Chapter 6 - Sage

I was trying not to take offense that my mate would rather drink from a blood bag than me. He keeps saying it’s not personal, and maybe it isn’t. He’s not the first vampire to say they don’t like the taste of werewolf. I just, I dunno, thought as his mate, it might be different. Part of me wanted to know how it felt to be fed on. Only by him, of course. In my mind, it would be intimate, like a prelude to what marking would be like.

‘Let him drink from the blood bag if that’s what he wants. Then the first time he sinks those fangs in your neck, it will be the marking.’ Eclipse said.

I shivered at the thought. I know that vampires mark in the same way we werewolves do. I don’t know how the marking situation works between a werewolf and a vampire. I’m gonna need to ask Daddy Hale to ask Mister Tracey to look at the mating book to see if it’s talked about in there. I mean, Auðr and I can’t seriously be the first werewolf and vampire pairing the Goddess has ever made in the history of our species.

There’s no way she would make us the first in history. Auðr might be that special, given she brought the rest of his family into the species, but I sure the hell ain’t. I mean, I’m special in the human way people use the word. I have ADHD, and I’m on the high-functioning Autism spectrum.

So, to some people, that makes me ‘special’. But special enough that the Goddess would choose me of all wolves to mate with someone of another species is impossible. I don’t care that Jason claims he returned from the dead because River and I needed him. That doesn’t make us special. It makes Jason special.

I was ready to let the idea of Auðr feeding on me go in exchange for a kiss. Of course, that got ruined. Thankfully, our first kiss hadn’t been so rudely interrupted. RUDE is the keyword. It’s not a secret that Rune is known as the asshole of the band, but calling me a half-breed mutt is as bad as those protester fucks outside calling me and others slurs for our sexuality and gender identities. As such, I don’t feel bad that I told Rune exactly what I thought and let Eclipse out enough to send the vampire flying.

‘Fucker deserved it.’ Eclipse snorted.

Rune may be the worst of the bunch, but so far, the only one not giving me shithead vibes is Zeke. Or he was the only one till River and Leo walked in with Léonel. I’m sort of banking on the idea that Léonel won’t be an asshole. Leo’s had enough asshole parental figures. They don’t need another one. Plus, he’s related to Auðr, so he can’t be all that bad. Right?

I grinned when I saw my twin and Leo because it meant I wasn’t outnumbered. Not that Eclipse or I were worried about being the only wolf and non-band member in the room. They all saw what I did to Rune, and that was a mere bitch slap. I’m not afraid to throw down when necessary. I grinned as I hugged Leo and River, keeping my arm around my twin’s shoulders as I turned to my mate and his band.

“Everyone meet my twin, River, and their mate Leo.” I introduced. “You both know everyone’s names, but that one...” I pointed at Auðr. “Is Auðr, and alllll he’s mine.”

Auðr squeezed his eyes shut and pinched the bridge of his nose. He’s adorable as he discovered that being with me is gonna be oh so much fun. He’ll eventually get used to it. We’re mates. We’re meant for each other. All the mates I know complement each other’s personalities. And while I don’t know Auðr half as well as I’d like, I can already tell our personalities will balance out.

“How is that even possible?” Léonel asked.

The way his head cocked and his nose wrinkled was exactly like Leo’s when they were confused by something. I love it! Getting to see where some of Leo’s mannerisms come from and how even the toxic nurture of the Hanley family and that fucking awful Silvermane pack couldn’t stop nature. I have no idea how well Jane knew Léonel before she ripped his heart out to be with that scumbag Theodore. However, I hope it was well enough that every time Leo said or did something like Léonel, it caused her pain.

“All things are possible when the Goddess is involved.” I shrugged.

“While even wolfless, I try not to speak ill of the Goddess…” Léonel frowned. “I’m not sure how a wolf and vampire pairing could or would work.” He said, glancing toward Rhapsody, who was pretending not to be staring at him and Leo.

Oh, something is going on there. I want the dirt! Why would Auðr be so hesitant about being with me if they are a thing? Or is that why? Do they have a strained relationship?

