Dear Enemy, You're My Mate

Chapter 80 **

Maya

So much fun—this is what life is all about! I'm sprinting with the wind, letting my tongue hang out from my mouth as I dash through a puddle filled with dirt. It splashes over my face and my fur until I can't tell if my paws are brown or black.

"You won't win this race, werewolf! I won't let you!"

Blake is desperately trying to keep up, but she is more massive than a plane, and the branches are slowing her down. The clumsy idiot has crashed into multiple trees already!

I howl in victory, kind enough to let her know she is a lost cause. The other fairies are far behind, and speed isn't Blake's element. I can already taste the victory on my tongue, and-...

"And where the hell do you think you're going?!"

An enormous wall of ice blocks my road, and I'm forced to shape-shift back into a human for the impact not to kill me. I bump my feet into the ice and peer up at the clouds above. It seems even Blake is struggling—the wall is rivaling the fucking trees!

"I'm talking to you!"

Finn jumps down from out of nowhere, planting two feet on either side of me. He is human-sized and pissed off. His chiseled jaw is ticking with rage, and his lips are locked into a frown.

I laugh—perfect, here comes Finn, the mother hen, with crossed arms and a puffed-up chest so sexy any girl would love to call him their daddy. I'm not even focusing on the anger in his gaze. All I want is to press my tongue against the little nub of his nipples and lick him all over his gladiator body.

Ugh, it must be the damn adrenaline messing up my brainwaves, but seriously, the guy is gorgeous!

A sheepish smile spread over my lips. "Oh, we were only going to save my sister from Arvin and his men. What are you doing here?"

By now, Finn is shaking but trying to conceal it by smiling. "So you were going to marsh into his camp and save your sister without a proper plan? You've had powers for less than twenty-four hours! Training is what you need before you're ready to save anyone!"

Blake lands behind us, size-shifting until she is only standing a head taller than me. Her chin is lifted in pride, and her eyes travel from mine to Finn's furious blue. And this time, she shows no fear.

"I assumed you would show up if I brought the werewolf girl with me—what is she to you? I don't detect the mate-bond between the two of you."

Finn glares at her. "Maya isn't my mate, but she is still important to me. Did you drag her out here only to get to me?"

"No," Blake smiles at me. She looks cold and emotionless, yet there is a hint of affection flashing in her eyes. I sense a friendship blooming between the two of us. "I like Maya myself. She isn't a pushover, and we could use her help, and we are headed for the fairy city for the record. I realized trying to defeat Arvin wouldn't end well."

I gasp. "So you were leading me somewhere else?"

"Yes," Blake says. "Your mate is right about one thing: you need proper training, and the elder fairies in our city will help you."

"She is not my mate!" Finn exclaims.

Blake looks me up and down, then smirks at Finn. "The moon goddess might not have chosen her as your mate, but there is still the tree of life."

Curiosity makes me open my mouth, but Finn's sharp tone cuts me off, and I'm left gawking at the angry man.

"I'm not walking anywhere close to the tree of life!" Finn averts his eyes, and the sadness washed over his features is unmistakable. "The tree of life exists for those fairies who deserve it."

Before I get a chance to ask what Finn means, he kicks up dust and leaves us blinking after him. His wings, with their enchanting blue glow, become more significant and carry him to the skies.

Blake sighs. "I guess you're riding with me."

I meet her eyes. "What is the tree of life?"

"Hm," Blake hums. "I'm not sure how to explain it, but we fairies don't have a moon goddess. We have the tree of life granting us abilities and mates if it deems us worthy. But Finn is heavily tormented by his past and hasn't dared set foot close to the tree. I'm surprised he is willing to come with us to the fairy city."

"Oh..."

Blake laughs when she realizes Finn hasn't told me much of his past, but her eyes are kind. "The moon goddess picked a werewolf as his mate. She had some witch blood too, and he blames himself for the horrible things he did for his mate."

I stare down at the ground. "I never knew Finn had a mate..."

Blake smiles sadly. "Her name was Beatrice, but the rest is up to Finn to tell you. It wouldn't be fair if I told you the rest of his story, and certainly not because I don't have the full story."

"Thank you for telling me."

Blake takes a nearing step, shocking me by placing a kiss on my cheek before whispering into my ear. "No problem, cupcake. I can see why Finn likes you so much—you're both considerate and hot, not to mention far more powerful than any other werewolf I've met. If Finn doesn't make up his mind about you, I might try to win your heart myself."

I blush, shocked by sharing such an intimate moment with Blake, who soon leans back to wink at me. "Come on," she reaches out her hand, smiling seductively. "We have a fairy city waiting for us, and we don't want to make your lover wait. You can ride on my shoulder, so you don't have to shape-shift again. Clothes we can find in our city."

I take her hand with a nervous smile. I'm not into women, and my heart belongs to Finn, yet I'm flattered that such a beautiful fairy is openly flirting with me. Although I also get the sense she might plan on doing this to irritate Finn—Blake is rooting for us.

"I'm excited about seeing the fairy city," I say while Blake is growing, becoming large enough for me to sit on her shoulder.

Blake is wearing a proud smile. I can catch a hint of it when I crane my neck to glance her way. She has pulled her flaming hair to her other shoulder, allowing me to inspect the freckles splayed over her face—fairies genuinely are stunning.

Noticing me staring, Blake holds my gaze, smiling. "It's a sight to behold, and you're the second human ever to witness its beauty."

"Oh, wow, I didn't know that!" My smile is stretching toward my ears, and my smile is bashful. "Now I'm both nervous and thrilled! Let's go!"