Shocked.

When they say that if the Goddess wants you to be mated, She will make it happen for you, they are definitely not kidding. It can be at school, inside a movie theater, the food court of the mall, or even your workplace.

The Goddess knows no boundaries and it will happen according to Her plan, not before, not after. Iris and I were accompanying a group of high school students who we were supposed to give a tour of the place to and explain what warriors do. We do this every year because next June a bunch of graduates will apply to take part in the force.

We were nearly finished with the tour when a few probational warriors arrived at the training center to clock out after a shift. They are participating in a shadow program exclusive to them, so their schedule is a bit different from other warriors.

As soon as they stepped foot inside the facility, we were surprised to see a student's eyes shining bright and Owen Michaels staring at him with equally bright eyes. It was a scene to behold and the high school student wasted no time rushing to his mate and jumping into his arms.

We were mesmerized by their instant connection. It took us a moment in contemplation before Iris pointed out the obvious.

"You can get to know your mate AFTER you clock out. Right now, I am sure you don't want to do this with an audience, Michaels." She broke their spell and Owen carefully put his mate back down on the ground. It is amazing to see them together and it is interesting to see Owen next to an Omega shorter than him.

"Yes, Delta." He replied, respectfully. "I need to grab a quick shower, but I'll be back here in fifteen minutes. Can you wait for me, please? I promise to get you home later." Owen told his mate, who agreed without hesitation.

Iris and I concluded the tour as she dispensed some final words of wisdom to the students. A school bus will take them home - minus the one who stayed behind waiting for his mate.

Later that day, I returned to the pack house to check in with my mate. This adventure with Owen only made me appreciate Carlisle even more. Had I not been mated, I would have been devastated to be mated out of a relationship - assuming Owen and I would evolve into one in this particular scenario.

I kissed my mate on the lips for a while inside his room. I am not going to lie, there is still a part of me that is terrified of losing him and the longer we take to complete the bond, the longer this feeling will linger in the air. I cannot help the way I feel.

I slid my tongue down to his neck, causing a moan to escape Carlisle's lips. I love the effect I have on him, but he has the same ability to take my breath away. I am just extra thirsty this afternoon.

I do not want to sound like a horny teenager, but it's about time we complete the freaking bond. What is he waiting for? The longer we take, the riskier it is for him. His heat can strike at any moment and then... Well, I am only a human. For the most part.

"Wow. You are inspired today. Are you okay? You're acting like we haven't seen each other in a week, but we slept together yesterday." Carlisle questioned me with a curious expression on his face.

"I am fine, just thirsting after my mate today. Is that okay?" I replied, taking a moment to breathe after the make out session.

"It is more than okay, I just can't help but feel like this is about something else. Did something happen today at the training center?" He quizzed me, intrigued.

I explained to him that Owen got mated to a high school student today, but that I had no feelings towards him whatsoever. I am not jealous or anything of the sort, I am just feeling anxious about the bond completion.

I will never feel at peace until we complete the bond, not totally. There is nothing else in my mind. I would never want to pressure my mate into doing something he is not comfortable with, but I think that is not the issue here. He could not be any more ready to be with me. It is just a matter of relaxing into it and letting himself go.

"I am sorry for the delay. I know how much you want it, I do too. I guess I am just in my head about it." He apologized, feeling embarrassed.

I kissed him gently, softly touching his lips with mine for a moment.

"You have nothing to apologize for. We can do this on your time, I am not desperate. I can wait." I reassured him with a sweet gaze. He looked at me as we lay on his bed and we kissed for a while longer.

On Tuesday, I woke up in his bedroom. It is much easier for Carlisle this way because he doesn't have to wake up extra early to get home before breakfast. I don't actually mind where I sleep as long as I am with him. I don't need to hurry home because I don't go to work until nine.

By the time I arrive at the training center, Clarkson is there to greet me with some troubling news.

