Page 22 of His to Mate

“Maybe. Maybe I did, and this is all a hallucination? Who knows? It’s as good as any other explanation I’ve heard so far.” Skye sat back in her seat, her blue eyes dancing with mirth. “Maybe we’re all crazy?”

The serious expression in her eyes made her smile seem frozen, maybe even broken, and for a moment Ann’s heart hurt for the other young woman. “Maybe we are. I remember hearing about a theory that we were all players in some kind of cosmic video game, and that this wasn’t real. That our reality wasn’t real. And the more I thought about it, the more my brain just twisted up into a knot. All we know, for sure, is that our reality is real, don’t we? My reality isn’t yours and vice versa. And let’s stop there before I get a headache.”

Both women laughed with the humor of the moment, and the sad part passed. Ann was glad she hadn’t asked Skye about her family now. It might have proven too painful if she had. For both of them.

“Can I ask you something?” Skye said softly, her voice barely even registering.

Ann bit her lip but nodded her head. She was a leader now, right? She couldn’t show fear or back off from answers that people sought from her. “Sure.”

“What’s it like to be married to one of them? Mated, whatever they call it.” She didn’t look judgmental, she looked like she simply wanted to know the answer to something that puzzled her deeply.

“It’s great for me. I mean, they’re just like human men, physically, and my mate and I are one of the lucky ones that are truly, I guess soulmates is the word? We just click. And it’s like any other marriage from before. It’s intense though, the way we are with each other, and well, a lot more than I expected, really.”

“Cool. So, it’s not like they beat you and make you have sex with them?” She looked like that might have been what she was afraid of.

“Not at all. When you go through the mating ceremony, you’re joined, so you feel sexual desire for each other, that’s the point, I guess. To make babies. But, it’s a bond, and a little piece of what makes you who you are, is joined to a little piece of him, it’s really amazing to see, I can tell you that. But you become a part of one another, and abuse or rape would be out of the question. They wouldn’t do that to themselves, so they don’t do it to their mates, who are a part of them now.”

“I’m really glad to hear that. I didn’t want to be impolite, but it really bothered me, wondering if all of you were abused, and I was some lucky case that will probably be alone for the rest of her life without a mate.”

“I hope you aren’t alone. I really do. But, until your lucky lady shows up, you’re welcome here if you get lonely. Especially during the day. You can go on my little expeditions with me, if you’d like.” Ann waited for Skye to finish squinting at her.

“Expeditions? What are those?”

“I’m hunting down supplies, everything we might need. The men are doing it, of course, but they’re looking for immediate needs. Clothes, food, things like that. I’m looking for more seeds, medical equipment and supplies, books, all kinds of things.”

“Sure, that sounds great. Meg and I are doing classes in the evenings, so my mornings are free. We could all join you, if it would help?”

“Yeah, sure that sounds great. The more the merrier. I do have one rule, though.” Ann’s face tensed, and she looked away before she turned back to Skye, her expression very serious. “No valuables are to come back to our area. None. Jewelry, guns, paintings, anything like that, none of it can come back to this place. I just, I don’t want people fighting over glittery pieces of rock, or oil paint that’s mixed in an awesome fashion, ever again. Does that make sense?”

“It does, yeah. I agree. When do you want me to be here?”

“Around 8 am would be good. We can get back before lunch then, unless we find a lot of stuff. Then I’ll call a crew of soldiers to bring a truck to load it up. Oh, and I have to take guards with me, wherever I go.”

“No problem. I can understand why. I’ve heard things, things I don’t like. Things that sound far too familiar, for my taste.”

“About the wolves or about Rager choosing me for a mate?” Ann decided to be blunt and open about both problems.

“Both of those, actually. I would hope this new world had space enough for all of us to live and get along in.” She didn’t look happy about the fact that it wasn’t. “But no, there are some whiny bitches out there, thinking that some dirty… wolf is taking their man. Or there’s a man out there that thinks you’re a skank whore that shouldn’t be married to the Supreme Overlord, or whatever he’s called. It’s all insanity.” Her eyes rolled, but then she perked up. “At least you aren’t as insane as the rest of them.”

“Wait before making that decision!” Ann laughed and poured more tea into their glasses. “You might find I’m the worst of the bunch. I have a lot of ideas about what the world should be like, and which way we should head in the future. If I have my way, the Earth just isn’t ready for the kind of peace I have in mind. Or maybe it is. She shook off most of the population like they were an infestation of fleas, didn’t she?”

“You’ve got that right, Ann. I think the world is ready for exactly that, and if that’s the direction you want to go in, I am 100 percent behind you, girl. Lead us on.” Skye lifted her glass and Ann tilted hers against it until they tinkled. Maybe the future she dreamed about was possible, after all.