Butterscotch Souls: The Morningstar Series: Book 4
Butterscotch Souls – Chapter 13

The talk I had with Epperly answered many of my questions, but also left me with more questions. There’s something that she’s keeping from me. I told her that I wouldn’t push it, but I really wanted to.

How am I supposed to help her if she keeps things from me?

I guess I couldn’t blame her. Epperly has been running for Goddess only knows how long. She doesn’t believe that I can protect her and Tate. I’d just have to show her.

Epperly and I talked a little bit more about Tate before I carried her to bed. I thought that she would protest but I guess I should have known better. Epperly is nothing like any other girl that I’ve met.

When I lay her in the bed next to our son she almost wouldn’t let me go. Her arms were wrapped around my neck and she wouldn’t let me pull away until I kissed her cheek. It made me unbelievably happy that she reacted to me this way but I was a bit scared that it was only because she was drunk.

Still, I managed to pull myself away from her and tucked her into the bed with our son. It’s a good thing she was already in sweat pants.

When I walked back to the room that I plan to make ours, I did something that was probably over stepping. I went through their two bags. They had barely anything in them. Just a few pairs of clothes, a couple snacks, quite a few fake I.D.’s for Epperly, and a file.

The file had Epperly’s name written on the front but on the side tab it read: Zero. I sat it on the bed and contemplated opening it. This might hold all the answers to the questions I didn’t get to ask. I told Epperly I would wait for her to be ready to tell me though.

Deciding I can’t break the small amount of trust I have with my mate, I put the file back in the bag. I took out all the fake I.D.’s though. She won’t be running anymore.

My mate and son need a lot of things too. New toiletries, clothes, shoes, the works. Tate needs a room decorated for his age, and he needs to go to school. Tomorrow I will show them around the property, if they’re ready.

My siblings will be hounding them as soon as they see us no doubt. I should probably warn Epperly before we go out.

Tia are you awake? I asked my older sister through the mind link.

Yes. I’ve been waiting to hear from you. She told me.

Can you come by? I asked her.

I walked out onto the front porch and sat down in one of the chairs to wait for my sister. A moment later Tia appeared next to me on the porch. She sat in the chair next to me and looked at me expectantly.

“Well?” She asked impatiently.

“Well, I have a son.” I told her.

Tia rolled her eyes, having kids if her own only gave her more emotions.

“I know that much. What happened? How’d it go? Are they staying?” She asked question after question.

“Of course they are staying. I’d never let them leave.” I told her with a frown.

Tia gave me a blank look. “I know but do they want to stay?” She asked.

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, that is now down thanks to my mate.

“Tate does. I don’t really know if Epperly does.” I admitted.

“Tate, that’s a cute name.” Tia commented and I smiled.

“She named him Tate Ambrose.” I said proudly.

Tia’s eyebrows shot up.

“She knew he was yours this whole time?” My sister asked me.

I nodded. “She thought I was human. I don’t think she would have known how to find me regardless though. Epperly is very…ignorant to the supernatural world.” I told Tia.

“Isn’t she a supernatural?” She asked.

I nodded. “She won’t tell me much about her past. She did tell me that she is a Djin though, and that there are Gods after her.” I said.

“So she’s who they’ve been after..” Tia said more to herself. “It’s a good thing you found her when you did then. They’ll be safe here.” She said.

“I know but she doesn’t believe that.” I said.

“Then we prove it to her.” Tia said confidently.

I nodded to my sister.

“Tia what do you know about Djin’s?” I asked after a moment.

Tia shrugged. “Not much. I’ve never met one. From what I’ve heard they don’t exist anymore. It’s no wonder the Moon Goddess paired the only one up with a Morningstar.” She said with a smile.

I sighed. “My mate doesn’t trust me though.” I mumbled.

Tia reached over and placed her hand on mine.

“She will, don’t worry. Sometimes these things take time Brosey.” She said and I rolled my eyes at the nickname.

