Chapter 27

IVAN

~What the fuck is she?~

“That’s impossible,” I say, furrowing my eyebrows.

It’s not that I’m not happy about her being a wolf; it’s just that it’s impossible to have two different creatures inside you. Like you can be part vampire and part werewolf, but part phoenix and part werewolf? That’s odd.

It’s scary.

~“You are the king of werewolves. You can’t be scared,”~ Leo growls in my head.

~Shut up. I’m not scared in that way. Besides, she could crush us with just her hand.~

“I know,” Clem replies, placing her head in between her hands. She looks stressed so, as her mate, I have to make her feel better.

“Come,” I say, extending my hand.

Clementine looks at it for a solid minute before finally placing her hand in mine. Then she stands up with a smile, and we leave the room, her father and Alex not saying anything.

As we walk out of the pack house, hand in hand, I hear my mate’s heart beating fast, as if she’s scared of something. I know it’s scary to discover things about yourself that you never knew before. I cannot imagine what she’s going through.

I desperately wish that I had completed the mating process with her so I could read her mind.

To complete the mating process, I have to mark her and make love to her. We did the latter, but I haven’t marked her yet. For some reason, every time I want to do it, something comes up. I also sense that she’s not ready.

Leo and I understand. Or, at least, we are trying to.

“Where are we going?” Clementine asks softly, looking around.

“Somewhere quiet,” I reply.

We continue walking until we reach the Atlas River, where I once saved her. It might be a bad idea to take her here, but there is no other place near the pack house that is quite as beautiful and peaceful. At least, none that I know of.

I place my right hand on her left cheek and ask, “Are you okay, baby?”

She fidgets, not looking directly in my eyes. “Yes, I’m okay—just confused and a little scared.”

“Don’t worry. You’re not alone in this, okay? We will get help.”

“How?” she asks desperately.

I close my eyes. “We’ll speak with Malcolm.” As much as I hate the idea, I would do fucking anything for her.

“No, I cannot make you do that,” she replies, and places her hands on both of my cheeks. “I will not make you do something you are not comfortable with—especially after what happened in your past.”

My heart warms at her words. Part of me is relieved that she is okay with not speaking to the greatest wizard there is, but a bigger part of me wants to make her feel better.

“It’s okay,” I say. “He’s the only one who can give us answers.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“I-I love you,” she says shyly.

I smile. “I love you too, lyubov.”

After a little while, we begin walking back to the pack house. “So, how do we find him?” I ask.

“I’m not sure. Last time, he just came because he knew I wanted to talk to him… Somehow, he knew.”

I cringe. “That’s creepy,” I say, scratching the back of my neck.

“Tell me about it,” Clementine giggles, making me smile.

CLEMENTINE

When Ivan and I return to the pack house, Alex and my father are standing outside the gate, waiting for us. As soon as they see us, my brother steps forward and embraces me. “Are you feeling better?” he asks.

“Yes, Alex,” I reply, patting his back. “Don’t worry.”

“Do you feel any pain or anything? I could bring the pack doctor to check on you, and I—”

I cut him off. “Alex, don’t worry. I’m okay. Ivan and I concluded that we need to talk to Malcolm. Do you have any idea how to reach him?”

“Malcolm? Why?” he asks, confused.

“I don’t know what to do. I know that I have to choose between my wolf and Helia, but I don’t know how.”

“Oh, right. Well, I could ask around, but I don’t think anyone will know. Malcolm comes when he feels that you are calling for him.”

I nod. I already know that, but I don’t want to tell him.

“Clementine, may I speak with you?” my father suddenly asks.

Nodding again, I follow with him behind the pack house.

We don’t speak for a few minutes, and then—”Have you…seen your mother?” he asks hesitantly.

“Why do you ask?”

“I miss her… Now that Sofia is gone, no one will know the truth about Kalisto…or you.”

My heart breaks for him. I can see that he’s been waiting for this moment for a long time.

“Yes, I’ve seen her.”

“Really? Where? Where is she?”

“Maybe I can take you to her someday.”

All of the sudden, he hugs me, and the resentment I still felt toward him vanishes. As he holds me, a new feeling washes over me. Security. I’ve felt something similar with Alex, but this is different. Knowing that my father cares for me and being able to communicate with him warms my heart.

“Thank you,” he says, still hugging me.

Once we pull apart, we walk back into the pack house. There, I spot Nikki, Alex’s mate, standing with Erika. I walk over to them.

“I feel like I haven’t seen you in a long time,” Nikki says, hugging me.

“I know. A lot has happened. I feel like I don’t have a social life anymore.”

“We should do something,” Erika says excitedly. “Maybe go shopping?”

Nikki squeals. “I could buy baby clothes! Finally!”

A few weeks ago, Nikki discovered that she was pregnant, but with all the chaos, we haven’t had the chance to celebrate. Alex is thrilled to be a father, and I’m extremely excited to be an aunt.

