Book 1: Chapter 63

Taking a deep breath, I looked around the diner. I was right in saying not a single person was paying attention to us. There were some teenage wolves in the far corner ditching there morning classes. I wondered if they were a part of Silas’ pack. I caught eyes with the waitress and she ambled over.

“Anything else I can get you?”

I smiled at her. “Can I get a top off on the coffee and the check?”

She nodded and looked at the boys. They shook their head but Charles raised his eyebrow at me. “Didn’t Noah and Finn ban you from having coffee?”

“You know Noah and Finn are my Betas right?”

Sam chuckled and shook his head. “They are only doing it out of love and concern for you.”

“Yeah well, if I’m going to die, I’m going to die happy with a fucking cup of coffee in my hand.” I glared at Sam as the waitress put the check on the table. “Preferably Irish.”

As she filled my cup, I put a hundred on the bill. Charles and Sam stared to whine but I smiled at the waitress.

“The change is tip. Sorry for taking up your table so long.”

The waitress smiled and took the check. “Appreciate you darlin’.”

She turned and I grabbed my coffee, inhaling before taking a sip. Finn and Noah had decided that coffee had too much acid and therefore was on my ‘no no’ list. They went from angry brothers to overbearing mothers and I almost missed their anger.

“So, we are just supposed to pretend like we don’t know this giant bomb of information doesn’t exist until the time comes?”

“Yup. I didn’t know when my next good day would be or if I will have another one. Noah and Finn have their hands full with the incoming baby and they aren’t close enough to Silas and Nate to help. That’s why it had to be you two.”

Charles smiled absently, looking at me. “You know, Silas always said his little sister was more like an older sister. She took care of the chores and any issues in the house. She listened to their problems, helped them with homework, and protected them. Even though you’re four years younger than Silas, you’re still protecting him.”

“Them, protecting them. I want nothing more but for them to be happy. It’s a miracle I lived this long. Which is both a blessing and a curse. Both Nate and Silas have gone without their true mates this entire time. I’ve been what’s stopping them from their true mate. I’m selfish and I’ve just dragged this out for my own sake. But at the same time, I can at least help set them up better than they would with no information.”

They nodded. Reaching out, I nonchalantly grabbed the red thread binding Sam and pulled it down into my lap. With a quick flick of my wrist, I watched it break and disintegrate into nothing. Sam shifted slightly, rolling his shoulders. He furrowed his brow and rubbed his chest, but reached for his water and took a sip.

When I used my power, it completely removed the thread much like a chosen mate. I looked at my clock. It was just after ten. I had thirty minutes from when I broke a bond to connect it to another before another bond would form on its own.

“Sam, I am planning on a trip down south hopefully in next couple of weeks with some family. You think you can give Silas and Nate a break for a couple days?”

He groaned. “Don’t ask me that. The last time I did that, it ended up being for like two weeks.”

“It won’t be two weeks, Sam. I don’t have that long to muck around.”

Both of their eyes widened and Charles reached out, grabbing my hand. “Are you serious, Sol?”

“Somewhere around there. I’m already internally bleeding in places I shouldn’t be. It’s only a matter of time before it gets somewhere important.”

Sam sighed and took my other hand. “I don’t want you to go, but I promise to do my best to help watch out for those two. They are storms sometimes, but I promise to help best I can.”

“That’s more than I can ever ask for Sam. Seriously. I know they are in good hands and that’s the best thing a sister can ask for.”

Taking the last sips of my coffee, I started to scoot out of the booth. Sam got up and as I got out, my leg gave out. He managed to catch me before I fell on my ass. Holding me up by my waist, he looked at me worriedly.

“Do you need help getting back?”

I shook my head. “Just sat too long. It will be better in a second.”

Charles got up and took my hand. We walked out of the diner together and stood out on the sidewalk. Reaching out and patting Charles’ chest, I attached a red thread to him and held it in my hand.

“I have to head out. I’ve got a couple chores and a hair appointment I need to make. Otherwise, I think the force is going to start braiding my hair when they are bored.” Charles smiled.

“You’re hair looks fine. You probably would look good with long hair.” We both looked at Sam who had a slight blush on his face.

I glanced down at the thread in my hand. Apparently, I didn’t even need to attach it. Chuckling, Charles shook his head.

“I appreciate the sentiment but still gotta get it done. You good, Sol?”

Nodding, I gave him a quick wave. “Have a good day.”

“You too. Have a good one Sam, see you around.”

Charles headed off down the sidewalk and I watched the red string grow as he walked away. Looking up at Sam, he was also watching Charles leave. My eyebrow rose but he looked down at me.

“Where to Sol?”

“I was going to try and walk around a little before I’m caged back up with those two mother hens.”

