Midnight Mate

Memories

Katya POV

I sat in the plush backseat of the spacious car with Falcon, Maeve, and Nate. The leather seats felt cool against my skin as I looked out the tinted windows, taking in the passing scenery. The faint scent of fresh pine air wafted in through the cracked window.

Though Falcon insisted that none of the current situation was my fault, a pang of guilt still gnawed at me. It felt as if he was betraying his family and straining his relationship with them. I understood the pain of not having parents in my life, and I never wanted to be the reason someone distanced themselves from their loved ones.

Amidst the silence, broken only by Maeve and Nate's hushed conversation, Falcon was engrossed in a stack of large files, poring over them with a furrowed brow. Yet, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was deeply troubling him. It was almost as if his stress was seeping into my own being, a strange connection between us. I longed to alleviate his burden.

Placing my hand gently on his thigh, Falcon momentarily diverted his attention from the documents and locked eyes with me. I whispered, "Are you okay?" However, my whispered question wasn't as discreet as I had hoped, as Maeve let out a chuckle.

"That's just Falcon being Falcon," she interjected. "He always wears that serious expression, and when he's not fulfilling his duties, he's buried in reports with a grumpy face."

Falcon sighed in response to Maeve's comment. "You're not wrong. I bury myself in work, but having Katya by my side already helps to calm me," he admitted, as he took my hand.

Maeve nodded in agreement, saying, "Yes, she does have a calming effect on you, Falcon."

Feeling a deep desire to be of assistance, I confessed, "Is there anything I can do to help? I want to be useful."

Falcon set aside the file and took both of my hands in his. "For now, just being with me is enough," he confessed. Maeve dramatically cleared her throat, diverting all attention to her.

"It might be helpful if you explain werewolf packs and where we're going, and what you're doing to Katya," she suggested, her gaze fixed on Falcon.

Falcon ran a hand through his hair, a gesture of mild frustration. "You're right. I apologize, Katya. I should involve you more and keep you informed. Sometimes, I get lost in my own responsibilities and forget to bring you into the loop. It's not intentional," he assured me.

"I know," I replied, understanding his struggles.

"Werewolves, for the most part, live in what we call packs. Each pack has an Alpha wolf leading them. Those who are not associated with a pack are considered Rogue.

In this world, there are many packs, and a good portion of them reside underneath the kingdom's rule. They see me as their prince and my father as their King. However, there are also packs that do not acknowledge the kingdom. Some of these packs are enemies, while others remain natural.

Each pack has its own unique strengths. Some possess strong warriors. Others are skilled in the art of farming. All of these packs, united under the kingdom, work together. The stronger packs lend their strength to support the weaker ones. In return, the weaker packs provide essential resources such as food.

Amidst this intricate web of alliances, my pack, the kingdom pack, stands as a beacon of unity. We are a collective of packs that fall under our command, our ranks filled with warriors carefully chosen from other packs. Many of them have undergone rigorous training at the royal academy. Some return to their original packs upon completion. Others remain with the kingdom's warriors. And there are those stationed on behalf of the kingdom, sent to packs in need of support.

At the end of the day, the burden falls upon the kingdom to protect and ensure the survival of all packs. We face constant threats from vampires, and the rogues add an additional layer of danger to our lives.

The pack we are venturing towards now has recently suffered from vampire attacks. They are located near vampire territory. For a long time, they remained safe and protected, thanks to the Alpha's skillful negotiation. A peace treaty was forged with the vampire lord who ruled the neighboring land, the agreement.” He began to explain.

I interrupted wanting a little clarification. "What is a vampire lord?” I asked.

“Vampire lords in a way are like the Alpha of a pack,” he explained. “'Lords are pure blood, meaning they were born vampire. We also have vampires created once human; they are weaker than the lords. Vampire lords typically hold special powers such as necromancy, ability to control fire, mind control, as well as more. They are in no way easy opponents and they also typically let their grunts handle battles. They will not show themselves much. I've only ever faced one strong lord,” he

“The old Alpha of this pack recently passed and his son took over," he continued. “Ever since, they have not communicated much with the kingdom until recently. They expressed they had faced a bad attack and as a result lost many of their warriors.” I could feel a tension in the car, a sense of urgency. “The kingdom is stepping in to aid them. We will stay on their lands and help formulate a plan to keep them protected, whether that means fighting the lord or reaching a new peace treaty, or perhaps something else.

I can assure you, Katya, I will not let you get harmed. I know I am taking you somewhere dangerous, but I can and I will protect you. My duties may be important, but you are my mate. You will always be my top priority, for I am nothing without you,” he confessed. His words echoed in my mind, a comforting reassurance amidst the unknown.

