Sour Souls The Morningstar Series Book 6
Sour Souls Chapter 22

Ares, are you coming to my office or not? Tia asked through the link.

I had been texting her almost the entire way back. She knew that I wanted to bring my mate home first. I know it's late, but Tia could be a bit more patient for f**k's sake. We will be right there. I replied.

We? Tia asked.

Turns out that my mate knows more about the situation than I thought. I told her.

Good. Max is dying to meet her. She said.

I rolled my eyes, and cut the link.

I've been watching Emilia look at everything in the apartment. I have never been in here myself, but I don't really care what it looks like. As long as my mate is happy, I'm happy. And Emilia looks so happy.

I felt terrible dragging her away, espeically when she is feeling so emotionally fragile. Honeslty, I'm fighting with myself. I want to mind link Tia to tell her to wait until the morning. The other part of me knows that that isn't a good idea. As much as I want nothing more than to be locked in this apartment with my mate... There are innocent kids out there who need us.

So, I grabbed my mates hand, and drug her out of our home, to the school. Emilia looked around at everything as we walked. When we entered the school she gasped. I wish that I could let her look around more, but I want to get this conversation with Tia over with. Then I will be taking my mate on a run. I didn't want to at first. I thought that Emilia needed sleep more than a run. Then Kee mind linked me to remind me that my mates wolf has never been on a run, never basked in the moonlight. Emilia, and Honi have only ever shifted in that dungeon. That broke me. She can sleep later.

Tonight we run. Rex said.

You just make sure to behave yourself. I said.

I pulled Emilia to Tia's office.

"This place is huge." She whispered.

"Wait til you see the kitchen." I said.

I knocked on Tia's door, and a moment later she told us to come in. I opened the door, and drug Emilia in behind me. Tia is sitting in her desk chair, with Max standing behind her. As soon as we entered a smile spread across Max's face, and he walked around the desk up to my mate.

"Hi, you must be Ares mate Emilia. I'm Max, Tia's mate. Welcome to the family." He said, and then engulfed her in a hug.

I growled at him for touching my mate.

Max let go of Emilia, but ignored me.

"Uh, hi." Emilia said awkwardly. "You can call me Emi." She said. "It's nice to meet you."

I rolled my eyes. She tells everyone to call her Emi. Everyone except me.

We call her pet. Rex said.

I guess. I replied grumpily.

Just call our mate Emi, she won't care. He said.

No. I want her to ask me to. I said.

Rex rolled his eyes at me.

"Emi, this is my mate, and your mate's sister, Tia." Max told her as he walked back to my sister.

Max kissed the top of Tia's head. Then my sister stood, and held her hand out to my mate. Emilia took her hand.

"Welcome to the family Emi. We've been waiting so long for you." She said.

"You have?" Emilia asked.

Max let out a short, but loud laugh.

"Yeah, we couldn't wait for this grump a*s to replace his mate." He said.

I narrowed my eyes at him.

"At least I've been treating my mate better than you did." I growled out.

"Ares, don't start." Tia said.

Max shrugged, and looked at Emilia.

"Has he though? I bet he's been a real ass." He asked.

Great. Here we go. Emilia probably is going to love telling him how bossy I've been with her.

"He's definitely been an a*s." She said.

I rolled my eyes.

"But I've never been this happy in my life. He has been taking good care of me." Emilia said.

I looked at her to see her staring right at Max. Emilia talks so nonchalantly about everything. She has no fear saying what's on her mind. Even if it's something typically embarrassing. Like bringing up our s*x life in front of my team mates. What sex life? Rex teased.

I rolled my eyes. Emilia even has my own wolf teasing me. Infuriating woman.

"Well, he better be." Tia said as she looked at me.

"Anyways, I believe we are here on buisness." I said.

"Right." Tia said as she sat back down. "So, there wasn't much in the files that Kee found." She said.

"Did you guys replace the ones in the dungeon?" Emilia asked.

"What?" I asked her.

"The dungeon. Off to the right when you first get down there is a hidden room. I overheard Frederick talking about evidence in there. Something about if anyone snitches they are all going down." She said.

