Chapter 12 - Sage

“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.