Taming Her Beastly Mate
Chapter 54

“She said her name is Meryl.” There was silence around the room as everyone looked toward Wyatt and Freya – The King and Queen of the Werewolves. They knew Meryl and it wasn’t a name that brought anything other than dread, death, and destruction where ever she went.

Freya had a chill go down her spine as she thought back to the last time they had met. (Demon War: Rise of the Alpha.) Meryl had been obsessed with Freya’s family since her mother had chosen a vampire mate. She had killed both of Freya’s parents as well as injected Wyatt with a b***d curse.

“Meryl… I killed her. How is it possible?” Freya looked up to look at her mate, Wyatt in disbelief.

“I wonder if she plans to settle her old grudge,” Wyatt growled angrily. He glanced over at his son Aiden who he knew would be apprehensive. His mate Diana had remained at the Diamond pack against Aiden’s protests. Lycaon insisted Diana would be safe and that it was important for a leader to stay behind. Aiden was adamant that if Diana stayed behind then he was staying as well. But Diana was unwavering that she would stay alone. She wanted time away from Aiden. If truth be told Wyatt was a bit anxious over the relationship. Diana had a wall built around her and would only briefly let Aiden in before it was back up again. He knew his son was hurting but he never voiced it.

Wyatt knew what it was like to be rejected. And at this point, he wasn’t sure how things were going to go for Aiden and Diana. Aiden wanted her. But Diana—he honestly wasn’t sure. She seemed to care for Aiden, but she has been reluctant to accept his mark. If Aiden ended up rejected all he could do was be there for him. For now, this worry needed to be pushed to the back burner.

“Is she a necromancer like Beryl had turned into?” Lucy asked as she attempted to get up on her own. An attempt that failed. She had three men on her instantly and a little boy all scolding her. Lucy clicked her tongue, “I can stand!”

“Sit down and relax. You don’t need to use up your energy standing.” Derek slid into the seat and pulled her down onto his lap.

“Might as well forget it, Lucy. All our men see are porcelain dolls about to break.” Destiny leaned back as she rubbed her round hardened stomach. Ever since Harley found out she was pregnant he has been doting on her relentlessly.

Harley moved back to Destiny and placed his hands on her shoulders. He lightly rubbed them as he looked up at everyone. “She could have been brought back a number of different ways. She is working with demons. Necromancy, soul binding, I mean there are many forms that she can be brought back as.”

“She could materialize and teleport. And she was strong. I remember feeling her aura. I’ve never felt anything like it.” Alexis murmured as she tried to remember the details.

“The thing is most necromancers have black eyes. White eyes…” Harley trailed off as his lips curled downwards. He mindlessly rubbed Destiny’s shoulders. He had been avoiding the depths of the demon realm for quite some time. Ever since he found his unborn mate, he distanced himself. He didn’t want his sweet mate being subjected to the horrors of the dark world. But because of his absence, there was a lot now that he didn’t know. Even the loyal men he kept by his side no longer had the same dealings.

Harley had moved all his interest into the corporate world. He had grown his businesses to be a global tycoon. For a Demon, his work and business takeovers were non-violent but so satisfying. Destiny and her mother Jin were too kindhearted and he would protect their gentle souls from any evil lurking. And one of those evils now was someone who was brought back from the dead with white eyes. A creature like that was very dangerous. Because there was only one that came to mind right now.

“A Nycrops.” Aba lifted his little brown eyes up to Harley.

“How?!” Tristan scowled as he looked at the small child. It was hard to remember that this kid was much older than he was.

“Aba is right. A nycrops seems to fit the puzzle correctly. They must have sealed her body with an alabaster stone. It would have collected her soul and essence when she died. Then the demons would have only needed to retrieve it. And with the powers of the stone, they can bring back a species of their choosing.” Harley looked up at Levi. “Deities and original demons won’t have any issues with a nycrops. But even your guardians will have one hell of a fight on their hands. If she is indeed a nycrops the demons have unleashed one hell of an ally.”

“I think they are using her to work on the nembrant glass. Erebus asked her why it wasn’t working. Is there something special a nycrops can do with the glass?” Alexis asked and watched as Harley’s eyes widened.

“That’s it.” Harley nodded his head and sighed. “The nembrant glass was originally created by the nycrops. So, they must need one for enhancement’s… or more production.” He lifted his eyes up to Levi and then to Aken.

“Right, we need to get rid of this nycrops as soon as possible. The last thing we need is more of that damn glass.” Levi growled. He didn’t like the sounds of this at all. It smelled. The whole discussion reeked of something sinister.

“At least the family is safe inside of Elysium. We can take this time to observe and come up with a well thought out plan.” Tyler finally spoke up as the patriarch of the family.

“I’ll be taking Alexis and Micah with me for a bit,” Aken spoke out firmly leaving no room for objection. Though it happened anyways.

“Where?! I just got my daughter back. I want her where it is safe.” Levi balled his hand into a fist. Rhea’s small hand encompassed his own hand as her eyes also held to Aken’s.

