His Fated Mate: A Werewolf Romance

Fiona

After collapsing in the kitchen chair, I laid my head on the table as sobs wracked my body. Before long, I felt a hand rubbing my back in soft circular motions. I turned to find little Kyra staring at me with pity etched on her tender face.

“I take it you know the truth about your father now?” She sat in the chair next to me and reached for my hand.

“Yes,” I answered through hiccups, sitting up and wiping my tear-stained face. Kyra looked like a miniature version of her brothers with lighter, curly long hair.

“Don’t be too hard on yourself, Fiona. I wouldn’t have believed a bad word about my father from strangers, either.”

“Kyra…” Rowan growled.

“What?” Kyra threw him a grimace over her shoulder.

“There’s more to it,” he told her.

“Yeah, I heard it all from the hallway. Why don’t you and Rian do whatever you must regarding this situation and leave me alone with Fiona? She doesn’t need your scorn right now. We are taking Kat a tray of food to see if we can get her to come around.”

“That’s a good idea,” Rian stated.

“It is.” Rowan nodded. “Just be careful what you say, especially around Kat. They could go home and tell everything to that murdering thug, Quinn.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. After the way my father spoke to me on the phone, Rowan still thought I was the enemy. I’d proven I knew nothing of my father’s devious deeds, and he still didn’t trust me. I wanted to curse Rowan and scream until he apologized, but I felt defeated. He didn’t seem like the type to apologize, anyway.

“Whatever…” Kyra rolled her eyes like an average fifteen-year-old. It was hard for me to grasp that she was a werewolf too.

I watched Rowan follow Rian from the room and wondered at the emptiness I felt inside from his absence. My feelings toward him should be hate, but I yearned for him to return and say something kind to me.

My thoughts were clear since Kyra piped up and said, “Ignore my brother. He doesn’t mean it. Ever since our dad died, he’s been an uptight wanker.”

My eyes widened at her profanity, and she giggled. “Well, it’s the truth, but Rowan has a lot of stress and responsibility now that he’s the alpha. Let’s go see if we can rouse your friend.”

We gathered a tray of food and headed to check in on Kat. I couldn’t help wondering why my so-called father only cared about her and not me. That Kat knew Father’s dirty secrets crossed my mind, but I dismissed it as crazy. There was no way she knew. Kat wouldn’t keep something like that from me. We were too close and told each other everything.

I followed Kyra through the house into the bedroom where Kat still slept. “Thank you.” She set the tray on the table by the bed. “I appreciated your kindness more than you know. I’m distraught by everything I’ve learned and can’t believe what’s happened in less than twenty-four hours. Yesterday, my life was normal. I was nursing a bruised heart from a break-up, but otherwise, I was happy. Kat talked me into going out for girl’s night to cheer me up, ya know.” I sighed. “Now look at me.”

“It’s a lot for you. I understand even though I’m young. I lost my father, and now your father has my best friend somewhere. So, I know about heartache and loss.” Kyra glanced at her hands, avoiding my gaze.

The bloody bastard! “Oh, sweetie. I’m so sorry and promise to do everything in my power to help bring your friend and… people home. I’m not sure what to call them. It’s all so foreign to me.” I approached with tentative steps and held my arms open. Kyra allowed me to hug her, and we sat on the bed facing each other.

Wiping her tears away, she asked, “Have you heard of the Creatures of Primordial?”

I shook my head. “No. Should I have?”

“Well, no, but I thought because of your father and all…”

“Honestly, I never knew that side of him.”

Kyra nodded. “I know, and most humans believe they are the only species on Earth. Some people believe in aliens or ghosts while most think Mother Earth comprises just humans…”

“And it’s obvious to me now that’s not the case,” I said with a raised brow and a cheeky grin.

Kyra giggled. “Primordial means from the beginning. We have been here since Earth’s creation, walking among you.”

I swallowed past the lump in my throat and asked, “What do you mean when you say we? I know about vampires and werewolves now.” Clearing my throat, I gave her a pointed look.

She shrugged. “There’s too many to list, but witches, warlocks, fairies, goblins, and gremlins, to name a few, since you know about werewolves and vampires. It depends on what region of the world you live in with some races. There are a lot of werewolves, vampires, witches, and fairies here. I’ve never seen gremlins, goblins, or vampires, but my brothers keep me on a tight leash.”

“It’s because they love you,” I said. “So, you’ve seen a proper witch?” My eyes widened, expecting her answer. I liked the idea of seeing a witch—a nice one, of course. I always loved watching The Wizard of Oz as a child.

