Page 8

Chapter Eight

Xochil

“C an I help with anything?” I asked, watching my mate dreamily, from the entrance to the kitchen.

“You can grab the bread from the pantry over there and toast some. It’s nothing fancy this morning. I usually just have toast and jam before I head to work,” she answered, motioning to a small door near a corner of the kitchen.

Mate should be eating well. Toast and jam is barely food, Erinda huffed.

While I agreed, I was still mad at her, so I didn’t respond. She almost pushed forward and marked our mate. If I hadn’t pulled away in time, we would have marked her without her consent, without her knowledge of what we were and who we were to her. We would have taken away her choice. To make matters worse, after I pulled away, Aline wanted to pretend it hadn’t happened. We’d hurt her feelings.

Erinda whimpered at my thoughts. Without her telling me, I knew she regretted almost doing that to our mate. She was a good wolf, but lost control. Aline was too fucking fine. Feeling her against me tested all of my willpower to take this fucking slow, and it didn’t help that she was the one driving the fucking train, and was more than willing to go beyond just a kiss.

I dropped the bread into the toaster and sat on the small dining table to watch my mate.

While I did, I mind-linked Miguel, ‘What are you finding?’

‘Smells human. Should be easy enough to deal with once we find the fucker. He isn’t all that careful. I’m guessing he’s taking advantage of the fact that she’s been bogged down with work, and doesn’t think he’ll get caught.’

‘So, it should be easy once Evie figures out who he is?’

‘Not quite. There are runes of some sort drawn on the walls of her house. I’ve found three so far. I don’t know enough about magic to know if they’re protective or destructive.’

‘Fuck! Zi said there was some sort of magic coming from her. Maybe that means they’re protective?’ I suggested. I didn’t want to think of what might be after my mate.

‘Let’s hope,’ Miguel answered, mirroring my thoughts. ‘We can always ask her? I’m supposed to be doing the security sweep, so it’s like due diligence?’

‘Good point. Finish your walk, and we’ll talk to her about it.’

I heard the toaster bang the bread out and caught the one that went flying in my hand, depositing it into the plate and adding another set into the old toaster.

“You’re super strong and have lightning-quick reflexes,” Aline said with a teasing grin. “You must be a vampire.”

I almost flinched at her teasing. Right movie, wrong species, sweetheart, I thought. Instead, all I could do was laugh.

“Sun would be pretty hard on me if I were,” I told her.

“Well, no, Edward doesn’t technically die when exposed to the sun; he glitters,” she corrected.

“I think I’m too brown to glitter,” I joked.

“Yeah, you’re more like a werewolf,” she said, laughing as she plated the food while my heart raced out of my chest. "Matches your appetite, too. Come on, Wolfie. I’ll choose you over vampires any day.”

Erinda chose that moment to purr very loudly, and I had to clear my throat and pound on my chest to distract Aline from noticing it.

“There is juice in the fridge,” she said as she took the plates to the little kitchen table.

“I smell bacon!” Miguel said eagerly as he walked back inside.

He stopped when he heard my racing heart, sending a weird questioning look my way. I handed him the juice and shook my head, turning to grab glasses while Aline grabbed plates and forks.

“So,” Aline started once we were all eating. “What did you find?” she asked Miguel.

“You want the honest truth, or should I sugarcoat it?” Miguel asked her, cocking his head and waiting for her answer.

“Honest truth. I don’t like being in the dark,” she said, and my pulse spiked again.

This didn’t bode well for how she’d react to finding out I was a whole different species than her—a mythical one, at that.

“There are a lot of footprints outside. They don’t look like women’s shoes. They look like a men’s size ten. Not all of them look fresh, either. I also found some runes around your house. Did you know about those?”

“I do,” she answered, and we both pretended to be surprised while I was really relieved. “My avó put them there for protection. She got them drawn by a friend of hers, who practices Quimbanda, the first time she visited after I moved here. I let her do it so she wouldn’t worry so much. One on each corner of the house, right?” she asked, but Miguel frowned.

