by LeeSha McCoy
I give Clarence a quick look. “Exactly…”
‘Baby…’
Dad shrugs. “I'm sure everything is fine. Ariella actually came to see me a few days ago. I know I've said this many times, but your daughter really is incredible.”
My heart immediately swells. “Isn't she?”
He smiles wistfully. “She brought me my favourite stew that your mother used to cook for me.”
“That's Ella,” Clarence says proudly.
It feels good to know that dad had someone to comfort him when he needed it. At first, it used to upset me when I found out Ariella knew things before we did, especially the important stuff, but it’s something both Clarence and I have come to terms with now.
Having a daughter as an elder isn’t easy, but deep down, we know without question that, just like Aura, she has our best interests at heart. Admittedly, when she first revealed herself as elder to us, I worried like crazy, but I needn't have. She's taken everything in her stride, grown in ways I never imagined she would, and I haven't met a single soul that doesn't worship the ground she walks on.
And they should. The things she can do are nothing short of miraculous. And she’s so thoughtful. She even moved her sister’s memory garden from our home in Canada for us, which meant the world to me.
But even though she can’t come to any harm, it doesn’t make me any less concerned for her. Her role is risky, especially because of how often she has to travel to the kratius. That’s still something I can’t say I’m happy with, but the doubts have lessened slightly since Aura showed me things that Ariya failed to mention when I met her.
I had no idea that Vallessa’s mother stood with us in the fight against vampires, or that she killed Luaruss. There were so many things that Aura enlightened me to, which I can’t say didn’t make me feel a little guilty for the way I treated Vallessa when we met.
I think about that day often.
It’s just that, even though vampires didn’t hunt me personally, they still hunted wares, and my loyalty is always to my kind. It has to be, because of who I am. I felt strongly about my role even before I knew I’d be alpha over our kind, and now I’ve been in it for over forty years, I feel even more strongly about it.
“She’s an asset to you both,” Dad says.
“She really is. We're so proud of her.”
‘So fucking proud,’ I hear Clarence.
‘I know, Mom,’ she says, popping into my thoughts. ‘Enjoy your time with Grandad. Everyone else will be arriving early tomorrow, alright?’
‘I will, sweetheart.’
Ten
Amarey
DJ, Rome, Dre, and me, all head back to my place to shower up after football practice at hold three. It’s something we set up a few years back at all the holds, and it’s been a huge success. It gives the wares that permanently live at them a chance to socialise with each other, too.
Wares that choose to live in the holds are all there for all kindsa reasons; because they don’t trust themselves to live amongst humans, because they feel safer around their own kind, or because they like the protection of my mum and dad close, are just a few.
The majority were changed against their will during the two major wars between our kind that took place twenty and forty years ago, so they never willingly chose to be one of us. It left a lot of them separated from their families and unsure as to their place in the world as a result. Shit is sad.
That’s where those vampires are lucky, ‘cause they get to live free in their world.
But as difficult as some wares might find their newer lives, my parents make sure they’re safe and taken care of, so at least they have that security, and they know my parents would go to war again before they let anything happen to them. That’s straight facts.
Ella moved a lot of them over here when they switched to running this continent—at their request—and most have had mum’s blood, too, so they’re loyal as fuck to us James’.
And loyalty is a massive thing for all wares.
“Whatever Harmony’s doin’ to you is giving you a huge advantage on the pitch,” DJ says from the back seat. “Shit ain’t fair.”
I give him a look through the rear view. “No one’s stopping you but you, bruv. Ask her to teach you.”
“Yeah…”
“Mah’s right, Dee.” Rome says. “If you want your own pack one day, you gotta put in that work. And Harm’s the best.”
“I know…”
We’ve all done some kind of self-defence. That shit is instilled in us from a young age as an unnegotiable skill we have to have, but DJ also spends a lot of time helping his dad run charities that the money from his alcohol brand makes, and helping his mum with the free schools she runs. I know his heart is in running his own continent one day, though, and teaching, so he really does need to level himself up.
Least he puts his all into college, though.
Maybe him meeting Tinashe tomorrow will help him get his shit together, ‘cause if there’s one motivation most male wares need to get on their shit, it’s their mate. He’ll wanna protect her the moment they meet, so he’ll be begging to link up with me and Harmony on her bootcamp.
“Mah?”
I take a quick look at Rome beside me. “Yeah?”
“I asked if you were ready for your birthday bash tomorrow.”
“Yeah, I am actually. I’m gassed to see the family, too. It’s been a while.”
“Right. I’m looking forward to beating some muthafuckas at the arm wrestle, too.”
Dre scoffs. “Well, we all know who you won’t be beating.”
None of us original James’, cause we don’t compete anymore. Mum didn’t think it was fair…
“Whatever.”
I smirk as I park the car outside mine. “Leave him alone, bruv. He might cry.”
“Fuck you. If you were spawned from another womb, I’d take you both, easy.”
“Unlucky for you, we weren’t.”
“Yeah, yeah…”
My brothers follow me into the house and then each grab a bathroom to clean up. My place never used to be this big, but Ells tapped into my thoughts to see what kinda house I’d really like, and I woke up one day to find it like this.