“Oh, yeah. Rowan has a friend who’s a witch. I think she’s pretty cool, but Rian doesn’t like her.” Kyra lifted her shoulders and let them drop. “She’s badass!”

“Rian not liking someone is hard to imagine,” I declared with furrowed brows. “I love the good witch, Glinda, in The Wizard of Oz. As a girl, I wanted to be her.” I laughed at the absurdity of my statement.

“Well, she’s not really Rowan’s friend. More like an acquaintance since all this unpleasant business with the Sexflex drug. It’s affecting all the supernatural races, and she has offered to help. It’s not normal for werewolves and witches to get along. Oh, and sirens!” she exclaimed. “I’ve never seen one, but I would love to. Rowan says they are very dangerous.”

“Sirens?” I questioned. “You mean mermaids… Do they exist, too?”

“Yes! I think it would be so cool to be a mermaid. Don’t You?”

A loud groan from Kat gained our attention, and I jumped from the bed. “Kitty Kat,” I whispered, standing over her. I felt guilty that her breakfast and tea were cold by now. “Kyra, please bring her some fresh food and tea, or heat this up? I fear we got carried away talking.” I clutched her hands. “But I enjoyed our chat so much.”

“What’s all this about witches and mermaids, and where the hell am I?” Kat asked, trying to raise herself on her elbows.

“Thank God you’re awake and fine,” I cried as relief washed through me.

Kat fell back against the pillows, grabbing her head. “Shhh,” she whispered. “I’m not fine. I feel like I’m going to die.”

“You were drugged,” Kyra told her. “And—”

“And you’re fine now,” I interrupted, fearing what Kyra might say next. While Kat needed to know everything, she wasn’t coherent enough yet.

“I’ll give you guys some time and fetch Kat some fresh breakfast and tea.” Kyra grabbed the tray and winked at me.

“Coffee, please,” Kat said. “Sweet and creamy, too. Can I also have some water?”

“Of course, and I’ll be back in a flash.”

“Thank you, Kyra.” I helped Kat up and propped some pillows under her back.

“Where the fuck are we? And did you hook up?” Kat’s eyes were wide as plates.

“It’s a long, unbelievable story, and no, I did not hook up! I was too busy fearing for your life, and I’m so pissed off at you, Katrina!”

She looked taken aback, her mouth hung open, and her hand splayed over her chest. Kat wasn’t used to me yelling or calling her by her birth name. However, a confused expression replaced her shock, and she asked, “Where’s my necklace?”

Oh, boy… Well, there was no time like the present. “What’s the last thing you remember?” Kat stared inside her dress, threw off the covers, and searched the bed for the silver chain. “Calm down, Kat! It’s not there. It’s… gone.”

“No! Oh, God. Oh, God. What will I do? He will kill me! This will be my third strike. He will kill me this time,” she sobbed.

“Who? My father?” I asked. “It’s just a silly necklace, Kat. If you’re that worried, I’ll give you mine.” Alarm bells were ringing in my head as I wondered what she meant. ‘He will kill me this time,’ sounded like a literal threat.

“Yours is different, and he’ll know!” She jumped from the bed and paced the room.

“No, it’s not. Our necklaces are identical,” I told her, trying to calm her down.

“They are not identical, and you don’t understand, Fiona!”

“Then help me understand, Kat!”

“Oh, how I wish I could.” She sat on the foot of the bed, her face covered in tears and red splotches of color. “Your father… he’s not the man you think he is, but I’ve already said too much.” She placed her hands over her face and cried like a baby.

“I know everything, Kat. My father isn’t just a scientist; he’s a bloody monster, and villain, straight out of a horror story. I’m baffled and shocked that he’s a killer, kidnapper, and hunter, but if you knew all this, why have you kept it from me?” I didn’t want her any more upset and kept my tone gentle.

“A killer, kidnapper, and hunter?” Kat lifted her confused gaze, meeting mine. “What are you talking about?”

I slapped my forehead in frustration. “What are you talking about? You just said he would kill you for losing the necklace.” I sighed and sat down beside her. “Tell me what you meant by that, Kat. It’s imperative I know because we are in one hell of a mess!”

“I can’t.” Kat shook her head and moved away from me up on the bed, her body trembling.

“You must!” I stood and glared at her. “Lives depend on it, Kat. I’m sorry if you fear him, but it’s not just about you anymore!”

She stared at me and took an angry swipe at the tears on her face. “So it’s fine if I die the next time your father experiments on me? You’re okay with that?”

My fear rendered me motionless as my mind raced and my stomach twisted.

“What’s going on in here?” Rowan stood inside the door, with Kyra beside him holding a fresh breakfast tray.