The Lost Goddess, A War On Mates

Chapter 8

The day of the festival arrived, and everyone was now in the pack house waiting for the festivities to start. Dinner was served promptly at dusk beginning the night with joyous eating, drinking, and dancing. Many people were on edge wondering where the vampire king and prince were after a few hours. The ceremony renewal of the peace treaty demanded every allied leader to attend and sign an oath. It took place at midnight and the vampire clans were normally around for the after-dinner party. Alpha Lucas seemed annoyed that his first important task as an Alpha in training was being ruined by vampires. Walking around the crowd mingling, when necessary, he kept glancing towards the entry hall. All the official leaders sat at a giant table near a stage, and they never left that table until after the signing was completed, but he was anxious to see these vampires arrive. It was 11:30pm when they finally arrived. Heaving out a sigh Lucas walks over greeting them. He bows” Your majesties, welcome to the Blue Moon Pack. We were starting to get worried something may have happened to you both seeing as it is so late.” The smile on Lucas’ face made Drake scrunch his noise in disgust and scoff.

“I would not be here at all if I had a choice little wolf. Now excuse me, us real leaders need to go sign grown up papers.” Smirking Drake walked off to the table for the ceremony. King Lucius disappeared while Lucas fumed at being treated as child and not the future leader of this pack. Adonis growled in the back of his mind. Neither of them like the vampire prince. The party continued forward as normal and then came the signing. Lucas stood in the back of the crowd watching from afar. All the leaders stood and slit their palms making their blood imprint onto the binding paper. They then signed next to their imprint. Once they all signed the eldest council member took it and burned it over a goblet setting it in stone until next year. Everyone cheered and thanked their leaders for more peace.  Sighing as now it was just a long night of drinking and dancing Lucas wondered off and aimlessly walked around the house. He found himself fifteen minutes later in front of the dungeon doors. Frowning he growled,’ Adonis did you do this?’

‘No, this was you…. go see little fire…’ Adonis wagged his tail thinking of making her happy.

Rolling my eyes a different idea came about, ‘How about we show her what we can offer?” Smirking he opens the door and shuts it behind him. Adonis stayed silent confused at what exactly Lucas meant. Walking all the way down the dark and damp corridor he made it to the last cell. She was slumped onto the ground and seemed to be shivering slightly. Lucas hit the bars startling her awake. She looked around dazed and then looked away from him.

He unlocked the cell door and Aeris felt queasy from the closing distance. He did not radiate good intention by coming to see her and his evil smirk did nothing to make her feel better. Stepping back a few feet she hit a brick wall.

Staring head on he closed the cell door behind him, “Get on your knees slave…” Shaking Aeris slowly lowered herself to her knees. He stepped forward and caressed her cheek. She flinched and was shaking which made him frown. Crouching down in front of her he lifted her chin, “I want a kiss too slave.” She looked confused when he suddenly forced his lips onto hers. The surprise made her gasp, and he shoved his tongue into her mouth. He started to grope her breast as she was pushing at his chest. Tears streamed down her face and out of panic she bit down hard.

“You f*****g b***h!” He roared and punched her in the gut. His tongue was bleeding and the metallic flavor just angered him more.  He continued hitting her each time harder then the last until she was bleeding everywhere. He was pissed but suddenly he felt regret seeing her body not moving, “s**t!” he mumbled and scooped her up. He ran up the steps and to the pack hospital. He made sure to avoid the party and had the doctor look her over. The doctor looked at me with disgust. I was not used to that, and it made me feel extreme guilt. This was wrong. I did not do this correctly. Ruffling his hands through his hair he went for a run as his wolf after the doctor said she needed rest but would be fine.  

