Ethereal's Choice

The Truth

>>>Antonio’s POV <<<

"My coven provides a service to the World Council of Wolves. It sounds strange I know, but sometimes crimes are so grievous, an outsider is the only way to cleanly deal with it without starting a war with other packs. Johnston and his pack had been set for destruction two weeks before I met you. I only had held out in hopes you would be found. Anyway, their fate had been voted on by the council, and I was hired to carry it out. 

When Kaid was a young Alpha in training, he came to a council meeting with his father. Your grandfather Hazen sits on the Council, as a representative of western Europe. They were there for another matter, but I was there for an assignment. A pack had violated several laws, honestly, I don't remember what exactly, that wasn't my place, and the council had voted for complete extermination. Kaid argued with the council when the verdict had been announced, he was maybe 18, and argued for the innocent lives of the children. Honorable as his argument may have been, he spoke out of place and as punishment for speaking against them, the Elder Wolf Fazku, from Egypt, demanded he accompany me and my ranks and carry out the task, so that he may learn the weight of his words. 

I didn't want to take him with me, anymore than he wanted to go. He was required by Fazku to take one life or the council would sacrifice him for being weak. An alpha must do what he must to protect order and his pack, and to follow the council's rule, so he went.

Two hundred of my best warriors and Kaid went into the night to deliver the judgement set forth against a pack of 500, and it was gruesome. He was shocked, and he froze at the sight. I'll spare the details, but in short, the only life left was a sixteen year old boy, and Kaid hadn't yet taken one. I brought the boy to Kaid, and forced him to kill him so HIS life wouldn't be forfeit. We argued for a long time, he said many times he couldn't do it, but I reminded him of his sacrifice. He chose his life over the boys, and quickly snapped his neck from behind. He never forgave me, and I would never expect him to."

She paused a moment. "Well, that’s horrifying." She said seriously. "Now why do you hate him?" She asked.

"I don't hate him. I think he is weak. I don't think he is fit to be Alpha when he can't do what is necessary to keep order. My dislike for him only grew when I thought he had stolen you from me. He doesn't deserve someone like you. I'm not even sure I do." I said honestly. She seemed satisfied with that answer, and blushed. 

"My uncle said you went before the council for me?" She said nervously.

"I did." I smiled. "After your mother ran me off and swore I would never see you, I went to the council and asked that you be brought before the council to prove you were my mate, so that I could claim you honorably. By law, anyone that interferes with a mate's bond can be punished, but they told me they wouldn't waste their time on an unfounded claim that a werewolf could be a vampire's mate. Many of the elders said it was an abomination and that they would never allow it. It caused a disruption between council elders, as some, like your grandfather, stated the law should be upheld no matter what, and others that the lines should be kept pure no matter what. I left there feeling more defeated and desperate than ever. I did try to get to you, and after word came you had been locked away because you didn't have your mate, I really lost my mind. That's why I contacted Suzette, I didn't want you to die alone in that prison when I was right here." I didn't realize it but at some point during talking, I had wrapped her in my arms again and was holding her close as I spoke, staring in her eyes. I looked down at her neck, and his mark was almost healed, just light purple patches where the new skin had formed.

I pulled her across my lap and cradled her close to me. She put her hand on my chest and reached the other one under my arm and up around my shoulder. I had to control my breathing. She did things to me I couldn't describe. "Any more questions?" I asked her slowly.

"Why did you really come here tonight?" She whispered. 

"Because every moment I'm not with you feels like agony. Just being able to smell your sweet honey scent lights me on fire, and if you never spoke to me again I would be content seeing your beautiful face smile as I left, if that was what you wished of me. I burn for you like nothing I've ever felt before, and there is literally nothing you could ask of me I would not gladly do, even if you asked me to take my own life. A life without you isn't worth living anyway." I said passionately as I stared deep into her eyes. 

She touched my face, and I pressed my cheek into her palm hungrily. It was everything I could do to hold control, I wanted everything about her, but I wanted her to want me just as much. Then, she twirled her fingers in my hair and pulled my face closer to hers, placing a gentle kiss on my lips. I whimpered quietly into her and pulled her tighter to me. She kissed me again, pulling my bottom lip into her mouth, and running her tongue across it. I moaned and held her tighter, and she slid her tongue in my mouth looking for my own, and I lost what little control I was desperately trying to hold onto. 

I rolled on top of her on the couch, careful not to crush her with my weight, and she wrapped a leg around my waist as I kissed her back greedily. My hand rubbed up and down her thigh and she pulled me into her with such desire I was rock hard instantly. We continued to kiss, greedily stealing each other's lips as I caressed every free inch. It was everything I dreamed of. I kissed down her neck and shoulder as she giggled, and pulled one of the straps from her shirt down. One of her gorgeous breasts popped out of the tank top, and I instantly sucked her n****e into my mouth, and then, she moaned for me. Oh, sweet lord it was the most amazing sound. "Wait." She whispered, and I immediately stopped. 

I pulled her shirt up to cover her and looked at her concerned, "I'm sorry." I apologized. 

"No! I'm sorry." She said quickly. "It's not that I don't want you," she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "because I do. I don't want to rush into something either of us will regret because of physical pull. I don't want to choose poorly again." I laid my head on her chest and caught my breath. She stroked my hair, and I could hear her heart pounding. 

"I will wait as long as you wish, and give you as much space as you ask." I said, starting to move away. 

She pulled me to stop me, "Could we, maybe just, cuddle a little?" She asked innocently. 

I smiled happily, "I would hold you forever." I said making her blush. I rolled her over onto my chest, and hugged her into me, playing with her hair and rubbing her back. She snuggled into me, and I have never been so happy and complete-feeling in my entire life. She quickly fell asleep, and I took advantage of it and continued to hold her all night as she slept. It was the best night of my life so far. I just hoped it would last.