Page 94 of One True Mate

“Yeah, E. I think so. Kamen and his mate are dead. I have no idea the extent of damage. I need you to send Micah and then take the list and do a full unit check in.”

“Micah's already on his way.”

I sighed in relief.

Kelsey sat next to me. She was staring at my Dad. There was a strange look on her face and she kept staring at her hands, flexing and fisting them.

I watched as whatever was going on in her head that had her so concerned in her internal battle began to resolve. I was concerned that I couldn't hear her thoughts, but was so fascinated, sensing an important moment that I didn't even reach for her in our bond.

Kelsey laid her hands on my father. He moved slightly and let out a soft moan. I went to stop her, but a strange woman halted me.

“Don't. Let her. She can help him.”

I looked back at Kelsey who was still lost in some sort of trance. Fear pricked me. She laid her hands on my father again. I fought not to stop her. A warmth similar to the tangible power I felt during the battle enveloped me. Dad moaned loudly.

It's not enough, he's really injured, Kyle.I finally heard her in my head.I need your power.She said like an epiphany.

I laid my hand on her shoulder and she shuddered. I didn't know what she was doing but now that I had felt her and no longer felt the disconnect between us, I implicitly trusted her. I opened myself fully to her and felt the pull of my power through our bond. It was a strange and new sensation. She had twice before pulled power from our bond, but it had been a quick pull. This was very different.

I stared at my mate in awe. The moans she had been inflicting from Dad began to subside. The energy buzzing between us stopped and Kelsey collapsed across my father.

“She's ok,” the strange Bulgarian woman assured me.

There was some commotion as Micah ran up to the scene. I eased Kelsey off my dad and gently rested her head in my lap. The Bulgarian didn't seem to have any personal boundaries as she sat close to me and leaned in, lovingly stroking my mate's hair. I was so confused by the situation, yet nothing in me or my wolf felt any threat what-so-ever.

“Who are you?” Vaguely aware that my father was talking to Micah.

The woman smiled at me. “Kyle of Westin Pack, I am Raina, Elena's aunt. Adelina was my sister.”

She continued stroking Kelsey's hair and clearly had no plans to move or leave despite the threat I had issued. I looked around quickly as memories consumed me and saw no other Bulgarians in the area.

“They've left. I do hope you will consider extending the window for me. I would hate to miss out on this chance to know my niece. I mean look at her. She's beautiful. Look at her miracles.” She pointed to my father.

“Dad!” I looked him over quickly. He was pale but he was sitting and talking clearly to Micah.

“I don't know how it's possible, Kyle. I can see the full extent of his injuries, but it is like they are months old. What happened?”

“It was Elena,” her aunt informed him. “It was always suspected but never confirmed before Adelina and Dragomir vanished with the girl. There were originally three. Identical triplets. They were the most beautiful babes you'd ever seen. Mila had the power of the elements and she was manipulative and caused storms that would rattle buildings with her temper tantrums. Lidiya had the power of healing. And Elena, well, she was the most feared of all. Her alpha powers came in at such a young age. She was two the first time she brought Kamen to his knees. People would pledge their allegiance to her just walking in her presence. But she was a good girl and only ever used her powers to protect her sisters, otherwise you'd never know she had them. I always said with that restraint at such a young age she'd learn to control them. After a particularly bad tantrum from Mila, Kamen ordered the girls be put to death. They grabbed Mila first. Lidiya with the powers of healing came to her rescue and tried to heal the girl. Upon finding her dead and not just injured she went into a full rage greater even than the likes of Mila and it was speculated that she inherited her sister's power upon her death. That is why Kamen to this day feared Elena so badly.”

“You think Kelsey inherited both of her sisters' powers? I've never even heard of shifters with extra abilities like that.”

“Oh yes, child. Special abilities have always been among the shifters. They are rare, but they are real. Many call them witches. And three young witches in one pack was far more than we could handle.”

“I've only ever met one witch,” my father spoke in a ragged voice. “Seems your mate, my son, is far more rare and special than even we thought.”

“Kamen is dead father. The Bulgarians are fleeing and any remaining will be escorted out or killed upon my command.” I grimaced admitting my over-step of authority to him.

Kelsey stirred in my lap and lazily opened her eyes as if she were waking from a deep sleep.

“Wh-wh-what happened?” She stuttered.

“It's a long story, Kels. Why don't we get you home and we can tell you all about it.” I told her aloud then added to her alone,Just know you are safe, and loved, and cherished. Oh, and you have an aunt who'd like to get to know you, but mostly know that together we're going to be okay.My mind drifted to all the ways I planned to make it more than okay the second we were alone again. I smiled and winked at her knowing she'd heard my thoughts and enjoyed watching the color creep into her cheeks and I felt her love wrap around me like a warm blanket and I knew we were going to be more than okay.

“Help me up, Micah.” Dad said, “And come along you two. Your mother has been screaming in my head since the moment she awoke. That woman won't let me have even a second of peace till she's truly convinced I'm okay.” Shaking his head and smiling down at us he added, “Just wait, son, a lifetime as mates is a long time, but when it's your one true mate, it's worth every second.”

Kelsey

EPILOGUE

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