The Empath’s Pack

The Bond

The day started off with Dawn heading into the gym. She knew yesterday was a mistake, because the longing was becoming unbearable. She had asked Marshal to make plans for today. She couldn’t meet him before talking to her brother and Marshal. She was in the kitchen making steak. She made his medium rare while hers was rare. She prepared their drinks. Marshal walked in with a wide grin.

“Has he heard what I am?”

Marshal gives a knowing sigh. “I don’t think so. He has files from the council, but I don’t think they put all your information in there. The council tends to put us all on need to know basis. I don’t think he even knows about my Lycan form.”

Dawn gives a sad look, “you know him well?”

“Decently.”

“Do you think he will reject me? If he knows?”

Marshal sat down, “Alarick is a caring Alpha. There is a reason he is so respected. I don’t think he would reject you. I think he needs to know as soon as possible though.”

“I know. If I put off the bonding. We could be in trouble. My brother was lucky to have a vampire beloved. It won’t do well for vampires if one accidentally kills one of the most powerful Alphas.”

“Well I think you will be surprised by my friend. He won’t easily fall.”

Dawn pulled something off the stove. He would be here in just a few minutes. She wore a ruby red blouse with a pair of black dress pants. It was just lunch, but with the steak it felt more like a dinner. She needed to talk to him then hopefully he would be willing to follow her to her house. It was a stand alone location. The closest neighbor was about fifteen miles away. It made it easier on her. She couldn’t stand feeling everyone’s emotions while she was alone. In those times, she preferred her own.

A knock came from the door. “Dawn.”

She looked to Marshal and at a voice level only they could hear, she said, “did you tell him who I was?”

“I think he is a lot smarter than we give him credit for...even if his brain right now is as good as mush.” He laughed as he stood.

Thankfully Marshal walked out the back and locked the door. She didn’t want to be interrupted and also didn’t want Alarick to attack Marshal out of possessiveness. Even if he knew Marshal, the bond made you do crazy things. Dawn stood adjusting her dress. She was unbelievably nervous.

As the door opened, Alarick felt his body stiffen. She was gorgeous. She had deep red hair that almost looked like the color of blood and her eyes matched. He noticed how pale she was and reached out to touch her. He put a hand in her cheek and sparks flowed through his body. He knew if he didn’t mark her soon there could be a problem. Alarick never heard of a mate bond being this strong. He inhaled deeply and noticed a new smell mixed in her scent today.

“I thought you were empathic?”

Dawn felt a surge of curiosity, “I am....”

Alarick noticed her sentence hanging in the air. He knew that smell. He had smelt it often on the battle field and when he went to visit Orpheus. Normally it made him gag, but for some reason on her it was intoxicating. He thought that Empathics didn’t drink blood. They didn’t need to they fed on emotions. Granted he was curious as to how she stopped the last war. A normal empathic wasn’t strong enough to force emotions on all the people involved in that war. He knew first hand what she had done. He was there.

“You aren’t just an Empathic? Are you?”

“I am not.” Dawn looked into his eyes. “Would you like to sit down. We can eat while we talk.”

He sat down and looked at her plate. “You can eat regular food?”

She cut up her steak. “I don’t prefer it, if that is what you are asking.”

Alarick found it hard to focus on the food. He was inches away from jumping the table and forcibly marking her. He would never do that. He had to find some semblance of control. He took out the vial Freya gave him. Dawn looked at it with a tilted eyebrow. He needed to make sure she wasn’t overwhelmed with the passion coursing through his body.

“Alarick? What is that?”

It took all his self control to not grab her face and make her repeat his name. It felt so melodic. It was as if he heard it for the first time. He noted the worry on her face. She wasn’t like any being he had met. Her emotions were an open book.

“I didn’t want to overwhelm you. I asked a High Priestess to make something that could control them. She did however told me to make sure I asked before using it.”

Dawn was shocked by the care and preparation, he had. “Will it make you more comfortable?”

He tilted his head. She thought he was afraid of her. Alarick was only afraid of what his emotions could do to her. In that moment, Dawn realized she needed to tell him. It would hurt, the possible rejection, but if he didn’t know it could later cause a problem.

“Alarick..”

“Please, if I am going to retain any control from taking you on this table...you will refrain from saying my name so sweetly.”

Dawn was shocked, he was losing control at the same rate she was. “There is something I need to tell you before you decide to keep me as your mate.”

“I have no intention in rejecting you.”

She smiled sweetly at him. “I’m different than any vampire you have met. You see the council implores special talents. My family has a great deal. My father is the Vampire Lord.”

He took a deep breath. He heard rumors about the Lord, but it was just that, rumors. She thought this would keep him from claiming her? He realized by the look on her face that maybe the rumors weren’t just rumors. She had more to tell him.

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

He smirked as he reached for her hand, “you could never.”

She pulled her hand back to steady her nerves and prepare herself. “I’m not just Empathic. My family is the Royal bloodline. I have access to feed in all ways and crave it. I’m not just one I can fall under every category.”

He looked up. “So blood? Body, mind?”

She sipped at her drink. He had just noticed it looked eerily like blood. She had a red tint to her lips. He felt himself grow hard as he studied them more. Alarick needed to get back in control. Dawn was telling him something we was sure only a handful of people knew. He realized in that moment why she thought she might hurt him.

“All of it. I can consume without killing people. I’m lucky to have a father just like myself. He taught me how to control every side of myself. That is the problem though. The longer your left without the completed bond...I’ll only crave you. That is unless you reject me. I’m afraid that until one of those two things happen, no matter what form I try to consume, it won’t be enough.”

He looked at her with amusement. “Only I can fill you up?”

She thought he was taking it too lightly until she noticed the color change. His eyes matched his hair normally, but his wolf form was peeking through. His eyes had a silver shine to them. She noticed his grip on the table was whitening. Dawn stood and backed up.

“Listen Alarick. There is more. I need to gain control. Are you okay if I take some of your emotions.”

He licked his lips and nodded. “I’m gonna lose control soon, so that is probably best.”

She stared directly in his eyes. Alarick noticed the hue difference. Her eyes had turned a bright shade of red and started to glow. He felt himself ease, but had noticed a change happening in her. Her fangs extended and her arousal hit his nose full force. She forced her feelings down.

“If I don’t mark you soon. I will kill you. If you still want me, my place is not too far from here. We should complete the bonding there. I won’t have control of myself and could kill people if they are too close to me.”