Chapter 13 - Auðr

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. We had been lying in bed making out when they suddenly went stiff. No, I’m not talking about their dick and pulled back.

“Sage? Is everything okay? I touch somewhere you weren’t cool with? Moved faster than you were good with?” I asked.

Yes, I asked thoughtful consent-based questions. The kid said they are demisexual. That doesn’t mean they aren’t into sex and other forms of intimacy but that they require a certain level of emotional connection to the person they are intimate with. Sage said I’m their mate, and while I believe it, too, that doesn’t instantly mean we have the kind of connection they need for certain activities. 

“Huh? No. I mean, you didn’t do anything wrong. I was enjoying myself if the boner wasn’t clear enough.” Sage assured me as they sat up.

“Okay…” I arched my brow, sitting up, too. “Then what’s going on?”

“Um, my dad just said Alpha Logan and some old people from a place called Steelcrest are upstairs asking for me,” Sage frowned, rubbing their temple.

“What would Logan want with you? I’ve never heard of Steelcrest. Granted, I don’t keep tabs on many wolf packs beyond the ones I have family in.” I asked.

“No idea,” Sage said. “The name sounds familiar, but I can’t remember why.”

“It wouldn’t be anything about me, right?” I asked.

While I doubted it was about me, I had to ask. For all I knew, Logan was here because someone in his pack was supposedly fated to a vampire. I could understand if he was concerned about it. This isn’t like his daughter being mated to three different men. That was all chosen, and she’s a human. Sage and me being fated is unheard of, based on that book. Sage and I will be seen as an anomaly and likely abomination by both sides. 

“I don’t think so. No one outside my family knows we’re mates. Dad could’ve told Mr. Tracey why he wanted the book, but I can’t imagine that getting to Alpha Logan. It also doesn’t explain the other guys.” Sage said, shaking their head.

“Alpha… you might want to wait. Sage is down there with their mate.” Erin’s hesitant voice echoed down the basement stairs, and heavy footsteps followed.

Sage paled and tried to use the flannel I’d stripped off them during our making out to hide their semi. I rolled my eyes and turned to the door as it burst open. I may have never met Logan Kinsley, but I know of him and have seen his picture. So, I was prepared for him to be short and grumpy-looking. I was spot on as he looked from Sage to me, eyebrow-raising as it dawned on him that I’m a vampire, and Erin said, ‘mate.’ 

“Do you generally make cockblocking house calls, Logan?” I asked.

“Auðr…” Sage poked me, but I could see the laughter in their amber eyes. 

If it were anyone but their Alpha, they’d probably be laughing their squeezable ass off. Yes, I can define it as squeezable. I got a good feel when I caught Sage out front, and I’ve squeezed it a few times while we’d been making out. Logan’s eyes narrowed briefly, flashing red as he looked at me.

“Auðr Darby. Albert’s friend from that band my daughter likes.” Logan placed me.

“Just Auðr, thanks. So, what brings you by to cockblock? If you wanted to cockblock a vampire, you know your daughter’s address.” I rephrased my question.

“Fucking vampires…” Logan grumbled. “Not surprised you’re one of Caleb’s progeny or Agustín’s type.”

“Agustín?” Sage cocked their head.

“That’s more than enough about my ex. Else I’ll dig up details on every female you fucked between Hana’s mother and your mate.” I threatened.

“Auðr, stop antagonizing my alpha.” Sage pleaded through gritted teeth. “Please ignore him, Alpha Logan. He doesn’t mean it.”

“Oh, I totally meant it.” I smiled.

“I’m not here about you, Auðr. Listen to the kid and shut up.” Logan said, making a zip-it hand gesture. “Sage, get your ass upstairs. We have important shit to talk about.”

“Yes, Alpha.” Sage hurried to stand.

This. This is what I don’t like about wolves. One gets named Alpha, and when they say jump, no one asks questions, not even how high they just jump. I know Logan isn’t like that, but how is Sage jumping to obey any different than Leo’s egg donor blindly following her pack’s laws about chosen mating within the pack for females? It rubs me the wrong fucking way. So, I stood, folded my arms, and looked down at Logan. I may be skinny, always have been, but I’ve got height and powers he knows shit about.

“Talk to my mate like they are your servant who must obey you again, and we’ll have a big problem, Logan.” I threatened. “I know this is just how wolves are wires, and this is your territory and all, but I’m sure you can muster up some basic respect and courtesy.”

Logan arched his brow at me and then glanced at Sage.

“Alpha…” Sage started to say something, but Logan raised a hand and smirked. 

“It’s fine, Sage,” Logan assured. “It’s good to see your mate has a backbone and would stand up for you even against me.”

“If I didn’t know Hana was adopted…” I shook my head. 

“I’ll take that as a compliment. Now upstairs, please. What the Steelcrest elders want will affect you both,” Logan said, beckoning us to follow as he left Sage’s room.

“Affect both?” I furrowed my brow.

“Guess we should go see what the fuss is about.” Sage shrugged.

As we went upstairs, I slipped my hand into theirs, holding their hand as we entered the Shelton family's great room. Everyone looked uncomfortable, especially Erin and River. Hale held Erin to his chest to comfort or hold her back. Leo was similarly holding River’s arm, though I think for the latter reason based on the way Rivers’ eyes were narrowed at the three unknown guests. 

Hale’s son Austin was leaning by the fireplace, and now I could see he had a prosthetic leg, with his mate Suzanne looking ready to snap necks if the situation required it. I caught Léonel’s eye, silently questioning what was going on. All my nephew could offer was a shrug. Logan moved to stand at the other side of the fireplace and gestured to Sage and me as he addressed the three old wolves on the sofa.

“You asked for the Carlisle with anything to do with an eclipse. That’s the one. Sage Carlisle, the eldest of the twins whose wolf is named Eclipse.” Logan introduced. “And their mate Auðr.”

“Sage and Auðr, these are Joar Isaksen, Elton Almstedt, and Svein Akselsen of Steelcrest. They were once the Beta, Gamma, and Delta to your sperm donor’s father-in-law.” Logan explained as he introduced each of the males. 

Sperm donor’s father-in-law? Steelcrest is the pack Sage and River’s sperm donor is from. I thought he’d be from Silvermane, given that Léonel said Leo and River dated before River and Sage moved to Portland and discovered they were werewolves. And if these fossils. Yes, I’m older than them, but they are werewolves and, therefore, not immortal, so I’ll call them fossils if I want. Why would they be here for Sage if they were the Beta, Gamma, and Delta to Sage’s step-grandfather?

“May I speak freely, Alpha Logan?” Sage asked.

“Your house, kid.” Logan shrugged.

Logan folded his arms with a smirk as if waiting to see what would come from Sage’s mouth. I don’t know Sage well, but I do know that they are impulsive and don’t always think before speaking. This could get messy. By messy, I mean having to clean up what’s left of these wolf elders should they say or do anything against Sage. The tension in the air was already thick. I could tell everyone in Sage’s family was more than ready to rip these men apart—a sentiment I shared. One wrong word and I’ll rip their throats.

“Was it not made fucking clear to that fuckwad two years ago when my dad sent his ass home limping that he’s got no place in mine or River’s lives? That doesn’t only apply to his raggedy ass. It applies to everyone associated with the shit stain.” Sage went off.

“But you need to …” one of the males, Joar, I think Logan had said, tried to speak up.

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!” Sage shouted. “I don’t need to do fucking shit except to tell you to get the fuck out of my dad’s house and my Alpha’s territory. You got no business with me, least of all any business I will give two flying fucks about.”

Well, Sage made their position very clear. These males better respect that and walk away. If they don’t, I’ll make them.