Chapter 6 - Stephen

If Ignazio was only keeping Amelia alive until he could get a chosen mate, that must mean that’s the answer. Amelia taking a chosen mate could free her from him.  

Or at least that’s what Conway and I are thinking. And well, it kind of feels like fate, or maybe the Goddess did have some plan when she took Lexia so soon and paired Amelia to that monster. 

‘Captain Darren?’ I called out through the pack link wanting to be sure. ‘If Ignazio is waiting for a chosen mate to rid himself of his bond to Amelia… wouldn’t the reverse work?’ 

‘You mean her taking a chosen mate? Yes, that would work.’ Darren confirmed. 

‘Problem with your plan, kid. There would have to be someone to take as a chosen mate. I’m mated, Darren… well, he’s not interested. The Alpha Heir is gay, Zoe is a girl, and I doubt the Beta Heir would want a chosen mate over finding his true mate. And I don’t think her fellow spies in the room would be interested.’ Collin sighed, joining the link. 

‘I’m sorry, Stephen, but Collin has a point. I can tell her about the choice and put it out there in case one of her packmates would be willing.’ Darren didn’t sound too sure it would work. 

I don’t get it. Why wouldn’t someone want this girl? I guess Collin did make a good point when he said the Beta heir would probably prefer to wait for his true mate. The same is probably true for the males from her pack in the room. 

‘Then I’ll do it.’ I proclaimed. 

‘We’ll do what now?’ Conway questioned. I winced because I forgot to even check with him. 

‘You like her, don’t you? You feel something for her wolf. We can end her suffering. And we’ve been talking about looking for a chosen mate.’ I pointed out. 

Conway sighed but nodded to me. ‘Very well. If Amelia will have us, then I’m on board.’ He conceded. 

‘Stephen, do you know what you’re offering?’ Collin questioned. 

‘Yes, I know. I have nothing to lose from this. You both know I don’t have a mate. She’s already with the Goddess. And I talked to Conway. He’s on board. Before this mission, we had been discussing looking for a chosen mate.’ I explained. 

‘Very well. If Amelia will have you, then who are we to say no.’ Darren concluded, closing the link. 

Of course, Collin was correct that her packmates didn’t want to offer themselves. And well, she was more than a little shocked to hear me offer myself. And rightfully, she tries to turn me down.  

It’s sweet that she wouldn’t want to take someone else’s mate. But as Darren and I explained, that’s not the case with me. I saw her cognac brown eyes soften, realizing that I was mateless. I just need to convince her I’m worth taking as a chosen mate. 

When we were brought into a private hospital room, she started writing on the notepad growling. I started to try and plead my case. “Amelia, please. We can talk….” 

The moment I said ‘talk,’ she growled and glared at me. I winced, smacking my forehead, realizing my choice of words obviously upset her. 

“I mean… we can communicate and come to an understanding.” I corrected myself. 

She sighed, shaking her head. As she finished writing, she shoved the notepad at me. I frowned and looked at the page.  

“You are the dumbest American, scratch that male on the planet.” I frowned. Awesome. We are starting with insults. That’s not very promising. 

“I understand you lost your mate, and I am truly sorry to hear that. For as much as Ignazio makes me suffer, I also know I would feel broken inside if he was to die.” I raised an eyebrow looking at her over the paper. 

She can’t seriously have feelings for that monster. Can she? Crap, maybe she does have feelings for him. She is a Gamma heir, and obviously, Ignazio was Alpha heir before taking power.  

Did she have a crush on him? Was she happy when she learned they were mates? They would have grown up together. Only to have his monstrous ways sour that happiness? 

Amelia gestured back to the page, so I sighed and continued reading.  

“That feeling would only be from the mate bond. I personally hate Ignazio with a passion. I hated him since childhood, and murdering my parents did him no favors. I want him to die.” 

Okay, well, at least she doesn’t harbor feelings for the guy. That’s a step in the right direction. “Well, that’s good to know. But Amelia, wanting him to die doesn’t have to mean letting yourself suffer and possibly die with him.” I argued. 

Amelia snatched the notepad back and quickly wrote again, turning it to me to read. “You survived.” 

Okay, so she has a point, but it’s slightly different. 

“That’s different. I didn’t even know my mate’s name when she died. I felt it when she did, but I wasn’t sure what it was. Just that Conway, he’s my wolf, was growing weaker.” 

I grabbed a chair and pulled it to the side of her bed. I don’t think I can stand and talk about this. I don’t like talking about this, but I think it’s the only way she’ll hear me out and really consider my offer.  

“After the battle was over, I tried to find her. Her scent was so faint I could barely track it. Then I found her. She was dead in her mother’s arms.” I paused, taking a shaky breath. 

I still have nightmares of seeing Lexia’s limp body clutched in her mother’s arms. Her mother was wailing over her. Lexia’s blood-stained neck and clothes. 

