Chapter 97


    Chapter 97


    31 Third Times A Charm


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    Cayden POV


    I’m sitting in a supernatural bar in neutral territory. I can scent warlocks, wolves, vampires, and fae. I


    haven’t been able to find that b**ch despite how hard I’ve tried. I will not return to the pack until she has


    paid for all she did to ra. I can’t bring her back to me, but I can make sure that justice is served.


    When I learned of this ce, I was hopeful that someone would have information that could lead me in


    the right direction. My mother wanted toe but I convinced her I would do better alone. “What will


    you have hot stuff,” a pretty vampire says from behind the bar. “A werebeer please”, I say and she


    winks. A few minutester, she sets my beer down in front of me and serves someone else. As I take a


    sip, I feel like I’m being watched. I turn in my seat, looking around the bar. I notice a pretty woman


    around my mother’s age with long white hair sitting alone in the corner staring at me. When she


    realizes I’m looking at her she smiles and waves. I’m confused but I get up and walk toward her table


    anyway. “What the hell are you going to say to her,” Riggs asks. “I really hadn’t thought that far ahead.”


    “Hello Cayden”, she says and I’m even more confused. I’ve never seen this woman how could she


    know my name. “Please sit, I am no threat to you”, she says. I sit across from her. “How do you know


    my name?” “It’s one of my many powers.” “You can guess people’s names” I say and sheughs. “No, I


    can see your past.” I stiffen at her words.


    “Cayden, my name is Selma and I’m sure you can scent that I’m a witch. I can sense that you are a


    hybrid who is looking for revenge.” “I’m sure if you have seen my past, you understand why I want to


    end the witch.” She nods “I do and I can help you.” “You’re a ck magic witch. You don’t do anything


    for free. What do you want in exchange for helping me?” “I’m neither light nor dark. I don’t harm others


    that don’t deserve it, but I have no problem making someone suffer that deserves it. Everything in our


    world is not as ck and white as most would like to think.” “So, you don’t want anything to help me


    find that evil witch.” She smiles “let’s just say I have my reasons for helping you, but you will owe me


    nothing in return.” “How can you trust this woman we don’t even know her” Riggs asks. “I assure you


    Riggs that I would never hurt Cayden” Selma says inside my head. She is talking to my wolf. How the


    hell is that possible? Sheughs, “anything is possible, but I meant what I said, Cayden, I will not hurt


    you.” “I’m d but I don’t understand why you would be so adamant that you won’t hurt me.” “I will tell


    you that soon enough, but for right now I need you to trust me. I will be in touch when I have the


    location of the witch you seek.” I nod and she disappears.


    I head back to the bar and I take another sip of my beer. “What do you think, Riggs, after all she said to


    us?” “I don’t know but she is powerful and if she wanted to hurt us, she could have. Something feels


    familiar about her, but I know we have never met her.” “I agree, I just don’t understand why she is so


    willing to help us.” A hand on mine brings me out of my conversation with Riggs. My eyesnd on the


    smiling bartender. “I get off in an hour if you want to have some fun” the pretty vampire says and I


    smile. “If I wasn’t a wolf with a mate out there, I would take you up on that pretty girl.” She smiles and I


    get up to leave. I want to get back to the cottage to tell my mother about Selma and her offer to help.


    Evelyn POV


    When Cayden said he was going to a supernatural bar, I was nervous. I know how strong Cayden is,


    but he has no idea what he is walking into. I finally conceded, but I wasn’t happy to be staying in the


    cottage while he was putting himself at risk. The only reason I finally agreed is because he is carrying a


    tracker that will give me his location if he needs help. He has been gone for two hours and I can’t clean


    the cottage anymore. I take a shower and make myself a cup of tea. I put my hair in a messy bun and


    head out onto the porch. Sadie has been very quiet since we lost ra. She shifted so we could run


    with Cayden, but other than that she hasn’t spoken to me. “Sadie, I miss you.” There is silence for a


    few minutes. “I’m sorry Evelyn. I felt so broken and I was selfish. I worried about my own grief and I


    abandoned you when you needed me the most.” “Sadie, I love you and you’re here now. That is what


    matters. We will get through this together. We have Cayden and the pack. We are strong and we need


    to be there for them both.” The phone rings in my pocket and I take it out feeling relief when Cayden’s


    name shes on the screen. “Cayden are you alright”, I ask. “Yes mom, I’m on my way back and we


    have a lot to talk about. I’ll see you soon” he says, and the call disconnects.


    I’m d he is safe and on his way back to the cottage. I wonder what he found out at the bar. “He


    sounded excited. Maybe he knows where that witch is hiding”, Sadie says. A shiver runs down my


    spine despite there being no chill in the air. I turn looking out into the darkness, but I can’t see anyone. I


    take a deep breath in and I don’t scent Grant, but something is definitely out there. It’s faint and Sadie


    is growling in my mind. I make my way to the door, keeping my eyes toward the darkness. A low growl


    makes bile rise in my throat. The scent is stronger and everything in me wants to scream. This can’t be


    happening. It isn’t possible. Could the goddess be giving me a third mate? It can’t be, it’s not possible. I


    feel like I’m crazy as I keep repeating it in my mind. Arge figure steps out from behind the trees.