“I just got my mate back. And this is after her not being able to see my face because of the glass. I understand your concern. But she will be safe at my place. What fool would come into my home? No one. It is well hidden and protected. And I will be there.” Aken looked down at Alexis and smiled. He was keeping his temper under control for her. He really wanted to lash out at the cold blooded flying serpent. Instead, he wanted to make this less stressful for Alexis. For her, he would behave himself. “It will be safer for Alexis if she is linked to my summon abilities. I’ll be able to teleport to her instantly.”

“After everything that happened, I don’t think this is a family decision. I think Alexis needs this.” Micah winked over at Alexis and listened to Levi’s quiet snort.

“I understand. Selfishly, I want you here with me. But Aken is able to protect you. Just like Lee protects me. And I know he would never put you in danger.” Rhea squeezed Lee’s hand and looked up at him. One of the toughest things they had to do now was to understand their daughter was an adult. It was time for them to let go and allow her to make her own decisions.

“Well before you go you are having girl talk with us!” Lucy insisted. “It’s been a while since us girls have been together. Someone go get Raine. She can come up for air for a couple of hours to be with us.”

Cody began coughing and Jason started laughing. Jason’s daughter, Destiny, has already taken a mate and is pregnant. He knew all too well the emotions his brother was feeling.

“It won’t be long before you are going to be a grandpa yourself.” Jason teased his brother.

“I’m too young to be called grandpa.” Cody pouted. His baby girl now had a mate, and it was hard not to be the number one man in her life. They always had a fun close relationship. And he was still adjusting to the newness of it all.

“Young? I’m having specially engraved canes being made for your birthdays this year.” Justice grinned widely at his uncle and father. “We should make one for your dad too, right Aiden?” He looked over at his cousin who had a blank expression on his face. His mind seemed to be somewhere else. He lifted his eyes and nodded with a faint smile.

Alexis looked at her cousin and felt her heart crush to pieces. She understood the pain of your mate distancing themselves from you. It hurt. And you felt like there was something wrong with you. That it was because of you that they didn’t want you. Because you weren’t enough as you are, otherwise, they would be by your side. She knew that look. She didn’t know what was going on in Aiden’s life exactly, but there was some pain there. Luckily, she had experience with it and knew how to help it. And that was to distract yourself.

Alexis swirled her fingers together forming several white thick fluffy balls. And then she unleashed her frigid barrage. Justice, Aiden, and Jasper soon were wearing a layer of white snow on their face. It dripped down slowly melting as it hit the ground below them.

Aiden looked up at Alexis and a smile reached not only on his face but his eyes. “A snowball fight? Like when we were kids?”

“Why not?” Alexis smiled biting her bottom l*p.

“What are teams? Because these two can’t play. They can only roll.” A cheesy grin spread over Justice’s face as another snowball slammed into his cheek.

“Oops.” Alexis shrugged with a giggle.

“Hit him again Lex!” Destiny snorted glaring at her brother. “I am busy cooking your niece or nephew in here. Have some consideration.”

“I was having consideration. I didn’t call you Stay Puff Marshmallow Man.” This time Justice dodged to the side missing the next flying snowball.

“No teams. It should be a free for all.” Aiden said and then glared at Micah. “No teams, Micah.”

Micah snorted and shrugged. “I know what a free for all is.”

“Oh, you know it but every time we have one you end up protecting Alexis.” Justice turned a scolding eye to Micah.

“I don’t know what you are talking about.” Micah shrugged with a sly grin on his face.

Aken leaned his head down and brushed his lips over the top of Alexis’ head. As he held her gently.

“Why don’t you go get Terra and bring her here. I’m sure she would like to participate as well.” Alexis watched as Aken frowned slightly.

“It will take you seconds to grab her and come back here.” Alexis giggled.

“Terra?” Destiny asked as she raised her brow looking at Aken suspiciously.

“Terra is half demon and half vampire. Aken took her in after the demon war. I don’t think she thinks highly of herself. She was nervous meeting me thinking I wouldn’t want to be around her. I think being around our family is exactly what she needs.” Alexis smiled up at Aken.

Aken grabbed onto Alexis’ shoulders and guided her to Micah. “Hold onto her and don’t let her go. I’ll be back in seconds.” He listened to Alexis laugh but Micah nodded to him in understanding. He released Alexis into Micah’s arms as he prepared to grab Terra and flash back instantly.

Alexis watched Aken disappear and what was maybe twenty seconds later he was back with a confused Terra by his side.

“What is the rush?” Terra asked and then her whole body tensed as she looked up at all the people. She bit her bottom l*p nervously and her gaze instantly went to the ground.

“Terra! I’m glad you can join us. We are going to have a snowball fight. It’ll be fun.” Alexis shrugged herself out of Micah’s arms and reached out to grab onto Terra’s hands. She could feel how tense Terra was. And her eyes looked up at her anxiously. She could see confusion washing over her as she glanced around timidly.

Terra was being hit was an overwhelming wave of emotions. She was never around a lot of people and suddenly it was a crowd. But there was also this strange scent that was pulling her. It made her begin to glance around as she tried to locate the source. Then her eyes landed on a pair of brown eyes that were staring at her intently. She caught her breath in her throat as the eyes stared at her possessively. Then she heard him growl and he marched towards her.

“Mine.”