“Where’s my… Léonel ?” Leo asked cocking their head, still unsure how to address him.
“I’m right here.” Léonel greeted, patting Auðr’s shoulder. “It’s going to be fine, uncle. It’s just a bunch of wolves.” I heard him whisper “Hello. I’m Hale Shelton. Welcome to our house.” Dad greeted as Mom moved to his side. “You’ve met my mate and already know River and Leo. This is my son Austin and his mate Suzanne Walterson.” He gestured to my older brother and his mate. “It’s nice to meet you all. Thank you for inviting us. I know it’s all a bit awkward.” Léonel said. “I’m Léonel Darby, and this is my great great uncle Auðr.” He introduced. “My mate.” I proudly declared, squeezing his hand. “So you’ve mentioned.” Hale smiled fondly at me. The dude has always accepted how crazy River and I can be. That’s why we love him and so easily call him dad. He’s the best dad either of us could ask for. I’m thankful every day he’s in our lives. And tonight, I hope his easily accepting and calming presence will help Auðr see a life with me can work. “About a billion times since you got home last night.” Austin rolled his eyes. “Don’t be rude.” Suzie nudged his side, making him double over like it hurt. I giggled because I love Suzie. She’s fucking awesome, and her strength is off the charts. I love how she can so easily hurt someone. She’s like Spider-man, always having to hold back her full strength. That kind of control is crazy. I don’t think I could manage it. I barely manage to control Eclipse’s power. ‘I control my power, thank you very much.’ Eclipse snorted. “Control, babe. Play hitting requires a lighter touch.” Austin said, rubbing his side. Suzie rolled her eyes but gently rubbed Austin’s back and kissed his cheek to soothe his pain and likely ego. I’d feel bad for my brother, but he’s the one mated to the chick with super strength. He needs to toughen up. “I see the Gibson strength has carried on.” Léonel smiled. “The Gibson strength? You know my mom’s family?” Suzie blinked as her attention turned to Léonel. “Yes, we’re distant cousins. My grandmother, Bethany Gibson, is Christopher Gibson’s sister. Making your grandfather Stephen Gibson my first cousin once removed and your mother my second cousin.” Léonel explained. “Whoa, that’s kind of cool. I knew Mom was from les Ombres Sanctifiées. I didn’t realize we were cousins of the Darby family. That means… Leo, we’re cousins and in-laws. And I’m related to Shikoba and Shannon.” Suzie smiled at this revelation. “Hell yeah!” Leo held their hand up for a high five that Suzie gently returned. “N-E-Way.” I smiled, squeezing Auðr’s hand again. “Now that you’ve met, Auðr and I are going to my room to talk.” “Right ‘talk’.” River chuckled. “River, knock it off.” Mom scolded. “That’s fine, Sage. Come back outside when you’re done talking. You still need to eat dinner, and we’d like a chance to talk with Auðr.” Hale said. “Great. We’ll be back later.” I waved and tugged Auðr to follow. “See you later, Uncle Auðr. Do try and behave.” Léonel taunted, earning him a middle finger from Auðr as we returned inside. “You really didn’t want to meet my family, huh?” I asked, letting his hand go as soon as we were out of eyesight. “Sage, I’m over a hundred years old. Meeting the parents isn’t a thing I do.” Auðr sighed. “I agreed to come here so we could talk. That’s all. And I mean talking, not what your win was implying.” “Okay.” I nodded, trying to hide my disappointment. “Come on, my room’s in the basement.” I waved for him to follow me as I headed for the stairs. “Why do you have a room in the basement? I’d think this house has enough rooms upstairs, and you and River would have your rooms and still have a room for your parents.” Auðr commented as he followed me. “Maybe if Austin and Suzie didn’t live here too.” I shrugged. “River and I were sharing a room. Then Leo moved in, and I took the basement that Dad finished as a bedroom with a full bath. I didn’t want to sleep in a room with a couple on either side of me.” “That makes sense,” Auðr said. I nervously opened my bedroom door and led him in. I’d taken down any of the posts of him I had up. I left the band posts that were just their ankh symbol. He knows I’m a fan, so there’s no reason to hide that. I sat on the bed and gestured for him to sit, too. “You can sit on the bed too, or if you want the space, I have my desk