Airen's POV After Tobias and Dayton crashed the reception, the party mood had been effectively killed. Everyone went home, almost imeadieadtly, giving Rachel and Cade murmured congratulations on their way out, all the while casting, me, Cade, and Johnathan nervous looks. Cade because of the new information that he was a werewolf and now lived among them. Johnathan because he was still fuming with barely contained rage and me because I was the obvious cause and target of Johnathan's rage. Mom offered to take James for me so Johnathan and I could "talk", the whole time casting uneasy glances at Johnathan who was watching me like a hawk. I shook my head. "I appreciate it, Mom, really, but after everything I want to keep James here with us." Mom looked at me, concerned. "Honey, I don't know how I feel about you staying here eith
Johnathan's Pov I did not sleep well. Between being restless over the separation from my mate and Morte being restless over vampires being within 100 miles of our mate and son, it was a long and uncomfortable night. At some point, I must have dozed off because one minute I was stressing out over what to do about my mate and her lack of communication and the next I was waking up to the bedroom door being opened. I had fallen asleep sitting up against the door, so when it opened I fell into the room, backward. I lay there, looking up at a very displeased Airen. She was wearing another white t-shirt, denim capri pants, and Converse. Her hair was down around her shoulders and damp as though she had just gotten out of the shower. There was a pair of sunglasses perched on her head and she was carrying a duffle bag, a book bag, and a purse. I wondered what she needed that required that many bags for just a few days before I remembered that she was supposed to be here for two whole weeks
We all heard the stories. Not only did werewolves and vampires exist, but so did soulmates. Not that many humans witnessed these things and lived to tell the tale. It was an unspoken understanding in the world. They existed and in return for our blind eye and silence, they let us live. They say that when werewolves find their soulmates they know right away. That once they have seen their mates they would burn the world for them. To protect them. They say that it's even worse with Alphas. That Alphas are extremely possessive and protective of their mates. For me, a human, thankfully I would never find out. At least, that was what I thought. "Airen come on, let's go!" Melissa shouted to me from downstairs. I sighed as I once again looked at myself in the mirror. Melissa was one of my best friends in the world, but I would kill her for forcing me to wear such a provocative dress. Melissa had selected a strapless dress that was cut low enough to show off my breasts and not in a class
Four Years Later..... Airen's POV I slammed the truck door closed with a sigh. I turned and leaned up against the truck crossing my arms and closing my eyes taking advantage of the rare moment of peace. Life hadn't been easy these past four years (as if it had ever been). After getting the phone call about my father I rushed out of that hotel room. I was impressed that I hadn't managed to wake up the man who had claimed to be my mate. At first, I had considered looking into the whole human mate of a werewolf thing. More specifically how I, the human, was supposed to know if he was really my mate. But once I had gotten home that changed. I had given a brief and somewhat explanation of why I needed to leave to Melissa that morning, but not about the night before, not that she didn't try to get details. I had gotten home just over a day later to find my father practically comatose. He had had a massive heart attack due to stress. Work and life in general had finally caught up with
Airen's POVWe arrived at Rachel's ranch and saw several people milling around. They were carrying things around getting ready for the wedding tomorrow.I put the truck in park and turned off the engine just in time for James to shout."Mommy look! The horses are out!"James loved horses. With the way he shouted and squealed every time he saw them you would think he'd never seen one before."James wait!" I said, but it was too late.When he was two James had learned how to buckle and un-buckle himself into and out of his car seat. That combined with the lack of child locks on my dad's truck meant that he was already out of the truck and halfway to the horses."I've got him. You have work to do." Mom said nodding to the house before us.I looked up and saw Rachel standing on the large wrap-around porch of her home. She was waving at me with a glowing smile on her face.I smiled and got out of the truck. I watched Mom and made sure she caught up with my runaway of a son before I turned
Airen's POVI tried not to laugh at the murderous glare Rachel sent me as her mother embraced her. I knew Carlotta would never let up or that we could never tell her the real reason why the ceremony was so rushed. So I decided to appeal to her sense of self-decency and the idea that her reputation as a mother could potentially suffer."Oh, my dear! Why didn't you tell me!?" Carlotta exclaimed as she pulled back to look at Rachel's very non-pregnant stomach."She wanted it to be a surprise. But with you being adamant about moving the wedding back I figured you should know." I interjected before Rachel could tell her mother that I was a complete liar. Which I was, but telling her would ruin the whole point of why I told the lie in the first place."Well now that I know, of course, you can get married tomorrow, darling! Of course, I still wish you had waited, oh but I'm so excited!" Carlotta pulled Rachel into another hug while Rachel rolled her eyes at Carlotta's delusion that she neede
Johnathan's POV Four Years. That's how long it has been since that one incredible night with my mate. My beautiful and perfect mate left without a word or leaving a note before I woke the next morning. My mate, whose name I didn't even know. My mate seemed to vanish, as though she had never existed. And since that night I have been tearing the world apart looking for her. Traveling the world had become boring and tiresome for me. But now that I had a purpose, a reason to travel, I enjoyed it with renewed vigor. The first few months were filled with frantic fear-filled searches. Anything and everything that could be done to learn her identity was done. When those methods failed I resulted in a more hands-on approach. I went out into the world actively looking. The next few months were filled with desperation, trying to remember any little detail that could give way to who she really was. As time wore on I was met with failure again and again. Failure to find her, and failure to
Johnathan's POVI charged up the hill towards her, not caring about the bench that I was sure had just toppled over.It took me less than a minute to make it to her. I stood just in front of her and inhaled her intoxicating scent. She was looking at me in shock, as though she couldn't believe that I was there. I knew how she felt.I hungrily took her in, memorizing every inch of her presence.She stood before me in beautiful wonder, framed perfectly by the sunshine. She was wearing a white t-shirt and jeans that fit her well. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a messy bun and several stray whisps hung loose and framed her round face. Her eyes were as hauntingly beautiful as they were that night.A smile began to form on my face before something caught my eye.Dark circles sat under her eyes. Her eyes, while beautiful, lacked the amused sparkle I had loved. Upon looking at her more closely dread began to build in my stomach.She was pale, far paler than she had been four years ago. S