The Mechanic's Mate (17 page)

Chapter 26

“Domek, do you understand what happens during a mating?” Matus asked rifling through some old rolls of paper.

“Yes, of course. Two wolves become bonded for life. If one dies, so does the other. Never leaving one to grieve or go on alone.”

“Well, yes. But I mean more specifically. Are you aware that when both participants open their hearts to each other, metaphysical bonds tie the two life forces together.” The old healer turned in Domek’s direction stressing his point by bringing hands together, fingers intertwined. “Two hearts become one in truth. If you listened to both simultaneously you would find that they share the exact same beat.” He turned back to his task, but continued explaining, “A mate knows when the other is excited, or even relaxed. Their heart will race or slow as well.”

Domek began to pace. “So Sadie feels what that bastard Eridon does”—fisting his hands in agitation—”and
he
knows when her heart races, such as in excitement?”

Matus turned his gaze over one shoulder at Domek giving him the same face Kara had given as she embarrassed him by cleaning Sadie off his neck. “Yes, excitement. I did smell ‘excitement’ as you entered my house. I would recommend you wash up here if you plan to tackle any other tasks today, Alpha.”

Blue Wolf’s old healer moved to a chest in the room’s corner, digging through it. “However, no, I’m not entirely sure they feel each other’s heartbeats. As you said, Sadie rejected mating during the metaphysical ‘bonding of hearts’. Both must be open and accepting for them to become one beating organ. Neither participant can be forced into a mating, both must accept each other, hence the required statements of commitment.”

“But Sadie told me she said those words. That Eridon said ‘Do you accept me as your mate’ and she replied with ‘I accept you as my mate’.” He furrowed his brow in frustration. “Changing her mind once the bond started, knowing something wasn’t right, she fought it.”

“Ah, here it is!” Matus pulled a rather large tome from the chest. “My father’s book of ‘Oddities and Anomalies’. As a meticulous record keeper if anything came to him not within our normal physiology or anatomy, he wrote it down. As neither you, nor I, have ever heard of a partial mating if it has ever happened, it should be here.”

Matus carried the book to a large round table sitting central in the room, opened and slid it in front of Domek. He turned taking a few steps toward the door.

“Tea! I will need some arnica tea if I plan to lean over this book all night. I am an old wolf you know. Would you like some tea? I can make you a cup’a Ginseng and Ginkgo Biloba to keep you awake. It’s quite obvious you're tired.”

Domek brought his gaze up from the pages to catch the old healer giving him a curious look. “Is something keeping you awake at night?” Matus asked, as he left Domek alone, and unable to reply.

He grew annoyed of people getting in the last word with him today. But those last words rang true, because he was exhausted. Sleep evaded him as of late. Nights lying in bed obsessing over a newly turned dieselhead lying beside him. Thoughts about how she might be, but might not be, mated to a rogue that Domek wanted to kill, but couldn’t in case it killed her too, encompassed every waking moment since finding her on the forest floor. Having her sleeping beside him eased his mind a bit, but the desire to take her every time her body curled against him, certainly didn’t help with rest either. Yeah, tired didn’t seem an adequate description.

Matus returned with tea, setting one next to him.

Domek took a sip appreciating its light sweet aftertaste.
Not bad. Not bad at all.
Downing the cup in one gulp, scalding his mouth and throat, he put the empty cup in front of the healer.

“Requiring another cup?” Matus asked.

“Might not hurt.”
If I drink it slower.
Returning his attention to the book, he said, “I’ve read just three pages, and it’s already putting me to sleep.”

Flipping through the weathered sheets he scanned brief descriptions of each affliction:
Additional dewclaw appearing with each shift, lactation in male human form, female human form-male wolf form, multiple personalities in one form, Ambras Syndrome after first shift.
The list went on and on.

Reaching the book’s end and not even one chapter having anything to do with a partial or incomplete mating, he shouted, “Full Moon and night skies!” He shook with anger, wanting to throw something at a wall.

“Please don’t, Alpha.” Matus placed his hand on Domek’s arm, which held ‘Oddities and Anomalies’, drawn back ready to let fly. “It was my father’s, and although it does not contain what you need, it may still help others.”

“My apologies healer, it was just a passing thought out of frustration. I truly did not intend . . .”

