His Breath of Fire

Chapter Twenty-Three

    I woke up the next morning with a smile on my face.  Easton’s body was wrapped around mine, holding me close to him even in sleep.  I took a moment to marvel in the fact that I felt his heart beating in my chest along with my own.  I haven’t heard of any other species having that perk with their mate, and I attribute that to being a hybrid.  We are now one in more ways that most can hope to be.

    I tried to get out of bed seeing as my bladder was about to explode, but Easton clutched onto me harder.  Getting uncomfortable, I started wiggling my body trying to get out of his grasp.

    “I would stop moving if I were you,” Easton’s sleepy voice caused me to still, “or if another round was your intent then I’m game.”

    I stifle a giggle when I feel his arousal poking my back, but my bladder is demanding my attention at the moment.  “As fun as that sounds, my bladder disagrees.” Sighing dramatically, Easton lifted his arm and I bolted out of bed and ran towards the bathroom.

    After finishing my business I came back to the room to find Easton lounging in bed, blanket tucked loosely around his hips, his strong chest and abs on full display, and his thick, muscled arms tucked behind his head.  How can this hunk of a man be all mine?

    “Like what you see, love?” he smirked, knowing the effect his body has on me.

    Deciding that two can play at this game, I dropped the robe I put on in the bathroom, standing as nude as the day I was born.  His eyes darkened as he took in my form and I laughed as I could see his excitement through the blanket.  “Like what you see, love?” I mimicked and Easton scowled knowing he fell into my trap.

    “I don’t think I could ever get enough of you,” he growled, and in a blink I’m back on the bed with Easton’s lips covering mine.

    After our morning activities, we opted to take a shower where we may or may not have had another round.  I knew we needed to slow down, especially since we’re not trying to have any pups at the moment, but the bond and added addictiveness made it hard to keep our hands to ourselves.

    Eventually we joined the remaining pack in the common room where we were mercilessly teased about finally mating, but since we did wait two months, I didn’t feel too embarrassed. 

    It was about time, honestly.

    Alpha Robert asked for myself, Easton, my mother, Paul, and Lucas into the conference room to try and strategize about the situation with my father.  After we settled in, we waited for Robert to start.

    He looked tired.  He had dark circles under his eyes, hair disheveled, and he seemed twitchy.  He did lose over half of his pack in one day while he was gone, no less.  I can’t imagine the stress he must be feeling right now, especially because he must feel that he failed his pack by not protecting them.

    “What do we do?” he asked, voice seemingly dejected as he looked over the group.

    “We’ve tried to think of something—anything, but we’ve come up empty,” Paul answered, looking distraught at that.  “The only thing that has a small guarantee to get the pack back is to hand over—”

    “No,” Easton growled, eyes turning black as he fought his wolf for control.  I grabbed his hand, letting the sparks and the mate bond calm him down.

    “Do not forget that my mate is also one of the ones Luke wants,” Paul threatened, and my mother reached over to try and calm her mate down as well, “Not to mention that she is carrying my pup.”

    “I haven’t forgotten,” Easton coldly answered, feeling threatened that Paul was inadvertently challenging him, “But we will find another way to get them back without sacrificing—”

    “I wasn’t suggesting we offer them up on a silver platter, Easton,” Paul interrupted, seeming to realize the misunderstanding.  “I was merely stating that we haven’t come up with a solution besides the one we refuse to do.”

    A frantic knock sounded throughout the conference room and Robert got up quickly to open the door.  “What?”

    “Alpha,” a guard breathed, and I realized he probably ran here.  Why he didn’t just mindlink him, we’ll never know.  “Someone was found at the border and is asking for Bren.”

    “For me?” I ask while at the same time Easton growls, “No.”

    “It’s not what you think,” he quickly responds, bowing his head and showing his neck in a sign of submission.  “She said she’s here because she’s a hybrid and needs a safe place to stay.”

    I was up and out of the conference room before he even finished his sentence.  Another hybrid?  What kind of hybrid is she?  How did she hear about me and how did she know where to find me?

    The group called after me and followed after me.  Whether it's to see who this newcomer is or to make sure it’s not a trap, I don’t know, but I’m meeting this hybrid whether they like it or not.

    I skidded to a stop outside the main building in front of a decent crowd, hovering around the newcomer and she seemed to try and shrink in on herself, hiding herself from the prying eyes.  Once I stepped forward and the crowd divided, giving me access to the woman, did she straighten and look at me in awe.

    “Who are you?” I asked, reading her aura.  “What type of hybrid are you?”

    “My name is Loralie, though I typically go by Lo,” she answered and she bowed her head in my direction.  Her hair is auburn, long and straight, reaching about where her hips and waist meet.  “My mother was a witch and my father is a wolf.   I’m very honored to meet you.  I’ve traveled quite a ways to meet you.”

    “How did you know where to find me?  How did you know about me?” I asked, and her head lifted so she could look me in the eyes.  Her skin was pale, but has more color than my own, with freckles surrounding her bright blue eyes.  “Your mother was a wolf?”

    “There has been talk throughout the supernatural community that Alpha Junior Easton’s mate is a hybrid,” she replies, clasping her hands in front of her.  Word always spreads fast throughout the  supernatural community, though I wonder how me being a hybrid was spread around.  The pack has been asked to keep that a secret.  “Myself, along with many other hybrids, are coming forward to join your pack to find solstice.  We just want a pack that will accept us for who we are, without fear or judgement.  My father…”

    She trailed off and I nodded my head in understanding.  Most werewolves can’t grasp the fact that their mate is anything other than another were or a human.  Close minded fools.  That is about to change big time.

    The rest of the group finally came up and stood beside me, taking in Lo’s appearance.  Lucas stepped forward and Lo’s eyes snapped to him, mouth parting as a slight gasp escaped her.  Everyone was now looking between the two as they continued to stare at each other, and suddenly the answer popped into my head like a lightbulb.  “You’re mates?”

    Lucas jerked his head in my direction, seeming to snap out of the trance that the mate bond puts on the individual.  “Is that what this is?” He whispers, and I understand his confusion.  Seeing as he turns eighteen in about five months, in werewolf terms he’s not old enough to sense his mate, however being mated to a hybrid flips what we thought we knew on its head.

    “Congratulations,” I smile, clapping my hands in excitement.  I could already tell that she was trustworthy and true with her words, but being mated to my guardian just takes the cake.  It’s about time we had some good news.

    The new pair hesitantly reach out to each other and sigh when the sparks fly at the contact.  I can see Paul is happy for his son, but I can also tell that he thinks his son is too young to have a mate.  Oh well, I’m technically too young seeing as I haven’t yet reached my eighteenth birthday either.

    Lucas and Lo are talking quietly among themselves, so we head back towards the conference room to try and figure out a plan to handle my father.