Our Surprise Mate

**~Valentina~**

"I'm going to mindlink you, okay? To respond, all you have to do is direct your thoughts to me. That will open our communication, and you can try it with Tae later. We will receive it as long as we keep our minds open to one another." I have a ton to talk to her about, and these simple questions are limiting us tremendously. *Do you hear my voice?* She squeezes my hand so I know she hears me.

*Kill that fucking doctor, Val.* I get back into the bed and lie next to her.

*What has he done? I need to know everything. He's a dead man, for sure.* Being able to talk to her lifts so much weight from my chest.

*He keeps injecting me with something that makes my pulse slow. I think he called it a beta-blocker, but it also contains a muscle paralytic. As far as touching goes, he makes me uncomfortable as hell. He ran his finger across my chest while I was regaining feeling a couple of days ago and told me he's doing this for the greater good. He also talked about my body and said it's a shame that it will be wasted. I think he's slowly killing me, Val. He wants it to seem like my body can't handle the transition or something, but I don't know what the bigger picture is or why exactly he is doing it.* She's been capable of hearing for days. I can't imagine how alone she has felt this entire time.

*I'm so sorry, Hazie. I should have started talking to you sooner, and I should have never left your side. I promise no one will ever harm you again. I'll let Tae know everything when he comes back because I don't want to distract him at the moment.* I'll figure out how to make this work while Lucas is here. I won't trust anyone except Ash, Carlie, and our parents around Hazie or Lucas.

*Hazie?* She noticed the new pet name, and it makes me smile.

*It just popped into my head the other day, and it stuck. You're Hazie now.* I can't help the giggle that escapes me.

*If I could move my face, it would be cringing right now. I'll be Hazie if it makes you happy, though.* I love her so much. After everything she has been through, she can still be light-hearted.

*I love you too, Val.* I didn't mean to mindlink that to her, but I'm glad she heard it. Her response makes my heart skip a beat.

Hazie fell asleep, and I'm still clinging to her as if my life, or her life, depends on it. She should be okay once the drugs wear off, but I still took the blood sample, and Niko will be coming back with the results soon. I can't help but think about what I would do if I lost her so soon. I know it would break me. I would miss out on the things I wish to do with her. I would blame myself for not staying close to her and figuring out how to make it work with Lucas.

Her complexion is pale, and I can tell she's starting to lose weight. We make sure she gets fed through a tube, but it isn't as much as her body is used to consuming. She will have to get her strength up before she does her first transformation into her lycan form because it takes so much energy. Shifting isn't nearly as painful as humans think, though. That is what our bodies are designed to do, so we're built for it. It's more painful for werewolves because they shift into a dog form, whereas we turn into a humanoid form of a wolf. It isn't much different from our human bodies, but we're bigger, stronger, and faster. We still walk on two legs, but our claws and teeth become lethal. Unlike werewolves, we get to keep our thumbs after we shift. It must suck to be them.

On the other hand, we aren't as pretty. We aren't covered in luscious fur all over our bodies or have cute puppy-dog eyes. We look rough because we are rough. There's a reason our territory is the one closest to Mortal Grounds. As much as we don't like them, we are the ones who protect them when others attempt to invade their land. Any threat to them will have to get through us first because we have eyes on every inch of their border. This is an agreement we've had with the human Royals for over one hundred years. We provide security, and in return, they agree to open their territory to us in the event of a war to utilize their resources. We are the safest to be around as long as you're on our good side. Full-Bloods, Half-Bloods, and Hybrids are overseas. You've got to be one brave human to live in the Half-Blood Enclave. I understand if someone wants to remain human, but it's dangerous. Werewolves will protect their human mate, or at least most do, but other wolves can't be trusted around the humans. I don't think that territory should exist, but those crazy humans fought for their right to remain mortal while still being with their mate, and whatever might happen to them is no one else's business. I won't argue with stupid.

The Nosferatu Dominion is on the other side Open Land. They're far enough not to be harmful, but close enough to be a possible problem. I still prefer them over werewolves, hybrids, and tribrids. Nosferatu King Cassius and Queen Emilia are actually fun to be around, but their daughter Catherine is a force to be reckoned with. I've met her a few times at the gala, but she is never satisfied with the men who approach her. Dominance is her entire persona, so I know a dominant man will not do well with her. I think she needs a sweetheart who will soften her instead of a man who tries to compete with her strength. Every guy that approaches her ends up putting on a tough act. The look she gives them makes me chuckle every time.

My thoughts are interrupted when Tae walks into the room with Niko. They both look like they're ready to kill.

"The results?" I ask.

"He's been poisoning her with wolfsbane. He is not giving her enough at a time to kill her but to weaken her. He also gives her beta-blockers and Curare, which causes her paralysis." Niko explains.

"She told me about the beta-blockers and muscle paralysis. It will wear off soon, right?" Tae takes a seat on our bed.

"She told you?" I forgot to mention her transition.

"Hazie transitioned days ago, but Doctor Shitbag didn't want us to know that. We're able to mindlink with her." I tell him the whole conversation, and his shoulders relax.

"At least we can communicate with her until she recovers. Blake has Doctor Green in a cell now, so I need to go and get answers." He gets up and showers us with affection.

Judging the way he is looking at Hazie and playing with her hair, I can tell he is saying something to her. I know she's awake now because he smiles and responds out loud. "Consider it done, baby. I'll be back soon."

Tae and Niko leave us alone to take care of the issue. One thing is for sure; Tae does not handle it lightly when someone harms his loved ones. Doctor green will have a slow and painful death.