“I understand your misdirected anger, Domek.” Taking the tome from him, he returned it to the chest. “You appear desperate for an answer. You feel something for this woman, do you not?”

“Of course, I am always responsible for any new wolf, and with this wolf being a product of my own past mistakes, I feel even more protective than usual.”

“No, Alpha. I mean . . . you feel . . . possessive. You want to wipe all traces of your old beta from her. You want to keep her for yourself.”

Domek, about to argue, paused, and took a deep breath instead. He had already admitted to himself that he wanted to keep her, mated or not. Did he exhibit possessiveness instead of just dominance? Absolutely. He did want to wipe that rogue’s iron and oil smell from her. Domek wanted to leave that sweet honeysuckle smell alone, and then blend it with his scent. The night of her first shift Marek had accused him of acting as though he sired her . . . or mated. He thought of how just prior to heading over here, he’d devoured her, the sweetest flavor he had ever had on his tongue or running down his chin. The replete look in her eyes, filled with warmth that had practically strangled his heart.

He murmured, “But what can I do when she’s already mated to a monster . . . One I created?”

“Not completely, Alpha.” Matus walked over to a gigantic dresser with skinny drawers, pulling one open. “Only one breed of Shifter has studied and passed down knowledge regarding mating rituals of every other.” He retrieved a map. “The goddess blessed them with ‘Soul Sight’,” he said, spreading it out.

Chapter 27

Domek had once met an owl Shifter with ‘Soul Sight’ years ago; when he needed information on whether a soul could be salvaged. Taking his previous beta, he hoped to find evidence of good he believed still left in the other man’s soul. Without making Eridon aware of the reason behind their trip, he made it a priority mission because he needed to know if his beta had slipped too far down that dark hole.

Eridon had always had darkness in him while growing up within the Scrub encampment. Everyone had just assumed it a side effect of being born in Eureka, and torn away from friends to be raised in an enclave during that critical developmental age. In adolescence, when they became close, Domek thought the shadows in Eridon’s eyes, came from feeling excluded. He thought changing him, making him a true member of the pack would eradicate the darkness. He’d refused to believe that someone could simply be born with sickness of the soul.

“You’re sending me to an owl?”

“Not just any owl, but Oldrich the rogue. Being a less than charitable man, he’s made his sight into quite a profitable business.” Matus ran a hand over old parchment inked in black, stopping once he found what he wanted. “Here it is. His last reported residence.”

Domek studied it. “That’s almost outside Eureka, practically on the opposite side from where we are.” He used his finger to draw all possible paths. “I would have to either go zig-zagging through their streets, suffering its deadening effects, or around it and take almost twice as long.” He moved his attention up to Matus. “Profit huh? What payment will I be taking him for this information?”

“That is unknown. Sometimes he asks for items, but other times, it’s favors, unspecified ones that will be collected at a later date.”

Domek rolled up the map, straightened, and tucked it under his arm. “Understood,” he said, leaving Matus for his own office.

Sadie stood nervously outside Domek’s office door. She got the message that he needed her as soon as possible, however it didn’t say why.
Maybe my punishment for the toy guns?
Ghosts of his past punishments made her stomach flip both scaring and exciting her with anticipation.

Domek’s shout cut through his door, “Damn it, Sadie, we talked about this. I gave you an order to come see me, so get in here, now!” Of course he’d detect her.
Duh! Werewolf . . .

Entering his office, she kept her eyes averted while walking toward his desk. He remained bent over with elbows locked straight, hands braced against his desk. His brows furrowed, studying a large paper atop it. Once positioned across from him she could tell he looked at a map. Even though Sadie viewed it upside down, she recognized her city.

“Do you know your way around every part of this place?” he asked without bringing his head up, dragging his right hand over the ink rendition of Eureka.

“Of course I do, lived there all my life. Why?”

“I need to know which way is best to get here without drawing attention.” He pointed northwest of the river.

“Okay, what do you need over there? That’s where most of the juice joints and gin mills are.”

“I’m visiting a rogue owl named Oldrich. He may be able to tell us more about your mate bond with Eridon. What in Gaia’s name is a juice joint or gin mill?”

“That’s what we call drinking clubs. Wait, wereowls?! How do they get so small? How many other birds are there?”

