Unexpected mate

Coming of age I was four years old when my parents were slaughtered in a Civil War that broke out. My aunts and uncle were the ones who found me. my uncle got killed shielding me from an ambush that was laying in wait for any survivors. I remember some parts of that night like flashes but a lot of it has been lost in my memory. My aunt Lidia says it’s good that I don’t remember and to be honest I am happy of it when I see the sadness in my aunt Charlie’s face when she thinks if my uncle Hale. I’m from a long line of witches  from my mothers side her name was Amie. My father was a beta wolf banished for mating with a witch. His name was James  hence being named Jamie  I’ve always felt close with my mother due to the fact that I have the same powers coursing through my veins which results in me feeling closer to her every time I cast a spell. Two more weeks and I’ll be turning 18 there for activating my wolf who is been waiting in dormant for our introduction upon my maturity. I’m told by my aunts that I look a lot like my mom she had the same blonde hair as myself same green lines and they tell me that I have my father’s height at just under 5’10”.  I’m excited to get my wolf and have a part of myself that would possibly make me feel closer to my father. I’ve been feeling a lot more antsy and excited the past few weeks knowing that the deadline to my long wait will finally be over. My fathers wolf was black probably because his features were all dark. I was curious what My wolf will look like and just thinking of my wolf made me feel warm     “Jamie!” I hear my aunt Charlie yell over the stairs for me. Same time every morning we train while aunt Lidia cooks breakfast.     “Coming aunt Charlie.” I yell grabbing my boots and heading downstairs  I could smell the yeasty bread that aunt Lidia just made and the fire crackling as it built up bigger. I sat by the door on a chair to put on my boots but I could feel the air crackle between the aunts  it had been a regular thing these past few days since explaining mating and I felt they held something back but trying to pry would serve me no kindness  my aunts were strict but loving and kind  I was never for want in any aspect of my life. We never had fancy showy things but there was always food, warmth, and love. My aunts were never blessed with children and I was their treasure.      “Jamie we will be casting later today. I need help from the moon for today’s lesson. You will train as usual with Charlie we shall eat and the two of us must go gather supplies in the greater city. You will be in charge of the chores while we are away.” Aunt Lidia said as she cut up the bacon and potatoes. It was nothing out of the ordinary for both to go together in the greater city because of the dangers it was safer than travelling alone. My aunts would travel much different than humans  they would point to a city of choice on a map and shimmer to the destination. If the items were not found they’d travel to multiple places to get what was needed.       “Also there is a rabbit skinned and cleaned for supper. I’d like you to roast it for a stew for supper. We are not sure how long we shall be but we will most definitely be back before sun down. Also you must catch up on reading I have the books out n piled on the living room table for you. The top book is most important for tonight’s casting.” I nodded in acceptance when she snapped her head in my direction to make sure I was paying attention. Aunt Lidia was the kindest soul but never ignore her if you wanted peace.      “ ok aunt Lidia.” I looked in her direction and smiled. My boots were fastened and aunt Charlie was waiting by the door for my attention. I stood kissed Lidia and left with Charlie. We headed to our typical training grounds which was actually no place in particular because we always trained in the forest with the terrain being different and having objects in the way made you think quicker after accessing your surroundings. And Charlie always said nothing good came out of training on a flat surface with no objects to affect your rhythm. She said life is unexpected and so our troubles that lie I have and it’s always best to have your mind trained to conquer any obstacle whether small or large. We have been training with knives lately and they’ve been hurting if I get caught with them by and said that they’re lined with silver so I can get a feel of it and get used to it because it would affect my wolf. Wolfbane and Silver would be the greatest weaknesses of my wolf my aunt Charlie says that training with silver knives and getting used to the pain would not be as traumatizing as it being the first time in any future attacks. Wolves were still widely hunted and those were the things that were used to make them shift back into a human and prevent them from ever shifting in their wolf while confined. Aunt Lydia taught me a spell that would repel Wolfbane from my bloodstream if I was ever attacked with the substance. There was a spell to cast which would make your skin in penetrable therefore rendering silver and non-threat but just like my wolf coming out at the age of 18 that’s also the time that my powers will increase and until then that is not a spell I am able to learn.     “Why are you dragging your feet today Jamie?!” Aunt Charlie asks as I trip in a tree root ducking her latest shot.     “I’ve sleeping terribly aunt Charlie! I dream and then can’t remember upon waking and when I’m able to sleep again it’s as if I didn’t sleep at all. I think I have too much excitement coming up.” I stated to a very alert and suddenly pondering aunt Charlie. It was as if she was looking at me but through me but as quickly as I noticed it she hid her thoughts by making her face blank.     “ The dreams?” She asked. I debated telling her honestly because the man in my dream was mine alone. I knew not if what he looked like but I felt protective.     “I don’t recall the dreams just shadows and feelings of loneliness and longing stay behind. I know not what it means.” She seems to be deep in thought but shrugs it off and we continue our fight. The emphasis on my fighting skills are strong. The aunts say I must be able to defend myself as well as explain it will help my wolf because when she comes out from her slumber my thoughts and all I have been trained for will help my wolf. Apparently my dads wolfs name was Zachary and I await the name of mine excitedly.     “Breakfast is ready!” Aunt Lidia yells and I’m grateful for the rest. The food was on the table a wash pan for washing our hands was ready and soon we sat to eat and plan the week ahead. Our home was nestled at the outskirts of our tiny town and the aunts had spells cast to prevent all who meant harm from entering our estate rendering it empty to hostile eyes. My aunts say there’s no such thing as bad magic just bad people who yield it. Magic is harnessed within the elements. Soon I was alone and the dishes complete I decide to read those books allocated for my lessons.  The book looked old but new if that were possible. It was a book of beasts which I had never seen before. I casually went through it seeing wolves, witches, vampires, fairies and many other various creatures. It’s hard to believe those things exist until you discover you are one. None know what powers I’ll harness when I mature and throwing a wolf in the mix as well. It took my aunt two decades to find her mate and I was hoping my mate would come to my life at a much quicker pace. Who would it be? What would they be? Wolf? Witch? Vampire? Human? That’s the thing about possibilities they were endless. While flipping through the book a page drops out upon picking it up I see demons as the category title. Demons mate too?! There are many different demons but the rarest were of the water. The page looked ripped out but why and then tucked back in between the pages. So mating with demons made you change, you got their powers, strength and immortality. When mating you become one a match with a demon was more dangerous because when the mate dies so does the other after becoming one in the mating process forever bound to your love forever. No records on demon mates other than that.     I get up and go put the rabbit in the oven to roast for the stew before heading back to read more. First I needed to see if there were more books on demons around the house. Nobody knew what they looked like or much less know which powers they possess. Unfortunately there was a dead end and not a book on them to be had. I resign to sitting back to the books I’m meant to be studying. I wish I would have had friends but it was my choice because being of a supernatural nature I knew it made no sense surrounding myself with humans and hiding everything about myself. All my education was at home and bountiful compared to human women who weren’t allowed to Pursue anything beyond the troubles of a housemaid. I knew all the freedoms I was afforded tremendously out weighed the lack of friends or peers beyond my family. I skimmed the last few books and headed to the kitchen to make preparations for supper. The carrots, turnip and potatoes were peeled, cut and ready. I removed the rabbit from the oven and added additional herbs along with the fresh vegetables before returning it to the oven.     I decided to go for a swim while waiting for supper to cook and the aunts to return home. I loved my spot it was as if this little piece of beach lay heaven was just my own. No need for anything I loved the feel of the water around my naked body making it feel freeing and somehow cleansing. As I grow closer to the waters edge I get a feeling only for a second I’m not alone I look around and it’s quiet and empty per usual. I strip and dive into the water quickly and instantly I’m at peace. As I let my body float on the waters surface while eyes closed letting the sun warm me I feel stares again  My hairs stand on edge and I purposefully sink in the water. As I’m get deeper I swim under surface and pop my head out of the water by the edge and check out my surroundings again and it feels fine. No sounds, the eeriness has gone so I jump out get dressed and sit in the warm sun. Maybe the aunts are home and I dart to my house in a flash to see if they’re back. Maybe I’m sensing my wolf coming to the surface wouldn’t that explain the feeling of not being alone or being watched. The aunts were not back yet and the stew was almost ready. There were about two hours before sunset and knew the aunts would be back soon. I felt refreshed from my swim so I changed clothes for my night lessons with Lidia and stoked the fire and added more logs.     “Jamie?!” Aunt Lidia said as she materialized out of nowhere in the kitchen. My first thought was where’s aunt Charlie until I heard wood being chopped outside.     “Hi how did it go was your trip successful?” I ask as I make my way to her to check out what she had gathered. There were chickens feet, herbs, oils, feathers and seeds which I knew would be for the next years harvest. The other stuff was nothing new to me I have used or seen those various things all my life.     “These are some things we will need this coming weeks for training. I just wanted to make sure I stay stocked up you know how it pains me to not have what I need when I need it.” She said as I smiled. She was the most prepared and organized person I knew.     “The stew looks and smells heavenly Jamie!” She peeped while I removed the lid. Aunt Charlie came in with more wood and we all washed up for supper. We ate in a comfortable silence before aunts Charlie declared she’d be doing the clean up as Lidia and I prepared for training.  **** I saw the girl coming to the waters edge but she was looking around to see if she were alone. I got the feeling she felt my presence but of course she never saw me. I was leaving until I felt her enter the water. Why did I feel her? I swam a way away and surfaced to look on again she was swimming and then she stopped. She was floating in all her glory on the waters surface and I could not take my eyes away. Her hair was long and blonde, her eyes were the green colour of the ocean after a storm and her body was incredible. She had been tall standing on the beach and now seeing those plump breast floating on the water my mouth watered. It had been too long since I’d even desired a woman and this one was intriguing me. I felt a sudden sensation and she sank in the bottom. I felt her swimming under the water and I saw her rise by the beach but she was looking around and being cautious. Did she sense me? But how? I sensed there was something intriguing about this girl. She wasn’t human but what was she and being able to sense me. No one senses a water demon we are cloaked and to the world we don’t exist. I watch as she climbs out and dresses herself again and I find myself sad that I couldn’t see her perfect form. She sat seemingly deep in thought and abruptly runs off. Who is she? I decide to follow and suddenly I get my answer. This little one was a witch! I didn’t try to pass the cloak around the property, I could still see the fuzzy images but most importantly I could hear. She was alone for sometime but then I sense a shift and see a woman starting the chopping of wood. Then I hear it. Her name was Jamie and she referred to the women as aunts. What were witches doing here? But this girl seemed something more but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Her voice was so soft like a delicate flower moving in the breeze. Why am I curious? I feel drawn to her but why after all this time. Water demons hardly ever find mates and without them our s****l desires are non existent. But this girl… hmm Jamie made something awaken. I projected home to the deepest depths of the ocean to the city where I lived. My home was nice but was never warm and homey. Now I felt it needed warmth. I had so many questions so I decided I’d watch Jamie more in the future. I wonder if I’d feel her presence if she were to enter the water all the way down here it would certainly be handy in seeing her if I had an alarm bell like that.     “Master?” My longest and trusted servant spoke upon entering the room.     “What is it Bran?” I ask as I grab a drink. He walks over to turn on a lamp and comes to me. He has papers in  his hand. I was trying to buy a harbour dock with warehouses and contracts with potential expansion. Just because I lived in the ocean didn’t mean I didn’t like exploring the world with many comforts. Of course no one could know of our existence so I’d have to earn a living and do most things like a human. I always search for my mate but it’s hard for water demons. I wonder how old the girl was? Had she found her mate? She stirred something in me I long ago believed dead.     “Those contracts for you sir.” I sat at my desk with the whisky I poured earlier and emptied its contents before finalizing the contracts. I sit back and think about tomorrow. Will she go to the beach again? I needed to see her closer, I wanted to talk to her.     “Bran cancel everything tomorrow. I have something else important to do.” Bran nods as he picks up the contracts and evaporated into thin air. I myself go somewhere to see and hear more.    I see her with a woman in the garden.    “Come on aunt Lidia what are we going to do tonight?” She was just sitting in the grass leaned back with her arms stretched holding her up. Everything was hazy looking because of the cloak but her giggle made me smile and I didn’t even realize it. When was the last time I smiled?     “Patience child. It’s not the most complicated spell but moonlight is crucial.” She seemed kind and patient with Jamie and he liked her because of that. So she was being trained but how old was she?     “Aunt Lidia? When I get my wolf will I have to wait until the moons out?” She was half wolf?! A witch and a wolf? My things are getting interesting.    “No you will have the power to shift at will once you get her.” She smiled    “So in twelve days I’ll get to meet my wolf and spend as much time with her as I want?” I could see her jump up from her prior sitting position and start dancing around the yard.     “So my wolf will be a girl because I am?” Her aunt nods and Jamie squeals in delight. I thought I knew almost everything but a witch and wolf hybrid was not one of them. Possibly my fault being in slumbers too long or being a loner when on land. I feel as though I missed so much. Is that why I’m drawn to her? Because she’s new? Twelve days she will be eighteen I know the maturity of a wolf so therefore she has no mate yet. I don’t know why my heart felt bigger but I needed to solve the mystery of Jamie. She would be a powerful little thing to be sure.  I decided I would have to find a way to talk to her just once if not in life maybe in her dreams.     “Ok Jamie let’s be on our way.” Her aunt was walking towards the house but turned and looked in my direction like she saw me. She never saw me through my cloak but she sensed me like the girl did at the beach. But this one was only a witch but very powerful I could sense her power and I knew it was time for me to leave. Tomorrow I’d make myself free so I could make plans to talk to Jamie in person. I could take on any form I wished just thinking a form of a elderly woman to talk casually, just be myself or change into wolf. This was going to be a long night maybe I’d visit her dreams.   