“No. There are four similar ones in the corners, but there are a few more around the house. One is under what looks like a bedroom window around the front of the house. Another is outside the bathroom, and the last one I found is near the garage door.”

“Show me,” Aline asked, paling.

Miguel stood, and we all followed him around the house. Aline’s heart was going a mile a minute by the time we got to the spot beneath her bedroom window, but she was doing a good job pretending to be calm and serene.

“This was the last one I found, but I didn’t take too in-depth of a look,” Miguel told her.

“Avó probably asked her friend to put more blessings on the house while I was working,” she tried to explain, but neither Miguel nor I bought it. Fear was dripping from her pores. “I’ll talk to her later to verify. We should remove the runes, just in case. It’s not like I’ve been having the best of luck anyway,” she tried to joke.

Having seen the results of what can happen when you break a spell without knowing what it did, I wasn’t as willing to remove them, so I pulled out my phone and took a picture of the rune.

“Let’s wait until you talk to your grandma. If it’s good luck, maybe they’re recent and take a bit of time to take effect. You probably mentioned all the bad luck you’ve been having, and she sent her friend,” I said, making up the first thing I could to stop her from washing away the runes.

“Good point. Alright. I’ll call her when I have a break today.”

I breathed a sigh of relief and followed her inside, taking a picture of the rune hidden behind a planter near her garage door.

We finished eating, and Miguel was in the kitchen cleaning up, having insisted that since she cooked, she shouldn’t wash the dishes. Aline hesitated only for a moment before she nodded, saying she needed to change for work. While she went to get ready, I popped back outside and took a picture of the rune under the bathroom window. I sent them all to Dad and asked him if he recognized them.

Hopefully, he’d get back to me soon.

“Alright, so I want to put some motion detection lights on the outside of your house. Is that okay with you, Aline?” Miguel said when my mate walked back out in a pair of comfortable black pants and a small camisole, which was thankfully not as translucent as yesterday’s. “It should deter most people trying to stalk you, if there’s no way to hide in the shadows.”

“How much is that going to cost me?” she asked.

“We get a lot of security equipment at cost, so not a lot. Feed us for a few days, and we’re good?” Miguel suggested, making Aline laugh.

“If I had a penny every time someone said that to me, I’d have, well... I have my restaurant,” she joked. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”

“Alright, I’m going to get the materials, and then I’ll be back to install them,” Miguel said.

“I won’t be here,” she pointed out.

“They’re outside. I can do my work without having to step inside,” he countered.

Aline thought about it, but then shook her head and walked to her keys.

“No. If you need something, feel free to come in. You’re doing me a huge favor. You’re coming to the restaurant after, right?” she asked, looking at us with what I could only describe as hope.

“You did promise us the chef’s table again today,” I reminded her. I would sit outside the damn entrance to the restaurant if that’s what it took to keep her safe, but I’d rather be watching her in her element.

“You can give me the key then,” she finished, handing Miguel her house key and making him smile widely. She turned to look at me. “Are you coming with me before opening or staying here to help?”

“I ca—” Miguel started.

“I should go get a shower and change at the hotel,” I told her, cutting off Miguel from saying he could handle it himself. “Once I’m done, I’ll come help Miguel so I’m not in your way while you prep. We’ll be there soon after we’re done.”

She nodded, and I watched her grab her purse and chef’s jacket before turning to look at me. She seemed to be hesitating, and my heart fluttered when her eyes went to my lips before they flickered to Miguel for a moment. I smiled and walked to her, pulling her down and giving her a small kiss on the lips, letting her know I wasn’t hiding her from anyone.

She smiled sweetly at me when she straightened, though she looked flustered when she looked behind me at what I was sure was a shit-eating grin on Miguel’s face.

“I’ll see you soon,” I told her.

