02 – The Connection Mate

“I brought an album for you to see,” I said, taking it out of my bag, but with some difficulty due to its size. ‘Just a moment,’ I said awkwardly, still trying to take out the album, now with more force. Casper touched my hand; I didn't pull away.

“Naomi, why didn't you say anything before? I would have,” he began. His touch was comforting, but it didn't help me overcome my trauma.

“Would you have helped me? Helped the children? Would you have promised that, even though you lied about other things?” I asked, fighting my emotions again.

“I didn't lie about anything, Naomi,” Casper told me. A jerk, indeed. Sometimes we only know someone on the other side. Apparently, the pain came only from my side.

“You said you wanted me, that you loved me, Casper. Why did that change when I was destined for you?” I asked, swallowing my tears with hatred.

“Naomi, you were important to me, indeed, but you weren't my mate; even though you were destined for me, nothing had happened,” he told me. A son of a bitch.

“Okay, what's your excuse? And your mate, did she just happen to show up?” I confronted him. Tears began to flow, but out of hatred. “Where is she?”

“Let's not talk about that. Let's talk about our children,” he asked me. A shameless man. Casper was unbelievably handsome and stupid.

“My children, Casper. You didn't raise them,” I said angrily. “They're not ours.”

“Maybe if you had told me about them, I would have raised them,” he confronted me back. It would have been a good point if I didn't have a better one.

“And do you really think that rejecting a woman would make her come back to you for the sake of the children? Do you think I would go after you because of that? I loved you, you idiot. I went after you out of love, not interest,” I almost shouted. Out of respect for those around me, I didn't. Wolves had a very keen hearing, so ethics demanded that this be controlled. No decent wolf listened to other people's conversations and most respected that.

“You don't understand, Naomi. Anyway, I have the right to see them; please give me the album,” he asked. This time, I took out the album and handed it to him. Maybe everything that was stuck in my throat was preventing me from taking it out before.

He began to leaf through it slowly. The introduction was just a few standard, cute texts that came with the album itself. Finally, in the first photo, he stopped. The expression he made was comforting. He smiled, and Casper smiled.

“Jimmy, Jared, and Jody,” he said. ‘Two boys and a girl,’ he mentioned. ‘Beautiful.’ He was sincere; that expression had been very sincere, which tugged at my heart once again. Maybe I was wrong about not telling him. Possibly their disappearance was my fault.

“They're six now. They turned six a week ago when they disappeared,” I said. Casper's eyes widened. For a split second, I saw the color change. He was an alpha, the least he should have was control.

“You waited a week to tell me?” he asked, raising his voice, already angry.

“I hoped it wasn't that serious. I only called you because I thought the police would solve it,” I replied, raising my voice. I wouldn't bow my head to him. When he rejected me, being submissive was no longer part of the plan.

He was angry; I could feel it. If I felt it, surely others felt it too, but I didn't care. A mother protects her young.

“Let's find them. After that, I'll take care of them too,” he said, lowering his voice calmly and returning to the album, leafing through it more quickly but attentively. I watched him. He seemed happy to see the photos. It had been six years, and he had not had children. I thought that if he had gotten me pregnant, maybe he had done so with others.

As he leafed through the album, his cell phone rang. I could read the name on the screen: Willow Morrison. He left the album open and answered the call. I just watched, pretending I didn't care. Finally, he called her darling, and eventually, love. They weren't such harsh words, and that made me stare at him more than usual. My heart ached, and I felt like screaming.

“Here's your order, Naomi,” I heard. It was Lancelot again. Why was the manager serving tables? I thanked him, smiling. He continued to smile back, even after he had already left Casper's cup. The call ended a few seconds after the orders arrived. Casper thanked him rudely. The manager left, and my gaze followed him once again.

“Naomi. Meet me tomorrow at this address. We'll find them,” he said, handing me a card. Returning to the album, I saw him take out three different photos, one of each child. ‘It's only fair that I can at least see them now,’ he said. Walking away, he left the café after drinking his coffee at an absurd speed.

I sighed, picking up the album again. Lancelot appeared once more.

“Your children?” he asked me. “I saw them,” he said. My heart froze. “I heard the conversation and everything. They were here a few days ago with some people.”

“Please tell me more. I need to know,” I asked without thinking. I had barely noticed that the coffee shop was almost empty.

“Of course, but I need to take your order first. Rules,” he said, smiling again. Irresistible. I handed him my cup, and our fingers touched for a few seconds. His scent changed, becoming stronger, and his eyes turned yellow. I heard his breathing become heavy and his expression changes slightly.

“Lancelot, you…” I recognized those signs. I felt the color of my eyes change to yellow.

“Yes,” he said, still feeling some spasms.

Lancelot had had a problem with me. And I felt a different sensation; it wasn't like Casper, but it was just as strong.

“You need to get out of here. You're going to change,” I warned him. I knew the feeling, I knew what was coming, I had had a Mate before.

He couldn't answer; he was already lying in front of me.