"Yesterday at approximately 0400 hours, a patrol shift encountered a strange scent on the south of the border. Not knowing exactly what that was about, they investigated further and found traces of at least five werewolves. By the time they followed their trail, they were long gone. At this time, we have no way of knowing if they were rogues or an enemy squad." He reported to me with a worried tone.

"Thank you for telling me. Be sure to notify today's squads to keep their eyes peeled and their muzzles clean. Notify Michaels and inform all the warriors who are scheduled for patrols today." I ordered him in a troubled tone.

"Already done, Beta. Michaels is off today because he worked last night's shift, but as soon as he clocks in he will be informed." He spoke, respectfully.

We have no way of knowing if this is just an ordinary occurrence or a looming threat, but that is why we train the hardest. This is why we prepare ourselves for any eventuality because If they return, we will find out. Anyone who dares to enter our territory will be dealt with harshly.

When Iris arrived later that day (she had a doctor's appointment earlier therefore she wasn't on time today), I asked her how the baby was doing. She is pregnant again after twelve years, so I am curious to see how she is dealing with the news.

Iris seems to be doing fine, it is still too early in the pregnancy to show anything on her belly but the ultrasound picture was promising a healthy baby. May the Goddess bless her pregnancy.

Thomas is also pregnant, so his office is my next stop.

I took a moment to congratulate Owen on his mating since he was here 'on call' today [whenever a team stays inside the training center, they are available for additional backup if any patrol needs it]. He looked so happy to have found his mate and I could only be glad that he did. I do not wish for anyone to be pining over me, not to assume that he was doing that.

When I arrived at the pack house later, I reported the news to Phillip who told me to stay alert. I am never not alert, so that is fine by me. Especially now since I live in constant fear of that rapist finding my mate and his son here and trying to snatch Charlie away from his father.

I am always with my guard up and attentive.

On Wednesday, the reports showed no suspicious activities or any trace of werewolves on our territory. I was relieved to hear that, hoping that maybe it was the occasional rogue that ended up trespassing on our territory. That is not uncommon, though it's rare to see them traveling in groups.

But the biggest surprise of my life would only take place at night.

I picked up Charlie from school since his father was working. This has been a normal occurrence once Carlisle started working twelve-hour shifts and I don't mind it at all. I can work from the pack house where he stays most afternoons playing video games. Fortunately, I make my own schedule.

Charlie is excited about the Thanksgiving break next week. That will take some coordination on Carlisle's part because he does not get the week off from work and neither do I, but we can make it work. I am sure I can enlist some help if I need to.

Plus, eleven-year-olds pretty much babysit themselves. He is not a little kid anymore.

I stayed at the pack house until my mate arrived, but since it will be after nine I pulled some strings to eat dinner with Phillip and Linda. I could go home to eat, but I don't like to leave Charlie unattended when his father is not here.

He is safe here in the pack house, that is not in question, but I have to be present in case he needs me for whatever reason. At this point, I am an expert in monitoring his activities and being on the lookout to see if he did his homework. I feel like such a dad.

When Carlisle finally arrived home, he first checked in his son's room who was already sleeping since it was past ten p.m. I was patiently waiting for him inside his bedroom. He looked so tired, my poor mate! He went straight to the bathroom to take a shower.

Close to midnight, he pecked my lips and thanked me for helping out with his son. I told him it was absolutely my pleasure and that I would always be there for him, no matter what.

"I am ready." He declared, lying on the bed next to me in cute pajamas.

"Ready for what?" I asked him, not entirely sure of what he was talking about.

"I am ready to complete the bond with you." He stated and I gasped in shock.

"Really?" I smiled wide at the prospect.

"Not today because I am exhausted from work. But next Saturday is my day off, so we can plan something nice." He told me, sounding enthusiastic.

"Oh my Goddess! Yes, please!" I shouted, beyond excited that he finally agreed to take the plunge.

I kissed him for a minute extremely happy that he made that decision. I am good to go. Whenever he wants me, I am there. I drifted off to sleep in his arms with the most content grin of my life.

