Women Vs. Men

Natasha

I raised my nose in the air, sniffing deeply, before sighing. I changed the path I was taking to Valerie’s house so that I would come out from the forest. I slowed as I neared her house and my son’s scent grew stronger. Maddy made me inhale again before uttering a small moan when Carson’s mouthwatering aroma was rapidly approaching. I cursed and sped up. Maddy may not understand that we were mad at him, but we were. I raced toward where Osprey’s scent was coming from, needing to get to him first. I passed through a dense group of trees, and exhaled when I saw him leaning against a tree as he watched Valerie’s house.

“Osprey!”

He spun around with his eyes wide. “Mom? I ummm… was just taking a break. I was just about to leave.”

I rushed up to him to grip his face between my hands. “Listen to me, quickly. Scarlett-”

I was pulled away from him as Falcon’s arm went over my shoulders. “Get to school, Osprey. We will talk later.”

He lowered his head. “Yes, Dad.”

I watched in defeat as he walked away from us while Falcon kept me flush against his side, ignoring how hard I was struggling to get away. When Osprey’s scent had faded, he let me go and I immediately slapped him.

“DON’T YOU EVER FUCKING STOP ME FROM TALKING TO MY SON AGAIN!”

He bared his teeth at me. “Then stop trying to tell him that!” he snapped.

“HE NEEDS TO KNOW!”

“You have no idea how bad this could get. I do. This-”

“Tasha? Falcon? Is everything okay?”

I shot him another glare before stepping around him to drape my arm over Scarlett’s shoulders as I started to steer her back to her mother and Elena, who were watching us curiously. I smiled at them before nodding my head towards the school.

“Come on. Let’s go.”

We walked the girls to school silently, and were almost halfway back to Valerie’s house when she finally spoke.

“What was that fight about in the forest?”

I sighed as I took her elbow to lead her to my mother’s house. I didn’t bother to knock. I was too furious to give a fuck if I was allowed in or not. I followed my nose to the kitchen where she sat drinking coffee. Her face lit up when she saw me.

“Hey, Natasha. How are…” She sighed as she put her mug down. “I take it this is not a friendly visit. Sit. Let’s get it over with.”

“It’d be better if I don’t sit,” I growled.

She shrugged. “Suit yourself. Valerie.”

Valerie sat at the table, glancing between me and my mother while I paced angrily.

“Valerie, what were you told about yesterday? About the blood she took from your daughter?”

“That her blood was what they needed to finish saving Osprey. Karen said they just needed a little, and that Scarlett would be fine after a few hours with a small blood transfusion.”

I turned my head to narrow my eyes on my mother as she calmly sipped from her coffee. “Is that all?”

“Well, yes. I take it there’s more to the story?”

I picked up a pot and threw it across the room. It clattered when it landed as it almost skipped over the tile floor.

“Scarlett is Osprey’s mate. There’s no doubt about it now.”

Her mouth dropped open before closing again as she stared at my mother. “Does Osprey know? I have to tell Scarlett.”

She got up and my mother put her hand on Valerie’s arm. “Falcon doesn’t want us to tell them.”

She jerked her arm away. “Too damn bad. Scarlett is my daughter. I will choose what she is told.” She met my eyes. “Is that what you were fighting about with Falcon?”

“Yes. I think we should tell them, too. Every time I try to, he stops me.”

My mother sighed. “Maybe you should talk to Falcon about why he doesn’t want to tell them. There has to be a reason.”

I grabbed Valerie’s hand. “Fine, Mom! We’ll go talk to him, but I’m still telling my son.”

“And I’m still telling Scarlett.”

“Good! They deserve to know,” I snarled, my gaze focused on my mother for a moment before dragging Valerie out.

“We need to tell them, Tasha.”

“We will. After school. You tell her on the way home, and I’ll get Osprey alone. I’ll take him on a hunt or something.”

She nodded. We stormed into the house past Tim, Jamie, Raul, and Sebastian, who all followed us inside. Lee and Tony fell in behind us as I led an equally furious Valerie down to Falcon’s home office. I kicked the door open, making it splinter down the middle. Falcon didn’t even look up from the computer screen.

“The answer is no, ladies.”

He clicked the mouse a few times and fury took me over. I stomped over to the computer before I tore the power cord out of the monitor. He growled as his gaze snapped to mine. He slowly stood up, his aura spilling out uncontrolled.

“You want to have this out. Fine! Let’s do it, and then I expect this to be the last of the conversation. I won’t discuss it again.”

I raised my hand to slap him like I did in the woods, but he caught my wrist inches from his face. His grip tightened around my wrist.