“You’re right. I just have to keep working on it.” I said.

Tia nodded to me.

“So, where are they now? Asleep?” She asked.

I nodded. “I might have accidently gotten Epperly drunk first but they are both sleeping soundly together.” I said and then I remembered the necklace that Epperly had on when I found her.

Reaching into my pocket I pulled it out and handed it to Tia.

“She was wearing this when I found her. I took it off of her so that if she ran I could find her again. Whoever spelled this was trying to hide her and I don’t think she did it herself. Do you think you could find anything out?” I asked her.

Tia looked the crystal over.

“I can have Max analyze it.” She told me.

I frowned. “Why don’t we just ask Kee? She can probably pinpoint exactly who did it.” I asked.

“No. Kee has too many secrets and until she’s ready to trust me, I don’t trust her.” Tia said angrily.

“Tia… She’s our sister. cut her women slack. Kee has been through enough.” I countered.

“I do not care.” My sister said simply.

I sighed. “Fine.” I said.

“So, what’s it like? To finally have her?” Tia asked me after a moment.

I smiled. “Amazing. I’m never letting her go. You’d think that I would be angry that she had my son and kept it from me. Mad that I missed all of that time. And I mean I am mad that I missed so much but… I’m also not. Seeing Tate in that car after finding her was like a gift. The best gift. I already love him more than anything. And he’s so smart, and man he loves to talk. Kid can also eat. He’s so much like me too.” I rambled.

“He sure looks a lot like you. I tried not to pry when I saw them, but that kid is definitely yours.” Tia said.

I chuckled. “I know it. He’s my mini me. I want him to start school soon but I gotta talk to Epperly about it.” I told her.

Tia nodded. “Just let me know when you two are ready and he can start. I already have most of the paperwork done.” She told me.

I smiled at my sister. “Thank you Tia.” I said.

“It’s not a problem.” She told me. “So, what else? Has he shifted already?” She asked.

I nodded. “Sure has. He downed all the b***d bags you sent too.” I told her.

Tia’s eyes went wide.

“All of them?” She asked. I nodded. “Damn, he is just like you. I’ll have more sent over in the morning.” She told me.

“I want to show them around tomorrow since it’s still the weekend and most of the kids are gone. I don’t know how Epperly will feel though. I have to warn her about our siblings first. Which reminds me… I thought I asked you to keep our siblings away from us for the day.” I said.

Tia rolled her eyes.

“You know that I can’t control them. I tried not to tell any of them anything other than to leave you alone. You really think that if they all knew they have a long lost nephew that they would have left you alone? No. Amory already knew, the same way she knows everything.” My older sister told me.

I chuckled at her. “Well, thanks anyways I guess.”

“Is there anything else you want to tell me?” Tia asked.

“I want to know what God or Gods are after Epperly and why. Can you please have your mate look into that? I’ll be talking with Grandpa soon about it. I want to know who is tracking down my mate.” I said dangerously.

Tia nodded.

“Ya know, this might be easier if you marked her. Then even if someone found her they would know what they’re getting into. They would think twice before touching a hair on her head. Not to mention that she can share your power that way.” She said.

I shook my head.

“I’m not marking her until she wants me to. And not until she understands what being marked really means. I tried to tell her earlier but I don’t know. I don’t think she realizes what it really means.” I told her.

Tia nodded.

“Maybe Max can help her to understand more.” She suggested.

I turned my head to my sister and gave her a hard look.

“I don’t f*****g think so. I will the one to teach my mate all she needs to know.” I said.

Tia smiled brightly.

“My bad.” She mumbled.

“I do need to get them some stuff though. They have nothing but a few sets of clothes. Tate needs a room fit for his age. They both need more clothes and shoes. I don’t even know what kind of things Epperly needs.” I said as I ran a hand down my face.

