Page 38 of His to Hunt

I feel like I have more questions than answers. My family was never cursed. Not really. We were fate-blocked because we’re descended from druids.

I’m not sure if that makes things better or worse.

CHAPTER 12

Victor

My mate is a druid. Descended from one, at least.

The trip to the café has eased some of my concern. Breaking a fate-block could attract attention, but it shouldn’t create any serious danger for my mate. I can handle a Witch Hunter. With Silver Pack patrolling the streets, I probably won’t even have to. They’ll deal with the problem before I even know there is one.

Now that we’ve met with Saul and Ingrid, we’re back in the SUV, and I can tell Taryn is nowhere near as relaxed as I am.

“What’s troubling you, mate?” I ask, looking at her. “I’m sure that was a lot to swallow over lunch.”

“That’s an understatement,” she breathes out. “It feels like all the history classes from school left out the really important parts.”

“Important? Sure. But it’s shit that happened a long time ago. Shifters are better at preserving history than humans, but sometimes it’s hard to separate facts from myths and legends that originated thousands of years ago. Same with human history.”

“Do you believe what we heard? That Gilgamesh killed Mother Nature?” she asks.

“I usually believe what I can see, but according to our history, the world has been unbalanced since Ishtar was slain,” I explain. “It’s why Mother Fate forgets some of us; She’s doing Mother Nature’s job, too.”

“Except she didn’t forget about you. I was… fate-blocked,” she is speaking quietly, and I can tell that she is disturbed by all the information that got dumped on her in the last 24 hours. “I’m still not sure I understand what that means either.”

“Fate-blocks used to be common, according to our history,” I say, remembering a few things from my own lessons. “Some druids had higher callings that required them to make sacrifices. A fate-block ensured they would never be tempted by a mating bond. Later, some royal families had their children fate-blocked, so that they could arrange political marriages.”

“So, when someone is fate-blocked, what happens to their mate?” she asks.

“We’ve always believed Mother Fate would find a different mate for them, but maybe we’re wrong. Maybe that’s why so many wolves live lonely lives with no mate. Maybe they really are forgotten.”

Taryn goes quiet, her fingers twisting in her lap. I can almost see the thought forming in her head. Not just that she had been denied a mate, but that other woman before her might have been denied one too.

“That’s horrible,” she says softly.

“It is,” I agree. “Even if it was done to protect them.”

“Do you think there could be other fate-blocks?” she looks over at me.

“I wouldn’t rule it out. If they were as common as our history suggests and they persisted for generations, then there could be a lot more druidic magic in the world than anyone realized,” I say. “But none of that really matters. What matters is that your fate-block is broken, and we’ve found each other.”

She nods but looks pensive. “Where are we going now?” she asks.

“First, we’re going shopping. You need new clothes,” I grumble, glancing over at her. “Then we’ll find somewhere to stay that doesn’t have mold growing on the walls.”

I can tell by the shift in her demeanor that it makes her uncomfortable. She’s not used to having someone to look out for her, someone who cares enough to make sure she has clothes to wear and a decent place to sleep. But this isn’t just the mating bond. It’s common decency, for fuck’s sake. Even that seems to be foreign to my mate. I’m really starting to hate certain people.

I park the SUV in front of a row of boutiques and turn to her.

“Look, I know this is happening fast. I know I’m coming off as overbearing. You’ll just have to get used to that with me, Taryn. I can’t change what I am,” I try to make my voice sound calm and reassuring but inside, I’m pissed off at every person who made my mate feel less than. “Normally, during this part of a mating bond, we’d still be getting to know each other. Maybe even dating. Just think of it like that.”

“A shopping date?” she asks, glancing at me.

“Exactly,” I say, nodding in agreement.

“I’m just… I guess I’m having trouble wrapping my head around it,” she sighs. “I feel the pull. I know you’re my mate. My body certainly does. But mentally… mentally, I’m just not there yet. You said you can’t change what you are, but I can’t either. You thought Mother Fate forgot about you; I’ve felt like the entire universe forgot about me.”

Her words strike something raw in me. I know exactly what that feels like. Years of waiting. Years of watching other wolves find what I was certain would never be mine. But at least I had Silver Pack. Taryn had a basement, a diner, and people who taught her to thank them for scraps while ignoring basic human decency.