Book 1: Chapter 62

“Differences?”

I nodded to Sam. “Someone who has become an Omega is different than someone who is like Noah and Finn.”

Sam opened his mouth but I put my hand up.

“I’ll explain. A changed Omega will test as an Omega and their mannerisms and even hormones will adjust before even meeting their mate. However, no bodily changes will occur until your mate marks you.”

Charles raised his hand and I raised my eyebrow at him.

“This isn’t a classroom, you don’t have to raise your hand.”

“It’s a non-related but related to marking.”

I cocked my head to the side.

“Can a human mark a werewolf?”

I broke out in a grin. “Yes, a human can mark a werewolf. It’s the same way a werewolf would mark a human. A bite. You just have to bite a little harder.”

Sam chuckled and Charles just nodded.

“Now, back to what I was saying. When a changed Omega is marked, their body takes the month before their heat to develop into their full omega’s self. So that when they do go into heat, they are ready to have children.”

Shifting uncomfortably, I realized it was Sam this time and not Charles.

“Does it…does it hurt?”

I sighed. “It’s not…pleasant by any means. You become exhausted most of the time. Sometimes you’ll fluctuate in weight, extra moody but that is just kind of the superficial stuff. You’re entire body is building reproductive systems. Organs get shifted and your whole body changes. So it’s not comfortable. But luckily, this happens once and you never have to go through it ever again.”

He nodded but his eyes were cast down. Charles gave him another squeeze of his shoulder. Sam flashed him a smile. Looking back at me, Charles didn’t remove his hand as he asked.

“You said there were differences?”

I took a deep breath. “So when two strong same-sex mates end up being mated to one another, it’s not the same. As soon as those two meet, the changes start happening to the deemed ‘Omega’ in the relationship.”

Sam’s eyes widen. “So even if they don’t accept each other or the mate bond is rejected, the other goes through that change? The pain and shift and the heat?”

I nodded solemnly.

“Is it common for mates to reject one another? I didn’t know that could happen.” Charles looked from Sam to me.

“It’s not necessarily common, but it is more common in same-sex mates. One mate feels like they aren’t gay and won’t be gay for their mate.”

Sam’s head fell and I reached out, squeezing his hand.

“Don’t worry.”

Charles growled and the both of us looked up at him, surprised. “Who the hell would do that? That’s your mate! The person you’re meant to be with! How could someone just reject them based on the fact that they aren’t gay or lesbian? That’s ridiculous!”

I laughed. Oh yeah, this was happening today. There was no way I was leaving these two alone. Sam chuckled as well, a light coming back in his eyes.

“Yes, yes. Next time I’ll get you a soap box. But because this is such a rare occurrence, non-omega presenting wolves won’t know this. So imagine going through all those symptoms on your own, when you just found your mate, and you have no idea if it’s going to work.”

“Plus…the heat…” Sam said quietly.

Nodding, I took a bite of toast. “If you go through heat without your mate, it’s excruciating painful and many wolves, if that does happen while they are alone, don’t usually make it past the first 24 hours.”

Charles eyes went wide and he looked down at his plate. “Fuck.”

“That’s why it’s very important that everyone is informed of what the hell is going on. Because if the two continue to run around and not actually mate, it can not only be very painful for one party but it can also dramatically effect the other as well.”

They both nodded. “So where is the connection in this?”

I leaned back and sighed. “The other day, I told Sam that I can see the mate connections between people. Did Silas ever tell you, Charles?”

Charles nodded but stopped halfway. “I’m not sure I quite understand it though.”

“Basically, I can see who is fated to who. I can see if your mate died. If you have chosen a mate, if you have a fated mate…”

“Or a super crazy special mate.” Sam added and I nodded.

Charles looked at me. “Super crazy special mate?”

I nodded. “For me, chosen mates look like a thread of white. Fated are a red thread. But there is a third. It’s not just a thread though. It’s a thick braid. It’s a connection that surpasses that of even a fated mate.”

His eyes widened and he nodded.

“But get this. One or both who have the gold braid usually have a fated red thread. So in order for the gold thread to even be acknowledged, that fated mate has to die.” Sam was excited to be talking about this again.

Charles balked. “That’s terrible! How many of those are there out there?”

I smiled. “In all my years, only three. So it’s incredibly rare.”

“You said that Nate had that, right? The golden braid?” Sam added, eager now to know where this conversation was going.

Nodding again, I took a deep breath. “I am the fated mate that is stopping the connection he has with the golden bond…”

“I mean…that’s…” Sam tried to say something but I shook my head.

Smiling, I squeezed his hand. “It doesn’t really matter now since I’m dying rather quickly.”