“Enough with the hitting, Nash. I get it, you’re angry.” His eyes slid to Valerie. “You’re both angry. Trust me, I know. I understand, but we can not tell them they are mates. They have to work this out for themselves.”

I glared at him. “Why? They already feel it. Even though Scarlett is human, she feels it. Just like I did with you. Why was I good enough to be a bear’s mate but Scarlett isn’t?”

He let me go. “It’s not about that. Scarlett is 12, Nash. You were 18. You were grown when I came for you.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “When we made the rule about the town’s children not coming into the forest from ages 11 to 18, it was because more than just the boy was killed. That was just the reason given to the town by Timothy’s grandfather. Sleuth members were not permitted to live in town for the same reason. There was a sleuth that was destroyed because of fated mates who were not permitted to be together yet. If we tell our kids, Godric, nor Osprey, will want to hold themselves back from Scarlett. We will be forced to intervene to keep them apart, causing our son, and his bear, to go crazy.”

“Crazy? What do you mean crazy? What happened to the sleuth?” I asked.

“One of the female bears was mated to a human in the city they were near. When she was told that she had to wait until he turned 18, she didn’t like it and snapped. She attacked, killing the Alpha Boar and Sow before killing the rest of the sleuth. 13 other alpha’s chose to leave their sleuth’s to eliminate the threat, my father being one of them. I am afraid if we tell them they're mates, we will have to kill Osprey to protect Scarlett and the rest of us.” He met my eyes. “Please, don’t make us have to kill our son. He is getting stronger, and the minute he marks her, it will be even more difficult to control him. When she is 18, if he isn’t sure Scarlett’s his mate, I promise you that we will sit them down and tell them. Well, at least him. I am not sure if he will ever have the aha moment where he is like ‘she is my mate.’”

I sank into one of the chairs in front of his desk as sorrow filled me at the thought of possibly having to kill our son. I wiped a tear from my face.

“But… if he doesn’t fix this with her she might reject him.”

He groaned. “I know. We have to let them work it out, baby. We can do our best to help them fix this before she’s 18, but as for the mate situation, we can’t disclose it. Mates are sacred, and our kids are more special than anybody else realizes. They should be able to make the choice that is going to affect the rest of their lives for themselves. I know Scarlett helped Osprey without hesitation, but I know you all notice how scared she is of him now. I will talk to him about his temper, but he already hates himself for scaring her. We have to give them a chance to make it work.”

I sighed, nodding. “Alright.”

“Tasha, no. We should still tell them. It could help her not be afraid of him. It can only help. This bond between the two of them has only gotten stronger.” Valerie stood up with determination on her face. “I’m telling her.”

I sighed. “We can’t stop you, Val.”

Falcon met my eyes, pleadingly. ‘I gave everything up to live here with you and the rest of our mates. I turned my father’s house over to Mona. I have done everything you have asked of me. Don’t let her do this. Please, Nash, talk to her. Trust me. This isn’t going to be good,’ he linked me as she left the room.

I hesitated before nodding. I jumped to my feet to race after her. I caught up with her at the end of our short street. She immediately narrowed her eyes on me.

“Nothing you can say will change my mind, so don’t even try.”

I raised an eyebrow. “I know. Just wanted to walk you home.”

I walked silently beside her to her house before pulling her into a tight hug. When she tried to pull away, I kept my arms around her. Finally, she patted my shoulder.

“I love you, too, Tasha.”

I let her go, sniffling. “I’m going to miss you so much.”

She eyed me. “I’ll see you tomorrow. What are you talking about?”

I smiled sadly at her. “No. You won’t. My mates and I are going to move to the sleuth house in the city. When they get home, we will be leaving.”

“Why? Because I want to tell my daughter that he’s her mate?”

“Yes. You’re right that she is your daughter, but Osprey is my son. I will not allow the decisions you make for your daughter cause me to have to kill my son. You are more than welcome to come visit Raul in the city, but you will not be welcomed at our home, neither is your family. I can not risk anybody telling Osprey.” I hugged her again. “We’ll see you in a few years.”

I let her go to walk away. I heard her sigh before she called my name.

“Fine, I won’t tell her. It wouldn’t matter if he’s not here.”

I turned back around. “Can I trust you?”

“Yes. It would hurt her more if he was gone, but I swear to you, if they aren’t told on her 18th birthday, I will tell her.”

I ran back up onto the porch to hug her. “Thank you, Val!”

“I guess. Just know I’m not happy about this.”

“I know. Neither am I, but we have to try this. We have to keep him alive to even help them get to that point. I promise that if Falcon doesn’t do it, I will.”

She sighed. “Alright. I trust you."