chair.” I offered. Auðr ran a hand over his face but sat on the bed. Maybe there is hope for our mating after all. “Sage, you need to see this from my perspective. I’m not trying to come off as a dick or rude. I’m an old and very gay vampire in a fairly famous band.” He gestured to the poster on my wall. “And I’m an eighteen-year-old non-binary demisexual hybrid werewolf who likes dick and tends to dress more femme despite having a dick. So what? I don’t see how any of that changes that we’re mates.” I countered. “The same point I’ve been making this whole time. Vampires do not have fated mates. And there’s never been a case of a werewolf having a vampire or any other species beyond a human as a fated mate that I know of.” Auðr said. “Hold on.” I jumped off the bed and grabbed the big Firewolf mating book at my desk. “This is an ancient book on all werewolf mating. It’s been maintained by Luna Aurelia’s birth pack for centuries. Dad asked the keeper, Mr. Tracey, to borrow it.” I explained as I returned and opened the book. “Okay. And what’s it say about vampires?” Auðr asked, leaning closer to look. “Well…” I frowned, turning to the section about vampires. “There is zero chance of a werewolf being mated to a vampire. Due to the species’ longstanding dislike for each other, chosen mating between them is exceptionally rare. As such, the chances of a lupire, the hybrid offspring of a female werewolf and male vampire, are extremely low. In the species’ history, only five confirmed lupires have been born. Only one confirmed lupire had a wolf spirit.” Auðr read the paragraph. “Just because there haven’t been documented matings doesn’t mean it’s impossible. I know what I feel, Auðr. My wolf knows what he feels. We could be the first vampire and werewolf fated mates. And look...” I pointed to the page. “There is still documentation on the mating between a werewolf and vampire couple. They wouldn’t know this if it hadn’t happened, even if they know it because of those rare chosen matings.” I said. “Sage…” Auðr sighed but didn’t argue like I thought he would. “Should a werewolf take a vampire mate, their mating must occur during a blood moon to ensure the survival of both parties.” I read, pointing to the line. “See, werewolves and vampires can be mates, even if this book doesn’t have a documented example of a fated couple like us.” “Great. From entertainment and music magazines to being in a dusty werewolf book.” Auðr rolled his eyes. “You might call it a dusty werewolf book, but being put in this book means we’re werewolf history. Generations of werewolves will know about us long after we’re gone.” I chuckled and nudged his side. “I still haven’t decided this is something I’d want. No offense to you, Sage, but I’ve never wanted to be married or after I became a vampire mated.” Auðr said. I took a deep breath and closed the book. I was trying to prepare myself for what was coming. I didn’t want to be rejected, but I can’t make Auðr want to be with me. I can’t make him take a chance and accept the gift the Goddess has given us. “If you’re going to reject me, just be quick about it. Then I suggest getting as far away as possible. Cause I don’t know what my family will want to do to you in the aftermath.” I warned. “Sage… I’m not…” Auðr sighed. “I don’t know what I want, alright. I’m attracted to you and deny that as much as I like being around you, especially touching you, it sends sparks through me.” “Then what are we going to do? Eclipse and I want to be with our mate. We want this. We want you.” I asked, trying to understand. “I’m not entirely sure. I have three more shows this month before we get a month off. After those shows, if you want to meet and see where this could go, I’m okay with that.” Auðr offered. “And what about between now and then? Are we in relationship limbo?” I asked. “We can still talk since I’ll be on the road, and I can’t exactly bring you with me. And not because of Rune or any others in the band. All of our expenses are covered by the label and paid for. Adding a person adds expense, adds additional need for security, and draws attention from fans and the media.” Auðr explained. “Yeah, your fans… like the ones you hook up with?” I asked, remembering the guy from last night. “Are you really going to sit here and slut shame me?” Auðr asked, arching his brow. “Sorry. Jealousy is a bitch, and