Page 36 of His Impossible Elf Mate
“Do you care that I never want to be mated? Am I broken for not wanting all you have?” He raised an eyebrow at me in challenge.
“No. No way. Whatever makes you happy,” I said empathetically.
“Same. This is your dream, Ax. I support it, and Blake would too if you gave him a chance.”
“He would ruin what he’s built here… and it might never happen. It has to stay a secret for right now. Until we know for sure how to do it. Not just for Blake either, for T… I—“
“Hey, it’s alright.” Chase hugged me close again. “I’m here when you need me, okay? Now go, run. Your wolf needs it.”
“Thanks.” I got up and walked to the woods. Turning around just once to see my brother watching over me.
At the edge of the trees, I stripped and ran through the woods in my wolf form. It was weird being the passenger in my body when he took over, but he took control. I sat back, happy to watch him work through things.
Both of us had a lot of feelings. His were always simpler than mine. He didn’t worry about pack politics or gender stereotypes.
Happy,he told me. I could tell just how much it meant to him.
Not scared? You want a baby too?
Yes,he agreed.Lots of babies. Just with the elf.
My heart couldn’t take it. Steps faltering, I tried to explain. We could have this with an alpha, but not with our elf. To carry a baby, it would have to belong to someone else. Not Teárlach.
Inside, my wolf raged at the thought of anyone else being our mate. He was as besotted with T as I was.
We might be able to get a sperm donor and have to wait until they figured out the change without a bite,I tried to soothe him.
Wait,my wolf told me.The Luna will know what to do.
I couldn’t help but hold onto hope that my wolf was right. Everything would work out. Somehow, magically, I’d get everything I ever wanted.
No, life wasn’t that kind. In the back of my brain, a memory formed. I vaguely recalled the time asleep… a dream. A choice to be made.
It would be a choice. Love or a baby of my own.
Wait, my alter urged. He sent me an image of me and T with a baby, a little family. It was such a beautiful dream, I couldn’t help but smile through my sadness.
What did it hurt to hold onto that dream for just a moment, as ridiculous as it was? It was only my heart that would get broken.
Distant
Teárlach
Leaving behind Axel to find out his fate felt wrong, yet my conscience would not let me stay. I had no right to that information, since I was still hiding something very important from Axel.
Time and time again, I had tried to say the words. To tell Axel something that could tear us apart. Then I would falter. Guilt ate at me daily because of it.
So, I let him have his own secret. When he finally joined me to prepare for the celebration the pack decided to have, I didn’t ask him, not because I didn’t want to know, but because he should tell me when he was ready to.
It was clear the information weighed heavily on his mind. I could almost feel the turmoil of his alter through whatever bond we had forged in our time together. Ívarr did not believe it to be a soul-bond. He thought the shifters were incapable of forming one because they already shared their soul with their animal, not from being lesser in any way. My friend had developed a deep appreciation for shifters andtheir ability to form a community, something we elves lacked. We lived too long to stay as connected as they did.
Shifters in high spirits filled the lawn behind the mansion where Axel and I lived. They did not know the full reason for the party, but were prepared to celebrate, nonetheless.
I lingered near Axel, letting him have his space and time with his twin. His family surrounded him, none pushing him for answers despite their curiosity. Without discussing it, it seemed we had all come to the same decision; to let Axel come to us when he was ready.
Someone had to have explained the situation to Blake. He and Kade smiled brightly at all the pack and gathered elves, anticipation lighting their eyes.
Though I would have liked to speak to Hakeem, I saw he was busy with the alpha, Asher. He brought his mate to him so they could discuss the news. I could only imagine the relief they shared, knowing they were only the first this would happen to, not some aberration.
