MATES

Dragana POV



Art’s kisses tightened my stomach, and I could feel excitement building within me every time we kissed. I felt safe with him. It was a very different type of a kiss than Roman’s – not that I had many with him to compare. However, my body reacted very differently to them both. I knew I craved Roman with an almost animalistic desire. The soft kiss on the morning I left, while completely innocent in comparison to his previous ones, showed me once and for all that I was in love with this man, and that I wanted him. With Art, it was different. I knew I cared for him. I looked forward to seeing him every day. I purposely wore outfits and special clothes just for him. I was excited. I would think of him before I went to bed. But none of this was the fated mate bond I read so much about. I needed to do some more reading on the books I got from the Library, that much was clear. “We are different. We do not feel a mate bond until each of us finds him”, Vasilla now chimed in, noting my internal struggle and confusion. I was trying to process what she just said. “What do you mean EACH OF US???!!”, I raised my voice, not wanting to admit what I just understood.



“I mean exactly what I said. EACH OF US!!”, we are a Tribrid. “Yes, but we are a mix of werewolf, Lycan and a witch. Should not mate rules apply to us too – as they are the same technically for all three species????”, I asked, genuinely confused now. “No, we are special!!!!”, Aisha now joined the conversation, giggling away. “What does that mean??? We have 3 MATES??? Is that what you are saying?????” I have just started coming around to the possibility of having a mate and now I will have 3???? WHAT????!!!!



“Yes and No”, Vasilla continued to explain. Your mate bonds work differently. And you have a choice. You can have 3 mates, and they will all be fated mates. However, you can choose if you want to have 3 or just one”, she further clarified. “I do not understand. How does that work?? Am I not taking somebody else’s mate though??? I thought that the Goddess only made one fated mate for each and then some got blessed with choice mates??” They both laughed. “How much did you read about what we are?? You know those books you brought?”, Aisha wondered. Truth be told, with everything that was going on, I did not read much. I wanted to understand my origin, my powers, and abilities, but ever since I left the pack, there has been one event after another. Biting my lip nervously, I knew she was right.



As I was about to start studying, a gentle knock on the door alerted me of somebody’s presence. I sensed it was Solomon. “Come in great grandpa!!!”, I called him in cheerfully. His face was very serious, however, so for a moment, I wondered if something was wrong. “There is nothing wrong my dearest child; I just have a lot on my mind. I came to say that I had to go for a quick trip. Jasmine and the young Beta will stay with you, as well as Cybela and the warriors. I need you to promise me something though. If something happens, you need to go back to the Rising Moon. PROMISE ME!”, please. I did not know what came over him or why he would be sending me back there. As usual, as if he were reading my thoughts, he answered, “Your aunt, the Queen of the Slavic Witch coven and your mother’s sister, Lady Asma, is in the pack. If I am not here, I trust her powers and that of her mate, who will be joining her shortly, to protect you.” I nodded; all my previous enthusiasm evaporated. He knew something. It sounds like something was about to happen, something none of us would like.



“Of course, I will listen to what you say! I was going to ask you something else”, I started, understanding now, that if it should come to pass, that I must go back to Rising Moon, with the upcoming wedding and Roman there, my heart would be breaking into millions of tiny pieces. I wanted him happy, but that did not mean I would be happy seeing him with his mate. “Vassila and Aisha told me something interesting. Something about Tribrid mate bonds”, I began. He nodded, urging me to continue. “Is it true that I can choose??? Out of 3 mates, I can choose 1??? And, another question?? How do I even decide???” I now said sheepishly. Why was I so damn unlucky – every conversation about sex and mates ended up being with my great-grandfather!! So embarrassing!!!!



“What you are really asking is how to choose between Alpha King Roman and Beta Artemis”, he said with genuine laughter. “And perhaps you are wondering if you have a third mate and who he is???” he continued bemused. I did not know where to hide – I was beyond ashamed that he knew this. If the ground was to open to swallow me whole, that would be great, right about now! “Who do you love???” he asked directly. I paused. What did I feel for Art??? Is it love that I was feeling? It was something, but the only definite answer was Roman. “Roman. Roman is the one I know I am in love with. But he has a mate. And I cannot take that from him, I will not take his happiness and long-awaited mate from him. Art.. He is kind.. He is wonderful, in fact! Gentle, considerate... I think he loves me.. Am I in love??? Perhaps.. I want him.. I think of him… And maybe it is the pain from the situation with Roman, where I want to be more careful and not have my heart broken again. I don’t know..”



“That is a very long response to say you do not know”, he laughed now again. He was right, but that is how I felt. “What if you could have them both – what if they were both your mates??? Would you??” The thought had never occurred to me. Besides, I knew high-ranking wolves, especially Alpha’s. They would die before they would share their mate, and I knew Roman of all people was not a sharing type. “Roman has a mate, I repeated again. Besides, I do not think either of them would share.” For a few moments he said nothing.



“I want you to have this”, he said, pulling out a box from his pocket. It was a red velvet box, with the inscription “YOURS” on it. Curiously, I opened it up to see a gold ring with a beautiful red ruby stone and intricate filigree gold leaf and diamonds, a ring very similar to one Solomon was wearing, but designed clearly for a female hand. “This was your great-grand mother’s ring. It is enchanted. I believe it can help you”, he told me. “Help me how?? With what??” I was now confused. "My late wife and my Queen, your great grandmother, were a Tribrid too. She, herself, created that ring to help her with mate choice, allowing her to observe them and then use her power to choose. You see, because you are a Tribrid until you have found all your mates, they will be able to sense you, but you will not be able to sense them. However, they can only recognize you as their mate in your changed form. Your witch mate comes last. You will know them by having feelings for them, but you may not recognize them as mates until the circle is complete”, he clarified. “Wait a minute???? Does that mean both Roman and Beta Artemis are my mates??????” “You tell me child? Are they???”