there was a guy at the club last night who pissed Eclipse and me off, saying he was your hook up in San Fransisco.” I admitted. “Ahh. I won’t say I’m sorry because I don’t control people. And I can’t say you won’t run into people I’ve slept with if this becomes something.” Auðr sighed. “Will I run into NEW people you’ve slept with? Like people you’ve fucked since meeting me?” I asked, terrified and pissed at the very idea. “What? No.” Auðr shook his head. “If we agree in seeing where this goes, I wouldn’t be fucking other people. I may never have tried monogamy, but I know how it works.” I grinned and, without thinking, threw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck as I kissed him. I couldn’t help him. He was going to give us a chance. He wasn’t accepting me as his mate and offering to mark me at the next blood moon. But it wasn’t a rejection, and that’s all I could ask for. Our make-out session, however, wasn’t long-lived, as I heard Dad in our link. ‘Sage, I don’t want to interrupt, but you and Auðr must come upstairs immediately. Alpha Logan and some elders from Steelcrest are here looking for you.’ Dad said. Alpha Logan? Here? Looking for me? Steelcrest? Why did that name sound familiar and ominous? I guess I was going to find out.Ooo Auðr just agreed to give their relationship a shot. But what could Logan and Steelcrest elders want?
What did I just agree to? I haven’t been thinking clearly since meeting Sage yesterday. And now, sitting on their bed with this damn wolf mating book, which didn’t say us being mates was impossible and how sure they are of all this. Outside of my sexuality, I don't think I’ve ever been as sure of something as Sage is that I’m their mate. I’d come here with a mind of telling Sage this wasn’t going to happen. You can see where that determination got me. I have agreed to a monogamous, long-distance relationship with an eighteen-year-old who, despite describing themselves as a demisexual, has a habit of getting their tongue in my mouth. I’m not complaining about the last part.Kissing Sage was strangely better than that first sip of fresh blood after waking up. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, compare it to that first sip of coffee or your drink of choice that wakes you up and makes life tolerable. Things were getting good when I felt Sage check out, so to speak, from the kiss. W
Damn it! I knew I recognized that pack name for a reason. My brain was too fried from all the Auðr hotness to think straight. Plus, I only remember important shit. There is zilch important about Dane Blackburn or his stupid pack. How fucking dare these assholes show up here unannounced and unin-FUCKING-vited. How dare their arrival get in the way of my private time with my mate. Things were getting good before they decided to crash the party.“Alpha Dane is dead.” one of the old fucks said.I’m not always good at remembering names and faces. At least not when I first meet someone. Even less when I don’t want to meet them, but I’m pretty sure the one that just talked, the brunette with brown eyes, was named Joar. I think Alpha Logan said he was the Beta. I don’t care what rank he held in Steelcrest. I don’t care about Steelcrest.I glanced at River and Mom. Based on their expressions, this was news to them. Mom looked conflicted. I think no matter how much she hated the shitstain. She’s
That was a lot to dump on an eighteen-year-old kid. I get that Logan kept them at bay for the last six months, but why not keep them away even longer? If François told him I’d meet Sage at the Pride Festival, why bring them so soon? I know there’s a blood moon eclipse this month, but there’s another one in December. So why bring them now if he knew we’d just met? Why not wait till December? Probably because they wouldn’t wait that long. When Sage started putting themselves down and generally displaying textbook shutting down and overwhelmed behavior, I was ready to shut this shit down. I’ve spent decades bringing depressed and suicidal people back from the edge. I know the signs of someone about to break. Like my bandmates, I wanted to step in and protect Sage from all this. My intervention wasn’t required, at least not to get Sage away from the Steelcrest elders. Sage handled that expertly. Even I couldn’t see in the darkness they created. No wonder their wolf is named Eclipse.
