Keeping promises

Chapter 11:Mate Meet

“And just like the rain, you turn the dust into nothing, you wash off the salt from my hands. So touch me again I feel my shadow dissolving, will you cleanse me with pleasure?”

(Rain- Sleep token)

…………Alpha of Blood-stone POV………

I looked at the door as my beta Caspian sauntered back in. He had been on edge all day as we drove to the summit. We had a rogue invasion that we had to deal with before we left, which took a bit of time. As we were walking to our room he had caught the scent of his mate. I let him follow her scent while I went to our room. I brought him, two unmated males and three females who kept trying to get into my bed.

“So how was it?” I asked, as he laid back on his bed.

“She’s gorgeous.” He said lightly, then he looked at me seriously. “She is the sister of the Alpha of Black-moon.” I nodded and sighed. From the rumors I’d heard Black-moon was a new pack, the Alpha had built it from nothing, and within 5 years they were within the top ten strongest packs in the U.S.

“Black-moon would be a good ally to have.” I said as I laid back in my own bed. I tried reaching out to my wolf, but there was no reply. He had gone dormant a few years back in an attempt to save my life. It had worked, but I couldn’t draw him back out.

I had been locked up for two years before my execution was decided. The alpha handed his pack down to his dimwitted son who said he wanted to have me fight for my freedom. I mean in their eyes I was a traitor after all. So I accepted, but I made sure to whisper to the alpha pup that he would be seen as weak for taking on a wolf as thin and malnourished as I had been.

His ego couldn’t let my stinging words go so I had three months to eat, sleep, work-out and repeat. After the three months was up it was easy for me to kill the alpha pup in just my human form. I stood at 6’4”, while he was only 6’ tall. While I had been bulking up and making sure I could properly fight, he had been slacking off, he thought I was going to be an easy kill, even with prep time.

After I killed him I was thrust into the Alpha position. I decided to disband the pack and I moved out of the area. I headed east and landed in Illinois, most of the disbanded pack followed me seeing as they had nowhere else to go and nobody to turn to. Even though I was searching for my mate I made a small town our base and formed the Blood-stone pack. I tried searching for my mate whenever there was time, but rogue invasions were happening more frequently making it hard to leave. I appointed Caspian as my beat after he came to my pack with a group of young girls, they were running from an Alpha who had promised them safety, but assaulted and killed one of them. The rest of them ran away and found my pack, I took them in because I was reminded of her.

I remembered the look on her face that night. She had appeared in my dream, she looked so happy, so healthy. Her face fell and she began crying as we both realized we were dreaming. I could feel my wolf Atrox fading away as he made his decision to go dormant. “We’re mates.” I felt my heart all but leap from my chest as she told me about how she had come to discover it. Her amber eyes shined even in the dimly lit cell we were in. She looked so out of place in the t-shirt and underwear. Her golden hair was falling loosely around her frame. I remember getting tired and sitting down. I heard her calling to me, begging me not to go, but darkness took over my entire being. “WILLIAM!” The way she screamed my full name still resounded through my mind. She had sounded so desperate, so heartbroken.

I sighed as I thought of her, I missed all of them, but finding them was more difficult seeing as the only lead I had was that they had left fallen-woods. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep, but all that I could think about was Finn. I wondered if she had moved on, found another mate. The bond we had disappeared with Atrox. I had no idea if she was alive, or where she decided to go.

By the time 8 in the morning rolled around I was tired and running on fumes. I pulled on a light grey button up and my new black slacks, then a pair of black dress shoes. We didn’t have a large meeting today, but I figured I may as well look decent if I was going to be meeting other Alphas. I looked at Caspian who was fixing his hair for the upteenth time and just motioned for him to come with me. We went and grabbed a quick snack for breakfast then went to the alcove we were meeting his mate at.

When we got there a large burly man stood protecting a woman who was looking out the window. My breath hitched as she turned and looked at Caspian, her smile radiating across her face.

“Tanner?” I heard myself say softly. Both she and Caspian turned toward me, he looked confused while her face went through about twenty emotions in seconds.

“Will?” She said as she stood, using the burly guy as support. “You’re dead.” Her eyes filled with tears and her lips quivered. “Finn saw you die.” The words hit me like a punch in the gut.

“What?” I managed to get out, even though it was hard to breathe.

“She said the moon goddess connected you through a dream, and she saw your heart get ripped from your chest.” I felt my head shake as I processed her words.