I’m back in my home but suddenly instead of feeling comfort in the silence I feel caged. When was the last time I felt like this? When have I felt anything? She stirs something in me and I’m feeling confined like I can’t do what I want or need. Need? What do I need all of a sudden? This was a strange day indeed. I’m dwelling on the mate but why think of the impossible? Why such a pull of curiosity? She is beautiful and a voice like an angel.     “Well hello Cain it has been awhile since I’ve seen you. Mother was asking about a family dinner and I said I’d check in with you.” She smiled and sat next to me. I loved my sister she was the anchor to our family. Her hair was midnight black, her eyes a golden honey. She was dark completed like our mother but the rest was our father. I had his black hair like my sister but I had blue eyes like our mother and pale skin as father. He was in a slumber now for god knows how long more but mother is always available choosing to not miss a thing. She was a good mother but also distant at times but always caring. My parents mated over thousands of years ago with my dad the last thousand going in slumbers or hibernation some would say. Time passes slowly for us and immortality making it longer. When or if I ever found a mate I’d never slumber. Finally having my other half, my life line, my love. I mom would miss my father deeply and sit next to him often to talk even though he never stirred. I felt the loneliness setting in and needed space.    “Hey Finn dinner sounds good but we shall have to schedule it for a months time some important business came up and I’ll be on land til it’s complete. I could see the wheels turning like she wanted answers but Finn being her usual self let it go without asking. She knew all would be revealed to her in time.    “Ok Cain I’ll fill mother in and I’ll be taking my leave for now.” She and I rose, embraced and she was gone. I went to my room and lay in bed trying to plan on what I would do next. I must have fallen asleep.               “Why are you sad?” I heard the voice  I was suddenly standing in front of a mirror in a room I couldn’t recognize. I knew it was her voice but she wasn’t there. I scanned the room through the mirror and nothing. How I loved her voice. The feeling of loneliness and sadness washed over me again.                “ Talk to me! Why are you lonely and sad? The sun will still rise tomorrow and flowers will open.” I heard the smile in her voice trying to coax me but I couldn’t turn, or talk but…. I saw a blue orb behind me in the distance. Did she visit my dreams? But how?    I woke up and I wanted to go back. I got out of bed and was walking to the drinks when I felt it. The same as when she entered the water. Could it be? I shimmered to the beach and there she was laying down oblivious to anything other than the stars. I couldn’t decide what lighting I preferred more when it came to her beautiful complexion. Soon she fell asleep right there and I went in closer. Her mouth slightly parted, her thick lashed fanning her ivory skin. The sun would be up soon and I knew the light and warmth would soon wake her so I decided to leave her a trinket. It was a green stone engraved with my name in my language which I placed next to her right side. When she would hold it I’d know and feel her close. If she put it in her room I’d have more access to her through that cloak her aunts had set up. I assume it’s the do no harm spell but even if no harm was meant if an evil or supernatural presence was detected there may be a warning so it’s best to avoid her home for the time being. I felt her from the stone I could feel her tracing my name. Now I’d visit her dreams but I’d bide my time until she met me in person. Makes for better dreams if your image is set in their mind. So the decision was made it had to be my true form. Now I needed to plan a chance meeting.      I woke on the beach ledge and found the engraved rock. It was green and had letters on it I’d not seen before. The next time the aunts went out shopping I’d research in peace without questions. I put the rock in my pocket and went home before the aunts woke. I knew it was too early for them to be up yet so I made a fire and put a pot of water on the stove for a wash and cooking. I decided to make bread and get a head start on breakfast. I fried two strips of thick bacon and chopped up a whole head of cabbage to fry up in the bacon grease as I let that simmer I went to fetch eggs to go with it. While I was on my egg hunt I remembered the stone and I reached for it and held it. Even in my pocket against the warmth of my skin it was cold but as I held it and traced the symbols I felt warm inside. When I heard mumblings inside the house I put it back in my pocket and went in with the collected eggs.      “Jamie dear it smells heavenly in here.” Lidia said as she checked the bread after washing up from sleep.      “I figured you two needed a break after running around all day yesterday.” I said as Charlie kissed my cheek. She loved fried cabbage and was grateful. I leaned into her kiss and smiled.      “Thanks sweetheart I’ve never been more excited for a meal!” Aunt Charlie said as she puts on her boots to chop wood. Today was our break day when we would just do chores and read.       “There are a few things I wanted to try and find which eluded me yesterday and honestly I forgot I needed to restock.” She was loading her bag with all the empty bottles she used to store the things she missed.     “ I need to catch up on reading today so it will be a productive day for us all.” I replied with a grin.     Lidia put the bread to bake and I made nests in the cabbage for the eggs to be cracked into. After long we had eaten, the aunts left and the washing up was done. I grabbed a book and went to the beach with it. The book was about herbs and flowers for medicinal purposes. I decided to dip my toes in the water as I looked through the book.