Shifter Mate Tri-Totem (Shifter World - Book Thirteen) (Series of 13 Short Stories)
Chapter Eleven: Second Chance for Goodbye

Everyone met up in the community. Amirah and Pike ran outside with the cubs and pups behind them. The children were reunited with their parents, and Amirah scolded Ruby for running off before she pulled her into a hug.

Everyone cooed over the new member of the mini Shifter squad. Bridget asked Amirah for help in training her son to shift since he was stuck as a Dragon at the moment.

Ruby helped, and when Keon finally shifted, everyone cheered. The adorable bundle of joy cried out as everyone stood over him. Bridget took her son to the nursery area of the cave and nursed him while everyone else told Amira and Pike what happened on their journey to finding their missing Fated Mates. And how they have two new ones to add to the list.

Announcements of babies had everyone preparing for their arrivals. Ember had known that her first time with her mate had to be timed just right for her to give him a cub. Ember had already sensed Winter’s cub, and they will be raising their little ones together.

Bishop told Marry-Beth what Cael had told him, and both Marry-Beth and Allora squealed with excitement.

Everything got back to normal, but there was still no sign of Tate or his brothers.

They went to Chelsea’s pack to see if anyone has seen or heard from Tate and the other Vampires. Francis told them that she hasn’t seen or heard from her sister, or Tate, and his brothers. When Cael walked into the room while they were talking to Francis, everyone stood still as a familiar scent filled the room.

“Mine,” Francis growled when she saw Cael.

Everyone chuckled when the newly activated Fated Mate ran across the room and jumped into her mate’s arms. Cael smiled as he carried his mate from the room.

“Well, that answers why the Goddesses insisted on him staying with us,” Shar said with a laugh.

~🐻~

The next night they reopened the bar, and Sebastian invited his mate on stage to sing with him. The night was going well until a commotion outside had everyone running out the door.

Shar stood next to her mate as she watched a large group of shifters and humans walking towards their bar.

“What’s going on?” Marry-Beth asked as she moved to stand next to Sharissa.

Bishop stood behind his mate as he watched the group of people walking towards them.

“Who are they?” Allora asked.

“Ohmigod!” Sharissa hollered as she moved away from her mate and ran towards the group of people.

“Sharissa!” Dustin hollered as he chased after her.

“She did it!” Shar cried out as she collided with the woman in front of the group. “She really did it!” Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the FɪndNøvel.ɴᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“What the fuck is going on?” Dustin demanded as he caught up with his mate.

Shar turned to her mate, a huge smile on her face. “Don’t you feel it? You’re their leader as much as I am.”

Dustin looked around at the smiling faces. Shifters and Humans. “Holy Fuck,” he said with wide eyes.

“Hey, that’s my line,” Lyvia said as she joined them.

“What’s going on, Seliana?” Daryl asked as he walked up to Shar.

“Alpha,” the man who stood next to the woman Shar had hugged said as he went to a knee.

“What the…” Daryl’s mouth opened as he watched the rest of them fall to one knee.

“They’re the second choice Fated Mates!” Shar shouted with enthusiasm. “Senshire found them all!”

“Well, a few were compromised.”

“Tate!” Shar hollered when she saw their missing Vampire.

Tate grinned, “hello, little mama.”

Shar threw herself at him, and he chuckled as he held her. She backed up and punched him in the chest. “Where the fuck did you disappear to?”

Tate chuckled as he pulled her back into a hug. “Senshire came to us while we were watching the cult. She needed us to transport the second choice Fated Mates here, before someone found them. So, me and my brothers have been transporting them here. And we had to search and make sure we had them all.”

“She could have told us,” Shar cried against his chest, “we thought something happened to you.”

Tate chuckled, “nah, never,” he said, then gave her one last squeeze before he released her to her mate. “Anyways. As I said, some were compromised, but we were able to find all those who found each other.”

“Now we have an army,” Dominic said with a laugh.

“Well, there’s not enough room for everyone to come inside, but you guys can still hear the music from outside. We’ll set up tables and chairs and bring you some food,” Dustin said as he motioned for the group to follow him.

Shar jumped with excitement as she held onto her mate’s arm. The Goddesses have made up for the loss of their Fated Mates. She is still sad that they had lost so many Fated Mates. But this helps. Even if just a little.

~🐻~

“Do you know that you’re my favorite?”

Shar looked at her mate. “Favorite what?”

He smirked, “Fated Mate.”

She chuckled, “I better be.”

He laughed as he pulled her against him.

They had found a room for all the Fated Mates at the different hotels, and tomorrow they will start looking for houses to add to the community. The bar is closed, and their children are asleep in various positions around the bar.

“I think we will need more land,” Daryl said as he looked at the map Pearl was showing him of their community.

“I think you’re right,” Pearl said with a nod.

“I can’t believe the Goddesses found their second choices,” Mara said as she lifted her daughter from her lap and placed her on the booth, then stood and stretched.

“Can you believe it has only been just over four years since Shar and Dustin started all of this?” Lyvia said with a chuckle.

“You were the first to go batshit crazy, though,” Shar said with a laugh.

Lyvia stuck her tongue out at her best friend, then turned and cuddled against her mate.

“Do you think we stand a chance?” Marry-Beth asked. “I mean, I would have fought at your side even if I wasn’t a Fated Mate. But there are a lot more humans then there are Supernatural beings.”

“She’s right,” Dominic said.

“Not everyone is against us,” Daryl reminded them.

