The Shifter and Her Human Mate

Chapter 2

Ellie Gallagher's POV

“Da, this is the best vacation ever!” I side-hugged my father happily as I finished my beignet, relishing the raspberry filling.

“You’re welcome love! New Orleans is quite a place, isn’t it?” My father smiled at me, his blue eyes twinkling.

“It certainly is!” I smiled as the sounds from the French Quarter encompassed the restaurant. I’m used to noise. I’m from Belfast after all. But it doesn’t compare to the splendor of New Orleans. The homes are absolutely beautiful and the people here are so nice! And the music…I've been making a list of songs to download to my playlists, so I’ll always have a bit of New Orleans in Ireland.

“Ugh, it is stifling out here! I can’t breathe!! Daniel, when are we going back to the hotel?!” My mother huffed, fanning herself with her hands. Not that it would do her much good. I checked the weather for this evening and warned my mother it was going to be hot. Not that heat affects us Faes much.

“Here, let me see if the waiter can get us an ice bag to help you stay cool...” Dad raised his hand, but my mother Audra grabbed it as her face turned beet red.

“I don’t need it!” She hissed, and got up abruptly. “I’ll see you both back at the hotel soon?” We nodded as she got up to leave. I tried to stifle the resentment that threatened to surface.

My dad turned to me. “She hasn’t been feeling well, Ellie love. You know…”

“I know how she can be, Da. I just wish that sometimes she could put what she wants aside for me.” It will be a day for the history books when Audra Malone Gallagher does something for her daughter or husband.

“Let her get her rest, and hope tomorrow is a better day. It’s supposed to rain tonight, so it should cool off the quarter.” My father smiled thinly. The resignation in his handsome face broke my heart.

My mother didn’t want to come here, even though spending my eighteenth birthday in New Orleans has been my wish since I was twelve and watched some of American Horror Story Coven. For the past few months, Audra has done everything she can to talk me out of it. When my father bought the plane tickets, she was adamant she wasn’t going right up until last week. Dad decided that if she didn’t want to go, he wasn’t going to let the extra ticket go to waste and offered it to his best friend John Hill.

I’d never tell my father or any other soul this, but I was REALLY hoping John could have come instead of my mother. John Hill is an American and travels all over the world, though I’m not sure what he does. I know he and my dad worked together for years but that's all. He’s very quiet and secretive about his life.

And he’s sinfully handsome.

Visiting New Orleans is a wonderful birthday present. And spending a week looking at and mentally drooling over my father’s best

friend was something I was very much looking forward to.

But when Audra learned Dad was planning on giving John her plane ticket, all of a sudden she wanted to go. And she has tried to make us all miserable ever since we got off the plane!

Dad paid the bill, and we left the restaurant, making our way down the street towards our hotel. I took in all the sights and music, meandering towards some street musicians. “What is the name of this song?” I asked the man playing the guitar.

“Where Has My Love Gone. It’s on Spotify and was written by Devan Casteel.” The man smiled and strummed some more chords. I put some money in his guitar case and caught up to Dad...and froze when I saw who he was talking to.

John Hill was right there in the street, him and my father just chatting away! His thick blonde hair was tousled, and he was dressed in tan cargo shorts and a button-down blue shirt. God, he's gorgeous! John turned and focused his dark brown eyes on me.

He had the light on him. The light our Goddess Aine gave us Faes to know when we found our mates...

There had to be something in that beignet!! He can't be my mate!!

“Ellie! Look who showed up after all!” I quickly regained my composure and walked over to them.

“John! So good to see you!” I smiled, keeping my distance. I learned years ago John isn’t one for casual handshakes or hugs. But that bloody Fae pull was SO overwhelming and I was about to jump on him!

“You look all grown up, Ellie.” John didn’t smile at me, but that wasn’t unusual. He’s very reserved and always on alert with his surroundings and around people.

“Eighteen now. I can drink in Belfast, but I can’t drink here.” I laughed to try and make a joke. Not that I’m much of a drinker anyway.

"You should stay away from that stuff, Ellie. No good ever comes from alcohol." John stared at me and I had to look down fast to hide my blushing.

"So you got away for a vacation, huh?" Dad looked at John curiously.

"Let's just say when it came down to the job or a vacation...I took the vacation." John said with very little emotion.

"No longer employed then, eh?" Dad stared at John. I knew that look. Dad had that look when he retired last year and his douche of a boss gave him a hard time with it.

"We'll talk soon, Daniel. It was good seeing you both. Tell Audra I said hello.” John said, and gently touched my shoulder before he walked down the street the opposite way. With that touch, I knew I wasn’t delusional about seeing The Light on him.

