Page 7 of Hidden Nature

“Don’t you think that is something you should have explained to me earlier? You already can read my emotions and possibly my mind if I was more open to you. My life is in your hands, and I can’t be apart from you or my other mates for more than a day. What else do I need to know about being mated as an elf?” I demanded, feeling my irritation turning into anger the more I thought about his words.

Rathal studied me like I was a puzzle he couldn’t figure out. “What have they done to you to make you so distrusting and fearful of any kind of connection? Both elves and werewolves thrive and seek out community, but you run the other way at the thought of it.”

“Since I was five years old, I’ve been trained to be an assassin, someone who lives and works in the shadows. My purpose is to be the best soldier I can be, accomplishing my mission with none the wiser, leaving death in my wake. I’m extremely good at my job, that is until I failed the last one and got bit by an omega, changing my life forever. I’ve had a week to adjust to being a werewolf, finding out I’ve never been human, and now having mates on top of everything else. So yeah, I’m not used to relying on others or trusting people when I know every corner of the darkness our world holds,” I answered, my anger bubbling over as I spoke. All at once, it was as if my magic was building, seeking some kind of release. The vibration running under my skin made me feel as though I might burst.

Rathal stepped up to me, resting his hands on my shoulders before bending his head, so our foreheads touched. “I’m so sorry, nin mel. This is not the life I would have chosen for you, but it’s the life you’ve lived. While I have to accept that and learn how to best support you as my mate, it will take me time to do that well. I’m sure I will make more mistakes along the way. All I ask is that you have patience with me as I learn. You are my whole world now, so whatever you need from me, I will strive to give you.”

Hearing the truth and feeling behind his words allowed me to calm my anger enough that my magic settled to a low simmer. There had been so much changing in my life and I didn’t think I could handle another thing at this point. When he pulled me into a hug, I let my ear rest over his heart and listened to it as it beat in time with my own, showing me another sign we were bound together.

“I need you to treat me like I don’t know anything, that I’m human and never even knew there were elves in the world. Hell, even what I thought I knew about werewolves was all wrong. It goes against my training and nature to be going about this blind, so I’m trying as hard as I can to catch up, but more issues keep coming that I have to deal with first. What I need most is truth, honesty, and information about everything to do with elves,” I murmured into his chest.

“I can do that,” he answered, squeezing me tight as he pressed a kiss to my temple. “Finish putting that weird bodysuit on and I will change it into something more fitting to be out in public.”

Doing as he requested, I watched as he ran a hand over his own shirt, and it transformed into a forest green T-shirt that fit snugly across his chest, showing off his muscles while his tan linen pants changed into jeans.

“Elves can manipulate natural fibers into anything they need, such as clothing,” Rathal explained as he reached out to my wetsuit. “Now, there isn’t much natural about this, but this kind of manipulation is what I am strongest with. Do you have any requests?”

“Ah, a shirt and jeans like you would be best, I think. Maybe boots instead of these water shoes?” I answered in more of a question, unsure how much he could do.

He smiled before closing his eyes, appearing to be concentrating on what he was doing, and soon, I had on a black pair of jeans and a simple T-shirt with black combat boots. Stepping back, he looked at his work before giving it a nod. “I couldn’t do anything with the color since there was no other pigment to pull from, but something tells me you are comfortable in black.”

“Your assumption would be correct. Zander, one of my other mates, got me a whole new wardrobe, and he didn’t include much black, so I’m learning to embrace more colors,” I shared with a smile. “Fashion is far more important to him, but I suppose that comes with being a rock star.”

Rathal’s brows shot up. “Wait, the famous werewolf singer… that Zander is your mate?”

“The one and only. He lives on the edge of pack lands my other two mates, Colt and Lane, own in Knoxville, Tennessee. The other three are betas, Mason and Noah are twins, and then there’s Elias rounding out the group.”

“You only have marks from your alphas, though, correct? I didn’t see any others while you were sleeping,” Rathal stated.

“Yes, the other three are tied more to my elf nature, so we assumed that wouldn’t happen until I came into my power,” I explained as I headed for the door. “We should head out. The sooner I can find a phone to call from, the better. It will take them a few hours to fly here, at which point I can get my hands on some of my funds to get us a decent meal.”

Rathal followed after me without comment as he took in our surroundings as if he was expecting something to come jumping out at him. Without hesitation, I took his hand and interlaced our fingers, needing to soothe my mate’s emotions as I felt them hidden just under the surface. Once I had contact with him, I was slapped with his protectiveness over me and his admiration for how attractive I was to him. The emotions were so intense I gasped and came to a stop trying to figure out how to turn off his feelings at this moment.

“Nin mel, what’s wrong?” he questioned, reaching out to touch me with his other hand, but I held a hand up to stop him when he wouldn’t let go of my other hand.

“I need you to put up a shield or something to tone down your emotions if you’re going to touch me. My omega side is a strong empath and touching you makes it like a direct line to your feelings, and they are oppressive at this moment,” I explained. Seconds later, they were gone as if they’d never existed at all. I took a deep breath, finally feeling like I could hear my own thoughts. “Thank you. Normally I can handle it, but it was almost as if they were screaming at me.”

Rathal took my hand and kissed the back of it. “I apologize. That is my fault. Your mental barrier is so strong that I didn’t bother to shield it from you in the hope it would help me read you better. I should have known that contact would create a link and been prepared.”

“Does it bother you that you can’t hear my thoughts or feel my emotions well?” I inquired, curious. Being able to feel people’s emotions all the time, I couldn’t imagine adding in their thoughts as well.

“If you were anyone else, it wouldn’t be an issue, but since you are my mate, and it’s such an intimate part of being bonded together, I feel a little lost,” he answered honestly. “We have been taught at such a young age the wonders of finding your mate and the bond we have with them, mind, body, and soul, that we long for those moments. I acknowledge that our bond is different between us, not having gone through the courting process or building a relationship like most would. Our bonding was instinctive and rushed, so now I must adjust, which I will gladly do for you. You’ll just need to give me a little time to do so.”

Not really having much I could say to all that, I decided maybe words weren’t the right move. Pulling my hand out of Rathal’s hold, I instead wrapped them around his waist and hugged him tightly, willing my mind to share with him how much that meant to me. His arms curled around my shoulders, holding me to him as he pressed a kiss to my head.

My wolf started to purr at the physical contact, and happy emotions flowed through us, making my chest vibrate and Rathal chuckle. “I envy your ability to purr. It shows the others exactly how you’re feeling. Come. We have much to do this morning, and if I were in my gwanur’s position, I would be out of my mind with worry.”

“Gwanur?” I asked as we started back down the street.

“It means brother, but not the same as a sibling by blood but by sharing a mate.”

“Seems I’m going to need to learn another language to truly understand you,” I teased, grinning up at him.

Rathal flashed me a smile. “I have a feeling you’ll pick it up in no time. It is your native tongue. I feel like your mother would have spoken it to you growing up.”

“Sadly, I don’t remember anything much before Miranda and the Organization took me in. My life changed so much going right into training. I didn’t have time to realize what I’d lost since the others were the same as me,” I shared.

The conversation fell off and we continued in a comfortable silence until we reached the nicer part of downtown Miami. I entered a small bookstore that sold rare and antique books heading right for the desk where I rang the small bell on the counter.