“So then this super crazy golden bond will be exposed, is that what you’re trying to say?” Charles asked, his brow furrowing.

“It’s a lot to take in, I know, but you’ll start to see the connection in minute.”

Sam also sat back in his seat. “So when you die and that bond is exposed, whoever is his golden mate, is going to…wait…his golden mate, you know it. They are male. Which is why you’re giving us a history lesson in Omega changes.”

I smiled at Sam. He was able to put it together pretty quick.

Charles though, coughed in the middle of his sip of coffee. “So you’re saying, Nate is going to become an Omega?”

Shaking my head, I grabbed another bite of toast. “No. Nate won’t become an Omega. He will be like Noah and Finn, well…specifically Finn. He will go through the non-Omega change. So as soon as he meets his mate, the changes will start with his body. On top of that, we are talking about a bond that is like no other. It will be chaotic and as you said, explosive.”

The two of them sat on this information. I let them stew in it for a minute and eat some of their food. I took the chance to look at my phone. It was coming up to ten a.m. I was hoping to have this wrapped up in a hour and head home. I could already feel the weakness creeping in.

“Okay. So we need to be there for Nate. Because he might meet his mate and it goes tits up?” Charles asked as he finished the last of his eggs.

I chuckled. “Oh, no. He will meet his mate. Maybe even within seconds of my death.”

The two of them shifted. “What do you mean?” Sam looked at me, confused.

“Because Silas is the other end of the golden braid for Nate.”

I don’t think shock would be the right word that I was witnessing on the both of their faces. But if we were in the movies, I expected a tumble weed to bounce between us on the table. Sam tried to speak but every time he opened his mouth, he shut it. Charles had nothing. His eyes were semi-glazed over.

“So….what you’re telling me…is that Alpha…hasn’t been able to find a mate…because his only connection is to the golden braid, whereas Nate has had you and therefore had no access to the golden braid. But when you die, Nate will suddenly open up that connection and the two of them will have that crazy connection.”

I nodded at Sam.

“When they have known each other for over twenty years. Consider each other brothers, they will now struggle with the fact that all of a sudden in the middle of the loss of Silas’ sister and Nate’s fated mate, they are going to be struggling with a ridiculous attraction to each other.”

I nodded again as Sam tried to rationalize what I was saying.

“Which, is going to force Nate’s body to immediately start to change to allow him to have children because it definitely won’t be Silas since he is an Alpha. They will basically have a month to figure their shit out before Nate goes into heat and we could potentially lose him if Silas rejects him or refuses to mark him.”

I nodded at Charles this time who finished off Sam’s thoughts out loud. The both of them fell back in their booth.

Charles leaned up and over. “Does this place serve alcohol?”

Sam was actually shaking. “Solaris, this is too much.”

“It can’t be. That’s the problem. None of this is probable anymore. I’m dying. That’s a fact and I probably have less time that I wish. So this is all going to happen. It would happen whether or not I told you two. The issue is, I don’t think they can do this alone. They are going to need help. The two of you are the closest thing they have to family.”

“What are we supposed to do?” Charles ran his hands through his hair. “Just tell them, ‘hey turns out after all these years you guys are mates’. Surprise!”

I chuckled. “Which is why I said that you need to help them indirectly.” Taking a breath, I looked at Charles first. “Silas will most likely come to you thoroughly confused. He’s not going to understand what he is feeling. Not only does he not understand how a mate bond feels, but with Nate it’s going to be complicated. You need to nudge him forward. Help him give Nate a chance. Otherwise, Silas’ stubbornness may kill them both. The braided bond is not to be played around with. If something drastic happens, they both die.”

Charles cursed. “So basically you’re putting their lives in our hands.”

Nodding, I looked at Sam. “You actually probably have the harder job, Sam. Silas may be stubborn but Nate is going to be feeling the physical effects of what is going on. He’s probably going to clam up and not let anyone in. Not only does he need to let Silas in but you have to help him with the changes.”

“Without telling him he’s mated to Silas.”

“He will know, Sam. Nate knows what the bond feels like and it will absolutely scare him shitless. The issue is he doesn’t know what’s going on with his body. If you can, help him with the pains. You already need to be well versed in what’s going to happen anyways. So I would reach out to Shep, get information from him. Help Nate and try to push him towards Finn. Or get Finn in the vicinity when Nate’s going through a rough time. Finn will know what to do.”

Sam nodded but he still looked shaken. “Okay. I mean, we have to….right? Otherwise, like you said, they would just be going through this completely alone.”

Smiling, I nodded. I knew I made the right choice in choosing them. I still had some plans I needed to set in place for everyone close but for now, this was a big one.