She nodded and walked out of her house, leaving me with the one person I knew was vibrating from keeping his questions to himself. I turned around after I saw her car pull away, and sure enough, there was a shit-eating grin on Miguel’s face.

“So... sleepover went well?” he asked, practically jumping from foot to foot in excitement.

“As in, I slept on the couch? Yes, it went well,” I answered.

“Aww, is that all you’re going to give me? How about what happened just before she left?” he whined, following me out of the house and locking it with the key.

“I’ll tell you when I come back and help with the motion sensor lights. I’m going to go shower,” I told him, and he groaned.

“You’re mean, Alpha,” he huffed, but walked toward his car.

‘Buy a few cameras, Miguel,’ I mind-linked him .

‘Already planning on it,’ he confirmed.

I drove back to the hotel, showered, and changed into clean clothes. Erinda grumbled about how these clothes didn’t smell like our mate, but she settled down once I reminded her that if things continued to go well, we would have her scent again on us soon enough, and then forever after we completed our mating.

I drove back to Aline’s house after texting Miguel that I was done and waited outside for him to show up. I could have taken the key from him, but I knew how much it meant to him that his future luna trusted him with the key to her home.

Having a bit of time, I opened our cousin chat and saw I had already missed over a hundred messages. I scrolled back a bit, but it was mostly James and Zi bragging about meeting my mate and everyone trying to get information about her.

Thankfully, it was still early, so I posted a quick summary of yesterday, hoping not a lot of people were awake and the chat wouldn’t get crazy. Miguel answered right away.

Miguel

That was yesterday, but there was a kiss this morning. ON the lips. You heard it from me first, folks.

Me: Well, now I’m not going to tell you about it when you get here.

Miguel

Oh, come on. I’ll delete the comment. No one’s seen it yet.

Ellie

Too late, I saw it. Screenshotted. It happened. If I can’t know about it, neither can you.

Miguel

Why are you even awake at this hour? It’s like nine am on a Sunday. You usually sleep until noon.

Cory

I miss sleeping until noon.

Joe

You’ve never slept until noon. I’d settle for any time after six am, though. This kid is killing me.

Evie

So... did you get her name? Did you take a picture? Zi wouldn’t tell me anything about your mate last night. Something about privacy, as if that exists in this family. I’m holding her kids for ransom until I get more information. Come on, Xochil... save her poor kids.

Me

Wouldn’t want that *LOL* I don’t have a picture. But her name is Aline. She’s originally from Brazil, and she’s the owner of the steakhouse.

My phone instantly started ringing, and I didn’t even get to say hello when the call picked up before Cory started speaking.

“Your mate is Aline? Way to fucking bury the lead, Xochil! I demand so many fucking pao de queijo or whatever they’re called.”

“What? Why? And how do you know my mate?” I demanded to know, feeling irrationally jealous that Cory met her first, even though it was common knowledge that the only woman he was ever interested in was Evie, his mate.

“We went to university together. I helped her study for her statistics classes. She paid me in recipe testing.”

“Omg, that’s her? Xochil, she was gorgeous! I remember being jealous when I thought Cory had a crush on her the first time I met her!” Evie’s voice came closer to the phone.

“Wait, what?” Cory and I both asked at the same time.

“She was just so friendly and warm. She gave you a hug. I was jealous,” she explained matter-of-factly.

“But you knew I never dated anyone. I waited for you, Little Pokémon,” Cory argued.

“I didn’t say it made sense, Cory. I said I was jealous. Jealousy doesn’t have to make sense, Studmuffin,” she replied, her voice sounding closer and lower.

I knew enough about mates to know where that conversation was quickly leading, so I cleared my throat to remind them I was still on the phone.

“Right,” he said, clearing his throat. “She’s an amazing person, Xochil. Guardian Moon is going to be lucky to have her as their luna,” he told me. “But wait, you said someone was stalking her? Do you need me to send people to help watch over her?”