They aren’t fated mates since, tragically, Léonel had been fated to that bitch who birthed Leo. So, their relationship drama shouldn’t have any bearing on Auðr and my relationship. I’ll ask Auðr about Rhapsody and Léonel later.

“I doubt we’re the first in history. And if we are, we’re trendsetters.” I smiled. “We’ll figure it out. That’s what mates do.”

“This is so fu...” Rune started to grumble but shut up when I growled at him.

“I don’t have the time nor patience for this right now.” Auðr sighed. “We have sound check soon, and I need to grab a blood bag. You three do whatever you had originally planned for the night.”

‘I don’t like that dismissive tone.’ Eclipse grumbled.

“We planned to see the show,” River said, holding our VIP passes. “David hooked us up with these to ensure Leo could meet their dad. Plus, this one...” They pointed at me. “Is a big fan. And now it and the big poster of you on their bedroom wall makes all the sense.”

It was my turn to groan and pinch the bridge of my nose. River needed to shut up. If they didn’t shut up on their own, I’d shut them up. I did not need them to embarrass me in front of Auðr and his band. I can do that all by myself. I don’t need help. So, to shut my twin up, I put my hand over their mouth.

“And that’s enough from River,” I glared at them. “I guess we’ll let you all get ready for your set and see you after.”

“Of course.” Léonel nodded. “I’ll see you have our set, Leo. We won’t be in Portland long. We have to leave for our next gig in a couple of days. But I’d like to spend time with you, River, and the rest of their family before I go.”

“Of course. River’s parents and older brother will be thrilled to meet you.” Leo excitedly nodded.

I was thrilled for Leo. They deserved to have a good parent at last. However, I was sad that Auðr hadn’t offered to spend time with me and meet my family. I frowned when I realized Auðr had somehow slipped past all of us. He’s going to pay for that later. We’re mates. The more he fights it, the harder things will be on him.

“Don’t worry about my uncle, Sage.” Léonel patted my shoulder. “He’ll come around. He’s just well… when it comes to commitment…”

“Auðr is commitment phobic,” Zeke said. “The band is the only thing he’s ever committed to. Over the decades, some guys wanted more than a fling, and he’d be a ghost.”

“Thank you, Zeke, for that unflattering and unhelp interjection.” Léonel glared at the bass player.

“Uncle Auðr is likely the most stubborn of the Darby line, but no one is more stubborn than the Goddess. This is her will, and he can do nothing to stop it.” Léonel assured me. “Enjoy the show, and don’t worry, I won’t let my uncle sneak off or avoid you before we leave Portland.”

“Um, thanks Léonel. No worries. Eclipse and I can handle our mate.” I said.

I could tell some of the vampires, especially Rune, wanted to say something but smartly kept their mouths shut. I’m not interested in their negativity. I got it. Auðr is one of them. And I don’t just mean a vampire. He’s a member of Immortal Eclipse. More than that, he’s their leader. They might be worried that being mated would mean the end of Immortal Eclipse.

It doesn’t have to. I don’t have any set plans for my future. So, there’s no reason I couldn’t just travel with the band. Sure, it might cramp their style and change the dynamic since Auðr wouldn’t be out prowling the streets for food and a fuck with them. But it would mean the band stays together.

I’d never ask Auðr to give up the band to settle in Bloodmoon with me. I’m all for traveling the world with Auðr. If that means it’s with his band, then so be it. I’ll try to get along with them, even with Rune. There must be a way to make this work. The Goddess wouldn’t have brought us together if we were doomed to fail. I just needed to remember the inspirational words that changed my big brother’s life.

The Goddess guides us on our paths. But we all have to put in the work to find our destinies.

The Goddess has brought us to the path, and I’ll work to find where it leads. Sitting in the VIP booth with River and Leo, I sighed, looking at my yummy mate on stage. I hoped he’d not reject me in the long run and would be willing to walk this path and work with me to see why the Goddess brought us together.