89 | PROMISES

“What the fuck is this?” I pull out the shiny bullet-shaped charm hanging off what looks like a thin, black-chain collar. Blue chuckles and pulls the other from the box. They’re nearly identical, and the scent of magic that clings to them - an *essence* more than *scent*, really - makes my nose scrunch up as my mate unclasps one of the chain links. He holds the open-clasped thing in front of my face so I can see the ‘R’ engraved on the side of the bullet-charm.

It’s not silver - but the thing is metallic and shiny - reminding me of silver bullets. Something I definitely don’t like thinking of touching my skin, even if I can’t smell even a hint of the metal on the thing. And then there’s the whole ‘bullet’ shape - it makes me remember what happened last year, before I had better control over my vamp side, when Blue shot me. Granted, I was fine, the bullet had been the typical lead and not silver. And, in Blue’s defence, I did try to attack him… Still…

“I wanted to give you something special.” Blue says too brightly, giving the collar a little shake. I quirk an eyebrow at him, searching his now completely delighted face. *Why is it hard to stay annoyed with him when he gets like this?* A little smirk twists my lips into a begrudging smile as something in me answers. *Because I love him*.

“Explain,” I sigh, sitting back so my head thumps against his chest in defeat. Blue chuckles and plants a warm kiss on my temple.

“This is the metal I want to use for us in the future. I didn’t want to scare you by giving you the final product just yet, so,” He makes the bullet-shape dance on the chain. “The chain is spelled to follow you through your forms - even if you lose control. And the shape of the charm…thought it was better than leaving a shapeless chunk.”

“Mhm,” I hum, glaring at the little bullet that’s too small to fit in any real gun. To be honest, the memory of that day is still a little uncomfortable, but it’s still a little funny to recall the rest of the trip back. In a sort of twisted way.

“It’s a reminder of the first promise I made to you,” Blue murmurs in my ear, his words stilling the air in my chest as he continues. I know he means the promise where he pretty much spelled out that he would always come after me if I ran...back when all I did was run from my problems. “And I wanted it to be part of the next promise I’m going to make you.” I chew the inside of my cheek as those words send my heart racing.

“Technically, the first promise you ever made was to keep me safe.” I tell my mate under my breath, my voice a little rough as my heart swells. I’m finally processing what he’s just said and I don’t know what else to say. I know what he’s saying, what he’s nudging me towards, and he’s right to do it this way… It’s actually eerily perfect, the way he’s learned to gently guide me without spooking me.

“Touché.” Blue chuckles nervously, tilting his head to look at me. It takes me a second to look back, my emotions and thoughts swirling in the back of my head as I search his silvery-grey eyes. “I’m not going to ask you anything right now, Red. I know better.” He smirks at the look of my face and something sad flickers in his eyes, there and gone in the blink of an eye. “Just think of this as a baby step.” He adds when I don’t immediately relax, ducking in to lightly rub his cheek to mine. The feel of his skin to mine, the light rasp of stubble forming along his jaw from considerable time away from a razor makes me shiver. My heart slows to a manageable pace and I let out a sigh, pulling back to stare at the collar and bullet-charm in my hands. This bullet has the engraved letter ‘B’ on it and I feel my lips titch up.

“You get one too, huh?” I feel an strangely good mood roll through me as I realize that we’re going to be wearing matching jewelry. Blue chuckles and drops the collar in his hand to my throat, letting the chilly metal warm against my skin.

“Yes, dear,” Blue teases in my ear, the endearment making my heart trip a little when he uses it like that. The phrase ‘the final shape’ from Blue’s earlier explanation flickers through my head, making this all feel so surreal. Blue gently guides me to face him, leaving the collar draped around the bade of my throat for a second. He trails his fingers along my mark, the spark of *wholeness* fluttering through my body the second his fingertips touch it. The antsy part of me finally settles, the need to run dying a quick death. “You’re mine, Red. And I’m yours.” Blue reminds me gently.

“Hm,” I hum my agreement as my thoughts settle. Blue links the chain around my neck, the bullet-pendant ticking the hollow at my throat and ticking lightly against my skin in time with my pulse. After a second, the feel of the metal and charm fades completely.

“There’s a few other things on it to make it more comfortable to wear,” Blue explains when I look up at him. He gently unclasps one of the links on the collar in my hand and leans down so I can put it on him. “And so no one else can see it but us.”