After signing the damned paper and finishing the ceremony me and father left. We did not see that young Alpha again before we left but he made me want to make an enemy of this pack. It did not seem to have any good resources, finances, or military. I only met a handful of good warriors here and they all seemed displeased with how the pack was run. It screamed volumes about how their Alphas were running them to the ground. As a vampire prince I knew my military had to be top notch to protect our people, yet they needed respect for me to make it work. This pack did not have respect for its higher ups. It made me smirk knowing that they would fade out one day. It was almost sunrise now and a part of me thought about just watching the sunrise and meeting my demise. Aeris still haunted me, I swore I felt her presence at that damned festival, but it was probably the guilt and the whiskey playing tricks on my mind. Shaking my head, I walk inside the coven and try to think about what Aeris would want me to do. She was young but she was so brilliant. I was constantly proud of her. Sighing I walked up to my room and went to bed trying to think of what she would want me to do for her.

Waking up in the pack hospital was the last thing I thought would happen. They said the Alpha beat me severely as punishment. I scoffed and tried to leave. I wanted Jake. He would make it better. Smiling I stand onto my legs that feel like jelly. The doctor looked at me sadly and just let me leave. I got dressed in my blood-stained clothes and went outside and down towards the beach. I sat down feeling at ease. Jake was not here but I could pretend he was sitting in silence with me watching the water crash down onto the beach. Thinking of those things made tears slip down my cheeks. I looked at my bracelet and wondered who gave it too me. I always felt so attached to it but now I just feel empty after what Lucas did. A frown slid onto my face as I curled into a ball on the beach. I felt dirty after him and new no one would ever love me now. Sighing, I got back up and walked to the pack house. Everyone was hungover from the other night. Since I did not have to cook dinner, I headed to Jake’s room. I knocked and he opened the door quickly.

“Can I come in?” He smiled and motioned me inside. I sat on his bed.

“What’s up sweet cheeks?” He quickly wrapped his arms around me for a hug and I nuzzled into him gripping his soft cotton shirt.

Whispering,” Can I sleep with you tonight…I do not feel okay to be alone right now…”

 He gripped me tighter at that and cooed,” You can always stay with me Aeris. You are my girl remember?” He pulled my chin up so I could look at him and I caught my breath. He was so pretty, he took care of me, but he would have a mate someday. I frowned and looked away.

“Thank you, Jake.” He started to run his hands through my hair and kissed the top of my head. It was soothing. He let go and I headed to shower. I still felt gross from that damned dungeon. Turning the water on scalding hot I got undressed and stared at myself in the mirror and bit my lip. I was so badly bruised you would have thought I was blueberry with how black and blue I was. I cringed gently rubbing my finger down my chest and stomach looking at his handiwork. I was finally able to pull myself away when Jake walked in with a towel. For a moment he looked surprised, but it was quickly replaced with anger and horror.

“Who did this? This is a whole new extreme Aeris what the hell happened?” He quickly grabbed my face not allowing me to look away as tears started to stream down my face.

“Please, please, I can’t talk about it…” I whispered begging him to just let it go.

“Aeris…goddess why?!” He pulled me into a tight hug shaking slightly. I started sobbing into him and he slowly stopped shaking. Gently pulling me away from him he took my hand and gently pulled me into the shower. He brought me some fancy scented soaps and he sat outside the shower on the toilet waiting for me.

As I stepped out, he asked,” Aeris, can I see your bracelet?” I felt so tired and lifeless. I looked at him then the bracelet. I stared for a while before I hesitantly unclasped it and gave it to him. He immediately stiffened and I felt a wave of nausea. The room started to spin so I grabbed the countertop to steady myself.

“Jake, I do not feel too good.”  Jake simply nods but his eyes are a dark black. His wolf is out, and I feel cornered. “Jake?” He stands and wraps a towel around my dripping wet form. He gently picks me up bridal style and I felt an overwhelming sense of security as he lays me down under the covers in his bed. He climbs in on the other side after stripping to just his boxers. Pulling me into his chest he seems to be purring at the contact and his wolf seems to be at the wheel. I look up into his eyes and see they are still pitch black. He moves a strand of hair away from face and gently traces my lips with his thumb as he caresses my cheek. My eyes fluttered shut at the feeling. It was new and it felt amazing. All the sick feelings I had were gone.

