Chapter Eighteen - The mate (part two)

**Trigger warning: Mention of death. Reader discretions advised.**
Talia looked at the mirror expectantly, waiting for the reflection to change for one minute, two minutes. But nothing happened. The reflection stayed the same, her. That’s when it dawned upon her. “Me?” Her voice was barely a whisper. “I’m your faithed mate?” Her eyes widened as she looked at Adam nodding his head.

A well of emotions surfaced through her, joy, happiness, relief – but also a sting of anger. He had known for a decade, for ten years, and didn’t tell her! “I… Why?” She asked, turning away from the mirror to face him. “Why?” Adam echoed, a look of confusion presenting itself on his face.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Talia asked, tears stinging in her eyes. “I want to believe you had a very good reason, but… why?” She quickly whipped the tears away, angry at herself for getting so worked up about this. Faes don’t get destined mates, it didn’t work like that. Yet here she was, relived that she had one.

“Because when I found you that day my first thought was that you were dead. Then I heard your heartbeat, I sensed your shallow breath. And I just acted on instinct, I did everything I could to stop the bleeding. To keep you alive. Not because you were my mate, I didn’t even care to think about that possibility. But because it was the right thing to do. But you died. Or I thought you died. Right there in front of me, while I was trying my best to find a way to fix you. To make you better – to save you from pain and suffering. And that stung. That pain, it was unexplainable. But the next day you were alive. Alive and healing, every part of your body back to normal without any scars, any sign of what had happened that night. And you had no memory. No recollection of anything. Imagine if I had told you when you woke up after a week of tossing and turning, a week of healing and who knows what else, that I was your mate, and you were to be mine until the end of days? There’s one chance you would have freaked out and ran away, and I didn’t want that. There’s also a chance you would have welcomed me with open arms. But you didn’t know me, and I didn’t know you. And I wanted us to get to know each other without this hanging over our heads. Without the expectation of falling in love and being by the others side for eternity. And I wanted you to go out, make new memories, enjoy your life, and find out what made you tick, find out who you are and what you want to do, without me being around to point you in any direction” Adam explained, and Talia had to admit it was a very good and valid reason. He put her first, then and now. If anything, it made her want to be with him even more.

“Thank you” Talia whispered before walking over, wrapping her hands around his torso, and leaning her head on his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his skin, bathing in the feeling of peace and tranquility just hugging him gave her.

“Of course” Adam responded, wrapping his strong arms around her, resting his head on top of hers. She was home and she was safe, and she wasn’t mad at him. That was the most important to him. But he couldn’t keep himself from wondering, what if. What if he had told her sooner, would that have changed everything? Would she have traveled less and stayed with them more? It was a dangerous path to walk down, and he forcibly pushed himself off that path.

“I’m curious though, why the sudden interest in mates? Or rather if I had found mine?” Adam talked into her hair, not wanting to release her from the hug just yet. “I’d rather not say” Talia answered, and Adam could sense the humility creeping up on her, guessing she was turning red all over again.

“Why not?” Adam continued. She had pushed him, now it was his turn. “Because I don’t want to” Talia answered, making Adam smile and kiss the top of her head in affection. “You were jealous before” He stated. He had sensed it, lingering just beneath her scent. “I was” She admitted. “It’s cute” Adam moved his hands from her back to her waist, using them to create some distance in between them so he could look her in the eyes. Those blue eyes that shined with love and wonder for everything and everyone around her. He could get lost just staring at them.

“Jealousy is never cute” Talia avoided his eyes, blush creeping up her cheeks once again. “I think a small dose of jealousy is healthy. Shows that you care” Adam looked at her with amusement and adoration, making her feel giddy all over. “If you say so” Talia had never liked jealousy, it made her feel bad. She was supposed to not care about who and what other people did. But she had found herself worried and jealous of every woman that could be a potential mate for Adam. He had given her space to grow and be her own person, and while finding herself she also fell in love with him. Slow and steady, to the points where there was no longer possible to deny what she was feeling. But she worried, had worried for such a long time that he would reject her. What a fool she had been.