“No. I should have a handle on it, but I need that info on the license plate, Evie.”

“I’ve got it. I’ll send it over today. I’m trying to get some more information on the man. He’s a Brazilian national, so it’s taking a bit more digging.”

“Shit. I hope her grandma’s okay,” I said.

“Get me her name, and I’ll take a look. Does Aline have any other family? Someone who might be on social media?”

“No,” I answered.

“Okay. Get me the name, and I’ll see what I can find out.”

“Thanks, Evie.”

The woman was a computer genius who saved me a few years ago, by helping me get home without a passport after I was almost kidnapped abroad. If anyone could help me, it was her.

“That’s what family is for,” she answered.

“We’ll let you go,” Cory added. “But if you need anything, let us know. I can drop by and help things along, too. She’s not a very trusting person, so it’ll help if she knows we’re related.”

“I’ll think about it. I’ll definitely mention you to her when I can,” I assured him.

“Alright, love you, Xochil. Good luck!”

“Love you, too, Cory,” I chuckled and ended the call.

Instantly after, my phone began to beep.

Cory

Turns out, I know her mate personally. Take that, James and Zi!

Evie

Me, too!

Well, I met her a couple of times. I don’t know her as well as Cory. But I know she’s gorgeous, and you guys don’t (stick tongue out emoji)

I shook my head at their texts before putting in a final heart emoji and putting the phone back in my pocket. We were a close family, but when it came to gossip, we were always trying to one-up each other.

I sat in my car for a few minutes, daydreaming and replaying my interactions with my mate this morning, feeling my body heat up as I remembered how she felt in my arms.

Eventually, Miguel was back and parked Ellie’s Kia, with a ladder hanging out the open back window, in the driveway. We made quick work of installing the motion detection lights. Thanks to Miguel getting the smallest cameras he could find, we installed one facing each entrance and her bedroom window. I wasn’t sure how receptive Aline would be to letting me sleep on her couch again, but I wanted to make sure I was prepared to be sent home. Not that I would do it. I would stay around the corner, now that she knew what I drove, and watch the camera feeds from there.

It was close to eleven thirty by the time we finished, and Erinda was already pushing me to drive to the restaurant. She wanted to see our mate again.

It was on the way there that Dad finally called.

“Hey, Dad,” I answered with the car’s Bluetooth.

“Xochil, did you get rid of those sigils on the house?” he asked right away, and I sat up straighter.

This couldn’t be good.

“N-no. After what happened with Bells, I wasn’t risking making things worse. What are they?”

“They’re curses. Not lethal curses by any means. They’re mostly meant to cause mischief, bad luck, nightmares, etc. It was used to slowly drive the recipient of the curse mad—desperate. It was generally used as a warning or for coercion. You were wise not to get rid of them. The curses become permanent if you try to wipe them clean, and they can only be removed by the original caster after that. I’m coming out. I know how to remove them safely.”

“Oh... can you wait a bit? If she’s not in any life-threatening danger, I need to figure out a way to tell her my father would like to de-curse her home. She thinks her grandma might have had someone add blessings on her house.”

“What do you mean added?”

“There are blessing sigils on each corner of the house. She said her grandmother had them put there for her protection.”

“Protection from what?”

“I don’t know. She just said protection.” I bit my lip before I added, “But Zi was out here yesterday, and she said she sensed some type of magic on her. She couldn’t recognize what kind, though.”

“So maybe you didn’t get mated to a normal human?” he suggested.

“Maybe, but she is human. There are moments when I feel something, too, though. If I pay enough attention. I just don’t know what it is.”

“Alright, well then, I’m definitely coming into the city. I’ll stay out of your way until you say so, but I want to be close in case things escalate.”

“Thanks, Dad,” I said, breathing a sigh of relief.

“Be careful, mija. Trust your gut.”

“I will.”

I sighed as the call ended. This was getting even more complicated.