luke didn't really mean what he was saying but he hurt so much inside. He couldn't help it. He needed to get away.

After a couple more attempts they soon realized that he was right.

"Her name is Rudy." He called over his shoulder as he reached the top of the stairs. "and if she wants to follow me, than she follows me." As if understanding him, she ran to catch up to him.

"Rudy?" Diana asked.

"Rudulfa. . . Tala's birth name. I changed it when we fled." Tami said quietly.

She should have known that. She tried to forget all of the hurt pieces and with it, she forgot the things she needed to remember. It has been so long since I have heard that name, she thought to herself. It made her heart sting and think of the loves she lost so long ago.

"Rudulfa Lovota?" Reika asks suddenly.

Tami's brows furrow together. "Yes dear, how in the world did you know that?"

"When we were attacked and Tala saved me, that's who they were looking for. Tamika and Rudulfa Lovota . . . they were looking for you. . . What's really going on?" Reika demanded as she stood up from Tala's bed, her fists balled at her sides. "Why all of these secrets? What else are you keeping from us" Her fear was turning into blind rage.

"Dad, did you know about any of this?" Diana questioned trying to remain calm.

"I knew she was like us, but it was to my understanding that she had been born without a wolf. I didn't ask any more questions. Didn't think I needed to." He looked over to Tami, grief written all over his face. "At the time it seemed better." Rick answered honestly.

Tami gently settles her hand on Ricks chest. "Long ago my mate was murdered by rogues. Rogues that have since been trying to get to Tala. I don't know why or what's been going on.

I left to find out and came back empty handed." She gently moved towards Diana and Reika "After Tala and I fled, we sought refuge. I expected dear friends but when we got there, I found a grieving widow unable to carry on and two beautiful but broken little girls. They were stuck in a darkness that couldn't be lifted. We stayed for a little while but as always, we had to leave again. Something happened while we were there though, you girls and Tala bonded like nothing we had ever expected. You all were so hurt by rouges. All of you missing pieces but yet, all of you could still smile when you guys were together. You three brought the light back to our lives and to each other. So, after a very long discussion, Alarick and I came up with a plan. I gave Rick all the money he could need and after some time he bought this land. Slowly, quietly building these structures. While we waited for the farmhouse to be built, Tala and I traveled. Doing everything we could to ensure we wouldn't track any rogues back with us when we made our way to the safe point. Soon after I realized that they were somehow tracking Tala's wolf. I looked for answers everywhere, but we would always end up empty handed. When anyone tried to give us sanctuary, it always ended up in bloodshed. . . They would always find us" Tami's face was grief stricken as she remembered the past yet again. "Finally, I got a call from a friend who was desperately trying to help us." she looked lovingly to Tia. "So off we went to Louisiana to talk with Tia. The great voodoo queen. She helped me put Tala's wolf to sleep which allowed us to travel to this Safe house. To allow Tala to have a normal, safe life. She's been able to live and love."

"Does that justify lying to all of us?!" Diana demanded moving away from her.

"If it meant keeping all of you safe . . . then yes." Tami replied.

"You don't even regret what's happened? What you did to Tala?" Diana asked. "To us? You made us keep a huge part of us a secret from someone we love, when she should of been allowed to know. To understand."

"Do I wish there had been any other option? Of course! But do I regret doing everything in my power to protect ALL of you? Absolutely not!" Tami herself was becoming agitated.

"We couldn't let her know." Tia intervened but she too was agitated with everyone taking out their stress and anger out on them. "It was vital that we kept anything wolf related away from her or it would of triggered the response we're seeing now. Granted it wouldn't of been as intense but it would of still been just as dangerous."

"It's easy to be angry and upset about the past but we need to focus on the future. None of this bickering will help Rudy or Tala." Although Rick was still angry himself, he knew they needed to put it all on the back burner. At least for now. They couldn't be fighting with each other when a bigger threat could attack at any moment. He knew in his heart that Tia nor Tami would ever put Tala in harms way. They wouldnt put any of the girls in harms way and for now, that was all he needed.

"Ricks right. We still have the rogues to worry about. So, we need to figure out what our next step is." Rad instructed as he, Baddy and Blaidd walked in.

* Luke's POV *

"Let's go for a walk." Luke told Rudy when she finally caught up with him outside. "I need some fresher air, it's just too stuffy around here." he laughed as he walks off towards the forest.

"You know, I never wanted a mate. Seemed like too much of a hassle and you know what? I was totally." Luke shook his head as he thought about it all. Turning around he noticed Rudy had stopped in her tracks to stare at him causing Luke to laugh loudly.

"You don't get to judge until you've heard me out. Now let's keep going. I smell water and I want to try and find it." Rudy c***s her head for a moment beforing taking off into the dense forest. Pausing for a moment to look at Luke.

"Alright, I'm coming." He obliged with a laugh as he began to follow close behind.

"Are you sure about this?" he asks her, but she just keeps going. "Are you leading me to my death because in all fairness you never even let me finish what I was trying to say." he joked.