“You are still very much a mystery to me, to all of us,” he continued. “I know you were wanted and mistreated in your world, and now it would seem you are a target here as well. But we will get to the truth behind exactly why you are and make sure you never fall into danger. I will never allow you to be used, nor will Maeve, Nate, or Tom.” The car grew quieter, the tension palpable. “Something is brewing in this world, strange things have been happening. Some, even before you came, that I just waved off. But now I know they are all part of this puzzle I will solve,” he declared.

“Did anything strange happen during your interrogation that you have not told us?” Nate questioned.

"Yes," Falcon admitted, his voice filled with a hint of unease, "the vampire it was sick."

"Sick? Is that even possible?" Meave blurted out, her eyes widening in disbelief.

"Apparently," he continued, "and it had black blood, thick like tar. The vampire's movements were erratic, as if something sinister was coursing through its veins. Perhaps witchcraft or some other dark force."

Falcon turned his attention back to me, his gaze intense. "Katya, I don't want to dredge up painful memories, but if you can recall anything from your time with your parents before they passed, it may help. Maybe you can describe where you lived with them, or share any special moments you had together."

"To be honest, I don't have many memories. I mean, I remember being happy. My father always played with me, my mother always cuddled with me, and I felt safe. But after the crash, my memories of home became blurred. I have small clips, but doctors claimed that due to the trauma, I may never fully retrieve them," I admitted.

"That's okay," Falcon said, squeezing my hand in a soothing way.

"I'll tell you the bits and pieces I do remember, but they may not make sense," I admitted. "My parents loved nature. I remember most of my time with them was spent outside. I remember often lying on a large blanket with them, looking at the stars. My mother used to say that some of the stars were those who protected us, watching over us. Those memories bring a smile to my face."

"Do you remember any other family, perhaps grandparents?" Maeve asked me.

"No, I never met any. I do remember my mother saying we protected each other because it was just us. She used to tell me that sometimes, when you love someone, you have to make a choice, and she chose to be with my father. I didn't understand when I was young, but I think her parents did not accept her relationship, so she left them," I explained.

"I do remember they acted a little odd before we left to go camping before they passed. I remember my mother rushing to pack the car, and it frightened me. I was young, yet she seemed rushed. She told me it was a last-minute trip, but to a special place. It was a long ride, and the story you told me, Maeve, my mother told me that story to try and get me to sleep. I remember asking her if she was okay since she seemed sad or maybe even afraid. I fell asleep at some point and did not wake until the car was crashing," I admitted, holding back some emotions threatening to break loose.

"Thank you for telling us," Falcon said, clearly realizing I may cry. "I know this may sound far-fetched to you, Katya, and right now it is just a possibility, but I am wondering if maybe you resided in this world as a child."

"The vampire I spoke with said I brought something back," he explained. “There is also a possibility your parents lived here and maybe brought you to the human world to keep you safe," he continued, his words swirling in my mind. Confusion washed over me like a cold wave. Was there truth in his words?

"But why? I mean, I did not have this scar on my neck until the crash, meaning I was not blessed then." I asked really confused.

He paused, his eyes searching mine for answers. "I'm not sure," he admitted, his voice filled with uncertainty. "I think you may just be special. You being human is confirmed, but it's also clear you are not a normal human. Humans do reside here, so it is not impossible for your parents to have been from here. Also, you mentioned the story Maeve told you, is it the one about the guardians?"

I nodded, my mind still reeling from the revelation. "Yes," I replied, my voice trembling.

"Why would a story from our world be told to you?" he questioned, his voice laced with curiosity. "I could be wrong, Katya, but let's keep it as a possibility."

"Have you ever considered witchcraft may be in use to hide the truth about Katya Falcon?" Nate pointed out, his words hanging in the air like a thick fog.

My head spun with the possibilities, the weight of the truth threatening to overwhelm me. Was there more to my existence than I had ever known?

"I don't know," Falcon responded, his voice filled with uncertainty. "Sora claimed she was human, but she may also be deceiving me for all I know. We will discover the truth."

As he guided me into a comfortable position against him, he explained, "I don't want you to be overwhelmed or stressed, Katya. So for now, let's rest. We will be at our destination in a little over an hour."

His touch was comforting, and I could sense his concern for me. "You are the one in need of rest," I said to him.

"I'm fine," he reassured me. "But you, I can sense when you are overwhelmed. So get comfortable against me, so you can calm."

Intending to do as he asked, I settled against him. However, just as I got comfortable, the car suddenly jerked to an abrupt stop. Falcon's body became stiff, and a growl rumbled in his chest.

"Rogues," he murmured, his heart rate increasing.

"Maeve, Tom, you are to keep Katya safe," Falcon ordered, his voice tense. "Nate, be prepared to fight if needed."

Before I could say a word, howls filled the sky outside the car. Nate and Falcon swiftly jumped out of the car and closed the door, leaving me slightly stunned and confused.