“How about you talk with her in the morning about spening the day touring the territory, then dinner at home since you know, everyone wants to meet them. While you guys are out Max and I can set you guys up with everything. We can make this house your guys’ home.” She suggested.

I turned and gave her a wide eyed look.

“You want me to take my mate, who has been alone her whole life, with my son, who has also been alone his whole life, to dinner with our family? When not only Mom and Dad are home but so are Uncle Nick and Uncle Liam?” I asked her incredulously.

Tia rolled her eyes.

“I just said to ask her. If she doesn’t want to then I can just drop things off on the porch.”

I nodded.

“Fine. But I don’t know if she’ll want to do all of that.” I said.

Tia placed her hand on my knee.

“I think you’ll be surprised. Amory seems to be under the impression that Epperly will really love being here.” She said.

At that, I smiled.

My sister left shortly after that. I went back inside to check on my mate and son. Both of them were sleeping peacefully. I walked into the room and crouched down next to Epperly’s face. She mumbled incoherently in her sleep but then her face contorted. I stood up to my feet as she started to squirm.

Her movements woke Tate up. His sleepy eyes looked from me to his mom who was practically rolling around now. Then he did something I wasn’t expecting, he sighed.

My little five year old son sighed like this was the most annoying thing to ever happen.

“Tate?” I whispered his name.

“Momma is having another nightmare.” Tate whispered back.

“No… please… I don’t want to do it… please..” Epperly started to talk in her sleep. Tate covered his ears and I stood there stunned.

“NO!” Epperly screamed as she shot up in the bed, finally waking up.

She’s breathing heavy and looked around taking in her surroundings. When her eyes landed on Tate she grabbed him in her arms and started to apologize for waking him. Then her eyes landed on me for the first time and her face went red.

“I’m sorry if I woke you up too.” She whispered.

“You didn’t wake me. I came in here to check on the two of you.” I told her.

“Can I go back to sleep now?” Tate asked with a yawn.

Epperly gently placed him back down and Tate rolled right over ready to go back to sleep. The bed in this room is in the corner so Tate moved all the way to the wall, far away from his mother, who frowned at the action.

“Jerk.” She whispered, then she looked back at me. “I’m so sorry.”

I shook my head at her.

“You have nothing to be sorry for.” I told her. “Do you want to talk about it?” I asked her.

Epperly looked at Tate then back to me. She looked like she wanted to tell me but I honestly wasn’t sure if she would. After a moment she flung the blanket off of her and stood to her feet. I grabbed her hand to help her and then she pulled me out of the room, to our living room, and sat me down on the couch. Then she began to pace in front of me.

“I have nightmares a lot.” She started.

I nodded.

“Tate’s reaction made that clear.” I said.

“I’ve never told Tate what they were about. Or anyone else. Not that I’ve had anyone else to tell.” She rambled.

“Epperly you can tell me anything but you don’t have to right now if you don’t want to.” I told her hoping to calm her pacing.

Finally Epperly stopped in front of me. She turned her body to face me and her eyes bore into mine. Is she really going to tell me?

“I believe you. About everything. Well, I’m still not confident that you can protect me, but I do think that you can protect our son.” She told me and then sat down next to me and grabbed my hands. “Promise me that no matter what you will protect him.” She begged me.

“Epperly I promise that nothing will ever happen to our son, or you.” I told her as I held her hands and looked into her eyes.

Epperly blew out a breath.

“This time it was different. It wasn’t just me there but our son. I can’t let what happened to me happen to him.” She whispered as tears filled her eyes.

Kohen growled in my head and I agreed with his anger.

“What happened to you Epperly?” I tried to keep my voice level but I know some of my anger had slipped through.

Epperly turned her eyes to me as a single tear fell.

“I hope you still want me after this.” She said.

I grabbed her chin with one of my hands.

“I will always want you. Nothing you could say to me would change that. I love you unconditionally.” I told her.

“You don’t even know me.” She whispered.

