She Is Mine
1938 Words
Ares POV
I had been managing to avoid the omega since she got out of the hospital. My brothers only spoke to me when pack business required it, and that was about it. I knew they were still angry about me cheating on her.
I admitted to myself that I was angry about it too — but then I kept coming back to what I believed I had seen on the last day of the summit, and the only way I knew how to deal with it was to push her away. My brothers were clearly keeping her happy, and that frustrated me more than I wanted to admit.
I knew I didn't want a mate. I didn't want her. But if I did — if I ever allowed myself to want someone — I would want exactly the kind of ease and warmth they seemed to have with her.
I had been spending time with Brianna, who was still holding onto the idea of being made Luna since none of us had claimed the omega as such yet. That was really my doing. But we had run this pack just fine before her, and we would continue to. My rules. The goddess should have thought twice before tying us all to the same mate.
I decided to go for a run today. On the way back, I heard the most beautiful voice coming from the direction of the waterfall — the one my brothers and I used to swim in growing up.
I knew who it was from her scent alone. Blueberries. Comforting, even though I would never say it out loud. I was about to keep moving toward the packhouse, but she looked so peaceful. I stopped without meaning to.
I realized, standing there watching her, just how perfect she was. Her blonde hair. Her skin. The sound of her voice pulling me closer like something I had no defense against — until I stepped on a twig and startled her, which made me laugh despite myself.
I knew I had been getting under her skin lately, and I could feel through the bond how done with me she was. When she said her piece and brought up Brianna, I got defensive. I should have told her then that I wasn't even with Brianna anymore and that I actually wanted to spend time with her — but what came out was the complete opposite, and the look on her face when I said it hit me somewhere I wasn't prepared for.
I had to leave. If I had stayed, I would have kissed every tear off her face, and I couldn't afford to feel that way.
I kept reminding myself that mates meant weakness.
But goddamn — I hated how she was becoming mine anyway.
King Damon POV
It had been a whole f*****g week.
A whole week since those bastards stole my flower. I didn't care if they were her mates or not — she belonged to me. The thought of all three of them touching her, kissing her, made my blood boil.
My innocent girl. How dare she stay there willingly? Was she not grateful? I took her into my home. I raised her. The soldier who brought her to me as a baby said she would have beauty like none before her and would be of high value to someone. Well, I had claimed that value for myself. What could a simple omega possibly be worth to anyone else?
I missed her. The thought of her on her knees made my jaw tighten. No one had ever had that effect on me the way she did.
I hadn't expected Ares to claim her so easily. I thought I would walk away with her that night. I was wrong.
My fist connected with the wall.
Every inch of her belonged to me. And now three wolves thought they could stake a claim just because of some moon goddess decree? Fine. I would get my flower back if it was the last thing I ever did, and I would destroy anyone who stood in my way.
She is mine.
Adonis POV
I was annoyed to be pulled into a last-minute Skype call with my dads, my brothers, Kyle, Clair, and my mom when I would have much rather been back in bed with Bella. But Dad's message said it was urgent, so there we were.
The call connected.
"Sons," our fathers greeted us, and we nodded.
"Mi amor," they greeted our mother.
"Hello, husbands. What's going on?" Mom asked.
"We are currently on the border of South Carolina where it crosses into North Carolina, near a small town called Loris. It's an area where most of the vampire activity has been concentrated, and we have finally caught one," Ethan told us.
"After some persuasion from yours truly," Aiden added, and I mentally rolled my eyes.
"We got information that they are searching for a certain kind of wolf," Aiden continued.
"What would a vampire want with a wolf?" Ares asked.
"This wolf is said to be special — the last of its kind," Ethan said.
"What kind of special?" I pressed.
"We're not certain, but the vampire says they are under orders from someone. They don't know his name, but whoever it is, they fear him deeply. The vampire says they have been tracking this wolf ever since her pack was destroyed years ago, but they lost the trail," Ethan explained.
"Do they know what powers this wolf carries? Or whether it's a man or woman?" I asked.
"They don't know the gender, but the vampire says this wolf comes from a powerful clan of elementals," Aiden said.
I went rigid instantly. I looked at Ash, who did the same.
"What are elementals?" Ares asked, catching our reaction.
