Blood oath

"Evelyn, are you sure about this?" Aunt Tara's voice is thick with worry, her brow furrowed as she stares at my mother across the kitchen table. The aroma of freshly brewed tea fills the air, a stark contrast to the tension that hung heavy between them. Evelyn, my mother, that I haven't seen since two years ago when she came to visit me briefly, months before my high school graduation to congratulate me in advance sighed and looked down, tracing her finger along the rim of her cup. "It's not about what I want, Tara. It's what has to be done. She's eighteen now, and it's time for her to find a mate, after the alpha's wedding, there will be a ceremony for unmated weres from different packs, maybe she'll find her mate, Tara, someone that can protect her." "But after all these years... what if it's not safe? What if they still hold a grudge?" Aunt Tara's voice trembles, her concern for me evident in every word. "It's not about safety anymore," Evelyn replies firmly. "The alpha has summoned all the unmated weres in the pack. We can't keep hiding her forever." Standing just outside the kitchen, listening to their conversation, my heart heavy with a mix of fear and anticipation. Aunt Tara had been my rock for the past decade, a loving and protective figure in my life. But deep down, I know my mother is right. I can't stay hidden forever. Aunt Tara's eyes wells up with tears as she turns to me, pulling me into a tight embrace. "Promise me you'll be careful, Maya. Promise me you'll stay strong." I hug her back, trying to hold back my own tears. "I promise, Aunt Tara. I'll be okay." _____________________________________ The journey back to the Winterclaw pack estate is so surreal. As the car winds through the dense forest, memories of my childhood here begin to flood back—memories I had long buried. The towering trees, their branches heavy with the weight of the world, seem to be watching us as we drive by. The air grows colder, crisper, as we near the estate. When we finally arrive, the grand stone mansion looms ahead, a testament to the pack's legacy and power. The sight of it makes my stomach churn with nerves. It has been so long since I had been here, and yet it feels like no time had passed at all. As we step out of the car, pack members bustle about, preparing for the alpha's wedding the next day. Their movements quick and efficient, but they all pause when they see us. Whispers spread like wildfire, and I feel their eyes on me, their curiosity palpable. "Maya?" a familiar voice calls out, breaking through the murmur of whispers. I turn to see Carmen, my little sister, rushing towards me. She has grown so much in the past decade. She was fifteen now and barely recognizable, with black flowing hair and striking blue eyes that sparkles with excitement. "Maya! I can't believe you're really here!" Carmen exclaims, throwing her arms around me in a tight hug. Tears prick my eyes as I hug her back. "I've missed you so much, Carmen." "You look amazing," she says, pulling back to look at me. "I can't believe how grown-up you are." I smile, though my heart ached. "You've grown up too, little sister." Today is a whirlwind of reunions and emotions. Some pack members greet me warmly, like Mrs. Harper, the cook who used to sneak me cookies when I was little, and Mr. Lang, the gardener who had let me help him plant flowers in the summer. "Welcome back, Maya," Mrs. Harper says, pulling me into a warm hug. "It's so good to see you again." Mr. Lang smiles, his weathered face crinkling with genuine warmth. "You've grown into a fine young woman, Maya. The garden missed you." Others are more reserved, their smiles polite but distant. Missy, a former playmate, is among them. She had always been competitive, and her eyes as usual holds a hint of malice as she approaches Carmen and I. "Hello, Maya," she says, her tone cordial. "It's been a long time." "Yes, it has," I reply, forcing a smile. "It's good to see you, Missy." As the day wears on, I feel a growing sense of unease. The estate is both familiar and foreign, a place filled with memories that clashed with the reality of my return. The constant whispers and curious glances making me feel like an outsider, a stranger in my own home. Soon enough, night time comes and I retreat to my room, it's the same room I all those years ago, untouched by time. The pale blue walls adorned with posters of bands I had once loved, and my old books line the shelves, their spines worn from countless readings. I sit on the edge of the bed, my mind racing with the events of the day. The joy of reuniting with Carmen, the awkwardness of old acquaintances, the weight of the pack's expectations—it was all too much. Lying back, I stare at the ceiling, trying to make sense of it all. My thoughts keep drifting to the alpha's wedding that is