They fell into a comfortable silence, Talia relishing the feeling of his hands on her waist. Enjoying the peace his present provided to both her heart and mind. He was hers, body and soul. She knew, from theory and stories, how the mate bond worked. Adam was hers for as long as she wanted him. And she couldn’t imagine a day where she didn’t want to stand beside him. It had been two years since she last set foot on the packlands, two years of finding herself and retrieving long lost memories. And now she was home. This was her home. Adam was her home.
–
Once Talia had retreated to her own room Adam got seated by the desk in his office, about to give Xavier a call one his phone rang. The ID read ‘unknown’ caller, making him somewhat hesitant to answer. He didn’t like unknown callers; it could be all kinds of people and scams. But something told him to pick up. ‘Adam speaking’ He said with authority. ‘Adam – thank the heavens’ A female voice sighed in relief on the other side. ‘Nadi?’ Adam asked. Why would she call with a secret number? ‘Sorry for the secrecy, but I have to be discreet. Something is in the works, something bad. Stay safe’ Before he could respond she had hung up.

Staring at the phone he opened the mind link. **“Devan, where was Nadine last time you spoke with her?”** Though it was getting late he knew Devan would still be awake. **“Oh. I believe Finland”** Devan answered not long after. **“Do you know how to reach her?”** Adam continued. Nadi was what he considered a friend and ally, yet he didn’t keep track of how to get in touch with her. She traveled around, jumping from one area to the other. **“Maybe. Give me until tomorrow”** Devan answered. Adam accepted and closed of the link, still fiddling with his phone.

Something was in the works, that much was obvious. Safe havens burnt to the ground, Nadi’s warning, Lilith suspicions, Talia fleeing from something on the way there. He had been so preoccupied with the fact that her memory was restoring that he had completely forgotten about the running, and the wolf he had heard in the distance on the phone. And there was at least one hunter in town, but Devan believed it to be at least two. Ariel had a companion, a boyfriend, it was likely that he had trained her, if what Katlyn had told Devan was true.

*‘Katlyn! You should call Katlyn!’* Damir called out in his head. *‘It’s not a bad idea’* Adam agreed. Katlyn was a special someone, her talent a gift to them all. *‘I have the best idea, and you know it’* Damir was practically smirking in his head, earning himself an eyeroll from Adam. **“Devan. You know where Katlyn is?”** If there was one person who knew how to keep tabs on someone it was Devan. And Katlyn was special to him. They weren’t mates but had been through enough together to grow a strong friendship. **“I do”** Devan answered, and just as Adam was about to ask there was a knock on his door.

“Come in!” He called, looking up as the door opened and a head with ruffled brown hair peeked inside. “Hi Adam. A little pup told me to come see you” Katlyn walked into the room with a smile on her face, closing the door behind her before she slumped down in the chair in front of Adam’s desk. “I did – how? No, never mind, don’t answer that” Adam leaned back into the chair, taking in Katlyn’s appearance, from the ruffled hair to the red roses in her cheek and the oversized clothes.

“How’s your wings?” Adam asked. “A little stiff, why?” Katlyn asked, tilting her head to the side. “Something is happening. I need eyes everywhere, especially in the sky. How to you feel about going for a little trip over the borders?” Adam leaned forward, eyes locking, his ambers with Katlyn’s chocolate browns. She worried as well, it was practically rolling of her.

“I’ve seen things already Adam. People are moving, running, fleeing from something. But there is no clear sign to who or what. But if you need me to, I’ll gladly go for another flight. Just give me a night to rest, it’s been a long swim” Katlyn stretched her arms over her head, twisting and turning back and forth, making her bones snap and crack. “Swim?” Adam raised his brows on her. “I’ll tell you another day. Did Devan get back to you about Ariel?” Katlyn asked. “Yes, thank you” Adam smiled.

“Always a pleasure to help” Katlyn rose from her chair, stretching yet again and releasing a soft yawn. “Imma go sleep now” She turned on her heels, reaching the door, but her hand lingered at the doorknob for a second. “Adam, can I tell you something?” She turned her head around; her browns know knitted together. “Always” Adam answered. “Keep her close. Something tells me she’s wrapped up in this somehow” Now it was Adam’s brows who knitted together. “Who?” He asked. “Talia”