Mate Magic

by Shannon Duane

  Paul went down on his knees next to Bailey’s wolf and ran his hand through her fur. Her eyes closed and she made the smallest noise in her throat that sounded similar to a purr. When her eyes opened Paul could see her gratitude, and maybe something more. “No need to thank me, Bailey. I want you to know that here, you can be free. Free of the past, the pain and the fear. I will support you and honor your strength by giving you mine when needed. Please enjoy the freedom.”

  Paul stood and knew exactly who he was going to see. He turned and looked at the beautiful wolf that, he feared, had captured his heart. “I have to get back. I’ll see you again.” He saw her turn and run past her brother, who appeared to be shaken, and ran into the woods bordering Alpha house. She would be safe.

  *****

  Paul went and sat down at his family table, surprised that the reception was still going on. There was so much happiness here in the great hall, totally opposed to the scenes that he had witnessed outside. Bailey’s family and pack were broken; they would heal in time, but at what cost.

  Paul turned to his mother and father seeing their love and passion for each other. His father had leaned over and was whispering in his mother’s ear while she smiled. His mother’s cheeks turn pink as his father cupped her face in his large hands and placed a soft kiss to her mouth. His mother, Eva, pulled her face from his father’s strong grasp and turned away from the love of her life to look at her son.

  Paul felt like a peeping tom watching the play between his parents. He heard his mother’s soft voice, “Paulie, what’s wrong? You smell upset? Has something happened?”

  Paul gave his mother a genuine smile and replied. “Everything is fine. I just want to talk if that’s okay.” He looked to his father and nodded his head in respect.

  Paul’s parents were wonderful people. His father towered over his mother by more than a foot and all of their kids had gotten his olive toned skin and dark brown hair. For the first time, Paul noticed the streaks of grey at his father’s temple and the tiny crinkles at the corner of his eyes. Paul’s father was the hard balancing out his mother’s softness. They were amazing parents and filled the house with a great deal of love and laughter.

  Paul’s father, Kenneth, reached over and ran his hand through Paul’s dark brown hair like he was a small boy. Looking to his wife and mate, “I’m going to dance. When you’re done talking, come boogie with me, my love.”

  Eva stretched her neck to kiss her mate and smiled. “Save me a dance handsome.” Looking back to her son she sobered, “Okay, what’s going on?”

  Paul suddenly felt like a child. How did he begin this conversation with his mother? He wanted her advice so he better just spit it out. “I think I like a girl.”

  Eva could see her son was having a hard time talking to her, so it must be important. When she smelled his embarrassment she had an idea what was going on. At his comment about liking a girl she laughed. “You’ve liked many girls in your time. What do you mean?”

  Paul blushed and turned away. “I mean I think about her, a lot.”

  Eva smiled and turned her sons face back to her. “We saw you watching Bailey during the ceremony. Is she a nice girl? Does she think of you too?”

  “I don’t know. She belongs to another pack, and her family doesn’t like me, but I don’t want to be apart from her. I feel…different.” He didn’t know how to describe his reaction to her, especially to his mother.

  “Do you love her? Is she your mate?”

  “I wouldn’t know the slightest thing about mating. I just know I like her and need her in my life.”

  Eva gave him a small smile before continuing, “You like her scent?” he nodded. “You think of her often?” he nodded. “You want to be with her always, protect her?” he paused a moment then nodded. “You want to…bite her?”

  Paul rolled his eyes, “Mom, I can’t have this conversation with you. I just don’t know what to do. I need you to tell me what to do.”

  Eva grinned at her son. “You’ll know what to do, and when the time is right. If you’ll excuse me I have to go dance with your father.” She stood and kissed the top of his head. “You’ve grown into a wonderful man and I know that you’ll do the right thing. If she’s able to accept your magic into her, it’s a sign.”

  Paul’s eyes widened, “How did you know?”