Tia looked at me, and raised a brow.

"I didn't see the room." I admitted.

Tia sighed. "Good thing Ryce is still there." She mumbled.

"Slacking little Morningstar." Max said teasingly.

"Shut up." I bit out. "I was concerned with other things after replaceing my mate." I said.

"Understandable." Tia said.

"Good thing your mate pays attention." Max said.

I sat down in one of the chairs across from Tia's desk, and pulled Emilia into my lap. I kissed her covered shoulder as I glared at Max. Who just chuckled in return.

He's using our mate to tease us. Rex growled.

Relax. He's just having fun because of my change in attitude. I said.

So. Rex argued.

Max is mated to our sister, and a God. Calm down. I told him.

Rex just huffed at me.

"Alright, I'll have Ryce get the files." Tia said. "We did replace enough already to have a few other Alpha's taken in. Is there anything you know Emi? Anything at all?" She asked my mate. Emilia seemed to think about it for a moment.

"Hunters. They talked about Hunters a lot. They were the least trusted to Frederick. I remember him always being extra anxious when dealing with them." She said.

"That would make sense. He wouldn't be able to blackmail them like the rest of the supernaturals." Tia said.

"Why not?" Emilia asked.

"Because the Hunters are humans." Tia answered.

Emilia tensed up. I squeezed her tighter to me. Does she not like humans?

"I thought humans didn't know about us?" She asked.

Oh.

"Most don't. There are Hunters though, ones that hunt down all of us. No matter who we are, or what he have done. They experiment on supernaturals as well as kill us." Tia told her. Emilia seemed stunned for a moment.

"They really do that?" She asked.

Tia frowned, and then looked at me.

"You've explained nothing to her?" She asked me.

"I've been preoccupied." I argued.

"With what?" Emilia asked, calling me out.

Max laughed.

"With getting you here where you'll be safe." I told her.

"Oh, must be why you refuse to get to know me too." My mate mumbled loud enough for all of us to hear.

"I didn't refuse." I I argued.

"I believe your exact words were 'Just shut up already Emilia." She mocked.

"That was different. I was busy." I told her.

"Yeah, ignoring me." Emilia retorted.

"Once again, you pick the worst times to have these types of conversations." I said annoyed.

Emilia turned in my lap to look at my face. Her's is of pure shock. Good.

"What types of conversations?" She asked.

"These. Arguments. Just like this morning in the car." I said.

Shouldn't of said that. Rex teased.

"You mean because you wouldn't have s*x with me last night, or even tell me why?" Emilia asked incredulously.

I just blinked at my mate. I can't believe she really f*****g said that out loud like there aren't other people in the room. Does she not care at all who knows about our personal life? Max is dying of laughter in the background.

"Uhm, okay, well." Tia said uncomfortably.

Emilia turned her attention back to my sister, and Max. She crossed her arms over her chest, and frowned. Good, at least she's going to shut her damn mouth.

"We're like family now right?" Emilia asked them.

What's she getting at?

"Of course." Max answered.

"Good. Let me ask you guys something then." Emilia said.

"Emilia." I growled out her name.

"Shhh." She shushed me.

What the fuck? She just fucking shushed me. Oh, how I'd love to take her home, and punish that scrawny ass of hers.

"Say you meet your mate. Then you guys get into this heavy make out session right? Like, super hot-"

"Okay." Tia said.

"Anyways, would you stop right when it starts getting good?" She asked.

"For fuck's sake." I grumbled.

Max burst out into laughter.

"I.. I don't think I want to have this conversation." Tia said awkwardly.

Emilia crossed her arms again, and lay back on me like I'm just part of the damn chair.

"He said that 'we should take things slow' since I don't 'know anything"." Emilia said in a mocking voice. "What bullshit. I'm a grown woman. I should be able to have some kind of say right?" She asked them. Tia just stared at Emilia looking extremely uncomfortable. Max however...

"You are absolutely right. You most definitely should get a say." He told my mate.

I growled loudly, shaking the room.

"Enough. We are here to discuss the mission. If neither of you two can do that then-"

"You can leave." Emilia interrupted me.

