Jasper chuckled. “I spied chocolate cake in the refrigerator.”
Jin’s eyes widened. “Well, what are we waiting for? It’s going to be dark soon, so we better hurry.”
We couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. Derrick is her fated mate. Stop pouting,Freja mindlinked to Hunter.
I guess deep down I hoped she would reject the treaty and just stay with us … now she’s going to move away.
Yes, but she’ll have a piece of the black pearl. We can visit her anytime. Just think how your parents felt having to be apart from both of their children. At least we know Aedan is never leaving the nest.Freja smiled at Hunter, who returned it with a nod.
Hunter wrapped his arm around Freja and pulled her into his side. “Alright, let’s go.”
Lucie went to take a step but was immediately hoisted into the air. Derrick smiled down at her as he held her bridal style. “I don’t think so. You used your legs way more than you should have, and I can smell your reopened wounds.”
“I’m a werewolf, not a glass doll.” Lucie frowned, even as she leaned into his chest.
“You have to pick your battles, Lucie. If we lose, it’s because we lose on purpose.” Freja winked at her daughter.
Lucie felt a sharp pain jolt up her leg. She remained motionless and kept it hidden from her face, yet Derrick stopped walking anyway, frowning as he looked down at her in confusion.
“Lucie, what hurts?” Derrick’s voice was laced with concern. Freja and Hunter were instantly standing in front of them both.
“I’m fine,” Lucie said quietly.
Derrick set his jaw. “Don’t lie to me. Lucie. I felt it.”
“You felt it?” Hunter asked. He flicked a glance at Freja before returning his gaze to Derrick.
“Yes, I can feel Lucie. It’s hard to explain, but it’s been getting stronger. Her thoughts, her feelings … her dreams.” He looked down at Lucie, his eyes flashing in amusement for only a brief moment. “And throughout the day, this connection has been getting stronger.”
“You haven’t marked her yet,” Freja said, her eyes widening.
“Even with my parents, that connection didn’t start until after they marked each other.” Hunter looked at the couple in front of him. “You two are soulmates … but from the sounds of it, it’s a connection like none we have ever witnessed.”
“What hurt?” Freja narrowed her eyes at her daughter. Hearing Derrick’s explanation, she now knew her daughter was hiding her pain.
“Mom, I’m fine.” Lucie sighed as she saw the anger building in her mother’s eyes. Her mother was more relaxed about things, but if she asked for an answer, she expected one. “I pushed off my leg when I was running. I jumped off a boulder and I think I tore it worse. Normally, that wouldn’t be a problem, but?—”
“With the vervain still in your system, it is.” Freja sighed.
Derrick’s eyes were dark, his jaw was set, and he trembled slightly.
Lucie tried to calm Derrick down. “It’s just a tear. I’m okay.”
Hunter slapped Derrick on the back. “Get used to it. She is her mother’s daughter, and she’s going to keep you on your toes. Remember this day. You asked for her, no takebacks.” Hunter winked at Derrick, and Jasper and Chasen chuckled behind him.
Hunter understood exactly how he was feeling. As a new mate, your senses are heightened, and you become extremely protective. It must be even worse for soulmates.
Derrick smiled at Hunter and curled Lucie deeper into his chest. “I can’t handle her being in pain.”
Lucie felt her heart clench as the butterflies fluttered in her chest. She could see the pain in his eyes because of her. “It’s not that bad. Honestly.”
“If these feelings are this strong now, they will only be worse after the marking.” Freja looked at Lucie and frowned. Her daughter wasn’t getting a possessive, protective alpha … she was getting a possessive, protective vampire prince. She was going to have a lot of fights in the future about having some independence. She’d raised her to have a mind and will of her own and trusted she would make it through the fights ahead.
“I’m worried about marking her with the vervain in her system,” Derrick said quietly.
“You can’t mark her until the ceremony anyway,” Jasper said.
“I don’t care about the ceremony. I’ll be more connected to her once she bears my mark. It’s safer that way.”
