Page 63 of Called By Fate

Elian grips my face, forcing me to look at him and it startles me.Shit, when did he get so close?“He said anything, Pet, and he meant it. We all do.”

I breathe in his leathery scent that’s mixing with mine, needing it to ground me as I think about if my mates were captured or in trouble and I had the opportunity to get them back. Would I be able to put everyone else above my mates?

I’d like to think yes but… would I?

Fuck.

What does that make me?

Elian lets go of my face and steps back, but not too far. "What happened to the Alpha and his mate?" I ask, returning the focus to the story and off that dangerous line of thought.

“The Alpha plotted to kill the Elders, but his attempt backfired. The magic binding him to their servitude killed him and his mate for conspiring against it. It was already too late, anyway. The packs were separated, and they were bound to the bastards in blood and magic, and the following generations after that. You can see where it has gone since then. No one is really sure how the magic works, but it’s effective.”

All I feel is rage and sadness at the previous Elders’ actions and ours for perpetuating it and using their tyranny to make it even worse when they could’ve done something about it. "Thanks for adding yet another reason to my list of reasons why they have to die," I grit out.

"Death is too easy for them," Elian responds, venom threading every syllable, and he's right, but what do we do?

That answer is still a mystery to me.

“Enough of that for now,” Kaos says, changing the subject. “Besides Reed, the rest of us aren't going anywhere today, Little Flame. We can go train with the others if you want? Oliver said some of them really need the help.”

I nod, bottling up that anger and saving it for when I can actually use it. Because that day will come, and if the churning in my gut is any indication… it’ll be sooner rather than later. I just hope we’re ready for it.

26

After the couch is moved out of the way, I plop down between Sadie and Kaos, completing the mini circle we’ve got going on in the living room. Reed is on Kaos’ other side, while Elian is across from us and next to Vin.

“All right, who wants to go first?” Sadie asks, looking at Elian who has a scowl on his face. Sometimes I wonder if he even knows he’s doing it or if his face is permanently fixed that way from the years of frowning. I’ve always heard it causes wrinkles too, and he’s one grumpy bastard.

“Careful, Elian. You keep scowling like that and your face is going to get stuck. Or all wrinkly,” I quip.

He stares back at me totally unimpressed, but there is a slight curvature to his lips as he glances at Sadie.

Man, I wish I knew what’s going through his mind at times like this.

Suddenly, the mental image of him slamming into Sadie against a desk, her bare breasts bouncing from the force of their coupling, her eyes on his, and sweat slicking her skin invades my mind and shoots straight to my dick, who rises to say hello.

“No wonder he’s pissed the majority of the time. He’s probably sporting a massive hard-on ninety-nine percent of the time!” I shout, instinctively knowing I’m somehow borrowing Reed’s ability to read his mind. There are other thoughts and flashes. All about her. Even about giving up his love of whiskey for her.

Elian growls at me for invading his mind but that’s the last thing I hear before other thoughts overwhelm my mind. They’re too fast and loud for me to catch or focus on. A hiss escapes my lips, and I put my hands up to my head like that will make the voices stop.

“Put a mental shield up,” Reed says, his voice breaking through the others. I barely register it, trying to sort through the thoughts zooming through my mind. He says it again, louder this time. I do as he asks, building a mental fortress, brick by brick, focusing on stacking each one in my mind, but fucking hell, it feels like I’m sluggishly wading through mud trying to do it. Eventually, I get it up, the voices trickling away, and breathe a huge sigh of relief when my head is blissfully silent again.

I turn my attention to the Light Weaver. “Moons above, dude. Is this what you deal with all the time?”

Reed nods. “Yeah, pretty much. Although with years of training, I can now let thoughts trickle in and sift through without getting overwhelmed. However, your thoughts are always crystal clear and much louder than everyone else's,” he says with an eye roll.

Oh Gods, I’m always thinking about Sadie in every single capacity I can have her. I’m slightly obsessed with my mate, to be honest. But what isn’t there to love? She’s fucking perfect. And fuck, that mouth. I love how she goes toe to toe with me, or anyone for that matter, no matter what. My thoughts begin to spiral into an endless sea of Sadie and all the parts of her I like naked.

Reed clears his throat like he’s saying,Um, hello?

Sadie grabs my hand, stroking the completed mate mark on my wrist, which makes my whole body hum happily, including my cock. “Are you okay? You looked like you were in pain.”

“I’m all right, Angel. But I definitely have a new respect for the damn Light Weaver,” I respond, rubbing my temples. A headache is already trying to form behind my eyes. I can’t imagine dealing with this every day. People think too damn much.

She leans over and kisses my forehead, and I smile. Fuck, she’s so beautiful. “Much better now. Thank you, Angel.”

“Anytime,” she responds with a wink. She looks away to focus on everyone else, making me want to grab her face so her gorgeous eyes are only looking at me.

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