Filed To Story: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
“I heard the theory that putting mates together is Talia’s power.”, Mindy said.
Maddox stifled a chuckle. He wanted to say how Kalina is full of nonsense and Maya is encouraging those crazy ideas, but he realized that it was time to go. “Don’t forget that you have a family, Min.”
Mindy was speechless. Why did Maddox look so emotional? But his concern was genuine, and she comforted him, “Max, you know where I am. Feel free to come anytime. In addition to that, you can text and call. I have my cell phone and it has a signal.”
Maddox looked around. “Do you have a place to charge it?”
Mindy was not sure how to respond to it. It should be a no, but then Gideon spoke, “We have a generator and there is a power bank she can use. I don’t live in Middle Ages.”
Maddox nodded in approval and after another hug with Mindy and a handshake with Gideon, he walked out to join the other five.
Maddox was happy for his sister, but his heart was heavy. Tatiana’s arm around his waist and her leaning on him made it a bit better.
Mindy and Gideon stood in front of the cabin, and they didn’t move until their six guests were out of sight.
“My brother means well.”, Mindy said to Gideon, hoping to explain Maddox’s overprotective behavior.
She wanted Gideon to get along with her family because they were an Alpha family who was close and if Gideon and Maddox start on a bad note, it can lead to Mindy needing to pick between the two. The mate bond was urging her to stick to Gideon, but her memory and experiences were drawing her toward her family and Mindy hoped that she won’t need to abandon one for the other.
“In the Blue River pack, we have a shelter for the ones who need it. There are children, elderly, but most of the people who come seeking our protection are women who suffered years of abuse because they thought that no one will help them. Both me and Max are involved in helping those people get back on their feet and start a new life. No matter how much we see, it’s always heartbreaking when another woman finds her way into our shelter while believing that she is not worthy of people being nice to her.”
Gideon cocked an eyebrow at her as it dawned on him. “Is he worried that I will abuse you?”
Mindy’s brows came together. Yes, Maddox was worried, but even Mindy didn’t know what the future holds. Things went well so far, and she was happy, but… “I guess we all need to see how this will unfold.”
Gideon’s expression turned solemn.
“Mindy.”, he called. “That is not how the mate bond works. Fated mates can’t hurt each other, it goes against our nature. I waited for you to walk through that door from before you were born. I have no intention of mistreating you, but I am used to living on my own. If something is bothering you, I need you to tell me. I don’t guarantee I will agree to your requests, but I promise to listen and do my best to accommodate your needs.”
While on the topic of accommodating her needs, Mindy thought of asking, “Will you be OK with me continuing to work on the shelter and charities involved with it?”
“I want to hear more about the work you did.”
Mindy looked at him apprehensively. Why did he talk about it in the past tense?
Gideon’s brows furrowed as he continued, “Going there to work will require a lot of travel, but I’m sure we can make it work.”
Mindy’s lips stretched into a smile, and she relaxed at the thought that he was supportive.
“I don’t need to be there in person.”, Mindy said. “We can visit occasionally, just to see how things are going, but even that can be done with a video call. My work was mostly focusing on securing donations so that shelter can run, and also for various charities that are focusing on specific areas, such as sponsoring education, healthcare, or attending mental therapy for the ones who need it.”
“Sounds like a lot of work. How much time do you spend on visiting the donors?”
“Alpha Dayson is our biggest donor and by being here I’m already doing most of the work.”, Mindy responded brightly. She had other people who could do that work, but her identity of Mindy River came with connections to the Alpha family, and that was the biggest incentive for people to give donations. “I can do almost everything with phone calls, emails, and we can attend a few parties a year.”
“Parties.”, he said sourly. “With me?”
“Will you let me go on my own?”
Gideon exhaled helplessly. He hated parties, but he hated the idea of Mindy being surrounded by some random men more. Didn’t she know how beautiful she was?
“As long as you don’t expect me to dance, it will be fine.”