My father’s best friend, a man twice my age, is my fated mate!

What in the name of Goddess am I going to f*****g do!!!!

“Ellie? You ready to head back?” My father asked. I followed him back to the hotel, a resort with a small nightclub off to the side of it.

“Dad? You can head on up, I’m going to call Gwen.” I smiled at him. “Be up soon, love.” Da kissed my forehead and went into the hotel. I went into the club, hoping I could convince the bartender I was over 21.

“Hey, can I get a long island?” I smiled at him. He smiled back and got to work making my drink.

“Where are you from, honey?” He asked me.

“Ireland.” I smiled back and took the drink, sipping slowly. Thankfully he didn’t ask to see my ID. I moved to a quieter spot and called my best friend, Gwen. It should be morning time in Belfast.

“Gwen! You aren’t going to believe what just happened to me!” I whisper-shouted at her.

“Did you find some cute American and shag him?” Gwen knew better than that, as I'm still a virgin waiting for my fated mate. But she still liked to give me a hard time.

"I wish! Seriously...I found my mate!”

“GET OUT! SPILL!” Gwen screamed.

“You aren’t going to believe who it is!”

“Who? Anyone we know?”

“You remember my father’s friend, John?”

“Wait…the chap we think must be a operative or something? He’s your mate!? B***h stop taking the p**s! ” Gwen laughed in disbelief.

“I know how it sounds, but I swear on the Goddess and the Human Lord and Savior, John had the light on him! And when he touched me, there were flutters. I’m not mistaken and I'm not fantasizing, Gwen! John is my mate.” I reiterated quietly.

"Ellie, he's over twenty years older than you!"

"I know! And he's Dad's best friend!! How am I going to tell my parents!? How would John even know that we are fated mates? He's a human for God's sake!! Cad é an f**k atá mé chun a dhéanamh! (What the f**k am I going to do!)" I was near tears.

"You know I love you and care about you. You are my best friend in this bloody world. And I say this for your well-being. This man is just a few years younger than your father. What could you possibly have in common with him?" Gwen gently asked.

"I haven't even thought about all that yet. The attraction to him so strong. It's real, Gwen. Goddess Aine had to have mated us together for a reason." I whispered.

"Or maybe he is just a stop in the road, so to speak. If it was me in your shoes, and I hope I never am, I would reject him quietly and never tell him what I was to him. We are taught as children that our Goddess Aine gives us free will. But sometimes, we have to follow logic instead of our hearts. And if I'm questioning what Aine's logic was by mating the two of you together with that much of an age gap, you know others will too. " I fought back a sob at Gwen's honest words.

"I don't know if I'm strong enough to do that." I cried to Gwen quietly.

"It's up to you, Ellie. You know I have your back no matter what you choose. Just choose wisely. I have to go, my boss is giving me the stank eye....ok Michael bugger off!! Love you girl, talk soon!"

I put my phone back in my purse, Gwen's words resounding through my head. Suddenly, I felt ten years older.

Goddess Aine must have made a mistake. But why?

"Excuse me young lady, you dropped some money here." A cultured Southern voice took me out of my thoughts fast. I stared at the older handsome gentleman with white hair and bright blue eyes as he handed me the money.

"That's not mine, sir. I don't carry cash. But thank you for asking." I smiled politely, and he smiled back.

"That smile there is worth ten of these bills, girl. What are you doing out here? The party is in there!" He motioned towards the nightclub.

"Just thinking." I looked down.

"Whatever it is, don't think too hard. Are you Irish?"

"Good guess!" I laughed and he laughed back.

"I've got eyes and ears. Spent my whole life right here in Nola and seen all kinds of people from all walks of life. So I've got a private area in that club there. Care to join me?"

"Not right now, I'm actually waiting on a friend." I hoped this man couldn't tell I was lying.

"Well when they get here, just come on inside and tell them Marshall Sherman sent you. The bartender will get you whatever you want no charge. What's your name?"

"Ellie." Free drinks? Why not drown my sorrows!

"Hope to see you inside, Ellie." Marshall bowed and went inside the club.

No good ever comes from alcohol. John's warning immediately ran through my head.

And what good could come from a mate bond that is one-sided and impossible for a human man to comprehend! What interest could an almost forty-year-old man have in a eighteen-year-old girl?! How could we ever be compatible?! John doesn't know I'm a Fae and what mate bonds are to my kind. He could shatter my heart and never blink an eye.

And no matter if I end up pursuing my bond with John or he hurts me, it will decimate my father and John's decades-long friendship.

Gwen was right. I had to reject John. But I'm going to get good and bloody drunk before I do it!!