Her Mortal Mate

Chapter Thirty Four: Broken Spell

Adam

My heart fairly melted at her words.

Of course this was what I wanted her to feel. I wanted to be that person for her, I just hadn’t realize I already was. Personally, I felt I hadn’t put much effort into that aspect of our relationship. I wanted to do more when it came to lifting her up and seeing the wonderful and amazing woman she was.

I reached out and stroked her face, her white fur softer than anything I’d ever touched before. Her light green gaze bore into mine and within them I saw the depths of her love. I felt it consume me, envelope me. She leaned into my touch, her eyes closing in bliss.

“Come here, baby girl,” I said, opening my arms. She hesitantly came and curled up in my lap. It was different, having her large wolf cuddled up against me, but I don’t think I would have had it any other way. She needed to understand I would love and care for her in any form she presented.

“I love you too,” she breathed as near magic curled through my mind and body at her words. “I’m sorry I scared you earlier,” she apologized.

“I have a feeling it’s not going to be the last time that happens,” I mused aloud, falling more into our connection. She allowed me past walls she’d built. Allowed me to explore, to page through her memories, to stroke her mind and soul. I don’t know how long we stayed like this, but we had to have been there for hours as I soaked in every bit of her I could. But a lifetime of memories couldn’t be fully seen, comprehended and understood in such a short time.

Most of the memories I’d rummaged through were mainly from last year when we met, our time apart and the hurricane of events that had happened in the past few days. I was in awe of experiencing her thoughts and feelings during the times we knew each other.

“We will figure this out, Jadea. We will face this together,” I stated confidently. I would do whatever I could, I would be whatever she needed me to be—

“I need you to just be you,” she replied to my thoughts softly. “I don’t think you realize how much I just need you.”

In the peace settling over us, I realized she hadn’t been scrounging around in my mind.

“Right now, is more for you than for me. Besides, there will be plenty of time for me to return the favor. To look through every memory you have, unpack it and embrace every aspect of you. Regardless of what I will see, I know it will only make me love you more.”

Just as this was making me fall in love with her more.

I was feeling more confident in our relationship and future than I would have if we only talked it out. I could feel the beginnings of the spell Lance wove start to fray.

There was one more thing I wanted to ask her before this ended and I was disconnected from her.

She lifted her head and turned a wary gaze my way when Lance’s and my conversation came to the forefront of my thoughts, where she could see them. I saw her displeasure at his mention of that time.

“Why he would decide to bring that up now is beyond me,” she muttered to herself as she moved to get up. The instant she sat up, I wrapped my arms around her pulling her fully against my chest. It had only been a momentary flash of pain, but I’d felt the depths of the unresolved darkness nonetheless. The kind of pain that slowly ate away at one’s very soul.

“Because it is something you need to talk about, Jadea.”

“I have talked about it. With Dr. Andrew.” She defended.

And she had… “But not all of it,” I countered because I caught onto the fraying edges.

She sighed heavily.

“Tell me about it, Jadea. Lance believes it is something you need to talk about. So, lay it on me baby girl.”

I felt the conflict within her. That time was dark and exceptionally heavy. It wasn’t something she wanted to burden anyone with. She fought to make sure I couldn’t see them.

“How about a compromise?” I asked her. When her curiosity filled my mind, I continued. “You don’t have to tell me everything right now. But every week you will share a part of that painful time in your life. You need to talk about it. And you know I’m right. We can go at your pace. You don’t have to tell it all in one sitting.”

I felt her slight annoyance, however she finally relented because she realized it was past time to tell someone about it. “Every second week,” she pressed.

“Ok,” I relented.

She took a few moments to gather her thoughts before delving in. “I hadn’t been with Lucien but a couple of years when the immortal half breed g******e befell the immortal community. It was led by an evil vampire, Victor. He had been wronged by someone close to him…” I felt her hesitate as she tried to remember the exact details. “He had been wronged by his closest friend and confidant, Michael Erickson. He, and his brother, Ulysses, basically stole Victor’s true mate. Ulysses made her believe Michael was her true mate using his powers. From this, Victor’s prejudice and anger towards half breed immortals was born. And his vengeance towards the Ericksons soon became more than just revenge. He wanted blood and atonement. He wanted to end the immortal half breeds because they were the main reason untrue mate bonds were made. To him, the only way to see this through was to eliminate the half breeds.

“Victor and his small army came on a stormy night to collect those half breed wolves who were in my father’s pack. Victor told my father he had to let them go, or he would be held in contempt and taken with them because sympathizers of the half breeds were dangerous. Anyway, long story short, my father and his entire pack didn’t feel this was… right. So, they stood with their half breed brethren and all of us were taken into custody.”

Within her mind, I felt her strain to keep the dark memories after that initial capture at bay.

I felt the fear of a child who escaped one hell only to be dumped into a different and more abhorrent one. I felt the overwhelming sadness. But there was something else. Something having to do with the Ericksons. I’d glimpsed several faces, one of them being Lance. Why had he come up in all of this? Especially in connection with them?

“Why do you have to be so sharp?” She teased.

“How did you two meet?” I asked.

I felt her amusement in my mind. “You’re getting ahead there, Adam. This is as much as I’m willing to talk about today.”

Fair enough. This was a good enough start to something that was hard for her to share. “I can’t imagine what you saw and experienced during that time in your life. I’m glad you made it through.” And I was glad she’d had Lance. Even though I couldn’t latch onto any specific memory, I felt how much he helped her through that time in her life and what he meant to her. I was starting to suspect both of them felt the same way toward each other, which was why their friendship dynamic was stronger and different.

As the spell continued to fade, I couldn’t help but feel a bit depressed by the separation. “Is there a way to keep this connection?” I asked a bit shyly. I liked having this intimacy. It wasn’t so I could delve into the depths of her mind. It was more comforting and soothing.

She brushed my mind affectionately and I could feel her need and want to keep this connection open too. “There is, but I don’t know how you’ll feel about it.”

Our connection didn’t allow for much transparency anymore, so all I could see and feel was what she was immediately thinking. She was holding something back. “Tell me.”

She hesitated. “We would have to drink each other’s blood to make a blood bond. That is the only way to make this permanent.”

She had to have felt my unease because she assured me I didn’t have to make a decision now. “We have time, Adam,” she soothed. “Come. We should head inside and eat something. Tomorrow we will be meeting with Nikolai and then we will head back north for a few days to settle your affairs.”

Dread and sadness suddenly consumed me as I realized my move from California would be permanent. The last time I’d moved hadn’t gone so smoothly and I was nervous about the future.

Jadea’s cold nose on my cheek pulled me out of my thoughts and centered me. She rubbed her cheek against mine affectionately, her white fur so soft against my skin.

I wasn’t sure if she caught onto that last bit of insecurity since the spell had worn off and our minds were disconnected. A sense of loss and loneliness clenched my heart as I stood up, brushed myself off and followed her into the house. There was a lot I had to think about and come to terms with. But, I knew I wasn’t alone. I had Jadea. I had a family within her pack. I knew my heart and soul, and those of my children, were in very good and capable hands.

Whatever came in the coming days, weeks and months, I knew I wouldn’t have to face them alone.