Mindy giggled and nodded, her eyes flashing in approval.
Now that she thought about it, her work with charities didn’t require her to be in other places a lot. There was also the point of Mindy finishing her education, but she can do most of it online, so being mated to Gideon didn’t seem to hinder anything she did so far.
Why did she think that finding a mate will be a problem? She didn’t need to give up on anything, yet she got a handsome mate who was a beast in bed. Beast, in a good way.
Mindy leaned into Gideon’s embrace, happy that the future looked brighter the more she thought about it.
The guests left a while ago, yet Mindy and Gideon stood in front of their cottage, embracing each other in silence, each lost in their thoughts and the comfort of just being together.
A long time ago, Gideon closed off his heart that was reserved for his mate. He was not inexperienced in pleasures of the flesh, but every woman who passed through his hands left him empty. He thought that the Moon Goddess denied him fated mate, for reasons unknown, and he gave up on finding his other half, yet with Mindy’s appearance all the walls he built over decades collapsed, and here she was… bright and welcoming, and for the first time in his life Gideon felt like he can breathe with full lungs, each breath filling him with the addictive scent of pumpkin. His pumpkin. Mindy.
Mindy enjoyed Gideon’s warmth and his solid embrace that came with the irresistible scent of lavender, but her thoughts were focused on the things that are coming.
She lifted her head to look at him. “Do I need to prepare an outfit?”
He didn’t get it. What outfit? “For?”
“For the ceremony before the pack run.” Mindy smiled proudly. “As Shaman’s mate, I will be by your side, right? I attended ceremonies in the Blue River pack ever since I was a little girl. Shaman’s mate would pass him things, so I have a general idea what I should do, but every pack has a different outfit, so…” Her voice trailed and she looked at him expectantly.
Gideon’s eyebrow twitched. “I didn’t agree to perform the ceremony.”
Mindy couldn’t believe this. “You are kidding, right? The pack run will happen with or without the ceremony. I can see the friction between you and Alpha Dayson, and I won’t tell you to pretend that things are fine. However, you are a Shaman. The pack needs you. If the ceremony doesn’t happen, people will believe that you abandoned them.”
Gideon was speechless. He knew Mindy was right, but she was still talking, and for some reason, she was also stroking his chest with the tips of her fingers in ways that muddled with his reasoning.
“I want us to participate in the pack run. It will be my first one since finding my mate and…”
“I will prepare clothes for you.”, Gideon grumbled.
“Our wolves didn’t greet each other.”, Mindy said. “Do you think we can save that for the pack run? It’s only a few days away and it will make it more special.”
Gideon swallowed hard. The idea of his wolf chasing Mindy’s until he catches her and they mate, was leaving him breathless. Werewolves are promiscuous, but mating in wolf form is reserved for mates because their wolves won’t touch another.
Gideon saw wolves mating many times, but… he never… until now.
“Alright.”, he rasped.
Mindy beamed. She was really looking forward to this. After all, Mindy has Alpha blood in her veins, and being Shaman’s mate was not putting her at the top of the hierarchy, but she was not low either. Actually, it was perfect to give her some authority without putting her into the spotlight that came with duties.
Gideon was now thinking about going into town with Mindy to visit the tailor. She will need a traditional leather outfit, and they should probably hurry because the last pack run was a decade ago, and once the news spread, youngsters who came of age in the last ten years will hurry to get their clothes ready. For the ceremony, it was not important, but for the ones participating in the pack run, the leather outfit that is not constricting and can easily be removed was a must-have. And with Mindy standing by his side, as his mate, a lot of eyes will be on her. He wanted to get her the best outfit so she can shine.
Ah, but the town was far away and if they go now, it will cut into their alone time as a newly-mated couple.
While thinking about the distance to the town, Gideon asked, “Do you want us to move to the town? Or somewhere else? There are single-family homes available for mated couples.”
“What about your garden?”, Mindy asked.
Gideon shrugged. “I can always plant a new one.”
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.