Family Secrets

Juan 1

Five years ago--immediately after finishing his training at the Warriors Academy 

Juan

"I hate it when Eliseo is right."

Those are the first words I'm able to utter after I forget my name and stare mutely at my Bloodmate, my hand still gripping hers in a very, very long handshake.

The redheaded human woman tilts her head, looking at me questioningly. "Who's Eliseo?"

"My twin brother," I say grumpily, finally convincing myself to let go of the woman's hand.

"Lord help us, there's more of you?" she teases. "And do you have the same name, or should I just call you Eliseo's twin?"

"Juan," I blurt, immediately recoiling at the idea of her calling me my brother's name. Taking a breath, I swallow then say, "I'm Juan. I'm the older one, the bigger one, the number Juan."

She blinks, "What?"

"You know... Juan, one," I say, voice tight. I feel sweat break out on my forehead, my upper lip. Shit. I'm losing it.

Her lips twitch, "Well alrighty then. It's nice to meet you, Juan. I'm Poppy."

"Poppy," I repeat eagerly. I like her name. I like how it flows from my lips.

"Agent Smith," Director Todds, my new boss says brusquely, walking up to us. "I see you've already introduced yourself to your new partner, Agent Rodriguez."

"P-partner?" I stutter, looking at the male in shock. "I'm enforcement. She can't be my partner."

Poppy's arms cross, "Oh, really? Why, because I'm a little bitty, helpless female?"

"Well, yeah," I agree.

She rolls her eyes, "Sarge, am I really going to be paired with this Weildon bozo?"

"'Fraid so, Smith. You're one of my best, and he's still wet behind the ears. Just graduated from the Warriors Academy, actually. I need you to show him the ropes. And, with your, ah, condition, it would be good for you to allow someone else to do the physical part of the job for a while."

"Condition?" I repeat, alarmed, eyes searching her entire body for a glimmer of what he could be talking about. Is she sick?

"Oh, please, being pregnant doesn't make me feeble," she scoffs.

"Pregnant?" I repeat, eyes zeroing in on her stomach. It looks normal.

"Can this clown do anything besides repeating everything we say?" she says dryly.

"Who hurt you?" I demand, rage screaming through me. I turn to my boss, "Did you destroy him?"

"Hurt her? You've got to be joking."

At my continued look of outrage, Director Todds looks between the two of us then grimaces, "Oh, no."

She throws up her hands, "Now we're on the same page." 

"Rodriguez," the director says slowly, "Poppy is married. Mated."

It's only then that I notice the wedding ring on her finger, the human way of displaying a Mated bond. Blood roars in my ears, "No, you-you can't be married. You're my Bloodmate."

"Fuck," Director Todds sighs, running a hand down his face. "This is why I don't like bringing in unmated Weildon."

"I'm not your Bloodmate!" Poppy gasps. The look of horror on her face feels like a physical slap. I retreat a couple of steps, giving her room, giving my lungs more air.

"Yes," I grit slowly, eyes rising to meet hers, "you are."

"You don't know that—"

"I do know that! How can you be married?!"

"I love my husband," she growls, getting angry with me. Wayden, the fire in her eyes, the way her teeth flash— "And I don't even know you. You—You stay away from me. Sarge, I refuse to work with this male."

"That may be for the best," he agrees. "I'll assign him to—"

"No!" I dispute quickly, loudly, eyes swinging between them. "Please, don't do that."

"I won't put one of my people in an uncomfortable position, especially one with child," Director Todds says firmly.

"I—I won't make her uncomfortable."

"The fuck you won't," she mutters.

"I—I—please," I beg, unable to form a coherent argument.

"You can't have a Mate that belongs to somebody else," Director Todds says sharply.

"I know," I agree. The glare she's giving me tells me she definitely won't be open to the idea of me challenging her husband for the right to claim her. "I can still work with her though."

"Like I could trust you—"

"There is no one," I say, voice shaking with my conviction, "absolutely no one in this building that is safer with me that Poppy Smith. I would kill for her without hesitation, and I'd rather die that put her at risk."

"Oh, for fuck's sake—" Poppy starts, but her words end when Director Todds raises a hand.

He looks at me, staring intently, "You mean that? You won't pressure her? You won't provoke her husband?"

As much as I might want to provoke him into a fight, I won't. If what she says is true, that would just hurt her... and endanger our child. Her child. Shit. My brain's already claiming her young one as mine. After a breath, I say evenly, "Weildon were made to protect. The idea of doing something to hurt her, even emotionally, repulses me."

Her glare says she doesn't believe me, but I hope I'll have time to convince her otherwise. I have to. Even if she can't be mine, everything inside of me screams that I need to protect her and the tiny life she carries inside of her.

"Well, Smith, do you think you can do this? If he gives you any grief, just say the word, and he's gone."

"Oh, I can handle him," she agrees, glaring at me with utter hatred.

I smile in response, happy on some weird, primitive level to have any attention from her, regardless of what it is.

"Well, then, on behalf of the organization, Juan, welcome to the local branch of the Human-Magical Liaison Office."

"Thank you, sir," I say, managing to look at him for three entire seconds before turning my attention back to my Bloodmate. "I promise I'll make you proud."

She snorts. Wayden, why is that cute? 

***