Two storeys, painted white, with six bedrooms that are all en suite, floor to ceiling windows in most rooms, modern as hell, and with a massive pool out back that has an incredible view of around three miles. The sunset is out of this world, too.
I live in the woods, about thirty miles from mum and dad, and with no neighbours for at least ten. All the land between here and the next town is mine, too, including a massive lake of my own with a waterfall, so I get all the peace and quiet I want. It’s also ideal for hunting, although I haven’t personally done that yet. First hunts for newly changed wares in my family are mum’s honour.
She’s the best because her sense range is so long.
After I change into some sweats, I go down to the kitchen to make a start on something to eat. Rome appears first, dressed in light grey jeans and a tee, then DJ in a black Armani tracksuit, and finally my brother appears in dark jeans and a polo sweater that matches the colour of his gold eyes.
“What took you so long? Online girlfriend got you tied up, huh?”
DJ smirks, which, as I suspected, which tells me he knows what’s up, but Rome immediately looks up from the chicken he’s washing in the sink.
“You got a girlfriend, Dre?”
“No, I fucking ain’t. Marey’s just got mates on the brain now he’s changed. You know what they say about that feening shit.” He looks at DJ. “I know someone who thinks they might know theirs, though.”
DJ remains unbothered by that insinuation, but not much phases him to be fair. “And? So what? No one wants to be waiting around two hundred years for their mate like Uncle Clarence. Fuck that.”
“For real,” Rome mutters. “So, who is she?”
“I reckon it’s Von’s sister. The one that never comes to any of th
e family parties? Y’know, the long lost one.”
Rome frowns. “Really? Why you think that?”
“‘Cause I saw a picture of her when I was with him the other day. He flicked off his screen pretty quick, but not quick enough for me not to clock her and ask who it was. Apparently, she’s coming to your party, bruv.”
“Yeah, I heard that, too. So what you sayin’? How’d she look?”
“Not much like Von, and she had this smile and these eyes like…” He looks back down at the knife to pick it back up. “I definitely wanna meet her.”
We all laugh at that, and I give Dre a look.
Well, that’s one of my brother’s mated, I wonder who’s gonna be next.
Probably Dre.
***
The boys, and the rest of the chicken is gone by the time I get up the next morning, but Ells jumps into my thoughts to let me know she’s taken them all home. She wanted to make sure DJ got his line up and fade on point, too, so he’s at his best to meet his mate.
My sister is the muthafuckin’ best.
I pick out my outfit for today before getting ready myself, and just as I pull the white sweater over my head to match the jeans from Von’s clothing line, Davonyé arrives and fits a new pair of crepes on my feet to complete the look.
These jeans are a little tight around my legs, but man's looking fresh, no lie. I’mma bling it out a little with an Omega and a gold chain my rents gave me for my birthday.
Now I’m done.
“You good?” Von asks when I turn to dap him. He’s rocking jeans and a jacket from his line, too. All his sets are fire.
“Yeah. Thanks for these,” I say, looking down. “These new?”
He nods. “They launch next week. Nice, right?”
“For real.” They’re like a cross between Jordans and Yeezys. Sick as fuck. “You come to collect me?”
“Yeah. Everyone's at your rents. Ari just had to see to something real quick, but she's almost done.”
“Aight, well, I'm good to go whenever.” I pull on the legs of my jeans a little to try stretch them, but then they’re adjusted. Von. “Respect for that.”
He smacks my arm. “I didn’t allow for the extra room you’d need after your change. Big muthafucka.” He laughs. “Come, let's grab a drink real quick. It will give your sis time to reach.”
“Cool.” I follow him down to the kitchen, then after he magics us both one of Quis’ drinks, he jumps up to sit on the side. “So, how are things going?”
“If you mean the change thing, I'm good.”
He nods, once, over his glass. “Just good, yeah?”
“Yeah, well, I got Harmony kicking my ass daily, but apart from that.”
He laughs. “She's always been a savage, and not just with her words either. Y’know she's just looking out, though, right?”
“I know. I get me being who I am has a lot to do with that. I'm grateful, trust me.”
“Right. As son to the alpha's, and a future alpha yourself, it's all our responsibility to make sure you've got all the skills you need in order to protect yourself. Having an elder for a sister is all good, but as you know, sometimes, she has other shit to deal with that she can't always delay, y’know?”
“Yeah…” I remember one time when Rome was hurt pretty bad as a kid when he got hit by a car coming home from school. Ells still made it after a minute or so, but she still felt bad for taking so long to come heal him.
It wasn’t her fault, though.
“And… how's everything else?”
I shake my head. “Just spit it out, bruh. You’re clearly hinting at something.”
He chuckles. “My bad. I really mean, how's the sex?”
“That's alright, too. Why?”
“I dunno, bro. I mean, ain't you even a little bit curious?”
“About my mate?”
“Yeah.”
“Maybe a little, but to be honest, I don't think I'm in the right country to meet her, ‘cause even though I see nuff pretty ass girls, none have really sparked me into wanting to get to know them more.” I know Ells wouldn't’ve told him about my thoughts, so I don’t go too deep.