    Large is not even a sufficient word to describe this man. He has to be over six foot five. He has a broad


    chest and arms like tree trunks. Besides his citrus scent, which is making it hard to focus, I can’t tell


    what type of shifter he is. One thing I know for sure, he is not a wolf. “What do you want,” I finally


    manage to ask and he chuckles.


    “It seems your mate wants you back, Evelyn.” How can he not know what I am to him? “Cayden


    masked your scent, Evelyn. He has no idea that we are his mates.” “I would rather die than go back to


    that ba**ard. You can tell him that.” “I’m not really the messenger type. You will go back with me as


    soon as your son returns.” “No one will hurt my pup” I say as I shift into Sadie. I jump off the porch and


    land in front of this wall of a man. Sadie growls and heughs. That just pisses me off and we jump


    toward him. He catches my wolf and I feel his body stiffen. “He feels the tingles” Sadie says. He sets us


    down and we back away from him. Once we shift, he is staring at me with confusion and wonder.


    “Evelyn” is all he manages to say before he is thrown against the tree by some invisible force. Cayden


    steps out of the trees and hands me his shirt which I slip over my head. It’s long enough to be a dress.


    He starts walking toward the man who is groaning on the ground. I grab his arm. “Cayden unmask my


    scent now.” He looks at me like I’m crazy. “Please just do it and you will understand why”, I say and he


    does. As he chants, my mate gets to his feet and shifts into a huge brown bear. Holy sh*t is all I can


    think as he stalks toward us.


    Cayden conjures an energy ball in his hand, but I stop him from throwing it. I start walking toward the


    bear. “What the hell are you doing mom?” “The goddess has given me another mate. He will not hurt


    me.” I hope, I say to myself. I stop a few feet from the bear and he starts to sniff the air. He growls but it


    isn’t in anger. I can see in his eyes that he realizes I’m his mate. He walks toward me and I ce my


    hand on his head. We stay like this for a few minutes before I step back. “Can you shift so we can


    speak?” He does as I ask and I try not to stare at this beautiful man that isrge all over. I turn and


    Cayden throws him a pair of shorts. Before I can turn back, I’m lifted into strong arms. Tingles erupt all


    over my skin and he buries his head in the crook of my neck. “What is your name mate?” He pulls back


    with shock on his face. “Did you just call me mate even knowing why I came here?” I smile and ce a


    hand on his cheek. I hear the cottage door close and I’m grateful that Cayden went inside. “I’m not


    happy that we met because you were trying to force me to go back to that ba**ard.” “Mine” he growls


    and I chuckle. “Yes, I am yours. The goddess has chosen to give me a mate despite already having a


    second chance. That is unheard of in our world and I will not disrespect her by wasting it.” “So will you


    ept me as your mate?” “Yes, I will, but can you ept that I am part of a pack that I n to return


    too.”


    I can see he is speaking to his bear. He looks into my eyes and smiles. “My kind very rarely find their


    fated mate. I would be a fool to throw away such a gift. We will go anywhere you are as long as the


    pack will have us. My name is Hudson and my bear is Tyson.” “You know my name and my wolf is


    Sadie.” “May I kiss you Evelyn” he asks so sweetly. I nod and he lifts me and presses his lips to mine.


    His kiss feels amazing and I melt into him. He pulls back when we are both breathless. “I will protect


    you and Cayden with my life.” When he includes Cayden, I know he will be nothing like Grant. I take his


    hand, leading him inside the cottage because we have a lot to talk about. I say a prayer of thanks to the


    goddess for bringing me another chance at happiness despite all the chances she has already given


    me.


    A Week Later


    Calliope POV


    I have taken my rightful ce as Alpha of Crescent Moon, but part of me misses the Silver Paw


    collective. I know the pack needs me, but I had let go of the dream of being Alpha. I miss seeing Carter,


    Abigale, and Sarah anytime I want to. They visit the pack every day, but it’s not the same. A knock on


    the door brings me out of my thoughts. Anthony and Benson walk in and I motion for them to take a


    seat. Bradford and Julie have moved back to the pack. Bradford is ready to retire, which is why I called


    this meeting. “I wanted to speak to you both because I will need a Beta and Gamma. Bradford is


    retiring so Anthony you will be talking your rightful ce. Benson, I would like you to be Gamma


    instead of returning to head warrior. I know this will be hard for you after Mateo gave you the title, but it


    is only right as the Beta position is Anthony’s by birth.” “Alpha, I am honored to be your Gamma and I


    would never think that I would remain Beta.” “I’m d because I wouldn’t want anyone else helping me


    run the pack. We will have the ceremony tomorrow to announce the two new Betas and the Gamma of


    the Crescent Moon.”