Chapter Thirty-one

After watching Trixie try to teach Theo how to cook pancakes and fail miserably, she kicked everyone out of the kitchen. I tried to convince her to let me stay but she let out the cutest fucking growl so I forced myself to leave. If I laughed at her first growl, it would only make her feel insecure. I wouldn't be laughing malicously, it was just too fucking cute.

"Breakfast was good, baby." Kane leaned down and placed a quick but sweet kiss on Trixies lips.

"My pancakes were kinda flat.. must have gotten the ones Theo made.." William snickered, which everyone just busted out laughing.

"Fuck you. At least I can cook. Good luck making breakfast for your mate when you find him!" Theodore sneered back.

"Listen here bi.." William was ready to snap back but with a knock at the door, everyone went silent.

They knew who it was. Now that Trixie was up, it was only a matter of time before Terrance came to visit.

"I'll get it." Theodore stood up and left to get the door.

Trixie just shrugged and started picking up the dishes around the table and headed to the kitchen. Kane , of course, followed after her. The two of them spent about 20 minutes cleaning the dishes and kitchen up.

"Okay, what's bothering you?" Trixie could sense something was wrong with Kane through the bond.

Kane just let out a heavy sigh. "Come on. Lets go to the living room, baby." Kane placed his hand on the lower part of her back and led them out of the kitchen.

The second Trixie entered the living room, she froze on the spot. Making Kane slip his arm around her waist, having a tight hold on her. She just stared at the man she thought that has been dead for the past ten years. "Yo-you're r-real?

"Of course I am, princess." Terrance stood up and went to walk towards Trixie but seeing her back away from him, made him stop.

Trixie just turned to Kane, wrapped her arms around his waist while rubbing her face in his stomach.

Kane held onto her tight. "So now is your chance to explain everything." Kane demanded. "And I suggest you leave your mind open." Kane warned.

Terrance nodded in agreement and sat back down. "Okay so my whole life I thought I was just a human. I never met my parents. I was told they passed away in a car crash so I grew up in foster care. I graduated high school, got a job, got my own place. Everything was going fine. I thought my life was great until I met your mother, Tracie. I didn't know about wolves, demons, angels, I didn't know any supernatural creature existed. It didn't take long for your mom to introduce me to Alpha Kurt and his pack. Surprisingly, I took all this news well. It took less than a month for your mom and I to mate and mark me. When she marked me, that's when I started to shift." Terrance paused, making sure Trixie was following along. When she glanced over at him, he continued. "Tracie took me out into the woods for some privacy, thankfully because we didn't know I was going to burst into flames." Terrance added with a chuckle. "I remember seeing and feeling her panic. I wanted so badly to comfort her but obviously I couldn't. When I woke up a few days later, your mom told me everything that happened. She told me that the Moon Goddess told her how to help me shift. I guess being the last fire phoenix out there was a good enough reason to get a visit from the Moon Goddess. But anyways, Alpha Kurt thought I got my super strength from the mark, it's common for humans to get some wolf abilities after the mating and marking process. We never once told anyone what I was. I was never allowed to help fight off rogues or take part in any type of battle because Kurt didn't want me hurt." Terrance gave a small smile.

"Then what?" Trixie whispered. Kane had positioned himself on the chair across from Terrance with Trixie in his lap. She still clung to him like a second shirt.

"Well when we went to the meadow, I wasn't prepared. I know how to fight, yes but I didn't know to balance out my energy. In the eight years of being a phoenix, I only stretched my wings every few days and that was in our basement. Either way, the rogues were there for me. They somehow figured out what I was and their leader wanted me. They knew as long as I stayed in the sun, they couldn't take me. Somehow they managed to get me into the wooded area and that's when my energy started to drain faster. Like I said, I didn't know how to conserve my energy, never had too." Terrance ran a hand through his hair, letting out a frustrated sigh. "I don't know how, when or where I was but I woke up in a cell, underground. When I woke up, I felt the pain. It felt like someone was stabbing knives directly into my heart. I couldn't breathe, couldn't eat, drink, I couldn't focus on anything. It didn't take me long to realize that was the pain from your mother passing. Our bond was gone. That lasted for what felt like years. Once I was finally able to focus on my surroundings, I noticed a man was there." Terrance looked like he was reliving his experience.

"How long did they hold you captive?" Kane asked. He started rubbing soothing circles on Trixies back.

"Seven years. They kept me locked down there for seven years. That man that was there told me he was sorry about his men killing you and your mother. That wasn't a part of his *plan.*" Terrance looked directly at Trixie. "When he said you were dead, I lost it. I had no will to fight. I pulled myself through the pain of losing my mate for you. I had to try to get back to you. You were the only reason I didn't die from the mate bond breaking. I know I shouldn't have believed him when he said you were dead but after knowing that your mother was gone, I knew you wouldn't be able to defend yourself. I just let myself fall deeper and deeper." Terrance stopped to clear his throat, he was getting choked up. "Seven years is a long time with no sunlight for a phoenix. They tried to get me to shift or to even show my wings but I never did. Not that I didn't want to, I couldn't. So I thought my phoenix died. And so they sold me."

"They sold you?" Kane questioned.

"Yeah, to some warlock named Naoh. I was kept in chains of course but I didn't really care where I was going. My life was over the second I was told my baby girl was dead. The second the sun touched my skin, I could feel the energy course through me. I thought about just taking off right there but I remember thinking I had nowhere to go. I couldn't go back to my pack, the memories of my family would break me. So I went with the warlock. For the two years, I was tethered to him. I thought I could just leave once I got tired of being there but being tethered to him ment I couldn't even go for a walk without his permission. He bought me and I couldn't be free until I repaid my debt, I guess. So he helped train me on how to use my phoenix. Once I was trained to his satisfaction, I helped kill his brother and uncle and took back his coven. I've been roaming around for the past year, avoiding this part of the kingdom." Terrance had this look of guilt in his eyes. "If I would have known you were still alive, I would have come home, princess. I swear I would have. I never would have let Kurt do those things or this pack."

Trixie just sat there, wrapped in Kanes warm embrace. It was quiet for a long time while Trixie took in all this information.

*He's telling the truth, baby.* Kane linked her, nuzzling his nose into her neck. Trixie just nodded.

"So why are you here now?" Trixie asked.

"Well I was stretching my wings when I felt you. I felt your phoenix awaken. All the hope I lost ten years ago came rushing back and I just came straight here. I didn't care where you were or what was happening. Your phoenix was calling for mine, you needed me and honestly, I needed you more. I was prepared for anything but not you being mated to the King of Hell." Terrance awkwardly chuckled, remembering when he walked in Kane claiming his daughter. In return, Kane just gave Terrance an evil grin. He quite enjoyed knowing Terrance was struggling with that.

"Is it a bad thing? Me being mated to Kane and Goliath?" Trixie raised an eyebrow. The men in the room turned their attention on Terrance, awaiting his answer.

"Of course not! As long as he treats you properly and you're happy, then I don't care who you are mated too, princess." Terrance gave a reassuring smile. "I just hope you will allow me to make up for the past ten years.."