  “Your magic has…changed. It’ll return to normal but right now you smell…different. Not mated, but…”

  Paul closed his eyes and looked into himself. He’d given Bailey his magic but he didn’t feel like a piece of him was missing, in fact, he felt complete. Odd.

  He heard his mother leave and sensed his Alpha approach. Paul stood to show Jake the proper respect. Jake inclined his head. “Please, let’s sit.” Uh oh, something was up.

  Paul took his seat and Jake sat next to him and sighed. “I want to talk to you about Dante.”

  Paul looked taken aback. “What about Dante?”

  “He approached me about the incident at the hospital and asked that I keep you away from his sister.”

  Paul was embarrassed but wasn’t going to deny it. “I’m sorry I let you down. I couldn’t help what happened. She smelled so good and I know I should be ashamed of taking advantage of her while she was…out, but it was innocent.”

  Jake simply smiled. “I’m glad to hear it. Take a walk with me.”

  Chapter 4

  Paul wasn’t sure why Jake wanted to walk, but when your Alpha asks you to do something, you do it. “Alright.”

  They both stood and Jake led Paul out the back doors and into the backyard. Paul couldn’t help but break the silence. “What’s on your mind?”

  “I wanted to let you know how proud I am of you. You contribute a lot to this town and I’ve seen you sacrifice for our pack numerous times. As a sheriff, you excel at your job, and are constantly willing to go above and beyond with the pack duties.” Jake sighed.

  Here it comes. Paul thought.

  “Dante’s a good man but his Pack is troubled. I understand that Bailey put in for a change in pack today, and I offered for her.” Paul’s eyes became wide. “She will have the ultimate choice, but I have a feeling she’ll accept…in time. She’s a strong woman, but she has been carrying a heavy burden for a very long time. I won’t go into the history of her pack semantics but I want to let you know how they treated their women, so that maybe you can understand.”

  Paul looked into the knowing eyes of his leader. “You knew. This whole time I have been tip towing around, but you know. I don’t know how to act or what to do.”

  “You did nothing wrong at the hospital. There’s no way a man can resist the draw of his mate. Dante doesn’t understand, but one day, God willing, he will. You need to know that you are not wrong and you’ve done the noble thing in not chasing after her and challenging Dante. He is trying.” Jake went on, “Their mother Victoria went along with the pack values, stating that the men worked and had sex to continue with the Shifter genes. The women were not allowed to work. They were educated in healing skills and how to care for young, as well as pressured to breed. The women were not allowed free thought and were at the mercy of the men.”

  Paul closed his eyes and placed his palms over his face. He wanted to cry for the lonely lost girl he saw when he looked at Bailey. “Please, I can’t hear anymore. I…want to, um, I need…I just want to care for her.”

  Jake looked to Paul with pity. “I was worried about that. She’s fiercely independent and needs her freedom. She needs to know that she can be herself. I know this’ll be hard for you but you need to let her live, be independent and free. Can you do that?”

  Paul did let a tear slip out of his eye before he angrily brushed it away. “I want what is best for her. I stayed away for months while she was healing and it killed me a bit each day. I will do what’s best for her; you can count on me Alpha.”

  Jake looked at Paul and wondered if he would have had the restraint to do what he was asking of his friend. “You’
re a good man, probably better than I. Understand, Bailey’s probably confused. She was never taught what she should expect from mating. She probably has no clue you’re her mate. I know this is hard and I’m sorry.”

  Paul knew he was going to suffer but said. “Just get her here so we can show her what a real pack is like.” Paul turned from his Alpha and left. He couldn’t take anymore wedding cheer. He wanted to be alone.

  Paul walked into his house wanting to be tough, but he felt out of sorts. He went to the bar and poured himself some blue label scotch whiskey. Why not drink the expensive stuff? It was a time to celebrate, he’d found his mate. But he couldn’t have her.

  Paul heard the screen door open and close and wondered why people couldn’t just leave him alone. Blake walked into the kitchen and straight to the bar. “The good stuff, huh? What’s the occasion?” He poured himself a small amount that he promptly chugged.

