Mistress of Blood and Fur

Chapter 20 - Enchantments

Onyx

What just happened?

The cheers and groans echo through the hall, or at least that’s what it sounds like. I was on my way to Grace’s table when Sarah decided it’s a good idea to kiss me. Trying to be as gentle as possible, I pull away from the kiss and look at the new arrival in the eye.

“What was that all about?” I ask, keeping my voice even. Warm brown eyes look up to me. Funny how she has beautiful, engaging eyes, but her actions leave me cold.

“I choose you,” she says, with a small smile. Sarah’s trying for innocence here, but I smell triumph. She’s competitive, and has proven that she will do anything.

The hybrid wolf-witch is a beautiful woman, but she can’t possibly think it’s a good idea to make a choice right about now. She barely knows me, or does she?

“It’s wrong. I am still not well from the attack, and was on my way to another table, Sarah. I’m thankful that you helped me feel better, but shouldn’t you have waited when I’m 100%? You also don’t know me yet. It’s too soon.” Again, I’m trying to be gentle but I feel my jaw harden and pounding begins in my temple. I hold on to my self-control. I can’t shift right in front of the other wolves. It will show weakness.

“From what I heard, it doesn’t matter who you choose,” she says, but her face takes an uncertain turn. I feel a little sorry for her, then. The whole hall saw her kissing me, and she has this firm belief that by doing that, we are committed. “The brides choose.”

But, f**k, are we? Are we committed?

Not long after the kiss, I notice some wolves moving to Grace’s table. What the hell is going on? So, were they waiting on me to throw in the towel all along? But I didn’t. I just gave Grace some space. I did something that felt right, and this is what happens?

“I’m going to Grace’s table,” I say. My voice is still calm. It’s like talking to an animal that can get wild and rabid at any time. That’s the feeling I get from this petite girl. She looks so small next to me, but I know she’s not someone anyone should underestimate.

“You will not do that, Onyx Warcloud,” she says through gritted teeth. Just like me, her voice is even but her pale face is now red with anger. Her nose flares and I can almost imagine her shifting even before I do.

“It’s not going to work out. Us. We are both hot-tempered, although you act as if you are steady and calm. It’s an act. Isn’t it?” I straighten myself to my full height, knowing full well it won’t intimidate her.

“Like you said, it’s too soon. You can’t possibly know me yet.”

I move toward Grace, whose face mirrors my earlier shock. The wolves surrounding her are trying to get her attention, and my body vibrates from anger. These rules are shitty. They remind me of how they destroyed my mother – her confidence, happiness, and belief in love.

“I said, you won’t go to her,” Sarah says, her small wrapping around my wrist. It’s a small hand and the touch is light, but a warning emanates from it in the form of electricity crackling and it’s not the type you get when you fall for someone. What the hell is she? “Talk to me first, Onyx. I know you’re angry right now, but you may like me if you get to know me.”

I highly doubt that, but I nod. The glance she sends Grace’s way makes my blood run cold. I’m pretty sure the warning she’s sending to me isn’t about hurting me but about hurting Grace.

“That’s a good boy,” she murmurs as I head toward the now-empty table, where only the two of us are expected to sit. As we do, there’s more applause and I’m just about ready to kill my own kind then. They don’t need the humans the m******e them right now. I’ll gladly use my fangs and my bare hands to tear them apart.

Sarah has a solid, excruciatingly painful plan. She has me sitting on a chair facing Grace’s own. Dash doesn’t look happy. He even looks my way and shakes his head as if he can’t believe what’s going on. The rivalry between us may be persistent, but it has never gone out of hand. He likes winning like I do, but we like to play it fair. Fox turns his chair to watch me. He mouths something, and I have to use my sharp eyesight to see the movement clearly. I don’t have my father’s hawk eyes, but I manage. Fox seems to be saying “Later.” I hope he knows a loophole. If anyone knows one, it would be him but I plan to have a talk to my father first.

**

“You can’t possibly let me go through the mating ritual with Sarah!” I say. All the effort to contain my temper earlier has me bursting at the seams.

“We don’t have a choice, Onyx. It was how I attracted more brides. I assured them that they will get to choose.”

“But they should choose among their suitors. Weren’t they supposed to do that?”

“The letter sent to them may not have been clear. It’s supposed to be like that, but we didn’t specify that they should choose among their suitors. You were also in her area when she claimed you.”

“I’m your son,” I remind him, jabbing myself with my index finger. It echoes the way my mother was crying all those years ago. “I’m the one you chose, Kele. I’m your true wife.”

“Of course, I know that, Onyx. You’re my son and therefore, I should set an example by you. It’s why my hands are tied. Sarah comes from the same bloodline of witch and wolf that founded Opium Hills.”

“So does Grace. You promised her she can choose, and she chose me.”

“Did she? Shouldn’t you have told me if she had? I know she hasn’t, Onyx, and I feel terrible for her if she really likes you. You two had been mostly inseparable. I was waiting, but she didn’t make a claim.”

I hang my head. He’s right. I also wish that I hadn’t tried to be a good guy this time, staying away she asked me to. I should have persisted until I broke her defenses, to hell with consequences. Now, I’m dealing with a different kind of problem.

“If you can’t help me, I will find someone you will.”

He exhales. It’s hard for him, as well, but he always plays the chief and Alpha more than he acts as my father.

“You know what, Onyx, I shouldn’t be saying this. I shouldn’t be directly telling you to try to break the commitment. It’s like a betrothal in the olden ages, you know. But – I can tell you one word. Enchantments. You can talk to Fox about it. Don’t underestimate him. He’s the wolf with the strongest warlock capabilities in the whole Opium Hills. His father combined voodoo with other nature powers. But I think, there’s more to that quiet friend of yours. Go to him.”

Hope flutters in my chest, but I don’t let is soar. There’s a danger in being complacent and that’s what happened a few hours ago. I had to endure sitting down next to a f*****g b***h, no offense to dogs and wolves but I mean it the terrible way.

“I’ll talk to Fox. I sure hope to all your gods, dad, that Fox can solve this problem. I don’t want to be trapped like mom. Is that what you want for me? An unhappy life?”

“You came even though you didn’t expect to find love and happiness, Onyx.”

“That may be true, dad, but I also didn’t intend to be mated to someone I don’t like. I also didn’t know that I’ll meet Grace here.”

“Then, do something now, Onyx. While you’re trying to break the commitment, you also have to make sure Grace doesn’t choose anyone. She has half the pack sniffing her around now.”

“When is the mating ritual?”

“In a fortnight. During the full moon.”

I growl at my father, actually bared my fangs at him. They had been straining through my gums, just as the fur tickles underneath my skin. During the next full moon, I will take Grace into the woods. Not Sarah. Grace.

“Down boy,” he says in a gravelly voice and I almost jump at him. I breathe hard and fast. Then, I walk away. I have to find Fox. Damn it, I need to talk to Dash, too. He should know what the game is like at their table earlier. Fox wouldn’t know what to look for.

Don’t underestimate him. He’s the wolf with the strongest warlock capabilities in the whole Opium Hills.

“You wanted to talk to me,” I say. It’s a statement, not a question and Fox nods vigorously.

“Yes, there’s a way to break the commitment.”

“Ata boy, Fox. What is it?”

“You need to get Sarah to back out and reject you before the mating ritual.”

“What the f**k? That’s next to impossible.”

“Next to impossible? I have a way to help you but you may not like it.”