Saturday cannot come soon enough...

* * * * * *

I woke up in chains.

I am imprisoned in an abandoned shed somewhere. I am wearing pants but no shirt or socks. I am sitting next to a beam, my hands are tied behind my back with iron chains. My body is too dirty for my taste but otherwise, I am not harmed.

I take in my surroundings as I open my eyes, my nose instinctively directs me to two men talking in a corner of the abandoned shed. As soon as my open eyes alert them of my presence, a tall, muscular, strong, blonde man approaches me.

"Good morning. I apologize for the chains, but I had to make sure you wouldn't escape." The man spoke with a husky tone I was not familiar with. I have never met him before, but I know full well who he is.

"It's fine. I don't need to escape, my pack must be looking for me already." I declared in a calm tone, not letting him get a rise out of me.

"I don't think they are going to find you here, Beta. But even if they do, I will not be here to greet them anyway." He countered in an equally calm voice.

"Of course, Alpha. You do know kidnapping me is an act of war, right?" I said, smugly.

"It would be if they knew who kidnapped you." He said with a boastful grin.

"Trust me, they know. Very few people would be dumb enough to kidnap a Cortez." I shot back in a snarky tone.

He laughed at me, eyeing my body up and down as he stood tall next to my sitting position.

"You may be right, but you didn't think I would let you sail into the sunset to live happily ever after while being a father to MY SON, did you?" He provoked me with his sense of superiority.

"Well, considering you never demonstrated any interest in being his father, I figured someone had to fill in the part. I mean, other than the person who has been a father to Charlie since he was born." I declared, not letting him get to me.

I imagine that if he wanted me dead, I would have already been killed. If I am here, there must be a reason for it. Not that I see that now unless he intends to exchange me for his son. But why kidnap me? Surely there are better plans than this one... *eye roll*

"I do appreciate everything that Carlisle did for my son until now, I am not a monster. But it's past time his real father takes care of Charles." He stated in a smug tone.

"I love that you think the person who raped another is the real father, not the actual person who gave birth to the child." I countered in a snide tone. This caused the other man who was watching this scene play out to gasp in shock.

"I am not here to debate with you the merits of my son's conception. I am only waiting until I get what I want. You should do well to not stand in my way." He spoke in an angry tone, now menacing.

"How could I stand in anybody's way? I just hope that you planned this accordingly. Because if you kill me, my father will never let you live. And if you don't, then it's war." I declared, glaring at him.

"So naive... You have no idea what my endgame is here..." He boasted.

"You are right, I don't. But you can call me anything except naive. On the contrary, I am prepared for every scenario. You have no idea what I am capable of." I shot back, angrily.

"No, Beta. You are the one who has no idea what I am capable of." He threatened me, now gripping my throat tightly. He growls at me as I snarl right back at him.

* * * * * * * *

"Stephano, Stephano..." Carlisle woke me up in a panic. I was sweating with a fever, trembling, shaking with nervousness and anger.

"You are burning up!" He felt my forehead with his hand. My clothes were drenched in sweat, I felt a rage creeping in. I want to punch someone, though obviously NOT my mate.

"I just had a horrible nightmare. I am fine." I said before I grabbed a water bottle on my nightstand and gulped it down.

"No, you are not fine at all. I am taking you to the doctor now." He spoke, sounding determined.

"I am not going to the hospital, Carlisle. I have to get ready for work." I told him, dismissively.

"Not with this fever you not. I am taking you and that is final!" He growled at me. I don't think I can dissuade my mate at this moment. Oh well... There are worse things in life than a caring man worrying about my health.

I do feel different, despite the horrendous nightmare. I am quivering in the state of my fever. I have no idea what happened to me, but it's best if I see a doctor after all.

https://youtu.be/REryc1TpeY8

A|N: BOOM!

Did someone say foreboding?

No, it wasn't me.

The shocking twist you won't want to miss is next!

Love,

Léo.