Unwanted Mates

Chapter 8

Tyson swooped in and landed beside his home, with Kevin following and landing nearby. Rebecca hopped off the dragon’s back to, if needed, catch Everly as Olivia helped her dismount. Everly slid from her father’s back into her aunt’s arms. Rebecca could feel Everly wobble as Olivia joined them on the ground. Tyson quickly shifted to help steady Everly and carry her if needed.

“How’s she doing?” Kevin asked as he, Ben, and Darla, carrying Isla, approached.

“Weak,” Olivia replied. “She is extremely weak.”

“I’m fine,” Everly protested. “All my injuries have healed. All I need to do is eat and rest.”

“Good! Because Lucy is stress cooking,” Ethan said as he rounded the corner of the house. “Jonah and the kids are over at the art center. I thought I would come and see if Isla would want to join in the fun.” Ethan was grinning as he reached for Isla, and she jumped into his arms. He hugged Darla and studied her. “Are you alright, sweetheart?”

“I’m fine, Grandpa. Everly took the brunt of things, but she has already healed. She is starving to death, but she will be fine,” Darla said as she grinned at Everly.

“Then go inside and let Lucy feed you until you are fat as a tick,” Ethan smiled as he kissed Everly’s cheek. “If you need anything, just say the word.”

“I will. Thanks, Ethan,” Everly said, giving him a tired smile.

“You’re welcome, kiddo. Take care of yourself. We will take care of Isla, and if Lia wants her back here or taken to the hospital, we will be right there. Let me know when you have information about Willa,” Ethan said before he turned and began walking with Isla toward the art center.

“I’m going to the kitchen to help Lucy,” Kevin chuckled as he headed toward the patio doors. “After I steal some goodies, I will see myself out the kitchen door. Yell if you need me.”

Rebecca announced, “I am going home for a few minutes before I go over to the hospital. Dr. Clark has linked me and said Willa is stable. They are continuing to sedate her as they work on giving her enough blood and supplements to break this weird craving cycle she is in.” Rebecca smiled at her son and asked, “Are you coming with me, Ben?”

“Yeah, but only because I know Everly will tell me if she is having issues with her wounds,” Ben said as he gave Everly a hug. He hesitated as he turned to Darla and hugged her. “You did good today. I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks,” Darla murmured.

She returned Ben’s hug, holding him tightly. As Darla held Ben and inhaled his scent, she could feel her wolf, Frost, become restless in her head. She sighed as she released her hold. Frost’s reaction surprised her, but after their day, Darla thought nothing of it. She and her wolf were both unsettled. She smiled at Ben one last time before walking inside with Everly.

Olivia watched Ben gazing at Darla as she walked inside with Everly. She looked at Rebecca and saw her smiling at her son as if she knew what was happening. Olivia looked at Tyson, who shook his head and shrugged his shoulders, signaling he did not understand what was happening.

“Alright. Spill it,” Olivia said as she folded her arms across her chest. “What is going on you two?”

Rebecca continued to smile as Ben dropped his head. He sighed and said, “Darla is my fated mate, and she doesn’t know because she is only seventeen. I scented her right before the wedding, and then, with everything that happened with Logan, it took a backseat. I hope she doesn’t freak out when she finds out I’m her mate. That or her dad challenging me to a duel to the death because of it.”

Tyson smiled at his nephew and said, “As the father of daughters, I can safely say that Nick will be thrilled that you are Darla’s mate. Right before Lia and Will met, Nick said that he had secretly hoped Jules would be her mate so he would not have to worry about him being good to her. He will be ecstatic to find out you are Darla’s mate.”

“Why don’t you talk to Nick and Emma about this? It will be good for all of you to talk about something happy. I don’t see Darla leaving here anytime soon, and Emma and Nick will most likely be here to help Lucy cook. Do you want me to let you know when they get here?” Olivia asked.

“Thanks, but I would like to wait. Today has been long, and I don’t see it ending soon,” Ben sighed.

“We understand and won’t say a thing,” Olivia said as she hugged him.