“Their physiology works a bit different. They’re not Weres, but Shifters. They can’t be ‘made’ like us, they’re born that way. Not all can shift. Most have some sort of psychic skill though. Other bird Shifters exist . . . but we have gotten off topic. You’re just as bad as Kara.” He shook his head. “The best way, little rabbit?”

“Oh, sorry.” She smiled, facetiously adding, “Any chance there are werehorses?”

Domek laughed. “Thank Gaia no, or we would suffer a breed constantly touting that they were truly hung like a . . . No, should we talk about my best path into Eureka now?”

Smirking and pointing at the map, she explained, “Ok, follow these train tracks to get there in the best time, if you’re hoofing it. It does pass through some rougher parts, but I never had any difficulty picking up cars there.” Sadie paused, biting her lip. “By car you’ll take the bridge further south. How will this rogue know about my bond?”

“Some owls have something called ‘soul sight’, it can be used in various ways . . . like finding someone’s fated soul mate, learning which souls can be saved, but in this case, I’m hoping we can find how a soul is tied,” focusing on her, he added, “and can be released. According to Matus, this one has vast
knowledge on mating for every breed.”

“Okay, when do we get a wiggle on?”

Domek must understand some of her diesel terms because he didn’t give her his usual glaring annoyance. “Not we, me. I’ll not take you into danger.”

“We aren’t going anywhere near where Eridon kept me. He can’t smell across all of Eureka, right?”

“Wait . . . What? Where did he keep you? Is it on this map?”

“He took me here.” Indicating the area circled by Half-Moon Lake in the southwest corner. “On Horseshoe Island. It’s where most wereanimals lived before the Diesel War. Mostly in ruins, rogue Weres have been moving back. I ran from somewhere in here”-she pointed at an open southern end of the island-”following these tracks over the river to your woods. My feet didn’t stop moving until you found me.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about this sooner?”

“Ummm, because you didn’t ask. Why wouldn’t I go with you?”

“Why? It’s too dangerous and that is final.”

“What? No it’s not!” She covered her mouth with both hands surprised the words came out.
Wait, if I talked back, he did not use his alpha voice! He doesn’t mean it!
“You know I need to go!”

“No, I do not.”

At her ability to still argue she laid out her key points. “Okay . . . First, how will he use his soul sight without my actual soul? Second,” as he tried to interrupt, Sadie held up her hand, hollering, “let me finish! That’s my town, and I can get us through better than anyone else here. Third, I promise to misbehave terribly otherwise!”

The third qualified as little more than a silly threat, but she must go. Domek needed her to go.

“You . . .” He sputtered. “You can go, but will not leave my side.” He waited a moment then added, “Ever!”

Grinning in victory she said, “Okay, fair enough.”

“We leave at sunrise. Go home now. I have some things that still need taken care of, but will be there in about an hour . . . Oh, Sadie, just because we will be leaving in the morning does not mean I don’t need to be properly greeted tonight.”

“Yes . . . Alpha.” Hopeful this adventure into Eureka would go right, Sadie could one day greet him the way she wanted, not only as a master, but as her mate. She knew that they had a connection beyond friends, or even lovers.

As Sadie turned to leave, knocking at the door stopped her. Domek inhaled then asked her to wait as this new visitor entered. She studied his familiar face. He may have been someone Kara had introduced during her first enclave tour. Short in stature, for a wolf, he stood maybe only six feet tall. His shoulders, broader than all humans, still spanned less than Blue Wolf’s average pack member. Although he had strikingly tanned skin, a baby face made him appear young for one of Domek’s enforcers. His dark brown hair had sun kissed sections framing his innocent face. This man looked to be one who liked spending as much time as possible outside, under the sun’s rays.

“Sadie, this is Edo, an enforcer scout sent out to check on your father. You may remember him as one of the wolves you nearly ran over the other night.”

“I’m sorry for that. Is my pop safe?”

She caught his glance in Domek’s direction, waiting for his nod, and then replied, “Pop’s Shop is burnt out. It was set on fire overnight.” At her gasp, Edo continued, “Your father wasn’t in there. They got the blaze out quickly, keeping it from traveling to any neighboring shops.”

“Thank Gaia for that. Did you get any other information?” Domek asked, putting his arm around Sadie’s shoulders, tucking her head into his chest. He rubbed circles on her back, placing a gentle kiss on top of her head.

