Her Fae Prince

Frustrations

They all took a seat around the table, and Ember put her head in her hands as she collected her thoughts. Torin sat on one side of her and started writing something down in a notebook he had pulled towards himself. Caleb sat on the other side scowling with his arms crossed, and Albwin just sat staring at everyone with an unreadable expression.

“Ok enough is enough, Torin might be my mate. I can feel it, almost all of it, but my wolf hasn’t claimed him yet. I don’t know why but I have decided that for now, Torin and I are accepting the bond and seeing where it takes us. Caleb, I need you to trust me and accept my decisions. I am sorry if it hurts but I have told you from the beginning I wanted to find my True Mate. If you can’t work with me and live with this then I’ll need to dismiss you, and I will bring someone else in to work this mission.” Ember had turned to Caleb as she talked and watched his expressions as they switched from hurt to angry to blank. She never wanted him to be hurt, he was the one who kept insisting on pursuing her. She turned to address the other two. “I won't let the bond interfere with the mission. Our number one priority, as I have said a few times now, is finding our people. What happened tonight was sloppy and a mess. We can’t keep moving forward like this. We need to communicate better and work together. Now, what do we have?”

“We didn’t see anything out of the ordinary around town, there was an empty building that had wolf scent in it where they may have held someone for a short time but they have since moved on, and the scent was old.” Albwin reported glancing at Caleb to see if he would add anything to what he said, but Caleb was just scowling at the table.

“Ok, good thank you. Torin and I noticed that two strangers in the pub had started watching us when we asked about our missing warrior. Shortly after one stood up to make a phone call. That’s when we decided that he should be followed. I followed the one outside while Torin kept an eye on the second, so he wouldn't sneak up behind me. I managed to overhear him talking to someone about us, how we were asking around and whether or not they should take us. That’s when he attacked me. The other showed up shortly after but when he saw we had his companion and there were two of us he took off. We decided not to pursue in case it was a trap and brought our friend in for questioning.” Ember gave her report and looked at Torin to see if there was anything she missed. He looked up from his writing.

“The waitress knows something and I believe the bartender knows something too. When we told her we were waiting for our friend and described the missing wolf she got nervous and glanced at the bartender before warning us off. Perhaps the vampires have something on the bartender and are using them to tip them off when one arrives on their own?” Torin added on.

“That’s good,” Ember nodded, biting her bottom lip as she thought. “It gives us something to work off if we need to, we could do some kind of set-up.” Ember paced the small space for a moment trying to piece their current information together. They knew they were using magic, and they are vampires. But why were they taking supers? This is what confused Ember the most, they have had a strong peace treaty with the vampire clan here for such a long time she couldn't understand why they would violate it now. They continued to go over what they knew to see if they missed anything, Ember was getting frustrated because none of it made sense.

“Ok, it’s pretty late and it’s been a very long and stressful day. Let’s meet back here tomorrow morning. If we haven't thought of anything else I think we should go back to the bar and see what we can find out from them.” She nodded and the others agreed. Caleb stormed off first, he hadn’t said much and mostly sat glaring at his phone and texting away. Ember hoped he would feel better in the morning, she didn’t want to have to dismiss him. He was her first friend in this pack. Torin said a few things to Albwin before following her out.

“Can I have a goodnight kiss to ensure my dreams are sweet?” He smiled slyly knowing it was a cheesy line. Ember laughed lightly.

“I suppose when you ask like that how can one say no?” Torin gave her a winning smile before taking her hand and pulling her with him into a darker part of the hallway. He pulled her in wrapping his warm arms around her waist and holding her flush against his hard chest, his silly grin melted into a soft one filled with tenderness. He leaned down as Ember reached up and the sparks started almost before their lips even touched. Ember sighed happily into the kiss and wrapped her arms around him more tightly. Torin nipped her bottom lip playfully and Ember’s core set on fire. She parted her lips allowing Torin to deepen the kiss. When they finally parted they were both breathless.

“Goodnight beautiful,” Torin whispered as he rested his forehead against hers. “Unless you want some company?” He looked at her hopefully and she blushed, shaking her head at him.

“Goodnight.” Ember slowly unwrapped herself from him and felt a slight pang as she watched him tuck his hands in his pockets casually and walk towards the guest wing and his room, humming a light tune.

It was almost 1 a.m. now as Ember made her way to her room. Her mind had started running a mile a minute again as she tried to connect the dots. The vampires knew if they were caught it would be war. They were not strong enough to take on either the Fae or Wolves let alone both, so why would they start kidnapping them? What on earth are they doing with them after they get them? It would start to get cramped with how many they already had. She was surprised to see Caleb leaning on the wall beside her door when she got there.

“Caleb, what are you doing here?” Ember asked him feeling confused. He had seemed so angry when he left the group.

“Ember, I’m sorry for the way I have been acting today. It has probably been very confusing for you, but it’s confusing for me too. Every time I see that prince anywhere near you it drives my wolf crazy. He gives me a bad feeling.” Caleb almost spit the word prince out as if it was leaving a bad taste in his mouth. He raised his head from looking at the floor and gave her one of his innocent smiles that used to melt her insides. She softened a bit.

“I am sorry too, Caleb. I never wanted anyone to get hurt. I really care about you and you have been such an amazing friend to me. I don’t want to lose your friendship.” She told him softly, he glanced away shaking his head a little before turning back to her. His eyes blazed with emotion.

“Ember I feel more for you than friendship. I am in love with you, I am so deeply in love with you that I would drop my mate tomorrow even if she showed up and was considered the most perfect person in the world because to me you already are that perfect person for me. You are strong, powerful, beautiful, and smart. You need someone like me by your side to help you rule this pack. I would be a worthy Alpha. The pack won't accept a Fae as Alpha.” He stepped towards Ember and reached out for her pulling her into a hug. He gazed down at her and leaned in as if he was going to kiss her. She turned her head and placed her hand gently on his chest holding him back.

“Please, don’t. I have already told you that Torin and I…” Caleb growled at Torin’s name and his eyes flashed as he smashed his lips down on hers. She pushed him this time, stepping back. “Listen, there was something there between us I won't lie I think I was even falling in love with you, but there is something stronger between me and Torin. I feel the sparks, the pull of the bond. I have waited my entire life to meet my True Mate, the mate that the goddess has chosen for me. I want to give Torin an honest chance to have my wolf claim him.” His eye flashed again at her words.

“It’s wrong, the thought almost makes me sick. I know you love me Ember. I know I am right. You will see I’m right, you will come back to me.” Caleb’s voice was low and passionate as his eyes blazed and his nostrils flared. He took a small step towards her as if he was about to try and kiss her again but growled when she took a step back.

“Caleb, I think it might be best if you stepped back from this mission. I don’t think it’s fair to make you work with us. I am sorry if I hurt you. That was never my intention.” Ember told him firmly. He was letting his emotions rule him which made him unpredictable. He growled again in frustration and turned and punched the wall making her flinch.

“I’ll get you back, that’s a promise.” He growled out between clenched teeth before he turned on his heel and walked away. She couldn’t tell if it was hurt or anger that laced his voice. Ember felt like the worst person in the world. This is exactly what she was afraid would happen when Caleb first started flirting. She should have nipped it in the bud, but he was so sweet and she had been so disappointed that he hadn’t been her mate. She let out a deep sigh as she went into her room.