Page 130 of Seeking Hades' Ember

"That will be something to learn with Selene when we get her back."

"What do you mean? Vulcan is her mate?" Dad's eyes widened in curiosity while the rest of the room went quiet.

"I don't know," I mumbled, hiding my head in Hades' chest. Selene doesn't go around telling who is mated to who. It is supposed to be a big surprise for the couple; I didn't want to ruin it.

"Aw, come on, I wanna hear!" Hunter shouted until Vulcan came into the room. Mom gave Hunter a stern look to be quiet, and he settled down.

"Nothing," Dad spoke. "Just surprised about all these mates popping up out of nowhere." He chuckled while still glaring at Hades. I guess he still isn't over Hades' almost rejection towards his daughter.

"Oh, yeah." Vulcan looked sad as he played with his beard. "Anyway, I was looking for Tamera. Has anyone seen her?" My eyes lit up while I jumped out of my seat. Hades tried to grab my hand, but I ran to Vulcan too quickly.

"Come with me! She's tending to Cyrene in the clinic!" I pulled Vulcan towards the medical wing, only to be stopped by Hades pulling on my other arm.

"Let them be," he glared. I wobbled my lip in protest, trying to pull away from him. "Not now, Ember." I stuck out my lip some more, and he only sighed with a growl. Picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder, I squealed in laughter as he put me back on the couch.

"But I wanna watch," I whispered as Vulcan made his way down to the clinic.

"I didn't think you were into that," Hades whispered in my ear.

"Not that!" I squealed as embarrassment flooded me.

Vulcan

Many had found their mates today, which is surprising since I didn't think anyone could discover mates without Selene. My heart sank thinking that Tamera did not have much time; her bonding with Alpha Santos had depressed her almost beyond repair. I had hoped I would be her second chance because she fit in my life like a ray of hope.

Hope that I will have a mate one day, one that would understand me and I to her. I've wanted nothing than to take care of the one I would be destined with and have waited since the day I split with Aphrodite. We were not bonded, just a marriage of guilt from my father, Zeus. He never listened to my pleas not to marry her, yet I did anyway, and my heart was broken by her constant betrayals.

A mate was my second chance. A second chance at love and hopefully would be fruitful. Someone I could spoil and protect. I'd give anything for that, anything.

Until she came. Until Tamera came into my life. We weren't mates, but my feelings have grown for her each day. She's kind, loving, and selfless. Even with her failing health, she takes care of others, not thinking of herself and her rejection.

The hall was long; several exam rooms held empty beds as I approached the nurses' station. She-wolves were cleaning, putting up charts, and typing on the computer until they saw me. One of them smiled and pointed to a door. She had seen me far too many times the past few days to know exactly who I was looking for.

I closed in on the last examination room when I smelled something floral. It was robust, feminine, but not overpowering. Hints of sugar cubes hung in the air as my hand trembled at the door. Could the fates be so cruel to have Tamera and my future mate in the same room? Who was in there with her?

My heart trembled; afraid it would jump out of my throat if I dared open my mouth. My hand hovered the door handle, do I dare?Gritting my teeth, I stepped back. My body wouldn't be able to take it; I'd be crushed into a million pieces. I cannot know who my mate is because I all wanted was Tamera. I turn my back to the door; the coward in me rears its ugly head until I hear the examination room door creak open. "Vulcan?" Tamara's whimpered voice halted me in my heavy steps.

Turning, I see her hands clutching her chest as her eyes flood over her eyes. "Vulcan?" she says again, knocking me out of my stupor. She was just so damn beautiful; my body wanted her, my mind, and I didn't have the heart to reject her. I couldn't deny her for someone else I did not know.

Tamera walked silently up to me; my body stiffened on the contact as her hand trailed up my hairy arm. My body reacted to the tingles. Her touch was fire, radiating up my body and straight to my loins. "Mate," I breathed as I engulfed her into my plaid-covered chest. My neatly trimmed beard gets caught in her bracelet and pulled my chin tight, but I didn't care. The pain of her not being my mate would have been greater. I'll take any sort of pain.

Tamera breathed in, and her worried stance grew into a gentle sigh as she leaned forward. Picking her up, her legs wrapped around my torso, face buried into my neck. Wetness filled my shoulder; small sobs shook her body to the core. Petting her hair, touching her, feeling her, it was better than it was before but all so familiar.

Tamera was my mate, she was mine, and I was hers.

Cyrene, lying in bed, did a silent clap as she smiles. Making a shooing motion, she beckons us to leave while we talk about this miraculous discovery. A nurse nearby saw the entire scene and opened the Luna hospital room for me to duck into. Nodding my head in thanks, I lock the door, but Tamera doesn't let go.

"My mate, my sweet mate," my voice choked, brushing her hair behind her ears. A giant sob racks her body as I sit in the oversized rocking chair. Her face was wet, her hair a mess, and it was all mine.

We could be messy together for the rest of eternity.

Tamera rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand as she petted my beard. "How can this be?" she hiccupped. "How did we not know?"

Thinking back to Ember, her eagerness was quite intriguing, wanting to lead me to Tamera. With the Sphere found and an overly curious Goddess of the Underworld, I could piece it together. "We've been paired; that's all that matters." My face goes stoic.

Tamera had been through a lot with her first mate. Alpha Santos mated her the same day, claimed her, and not a month later decided to rid her since she did not want to become a werewolf. His mistake would be the most significant victory for me.

"Will you have me?" My voice shook. Not once had I been afraid; I took my challenges head-on, but this, this challenge was the greatest of them all. She could reject me, throw me aside. Tamera quickly nodded her head and grabbed my shoulders.

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