Chapter 29 - Good News and New Revelations

Evander

Three days after Aaron marked us and Aubrey and I mated, our beta was called into a meeting. That left Aubrey and me alone to do whatever we wanted. That was until Wren found us outside and asked us if we wanted to meet him somewhere.

"What's going on?" I asked him.

"Oh, well, since all of our mates are busy at the moment, I figured this was a chance to get to know everyone. We're going to be around each other a lot, so may as well get to know you. Rin and Marie are coming, too. My mate's sister is going to be there as well, but don't mind her. Josh wanted me to keep an eye on her."

"Let's go," Aubrey urged me. "Aaron would be proud of us if we befriended his friend's mates."

"Alright," I agreed.

We both got up and followed Wren to a small clearing with a fire pit and some chairs. Rin and Marie were already there talking quietly. It was nice seeing Rin again. If I was being honest, I'd been worried when they didn't come around to my apartment anymore. To think that they'd been kidnapped and used for their powers... God. At least they were safe and had a mate who could protect them now.

I noticed a young girl who looked similar to Wren's mate sitting across from Rin and Marie. She kept tilting her head and staring at the two older people. When we arrived, she looked at us now.

"Aubrey, Evander, this is Joshua's sister, Ella. And you already know Marie and Rin," Wren introduced us.

"Hi," Ella greeted, offering a smile.

She was very cute, but the look in her eye made me wary. They looked like they'd seen far more than any kid should have. Like an old soul trapped within a young girl's body.

"Evander!" Rin exclaimed.

They jumped up and rushed over to hug me tightly. I chuckled and hugged them back. They pulled away quickly to gasp. "You're mated. I can smell it on you."

"Oh, wait! I see the marks now. Aaron finally did it huh," Wren chimed in.

"Yeah," Aubrey confirmed with a wide smile.

He'd been ecstatic ever since we completed the mating. I was glad he was so happy. I was too. Over the time I've spent with my mates, I've grown to love them more than I thought possible. I wanted to confess this to them at some point, but when the time was proper.

Aubrey and I sat down together while Wren sat next to Ella. "So, Rin, how has pack life treated you? Is Erin nice?" Wren asked the dragon.

"He's very nice," they agreed. "And the pack is, too. I really like it here."

"I'm glad," Wren said with a smile.

"Rin was just telling me about their life before you know what. They used to travel around the globe. Goddess, that sounds like so much fun. I've lived in this pack my entire life," Marie said.

"Yes, they were quite the traveler," I agreed.

"Well, I didn't like staying in one place very long," Rin said with a shrug. "There's always more to explore, so why stay in one place?"

"That makes sense," Wren agreed.

We talked about traveling for a bit longer before Wren's face suddenly brightened. "Oh! Marie," he gasped.

"Yes?"

"How's the baby?" He asked eagerly.

Marie smiled and put a hand over her stomach. "I've started developing cravings like nobody's business. I'm sure it's driving Ryder insane, but he's been very understanding."

"That's so nice," Wren whispered. "I knew you guys would be the first to get pregnant among us. You'd been together the longest."

"Then by that logic, you should be next, no?" Rin pointed out to Wren.

"Oh, I don't know about that. Joshua and I don't know if it's the right time," Wren said, looking down. "Maybe someday, though."

"But you are pregnant."

We all looked at Ella in shock. Wren's neck basically snapped with how quickly he turned to look at her. "What?" He asked.

"You're pregnant. I thought you knew," she said with a frown. "Oh, was this one of those things?"

"What things?" Marie asked.

"I can smell things others can't. I thought it was only about magic, but I guess not?" Ella answered with a shrug.

I looked to Wren, who was silent. He'd put a hand over his stomach. Then, a smile formed on his face and he was on his feet. "Oh my goodness. I have to tell Joshua! Wait, no. I can't right now. I can't believe it," he rambled excitedly, pacing back and forth.

Marie stood up to hug him. "We're pregnant together. Our babies are going to be best friends," she said with a small laugh. "Just like their parents."

"The boys are going to be so shocked," he laughed along.

While they continued to talk, I looked over at Ella. She had a confused look on her face. On a whim, I decided to stand up and sit next to her. "Hello, I'm Evander, one of Aaron's mates."

"I know," she said. "I can smell him on you. His magic is very strong."

"Oh?"

"Yes," she confirmed with a nod. "But Wren's is stronger. I think Rin's is the strongest out of all of them, though. I can smell it all the way from my guest room sometimes."

"That makes sense. They're a dragon that comes from noble blood."

"Yes, but there's more to it," she insisted. "I can smell more than just the strength of magic. I think it's like I can smell someone's soul if that makes sense. When Wren didn't know about his powers because they were magically suppressed, he smelled weird. Like he'd put on too much stinky cologne. Once he'd mated to my brother and accepted his powers, he smelled like he does now, which is pleasant and fresh."

"And what about Aaron?"

"Oh, he's always smelled nice from what I can tell. I think that's because he wasn't magically kept from his powers like Wren was. And his soul is good, like Wren's. They're both good."

Ella looked out at the group. "I can't say the same for Rin, though."

What?

"Why is that?" I asked carefully.

