The Prey (LGBT+)

Chapter 24: Mate Bond at First Sight

Parker

"What?" Kohl asks.

Everyone, barring Cassie, the Asian wolf and Kohl, is deathly quiet. I look between them, trying to make sense of what just occurred. The moment Cassie and the Asian wolf saw each other, they recognized one another as mates. I have never seen a mate bond develop between two wolves in the moment. It is endearing.

It feels like electricity. I can feel it in the air.

"I think they said mate." Nadira says blankly.

"So glad I'm not the only one who heard that." I whisper.

Akari and Jasar chuckle. I am painfully reminded that the wolves can hear well.

Please keep the jokes to a minimum at the moment, Park.

I straighten up as the wolf moves towards us. A low growl escapes from Kohl as he steps forward. The Asian wolf roars. All the wolves take defensive postures, save for Cassie. I take the moment to move in front of both wolves.

"Move!" The Asian wolf barks.

"Don't speak to him like that!" Kohl roars back.

"Okay, stop!" I shout, "I have no clue what to do in this situation but I know the first step is to take a deep breath."

The Asian wolf growls again.

"Down, Cujo, no one is keeping you from your mate. That is what's going on, right?"

"I've never smelled anything so...beautiful." He utters.

"Okay, gross." I nod, "What's your name Marley."

"My name is Tai Sing, Alpha of the Yuèliàng hépíng pack and you are standing between me and my mate."

"Listen Tai, look at it like this, we don't know anything about you. You're on our land. I don't remember seeing you at the pack summit, either." I say carefully, "We need a second to process this."

"It's okay," Cassie says moving down beside me, "He's right. We all need to relax. I am sorry for any hostility you've received."

"You have no need to apologize." Tai says with a smile creeping across his face, "I apologize as well."

I look to Kohl, "Do you have something to say?"

Kohl is stone-faced until I raise an eyebrow. He begrudgingly sighs, "I am sorry for my hostility."

"How about we move all of this into the house." I suggest, "Whatever you were doing here, we should get to that. Right, Kohl?"

"Of course." Kohl says gesturing inside, "After you."

I watch as our wolves enter followed by his wolf. The Asian wolves eventually enter the house, leaving Cassie, Kohl and me. Tai is unable to take his eyes off Cassie until he is inside. Cassie flashes Kohl a frown before heading back in. I walk up the stairs and stand in front of him.

"You remember all of the things you said about me and Mickey?" I ask, "Well, you're going to have to flip it and reverse it."

"I'm sorry?" Kohl asks.

"Kohl, that's her mate."

"She's my baby sister."

"She's also a woman and a wolf with a mate." I say reaching up and grabbing his extremely warm face, "Just like you are a man and a wolf with a mate. I know. I have proof."

Kohl noticeably softens to my touch, "How do you do that?" He asks.

"Calm you down? I've had practice." I say with a smile, "He's here to join the alliance, right?"

"Yes."

"So, a thing to remember during negotiations is that he's going to be like you when we first figured out we were mates. He is not going to concentrate well. He's going to be very preoccupied. Be patient." I say, coaching him to be more effective, "Don't be short with him because of this, either."

"Hmmm, do you want to lead the meeting?"

"A human lead a werewolf meeting? Sure, that'll go over well. There is also the fact that I smell different to them." I say as I drop my hands and move backwards, "Go, be great."

"Are you feeling alright?"

"I have a being growing inside me. A hybrid if I had to guess. I feel like this isn't the tip of the iceberg. If the Apocalypse comes, I'll beep you."

"Another reference I don't know?"

I reach down and swat his butt. His grin is indicative of arousal. I watch as he enters the pack house and wait before following. I close the door and climb the stairs heading to my suite. I stop as I spot Cassie standing in the hall to Kohl's office. I whisper for Cassie to follow me and she does. We arrive to the suite and I usher her in, closing the door behind her. The woman goes to my sofa and flops down, fanning herself. I head to the fridge and take a bottled water, walking back and sitting beside her. I hand her the water and she puts it to her forehead.

"He is so yummy."

"Technical term?" I ask.

"Did it feel like this when you—"

"No and yes. You do remember that my heat got so bad and lasted so long that we never thought it would end." I say remembering how annoyed I was, "So, you have a mate now. That's from another pack outside the alliance."

"Are you going to start in, too?" Cassie asks.

"Hey, I'm on your side! Just stating the facts." I shrug, "I'm all for you having a man, finally."

"Is that a dig?"

"Nope. That, my dear, is shade." I snicker, "I'm new-ish to this stuff. What happens now? He's outside of the pack."

"It doesn't matter. A mate is a mate."

"I'm happy for you. He seems protective, despite not knowing you. Kinda creepy." I say causing her to glare at me, "No creepier than Kohl and me."

"Good save." Cassie says, "What's taking them so long? I hope Kohl and Tai aren't provoking each other."

"I told Kohl to play nice. So, don't worry about him."

"He was out of line."

"Was he? You're his little sister. Think about it. He lost Gaius, his mom died, his newly connected brother is gone and his new normal is about to be disturbed. He's trying to keep any semblance of normalcy he has."

"He has you." Cassie says, "He's got his mate and a new baby. He's the leader of the pack. He has a new family."

"Cass, he loves you. It's not about having a replacement family. He's not wired like that. He has me and the baby, yeah, but it doesn't mean we forget about everyone in our lives." I explain, "I never had a sister. Well, one that was my age and that I communicated with on such a personal level."

"And?"

"I am blessed to have one now. You've been on my side from the beginning and I need you to know how important it was and is. I think since Gaius died, we've all been waiting for the next thing and the next thing and maybe this is the universe's way of giving something back. Creating something other than what we know."

"You're serious?" She asks.

"I think that no matter what I think, you have a chance. You have a chance to start over, in a way. To take another step forward and not be stagnated. I think it's time for all of us to move forward but we can't all do that here."

Cassie and I stare forward. I feel emotional. It is a symptom of growing life, I am learning. I feel like it is more than that. Cassie has been my sister for a while now and I have grown fond of her in so many ways. I love her. I have been isolated from my family for a while now and I have only had the wolves. It feels like losing a true sister.

"How are we going to tell Kohl?" Cassie asks.

"I could start crying or throw up on his shoes." I look over to see her smiling at me, "I'm always here for a bit of humor."