Chapter 15 - Auðr

That was a lot to dump on an eighteen-year-old kid. I get that Logan kept them at bay for the last six months, but why not keep them away even longer? If François told him I’d meet Sage at the Pride Festival, why bring them so soon? I know there’s a blood moon eclipse this month, but there’s another one in December. So why bring them now if he knew we’d just met? Why not wait till December? Probably because they wouldn’t wait that long.

When Sage started putting themselves down and generally displaying textbook shutting down and overwhelmed behavior, I was ready to shut this shit down. I’ve spent decades bringing depressed and suicidal people back from the edge. I know the signs of someone about to break. Like my bandmates, I wanted to step in and protect Sage from all this.

My intervention wasn’t required, at least not to get Sage away from the Steelcrest elders. Sage handled that expertly. Even I couldn’t see in the darkness they created. No wonder their wolf is named Eclipse. Sage was the only one who could see in that eclipse because the next thing I knew, I was being led expertly outside. I blinked a couple of times as my eyes adjusted to the streetlights. I turned, ready to ask Sage how they were, but I didn’t need to ask. Sage was bent over hyperventilating.

Fucking dickheads.

I glanced at the house, unsure how long their eclipse would last or if there was a counter to it. Either way, I won’t stand idle when they could come out here and make things worse. Sage was already having a panic attack because of their pushing. I wasn’t going to let it get worse. I crouched on the step down from Sage to look at their face. Sage’s eyes were closed, and their breathing was erratic, though it sounded like they were trying to regulate it to control their emotions.

“Come on, Skittles,” I said, squeezing Sage’s hand. “It’s safe to say we’re both over this scene.”

Amber eyes blinked open in surprise and confusion. At least I got their attention. Sage wasn’t freaking out about what those idiots inside said.

“Huh?” Sage hiccupped.

“Let’s go for a drive,” I suggested, holding up the keys to Léonel’s rental car.

How do I have them? Obviously, I lifted them off my nephew. Why do I have them? For a quick escape that didn’t involve turning into fog. Don’t forget I was reluctant to be here from the start. Now, I had a justified reason to get out of here. Unlike my original plans to ditch Léonel and leave alone, I’d go with Sage.

“You… you want… to go for… a drive… with me?” Sage asked, still hiccupping as they caught their breath and tried to calm down.

“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I?” I cocked my head confused.

“I thought…” Sage paused, gulping as a burst of light filled the house.

I didn’t know where the light was from, but knew I didn’t want to stick around to find out. I didn’t let Sage finish their thought. They could answer me in the car. I hustled them to the vehicle. I wanted to leave as soon as possible. I especially wanted out of here before whatever the source of that light came looking for us. I didn’t even look back as I pulled away from the curb. I had no destination in mind. I knew I didn’t want to be in that house, mostly because of those Steelcrest buffoons.

“We don’t need to talk about what happened back there if you don’t want to. However, I’d like to know why you were surprised I brought you with me.” I broke the silence after we’d gotta a couple of blocks away.

“Well, I…” Sage rung their hands in their lap.

“Take your time,” I assured Sage.

“I just figured after all that. The stupid prophecy. The way they were pushing me about taking over their pack. I thought it would send you running far away.” Sage confessed with a heavy sigh.

I furrowed my brow at that. Sage thought those crusty wolves and a prophecy would be enough to send me running. I suppose I couldn’t blame them. I have been reluctant regarding this relationship. And it hadn’t been that long between me agreeing to give this a shot to Logan’s cockblock. So, I’m not offended that Sage thought this would make me want to back out.

“While I can understand how you came to that conclusion. You’re wrong.” I said.

“When I say I’m going to do something, I’m too stubborn not to follow through. And don’t mistake that to imply that being with you is an obligation.” I said, hoping I wasn’t saying this wrong.

“I said I was going to give this relationship a chance. That doesn’t mean walking away at the first hurdle. That prophecy doesn’t scare me, and I’m certainly not scared of a trio of crusty wolves.” I flashed Sage a smile.

“That makes one of us.” Sage sagged into the passenger seat.

“Do you want to talk about it? I’ve been told I make a decent therapist.” I offered.