“I fell asleep.” I told her. “Atrox went dormant, and he took what was left of my strength.” Tanner left the arm of her guard and walked toward Caspian and I. I took her hand gently and pulled her into a hug, making sure that I wasn’t dreaming. I felt myself sob as she cried into me. “I missed you kid.” I whispered against her head. She nodded into my chest and grabbed my sides, her fists crumpling up my shirt.

“I was so happy when she told me you were her mate. You always acted like a big brother anyway.” She pulled back and looked at Caspian for a moment before turning back toward me. “Let’s sit while we wait for her.”

“Is Dawson here?” Tanner nodded with a smile.

“I’m sure he’ll be coming with her, probably Rose, Mia and Paige too.” I nodded and gave her a soft smile before taking one of hands and giving it to Caspian. I followed them to the table and Tanner introduced me to Psy, the warrior who had joined their pack out of Russia.

……….Finn POV…….

I could feel Ember going insane all morning, Tanner had gotten ready and left with Psy to wait in the alcove while I got everyone else together.

“Dawson, Paige and I will meet with Caspian and his alpha. Since Psy is with Tanner I would like you, Rose and Mia, to stay with Brooke and Ryan.” They nodded even though they looked a bit disheartened not being able to attend.

“We get to meet him later right?” Rose asked with a small pout. I nodded with a slight chuckle.

“That depends on how this meeting goes, but more than likely, yes.”

We went our separate ways after our small meeting, some headed to the alcove, the others headed to the pool. My heart sped up and I pulled the hem of the black blouse with small blue and yellow flowers on it. I looked at the pants I had chosen which were form fitted at the top then flared at the bottom. They were a light colored blue jean that paired well with the black high top converse I was wearing. I had my hair pulled into a messy bun and I left my face bare of make-up, and the only jewelry I was wearing was the pawprint necklace. My blouse sleeves only went down to just past my elbow so the entire tattoo was visible.

As we got closer I could hear Ember howling with joy, I felt my jaw clench when I realized I could smell my mate. I stopped in my tracks surprising Dawson and Paige as I took a few deep breaths and steeled myself before continuing.

(Just a heads up this could get a bit messy.) I told them without going into detail which confused them. By the time we reached the alcove Ember was threatening me, saying that if I rejected our mate she would leave me for good. My heart stopped as did my feet when I saw him, my hand automatically went to Dawson’s arm as my legs got weak. His icy blue eyes met mine and his smile nearly sent me straight to the goddess. He stood up, his tall frame blocking the sun, not that it did any good seeing as I was beginning to see black spots.

“Finn.” I looked at Dawson, my name somehow sounded muffled and blurry as he said it. He was looking at me worriedly. I felt myself laugh as tears rolled down my face.

“I’m sorry Dawson.” I felt myself say. “I’ve lost my marbles, I’m seeing ghosts now.” My whole body shook as I began to cry, the goddess was playing a cruel joke. “Oh s**t, maybe it’s just another dream.” I said as I sucked in a breath.

“Finn.” I swung my heavy head toward Paige as my eyelids began to grow heavy.

“I think I need some counciling.” I mumbled. I felt warmth around my face, and my head was gently turned so I was looking straight into those beautiful blue eyes. They were full of guilt, heartache, anger and tears. “William.” His name came out easily, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Finley.” Confusion swirled through my mind as his fingers somehow wiped the tears off of my cheeks. The tingles of the mate bond sparked wherever his skin touched mine, in the last dream we hadn’t been able to touch. I looked at his chest and I felt my hand move on it’s own, I could feel the steady rhythm of his organ pumping beneath the skin. Another sob escaped me as I held my hand there.

“It was gone.” I said as my knees gave out. “How did you get it back?” He lifted me up easily which confused me even more and carried me to the table where Tanner was crying heavily as she watched me. Her mate was watching too, heavy confusion and disbelief on his face. I felt my heart break for Tanner and I sucked in a deep breath. I felt Will sit, keeping me on his lap, I looked at Dawson, his face was devoid of any color, his eyes as wide as they could get. Aunt Paige was crying softly as she walked over toward us.

“Finn,” she said as she took my hand. “Tell me what is happening.” I nodded and thought about it for a moment.

“I think I’m dreaming, but I really can’t tell.” I told her honestly. “I saw Will die a few years ago, and I know that was a dream but Ember couldn’t feel the presence of her mate anymore.” I sucked in a deep breath and looked at my tattoo. “If Will isn’t dead that means we could have saved him….and….” I felt my breath hitch as I realized he had been being tortured while we did nothing.

