Chapter 4: Mate Marks

Jay's mother looked at his Lotus tattoo.

"Oh! You have a mate mark," she exclaimed. "And such an unusual one too! I've never seen a lotus."

"Wait, hold on! What do you mean mate!" Misty couldn't hide the shock and worry in her voice. Jay's mom glided over to wrap her new daughter in law in giant hug.

"I'm Sheena and I am so happy you two found each other!" Misty felt her back crack at the tight grip and couldn't help but let out a short gasp. This woman was so strong that Misty felt she couldn't breath and started to get dizzy.

"Mom, can you put her down now?" Sheena turned a playful scowl to her son.

"Why would I ever put her down! I thought you would never find a mate." After a few more moments of teasing, Sheena let Misty go. Jay held out his arm and Misty grabbed it to steady herself.

Sheena led them to sit by the fire and called for food and drink. Soon there was a bowl of soup and fruit juice in Misty's hand. Misty looked over to Jay.

"Why did you call me your mate?" she whispered. Jay looked at Misty with confusion.

"We completed the mate contract," he said.

"I don't understand, when did I sign a contract?" Jay looked at her with concern.

"Back by the river, you..." Jay started to look worried and cut himself off, not sure how to explain. Misty looked over at Sheena and she came to a sudden realization. She stared at the lines twisting on his shoulder and across his side.

"The Jaguar by the river, it was you." Jay nodded.

"Yes, your tears fell onto my blood. Exchanging essence triggers a mate contract for people who are compatable." Misty was having a hard time wrapping her head around the concept of mate contract.

"Jay, I really don't know what I did. That isn't how things work where I am from. Can you explain this carefully?" Jay set his bowl aside and a grim look came onto his face.

"You didn't know?" Misty jumped as Sheena appeard behind her. She looked from Misty to Jay and could tell that Jay was upset at this point.

"No, " Misty hesitated for a moment and then threw her shoulders back with resoution. "But I would like for you to tell me so I can figure things out." Sheena turned her head from Jay and stared into the flames.

"The mate mark can only appear after you do a mate contract. I am not sure why, but only certain people are able to make the contract with each other. I guess that is convenient since not everyone is suited to be together."

"The first step in the contract is to share each other essence."

"What is essence?" Misty asked.

"Really, it is any bolidly fluid. The most typical way of making a contract is through mating, but tears, sweat, blood, pretty much anything that has come from your body will allow the contract to trigger."

"But doesn't that mean that anyone who even sweats together can trigger the contract?"

"No," said Sheena shaking her head. "That can be a way to find out that you are compatible, but that is where you have the second part of the contract."

"What is that?" Misty asked.

"The vow and acceptance from both parties." Misty looked over to Jay.

"Oh." Misty thought back to when she was laying beside the wounded Jaguar. She remembered her wish that she could heal him.

"You had been hurt and were bleeding out." Misty said. Sheena's jaw dropped she was stunned for a moment. A loud crackle from the fire shook her from her trance and she looked at her son.

"You were hurt!" Sheena grabbed her son and twisted him around in his seat. Her eyes landed on the new marks across his arm and side. "What did this to you!" her voice was fierce and Misty shivered at the menace.

"It was a traya."

"You got attacked by a traya beast?" Jay nodded. Sheena turned startled eyes onto Misty. "You healed him."

"There is no way I could have done that, he was bleeding so badly." Misty knew that even if she had wished it, there was nothing she had done at the time.

"You did." Jay said softly. "I thought I was dead and you tripped over me. I was kind of mad, but you did apologized." He smiled at Misty. Misty could barely take his beauty.

"I wished I could save you." she whispered.

"I accepted." Jay couldn't help by be dazzled by Misty's eyes as she looked at him.

"I see what happened." Sheena hid a smile of satisfaction. She could see that her son was attracted to the girl and judging by the shy blush blossoming across her cheeks, she was certain that Misty liked her son.

"It's too late to get out of it now, then." Misty turned to look at Sheena.

"What do you mean?" Misty was still reeling at finding out she had accidently gotten a husband, but she wasn't too concerned. She told herself that if was just a contract and there had to be a way to break it.

"Your vow was to heal Jay, right?" Misty nodded. "Then if we break the contract, Jay would die." The blood drained from her face. Stunned, Misty began to sway and Jay caught her bowl before it fell to the ground.

"He...he would die?"

"Yes" Sheena felt for the child. She couldn't help but wonder where her parents were. How did she not know about the mating contract. She shook her head and the elation at finally having a daughter in law dampened.

Misty looked at Jay. Tears fell and she reached up to caress his face.

"I don't want you to die." Jay leaned into Misty's hand, catching her wrist and pulling her closer to him. Misty's eyes closed and she went limp.

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