“I don’t have to yet. You’re my mate. A gift from the Moon Goddess. My other half. We belong together. I will always love you.” I told her honestly. “You don’t have to believe me right now Epperly but you’ll understand one day.” I told her.

Epperly nodded to me.

“I haven’t always been on the run.” She started.

“For the first thirteen years of my life I grew up in a lab. I never knew that where I was at was considered a lab. They didn’t really allow me an education but I was taught to read and write and I was given books. I taught myself a lot with the tools I was given. The doctors there would force me to use my magic to kill people. They would offer me things like foods I never had, information about myself, and the promise that I could go outside if I did what they asked. They never let me leave though.” She told me.

I frowned.

“You never got to see the outside world?” I asked.

Epperly shook her head.

“No.” She said. “On my 13th birthday they forced me to kill someone else. I did something to make Dr. Lucas angry and they did another expirement on me.” She said and a loud growl ripped from my throat interrupting her.

“They expiremented on you?” I asked.

My mate nodded.

“They told me I was having surgeries. I have had 64 of them by my 13th birthday.” She told me.

Kohen was going bizerk in my head and it took everything in me to hold him back. Epperly stared at me worried for a moment. I grabbed her and pulled her into my lap. Tucking my nose in the crook of her neck, I inhaled deeply until I could relax, but I didn’t let her go.

“I’m not mad at you my love but my wolf is very possessive and protective. I need to hold you so I don’t lose control.” I told her.

Epperly nodded and leaned her back against my front.

“Dr. Lucas did something to me that night but I’m not sure what. I was alone in my room when another doctor came in. Dr. Isabella was the only person there who was ever nice to me.” My mate told me and I was thankful that at least someone in her life had shown her kindness.

“But I was so wrong about her. She came there that night to kill me.” My hold on her tightened.

No wonder my mate can’t trust me fully.

“She said that she couldn’t sit by and let them use me to kill people. She told me that if we killed Dr. Lucas someone else would just take his place. We struggled with each other for a while, and that was when alarms started to go off in the building. Dr. Isabella got distracted and I was able to get the upper hand. I killed her.” Epperly’s voice broke at the end making my heart squeeze.

I ran my hands up and down her arms.

“You did what you had to do to survive Epp.” I told her.

Epperly nodded her head.

“I know. I just.. if it wasn’t for my existence than she would still be alive.” She said.

I picked Epperly up and turned her around in my lap. She let out a small squeal of surprised when I did that. Then I grabbed her chin and forced her to look at me.

“Don’t say that. If it weren’t for the profession she chose then she wouldn’t have died. And if you didn’t exist… Then neither would Tate, and my life would mean nothing without the two of you. You can’t blame yourself for what happened Epperly. It was self defense.” I told her.

Epperly nodded to me.

“I know you’re right. And Kiah told me the same thing.” She said.

“Kiah?” I asked and Kohen growled in my head.

“I’ll get there.” She said and then took a deep breath.

“I sat on the floor of my room holding Dr. Isabella when someone I had never seen before came into my room. It was Kiah. He and a team of his men had stormed the building. They were looking for something or someone I guess. He offered to take me with him so I went. I didn’t want to stay a prisoner anymore and for some reason I trusted Kiah. He took me away from there.” She told me and then a smile fell on her perfect lips.

“I got to see the sun for the first time, feel the grass under my feet.” She told me. “Kiah took me back to his pack and-“

“Did you just say pack?” I asked interrupting her.

Epperly nodded to me.

“Kiah is a Werewolf. He has a pack of rouges and witches.” She told me.

A pack of rouges and Witches?

Tia. I opened the mind link with my sister.

What? Did something happen? She asked.

Do we know any Alpha’s named Kiah who are in charge of a pack of rouges and Witches? I asked her.

Tia took a moment to reply.

Why are you asking me that? She asked.

Because apparently he helped my mate and I want to know who he is. I growled out.

Kohen was too close to losing his patience.

