Aiden's Point of View
I could feel the desperation of Austin's plight leak through our bond. I could also feel his love for his daughter. An overwhelming love that convinced him that he could stay with Cass and be a happy family. The bi-product of our bond is that his feelings for Bree were transferred to me as well, making me sick at heart.
"Aiden, wait for Abby's reaction. We keep thinking of a wolf's reaction to an unfaithful mate," my mom's voice sent a bit of hope for the future.
She's right, during my time in human society, I saw couples change often. When I saw how freely they gave their gifts to others, I felt disgust, and fear trickled in when I thought of my own mate. When I found Abby, her purity in such an impure city was refreshing. Even her friends smelled wholesome compared to so many other humans. Those who were married remained faithful, and besides her third brother, her family was even more wholesome than others. Her father works in a high profile career, but has remained faithful to his wife. They will be great additions to our family if they choose to stay by Abby's side.
Thinking of Abby brings her scent to my nose. She is waking up, the pain from Austin and Cass is lessening, and the tea she drank should have run its course. The potpourri has been out for the past hour.
I walk towards my bedroom, to Abby, when I hear a snippet of conversation from Cass. Either my brother opened our channel fully or his emotions caused it to happen. If I heard it, then Abby may have heard it as well.
"You can refuse your mate, that's what you should do for Bree and me."
I can feel a pain in my chest, where my heart is after hearing the female's words. Yes, he has that option. Austin can deny his moon-given mate and live half a life with this other wolf. I'm not sure what the repercussions will be if he chooses that route. Abby is only half mine, even if I did mess up our union. I will correct it.
My mark on her neck will help her adjust and adapt to our lifestyle. If the moon is kind enough to give Abby a wolf, making her a hybrid, then her reaction towards Bree will change as well. If situations keep popping into my head. So many ifs.
All of it is due to her being a human instead of a shifter. We don't know enough about human mates.
Mom has already sent the message to my dad, who is with the pack Alpha, to see what they can find out. Abby is not the first human mate, but the occurrence of a mate outside of our species is very rare.
In fact, until I spoke with my mom, I didn't even know that it could occur.
I finally built up enough courage to open the bedroom door. I see Abby crying on the bed, curled up so that she is holding our pup. I moved quickly to her side, lying down and wrapping her in my arms, running my hands through her soft brown hair. To help calm her and the pup within her, I huff my mate's call. I felt her instantly respond, turning around in my arms, her tear- streaked face rubbing against my t-shirt.
"I like that humming. What song is it from?" Abby's soft voice asks me.
"It's a song made just for you," I answered her. I guess to human ears it has a beat, but it's more like a cat's purring, but for wolves to sooth and placate their mates. If she were a wolf, she would have a huff for me and Austin as well. The huff can work on other wolves, but its not as affective, nor does it help bind a wolf that is not a mate.
This call has so many purposes, and all of them are for the female in my arms.
I leaned down and kissed her forehead, my hands moving down her belly, to hold the pup. I want to feel my pup moving within her, my wolf wants to feel that connection as well.
"I keep having dreams. I never remember my dreams, but since I became pregnant, I can remember all of my dreams and nightmares. I keep hearing voices that hurt so much." Abby's voice is shaky as she talks to me, so much insecurity is heard in her voice.
"I don't know why I'm here, or why I feel so safe in your arms. I know you are the man that was stalking me in Visalia. I also know that you are the father of the child inside me. Yet, the fear that has been with me for so many months is just gone, as if I never experienced the alley, nor the police and nurses questions. Memories of talking with my pastor are muted here, as if it was all a misunderstanding. I don't understand how I feel at home as long as I am with you," she cried into my chest, the confusion she was feeling finding an outlet with her tears. I let her speak out her fears, staying with her and rubbing her belly, or her back when she rolled over. She was restless, but exhausted. I could feel everything she was experiencing, but she could only feel a portion of my own feelings.
I may never have a mate mark. I look down at her neck to see what my marking looks like. The shape that is still in the process of creating is a half circle with a sword. The sword is for my soldier status in the pack. The cross atop of the sword must be Abby's faith. Behind the sword is half of a tree. The mate mark will remain incomplete until Austin either marks her, or denies her.
As I listen to Abby, my mind wanders to two years ago. That night I decided to leave my pack. The night, my mother and father came to me with a prophecy from the moon.