Erik
As a werewolf, we seek out mates around certain ages. It's usually eighteen, but I found my mate at seventeen when we arrived in Michigan. Ana's scent wafted through my nose and engulfed my senses. My body became alive when I spotted her.
Even though I discovered her as my mate before she realized I was her, it didn't matter. Finding your mate was crucial to a pack. Our mates kept us tethered and calm.
I couldn't understand why Silas wanted Dante near him. Even when Ana was pregnant, she wanted Dante near her. I hated the thought of a bloodsucker near my family. We were mortal enemies.
Now, it made sense.
*******
Silas
I pressed Dante's stone body against mine as my nose nuzzled his neck. I couldn't get enough of his scent. It was a mixture of dew and wood. My hands fisted through his hair, needing him closer to me.
"Uh, what's going on?" My mom asked.
I licked a strip along Dante's neck until my mouth found his as my tongue slipped past his lips. I claimed Dante's mouth with mine wanting to taste him. A moan escaped Dante's lips, which made me crave him more.
Before my dad could push his Alpha aura forward, I moved, taking Dante with me. I pulled back and gazed into Dante's eyes as my eyes flickered.
"How are we mates if our species are enemies?" Dante asked me.
"I don't know." I shook my head but didn't let go of Dante. I moved my hand from his hair and trailed it along his skin.
"Hello, Silas and Dante," a voice greeted us.
I released Dante and stepped back from him.
A woman in a long white dress with long sleeves appeared in view. She had long white hair with a ring of beads sitting on her head. "Don't be afraid. I mean you no harm."
"Who are you?" I asked.
"I am Goddess Celeste, also known as the Moon Goddess. I oversee the hybrids and tribrids because you have special skills and abilities. You're also more powerful than most supernatural creatures."
"Where are we?" I glanced around at the darkness surrounding us. I couldn't tell if we were outside or in a room.
"Let me help you with your vision." Celeste waved her hand as the area illuminated into a bedroom. "Wolves, vampires, and other supernatural creatures have mates. They solidify their bond when they mate. But we have extenuating circumstances."
"What's that?"
"For you to complete the bond, you must bite your mate. But your bite is deadly. It will kill your mate, or shall I say, mates."
I arched my brow.
"Wait. Did you say, mates?" Dante asked.
"Yes. Silas has two mates," Celeste said.
"How is that possible? Vampires have one mate."
"Not when it involves the fates. We determine who has mated and how many. Just like Silas, you have two mates as well."
"Excuse me?"
"Your other mate is coming."
"How do we mate if a mate can kill us? That seems a little unfair to me."
"Silas can pull you into another realm where you can mate without him taking your life. But this ability comes with a price. Call it a balance if you may."
"What cost?"
"If Silas does, so do his mates."
"That's a huge cost." Dante let out a low whistle.
"My father hates vampires," I said.
"Ah, yes, the Alpha King. But not even the Alpha can destroy the mate bond and must respect it. Once you mate, the Alpha will not touch your mate," Celeste told me.
"What about kids? It's not like we can reproduce. Well, I can't." Dante shrugged.
Celeste's lips curled into a smile. "Anything is possible between mates."
Before we could question the moon goddess, she disappeared.
"Well, that tells me, dick," Dante huffed.
I reached over, tugged Dante to me, and pressed our bodies together.
"I wasn't expecting you to be my mate," Dante said.
I nipped at Dante's bottom lip and sucked on it. A moan escaped Dante's lips. I tugged at his belt, undid it, and slipped my hands into his pants. I wrapped my hand around his rigid member and tugged. A louder moan escaped Dante's lips.
"Silas!" A voice rang out.
I removed my hand and found us standing in the yard with my parents.
"Where did you go?" My dad asked me.
"I don't know." I shook my head. "Some room."
"We need to figure out this mate bond."
I stepped in front of Dante as a growl ripped through my throat.
"Don't make me force my alpha aura to command you."
"You won't touch my mate." I locked my gaze on my dad.
"You can't mark Dante without killing him."
"Yes, I can." With those words, I grabbed Dante's hand and tugged him behind me.
No one would touch or harm my mates.
*****
Dante
I won't lie. Having Silas as my mate was not only weird but interesting. I knew he liked having me around, but I wasn't expecting him to be my mate.
Vampire mates differ from wolf mates. While wolves mark their mates, we don't. We aren't fated with our mates since we pick them.
After my wife died, I would pick a mate but move on when I traveled. I spent more time alone than with someone.
Lips touched my neck as electricity surged through my body. With each kiss, it jolted my heart.
"Silas." My breath became rough.
"Tell me to stop."
My senses heightened as Silas's heartbeat strummed in my ears. Then teeth scrapped against my neck. Whoa. I pulled away and turned to Silas. "Don't even think about marking me." I raised my finger.
Silas licked his lips as his teeth protruded.
"Does anyone else think this is bizarre?" Martin asked.
I looked past Silas to find his family staring at us. "Do you mind? I'm trying not to die today."
"How does a wolf with a deadly bite become a mate to a vampire?" Brady asked.
"How the hell should I know? It's not like I wanted Silas to make me his mate. I was contented with being his friend." I shrugged.
An arrow shot past my head. Silas caught it without taking his eyes off me.
"Lazlo!" Brady yelled.
"Sorry. I was practicing my hunting skills," Lazlo said.
Silas snapped the arrow with one hand. "Kill my mate, and I will kill you."
Okay, that was hot.
The door opened as Erik and Ana entered the house. They stopped and looked at everyone.
"How did your boy latch onto a bloodsucker?" Martin asked Erik.
I rolled my eyes.
"Dante is Silas's mate," Erik said.
"He's one of my mates," Silas said.
"What?" Erik gave Silas a sideways glance.
Silas took steps toward Erik and stood before him. "Dante is one of my mates. I have two."
Erik didn't say a word. I'm still trying to wrap my head around this information the great Moon Goddess bestowed upon us.
******
Christian
I pinched my brows together as Silas's aura pushed forth. But Erik didn't back down as an Alpha and showed no fear. Most supernatural creatures would fear Silas, but Erik didn't.
"Erik, command Silas," I said with my arms folded across my chest.
"What?" Erik kept his gaze on Silas.
"Make Silas submit."
"Submit," Erik told Silas, pushing his aura at Silas.
Silas fought it until he dropped to his knees and bared his neck. Even though Erik is Silas's father, he's still the Alpha and rules the pack.
I walked over to Silas and placed my hand on his shoulder. "It's okay."
Silas rose to his feet and looked drained.
"Is it possible for a wolf to have two mates?" Erik asked.
"It's rare but not impossible. I've encountered this a few times where a wolf had two mates. The pack protected the mates with their lives," I explained.
"Why would a wolf have two mates?" Ana asked.
"It's a way for the Moon Goddess to create balance amongst our kind, especially when one is powerful. But it comes with a price."
"What price?"
"Their lives."
Everyone stared at me in stunned silence. If Silas kills his mates, it will cause an imbalance in nature. Nature would take his life to reset the balance.
"How do we keep Silas from killing his mate?" Ana asked.
"We need to figure out how Silas's forms co-exist and what makes him deadly," I said.
We knew Silas's bite was deadly. But when would it end a life? How do three parts co-exist without killing the person?
A supernatural creature becomes a Dreamweaver when it dies. Could Silas be the balance between life and death? When we answered that question, we would figure out the mystery of Silas.