Against the Odds

This can't be good

Malakai had found himself more anxious the past week. He had been helping Diana with her research on the witches, a supernatural species that he just so happened to be. His mate, however, was led to believe he was a fairy. The guilt of hiding who he was ate away at Malakai. As he and Diana got closer, he felt even worse about the secrets he was hiding.

He was scared.

Scared of facing prejudice from the most important person in his life.

Scared of losing his soulmate.

Malakai was smart enough to know that lying about who he was would make the situation worse, but fear is a powerful emotion that he fell victim to quite often.

For example, Malakai is currently hiding in the non-fiction section of the bookstore to avoid being reprimanded by his temperamental father. Though Malakai is out of the house and 25 years old, his dad seemed to find a way to control him. Malakai had only ever been employed at his family's bookstore and it paid better than any minimum wage job. Although it meant being at the mercy of his father, Malaki put up with it because he loved the store and so did his mom. He knew this from the countless stories his dad told him as a child and from his mother's reminiscing in her journals. Kai had a stack of journals written by his mom. When he was sixteen, on a day he was told to clean the house, Kai found her journals in the hall closet in a dusty box. He remembers his favorite entry, which read:

Dear diary, 11/21/1993

Today Silas and I spent the day reading our favorite books to our little baby boy. Every time Silas reads to him, I feel all kinds of kicks that tickle my tummy. My boy especially loved To Kill a Mockingbird, just like his mama. It's days like these that I feel such an overwhelming sense of love. The store has housed many of my favorite memories: where I met Silas, where we first kissed, where for the first time in my life I feel as though I am doing exactly what I should be doing. The smell of the brand-new books is undeniably the best smell ever and meeting new faces everyday of people who share a love for literature just like I do is priceless. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Xoxo,

Theodora.

This place was sacred to his family and he had to keep working here. Which meant keeping his dad happy.

Things have changed though. He has a mate who deserves to know who he really is.

&

Diana received a call during lunchtime from her lovely man asking her for an at-home 'date night' saying he had something important to talk to her about. Her mind had been reeling with possibilities of what that could mean but there was no time. Xavier had been very impressed with her research into the witches, like their laws and customs, how they fight in battle, common spells used, and traditions that are still kept up to this day. Without Kai's help she would have been lost. The thousand-year-old species has written a lot of books about themselves.

Something she did not expect from her excavation of information was a new understanding of the witches (and warlocks). She found that originally both male and female witches went by the term 'witch' but some misogynists a long time ago thought that name wasn't scary enough or whatever and started calling themselves the Warlock Party. They became popular and still have men going by the title of warlock, but since the 1970's people have been more inclined to go by the term 'witch'. The first witches were women of course, but they had sons too and at the time didn't think coming up with binary names were of most importance. Anyway, Diana found that witches had strict rules about using dark magic. A witch who submits themselves to dark magic loses their right to be part of a coven and is subject to punishment by the Council of Witchcraft. Any magic that has the sole purpose to give or take life is considered dark. If a witch needs protection they may use spells to protect themselves that do not directly take a life. There are other things a witch can do that are considered 'dark magic' like possession of a person and manipulation of others, but taking life is the most popular form of dark magic because it gives the witch anti-aging abilities.

Diana found that a very small number of witches use dark magic, and most keep to themselves and stay within their coven happily. They don't intentionally harm and are respectful to other supernatural creatures (as told by different sources but not all). There are many sources that portray witches as sadistic, evil beings out for total domination. Similar to stories she was told growing up. The animosity between witches and werewolves started during the Salem Witch Trails, when females were being killed for being different. Almost none of the women who died were actually witches. However the werewolves were a large number of the women being killed because it was much harder to control themselves and they couldn't mask their scent like the witches could. The werewolves wanted the witches' help to stop this, but they refused. Then a war broke out and it was never the same. Then witches in the 90's found a way to live longer and stronger by taking an Alpha or Luna's life. Witch only added gas to the fire.

All of this information allowed Diana to get a new perspective of the witches. Maybe they weren't evil? It seems as if only a few witches do evil things, but she shouldn't blame them all, right? I mean rouge wolves do pretty evil things, but other species don't reject wolves entirely. Diana felt like maybe witches were more misunderstood rather than heinous creatures as she once thought. With all this knew information the other pack leaders seemed to agree, all except Xavier. He was still on high alert and a pill to work with this last week. That's why Diana felt a wave of relief wash over her when she finally got to see Kai after 25.6 hours of separation. She kept track. The bond was growing stronger everyday and with that came more intense feelings. The sparks that lit up at his touch have become fireworks and it seems as if the only time she can relax is when she is with him. Diana never thought she'd be the type to fall so easily, but Kai was different. With every minute she spent with him she fell deeper and deeper. She wasn't ready to say it was love yet, but she was definitely falling.

Kai's car was in her driveway and since she gave him a key to her house, she figured he must be inside. She scurried to the door and flung it open. She ran into the house like a child on Christmas morning to see Kai cooking something that smelled delicious.

Kai turned around and smiled widely, "Oh hey hun', you're finally home!" He opened his arms for a hug and Diana nuzzled herself into his chest and inhaled his heavenly scent to calm herself down.

"It was a long day." She sighed. Kai noticed this and rubbed circles in her back while squeezing her tighter.

"Dinner is ready, and the table is set, so get your beautiful body in there and I will feed you!" Malakai smiled and tapped her bottom as she walked towards her dining room. As of late, the couple have become more comfortable with displays of affection. It took Diana some warming up to, but Kai is patient and doesn't pressure her in the slightest.

The mates munched their food and exchanged conversation about their days and other small talk topics. When Diana noticed Kai's leg was bouncing and he started staring off in the distance, she asked, "What was it you wanted to talk to me about?"

Kai's eyes widened and she could hear his heartbeat quicken. This caused her to become nervous, but she forced herself to mask it. "Well... I'm not exactly sure how to say this...I-I um I just want you to know", Malakai grabbed Diana's hand from across the table and stared deep into her silver eyes that capture his heart every time, "I care for you very deeply Diana and I would give up anything for you. No sacrifice to too large. Do you understand? You are my soulmate and I will forever care so deeply for you it scares me." Diana felt her pulse speed up and her stomach dropped to the floor. Whatever this is it's not good.

"Diana, I'm not a fairy. I'm a witch."

A/N
Thank you for reading! I appreciate every one of you <3
Song: Like Real People Do by Hozier