Mari’s POV
I sit in the passenger seat next to Hanna.
I remember her well, she was there that night at the club. She’s hard not to remember, with her short haircut, the nose piercing, and the abundance of studs and hoops lining her left ear.
About an hour ago, she showed up at my door and said that Stefan had instructed her to take me to town to get whatever I needed. Given I hadn’t brought much, I was happy to oblige.
Of course, I had made it clear that I had no money to speak of, of which she assured me he got it covered. I’ve never been one to accept free things—because they usually are not—but I’m making an exception for this one. After everything he has put me through the past few days, I believe I have gained more than enough right to spend some of his money.
“You’re taking this quite well,” Hanna comments, her dark brown eyes giving me a cursory glance before focusing on the road.
“Am I?”
She nods. “I figured you’d freak out and be in denial or something. I have never met a human who’s been bitten and turned before, but I figured it couldn’t be easy.”
“Yeah, well,” I shrug, giving her a quick smile, “I didn’t exactly have much to lose.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t have a family, or life, waiting for me. It’s just me, so maybe that’s why it was easier.”
I’ve been confused, of course. I’m still catching up with my new identity, and maybe reality hasn’t hit me yet. But not once have I felt angry or wanted to lash out at Stefan for what he made me into.
This new world seems surreal, but I don’t hate that I’m now part of it. Maybe that has to do with the uncontrollable, unexplainable feelings I’m developing for Stefan. Perhaps that’s why it all seems like a walk in the park when in reality, my life has been flipped upside down.
“I think I understand that,” Hanna says, nodding slightly.
I pick at lint on my jeans. “I’m not sure about this entire wife thing, though. I wasn’t exactly planning on getting married at twenty-three.”
“Oh, dear,” she mutters, her fingers drumming on the steering wheel. “It’s too late now, sweetie.” She looks at me, smiling warmly. “But don’t worry. It’s not like human marriages. None of that legal stuff and shit. You don’t even have to worry about him being unfaithful. The only thing that can go wrong now is if either of you rejects the other, or death. Anyway, whatever idea you have about marriage, throw it out of the window. This is better.” She throws me a wink. “It helps that the sex just gets better.”
My cheeks grow warm. “What exactly does it mean to reject him?”
“When werewolves mate, a bond is formed between the two. That bond can only be broken by two things. Death, or if one of you verbally rejects the other. Like a breakup, but on a deeper, kind of spiritual level. I don’t know how to explain it. But it’s painful, and not just emotionally.”
I nod. “Do you have a mate?”
She chuckles. “No.”
I chew on my bottom lip. “What did you mean when you said I don’t have to worry about him being unfaithful?”
“Most wolves bond for life. Werewolves too. Especially when you’re a fated pair who went ahead and mated. You’re fortunate in that aspect.” She takes a turn and pulls the car into a parking lot. I notice we’ve arrived at a mall. Parking the car, she turns to look at me. “But it’s different for werewolves like you, who were human first. Those are the ones who are most likely to turn their backs on their mates.”
“Oh,” I mutter. What else can I say? I can’t exactly vouch for humans as the most faithful lovers to walk the earth.
She removes the key from the ignition and releases her seatbelt. “Come on, let’s go shop.”
Yeah, sounds like something I’m up for.
About a couple hours later, we sit down at a café and order milkshakes and dessert. I’m enjoying the outing more than I thought I would. Hanna is easy to be around. She makes it feel like I’ve known her for ages.
“What’s on your mind?” she asks, eyes focused on me.
She’s also quite attentive, not missing anything. She has obviously noticed all the hesitant glances I’ve been giving her when her attention was elsewhere.
“It’s a bit personal.”
“I won’t tell,” she promises, grinning.
“How many kids do werewolves normally have?”
Her face scrunches in a frown. “As many as they like, I suppose? But like many human families, two or three.”
“But–” I frown as I recall what Stefan said. If the mates crave each other when the female is fertile, and they don’t use protection, doesn’t that mean there’s bound to be quite large families? Speaking of which, is the gestation period similar to that of humans? “He said they kind of have to… you know… have sex when the female is fertile, and they can’t use protection.”
Hanna laughs and waves her hand. “He was teasing you.”
I blink. “What?”
“Our healers have made not just the perfect contraceptive, but also something that can do away with the horniness when you’re fertile. It’s how unattached females survive.”
I exhale in relief. Thank God. Ever since he told me about it last night, I haven’t been able to put it out of my mind. Being his wife is one thing, and suddenly having to carry babies all the time if I wish to have sex is entirely another thing.
“Also, you won’t be fertile monthly,” Hanna informs me. “At least not fertile enough to carry a pup. That will happen once or twice a year. So, if you want babies, you’ll have to grab the opportunity when it comes.”
“Will I still have periods?” I ask, getting hopeful.
She laughs. “Sadly, yes.”
Dammit.
“Can you tell me more about all this fated and destiny thing? Is it like when you have a soulmate?”
She snaps her fingers. “Exactly. All werewolves, those who become so by birth, at least, have a soulmate made just for them. Of course, not everyone gets to meet theirs. With all the pack wars, some of us will inevitably lose our mates before we even meet them.”
“So, can you mate with someone who’s not your fated one?”
She nods. “Yes. But you can only bond with someone else if you’ve rejected your fated one, or they are dead. Otherwise, even if you mate, and the fated one shows up, your little romance will not stand a chance. The bond is the most important thing.”
Stefan has been looking for my sister for years because she is his fated one. I’m way out of depth here. According to Thomas, she’s still alive. That means, no matter how much I feel like sticking to his side, I really need to get out of here.
“So, how do you know if you’ve bonded?”
“When a male has bonded with you, he’ll mark you. With his scent.” She leans forward and whispers conspiratorially, “I hear you can smell it coming from his pores like incense. Is it true?”
I stare back at her wide-eyed, my face flaming up again.
She chuckles and pulls back. “Sorry, didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
I give her a small smile. “I thought that’s just something that happens when your kind has sex.”
She shakes her head. “Nah. When you bond with someone, it’s like a confirmation that you two belong to each other. That’s the only time the male emits the scent. It’s like a seal on your bond.”
“Oh,” I mumble.
My twin is Stefan’s fated, yet he bonded with me. Does that mean she’s dead? Is that why he said he wouldn’t look for her anymore, because he knows what bonding to me means?
I have one more question for Hanna. “So, this scent, is it only the males who can smell it?”
She shakes her head. “Females can too. If you get close to a bonded male, you’ll know.” She winks. “It’s like a warning to stay off another’s property.”
I smile. “No need to resort to hickeys, uh?”
She laughs, her eyes lighting up. “I guess not.”
When we are done with brunch, we pick up our shopping bags and get ready to leave. Outside the café, I notice something.
A book store.
I get an idea.
Turning to Hanna, I tell her, “There’s one more thing I need to get.”