The Tribrid's mate

To love and behold...

Red? Blonde? Brunette?

What do you have in mind? Also your dress, we have to go shopping.

There’s so much to do and plan before the ball.

Are you excited, Lexa?

I snap out of my thoughts. Since we’ve been back at the Mooncliff residence. A lot and not much has happened... I have barely seen Vince since the very light we arrived. Aria as well has been unusually out of sight.

Bella on the other hand has been stuck with me as she’s now much better from the incident.

Right, the incident. Finding out my parents were killed and I had an aunt stuck in another reality or time warped prison was still a lot to process. But more importantly, it was the fact that however way I choose to see it... I and Vince were doomed.

Doomed in the “someone has to die for the other to live” kind of a way and this bothered me. Bothered me a lot. Vince seems to have been plunged back into the affairs of the council and the ball to introduce me as his girlfriend.... his mate.

To avoid sticking out or causing the humans to connect the dots between me and the supposed goddess. I suggested that I changed my look.

Changed my hair. Straighten them out to waves and re-color.

Bella was having a field day with the coloring business.

Lexa, you know you’re going to have to answer me at some point. Bella said

I want black. Let’s make it black. And straight.

Blonde would make me seem like eye candy. I want to look regal and befitting of the role the Luna would have to play..

You can be blonde, a red head or bald, Lexa. You’re still the Luna Vince needs and loves. You’re still Luna the pack needs.

But black sounds perrrrfect! And right on cue, Bella is back to being excited. And I’m sitting in my enormous bathroom across the mirror watching her get to work.

Vince

Is all set for the ball? Security? Catering has to be done by our staff. For all we know the other factions know about this and could try a poison stunt.

I do not want anything to go wr-

I assure you, it’s all been handled, Ovaro said

When was the last time you saw Lexa?

Sighing, I knew where he was headed.

You know we all live in the same building.

That’s not what I asked... You know Bella tells me everything and as much as Lexa doesn’t say much Bella knows for sure that Lexa misses you. For f**k sakes, you’re here making everything perfect and safe for her yet you won’t even talk to her.

You have to do better.

Vince

And what do you think all this is? It’s for her. I don’t want her to look at me and remember. You know? Remember that it was my parents that got hers killed. That I’m walking and breathing threat to her very existence... I don’t want her to see how much I want her and want to love her but haven’t figured out a safe way to do it yet.

So pardon me Ovaro while I think and keep her safe from a distance.

Ovaro

Excuses. That all I hear. You have your mate, the person you’ve been waiting for... for years. It’s been a decade. And now she’s in the “same apartment block” as you are and you’re too scared to do something about it.

You know when I saw Bella with that vampire and silver knife to her throat. The way she looked, how weak and vulnerable she was. All I could think about was how much I wasn’t ready to lose her. How much I still wanted to love her.

How much I hadn’t done. And then Lexa risks her position, her safety to save Bella. For me. For you.

If you can’t see it, let me tell you Vince. Lexa is a powerful woman who isn’t afraid to love those she cares for no matter the cost or risk.

I think she deserves the same. I think she wants you to show her the same. Don’t break her heart in your bid to keep her safe.

Go talk to her. Go be with her. The ball is in two days. I’ll sort things out here.

Ovaro walks up to me and says, You deserve happiness more than you know. Don’t ruin this chance the Moon Goddess has given you.

He was right. What was I doing. Why was I being such an asshole? Lexa needed me. Heck, I needed her.

I give Ovaro a quick nod and head out the office.

Getting to my car, I instruct to be driven to the residence.

Vince. I I miss you... Why are you avoiding me?

Blinking twice. That was Lexa’s voice. She mindlinked me. We never even practiced this, our bond must be something special and here I was making a waste of it.

I miss you too. And I’m sorry, I’ve been weird and I know. But I’m almost home and I want to make it up to you.

Wear a nice dress, let’s go out tonight. I want to show you the city.

Really? Are you asking me out on a date. Mr Mooncliff. Lexa said in the mind link

Yes I am. I would fly to you right now if I could but I’ll make do with driving at an impossible speed to see your face. Be ready in 15 minutes

Good thing I just got my new look done. Let’s see what you think.

45 mins later

Stepping out in a black alter necked maxi dress with a low back cut... Lexa stepped out of the Mooncliff residence into the parking lot where Vince stood. Typing away at his phone.

You sure know how to keep a lady waiting. Lexa mindlinked Vince as she walked up to him.

Vince

I look up to see Lexa, her hair, jet black sleek and long in a black dress that literally took my breath away.

She started to get uncomfortable under my gaze and looked away. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

I immediately hold her by the waist, giving her a deep kiss. Her hair was different yes but her scent was divine.. it was the same in the forest where we met. The same in the corridor walkway of her apartment floor. The elevator she took to go down to the gallery to study.

I missed her so much. I was never leaving her side and tonight I was going to make her feel every bit of special that she was. She kissed me back with the same fervency and smiled up at me.

I missed you too.

I chuckled, so you can read thoughts now?

I didn’t have to. She smirked.

You mindlinked me today, how did you know how to?

I really didn’t, I overheard Bella say she could speak with Ovaro that way because they were mates so I thought to try and it worked!

I’m so glad you did. Your hair, it looks so different.

Yes, Bella did it. She’s got so many talents. Do you like it?

Yes I do, very much. Although i love your real her hair and waves. But I know we have to do this for now. It will be over soon. I promise.

She smiled, the kind of smile that reaches the eyes and says that she trusts me while heartedly.

Holding her by the waist, we got into the car and headed out to the city.