  Paul looked mildly annoyed, “It is supposed to be sipped you shithead.” And then he downed what was in his glass, enjoying the burning and warmth in his stomach.

  “Whoa there big brother. I’ve never seen you so upset, is it the chickie?”

  Paul grimaced. “Please, let’s just drink and forget about what happened today. I want to enjoy the rest of my day off. And don’t refer to Bailey as a chickie; it’s disrespectful and degrading.”

  “No problem, Bro. Do you mind if I stay? We can watch a movie or walk to The Burning Moon Saloon and get shitfaced, like the old days.” Blake waggled his eyebrows, “I’m buying.”

  Paul stood, “I’m game. Let’s drink, dance and drown our sorrows.” They clasped hands and made their way out the door.

  *****

  Bailey was running through the woods for the second time that day, however, she felt different, energized. Although she had never felt free before, this was the first time she felt like it was possible. She’d informed Dante of her wish to leave the Sacramento Pack but truly she had no idea where she belonged. Alpha Jake and the American Canyon Pack had welcomed her, but she didn’t want the extra attention. She still felt uncomfortable from Decker and Tara’s speech. Maybe she could just talk to them and ask that they treat her like everyone else.

  As Bailey thought of staying in the American Canyon Pack she thought about Paul. She was wildly attracted to him and it freaked her out. She’d never been attracted to anyone and wondered if it was the borrowed magic. She knew that had nothing to do with it because she’d been attracted to him before.

  Bailey was lying in the same field she had snuggled with Paul when she heard a twig snap and bushes rustle. She hoped it was a rabbit, she was getting hungry and she didn’t want to release Paul’s magic. It felt warm and good.

  She was lost in thought when she sensed a presence and smelled something foul. She scrambled onto her feet only to feel something hard slam into her flank. What the hell, not a rabbit. She whirled around and bared her fangs at the intruder. She saw a…what the hell? Is that a bear?

  It was huge. She was pretty big in her wolf form but this creature was about seven feet tall and looked menacing. Maybe if she just walked away he would leave her alone. Bailey backed up slowly and considered running full out until she reached the house, but she didn’t want it to follow and put everyone else in danger. She sniffed and realized she was dealing with a shifter bear.

  Bailey knew nothing about bear shifter’s other than they ate a lot of sweets, and they were dangerous if you tried to take their food. She wasn’t taking food or being aggressive. She kept backing away until it charged and then she twisted and ran.

  She was running when she felt the large paw swipe at her flank again, claws digging into her skin as it knocked her into a nearby tree. She felt a sudden sharp pain in her upper chest and got back to her feet running again. She was out of breath but she’d made it to the house, the smell of her blood making her nauseous. Bailey hobbled in from the back porch and saw people cleaning up after the wedding. Her head was getting light and her vision was fuzzy and she tried to yell but it came out as a whisper. “Please help me. Help.”

  Jake turned and saw Bailey as she was slowly lowering herself to the floor. “Shana, come here!”

  Bailey saw Jake and then Shana running toward her and knew that she was going to get help. She closed her eyes and let the darkness take her.

  *****

  Paul was on the barstool, beer in hand, when he felt like he’d been hit by a truck. He fell off the stool and the left side of his body was killing him. What the hell? He looked around to see if he’d missed some unknown threat, he saw nothing. Blake jumped down from his stool and bent to help him. “What’s wrong, Bro?”

  Paul’s side hurt extremely badly, like the time he’d broken his ribs. He felt his side and winced. He turned to Blake, “Did something happen? I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck.”

  Blake raised an eyebrow, “Maybe it’s time to go.” Blake paid the tab and they were walking out the door when the pain hit again. Paul was slammed into the doorjamb and then fell to the floor. “Damn brother, looks like you had a few too many.” Blake pulled him off the floor again.

  “Something’s wrong. Call Jake or Conner. Do you feel anything? There is a threat somewhere?” Paul was holding his ribs on the left side looking around franticly.