Max had to cover his mouth to hide his amusement.

"Excuse me?" I asked dangerously.

"Sounds like Tia just needs to hear what I have to say." Emilia said. "So, if you're feeling uncomfortable... then you leave." She said.

I'm at a loss for words.

Tia raised a brow at me, but I have no idea what to say. My mate is a real pain in the a*s. F*****g infuriating woman.

"I heard other names too." Emilia said getting us back on track.

Thank fuck.

"I think there are more involved than what I know, but I remember the ones they delt with the most." She said.

"What are the names?" Tia asked.

"Alister. I don't know last names, but I do know that he was a top buyer. He would buy any type of supernatural as long as they were a virgin. Gender also didn't matter." Emilia said.

Tia nodded for her to continue.

"Edger. He only bought female wolves. Didn't matter what age, or if they were virgins he paid more. He was very picky about looks though from my understanding." She said. "Okay." Tia said.

"I only know one more name." Emilia said.

Tia waited patiently for her to continue.

"Madam Black. Not sure what her real name is. I do know that she buys any type of creature, but she prefers them young. She pays extra when Frederick got his hands on a human." Emilia finished.

Her voice sounded so strong the whole time. I'm so proud of her. She's been through so much, knows so much, and yet.. Here Emilia is, firm, and ready to do what she can.

Our mate is so strong. Rex said.

That she is. I agreed.

She will bare us strong pups. He said.

I almost choked out loud.

Slow down. I'm not ready for kids. I said.

The Moon Goddess decides that. Rex argued.

She better slow her fucking roll then. I said.

"That is all very helpful information Emi, thank you." Tia told her.

"Is it?" Emilia asked. "I mean it. I don't even know last names, or who these people are. I don't even know if they're human or not." She said.

Tia smiled at her, and flecks of yellow littered her eyes.

"Alister is a very powerful Vampire. He is someone that the Vampire King has been looking for for a while now. He went rouge, and has been a suspect in other crimes with the Vampires." Tia told her.

"Edgar is a very powerful Alpha in Canada. The Alpha king of that country has just been waiting for him to slip up. Now we have even more reason to suspect him. Because of you." Tia said. "But.. I'm a nobody." Emilia said softly.

I growled.

"Sorry, I'm a nobody mated to a Morningstar." Emilia said annoyed.

Max laughed at her little joke. "You were locked up down there. It's enough to at least start an investigation." He told her.

"Oh." Was all Emilia said.

"Madam Black is someone we are extremely familiar with." Tia said. "Many years ago, there was a powerful Vampire named Alexander. He ran an underground... place for humans and supernaturals. It was pretty much a s*x slave ring. He would force any type of creature he could, to preform, have s*x, or anything else for anyone who paid money. He sold off the virgins for a high price." She said.

"One of the virigns he sold off ended up being mated to a very powerful Alpha of this country. Alpha Logan runs the largest pack in the south. Turned out his mate wasn't human like they all thought. Long story short, they killed Alexander, and freed all of the innocent people. My parents helped with that." Tia said.

Emilia listened patiently. Suprisingly.

"Madam Black was one of the people who worked under him. Although, she is a Witch. We have heard word of her opening up the same type of place that Alexander was running before. Now, we have no idea where to replace her, but.. With the information we had, plus what you heard, it might be easier to catch her." Tia finished.

"Uhm.." Emilia trailed off. "Do you think that we can do what Alpha Logan and his mate did? Can we free them?" She asked.

Tia gave her a fierce look as her eyes swirled red.

"We will do what we can, and kill everyone who stands in our way." Tia said dangerously.

I half expected Emilia to shrink back, but no.

"Good." My mate said with equal danger in her voice.

I smiled proudly. Emilia is out for blood. She has seen too much hurt, t*****e, and death in her life. My mate isn't phased by brutality.

She is perfect. Rex said.

Yes she is. I agreed.

Let's give her what she wants, and make her squirm beneath us. He said.

Rex. I scolded.

Just imagine how sexy our mate will look with a gag in her mouth. Spread open, and held down by us. That wild hair all over our pillow. He drawled out.