Was Auðr being serious? He looks serious. Yet, I’m still struggling to wrap my head around it. If our roles were reversed, would I be as calm as Auðr? Would I accept this massive life change with such ease and grace? Would I stick around to see if I could handle it? I don’t know. I don’t even know how to handle this in our current roles. ‘Auðr is right. I help ground you, but he’ll be that missing piece to the puzzle that is your soul. With our mate at our side, there’s nothing we can’t do.’ Eclipse assured me. Eclipse was the only person I was letting communicate with me, and well, he’s my wolf, so I kind of can’t shut him out. I could feel the pack and family link banging on my head as everyone tried to reach me. Thankfully, by focusing on Auðr and our conversation, I could ignore everyone else. “I wish I was as sure of things as you and my wolf.” I frowned. “You don’t have to be sure of anything, Sage,” Auðr said. “I take that back. There is one thing you need to be sure about.
In my century-plus years, I’ve seen many technological advancements. Some were good, some were bad. And none have been as perfect a double-edged sword as the internet. The internet connects people and expands the accessibility of knowledge to the masses. It also gives a platform for people, some of whose inside thoughts ought to have remained that way, an opportunity to hurt others globally. All aside, as a supernatural being held accountable to the statute of secrecy, the internet is the worst invention ever. Before the internet, it was much easier to say you were someone else, and no one made a connection. It wasn’t a huge deal for many of my kind because they weren’t in the public eye. For the others in the band and me, it is. With the internet and conspiracy theories out there, we may find ourselves back into permanent retirement from performing to protect the statute of secrecy. I don’t know if I’m ready to give up music, and I know the others aren’t. How easily Sage found p
I didn’t fully understand everything, but it made sense in my heart and soul. Auðr and I have always meant to be. It didn’t matter what year it was or what species we would find each other. That’s the kind of destiny I can get on board with. The sort of destiny that makes having to share even a drop of blood with that sperm donor is worth it. It’s worth it when it means I get to kiss Auðr. Sure, the steering wheel was uncomfortably prodding my spine, but that didn’t matter. A little pain was nothing in comparison to the pleasure of touching Auðr’s bare chest, of how his tongue entwined his mine, of how his fingers felt as they danced their way under my shirt. I gasped as we suddenly moved. Auðr had pulled the lever to recline his seat back, so now I wasn’t simply in his lap but lying on top of him. Am I a top? Is Auðr a bottom? I didn’t know, but I couldn’t wait to figure that out. I know there’s still a lot we need and should be talking about. But why waste Auðr’s lips on words wh
I don’t like that cop. I don’t need to know him. I don’t care to know him. He cockblocked. He implied that I have an STD or am at least a carrier. I’m a vampire. We can smell tainted blood, and don’t mess around with that. All of that aside, what has put that wolf on my shit list is that he embarrassed and upset Sage with his nonsense. I needed space between us and that pack. My hotel room was the most logical destination. We shouldn’t be interrupted there. And while my dick’s priority has been fucking Sage since they climbed on my lap and started grinding themselves against it, sex doesn’t have to happen. If Sage’s interest has fizzled by the time we get to my room, it’ll be fine. Sage did say they are demisexual, so I was not expecting a consistently high libido. I didn’t want to start a serious conversation during the drive. Talking about what happens if Sage takes Steelcrest’s offer sounded like a one-way ticket to not getting laid. I turned on the radio to avoid a mood-killing
I had a lot of fun on the drive over. I was sure I’d like Auðr’s music no matter the genre. And while his glam rock era was a little funny, cause come on, glam rock, it was still him. I found it fascinating that his vampiric ability to use his voice to control people also let him change his voice just enough to sound different for each band. If I didn’t know that each band’s singer was him, I’d never believe it based on audio alone. Overall, it was just fun enjoying music with him. It felt so... Normal. And normal isn’t something I’ve ever really felt. Before moving to Portland, I was far from ‘normal’ among the kids I attended school with. I dyed my hair purple, wore weird clothes - their words, not mine - and just acted ‘weird.’ And don’t get me started on how the normies at my old school felt about me being nonbinary and never dressing in a way that was fully feminine or masculine. Then we moved here, and life got flipped upside down. Being a hybrid werewolf wasn’t ‘normal’ even