Ben was scratching the back of his head as he walked away. Tyson, Olivia, and Rebecca could feel how conflicted he was about Darla being his mate.

“I’m going too,” Rebecca said. “Tell me if Darla or Everly needs anything. I will be right over.”

“We will,” Tyson said with a nod.

Rebecca turned and walked away, leaving Tyson and Olivia standing outside their home. Tyson pulled Olivia close and held her tightly. He knew that would help both of them calm down and relax before going inside to watch after Everly and Darla. They embraced, taking in each other's scents to ease their nerves before breaking the hold minutes later.

“Let’s go inside and check on our girls,” Tyson said as he guided Olivia to the door.

“Our girls? Did we adopt someone?” Olivia giggled.

“Yes. We unofficially adopted Darla and Damian many years ago. The same as Nick and Emma unofficially adopted Everly and Logan,” Tyson grinned as he opened the door for Olivia.

When they went inside, they found Logan with his arms wrapped around Everly, who was limply hanging as he held her to his chest. Darla sat on the sofa laughing, letting them know that Everly was fine. Tyson and Olivia had watched Julian and Amelia do the same thing many times over the years.

“Logan, no smothering your sister. One near-death experience a day is quite enough,” Olivia sighed as she dropped onto the sofa with Tyson.

“But I’m just so happy she’s OK. I must smother her with love,” Logan jokingly protested as she let go of Everly, catching her before she hit the floor.

“I appreciate the love, but I promise, I’m OK,” Everly assured Logan as she sat beside Darla. She pulled a blanket over them and said, “It was so weird. Willa was asleep, and then, all of a sudden, she jerked awake and started sinking her fangs into me. It wasn't like she was trying to feed on my blood, like drink it. It was like she was trying to rip pieces out of me. She was in a rage, and it was like she didn’t know who we were or what she was doing.”

“That is why she is at the hospital. Do you remember when Isla and Willa were babies, and we had to mix blood into their bottles to ensure they had everything they needed?” Olivia asked. “Isla outgrew that need which was expected. Willa’s need keeps getting stronger. No one had any idea it was to this point or anywhere close to this.”

“If no one knows why this is happening, how do we help her?” Logan asked.

“They have to find a doctor or expert on vampires and hybrids who might have an answer,” Tyson said.

“And what happens if we can’t find someone who fits that description?” Everly asked, leaning her head onto Darla’s shoulder.

“I don’t know,” Olivia sighed. “For now, they are giving Willa sedatives and blood to ease the urges. If no one has an answer to what is happening, we have to keep our hopes up that the combination will be enough until she is old enough to control her cravings.”

Lucy came in with a tray of cookies, fresh from the oven. She placed them on the coffee table before hugging Everly. She smiled at her before she hugged Darla and said, “Your mom and dad will be here soon to help me in the kitchen.”

“Thank you, Lucy,” Darla said.

“For what?” Lucy laughed.

“For the cookies,” Darla said as she took a bite of one.

“Think nothing of it. You know that baking and cooking always make me feel better if something upsetting happens. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me. Bethany will be stopping by to take a box of food over to the hospital waiting room for Lia, Will, and all the family who will be joining them,” Lucy said before she hurried back to the kitchen.

The group snacked on cookies as they waited for news about Willa. Bethany arrived and kept her visit short. She wanted to hurry to the hospital to check on Willa, Amelia, and William. Bethany knew this would be difficult for them and wanted to give them as much support as possible.

After the children had finished their art class, Ethan brought Isla to Tyson and Olivia’s. He had offered that he and Ellie could continue watching her, but it was getting late, and it would soon be Isla’s bedtime. Olivia opted to keep Isla with them so it would be less disruptive to her.

After Ethan left, Olivia mind linked with Amelia, only to find they still did not have new information about Willa’s condition. Olivia did her best to reassure her daughter that things would be fine, but she was beginning to have doubts. If no one could devise a solution or plan of treatment, Willa might never lead a normal life. That thought made Olivia feel nauseous. The only thing she had ever wanted for her children and grandchildren was for them to have happy, healthy lives. For Willa, it seemed that might not happen.