Michael wanted to stay behind at Black Lake for a few extra weeks after my parents went back. He was depressed and didn't want to be reminded of Stella and the loss of their bond all over again. Clark and I were happy to have him with us. We figured the time away from Red Rose and all the memories would be good for him. My mother offered to clear out Stella's things before Michael got back and send them to Regina for him. It was one less thing for him to deal with during his heartache.
Before she left, my mother gave me my grandma Daisy's recipe book. My mother had added her own recipes to it over the years, she said it was my turn now. In it were all kinds of mixtures of various herbs and plants to create different concoctions. Some for healing, medicine, energy, arousal, health, sleep and even power. I had always been interested in herbology but I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I had. My mother gave me a big hug as she left, "Be sure to make Michael the tea everyday. His heart is healing; I can sense it." I nodded.
My parents flew back three days after our mating ceremony. I was still so thrilled they had made it. After they left I took Michael by the arm and walked with him to the library. He and I both selected books and spent the majority of the day reading. Amy brought some sandwiches for lunch, joining us for a while for some conversation. After she took the dishes out of the room, I opened the copy of Jane Eyre I had been reading when Michael took the book out of my hand.
"Thank you for letting me stay here Char. I need it right now." He said sadly. I smiled at him and nodded, "Of course. My home is your home."
"Do you believe in second chance mates?" he asked me.
"Well I wasn't sure I believed in mates in the first place before I met Clark. Now I believe whole heartedly. So yes, I believe in second chance mates." I told him with confidence.
Michael pondered my words and he bit his lip. He glanced back at me, "I wonder why it didn't take with Stella? The mate bond is supposed to be the strongest one in the world, yet mine was so weak it was barely a pull. It wasn't what I had be told my whole life it would be like."
I shrugged and adjusted myself under the blanket, "Clark and I were talking about this a few days ago actually. His father told him that the bond isn't the same for everyone. Some mates have to work a lot harder at their bond then others. Some never bond fully. Sometimes one side would bond and the other never would feel as strongly. He thinks to a certain extent it is just the luck of the draw."
Michael chuckled darkly, "You know, he might be right. My mate bond was very one sided, and it was horrible."
"I still don't understand why the moon Goddess would pair two wolves together if it wasn't going to take. It seems like a lot of heartache for nothing." I muttered. He smiled and gave me back my book, "I'm sure she has her reasons."
"Perhaps Stella wasn't your great love after all," I suggested, "perhaps the one you are supposed to spend your life with is just waiting for your heart to heal."
We didn't speak for a while, both thinking about what I had just said. I eventually picked my book back up and continued to read it. Michael seemed lost in thought, I let him be. Clark linked me asking where I was, I told him. Five minutes later he came in, freshly showered. He had been training warriors for the majority of the day, picking up extra sessions since we had been so busy with the ceremony. Clark came over to me on the sofa, leaned down and kissed my lips tenderly. He went to a shelf and took out a book, came back, lifted up my legs and sat beneath them on the sofa, adjusting the blanket to make sure it covered all three of us. Clark never said a word, he didn't have to, he just knew me and I knew him.
After a while Michael sighed, "See that is what I want."
"Want what?" Clark asked, confused. I giggled, knowing he wasn't a part of our previous conversation.
"I want a mate who just knows me, comes to me and everything is easy and simple. You just came in here, kissed her, curled up with her and no words had to be spoken. You just know each other and it is understood. I want that." Michael told him.
Clark and I looked at each other and smiled. "I don't know what to tell you," I said, "It was like this from the beginning. He brought me ice-cream in my room when I had a panic attack at the ball."
"You never told me that." Michael said concerned. I waved my hand, "It's ok. Alpha Martins and father were having an argument about Marie and Anthony. I got very upset and tried to pull her out of there. It ended with her returning to the party and me having a panic attack. But then Clark came and found me with ice-cream."
Clark tucked my hair behind my ears. "It was always easy, like she said. I loved her the moment I caught her scent, before I even saw her face."
Michael nodded, he opened his book back up and started reading again. I looked at Clark, he leaned over and kissed me. I sighed into his mouth and returned the kiss.
"David and Heath asked me to talk to you about a meeting they want you to attend with us with the leaders of the werebear pack to the west of us. We have been trying to get a treaty in place for the past three years." Clark said, changing the subject.
"I didn't know there were werebears around here, though this far north I'm not really surprised." I added. "When is it?"
"It's at their pack house in two days. We are in neutral standing with them. We are currently the only werewolf pack in the Northwest Territories they are talking to. Usually werebears and werewolves don't cooperate but their Alpha and David have a mutual respect so we are trying to secure a treaty to enable some trade and cooperative protection." Clark told me. I nodded.
"I'd love to attend if you think I would be of help." I offered. He smiled, "You are always helpful my love." I giggled and moved around, resting my head on his lap and opening my book again. We read for another hour before all going down to dinner.
The three of us found Heath in the dining hall, joining him for supper. "Did you ask her?" Heath looked sharply at his brother. Clark nodded, "She will come."
Heath exhaled loudly and smiled at me, "Thank you Charlotte. We need a female presence at these meetings. The werebears haven't agreed to anything with us before because of our lack of mated male leaders. They believe females are the keys to a successful pack. It is very hard for them to trust us when it's only males at the meetings."
I looked at him confused, "We believe that as well though. We have Lunas in our packs. They wouldn't function without females. I'm sure werebears know that."
"They do, but their mating bond is very different from ours. Werebears don't have a pull like we do. Their beliefs don't include a predetermined match made by the Goddess or a higher power. They choose their mates when they come of age, they don't always mate for life either." He explained to me, "So for them, mating is less complicated. When we have had meetings in the past with their leaders they find it very hard to trust us when it is David, our father, Clark and myself considering only our father is mated."
"So now that Clark and I are mated, you believe that will help relations with the werebears?" I asked.
Heath and Clark both nodded, Clark spoke first, "I think the fact that you and I are also young will help them to trust us. Seeing a newly mated couple will enable them to understand our beliefs and values as well. They may want to ask you some questions, I would ask that you answer all the ones you are comfortable with."
Heath snickered and chimed in, "And even the ones you are uncomfortable with."
I laughed, Clark growled at his brother and Michael made a face with his nose, obviously not wishing to imagine his sister and brother in law in a compromised position.
I locked eyes with Heath and said calmly, "I will give them every little dirty detail but I am not sure they will be able to handle the heat."
"CHARLOTTE!" Clark and Michael cried in unison, Heath howled with laughter. The entire dining hall heard them all and looked at us in confusion. I smiled, adjusted my glasses and took a sip of my drink.
"You know, Charlotte, you look like a librarian but my brother has turned you into quite a vixen." Heath chuckled.
I shrugged, "What can I say, he brings out the animal in me." Clark raised his hands, almost pleading, "Alright enough! My mate and our sex life is no longer a topic of discussion at the dinner table or any other table."
"Seconded." Michael agreed. Heath and I both chuckled, I raised my glass to him, he raised his and we clinked together.
Clark rolled his eyes and kissed my head lightly.