Fated

Dante

My mind is reeling from all that Eve told me followed by the unplanned extracurricular. I could not believe the goddess had not only spoken to Eve, but had even gone so far as to reveal herself to her. So few ever get the chance to gaze upon her. Flashes of Eve’s petite naked body flood my mind. Her milky white skin, so soft and responsive to my touch. I had certainly not planned to take things so far, but her thoughts had pushed me over the edge. I am yours. The only words that my inner beast had needed to consent to him taking control. She unwillingly gave him permission to be claimed by him and I knew there was no turning back. Eventually I will need to explain this all to her, but for now I want nothing more than to lay here with her.

I feel the warmth of the rising sun as it begins filling the room and decide to sneak out of bed and go for a run before Eve wakes. I make my way down the hall, down the stairs and out the wooden doors. The air on my face calls my beast forward and I can feel him scratching at the surface begging for release. I break into a run as I make my way to the tree line with my beast taking over mid stride with the sound of bones cracking filling the air as I shift when Faros takes control and lets out a deep satisfying growl as we make our way through the trees. My wolf was a gift passed down by my mother, the daughter of the first Lupine and our connection has always been stronger than most. Until the first time we saw Eve standing before us, he had always held great control over himself. Even with Sedira he had never lost control, but something about Eve calls to him like a siren song. The thought of losing control with her terrifies me, but last night showed me that he could be gentle with her…but for how long? Faros slows as we approach a clearing in the woods and stands alert as I try to see what has him on edge.

‘She said a war is coming Dante. What do you think she meant?’ Faros asks as he scans the clearing with caution and precision.

‘I really don’t know Faros. If it was something the goddess felt was worth mentioning then it must be something big.’ I reply as I ponder the subject.

‘Indeed.’ Faros whips his head around to look behind us. ‘We should get back to her. Our mate is awake.’ his words hold the unmistakable sound of excitement.

‘Wait, what do you mean our mate? Our mate is gone Faros.’ my voice is filled with surprise, confusion and sadness at the admission.

‘No. Our mate was never gone. Only lost.’ with no further explanation he tears off through the trees heading back to our home ignoring all my questions as he thinks of only one thing…Eve.

As I shift back just before the tree line I see Victor, one of the day guards, approaching holding out a pair of pants with a smile pulling at his lips.

“Hey boss, thought you might need these.” his voice playfully taunting me as I stand naked in the woods.

“Thank you Victor.” I quickly pull on the pants and walk past the last of the trees and feel the cool grass brushing across my feet still wet with the morning dew. I look up to the balcony and see the most beautiful woman standing there looking out to the woods lost in her own thoughts as the gentle morning breeze causes her hair to flow across her back and shoulders with one small strand hanging in her face. Her robe is shifting and moving like it is a living thing rather than a piece of cloth that blankets the body I have coveted for so long. The breeze has carried her scent to me and is sending Faros into a frenzy.

‘She is perfect.’ Faros growls out as he fights to contain his desire to climb the building and take her once more.

‘Yes, she really is.’ I reply as I feel my lips curl into a smile.

Much to my surprise, Eve quickly turns to look at me with a confused look and her cheeks flush as she sees me standing in the lawn staring at her. She smiles back at me then turns and walks into her room.

‘I think she heard me!’ his voice is proud.

‘That is impossible, Faros. Only a fated mate can read the mind of a god. You know this.’ I remind him now feeling agitated at his persistence.

‘I am telling you, she heard me, Dante!’ he insists while I brush it off and head into the house through the back door.

As I open the door the sounds and smells of Miguel making breakfast overrun my senses. She must be hungry. I think to myself as I sprint up the stairs and to my room so I can quickly shower to rid myself of the dirt and nature that is clinging to me after our morning run. I put on some proper clothing and I rush to Eve’s room and fling the door open to find her room is empty. She must be in the dining room with Martha. With that thought I head downstairs and into the dining room to find it empty as well. As I turn to leave Martha comes out of the hall to the kitchen.

“Master Shay! Beautiful morning isn’t it?” Martha’s voice is as chipper as ever.