tomorrow. Axel. The name alone sends a shiver down my spine. I've heard so much about him—how he had risen to power, his strength and determination, his on-and-off relationship with his fiancé and our soon to be Luna, Elena. I never met him, but the thought of seeing him and being part of his world filled me with a mixture of dread and curiosity. Its morning, the day of the alpha's wedding, I was assigned to help with the catering yesterday, I was even given the simple knee length black dress that all omegas wore for these types of occasions, but there's one tiny problem though, the ceremony starts by 9am and it's currently 10:15 am and I just woke up... Hi, I'm Maya, the first daughter of the late omega Jack Colin and his human mate Evelyn Colin. I lived happily in the pack estate with my family until my dad died when I was five, there was a rogue attack and he happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. After that traumatic event, life became darker for my mother, my sister and especially me, I started getting in trouble around the pack, with the other kids and I even wondered out of the estate once, where I almost got attacked by hunters before my mother showed up and saved me when I was seven. Regardless of our situation my mother kept her head high and tried to carry on... that was until that day on the playground, the day that changed a lot, Carmen and I were being teased by this older kid on the playground in the pack estate, I tried to ignore him so he'd leave us along but he didn't budge, Carmen suddenly spoke up and told him to leave us alone that was when he grabbed her by the throat and threw her against the wall, Carmen fainted, that's when I saw red but before I could physically react, the boy also dropped to the ground unconscious. Everything changed that day, I got sent to live with my mother's little sister aunt Tara, for my "safety", my mother said there was a monster that was hurting the kids in the pack, it was supposed to be temporary, a few days, maybe weeks, but they soon turned into months and months turned into ten years, TEN YEARS, I saw mum and Carmen twice in those ten years. My aunt Tara was human and lived amongst other humans and so did I, for the past decade I have lived among humans and hidden my real identity, I hide my identity even from my best friends, Ronan and Malika, I've known them since my first of elementary school in the human school that my aunt Tara enroll me in. They were neighbors and friends but they fought a lot, so when we became friends, I became their mediator, they taught me how to be human- Grrr...grrr... I look to my phone to see Carmen's face on my screen. "I know, I overslept, I'm done getting ready now" I say quickly after picking up the call. "Get your ass here like yesterday!" Carmen hurriedly whispers "bye" she hangs up. I zip up the side of my dress and slide my feet into my flats, taking a whiff of my self in the mirror I decide to tie my wavy light brown hair in a neat bun and run out of the house, literally. On getting to the ball room where the ceremony is taking place, I call Carmen to ask where she is and how to get to her but she doesn't pick up, so I follow the noise of the crowd to a double door that's slightly ajar. I rush towards it and push- **crash** Plates, food, drinks, glasses shattered on the floor and then there's me, right in the middle of it. s**t. I get down on all fours immediately to try to control the Damage I have done, frantically picking up the broken pieces of glass in an attempt to salvage the damage but I'm too clumsy, because soon my palms turn red as my blood drips from them on to the mess on the ground. I can't feel the pain though, maybe due to adrenaline rush or the fact that my pain threshold has always been extremely high, even for a werewolf. I ignore the blood, still determined to fix the mess I made when suddenly I feel the strongest force drag me by my bleeding palm in the opposite direction of gravity, knocking the breath out of my lungs. I look up in shock to see the most handsome man I have ever seen, his gaze even more intense, his hold on me tightens as he stares deep into my soul with an expression that looks like confusion,causing me to tingle everywhere. He towers over me, with broad shoulders and a sculpted, muscular physique that radiates strength. His chiseled jawline and high cheekbones frame striking greenish-hazel eyes that hold an intense, magnetic gaze. His thick, dark hair and commanding presence make him irresistibly handsome, exuding raw masculinity that is authoritative and kind of makes my panties moist, I use my free hand to grab his fore arm to stabilize myself, as I continue to look up at him, his expression changes from confusion to shock. "Axel, what're you doing?" A woman calls from the crowd just as he whispers.. "MATE"