At least I hope she ain’t...
“You askin’ ‘cause I haven't asked Ells?”
“Nah, not really. It's more ‘cause we’re brothers and as a ware myself, I know how important that shit is.”
“Yeah, I guess that's true, but I know she ain't gonna tell me anything, so what's the point in asking? I'm good to go with the flow anyway, especially if my journey to mate is gonna be anything like yours or my rents. Fuck all that.” I know the story behind him and my sister getting it together, and that shit sounded rough.
“Yeah…” He seems miles away now. “I guess.”
I ain't gonna lie, his reaction makes me hella curious. The fuck he looking like that for?
Unless he knows that mine is worse…
Shit, maybe I should ask...
I decide to ask about his sister instead, to take my mind off it. “How’s Tiny feeling about meeting Dee?” I’ve met her a few times, and she’s cool as fuck. Dee’s gonna love her.
“Nervous as fuck. She’s not even there yet, so don’t take it personal, bro. She needs a minute to get her shit together.”
“Nah, I ain’t feel no way. I can understand how big it must be for her, waiting all these years, y’know?”
“Right.” He jumps off the side. “Anyway, Ari's ready, so let's move.”
“Cool…”
Von ports us to my parents’ yard, and everyone immediately starts singing happy birthday. Nuff people are here, my rents, aunts, uncles, my grandparents on both sides, my cousins, brother, mum’s seven, Jaheim’s blood sister and grandma, Von's sister, Clarissa, and his mum. Still no sign of Tinashe, though.
‘She's coming,’ my sister says. ‘She's still having her moment…’
‘Shit, well, I can't blame her. Like I just told Von, it must be a lot, especially cause she's known about him for decades now. All that build up.’
‘Exactly. I'm giving her a few more minutes before I go get her. Shit is bait…’
‘Believe.’ I wonder how DJ’s gonna feel when he finds out we all knew about her.
‘He won't care.’
The singing stops, and then I'm swamped by my family as they come to hug me up. Grandad Victorio is the last to approach me, and I notice Junia ain't with him.
He sees my look. “She found her mate.”
Oh, damn… I wasn’t expecting him to say that, and the rest of the family, bar mum and dad, pretty much react the same.
“Don't pity, me,” he says abruptly, holding up his hand. “Today isn't a day to be sad. My eldest grandson is a full-grown man, and that should be celebrated to the fullest. Let me get you a drink.”
He disappears to make it, and so does Ells, so I look at DJ, eager to see his reaction when his mate shows up.
Let's see how he handles this shit now, with his smart ass...
Eleven
Tinashe
Ariella appears in my rental car’s passenger seat. She’s dressed in a baby blue bandage dress and looks incredible with her hair up in a ponytail. It really brings out the blue spark in her eyes. “You ready now?”
Am I ready? “No.” I'm nervous as hell. It doesn’t matter if that’s my mate, or that I know he’ll love me almost instantly. I’m still scared shitless.
“So is he, so find comfort in that.”
“Ha. Yeah…” There’s no comfort in that at all.
It's been so hard staying away from him, knowing he's been so close but untouchable. I almost came to his eighteenth birthday party, but I knew waiting two years with him being human would be a lot worse than six months. Besides, I might’ve done something worse.
Confess my dying love to him.
I was a wreck enough when I met Marron, and he wasn't actually my mate, so God knows how I'm gonna be around Dee Junior.
“You'll be fine. You should be excited. DJ’s
amazing.”
After everything I've heard about him, I know he is, but still...
“It's not like you have to meet the in-laws either. All our families love each other. You really need to relax.”
I turn to face her. “What do you think I've been trying to do here?”
She laughs. “Make the situation worse. He's already curious about you, and the fact your late now is only making his curiosity peak further.”
I close my eyes and sigh. “I know…” Von text to say he’d seen the picture I sent him last week and that he’d asked about me. I’m sure he’s put two and two together by now…
“Cecile's getting antsy, too. You know how long she's waited for this…”
“Yeah…” I remember when Ella introduced me to her and Dee as their son’s mate, a few months after his first birthday. I didn't see Dee Junior, but even then, I could smell his scent…
Eighteen years ago…
“Uncle Dee, Aunt Cecile, I'd like to properly introduce you to Tinashe. Davonyé’s sister.” She’s been so excited to tell them, because Dee and Cecile are her favourite aunt and uncle.
Dee frowns. “We know who she is, baby girl.”
“I know.” She smiles. “But you don't know who she really, really is—at least not to your family.”
Cecile clocks it straight away and darts her eyes my way. “Is she...?”
Ella nods. “Yep.”
Cecile squeals before running to throw her arms around me. “Welcome to the family, again!”
She cries into my shoulder and tells me how excited she is to know her son's mate is already known. Abriya and the rest of the women in the James family have always expressed how much of a big deal it is for a mother to know her child's mate.
“Well shit... I wasn't expecting that,” Dee says, turning to Ella. “Is that why you let Marron die?”
I wince as Cecile releases me.
“He had to die,” Ariella says, “because he would've done this...”
Dee gasps, and I know she's shown him what she showed me a few days after his death.
It still makes my stomach turn.