Chapter 5

Nix’s POV  

“Mate.” Is all that Diesel keeps saying in my mind. He is getting frustrated that she is right there. She keeps touching me and he can’t have her. “You’re not the only one that is annoyed.” I barked at him. I am sure she knows what she is doing to us when she holds my hand, touches my waist, or even strokes my arm. Everywhere she touches me tingles. I want her so badly. She is supposed to be mine and stupid tradition is keeping me from taking her and claiming her.   

I nearly lost it a couple of times. After I called Vance was the worst. She reached up to grab a book, her top rose up so high I could see her bra. Diesel went crazy. I have to take a deep breath and compose myself. If her dad hadn’t been there, I think I would have. I would have marked her right there and I know she would have let me. “Eden!” her dad snaps at her. “Do you not think this is difficult enough for him? Behave or else I will lock you in your bedroom.”  

She glares at him. “But he is mine!” she shouts at him, stomping her foot like a child, not a woman. Sitting there, I was completely astonished. I can’t believe she is talking to her dad that way. I can’t believe she is talking about me that way. This is her family tradition. If I am willing to uphold it, she should definitely be willing.   

I got up and went to walk out. I know I said I would be her mate, but there is absolutely no chance I would want to be mated to someone so disrespectful for the rest of my life. “Where are you going?” she says in a whiny voice, it grates on my ears.   

“Home, I am going home.”  

“What you can’t? Daddy tell him.”

“I can and I am. There is no chance I am sticking around to be mated to a spoiled brat, who thinks speaking to her parent that way is acceptable. You are lucky to have parents. Some of us have lost ours. I would never dream of speaking to my mom that way. She did everything for me. But you...you take them for granted.” I look at the King. “Your parents are priceless. Treasure them.” The King smiles at my outburst.  

I carried on walking towards the door. Eden runs up and touches my are. “Get off me.” Diesel is going mad.   

“Do you not like it when I touch you?” She says, trying to sound seductive.

Diesel loves her touch. So am I. But I am not playing this game. Yes, I want her because of the mate bond, but no, I don’t want her as a human.

I looked her in the eye. “I want a mate who is my equal. Not a spoiled princess who thinks whining will get her what she wants.” This time, I walked out of the room. Diesel is not happy with me. But he also respects that I am not happy with her. “She would want everything done for her. She wouldn’t respect us. A mate bond should be more about equality, acceptance. Love would be a bonus.” I told Diesel, I don’t think I would get any of that from her. Both me and Diesel were so excited when we found her. We would have done anything for her. But after seeing how she acts, I would do anything to get away from her.

Eden’s dad catches up to me in the hallway. “She isn’t that bad,” he says to me. I look the King in the eyes. “I am sure she will find someone who will pander to her every whim. But that is not me. I work hard for anything and everything I have. I would rather be alone than have a mate that is so disrespectful.”   

He shakes his head. “That is my fault, I’m afraid. I will explain everything to you later. Please stay until morning. We have to get to my mate. I will have a word with Eden. If by morning you still want to leave. Just give her a chance?”  

He is sincere in his response. It would be a long drive back and I don’t think Reed hasn’t got what he came for yet. “Until morning. But I am an early riser. Farm folk rise early.” I said to him. I know I haven’t been on the farm for quite a while, but I want to see what Eden does to get what she wants. She had better work damn hard if she wants me. 

I can feel her eyes burning into the back of my head as we followed the King. I stood next to Reed. Eden sits next to her mom and looks emotionally hurt by this. “Mate.” Diesel says sadly.

The Queen tells us about how she raised her children alone and what happened during her kidnapping. Max, Jax, and Eden all cuddle up to her. Eden sheds a few tears. I want to comfort her, but I don’t want to give her the wrong message.

She tells us all of this because she wants us to know what happened when the blue moon goddess spoke to her. Which is why she freaked out when she saw her upstairs.

I know the events that followed. I just stared at Eden. Eden stares at me. She is beautiful. It’s her attitude and behavior that lets her down. I have to admit, though, when her grandmother was talking, she respectfully listened. Maybe there is hope after all.  

The Queen says something about elemental wolves and looks at Lottie. It’s then it clicks, “Caren is a wind elemental wolf, isn’t she?” I asked Lottie, smiling. I know Caren said she could create a breeze. But that would explain how she can float, I guess. Thinking back, that explains a lot. “What can you do I ask Lottie?” she then walked to the fireplace. She looks at Reed before an inferno comes from her hands. That was why my clothes were burned and I could smell smoke. Then she threatens Reed. Because of what he did to her sister. 

I still can’t believe he is Caren's mate. He was so torn up about what he did to his mate, how she deserved someone better than him. How he wasn’t worthy of such a goddess. Now I know who his mate is, I believe he is wrong. He needs someone who can look after him, help him heal. Help him be the amazing man he is supposed to be, not the one he pretends to be.

I need to speak to Lottie about him and about the other thing I am thinking about. Many people leave the room after the King and Queen do, including Reed.

But Eden stays. “Lottie, can I have a word?” I asked her.  

“Look if it’s about him. I don’t want to know.”

“That’s one thing. But there is something else.” She looks interested now. “When Max had hold of you earlier, he couldn’t hold on to you as you were burning up. When I held onto you, I was fine. My clothes weren’t, but I was.”

“So?”

“Burn me.” I said to her.  

“Hell no.” Eden shouted. “I want to know how much my body can take of your fire.” I told them all.

“The last time I was that mad, I killed a man. I don’t want to hurt you, Nix. You're actually alright, other than the company you keep.” she says. 

“Caren absorbed my strength to strengthen her. I want to know if I can tolerate your flames.” Seeing that, I will not quit asking. She grabs hold of my arms and I can see her concentrating. I can smell the hair on my arms burning. But I feel nothing. “Interesting.” I say out loud. Lottie smiled at me. “More?” She asked.  

“No” Eden cried. “Yes.” I said to Lottie. Her hair glows, as do her green eyes. She looks at me and I smile at her. She smiles back. “Nix, I think your fire proof.”  

Now for the serious stuff. I informed Lottie of the bond between Reed and me. I described to her the state Reed was in when I encountered him. I relayed to her all that he told me about how he felt he was undeserving of his beautiful mate. I described to her how he attempted to locate Caren in the pack later that day. It must have been Maddox who he spoke to. “He came looking for her. I hit him so hard I am surprised he got back up.”

She thinks for a few minutes. “If I find my sister and if she is willing to forgive him. Then I will give him a chance. Until then, I just won’t like him.”

“Do you promise not to kill him?” I asked. 

“Fine, I promise not to kill him.” She says it so casually I am actually scared. “But that doesn’t mean I have to like him.”