Sam laughed and we turned the opposite way Charles went. Reaching out, I patted Sam’s chest, connecting the thread to him.

“You don’t need to walk me. I’m good on my own.”

“Solaris, if anyone could get into trouble, even in your state, it would be you.”

Laughing, I shook my head. “Oh, I’ve already created enough chaos just by coming down here. Trust me.”

He narrowed his eyes at me. “What did you do?”

“You don’t want to know. Now, go, do what you need to do. But please think about letting those two off for a couple days. I would appreciate it. I’ll probably laid up for the next couple days but maybe next week I’d like a final trip to see some family.”

“Of course. Tell me when and I’ll make it happen for you.”

Smiling, I let go of Sam and tested my leg. It held and I held out my hands in a ta-da motion. He shook his head.

“You sure? I’m not a terrible escort.”

I smiled and shook my head. “I’m good, Gamma. Have a good day. I’ll talk to you later.”

He nodded and walked across the street to his little car he brought. I honestly didn’t know how Silas and Nate allowed him to drive around in that little Sedan but it was terrible. Putting my hands behind my back, I whistled as I walked up the sidewalk. I hoped I would be there for them meeting again for the first time but I didn’t need to be. Sam might put two and two together since I did tell him his mate was ten years younger, not older. But Charles was a strong enough man to still keep Sam on the path of being an Omega.

I walked for about fifteen minutes before a car pulled up next to me. Looking over, Silas was leaning over and smiling. “Get in Aelia.”

“Why are you so bossy?”

“I’m your older brother, how else am I supposed to be?”

I wrinkled my nose before getting into the truck. Slamming the door shut, I buckled in. “So what do I owe this unceremonious pickup on the side of the road?”

He chuckled. “A game of pool?”

I looked down at my hands. They had only started to shake a little and I made a fist. “I have one game in me.”

“One game it is.”

By the time we ordered drinks and set up the game it was ten forty-five. I knew the boys would probably be worried but they had been hovering so much it was like a breath a fresh air to get out from under them.

“So was it worth making your condition worse?”

I hummed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Leaning over, I jumped the ball over his solids and hit my stripe into the pocket.

He cursed. “Who were you messing with?”

“Sam and Charles.”

I was about to hit the ball when Silas grabbed my arm. His face was serious. “I hope you know what you are doing.”

Looking back at my shot, I took it but it just was barely too soft and I didn’t get it in. Standing up, I leaned against the table that our drinks were on.

“They deserve each other, Sil. They were so cute today. Sam needs someone older, not younger. He needs someone strong and perceptive. Someone who will take care of him.”

“And Charles? You know what he went through already with Marlene.”

I sighed. “He’s ready to love someone else. He needs someone else to take care of. Marlene and him were fated. I saw his line. There was nothing there anymore though. How could I not tie him to exactly what he needed? Yes, they are ten years apart but it will be perfect. You will see. Sam already likes him, without me even attaching the thread. And Charles, he already feels an affection towards him. While it might be like a little brother, it’s still too new not turn into romance.”

Silas shot and pocked two balls but one of them was mine. He stood up and came over to me. “You’re matchmaking skills are next level, A. They always have been. But you know Charles’ family isn’t going to agree with that relationship. They might try and sabotage them. Or cut Charles off. They’ve already been setting him up on blind dates of wealthy woman.”

“And is Charles happy? No. He hates his parents, you know that. Even him just being a police officer makes them angry. Maybe this will be the final push he needs to get out from under their thumb.”

Silas shook his head. “I’ll trust you but I’m worried about it.”

Rolling my eyes, I leaned over and scored another two shots. “You should worry about yourself and not anyone else, Sil.”

“I don’t want to hear it, A.”

I chuckled. “You need to be open, Sil. To every option. I’m not going to be there to help you navigate the mate bond. It’s going to be shocking and you need to be open to anything and everything.”

Silas chuckled as I pointed to the far pocket. My hit to the eight-ball missed by millimeters. He stepped up to take a shot.

“I am open. I’ve gone so long without a mate, I’ll literally be happy with them, no matter who they are.” Silas missed completely.

“Can I get that in writing or a recording for later?” I looked at him seriously. He came over and ruffled my hair.

He took a drink and leaned back against the wall. “You can have it any way you want, Aelia. It’s true though.”

Smiling, I nodded. It gave me a little bit of hope for their relationship. I pointed to the far pocket against and lined up my shot. But my cue started to shake. Staring down at it, I tried to steady it by I couldn’t. Silas got up from the wall, seeing me start to panic.

“I guess I didn’t have a full game in me, I’m sorry.”

I shot him a smile before I stood up and leaned against the wall. The black dots started to fill my vision and I felt myself falling but never hit the floor.