“I know what you are, my queen…” his wolf rumbled out low into my ear causing my eyes to shoot open.

“What do you mean?” We stare at each other and then he growls affectionately and nuzzles into my neck. I melted at his touch but was confused at what he meant. He refused to speak to me again though. I just kept nuzzling him back and listened to his purring. I felt whole with Jake’s wolf out just giving me the affection I have been starved of. All my feelings finally settled, and I fell asleep on top of Jake and his wolf.

Waking up the next morning I felt like the world had been lifted off my shoulders. Sitting up and looking around I found Jake was gone, most likely at morning training. I went to the bathroom to brush my hair and teeth when I caught a glimpse of my bracelet on the counter. I grabbed it and clasped it back on. I felt smothered suddenly. Did it always feel like this. Staring at the bracelet on my arm made me unsure if I should still wear it or not. Last night was odd and Jake’s wolf said he knew what I was. It did not make much sense to me, shrugging I figured I would keep it on so I would not loose it or have it taken. It was still the only thing I had from before the pack. Smiling I walked out of the bathroom and put on one of Jake’s shirts and put on my shorts from yesterday. I walked down to kitchen and started to cook breakfast. It was basic eggs, bacon, toast, and orange juice because I still felt drained. I drank some orange juice no longer caring who saw and headed up to my room. Once I made it there, I found Lucas asleep on my mat on the floor. I stiffened and slowly crept around him to grab my school supplies. After grabbing them I ran down the steps and out the door. I headed to school in record time. I did not break a sweat either. Something felt different today. I smiled to myself and went to school continuing my daily routine.

Lucas woke up groaning on the floor. Looking around dazed he realized where he was and groaned louder. ‘Adonis, you have to stop this. How much more do I have to prove to you that she hates us, and I hate her?’

Adonis whimpered, ‘But my queen is special…I want her with me’ Lucas scoffed and left her room the guilt setting in realizing she never went back to her room.

‘She is not my queen and never will be. We do not need a weakling.’ Adonis shut up after that blocking out Lucas. It felt empty but he kept walking to breakfast. He noticed Jake, Adrian, and Basil all angrily whispering to one another which piqued his interest.

“She was fine before the festival; did you guys see where she went after?” Jake pleaded hoping they knew.

“We have not seen her since a day before the festival Jake, we have no idea who hit her that bad. She really has not told you?” Basil asks worried about Aeris.

“No, she said she won’t talk about it. I think more happened.” Jake sighed rubbing his face. They started towards the dining room, and I followed smirking. She was going to keep it a secret. Perfect, I can work around this easily.

The boys continued talking as I grabbed a plate and sat down satisfied again even with this simple breakfast. After finishing and heading to school I figured I could get used to this.

Lucas continued to torment and sexually abuse Aeris. Every chance he had would end in her being groped, molested, and forced into kisses. Slowly Aeris was losing herself. The longer it went on, the longer the secret was kept from Jake, Adrian, and Basil, the more she hated herself and everyone around her. She slowly closed off from everyone except Mr. Steele. and her coach. Both of her teachers noticed the drastic change. In art she had difficulty completing her assignments based on joy and security, whilst the darker themes excelled her expertise. In gym her coach found her becoming more aggressive and working out harder. She had become quiet physically strong for a human. It was impressive yet alarming.

Winter break slowly approached, and all the warriors were being sent away on a training mission. “Aeris we can get an exemption we need a few warriors anyway to protect the pack house.” Basil tried to reason.

“I will be fine. Go, I do not want to be the reason your late to training.” She nudged all three boys out the door. Sighing she hummed to herself and started to tear up while cleaning up in the library. Going about her chores for the day she reflects on her three friends. She was fifteen and they were all twenty. They would be leaving her soon, ‘Maybe I should start to distance myself from them’ she thought to herself. Finishing cleaning up she heads to her attic hoping time would pass faster this upcoming year.