“Yes. Have you seen Eve this morning?” I try to hide the worry that I feel at her absence.

“Yes sir. She came to the kitchen about 15 minutes ago and Miguel said she left out the side door after grabbing a bottle of water and some toast. Is everything alright sir?” Martha asks with worry now evident in her tone as well.

“I-I am not sure. Thank you Martha.” before the woman can utter another word I bolt through the side door in search of Eve.

‘I can smell her.’ Faros growls out.

‘Lead the way then.’ I respond without hesitation.

Faros quickly pulls at me as my feet move without thought into the woods as if they know the direction and have been set on auto pilot.

‘What is she doing out here?’ I am not sure if I really expect Faros to have an answer.

‘She feels drawn to the lake. The pull is undeniable. I doubt she even understands it herself.’ Faros replies as though he knows a great deal about the situation.

‘Do you understand it?’ I find myself wanting to see just how much he might actually know.

‘Yes.’ his short reply has me feeling annoyed.

‘Why is she drawn here Faros. What are you not telling me?’ my words are laced with the unspoken anger that is brewing deep within.

‘I only suspected at first, but now I know. Eve is our mate. You need to accept that fact before you can understand what it is that I now know.’ He whips the words at me with a growl.

‘Our mate is dead Faros! DEAD!’ The words like daggers as my anger spills out.

‘Not dead, only lost.’ His tone suggests that he is finished with our conversation.

We break through into the clearing with the lake lying before me. On its shore sits Eve with her knees pulled to her chest and her arms wrapped tightly around them.

“Eve!” I shout as I run up to her.

“Hello Dante.” her words seem numb and as I try to enter her mind I find that all I can hear is heavy wind and thunder.

“Eve, what are you doing out here? Is everything alright?” I make my way to her and drop down at her side as I wait for her answer.

“Who were you talking to earlier?” her question is sharp and demanding of an answer.

“What do you mean?” I am only half convinced that she could not be talking about my conversation with Faros as we stared at her on the balcony.

“I heard him speak, but saw no one there.” I am struggling to make out what emotion she is feeling before responding, but her face remains blank as she stares into the crystal waters of the lake.

“Eve, we should head back to the house. You must still be tired from last night.” I try to grab her arm to lift her up, but am pushed back by an unseen force that sends electricity through me.

“What happened to being honest Dante? Who were you talking to?” she is now yelling as I hear the storm moving in around us.

“He…he is me…and I am him. His name is Feros.” I struggle with the admission as I lower my head and focus on the grains of sand shifting at my feet. “My father was a god…but my mother was the daughter of the Lupine goddess.” I finish as I wait for her response.

“You are a wolf?!” her voice indicating that she is surprised, but also somewhat curious.

“Yes, well…half wolf.” I let out a small chuckle. “How long have you been able to hear my thoughts?” My question comes out in a grave tone.

“Last night was the first time. So...that was Faros’s voice?” her question holds a kind of curiosity that pulls at me.

“Yes. This should not be possible Eve. Only a fated mate can share a mindlink with a god. My mate…” I struggle to finish the sentence. Admitting it to Faros is one thing as he was with me when we found her, but admitting it to Eve felt like a form of betrayal.

“Faros said she is not dead, only lost. What does he mean by that?” Eve does not hesitate to ask the question that has been plaguing me since the moment he spoke those words.

“Honestly…I don’t know.” I lower back down beside her with my eyes tracing the rocks in the bottom of the lake.

“I came here hoping she would come to me again. Maybe help make sense of some things.” her voice sounds almost sad and broken which draws my eyes to her.

“The goddess is only able to give us a nudge in the right direction. She will never reveal more than she must. Just as she pushed me to you. Not with words, but she let me know that the arrangement must be agreed to.” the words bringing me back to the moment when I felt her with me as she urged me to let the young witch live. She never spoke to me, but I knew exactly what it was that she was asking of me.

“Does Faros think I am your mate?” her words searching for an answer that I hesitate giving her. What if my old wolf is wrong? What if we end up hurting her. Honesty…I remind myself of my vow to be honest with her.

I take a deep breath and in a single word I bind myself to my fate, whatever it may be,”Yes.”