Midnight Mate

Honest

Falcon POV

"Jump me," I linked Nate as we all sat at the table.

"Jump you? What do you mean?" He responded back to me through our link.

"I need to see if I can trigger Katya's power." I explained through our link.

"Alpha, have you gone mad?" Nate's concern echoed through our link, "What if she blows up the hideout? Forgive my hesitation, but you're not being safe about this."

"Katya has my mark, if need be, I can use it to stop her." I reassured him.

"It is important we learn fast, as many seem to be aware of her. I need to help her learn how to protect herself. I need to know she can survive, even on her own," I explained to him over the link.

Nate reluctantly agreed, "Fine, I will do as you command, Alpha. But afterwards, I do hope you'll tell me what's going on with you. I know you well, Falcon, and I can sense something is wrong."

Nate swiftly obeyed, jumping up from his seat and entering attack mode. Katya gasped, her eyes widening in shock, while Maeve yelled at Nate to stop. I had intentionally kept Maeve in the dark, needing her to believe this was not an act for my plan to succeed. Thankfully, it worked.

As Nate approached me, Katya's hands began to glow, emitting a warm, ethereal light. "Get off Falcon!" She yelled. The intensity of her command caught my attention, resembling that of an Alpha's command, possibly even stronger than mine. If she had commanded me, I might not have been able to resist.

Nate fell to his knees, his expression filled with surprise, as I swiftly grasped Katya's glowing hands and locked eyes with her.

"Focus on me, Katya," I commanded, my voice firm and steady. "Focus only on me, understand?" I watched as her eyes transformed into a mesmerizing shade of silver, emitting an eerie glow I had never witnessed before.

Ash, concerned, whispered in my mind, "Katya has inherited immense power. If left uncontrolled, it could consume her." As she took deep breaths, her desperation palpable, I urged her to release some of that power, assuring her that I would not be harmed. I fixated on her face, a single tear escaping her eye. It pained me to frighten her, but it was necessary. The energy flowing from her was warm and pure, devoid of any malevolence. However, it could also be dangerous.

Ash, trying to sense the power, remarked, "It appears to be some sort of shield. The power emanating from her is shielding us."

"Throw a kitchen knife at me, one that won't do real harm," I instructed Maeve through our mental link. She complied, swiftly launching the knife towards me. However, before it could reach its target, Katya's power surged around me, creating a sudden spike of energy. With a forceful blast, the knife was forcefully propelled away from me.

In that moment, I realized this was just a glimpse of Katya's true power. She possessed the ability to shield those she desired, effortlessly repelling any threats with what seemed like a shockwave or a miniature explosion. It dawned on me that this might be the same power that had stunned the vampires. Now, the question remained: how did she protect others from the disease? Surely, her power couldn't be constantly shielding them; she would exhaust herself.

"Her blood, I can smell it. There's something about it that grants immunity," Ash explained in my mind, breaking my train of thought. I couldn't help but focus on the fact that he could detect the scent of her blood. And then, I saw it—a small trickle from her nose. It was too much for her right now.

"Okay, Katya, now I need you to calm down and stop the flow of power. I'm safe, no one will hurt me," I reassured her, locking eyes with her once again. She took several deep breaths, her glowing aura gradually subsiding.

"You're bleeding," she said, concern etched on her face. Her hand reached out towards me, and that's when I realized that I, too, had blood trickling from my nose.

"You didn't hurt me," I reassured her, trying to alleviate her worries. Placing my arm against my nose, I assessed the extent of the bleeding.

"Falcon, your blood," Katya said, her voice filled with concern. I looked down at my arm that had some on it, which appeared unnaturally black. "It's just the lighting," I assured her, my voice hurried. "I'll be right back."

I quickly turned and entered one of the bathrooms. With a sense of urgency, I wiped away the dark substance on my arm and from my nose. As I exited the bathroom, I saw Maeve comforting Katya, who held a towel to her nose. "You did well, Katya. I learned a lot," I admitted, trying to ease her fears. "I'm sorry for startling you, but it was necessary to trigger you."

Katya nodded, understanding my intentions. "I need to step outside briefly to talk to Nate about patrolling the area. I'll be right back," I informed her, my voice filled with reassurance.

Outside, Nate leaned against the garage, the sound of crickets chirping in the distance. I couldn't sense anyone nearby, and Tom's patrols had revealed nothing out of the ordinary. It was safe to talk outside for now. "Black blood," Nate observed, his gaze fixed on me. "You're infected, aren't you, Falcon? That's why you were in such a rush to trigger your mate."

I sighed, my shoulders slumping in defeat. "Yes, you're right. I'm infected," I admitted, my voice heavy with resignation. "To be honest, I didn't want to believe it, but my blood confirms it. I was bitten by an infected."

Nate's expression turned serious. "Then we need to find a way for Katya to heal you," he suggested, concern evident in his voice.

I shook my head, a mix of fear and determination coursing through me. "I was warned that it could end her life," I confessed.

"Your our Alpha Falcon," Nate explained, his voice filled with urgency. "We may have walked away from the kingdom temporarily, but I know all choices you have made are not just for your mate. They are to protect all those in the kingdom and the packs under us. We need you, your life is important."

I nodded, the weight of responsibility heavy on my shoulders. "I am well aware," I replied, my voice tinged with determination. "And that is why I am in a rush to see what really has been going on in our research facility. If this disease has been around, I am sure my father has been trying to find a cure. I refuse to believe Katya is the only one."

"I will fight and do everything in my power to survive," I continued. "But there is one thing I will never do, and that is harm my mate. We need to learn more about her power, and I need to see if it will indeed hurt her to cure me of this."