She bit her lip. For such a young kid, she sure knew a lot. It was eerie. "When my pack was attacked, the air was filled with this rotten smell. Like death and something really evil. It clung to the people who attacked us like fog. Rin smells like that too, but it's faint."

"Maybe it's because they were trapped by those people that smelled that way," I offered.

"I thought it could be that, but no. It smells like it was on him long before that. I haven't told anyone because like I said, it's faint. I think they've caught on though. They've been avoiding me."

"Rin has?" I asked.

"Yes. They don't like being around me much. I think they know I can tell."

How odd. I looked at Rin, only to find them staring back at us with wide eyes. The others were oblivious to what was going on. Aubrey had gotten sucked into baby talk with Marie and Wren, so it was just Ella, Rin, and me who were privy to this discussion. I silently decided that I'd talk to Rin about it later.

"Thank you for telling me, Ella. Your power is very intriguing."

"If you say so. I don't think it's that cool," she mumbled with a shrug.

"I think it is. You just have to learn how to use it to your advantage," I said with a smile.

"Maybe," she whispered.

.

.

.

I cornered Rin a little while later. The others were distracted talking and Rin had excused themselves. I followed after them once they left and watched as they leaned against a tree with their forehead pressed against the bark.

"You okay?"

They flinched and turned around quickly. "Evander. What are you doing?"

"I was following you," I admitted. Why lie? "You were acting strangely back there."

They looked down. "I don't know what she told you, but—"

"You're afraid."

They looked back up at me with tears in their eyes. It shocked me for a moment. Rin was expressive once you got to know them, but the pain practically radiating from their body scared me. "Evander you don't understand. I wish...I wish I could tell you."

"Then tell me," I urged, stepping closer.

"I can't. You'll see me differently," they whimpered.

I was suddenly reminded of how we first met. I'd stopped some bad people from robbing and beating them up. At least, that's what it looked like. The fear in their eyes that day was enough for me to invite them back to my apartment. They had nowhere else to go apparently. They'd just had a bad break up and the guy kicked them out of the home they shared without anything except for what Rin could carry in a backpack. It was cruel.

The vulnerability shown before me reminded me of that time. So, I reached out and pulled them into a hug. Rin gripped my shirt tightly and attempted to meld themselves into my body. "I'm terrified," they whispered.

"Of?"

"I don't want to go back. I don't want my mate to see me differently because of my past. I don't want anyone to judge me for it. It wasn't my fault," they rambled.

"Of course it wasn't," I affirmed.

I pushed them away a bit so I could look right into their eyes. "You were captured, Rin. None of it is your fault. Your mate will not judge you for that, nor will anyone else. You are not to blame."

The tears started falling from their eyes as I said that. They looked so...broken. And lost. Like a small child attempting to cling to what made them feel safe. I wanted to talk more, but I was stopped by the voice that rang inside my head.

"Where are you?" Aaron's voice echoed.

We'd attempted to communicate through the link more often the last few days so we could all become used to using it if we needed to. It was still a little surprising hearing one of their voices in my head so suddenly, though.

I decided to physically go to him rather than say I was coming. I looked at Rin and they seemed to still be on the verge of shattering. I gently pulled them along back towards the group, where I could hear that our mates had returned from the meeting.

I could hear that Wren had told Joshua about the pregnancy given the excited chatter. When I finally saw them, Erin was looking around for his mate. Rin pulled away from me to practically run over and attack their mate in a hug. It shocked the alpha, but he pulled Rin close and kissed the top of their head.

To be honest, I was worried about Rin now. I wanted to talk to them more, but that would have to wait. Still, I had to look out for them. They were my friend. We'd been friends for years now and I wasn't about to break that off anytime soon, especially if we both had longer life spans than our mates. We'd need each other at some point.

That thought left a bitter taste in my mouth. I didn't want to think about the fact that I was immortal and my mates were not. Would I have to live the rest of eternity without them once they die? Could I turn them like Elvira did with me? Could shifters and nymphs even become vampires? Or could I give up my immortality? I would have to ask Elvira about it at some point.

For now, I wanted to do what I could in the moment, which was hold my mates. I walked over to them and pulled Aaron into a kiss, then Aubrey. Aaron looked at me like I was crazy. "What was that for?" He asked.

"I wanted to kiss you, so I did. Is that so wrong?" I answered.

"No," he grumbled. "It just surprised me."

"Cute."

He glared at me and slapped my arm. "You projected that thought on purpose didn't you?"

"Maybe."

He huffed, but reached down to grab my hand despite being "upset." Aubrey laughed and pinched Aaron's cheek, which got the beta grumbling even more.

God, I love them. So much.

I wish I had the courage to project that thought, too. One day. I promise that.

~~~

I hope you guys enjoyed the turn of events! Wren and Marie are both pregnant and now Rin has revealed a bit more about their mysterious past.

I feel so bad for making them so fearful but y'all will understand soon enough. Two more chapters unit Twizzlers comes to a close! Then, Rin and Erin will get their own story (though to be honest it's going to be a lot more Rin than Erin XD).

Stay tuned for more insanity and thank you so much for reading!

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