“No. But who are our children actually fighting?” Sharissa whispered. “We have taken care of almost all of the Dark Covens. But they will have more on their plate than any of us ever dreamed.”

“She’s right,” Maddy said as she looked at her twin daughters. “What kind of life are they in for?”

“A good life, if I have anything to say about it,” Dustin said as he looked at his daughter and son, who were cuddled together on a couch.

Saffron moved her white-blond hair out of the way as she leaned forward on the table. “I will do anything to give my daughter a good life while she is growing up. But how much control do we have over what happens to them once they are grown?”

“None,” Kota said as he sat down in the chair next to his son’s bassinet and rocked it back and forth. “We have no control over their future. I know my children aren’t Fated Mates. But they’re still a part of this.”

“Of course, they are,” Pearl said as she placed her hand on her brother’s shoulder.

“If only for that pesky Demon in them,” Tamara said with a smile.

Kota looked up at her and smiled. “Yeah, that pesky Demon in them. That’s the only thing keeping my children from having a Fated Mate. But I still believe there is a mate out there for them. After all, I found their mother.”

“What a wonderful thing to say.”

Kota froze. Everyone in the room looked at the woman who stood behind Kota. Kota slowly turned, and his heart flipped in his chest.

“Amelia.”

“Hello, my love.”

Kota jumped to his feet and ran to her. Amelia sighed as she hugged her husband.

“How?” Kota asked as he pulled back from the hug.

Amelia smiled, “Senshire found me, but I don’t have long.”

“What do you mean?” Kota asked as he looked her up and down.

“I mean. I’m dead, Kota. Senshire is allowing me to say goodbye to you and the children.”

“No,” Kota said as he took a step back.

Amelia nodded.

“I can’t do this,” Kota said, then vanished.

“Damn him,” Pearl cursed as she stared at her, sister-in-law, “I’m sorry.”

Amelia smiled as she shrugged then moved to sit in the seat next to her son’s basinet.

“How long do you have?” Shar asked as she watched the woman.

“Until tomorrow night,” Amelia said as she lifted her son out of the bassinet.

“I’m going to find my stupid brother,” Pearl said as she stormed out of the bar.

“Can she find him?” Maddy asked as she watched Pearl leave the bar.

Amelia shrugged, “if he wants to be found, I guess she can.”

“You’re taking his rejection well,” Dustin said as he watched her.

Amelia smiled at him. “He’s not rejecting me. He’s rejecting the fact that I will have to leave him again.”

~🐻~

Pearl called her father, and together they found her brother.

“You’re an idiot,” she said when she and her father landed in front of him.

Kota snorted, “so, say you.”

Pearl sat on the bench next to her brother. “So, say I,” she said as she laid her head on his shoulder.

“I can’t go through losing her again,” Kota said as he covered his face with his hands, “I just can’t.”

“Son,” Kristoph said as he placed his hand on Kota’s head, “Senshire has given you a gift. Accept it. You didn’t get to say goodbye to her. Take this time, and do everything you didn’t get to…”

“No,” Kota said as he moved away from his father and sister, “my heart can’t take it.”

“I knew you had one of those up in there somewhere,” Pearl said with a smirk.

Kota scoffed as he glared at her.

Pearl got to her feet and studied her brother’s face. “If Dylan had stayed dead when he was killed almost four years ago, I would wish for one more day with him. Fuck, I’d ask for one more minute. Just so I could tell him how much I love him. And say a real goodbye. You are being given this chance, Brother. Take it.”

Kota scowled, “but your mate did come back to you. Mine won’t.”

Pearl sighed, “no, but wouldn’t you feel better if you could tell your children that you got to tell their mother how much you adore her? Doesn’t that mean something? If not for you, then for them?”

Kota closed his eyes. “I guess.”

Pearl laughed, “I guess. Come on, Brother, be a man!”

Kota chuckled, “you’re a real pain in my ass.”

“I know. And you love me for it.”

He snorted, “you mean despite it.”

She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him. “Anyone would give anything for one last goodbye.”

Kota sighed as he wrapped his arms around his sister. “You’re right. I’d be a fool to waste it.”

“Yes, you would be.”

He looked down at her and chuckled. “All right, little sister. You want a lift?”

She nodded then turned to their father. “Thanks, Daddy.”

Kristoph grinned, “anything for my children.”

~🐻~

“Do you think he’ll come back?” Shar asked as she looked at her mate.

“I hope so,” Marry-Beth said.

“It has to be hard on him,” Alec said as he watched Amelia with her son.

“A second chance to say goodbye,” Lyvia whispered.

“I would love to have a second chance to say goodbye to my parents,” Shar said as she turned to look at Amelia.

“Me too,” Josie and Maddy said at the same time.

Josiah shrugged, “my parents sucked.”

Gerald pulled his mate to his side and kissed the top of his head. “And now you have us,” he whispered.

Josiah smiled as he wrapped his arms around his mate’s middle.

“Amelia.”

Everyone turned when they heard Kota.

Amelia looked up at her husband and smiled.

“Let’s go home,” Kota said as he held his hand out to her.

Amelia’s smile broadened as she stood, her son in her arms. Kota found their daughter and lifted her into his arms, then turned to his wife. Amelia smiled as she placed her hand on his arm, and they disappeared.

Shar wiped a tear from her cheek. “I hope they have a wonderful goodbye.”

~🐻~

If you want more on Bishop, Marry-Beth & Allora, check out Chapter Two in - Shifter World - Bonus Chapters

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