Listening to his mate’s slowing heartbeat, he continued to caress him, calming his anxiety. Finally hearing David sigh as his body relaxed, Zane began giving his mate soft kisses, along the tattoo that ran from his neck to his forehead. Pausing there, Zane asked, “Babe, who designed your tattoo? I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“I don’t know. I think I was born with it and, according to the High Priestess, that’s how she knew who I was.”
“Amazing!” Zane exclaimed, running his finger over its ornate design. “I’ve seen some birth marks, but never one like this. What did your mother say?”
“Nothing. I never asked her. I just assumed the High Priestess was right because my mother never said anything. I didn’t see the marks until I ran away. When I saw myself in a shop window for the very first time, I freaked out. I was so afraid someone would see me and return me to the High Priestess. I saw a man wearing a shirt with a hood on it…”
“You mean a hoodie?”
“Yes, but I didn’t know what it was called then…just that it would allow me to hide most of my marks. I asked him where I could buy one and he told me about this funny little shop which had them in all different colors. Did you know they even came with words on them? I didn’t buy any of those; instead I got two black ones and used them until the High Priestess found me in Scotland and then it didn’t matter anymore.”
“Babe, you called yourself a myth, why?”
“Because the High Priestess read me a story about a boy in a book of myths and said he was me, but it couldn’t be me, I thought, because everything the boy did was evil and hurt people. I was a High Priest. My purpose was to save people so I couldn’t understand why shethought I was the boy in the myth. I never would steal anything, Zane, never!”
Kissing his mate again, Zane said, “Babe, I know. Remember when I told you my wolf knew there wasn’t any evil in you?”
“Yes…”
“Whenever there’s a situation where I’m confused or puzzled about the intentions of someone, I turn to my wolf for advice. See, unlike the human part of me, my wolf can see the truth through someone’s lies or misleading behavior, no matter how they try to hide it. When we met, my wolf immediately wanted to claim you because he knew you were filled with goodness and light. That’s why I said nothing you’d ever tell me would change my mind.”
Shaking his head, David said, “After I arrived in Scotland, I thought I was free, but then one night, after the pub had closed, the High Priestess visited me in my room at Morgan’s. It was then I found out I hadn’t escaped her plan to use me to steal stuff. At first, I refused to do what she wanted because it was wrong…and I told her so. She just laughed and pulled out a picture of my mother, chained up in my room and asked me if ‘no’ was still my answer, because if it was, she’d order my mother killed.”
David bowed his head, remembering the welts on his mother’s arms and his capitulation to the demands of the High Priestess. Looking up at Zane, his lashes wet with tears, David whispered, “I told her I’d do anything she asked, as long as she didn’t hurt my mother. Your wolf is wrong. I’m not filled with goodness and light. I'm evil…just as the book claimed.”
Zane looked at his mate’s body curled in on itself, conveying the sorrow and hopelessness he felt as he confessed his sins and Zane knew this was a test the Fates were giving him to prove his worthiness to be David’s Fated Mate. “Babe,” Zane said, lifting his mate’s face so he could see it, “I do understand why you think that, but my wolf and I have to disagree because your reaction shows how much good is in you.
“Sacrificing yourself to save another is rare in this world and you didn’t hesitate, even though you knew if you did what the High Priestess demanded, it would take a piece of your soul. Your agreement to do her bidding assured your mother’s safety and bought you some time to figure out how to save her without stealing.That’s not evilness; it proves your goodness. You are worthy to be a High Priest, David, and I’m so proud you’re my mate.”
David’s eyes searched Zane’s face, finding only love staring back at him. “Are you sure?” he whispered.
“Very sure,tesoro mio, very sure!” Zane hugged his mate tightly, wanting to replace all of David’s bad memories with beautiful ones. “Can you relax now?”
Nodding, David tucked his head under his mate’s arm, resting it on Zane’s chest and, listening to the rhythm of his mate’s heart, fell asleep.
~/~/~/~/~
Back in his cottage, Angus was thinking about what he saw and knew his King needed to know. He was pretty sure neither Zane nor David were a threat to the pack but still, he couldn’t take a chance. First, though, he needed to find out more information and there was only one person who could supply it.
Checking the hour and chuckling at the reception he was going to get, Angus called and waited.
“Ay?” Brian’s voice rasped, heavy with sleep.
“Sorry to wake ye, but I want tae ask you about two visitors who arrived tonight…Zane and David. Ye know them?”
“Ay, why are they there? They were at mah cottage and their brother was comin’ to git them.”
“I don’t know aboot that, but they told me there were some men chasing David and asked for shelter. I put them up in yer place here.”
“Guid, all that matters is they’re safe.”
“Ay, but that’s not what I’m callin’ about. When I was makin’ mae rounds, I was knocked on mae arse with a wave of power coming from the cottage they were in. I peeked in and found ‘em surrounded by light with lightnin’ shooting all aboot the room. Brian, the power comin’ from them was…well, I ne’er seen anythin’ the likes o’ that before. Are we safe?”
Captain Brian smiled to himself. David and Zane had claimed each other. “Ay, for sure, ye’r safe.”
“I’m goin’ tae call the King, tellin’ him they’re here,”
“Guid idea. The Blackwood Pack is looking for them.”
