Sabre's Quest

Sanctuary

Sabre

I lean my head against the wall and stare upwards. How did Brandon find me? I had suppressed my damn wolf, so how could he find me? “How did he find me?” I say out loud.

Kai looks at me with a raised eyebrow. “Huh?”

“f*****g, Brandon f*****g Fairbanks,” I almost yell and stand up. I pace and claw at my hair.

Kai watches me with a worried expression. “Is that who I swept off the bridge?”

“Yeah, he’s my mate,” I sigh. “Or well was.”

“Your friend?” Kai asks, and I huff.

“No, my fated mate,” I respond.

Kai looks confused, “You have fated friends?”

“What? No,” I grumble and look at Kai. I sigh. “You have no idea what I am talking about, do you?”

He shakes his head.

“s**t,” I flop on the hard ground again. I am exhausted to the core and starving. I cannot rest or eat for fear of being found by Brandon.

“Do you want to get something to eat?” Kai touches my shoulder, and I feel a spark. It’s not like the mate bond, but it’s not like when Thanatos touches me.

“Huh?” I mutter as I look into Kai’s deep blue eyes. They are like the ocean.

“Want to get something to eat?” He asks again. “I can hear your stomach growling, and I’m hungry too.” He stands up and holds a hand down to me.

I clasp it and let him pull me to my feet, “Sure.”

We wander into the diner and slink over to a table in a quiet corner. I look out the window for assurance as a grey-haired woman walks over with menus.

“Evening, kids,” she says in a deep smoker’s voice. “I’m Betty. Can I get you started with some drinks?”

“I’ll have root beer,” Kai answers.

“Okay,” Betty coos. “And for you?”

I am looking out the window again.

“Miss?” Betty lightly taps the table.

“Oh, what?”

“What would you like to drink?” Kai says.

“Water,” I mutter.

“Just water?” Betty asks.

“Yeah,” I nod.

“You can have whatever you want, my treat,” Kai adds.

I shake my head, “I just want water.”

“Okay,” Betty says and walks away.

Kai picks up the menu, “I wonder what’s good here.”

I keep my vigil out the window. Every set of headlights sends my heart racing as I anticipate Brandon finding me.

“Sabre,” Kai touches my hand, and I yelp.

“Sorry,” I sigh. “I just- “I sigh again.

Betty wanders up with two glasses and sets them on the table. “Do you kids know what you want to eat?” She asks.

I take a quick glance at the menu, “Chicken tenders,” I say.

“Do you want fries or onion rings with that?” Betty asks.

“Fries,” I respond, “And lots of barbeque sauce for dip.”

Betty smirks as she writes down my order. She flicks her brown eyes to Kai, “And you?”

Kai glances at the menu and then at Betty, “I want the country-fried steak with mashed potatoes.”

“Oh, hungry boy, huh?” Betty jokes.

“Yes, ma’am,” Kai nods with a smile.

“Okay, kiddos. I will get those in,” Betty takes our menus and walks away.

I look around the diner, and a few truckers and other patrons are quietly eating. I glance out the window again.

“You are so anxious,” Kai says.

I take a deep breath, “Yeah. I just want to finish my quest, but- “I trail off.

“Your mate,” Kai narrows his eyes. “Your fated mate.”

I nod.

“I’m not familiar with werewolves,” he says a little too loudly.

“Shh,” I say.

“Anyways, I know of your kind, but you are the first one I met. That I know of,” He continues. “I have met werecats and wereseals.”

“Huh? Wereseals?” I snort.

He nods, “Yeah, my neighbor Shamus is one.”

“Yeah, okay,” I laugh and drink my water. “We were created by the goddess Selene.”

“Oh,” He nods.

“She gifted us with a fated mate,” I explain. “Like a soulmate.”

“Oh, okay,” Kai smiles.

“Anyways. Usually, that means the woman must settle down with the man. I’m not ready to settle,” I say. “I have been on a quest to find my mother. So, I don’t have time to be a Luna.”

Kai lifts his eyebrow and sips his root beer.

“Luna is the mate of the Alpha. Alphas lead our packs,” I explain.

“You live in packs? Like actual wolves?” He asks.

I nod, “Yeah, like extended families. Some packs of females aren’t equal. But in mine, they were.”

“Okay,” Kai nods.

“Anyways, I rejected Brandon. It’s kind of painful for our wolves,” I tell him. I feel strange unloading on Kai, but he is just sitting there listening with a slight smile on his gorgeous face. I stare for a moment at his perfect lips and deep blue eyes. I love his curly hair and how it sits on his head.

“Sabre,” Kai interrupts my thoughts.

“Yeah, anyways, I rejected Brandon, but he didn’t accept,” I mention. “I left my pack and my family to come on this quest. Brandon has been on my tail ever since.”

“Oh,” Kai huffs.

