Notes

Sylas

“I’m going to get firewood,” Lake mutters to herself and walks off in the direction behind me. Lucy says nothing and storms off in the opposite direction.”

“That could’ve gone better…” Coal sighs, “She can be a huge firecracker sometimes…”

“So can that one,” I say in agreement. We both chuckle a bit and exchange glances.

“I’m sorry that I—“

Coal puts his hand up, “It’s fine. If Lucy was in the same position, I’d be the same way.”

"Werewolf women are so different from Vampyres," I sigh, "So..."

"Territorial, protective, and overbearing?" Coal smirks, "Males are more of the emotion showers. Females are built to be less jealous but more protective. Yes, they get jealous if another female gets near their mate, but the males are ready to kill if someone were to look at her the wrong way."

I nod knowingly, "Lake is more docile than that."

"Lucy isn't," Coal states. He looks in the direction his mate went before lowering his voice, "She makes up the jealousy for both of us."

"Let's make sure to keep peace between the ladies?" I offer. Coal nods almost immediately.

"You know," I speak after a moment of silence, "This entire journey is going to be hard to explain to the Queen."

Coal gives me a curious look, "You have to report this?"

I nod, "I was sent here to investigate the Dark Moon pack. I was supposed to be back already with information."

Coal begins walking in the direction that Lake took. I follow, not knowing why he isn't going to his mate and rather mine.

"And how does Lake fit into this picture?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'll be frank with you," Coal stops and looks me in the eye, "Lake has a mate she's already devoted to. They're marked ~and mated. This situation is evidence of how far she's willing to go for him. Derrick has been her entire world since the day they left here. Do you think she would go with you knowing Derrick would be less than approving?"

I take a moment to think. That didn't really cross my mind until now.

Lake is my Essence, but she's Derrick's mate as well. Her bond with that wolf is stronger than ours is. Would I be able to live with the fact of her not coming with me when asked?

Lake

I wipe the tears from my eyes as I walk further into the disheveled camp. Tents are broken and stained with blood. Corpses lay everywhere and the scent of death lingers in the air.

The entire thing with Lucy has me worked up. Not in a sad way. More of a 'you pissed me off' kind of way. She's blamed me for her situation all these years and hasn't come to find Derrick?

She has a backwards way of thinking.

I stop in the middle of camp when I spot something very familiar. Something I never thought I'd see again.

~Derrick's tent.~

~

I hesitantly walk over and lift the flap of the entrance up. An entire sea of Derrick's scent hits my lungs and almost knocks me off my ass.

I walk in full of so many emotions. The bed, rug, and totes of things haven't been touched from what I can see. Four years, and it's like I'm coming home after a hunting expedition.

How did this stay so perfect, though?

Surely someone had to have sought shelter in here, or even broken in to steal supplies.

The outside of the tent is splattered with blood and looks aged, but in here nothing has been touched.

I walk around the bed and sit on Derrick’s side. His old and aged pillow still has the wrinkles from the last time he slept here.

I pick the pillow up and inhale deeply. The smell of musky man is all I take in. It makes my heart ache as I stand and put the pillow back.

Just as I go to leave, my foot hits something underneath the bed frame.

I get on my knees and pull out a small chest covered in leather and a huge lock that is surprisingly unlocked.

“Derrick, what the hell dude.” I roll my eyes, “You need to take better care of things.”

I fumble trying to pick the box up from its weight and a bunch of items fall from the inside of it.

There's a bundle of small envelopes, pieces of dried grass, and flowers. What catches my eyes is a small framed photo of a small boy and a young woman standing in front of a large oak tree. The woman is heavily pregnant in her long sundress covered in sunflowers.

I pick up one of the unsealed envelopes and begin to read.

~“Dear Mom,

~

~Today, I met the most amazing woman. She's a fiery spirit just like the Fireflies we used to catch out in the backyard.”

~

Another.

~“Mom,

~

~I haven't written in awhile, I'm sorry. You'll never guess what happened, though! That woman I told you about? She's my mate!

~

~The most gorgeous and amazing woman I've ever seen ended up being my mate! She let me mark her and it's the most amazing feeling. Having her mark on my heart for the rest of my life.”

~

One more.

~“Mother,

~

~I don't know what's happening. Lake is having awful nightmares again. Lucy is becoming more aggressive since finding out she's pregnant. You'd probably smack her upside her head like you always used to. It makes me laugh just thinking about it.

~

~But things are holding on by a thread here… I'm not Alpha, so if Lake decides to leave, I won't have an obligation to stay. Lucy will be heartbroken, I'm sure. But my mate is more important now. I couldn't live without Lake. My Firefly.”

~

Ugly tears fall from my cheeks and stain the papers red as I read. This man had been writing to his mother for months, and I didn't know.

Derrick never told me about his family. Every time I asked, he would change the subject.

He would say, “It's nothing too exciting.”

I ended up learning to not ask at all. It would always make things between us tense for a few days, so I let it go

But this…

This entire thing is something I've never seen him express... this side of him that is vulnerable.

“Kjarni?” Sylas pops his head into the tent, “Are you okay?”

I sniff and wipe my tears, “I'm fine. Just give me a few minutes.”

“You're crying.”

Sylas swiftly comes to my side and kneels on the notes Derrick wrote. I growl loudly and push him off them.

“Stay off of these!” I yell, “He may still want these!”

“Who?” Sylas asks, “What are you talking about?”

“Nothing!” I exclaim, trying to keep the composure I have left, “Get out!”

“Kjarni, I'm not leaving until you tell me what's wrong.” Sylas sniffs the air and gives me a knowing look, “This was his tent... wasn't it?”

I look at the notes at my feet and the picture of Derrick and whom I'm assuming is his mother.

“Kjarni, I know I haven't known you for all that long, but I know when - ”

I flip my tongue, “You're right.”

Sylas stops himself, “What?”

“You don't know me.” I say tearfully, “You're a stranger. Someone looking from the outside in.”

“Kjarni - ”

“No, Sylas.” I growl, “You know, I've been too wrapped up in... this.”

I motion between us, “Too focused on what's really important. Where my energy really needs to go.”

Sylas opens his mouth to speak but I grab the picture and stand before making my way out of the tent.

“I was foolish to think I actually cared about you...”