“Sure,” I say, “but let’s go after I figure out the current mess I’m in.”

Erika and Nikki give me confused looks, so I explain what happened. They’re as shocked as anyone could be. It’s not like every day there’s a tribrid in town—though, of course, I don’t mention being a witch too.

There’s only so much people can take.

***

At midnight, I walk downstairs to get some water from the kitchen. All the lights are off, and it feels spooky. I feel like something is about to happen.

I halt when I see a figure sitting on one of the couches in the living room. He has large, elf-like ears that I’d recognize anywhere.

“Couldn’t you be less creepy?” I ask, rolling my eyes.

“I like to make an entrance.”

As I stare at those ears, I wonder if other wizards have them. The witches I’ve met all had normal ears.

“Couldn’t you come during the day?” I ask. “When my mate is with me?”

“I was busy. Besides, I will only talk to you alone.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t trust anyone.”

“But you trust me?”

“A little.”

“Why?”

“Because you are a phoenix, and phoenixes don’t betray people.”

“Tell me, Malcolm, have you encountered a phoenix before?” I ask, curious.

“Yes, once. A dark phoenix. I killed her.”

This revelation shocks me. I thought phoenixes couldn’t be killed.

“Phoenixes can die, Clementine.”

“How?”

“That’s for me to know.”

“You have to tell me, Malcolm.”

“No, I don’t have to. Now, do you want to tell me why you need me, or should I leave?”

~Fuck!~

“I learned that I am also part wolf. Earlier, my wolf tried to force me to shift, but Helia wouldn’t let it. She told me I have to choose between her and the wolf. How do I do that?”

“Oh…” He seems shocked, but he recovers quickly. “Well, if you want to keep your wolf, you need to shift into a wolf; if you want to keep your phoenix, you need to shift into a phoenix.”

“But I’ve already shifted into my phoenix, Malcolm.”

“Yes, but not fully.”

“What do you mean? I need to shift into…the bird?”

“Yes, Clementine. The bird. But it’s risky.”

“How risky?”

“I have heard many stories of humans who fully turned into their phoenixes but could not return. The process is not only painful, but also dreadful. Phoenixes are selfish; once you fully turn, your phoenix might like it that way and refuse to let you return to your human form.”

“But Helia wouldn’t do that.”

“Every phoenix said that.”

“So, my only option is to shift?”

“Or choose your wolf form. That’s the safer option.”

“I would never do that.”

“I know. I wouldn’t even encourage you to.” Malcolm smiles and begins pacing slowly. “Is there something else you want from me, Clementine?”

I smile back. “No, Malcolm. Thank you…for everything.”

Nodding, he turns to leave, but just then, a growl echoes across the living room.

“Who the fuck are you?” Ivan growls as stands in front of me and shields me from Malcolm.

I place my hand on Ivan’s shoulder to calm him down. Even though he hasn’t marked me yet, he is still affected by my touch.

Part of me thinks Ivan knows that I am a witch and he hasn’t marked me because he doesn’t want to admit it. But another part of me thinks he hasn’t marked me just because we’ve been so busy with everything that has happened.

“Relax, Ivan,” Malcolm replies, chuckling. “I was just about to leave before you interrupted.”

“I asked, who the fuck are you?” Ivan’s eyes turn bright yellow, indicating that Leo is taking control.

“Ivan, this is Malcolm,” I say softly. “Calm down, please.”

“Couldn’t you come while Clementine was with me?” Ivan asks.

“Your mate asked the same thing.” Malcolm chuckles again. “I apologize, but I only speak about a matter with the person it involves.”

No one says anything for a few seconds until I break the silence. “Thanks again, Malcolm.”

Nodding, he disappears into thin air.

“He didn’t try anything, did he?” Ivan asks, still looking at where Malcolm was standing.

I can feel the jealousy radiating off of him, and it makes me want to laugh. Makes me want to tease him.

“He might or might not have hugged me,” I say, looking at the floor and not at him.

“What?” he shrieks like a girl. “And you let him?”

“Yeah. I mean, it’s Malcolm,” I say nonchalantly.

“What do you mean, ‘it’s Malcolm’?” he demands, his eyes bright yellow. “Who is he to you?”

“Relax, baby”—I intertwine our hands—”I was just joking.”

Ivan frowns, and I giggle.

“Clementine, I swear to God I was going to lose my mind. Don’t do that again,” he pleads gently, making my heart clench.

“Sorry,” I say, and place my lips on his.

I’ve never seen him this vulnerable, this insecure. I don’t understand. He looks like a god and has a heart of gold.

“It’s okay. How about we go to our bedroom, huh?” He wiggles his eyebrows, and I giggle loudly.

“Let’s go, my dusha,” I say, using the Russian term for soul, which he taught me.

Ivan’s eyes darken, filling with lust.