Irregular Mates

Revealed

We all crowded into Nick’s office, which was a giant, beautiful room made of white marble on the second floor. The walls were covered in paintings and pictures of all the pack members. One of the paintings on the back wall behind a dark oak desk was of a brilliant red moon. I squinted trying to read the artist's signature. Nick Black. Huh, so he’s talented in more ways than one. 

    Nick was sitting in a grand leather chair behind the desk. He sat me in a foldable metal chair next to him. Marsi and Harmon were front stage in the leather chairs across from us. To Marsi’s right was Nina, Nick’s mother. Behind Harmon were two guys I haven’t met yet. They were just as ripped and beautiful as Harmon was. One was shirtless with a strap across his chest holding a quiver behind his back. Feathers jutted out behind his shoulder. The other man had one of those wife beater tanks on. To his left, I saw the hilt of a sword. 

    They, too, were staring at me with wide eyes. Nick cleared his throat and everyone laid eyes on him. He radiated Alpha energy. He was about to speak when Nina interrupted him, “It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours since you found your mate and you have already marked one another?” she asked in a more curious way. 

    Everyone in the room looked at our necks. Jaws dropped, mainly from the two I didn’t know. Marsi started snickering. She laughed so hard she snorted and started choking. Harmon patted her on the back as he laughed with her. Nick and I just hung our heads. I wasn’t ashamed but I didn’t know any of these wolves. I didn’t even know Nick!

    “You have got to be kidding me!” Marsi laughed louder. She started slapping her thigh with every giggle that escaped her lips. 

    “We’re missing something here,” the man with the sword pointed out. The man standing next to him nodded in agreement and grabbed the other guy's hand. Hmm… I thought. 

    “Nick literally just f****d a complete stranger!” Marsi laughed even harder. What is this girl's problem? Nina shot her a dirty look. 

    “You should all know very well that the Mate bond is strong and it does not matter if you know someone, your wolves have known each other their whole lives. Now it’s time for your human side to know each other. The marking could have waited,” she gave Nick a taunting look. “But all that means is that their bond is sealed. No going back now,” she smiled at me gently. 

    “Nick found his mate?” the quiver guy asked with a frown. His voice was slightly more feminim and cute. His lips turned up when Nina nodded her head at him. “Luna!” he yelled out as he ran to me and scooped me up in his arms, giving me a giant, suffocating bear hug. 

    “Galvin,” Nick said sternly. “Put. Her. Down,” he growled. His wolf was hovering just beneath the surface. Galvin apologized and set me back down. 

    “Calm down, Nick. Galvin isn’t interested in the goods she’s got.”

    “Thanks, Marsi.”

    “Anyway!” Nick yelled out to quiet the room. “Galvin, Maverick, this is Clara Redwood.” I stood to shake their hands but they were frozen in place. They looked at me with complete horror. What the hell? 

    They know your family, Clara. They probably don’t expect you to be alive right now. 

    Where have you been? I just mated with this guy and you were nowhere to be found!

    Just as you found yours, I found mine. We’ve been busy, too. 

    What is his wolf like? What is his name? 

    Flint. He’s amazing. Pay attention! 

    I looked up and everyone was staring at me. “Oh, uh, hi. I’m Clara.” 

    “I’m Maverick,” said the guy with the sword. “And this is Galvin, my mate.” 

    I nodded my hellos and folded my hands in my lap awkwardly.

    “I brought Galvin and Maverick in because they are my Gamma’s and need to be just as informed as the rest of us.” Nick stood and motioned for me to do as well. I gave him a look of confusion. Then, suddenly, I heard him in my head. 

    Trust me. He said through our mate bond. He twisted me around so my back was to the crowd. I stared at the moon painting. I knew exactly what he was going to do and as much as I didn’t want the whole room to see my naked back, I knew it needed to be done. 

    He pulled my shirt up as I held my arms around my breasts to prevent them from being exposed. The room gasped again, as did Nick, as if they hadn’t already seen it. I yanked my shirt down and turned to glare at all of them. 

    “What? Half of you have already seen it!” 

    “Uh, Clara? It changed.” Marsi said, almost annoyed. Does this girl hate me?

    “What?” I said with just as much attitude as her. She looked away from me. 

    “Here,” Nick grabbed his cell phone off the desk and beckoned me to turn again. I folded my shirt up while he snapped a picture. He pulled my shirt back down and showed me the picture. 

    The tattoo had shifted and changed. The mirrored Phoenixes were still there, blowing their fierce fire, but now they blew their fire at a red moon positioned right in the middle of my shoulder blades. The fire of the birds circled the moon but didn’t touch it. It was beautiful. 

    “What does this mean?” I whispered as I looked over the image. The whole room seemed to fill with confusion. Everyone looked at the picture in awe. 

    “You’re a phoenix mated with a light witch born under a blood moon,” Nina announced from the corner of the room. 

    “Alright, Mom, you seem to have a lot of answers with zero explanation. What is going on?” Nick questioned. 

    “Yes, it’s time,” Nina seemed to say to herself. “Alright everyone. This is going to be long and a few of you might hate me afterwards but I just want you to remember that I am your mother and I was Luna of this pack. Everything I did was to protect you. Sit down. Get comfortable.”