  Blake took out his cell phone and called Jake, no answer. He re-dialed, no answer. Blake called Conner and on the third ring Conner answered with a terse, “What?”

  “Yo man, what’s doing with y’all? Paul’s worried there is a threat. He’s got some weird shit going on right now.”

  Conner was silent for a few moments then said, “What’s wrong with Paul?”

  “He’s fallen a couple times, he’s holding his ribs but no one hit him. We’re down at The Burning Moon drinking and he started hurting.”

  “Shit!” was Conner’s reply. “Bring him to the hospital. We’re on our way right now with Bailey.”

  Paul could feel his heartbeat speed up. “What’s wrong with Bailey?”

  “Just meet us there and we’ll talk then.” Conner disconnected leaving Paul and Blake wondering what could have happened.

  The hospital was only about three blocks away, and they’d both been drinking, so they started down the block at a brisk walk. Halfway there Paul became so short of breath that he had to stop. He was sweating and pale, still holding his rib area on the left side. “You gonna make it?” Blake could see and smell his brother’s pain, it was making him crazy. “We could get a cab.”

  Paul shook his head and rose to his feet just as a white dodge pulled up. The automatic window came down and Conner barked, “Get in.” The brothers complied and Paul closed his eyes to the pain as they drove the rest of the way to the hospital.

  Chapter 5

  Paul wanted to rush into the emergency room and demand to know what was wrong with his mate. No, shit…he needed to know what was going on with Bailey. He had to stop thinking of her that way. He walked into the ER and immediately saw Jake talking with his brother, Justin, who was security at the hospital and couldn’t imagine why he was fighting with Jake.

  “Justin.” He saw his brother look towards him and breathe a sigh of relief, “What’s going on?”

  Justin looked pointedly at Jake. “Shana specifically said to keep him here in the waiting room until the woman woke.”

  Paul’s heart kicked into overdrive once again. “What woman? What the hell is going on?” He knew he was yelling but couldn’t have prevented it even if he tried.

  Everyone in the room froze until Jake finally spoke. “I know you’re probably upset-“

  Paul didn’t allow him to complete his sentence, “Upset? You have no idea. I feel like I was hit by a truck twice tonight, and then I call for help to find people fighting, and still no one has told me what the fuck is going on.” After his speech his ribs ached and he felt like he’d run a mile. He was panting and covered in sweat holding his ribs which protested every breath he took.

  Jake had a gr
im look. “Shit, are you hurt Paul?” He turned to Blake. “What happened?”

  Blake had a deer in the headlights look and responded simply, “Paul is hurt but no one touched him, to my knowledge.”

  Jake looked at Paul who bore resemblance to Bailey in the wound department. “You shared your magic with her didn’t you? God dammit!”

  Paul was stunned at his Alpha’s outburst. Was sharing magic forbidden? He had no clue. It was rare to have a shifter mate with another shifter. Mostly their mates were human. Paul lowered his head in shame, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know harm would come to her.”

  Jake cursed again before saying, “No, you misunderstand. You shared your magic, so you feel her pain as if it is your own because she carries a piece of you. Until the magic wears off at least.”

  Paul winced and clutched his ribs once again before considering his Alpha again. “I need to see her, make sure she is okay. She needs more medication for the pain.”

  Jake scrutinized Justin again before responding. “What say you? Your brother requests to see his mate, will you stand in the way?”

  Justin’s eyes became wide before he regarded the pained expression his bother wore. “Come brother, I’ll show you to her.”

  Paul, Blake and Jake followed Justin as he walked through the halls of the emergency room. They rounded a corner and Justin turned to Paul, “I wish you the best.” Paul pulled the curtain wide and went to his knees.

  Bailey was laying naked on the narrow gurney with blood dripping from a wound to her left flank; it appeared to be four long gashes. She was pale and her eyelids were tightly closed as if in pain. Paul couldn’t help the growl that bubbled from his chest. “Look away, dammit!”