Origins (16 page)

“But they are together?” Zareb wanted to know.

“As far as we know,” Ive acknowledged.

“What would make Kir run? Dji would take the littlest excuse to leave. Sorry, Ive, but he feels guilt over the things Dmitri did in his name.”

The room went quiet. Naomi cleared her throat, but no one said anything as the tension grew in the room.

“Oh, fuck. Naomi, you and Kir are mates, aren’t you?” Joy ran a hand down her face. “What is with this tribe and this splurge of mating going on?”

“Is this true?” Zareb looked at Naomi.

“It’s my fault.” Naomi’s shoulders sank down low like she was trying to curl in on herself.

“Believe me, honey, none of this is your fault. Zareb’s brothers are stubborn and loaded to the gills, or should I say whiskers, with guilt,” Joy interrupted.

“What she says is true. It is not your fault.”

“But it was. I blurted out that we were mates. Then Djimon showed up and Kir bolted.”

Joy guided Naomi farther into the house and pushed her onto the couch before going to get her some water. This was going to be a long night. She contemplated getting dressed, but figured they wouldn’t do anything until morning.

Zareb was speaking when she returned to hand the water over to Naomi.

“Ive, do you want anything?”

“No, sister-mate.” Ive sat down next to Naomi and took her hand.

“Okay then, what’s the plan of action?” Joy rubbed her hands together.

“I do not know. I spoke with both Dji and Kir today and told them that they belonged here, for them to think about that. I wanted my family whole again and I—maybe I pushed too hard.”

Joy had never heard Zareb sound so dejected. She didn’t like it, not one bit, and she wouldn’t stand for it.

“Stop, this guilt thing you guys have going is making me sick. We’re going to start living from today. No more past if I have to beat it into all of your heads. Ive, have you and Djimon mated yet?”

Ive’s face went completely red. “We’ve had—done—but—haven’t—that is, no we have not technically mated.” Ive stared down at her hands.

“So you’ve done the mattress mambo, but no biting. Shit. I was hoping we could use that to locate him. Do you have something of his that we could use? I could try a spell maybe?”

“Sometimes I can speak to Djimon in my mind. I have done it before when Dmitri had possession,” Zareb informed the group.

“Then what’re you waiting for?” Joy could still try a magic locator if Zareb didn’t have any luck.

“It will take a moment. I need to centre myself. I will go outside.” Zareb didn’t wait for a response—he left Joy with the other two women.

Isn’t this just swell?

“Can I get either of you anything?”

“No, I’m really sorry we barged in here. I really shouldn’t even be here.” Naomi bit her lip.

“Nonsense, we’re family and it’s about time that Djimon and Baakir realised they aren’t alone anymore. It’s hard when your family leaves you, but if there are others willing to fill the void, you let them. I learned that the hard way.”

Joy just shared more with Naomi and Ive than she had ever shared with anyone other than V. She took her own words to heart. If they were going to be a strong pack they had to support each other, even if they didn’t completely like each other.

Maybe Ive’ll grow on me.

She looked over at the women huddled there comforting each other. She had to do something, anything. Ive’s mini breakdown had made Joy realise there was to Ive than just the ice queen front she showed to the world; it was time to break down the barriers.

“Ive. Um—sister-mate?”

“Yes, Joy.”

“I want us to be friends.” Joy rushed the words out.

“I would like that too.” Ive reached out for her and the three women were connected.

“I think the three of us are going to need each other. Our men are a little different than the others in the pack. They have more baggage and we’re going to have to see them through it, all of us.” Joy sent a pointed look at Naomi.

“I found them.” Zareb had returned.

It was a good thing too. Joy was going to be okay, but too much of this sympathy had her itching. She’d have to talk to V and get some advice.

“Good, where are they?” Joy asked.

“They did not go far. They went to the clearing I took Kir to this afternoon. They will return in the morning. It seems the two of them have had a talk. Kir was set to go back to
Africa
until he told Djimon that Naomi was his mate. Dji refused to leave after that, told Kir that guilt would not ruin them. I hope that is the case.”

Ive deflated before Joy’s eyes. Tears streamed down her face and sobs racked her body. She had no idea what to do. Good thing Naomi was there. She hugged Ive and stroked her back, calming her down.

“It’ll be okay, Ive. Leaving like they did was a good thing; being here is an even better thing. Knowing we can reach out to each other is a godsend. You shouldn’t bottle things up so much. This weekend we’re having a girls’ night. We’ll kick the guys out and let them do whatever in the main house and I’ll invite all the women down here for a barbeque.”

“I—I would like that.” Ive threw herself at Joy.

If Zareb hadn’t been there to catch her, she would have fallen off the couch at the force of the woman hurtling herself towards her.

“It’s settled then. Will you talk to Vivian? She should be able to arrange everything, being Russ’ mate. Tell her I’ll see her about it tomorrow.”

“Thank you. We should go now.”

Ive and Naomi left the house, but not before hugs were exchanged.

“Ive is not so bad,” Zareb commented after the door was closed.

“No, she isn’t once she lets her guard down. Now what weren’t you telling us?”

“I am not sure—”

“Don’t give me that, spill.” Joy poked him in the chest.

She knew he’d held back. There was something in his face when he spoke that drew her attention to it. They hadn’t known each other long, but she could read him. Maybe that is what he did when he anticipated what she needed.

“It seems that I had to order Dji and Kir back here. I—um—guilted them into it.”

“That’s not going to go over well. What were you thinking?” Joy slapped his arm.

“I was thinking that I was about to have two crying women on my hands; women who had perfectly good mates that should be here to soothe them. I was also thinking that I wanted to go to bed with my mate. If they are stupid enough to deny themselves the wonder of having a mate, they
should
leave.”

Zareb pulled her off balance and Joy stumbled into him.

“Is that what you told them?” Joy cocked a brow.

“No, I told them if they did not return I would find their mates suitable men in their absence.” Zareb entwined their fingers and placed Joy’s hand over his heart.

“Shut up! You didn’t.” Joy threw her head back and laughed. She could feel Zareb’s chest vibrating under her hand, it tickled her digits.

“I did and I was not lying.”

“I love you,” Joy whispered and snuggled in tight.

“En ek is life vir jou.”

“I don’t think you know how sexy it is when you speak in Afrikaans.” Joy kissed his chest. He smelt good. She wanted to lick him.

Joy gave in to the urge—they were in their home after all. She wondered how long it would take to get him naked.

“I do not see why. It is not a beautiful language.” Zareb let go of her.

“It is when you speak it.”

Joy loved it when her strong mate picked her up. She was safe and home. She wasn’t letting this go and no one could make her. Finally, for once in her life things were falling into place. Granted, Catherine had done a great job making her feel welcome after her own mom had died, but it wasn’t the same. With Zareb she had a family. He was hers and she was his.

They reached the bedroom and Joy was so tired.

“Sleep, my vegter. Tomorrow we will conquer the world, or at least this little patch of it.”

“I like how you think—my siel.”

And he was her soul and her very life. Tomorrow they would begin their journey to forever and drag everyone else in the future kicking and screaming. It was going to be her kind of day.

Joy smiled and wrapped herself around Zareb. She was never going to let him go.