“But I don’t know how he found me again,” I slap the table, eliciting stares.

Betty saunters over to us, “Is everything alright, dear?” She asks.

I nod, “Yes, sorry. I didn’t mean to startle anyone.”

“Okay,” She pats my shoulder. “Your food should be out shortly.” She smiles and walks away.

I sigh. “My wolf had been calling to Brandon,” I say to a quiet Kai.

“Wolf?”

“I have a wolf in my head,” I say.

“Oh, I heard about that part from Gramps,” I say. “He is human, but he knows about all sorts of creatures like you.”

“Aren’t you a demigod?” I shoot back.

“Yeah,” he says.

“That makes you a creature,” I snort.

“Whatever,” He shrugs and taps his fingers on the table. So, your wolf was calling to Brandon?” He asks while waving his hand.

“Yeah,” I nod. “I went to a witch, and she gave me a potion to suppress Nike.”

“Nike? Oh, your wolf has a name, cool,” He laughs.

“It didn’t work, though,” I bury my head in my hands. “He still found me.”

“Excuse me, darling,” Betty’s voice makes me jump, and I look up as she stands beside the table with our food. The chicken smells delicious as she sets a basket down. She smiles as she also sets some little barbecue sauce dishes down. “I brought you two different sauces,” she says. “Honey and spicy.”

“Oh, thank you,” I grin as I pick up a fry and bite into it.

Betty touches my arm, “Your mate can still find you despite suppressing your wolf.” She whispers, and my blood goes cold. “Don’t fear me, child. I am of no harm to you or your demigod friend.”

“How did you know what we are?” Kai asks.

“I am a shifter like her,” She nods at me. “Anyways, enjoy your food, kids.” She winks and walks away.

I watch the old woman walk away and wonder what she is. She said she is a shifter.

“I wonder what she turns into,” Kai laughs.

“Do you turn into anything?” I ask.

He shrugs, “No.”

“So, you are a demigod? That means your father is a god?” I wonder.

He nods, “Yeah.”

“My mother’s father is a god,” I say.

“Which one? That probably makes us cousins or something,” He jokes.

“Ares,” I respond.

“Oh, him,” He huffs. “I’ve met him once or twice. He tried wooing my mother.” He made a sour face. “But Gramps chased him off.”

“Your grandfather chased off the god of war?” I say with disbelief.

“Gramps can be pretty scary when he wants,” Kai laughs. “He’s an old fisherman. So, he’s not afraid of anything.”

“Fisherman,” I mutter. “You live by the ocean?” I guess, and Kai nods. “So, your father is- “

“Poseidon,” He responds. “Yeah.”

“I see,” I look Kai up and down.

“I don’t turn into a mermaid,” He makes a face.”

“I-I-I,” I stutter as I imagine Kai with a fish lower half.

“Right,” Kai snickers.

“Do you kids need some place to stay tonight?” Betty walks over to us. “This is a sanctuary,” She mentions. “No one we don’t want here will be allowed to cross the barrier,” she explains.

“You have rooms?” Kai asks.

Betty nods, “Yes.”

“So, my mate won’t be able to find me?” I ask.

“Yes, dear,” Betty replies.

“You said he can find me. How do you know?” I ask.

Betty sighs, “I’m sorry that I heard your conversation. I may be old, but I have the hearing of an eagle,” she says as her eyes flash yellow. “Anyways, from what I know, a fated mate can still detect and find their mate even with the wolf suppressed.”

“s**t,” I curse. “Sorry,” I sigh. “I rejected my mate.”

She purses her lips, “That only makes things worse. Sounds like your mate’s wolf must be a hunter.”

“He’s an alpha,” I state.

“And a hunter,” she shakes her head. “He is going to find you, child.”

“Damn,” I slam my fist against the table. “I can’t complete my quest with him trying to take me back to his damn pack.”

“Have you tried telling him that?” Betty smiles.

“I- “

“We eagles have mates. They aren’t fated like yours, but we, too, cannot live without them. And we can find them even from long distances,” Betty explains. “But if you need a few days to rest. Then your mate will not be able to find you here.”

“Really?” I ask.

Betty nods as an older man hobbles to the table, “This is my mate, Hector.”

“These two need a room or two?” Hector asks while eyeing us.

I look at Kai, “I just need a couple of days.”

“It’s fine with me,” Kai replies.

“When you are done, meet me over there,” Hector points to the kitchen door. “I will show you both a room. They aren’t much, but there is a nice bed and TV.”

“That’s all I need,” Kai grins.

“That’s a good lad,” Hector chuckles.

“How much?” I ask.

Betty pats my arm, “Don’t worry about it, dear.”

“Really?”

She nods and walks away.

Kai and I finished our food and paid, then met Hector by the kitchen door.

“Come with me, little wolf and son of Poseidon,” he says and beckons us into the kitchen.