Nate's eyes narrowed, his concern evident. "You're hiding this from her, aren't you?" he asked.

A growl rumbled in my chest, frustration and guilt warring within me. "I don't want to keep anything from her," I admitted, my voice laced with regret. "But I fear if I tell her, she will try to heal me before we know if it is safe."

Nate's expression softened, understanding crossing his face. "Tell her," he urged gently. "For you have to realize, keeping a secret like this will hurt her more."

I put my head in my hands, feeling the weight of his words. "I promised her this world would be safer, Nate," I confessed, my voice heavy with regret. "Yet she seems to face even more danger here. I promised her I would never leave her, that we would remain together. But I made a mistake fighting and ended up with something that can claim my life. I am one who never breaks his word, yet all I seem to be doing is that for Katya."

Nate shook his head, his expression filled with understanding. "From what you told us, you heard your mate and she needed you," he reasoned. "She may not even be alive right now, or she could be in serious trouble if you had not gone to her. And who is to say others would not have discovered and gone after her? The moon goddess clearly guided you to her, for you heard her before even marking her. She is meant to be with you right now. Yes, she faces danger here, but she has you. She has all of us by her side. And it sounds like she needs to be here to put an end to the danger our world is now facing. I'm not letting you die, Falcon. None of us are. You may be stubborn and not want to risk your mate, and I understand why. But you need to let us all help you find another way. Keep your word to her and stay by her side, but tell her what is going on. I will help you make sure she does not just sacrifice herself. I promise you that. But let her help, like she wants to."

Tom approached from his patrol, his footsteps barely audible. "For now, we are in the clear. No one followed us," he reported.

Relief washed over me, a weight lifted from my shoulders. "Thank you, go in and get some rest," I instructed him, grateful for his dedication.

"I will tell her, you are right" I acknowledged, my voice resolute. "But I do need your word, Nate, that if needed, you will stop her from sacrificing herself. If it ever gets to that point, I need to know she is safe."

Nate bowed his head, his eyes filled with determination. "You have my word, although I will do all I can to make sure it never gets to that point," he vowed.

I took a deep breath, the air cool against my skin. "For now, other than the black blood, I am fine. I do not feel weaker, nor does Ash feel anything," I reassured Nate. "I am hopeful that in the kingdom, we will find more information on this disease and how fast it takes hold of someone."

Nate nodded, his gaze unwavering. "I will accompany you. When do you plan on leaving?" he inquired.

"Late tonight," I confessed. He nodded once more, his expression filled with readiness. "I will be prepared," he promised me.

I peered at the hideout, taking a moment to steady myself. "She will be afraid, but Nate is right. Our mate deserves to know the truth," Ash's voice echoed in my mind as I stepped back inside. Katya sat on the couch with Maeve, their laughter filling the room. It warmed my heart to see my closest friends making my mate feel at ease and genuinely liking her.

Katya's gaze shifted to me as she noticed my presence. "How are you feeling?" I asked.

"Fine," she admitted, a hint of surprise in her voice. "You startled me, that's for sure. But with you, it didn't feel overwhelming." Her words brought a sense of relief.

"That's good," I said, hesitating for a moment. Again, a feeling I was not used to washed over me, causing my heart to race. I was never one to struggle to speak with someone, but to be honest, right now, I was terrified.

"What's wrong?" Katya asked me, her eyes searching mine for answers. When I had first entered the hideout, I had decided to tell her alone. But now, standing in front of her with Nate behind me, and Tom and Maeve in the same room, I decided it was best to do so now.

I took a deep breath, the air feeling heavy and suffocating. "When I was bitten by the vampire back at the kingdom, I hadn't thought much of it since I healed fast. My only concern then was how you were hurt as well, Katya," I started explaining, my voice trembling slightly.

As I looked at her and everyone else, a sense of unease filled the room. "I have since learned that the vampire that bit me, and then I killed, was infected with the disease that is spreading. And apparently, the way it spreads is to be bitten by one infected," I continued, my words hanging in the air.

Maeve's eyes widened, her fear palpable. I could tell Katya was processing what I was saying, her brows furrowing in deep thought. "I am infected with the disease that is killing the vampires and werewolves. That is the reason my blood was black," I finished.

The room fell into a heavy silence, punctuated only by the sound of our breathing. My heart thudded in my chest, the weight of the situation settling on everyone.

"I can heal people, right? So that means I can cure you, right?" Katya asked, panic and concern etched on her face. I could see the tears welling up in her eyes.

"Yes, you can heal, and you can potentially cure me, Katya. But the witch said curing me may harm you, possibly kill you. So, I can't allow you to do so right now," I said, my voice steady despite the fear coursing through me.

"I am not in any pain, nor do I feel sick right now," I quickly added, trying to reassure her. But deep down, I knew the inevitable would come.

"But you will. This will kill you if not cured," Katya whispered, her voice filled with anguish.

"I won't let it claim my life. I will find a way to cure myself and anyone else infected. All I ask is for all of your assistance in finding a cure. And I ask you, Katya, to not try and heal me for the time being, even if you want to. Continue to trust in me," I said, my voice determined.

She looked down for a moment, her internal struggle evident. "I trust you, Falcon. I won't try right now. I will do as you ask. But you can't expect me not to try if you get worse and your life is on the line," she admitted, her voice filled with both love and fear.

"I know," I said, my voice softening. As she stood up and walked over to me, her eyes locked with mine. In that moment, we shared a deep connection. She wrapped her arms around me tightly, offering comfort and support.

"There is no way I'm letting your stubborn ass die. So let's get on it. We will do whatever it takes," Maeve declared.

"Thank you," I said to everyone. We would find a way I was sure of it.