“Finley.” I looked up at my mate, there was no more anger in his eyes, just understanding and calm. “I told you not to go looking for me.” The deepness of his voice calmed my racing heart. “I knew it would be a waste of your time.” I narrowed my eyes at him and he pressed his lips to my forehead. My entire body quivered as the mate tingles surged through my body, sapping away the adrenaline. “Atrox went dormant that night, that’s why you couldn’t feel the pull of the bond anymore.” I let out a deep heavy breath and felt my eyelids grow too heavy. I felt myself whimper lightly as I drifted off, knowing that when I woke up, William, my mate would be gone.

……………William POV………..

The little whimper as she gave into the exhaustion tore my heart apart. I looked at Dawson, my little brother in all but blood, he was pale and his eyes were as wide as they could possibly get. I stood carefully and set Finn on the chair I was sitting in. I walked over to him and pulled him into a hug. As soon as he was in my embrace the dam released. He quietly sobbed, much like Tanner did. His heavy head resting on my shoulder. He was probably two inches shorter than I was standing at 6’2”. Once he got it out I led him to the chairs and picked Finn back up and placed her on my lap. Caspian and Tanner were talking lightly as Psy watched everything with a discerning eye. Paige was trying to keep a watch on both Tanner and Finn from her seat beside Dawson.

“So what do we do now?” I heard Dawson ask softly. “No way is Finn going to let you go again.” I smiled and rested my chin on the top of her head.

“Why don’t you explain everything that happened.” I told him. “I know Finn is the Alpha of Black-moon, but that’s about it.” Dawson nodded and took a deep breath.

“I guess I’ll start at Finn’s 18th birthday party…” He said trailing off, his eyes unfocused for a moment before he back at me. “Let me take Finn for a moment.” I handed her over reluctantly, after I did I heard them coming down the hall, their shoes slapping on the floor.

“I was just about to jump in the pool!” I heard Rose grumble. I stood from my chair and walked around the table. Both Rose and Mia stopped in their tracks, however, they ran straight into me once they processed what was happening. Rose ended up slapping my chest while sobbing while Mia tried to rein her in.

“Do you know what Finn has gone through?” She scolded me through gritted teeth with tears in her eyes. “She saw you die! But you didn’t die, you just didn’t come home.”

“Rose,” she warned gently. “We can’t judge until we know what happened.” I nodded at Mia and went back to my seat where I took Finn back from Dalton. Rose came over and inspected her carefully then growled at me before she went and sat on Mia’s lap in the chair next to Caspian.

“I’ll share my story after I hear yours.” I told Rose while I motioned for Dawson to talk. I sighed and held my mate tightly as I was told everything. Dawson and Mia told most of the story, Tanner and Paige jumped in here or there when they missed a detail. Rose usually added snide comments about Finn and how sad and lonely she was, which was starting to irritate. Mia noticed and scolded her through their mate link, and Rose just pouted. I felt Finn stir slightly toward the end.

Once they finished I began, I started with the day I left. How I ended up getting tricked by my own blood and locked away for years. How Atrox went dormant, the fight and how I ended up with a pack after I disbanded the other one. I told them about the rogue invasions and my responsibilities. How I had come to get an invitation to the summit, and who I brought with me. I introduced them to Caspian who told them a bit about his story. I had felt Finn wake up while I was speaking, she just listened, breathing slowly and steadily.

“Who was the alpha?” She asked Caspian as he was telling his tale. He took a deep breath and said the name that had everyone tense. I could feel the anger rolling off of Finn, Rose was snarling lightly and Caspian raised his brow in confusion.

“Is there something I’m missing?” He asked.

“Christian is the reason we left our pack.” Finn told him, her voice sounding calm. “If I could have killed him back then I would have.”

“I see.” He said with a nod, Tanner put her hand on his arm and he covered her hand with his own. “He deserves to be killed.”

“I’ll get clearance and deal with him on the way home.” Even I was stunned by her words, and the way she said them so casually. “What is your plan?” She asked, turning her head to look up at me. I practically melted seeing the warmth of her amber eyes as they met mine.

“I don’t think my pack will mind moving to Vermont, especially since there aren’t many rogue attacks there.” She nodded and looked around at everyone, her eyes stopping on my beta.