Her fruity spiced scent of ginger, orange, spearmint, jasmine petals, and blonde woods scent fading and being overwhelmed by the copper scent of her blood. I shuddered as the memory tried to overtake me.   

“She’d gotten in the way of a rogue. The rogue was attacking a small group trying to get to the shelter. The rogue had snapped her neck before her mother could try and stop it. I had to explain to her mother who I was and why I was crying and howling in pain.”  

Closing my I let out a shaky breath trying to keep it together. I slowly opened my eyes when I felt a warm touch on my arm. Looking up, I saw Amelia with tears in her eyes. Her hand quickly moved away as she wrote again. 

“How did you survive it? You were sent here from whatever American pack. So they must consider you strong.” 

I frowned because I didn’t know if that was precisely the case. I was strong before I lost Lexia. 

“Conway was a strong wolf. He took it all. He took all the pain of the bond shattering, so I didn’t feel it. Well, I mean, I felt it, but not as bad as I should or could have. It nearly killed Conway. It was a year before he had the strength to even speak.” I explained.  

“That’s a year without hearing his voice. Without being able to shift. Without being able to use any of my powers. Every day I feared I wouldn’t wake up, or if I did, I wouldn’t be able to find him in my mind.” I shook my head. 

Amelia started to write again. We were both frowning as I read her message. “I don’t think Faith is strong enough to do that.” 

“I know. Your mate hurts you, and it weakens you both every time. Conway and I… we didn’t like seeing you in pain. Even less when Captain Darren explained the pain is from your mate cheating.” I growled. 

Amelia sighed and started to write again. I wish Ignazio hadn’t taken her tongue, then we could speak normally. But if she agrees to be my mate, we will form a link and speak that way freely. 

“So you offered out of pity. I don’t want your pity. Faith doesn’t want your wolf’s pity. A chosen mate shouldn’t be taken lightly. And it shouldn’t be decided out of pity.” I frowned because that’s not it.  

“I didn’t offer out of pity. We don’t pity you, Amelia. We just saw you. We see that you deserve far better than what the Goddess has given you. And maybe… I don’t know.” I ran my hand over my face. 

“I think this was her plan all along.” I sighed, trying to put into words what I was thinking. Based on her confused expression, I wasn’t doing a good job. 

“I lost Lexia before I could even know her name. I almost lost Conway, but by a miracle, he survived and came back even if he’s not at the same strength as before. That year without him, I was cursing the Goddess. Why would she give me a mate just to lose her so quickly.” I started to explain again. 

“But when Conway came back. I started to wonder what the Goddess had planned for me. Usually, the loss of a mate either kills you or drives you insane, and you get killed. But that didn’t happen to me. I don’t know if it was because we hadn’t gotten close or not. But I had to believe something. That the Goddess didn’t put me through that for nothing.” I sighed. 

“Conway and I had been talking about taking a chosen mate. Of putting ourselves out there to see if we could find a mate. But like you, we didn’t want to take a mate from someone else. Which makes it tricky.”  

Amelia was looking at me curiously. At least she’s listening and seems interested. That must be a good sign. “Then I come here and find you. I was drawn to you at first sight. Though I guess that shouldn’t be surprising to you. You’re beautiful.” 

Amelia scoffed and started writing again. I furrowed my brow as I read her next message. “Beautiful? Do you need glasses? I know what I look like. Since childhood, I’ve more often been compared to a pig than anything beautiful.” 

‘How dare they call her a pig.’ Conway growled. Amelia blinked, and I realized the growl wasn’t just in my head. 

“Sorry… I didn’t mean to startle you. Conway is just upset, and so am I. Whoever called you that is an asshole and wrong.” I growled, wanting to hit anyone that ever called her that. “You’re a sunflower.”

Amelia cocked her head, raising an eyebrow in confusion. She quickly wrote on the notepad, turning it to me. “Sunflower?” 

“Yes. You’re a sunflower. I know most analogies would use a rose. But I think you’re a sunflower. If a rose tried to be a sunflower, it would lose its delicate beauty. If a sunflower tried to be a rose, it would lose its strength.” I tried to explain. 

Taking a chance, I reached over, holding her hand. 

“Unlike any other flower, the sunflower is a flower I admire and like the most. Because even on the darkest day, they have the strength to stand tall and find the sunlight.” 

I smiled softly as her hand turned in mine, holding my hand back. 

“I know I don’t know you, and I sound utterly foolish. But from what I’ve glimpsed of the person you are, you are a sunflower. Beautiful, strong, seeking the light even in the darkness, and standing tall against all odds.” I sighed, looking from our hands to her face. 

“I know I’m asking a lot. But I have to believe the Goddess kept Conway and me alive for a reason. That you are why. We survived to be here with you. To help you escape your cruel mate. The Goddess kept me alive so I could be yours.”  

My words were having an effect. Amelia’s cognac eyes were shining with unshed tears and wonder. “So I ask you not from pity but because I feel in my soul I was meant to find you. Will you take me as your mate?” I was hopeful that this time she’d say yes.