“A therapist? Is this about how everyone in the band was suicidal?” Sage asked.

“Basically. I mean, I’ve dabbled in the profession. Even got a degree in it a long time ago.” I shrugged.

“That’s fitting. Goddess knows I need a therapist.” Sage scoffed.

“I doubt you could be worse than anything I’ve seen with my bandmates,” I said. “So talk to me. I’m not going to judge you.”

“It’s like I told them. I am not alpha material. I mean, I’m not even on an alpha bloodline. Cuntcake was a rogue because his mom was thrown out of Steelcrest by asswipes like them because she got knocked up by someone who wasn’t her mate.” Sage rolled their eyes.

“How forward-thinking of them.” I scoffed.

“EXACTLY!” Sage exclaimed.

“They tossed my grandma. Yeah, I’ll claim her because I didn’t know her, and it’s not her fault that her son turned out to be a shithead. She died when he was a kid, so I won’t hold her responsible for how he turned out. But they tossed her out for being unmated and knocked up. They are not the kind of people I’d expect to want a queer hybrid alpha.” Sage said.

“Based on that, I can see how their coming to you wanting you to be their alpha would surprise you.” I nodded.

“Bloodline wasn’t the only thing you mentioned back there regarding being an alpha. Why do you think an alpha has to be so focused? I’m sure there are plenty of alphas that are scattered-brained. The way I hear it, one or two of the Sicilia alphas are like that.” I asked.

“I am nothing like Alpha André or his brother-in-law, Alpha Tiberius.” Sage shook their head.

“They may be more playful than my alpha, but they were born and raised in ranked families. They have been raised since birth to be leaders. Plus, they have mates who make up for their weaknesses.” Sage frowned.

I sighed, reaching my right over to squeeze Sage’s thigh. Sage needs to stop putting themselves down. I’m not saying they must accept what Steelcrest is offering. If it’s not something they want, I’ll support that and tell Steelcrest and anyone else pushing that prophecy where to shove it. Prophecy or no prophecy, alpha title or not, I don’t like hearing Sage put themselves down.

“I bet you have plenty to bring to the role. Things that no one born into a rank ever could.” I smiled.

“You barely know me. Trust me, you won’t say that once you know me better. I have ADHD and Autism. My mood changes like that.” Sage snapped their fingers. “Having Eclipse has helped, but you met me fighting a protestor. I could’ve just ignored the guy but punched him instead. Same with Rune. I could’ve kept my cool, but I lashed out.”

“First, that guy deserved it. Same with Rune. He needs to get over his bullshit, and the only way to get through to him sometimes is a backhand.” I shrugged.

“You already said your wolf helps. And while I can’t say being together would temper you, by all accounts, a mated wolf is a more stable wolf. So having me around could help.” I shrugged.

“Wait…” Sage blinked. “Are you saying you’d stick around if I took that?”

“I already told you I’m in this. Prophecy or not. Title or not. I’m your mate. I won’t walk away because it sounds difficult. Will handling this curveball your Goddess threw at us make things complicated? Sure. But nothing is too complicated to figure out.” I assured Sage with another squeeze of their thigh.

As strange as it sounds, I meant it. I’ve accepted my fate. It might be out of left field and a totally fucked up fat, but it’s mine. I still don’t understand why the wolf’s Goddess chose me, but she did. It’s not like she’s someone I can ask why and get an answer to. That’s like a human asking their God why he does things. You don’t get answers from deities.

I don’t know how I’d handle being an… Aleph… yeah, that’s the word someone started using for males mated to an alpha. However, it’s not like I’d be the first vampire associated with a werewolf pack. Dani is the Delta up in Silverclaw. A vampire Delta mated to a Delta human. Silverclaw was ahead of the curve in incorporating other species into their pack hierarchy.

Sage might not see it, but that prophecy is probably a thing because their Goddess wants Sage to change Steelcrest positively. Sicily has a gay Alpha and Aleph, and Silverclaw has a mated human and vampire Delta couple. The werewolf world is changing. Maybe it’s Steelcrest’s turn. Only time and Sage will tell. Because at the end of the day, it’s Sage’s choice.