“How do you feel about moving?” He sent her a small smile and squeezed Tanner’s hand.

“I think your pack sounds lovely, I can’t wait to go.”

“Now that we have a smidgeon of a plan worked out, you all deserve to relax. Go to the pool or the spa, do whatever you want, just have fun okay?” Everyone nodded at her and began standing up. Finn’s legs still seemed a little unstable so I helped keep her steady as we got out of our chair.

“You and I have some work left to do.” I said into her ear lightly, she looked up at me from over her shoulder, her soft amber eyes glistening in the sunlight. “There are a bunch of Alpha’s meeting in the ball room trying to make connections.” She nodded and took my hand intertwining our fingers. “Dawson, I’ll take Finn to the ballroom, why don’t you go have fun.” I said as he looked back at us, he nodded and walked beside Tanner and Caspian. Finn and I took our time getting to the ballroom, she still looked tired, but ready to go.

“Alpha Will.” I heard Elder Xion say as Finn and I entered.

“Elder Xion.” I greeted with a slight bow.

“I have a request for the council.” Finn said from beside me, her voice steady.

…………..Finn POV………….

“What is your request?” Elder Xion asked me as Samuel walked over.

“I would like to eliminate the Fallen-woods pack in Wyoming.” I said simply, they raised their eyebrows and my William squeezed my hand. “From what I have just heard he is still committing assaults, and has even progressed into murder.”

“What is your source?” Samuel asked.

“My beta.” Will said from beside me. “He was packless and was traveling in the company of five women. They were offered sanctuary, however the eldest was r***d and murdered their second night. Caspian and the others fled, I had never thought to ask the name of the alpha. Turns out it was Alpha Jacob’s son Christian.”

Xion thought for a second while obviously mind-linking with Samuel. “When did you plan on doing it?” Samuel asked.

“Three- four days at most. I just want to get it over with.” I replied. “I’d rather do it before I head back to my pack, that way I don’t have to leave again.”

“I’ll make a call to the rest of the elders, you will have our decision by tomorrow morning.”

“Thank you for considering my request.” I said with a slight bow.

“Even though you may have handled the manner of Klein poorly, I have faith in your sense of justice.” Xion told me with a slight smile. “I have also noticed you seem quite chummy with Alpha Will.”

“He’s my mate.” Will kissed the top of my head while Samuel smiled at us gently, Xion also nodded, then shooed us off in the direction of the other alphas. We milled around for a while, talking to a couple of alphas that seemed decent enough. We decided not to rush into any alliances with them until we were able to do more research on their packs.

At around 3pm Will and I left and headed toward our rooms. He walked me to the door and kissed my head before sending me inside. I went to the closet and pulled off my clothes before pulling on my black and red bikini. I slipped on one of the shirts he had left in his old apartment and a pair of shorts. I slipped my feet into some flip-flops and left the room. I walked down to the pool in a trance-like state, as I had felt like I was in for most of the day.

The hot Nevada sun beat down on me as I sat down in a chair next to Tanner. She peeked at me and smiled brightly. Her smile faded when I didn’t return it. She sat up and grabbed my hand, gently sighing. “You still can’t tell if you’re dreaming right?” I nodded and I felt my eyes sting.

“Yeah.” I said softly, she bushed a strand of hair behind my ear and looked into my eyes, her brown eyes so similar to our mothers.

“You’re allowed to have good things happen to you, Finn.” She said with a tiny smile. “There isn’t always going to be another shoe that drops.” I closed my eyes and clenched my jaw, then took off Will’s shirt and leaned back in my chair.

“The thought of losing him again is too hard to accept.” I told her, feeling raw and vulnerable. “I’ve learned how to live without him, I can already feel myself starting to depend on his presence, so what happens if he disappears again?”

“Do you mind if I butt in?” I opened one eye and looked at Caspian who was sitting at Tanner’s feet.

I just nodded. “I’ve been with Alpha Will for a year and a half, and in that time many she-wolves have tried getting into his bed.” I felt Ember growl within me as she got angry. “He refused every single woman, I never asked why, but I could tell you’re the reason.” Caspian’s green eyes shimmered in the sunlight. “Even after a year and a half I have never seen him show even an ounce of the care he showed all of you, I mean he’s a kind man and a good alpha. I’ve seen a side of him today I didn’t know existed.”

“Alphaaaaa.” The sickly sweet voice of a desperate woman caught all of our ears and we all turned to see a leggy blonde sashaying toward Will.