A few moments later they reached a clearing with a lake in front of them. Rudy runs to the end of the dock and jumps in. Luke instantly remembers the lake from his dream. Walking up to the dock he could smell the almond, Jazmine oil that Tala wore. She wasn't here but she was. Having Rudy here was a step closer to having her back. He shimmies down to his boxers and jumps in with Rudy. Spending most of the morning swimming and splashing.

Drying off on the wooden dock Luke just stared up at the shifting clouds. "Even with all of the hassles, worry and stress. I couldn't imagine life without Tala in it. Not after knowing her." Rudy perks her ears towards him. "Even if she wasn't destined to be with me, I've never met someone like her before. For as long as I can remember, I have been afraid of falling in love. My grandfather was a noble man once, proud of his son and so madly in love with his mate. When grandma fell pregnant, no one was happier than grandfather about the news. When complications during childbirth took both grandmother and my aunts' life, grandfather became a different man. His heart turned cold and black after that. It has always been my biggest fear. Now that fear is here and very real. I love Tala, I couldn't imagine my life without her in it now." He laughs at himself. "You know Rudy, you're very easy to talk to." He scratches her behind the ears. "I couldn't imagine not knowing Lycus. Being a Lycan is an honor and a gift. Granted to men and women of honor and nobility. Two souls working together. Separate minds and bodies with one heart. There is nothing you can hide from each other and you always have someone there. It must have been hard for both of you to not have that connection. I can imagine Tala felt so lost and alone without even understanding why. I get why you had to take over for a while. It's not like you don't deserve at least that but please, when you are both ready. Bring Tala back to me. I will always be here for both of you, but I miss her so much. I need to know she is ok, so I would appreciate you guys hurrying. I will be here waiting no matter what though." He scratches her head again. "I guess we better get back and get some lunch. They're probably worried about you."

As they walked through the washroom towards the kitchen for lunch. They almost get run over by Blaidd.

"Hey!" He exclaimed. "I was just about to come find you, we need your help. All of the parents went to town. Rick thought everyone needed to breath."

"Ok and?" Luke asked.

"The rogue woke up."

"Take me to him." Luke replied imidiatatly.

Heading down to the cellar they stop in front of a wall lined with dusty wine bottles. Pulling one of them out revealed a hidden door. Behind it was a long hallway. Down the long cement hallway was an open white room with a big glass window and a huge steel door on the far right of the room. Through the door was another hallway with two more doors. The first door on the left was the interrogation room. They entered the second door where there was a room with three cells in it. The rogue was at the very end. Rudy was right by Luke's side, never missing a step. Her eyes never leaving the rogue as soon as she had him in her site.

"Baddy already started the interrogation but he hasn't said anything yet." Blaidd told him.

"I don't think he's going to tell us anything." Baddy said shaking his head. Diana hands him a towel to wipe the blood off his hands.

"Shouldn't you be upstairs with Reika? This sort of thing gets messy." Luke warned her.

"We already tried that, just save your breath." Blaidd answered for her. Luke shrugs and turns to the rogue who was currently watching them. Specifically the wolf to Luke's side.

"Put him back in the interrogation room." Luke asked. As Blaidd and Baddy took him to the next room, the rogue just stared at Rudy. Barley even blinking.

"Why did you attack us!" Luke demanded from him after he had been seated but got nothing from him. The rogue was still fixated on Rudy.

Feeling Luke's rising anger made the hair on the back of Rudy's neck begin to raise.

"It's alright." The rogue said as he began to whistle to Rudy. Luke looked over to Rudy who's fur went down and began stepping closer to him.

"Rudy stay back." Luke warned.

She began a low harmonized growl.

"What is she doing?" Diana asked surprised.

"I have no idea." Luke replied almost stepping back to give her room.

"Is it her doing it or him?" Blaidd asked

"I think it's her." Diana answered.

"Wait . . . listen. . . It sounds almost like she's humming to him." Baddy noted.

"Look at him . . ." Diana gasped. Looking up from Rudy to the rogue.

They all watched stunned as Rudy slowly got closer to the rogue. Her song like growl becoming more of a howl.

"We were paid by an old man to find Tamika and Rudulfa Lovota." The rogue answered finally. Rudy's song had him in some type of happy haze. All he could do was stare at her.

"Who hired you?!" Diana growled at him.

"I don't know." He said trying to reach out to Rudy but his arm went limp as if the motion was too tiring. "We all had code names. His was Mr. White." He said in an almost stuporous state.

"Do you know what he wanted." Luke asked, snapping his fingers to get his attention but he was too concentrated on Rudy.

"He just wanted them by any means possible. Dead or alive, he just wanted their hearts."

"Why their hearts?!" Diana asked in horror.

"He doesn't pay us to know things, just to do things." The rogue replied. Rudy finally let him pet her. Soon after she stopped humming and the rogue nodded off to sleep.

"There's a lot more to you than meets the eye isn't there." Luke asked looking at Rudy who was trotting up to them in accomplishment.

"What does all of this mean?" Diana asked them while she petted Rudy.

"It means that we have no f*****g clue what's going on or what's going to happen next." Baddy said bluntly.