“Good call. Pretty sure Yuri would give us shit,” I smirk at my mate as I re-clasp the link around Blue’s neck. The black metal stands out around his throat, but…then it fades against his skin. My eyes widen and I know it’s still there, I can still feel the now-warm metal against my fingertips as I trace it, but I can’t physically see it.

“Yuri’s got no room to talk.” Blue snorts, dropping his hands to my knees and rolling his eyes. “Especially with all that orange-shit he’s been giving Darine.” My mate wrinkles his nose and I grin triumphantly.

“I knew it!” I hiss, throwing my arms up. Blue ducks in quickly and presses a light kiss to my lips. His furnace-like heat wraps around me, settling against my skin and gently stoking the flames that never seem too far from the surface whenever Blue’s around. The sweet kiss soon turns hot and I definitely can’t ignore the trailing touch of Blue’s hands as they skate up my sides - under my shirt.

A throat clears, reminding us both we’re not alone.

The two Wolven are averting their eyes as they plate freshly-made food, but it’s clear they’ve been listening the whole time. I blink at them and frown. I hadn’t even noticed the two, though they were only a few feet away the entire time. Before I can say anything, the front door opens and the Wolven who’d gone on the grocery run stumble into the room with bulging bags of food. I automatically spring up to help, Blue at my side, the kiss and heat of the moment temporarily tabled.

In minutes, the two Wolven who’d been cooking begin taking food out of the house and to the impromptu picnic area outside. Two other Wolven step into the kitchen in their place and start up the next round of cooking as Blue, the shopping Wolven, and I unpack everything from the reusable bags.

“How on earth am I going to keep feeding a Pack when I don’t even have a job?” I mutter to myself once everything’s packed onto the counter. The Wolven who’d gone to *Lia’s* shuffle out of the room with the new plates of food, and a few thermoses of coffee and mugs for the Pack.

“I’m sure they’ve got resources back in their own territory,” Blue tells me gently, wrapping his arms around me from behind and resting his cheek against mine as we survey the busy kitchen. Already, I can tell people outside are ready for thirds, a few of the younger Wolven getting up to collect dishes from the others. Right on cue, a few chatting Wolven shuffle to the back door and pass one person the dishes while the other three take fresh plates of bacon, eggs, pancakes, and other foods I can’t name, back out to the others.

In the back of my head, I can feel the rigidity from the Pack draining. The meal and hours of rest coaxing them all into a more amicable mood. Not completely happy, but getting there.

“And even if they don’t,” Blue continues after a few moments. “You’ve got resources, too.” I blink and glance at my mate out of the corner of my eye.

“Me?” I almost laugh out loud at the idea that I, a seventeen - *wait, scratch that* - *eighteen*-year-old have anything close the kind of resources it takes to not only keep a whole Pack fed, but keep Hunters off our backs too. Sure, the Reiniers had scared most of the Hunters off back in the day, but things are changing and we’re not going to be safe forever.

“Don’t forget, Red, we may have made some mistakes getting here, but,” Blue applies a little more pressure in his grip around my shoulders. “You’ve made some powerful friends.”

“I don’t think Hale counts as a ‘friend’.” I scoff, thinking about my father as the most powerful ally I have at the moment.

“No, Red. Not just your old man,” Blue releases me and leans back so we can look at each other more comfortably. “You’re on friendly terms with the United States Vampire Court Queen. You know a whole community of L-Class supernaturals, a powerful family of Elementals, an Ancient, one of the most powerful families of Hunters in the States, and two *drakis*. Not to mention your cousin and me.” I blink stupidly at him for a second, the realization that I actually have ‘connections’ hitting me like a slap to the face.

“*Oh*,” I breathe out, my eyes widening as I think through that.

“You may be an Alpha, babe, but you’re by no means alone. We’d all help you if you let us.” My mate insists, giving me one of those disarming smiles at melts right though my defenses. I take a deep breath and smile back, feeling the weight of his words and knowing without a shadow of a doubt that he’s right.

“Well, then, I guess the next order of business is to get to know them all.” I huff and glance out the back window. Somehow, I feel that’s better said than done.

Thirty mostly Bitten Wolven for me to get acquainted with, get them all to trust me, and figure out the whole territory arrangement… Because I don’t want all thirty sleeping outside again - and there sure as shit isn’t enough room in here for everyone. I give my shoulders a roll and straighten before striding out the back door to address my Pack.