How my thoughts they spin me 'round

And how my thoughts they let me down.

Greg Laswell,

And Then You.

He had been standing there for three minutes before he could bring himself to move. Was he so enraptured by this pink-haired woman that his very being was subservient to her will?

It had only been a day and a half and he was smitten, had he fallen so far? They were mates, that he knew, the pounding of his heart as he looked at her screamed nothing else, how could he tell her? That this vivacious, lively woman was doomed to be his? His mind swam with questions he could not bring himself to answer.

The sins he has committed, the acts of violence against those who were weaker, they cannot be forgotten. He had never forgotten the face of any he had killed for they had not forgotten his. Rhys said it was foolish to hold on to his ghosts, they would eat him alive, but the real question is; have they already? She was the summer to his winter heart and he could not bring himself to release her. His very essence was hers the moment he laid eyes on her.

And it was only day two.

“So..” Katie began, Altan tilted his head to look at her from the corner of his eye. She was so sweet, so pure. Katie deserved nothing that this irreversible curse brought on. In Altan’s mind, only the worst of the worse would willingly choose this pain. To live forever was a curse to those blessed with a heart. Had he not told her that after her first execution, after the witch named Becca had come to them?

How could he expect Sunny to put her life on hold, to give up the dancing she fought so hard for, to live a boring life with him? She was not like Andi or Emily, who were simple women who liked a simple life. Nothing was wrong with that, simple was good for women like them, but it was not what he wanted for Sunny.

He wanted her free. Free as the wind that blew through the trees, stubborn as a river not bowing to anything, strong as the Cabinets. More importantly, he wanted her happy and he wasn’t sure she’d get that with him.

“Yes?”

“What we gonna do now?” She asked, turning her big hazel eyes to him. Altan sighed and rubbed his face. It did not do well for the old to dwell on questions that could not be answered.

“We go get a phone.” He began to walk, Katie stumbling to catch up after him. While her mind had grown since her Change, her body still remained that of a ten-year-old just blossoming into a lady. In short, she had little legs and couldn’t keep up with his long stride.

“Why, you hate phones?” She asked.

“True, but I will suffer in silence because I am purchasing one for Sunny.” He replied, turning right down a hallway.

“Since when have you ever suffered in silence, Al? Just yesterday you were throwing a fit about keeping those twins and now you’re buying them a phone? What gives?”

“Katie. What I am about to tell you will not be repeated under threat of death.”

Katie stopped dead, not caring she was standing in the middle of the way. She tilted her head, such an animal thing to do, and furled her blonde brows. “Al?” She said softly, eyes full of concern.

“The full moon is coming up.”

“Yeah, and?”

“I… I believe I have found my mate.” Altan cringed as Katie let out a scream that made his eardrums ring. She made a cute little happy dance, her eyes squeezed shut and hands clenched tight. Hazel eyes snapped open and Altan had a split second to brace himself for the cannonball that was Katie Langston when excited.

“Oh my god! Oh my god! This is great! Who is it?! Is it someone I know?! Is it Sasha? She’s liked you forever and I wasn’t supposed to tell you, but now that she's your mate I can. Whoo, it feels good to get that off my chest. So when….” Altan kept his hand over her mouth until he was sure she was calm again.

“It’s not Sasha.” Katie slunk back, confused. She shook her head and rubbed her elbow.

“How? She’s liked you forever. How is it not her?” She mumbled. Altan sighed and gathered her up in his arms. It was easy to forget she was still a child under all that bravado.

“Sasha is lovey, and I will admit we have been closer than friends for quite some time, but... It’s just not her. You cannot force the mate bond Kat.” He ran a hand down her silky blonde hair and let out a purr.

“We all thought, if you took another mate, it would be her.” Katie peeked up at him through her lashes, chin resting on his chest. “Who is it?”

“It’s Sunny.” Katie flew backward and spun to put her back to him. Altan’s shoulders slumped if it was this bad telling Katie it will be terrible telling Sunny herself.

“Sunny. Figures.”

“What do you mean by that?” He asked, grabbing her hand in his when he noticed a rumbustious group of boys her age, her real age, walk by and pulled her closer to him.

“Well, I’m not as dumb as you oldies think I am. I see things too and I see the way you look at her. It’s not the way you look at Sasha.”

“Am I so obvious? It has only been a day!” Altan face-palmed himself in shame.

“Not really, she sure hasn’t noticed it. Remember Charles knew Andi was his mate from the first time he saw her, and they bonded not long after that. Or at least attempted too.” It was no secret that Charles and Andi had trouble with their mate bond at first. It wouldn't work until Andi could bring herself to trust Charles. A feat that took near death from a witch to cause. “And Rhys knew Emmie was his mate for like a whole month before he told her.”

“True.”

“So it’s not as bad as you think it is.” She beamed at him, a real smile that did his old heart well.

“You’re not mad?”

“Psh, as if. From what I’ve seen Sunny will be good for you. She talks smack to your face. I can’t wait to see how she reacts to the pack. Lordy, that’d be fun to watch.” She mused, skipping ahead of him to the phone store.

“Yes. I would like to pit her against Mag. She was a notorious prankster if her brother’s stories are anything to go by. “ Katie laughed and shot him an evil grin.

“I’m so excited. Mag’ll finally get what coming to him.” She shot a fist into the air and laughed maniacally. Altan sighed and shook his head at her antics. “Speaking of brother, Moony’s pretty cute don’t you think?” Katie squeaked when Altan spun her around violently. “Hey! What gives?”

“No. No dating until…. you’re one hundred and three.” He commanded eyes narrowed at hers. She was smirking and he scowled.

“Nope. I date when I want to.” She replied, spinning on her heels to flounce in her very Katie like fashion into the store.

“Just, for Allah’s sake, don’t date upperclassmen!”