Images of Emilia being tied to our bed flashed in my eyes.

I shook my head.

Knock that off. I scolded Rex.

"I think that you two can go for the night." Tia said. "We will see you in the morning for breakfast." She said.

I frowned. "Breakfast?" I asked.

Tia gave me a confused look.

"Mom said that we were all having a family breakfast to meet your mate. Since tomorrow is Sunday and Mo and Alessio don't have school or training." She said.

I growled.

"I told Mom that my mate needed time to adjust." I said angrily.

Tia shrugged. "Epperly will be there. Emi will be fine." She said.

Just because Epperly has a way of making everyone around her feel at peace. Part of her Goddess-like powers. That doesn't mean my mate would be okay with this.

"Can't wait. Will your kids be there too?" Emilia asked them.

Stop acting like you know our mate. Rex teased.

She surprises me at every turn. I said.

"They will." Max said.

"Along with everyone else?" Emilia asked.

"I don't think that Aureaila is coming. Just because of the chaos going on in the packs right now." Tia said.

"That's the Lycan Queen?" Emilia asked.

Tia nodded to her.

"Well, I can't wait to meet everyone. Will your friend Belle be there?" Emilia asked.

Tia looks surprised to be asked. A sense of pride washed over me. Emilia is so caring. She remembers everything I tell her.

"Uh, sure. I can invite them if you want." Tia said.

"That would awesome!" Emilia said. "What about my friends?"

"Talia and Derek have been shown to a room in the house where all of our BOC members stay. Monday they will start training with Ambrose. After some time they will start going out on missions." Tia said.

"You accepted them so easily." Emilia said.

"You and Ares trust them, so I do too." Tia stated.

"Thank you." Emilia said to her.

Tia gave her a nod.

"Come." I said as I tapped the side of Emilia's leg.

Emilia stood up, and so did I. I grabbed her hand, and said our good byes to my sister, and Max. I lead Emilia through the school, out the back.

"What are we doing out here?" Emilia asked with a giggle.

I pulled her to the tree line, and into the darkness of the forest.

"I thought you wanted to go for a run?" I asked her.

"I do." She replied.

I let go of her hand, and pulled my shirt over my head. Emilia looked all around us, before settling her eyes on me. Her eyes trailed down my body. I moved to undo my jeans, and my mate watched the whole time.

I shoved my jeans down so I'm just standing in my boxers. Emilia's eyes wandered across my entire body. I smirked at her. Then her eyes met mine again.

I'm not sure why I thought my mate would look away. Be embarrassed. Yell. One of those things at least. But no.

Emilia stepped up to me, and placed her hands on my chest. She let them travel across my bare skin. I shivered under her touch. Fuck, this feels so good. Better than anything I've ever expierenced.

I grabbed Emilia's hands when they started to go lower than my abs. Her eyes snapped up to me, and she pouted. I chuckled at her.

"Come on mate. Get naked with me." I whispered in her ear.

Emilia shivered as I took a step back. I watched as my mate lifted my shirt over her head. She slipped out of her leggings. My eyes roamed down the length of her body. Even covered in scars she's unblieveably sexy. "You look stunning my love." I told her. "Want me to turn around now?" I asked her.

"No." Emilia said nonchalantly, and then pulled the bra over her head.

My eyes instantly moved to her breasts as she slipped out of her panties. F**k, I should have just turned around anyways. I've never seen someone so sexy in my life. I want her so bad.

Before I could tell my mate just how hot she is... She shifted. Emilia shifted quicker than I have ever seen another wolf shift. I barely even heard her bones break.

Then she stood before me on four paws. Four paws that I have seen before. My eyes went wide as I stared at her wolf.

Honi is a stunning white wolf. The color of freshly fallen snow. Her paws, tips of her ears, tip of her tail, and snout are all black as ink. I stared at her in awe.

The wolf sat down, and wrapped her tail around her.

Mate is waiting for us to shift. Rex told me.

I just stared at Honi.

We can ask later. Now our mate wants to run. Rex said.

Rex is right. I will be asking later.