“Molly at the bakery invited me in to tell me that they didn’t find any bodies. She handed me this note just saying ‘it’s for her’ along with treats. I didn’t tell her anything, so not sure how she knew I had checked for you . . .” He passed her the paper.

“Molly is . . . special. It’s okay though, she’s a friend.”

He agreed that she definitely qualified as special and lovely to boot. “I didn’t read it, although I did eat the doughnuts she handed me with your note, acting like one of her customers. I suspect she knew someone could be watching us. A good thing too, since a suspicious looking gal, with an odd Were scent I couldn’t place, came in right as I turned to leave.” Edo said shyly, glancing at Sadie, then Domek, “But I didn’t have to act about one thing, they were the best doughnuts I ever ate.”

Sadie chuckled, knowing he wanted to cheer her up after learning that her shop, where she grew up, laid in shambles now. Unfolding the paper it read:

I took care of that thing you asked me for. I can’t say where it’s been put, but it’s safe. No time for feathers, so have fun with those bush hounds. Take care of yourself, my friend.

“What does that mean?” Domek asked.

“My father is somewhere safe.”

“I got that much, but what does the rest say?”

“Umm, she doesn’t have time for pointless conversation but wishes me well,” Sadie said, interpreting Molly’s diesel slang for him.

“I mean bush hounds? What in the night sky does that mean?” Domek acted annoyed but clearly held back a smile.

Sadie also smiled, recognizing his attempt at taking her mind off the bad part. “Rustics . . . people who aren’t flappers, or”-she coughed-”werewolves.”

“Maybe we’ll discuss your choice of friends tonight too. First Kara, now this.” Turning to Edo he asked, “What did you think of her? Someone we can trust?”

“I got a good feeling about her,” he responded with a wolfish grin.

“Fine.” Domek gave a knowing smile, returning his attention to her again. “I’ll be home shortly, Sadie.” As she turned, he added, “I still expect my proper greeting. Don’t think your old neighbor’s revelation changes that.”

A little thrill ran through her. She needed to leave immediately, to keep her arousal at his words from being too obvious. Despite Edo’s bad news, her father remained safe. They could work the rest out. She had just one more thing to do.

“Alpha, can I stop and talk with Smitty first?”

“Of course, Sadie, but don’t take too long, because I will be done here soon.”

Sadie stepped into the shop as Smitty cleaned up, getting ready to head home.

“Well hello, Sadie, what brings you here tonight?” he asked while propping his shop broom against the wall.

“We’re heading to Eureka tomorrow, so I won’t be in.”

He laughed. “I thought I specifically said not to take any jobs within the political wing.”

“Oh, Smitty, you know better than that.” Sadie stood there, adding, “I also wanted to ask something that’s been bothering me. Do you have time?” At his nod, she took a deep breath. “Why didn’t you stop me from making those water guns? I’m assuming you feel the same way as Domek about them.”

He chuckled, nodding again. “Hmm, that’s a good question. Why do you think?” He motioned for her to sit.

“I have no idea,” she said, taking a seat
as he pulled another chair
across from her.

“Sadie, when they first told me I’d have a diesel girl apprentice, it annoyed me, so determined that it wouldn’t work. Just knowing it was a waste of my time clearing that workbench, ridiculous making space. Sure you’d never last.”

“Oh.” Sadie’s heart sank. Smitty didn’t even like her. “So you sabotaged me?”

He smiled. “Oh goddess no, Sadie. That was before we met. The moment you walked in, I felt all kinds of a fool, just terrible that more space hadn’t been cleared. I couldn’t believe that, even for one moment, I doubted you when the goddess likely sent you to us as part of her grand plan. After seeing you with our alpha, I am convinced.”

Sadie let out the breath she didn’t even know she’d been holding.

“There are things to learn from us just like we have things to learn from you. I have no way of knowing what those things are, so if I smother your creativity by saying, ‘you can’t do that’ it stifles growth, which stifles our pack. I knew that your heart came from the right place with those guns. So, found no purpose in stopping it. Plus you and Kara would never have made those silly squirters the kids love.” Chuckling adding, “Or maybe there is great joy in seeing our alpha all worked up.”

Sadie belly laughed, hugging Smitty. Still smiling when he said, “You’re good for us all, Sadie. I’ll not doubt you or your intentions. Now, get on home so I can finish up here.”