Kyle and Clair quietly stepped out of the room.
"They were a pack of royal wolves massacred years ago. Their pack was based in North Carolina but hidden from the North Carolina Alpha King. The alpha lineage could manipulate the four elements: water, fire, air, and earth. Their wolves were distinctive as well — in wolf form, a royal elemental is nearly the size of a Lycan, with a coat of very light silver. They are said to carry other abilities as well, though the full extent is unknown. We have a contact who knew the clan personally," Ethan explained.
I had been gripping the table without realizing it — and didn't notice until I ripped through the wood.
"What's wrong with you?" Mom asked.
"They are looking for Arabella," I said through my teeth.
I could feel the anger rolling off Ash as well, his eyes flickering between black and his natural bi-colored gaze.
"They will not have her," Ash growled, his fist hitting the table.
Ares just watched us, clearly confused.
"Why are they looking for the omega?" he asked.
"As if you care," I growled back.
Kyle and Clair returned, carrying the papers they had gathered on Arabella, and handed copies around the table.
"If she is the last royal alpha alive, then she is not an omega at all. Has she shown any powers yet?" Mom asked, looking between Ash and me.
"She hasn't shown any powers yet. We don't even know if she's aware of them. What I can confirm is her wolf. A week ago, she was forced to shift for the first time — the pain was so severe that Royal pushed her into the shift to take her mind off it," I said, letting my eyes settle on Ares.
I could have sworn I saw a flicker of guilt cross his face. Good.
Mom let out a slow breath.
"If they are looking for her, then we will do everything we can to keep her safe here," she said. I noticed her glancing at Ares — most likely linking him privately to have words about the cheating.
"Why do they want her?" Ares asked again, his expression still unreadable.
"The vampire says they want to siphon her powers. Some vampires cannot daywalk. They believe that drinking the blood of an elemental will grant them access to her abilities for a short time — including the ability to walk in sunlight," Aiden said.
I nodded.
"Do everything you can to keep them off her trail. We will prepare on our end for a possible war," I told them. They agreed, said their goodbyes, and the call ended.
The room was quiet for a moment as everyone processed what had just been said. Then a message came through from our dad Aiden.
We have contacted our friend, who is now on her way to help train your Luna. She will arrive in a few days.
"If they are coming for her, we need to understand how her powers work so we can train her to use them," Mom said.
"We will protect her," Ash and I growled.
Mom smacked us both on the back of the head.
"Don't growl at me. I am simply stating the facts. If a war is heading our way specifically for her, it makes sense that she knows how to defend herself as well. I have every faith that all of you will protect her," she said, looking pointedly at Ares, who kept his eyes on the papers in his hand.
"Kyle, I need everything you can find on known vampires in both North Carolina and here. Pull everything on the exterminated pack as well. Find a witch to help you if you need to," I told him. He nodded.
"Clair, dig up everything on King Damon that isn't already in this report. According to what we know, she was his trophy for years, and he abused her repeatedly. He may know about her powers, and he may not — but either way, that won't stop me from making his head my trophy once this is done. My gut tells me we haven't seen the last of him," I said.
She nodded and left.
"In the meantime, we can talk to Bella and see what she knows," Ash said.
"I'm coming too," Ares said.
I glared at him, but he just rolled his eyes.
"I know we are not on good terms, but you care about her, so I will help protect her," he said.
As much as I hated to admit it, he was right. We all needed to pull together for her.
"You're all dismissed," Mom said, and we filed out.
"Ares — stay a moment," she added.
Ash and I exchanged a small look. Knowing Mom, she had a few more things to say to him. We made our way back to the room, where Bella was still sleeping peacefully.
"We have to protect her. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to her," Ash said quietly, smoothing the hair from her face.
"We will. And as much as I hate to say it — I think Ares will too. He says he doesn't want a mate, but I can see it. He wants her just as much as we do. He just has the most twisted way of showing it, and he'll never admit it out loud," I told him.
"According to him, a mate means weakness. If only he could see what we see," Ash said softly, still running his fingers through Arabella's hair.
She stirred slightly but stayed asleep.
I breathed in her blueberry scent and let it settle me.
Ares would come around eventually. For now, I would let him sit in his guilt a little longer.
- Writer
