Factors of Change

Chapter 7

This chapter contains one scene of explicit, loving, consensual sexual nature. Though I consider it rather necessary to the story, readers’ discretion is advised in reading this, and more sensitive readers might want to avoid some parts of the chapter.

Chapter 7

We stayed at the hospital. The end of the afternoon turned to evening, and I watched through the window as the sky slowly faded to dark. Gabriel did try at one point to have me driven back home, but I refused to go. No matter where I would be, I would be waiting. I would much rather wait with him and the others than all by myself, not knowing what was going on.

At some point, someone brought Marie back to wait with us. I invited her to sit on the plastic chair next to mine, she introduced herself to me and we did some small talk, even though I could tell all she wanted to do was to go to her husband’s side in the room next to us. She didn’t ask for anyone to let her in, though; a sure sign that she had already been told what had happened. We lapsed into silence a short while after our polite introductions, and her thoughtful gaze went to the closed door of Joseph’s room. “So how does it work?” she asked softly so that only I would hear. There weren’t many of us in the hallway; the doctor was gone for now and a young Were nurse came and went in the hallway in front of us, but besides them, there was only also Gabriel, standing about twenty feet away, and Cedric, who had stayed as well. They had been chatting quietly in French for the better part of the past hour. I wondered what they were talking about. “Your mating thing?” Marie continued. “I thought Weres who were once human couldn’t be mated; I remember Gabriel told us that.”

“Ah,” I let out hesitantly. “We aren’t mated, actually.”

She arched an eyebrow at me. “But you are together.”

“Yes, but we aren’t… we haven’t tried to…” I could feel a dark blush creep up my neck, and felt like a parent explaining the bees and the flowers to a child. “Mates need to mark each other. With a mating bite.”

Her mouth opened slightly in surprise, but she quickly closed it, and frowned. “But… Joey was bitten.”

“Yes, but that’s not the same thing.” I tucked back a curl behind my ear. “That made him turn into a Were, but it hasn’t mated him to anyone. You can’t bite whoever you want and mate with someone unless they’re your real mate. It just won’t work. I was bitten too, and so was Gabriel, but not by our mates.”

“Oh.” She looked back towards Gabriel. “You said you hadn’t tried biting each other… is it because you don’t think he’s your real mate?” she asked, and looked back at me, a worried look in her pretty eyes. “Is it because there’s a chance it might not work?”

A cold fist wrapped itself around my heart at her words, squeezing tightly. Turned Weres had never mated, but it had never occurred to me that it might be because the mating bond simply never established itself between couples. Had Turned Weres found each other before, but could never truly mate? That was a terrifying thought. How disappointing it would be! “No,” I said softly, and glanced back towards Gabriel. No, I thought. It will work. I did feel the incredible pull. I could smell his real scent, see him in a way no one else could. I was convinced he was my mate, and felt positive that he did as well. Surely it would work. “That’s not why. I… well I had never thought of that.”

“Oh I’m sorry,” she whispered, her eyes widening. “I didn’t mean to worry you. He just seems so taken with you.” I looked back at her, and she gave me a soft smile. “It’s nice to finally see him like this.”

I smiled back. “Is that why you’re asking me these questions? You shouldn’t worry about him.”

“I’m worried about Joseph,” she said, and bit her lower lip. “Now that he’s a Were, does that mean that I have to… well… to be like him, for us to be together?”