I know who he is but he doesn’t like us much… She trailed off and I frowned.

What does that mean? I asked her.

Ask Mom and Dad tomorrow. She said and then cut the link.

“You okay?” Epperly asked pulling me back to her.

“Yeah. Sorry. Keep going.” I encouraged her.

“Well, Kiah welcomed me with open arms. I spent the next four years there. It was hard to adjust to the world outside of the lab but I had lots of help.” She gave me a sad smile.

“I had friends for the first time. The Witches helped me to control my magic. And Kiah was like a father to me. I miss them all so much.” She whispered.

“What happened that casued you to leave?” I asked her softly.

Epperly wiped a few tears from her eyes.

“Kiah found out that someone was after me. Someone that they stood no chance against. He and Seirra arranged for me to run. They kept saying how they prepared me to survive in the outside world, but they didn’t. It was hard at first. I should have had enough money to bounce around the country for years but I was robbed when I wasn’t home. That was why I started working. Then I just…floated through life. Seirra was the one that gave me that necklace. At one point I had met a group of Witches who had enhanced the crystal to hide my location.” She told me.

“What coven?” I asked.

Epperly furrowed her brow.

“Coven?” She asked.

“Witches are part of a coven most of the time, but I take it you don’t know what one.” I said and Epperly shook her head.

“Do you know what the name of their High Priestess’ was?” I asked her.

Epperly nodded.

“Yeah, she was the older sister of the girl I befriended. Her name is Renece.” She said with a smile.

My body froze and all I could do was blink at my mate.

“Renece?” I finally managed to ask.

Epperly nodded.

“She’s a super pretty red head. Super nice.” She said and I snorted.

“Nice is not the term I would use to describe Renece.” I mumbled.

“You know her?” Epperly asked me surprised.

I nodded.

“Unfortunately.” I said. “She went to school here and knows Tia’s mate.” I told my mate.

Epperly frowned and crossed her arms.

“Don’t be mean to her.” She scolded me.

I raised a brow at her.

“She is the reason that I could never find you.” I countered.

“She’s also the reason no one else could.” My mate argued back.

I sighed and shook my head.

“If I would have known it was Renece… I could have gotten her to tell me where you were.” I said more to myself.

This time it was Epperly who grabbed my chin and forced my eyes to hers.

“I’m sorry I ran away from you that day. Kiah told me that being away from your mate after meeting them is the worst kind of pain. If I would have known..” She trailed off.

“It’s alright my love. I know you didn’t know.” I told her as I tucked some of her hair behind her ear.

“So, now you pretty much know everything.” She said as she bit her bottom l*p.

I nodded as I tried to ignore the action.

“That file that’s in your bag, that has all the information about you from the lab?” I asked.

Epperly’s eyes went wide before she narrowed them at me.

“You read that?” She accused.

“No. I, uhm, did go through your bag but I didn’t open it. I wanted you to tell me when you were ready.” I told her.

Epperly sighed, seeming to believe me.

“Honestly, I have no idea what it says. Kiah told me it’s a summed up version of everything they did to me but I never wanted to open it. I wanted to move on from that part of my life. Kiah held onto it for years for me. When I left he put it in my bag.” She told me.

“You were never curious?” I asked her.

Epperly shrugged.

“There was only ever one time I considered opening it. Shortly after Tate was born. I thought maybe it would give me some answers but I decided against it.” She told me.

I nodded in understanding.

“I guess this explains why you don’t seem to know very much about our world.” I commented.

Epperly giggled and we spent the next while talking about her past. Well, she talked and I listened. Epperly told me about her friends Angela and CJ, she told me about Kiah and Seirra. She even told me about what she looked like when she first arrived at what she calls ‘the base’.

At one point we had moved positions on the couch so that I was laying down and she was on top of me. I played with her hair while she talked. This was everything to me. She told me all about her past, and so soon. Epperly might not know that I’m her mate the way I do, but she sure as hell feels it.