Mark of the Goddess

Chapter 7 - Blood Pact

Tesla’s POV

“Tesla Silverblood!” My father’s voice boomed over the crowd of werewolves. I sat on a pedestal with my wrists tied together in front of me. The bonfire crackled and raged fiercely as my father stood next to my sister. My mentor and only protector sat beside me with her head held high and his shoulders back. Talisma. She taught me everything I knew thus far. “The betrayer. Her attempt to drug me with silver and wolfsbane is that of banishment and death! Her accomplice!” He pointed the silver dagger at Talisma. “Talisma Everborn!” Gasped and growls erupted over the bonfire. I looked up at her. She was the strongest warrior the Silverbloods had to offer. She gave me a side glance. 

Remember what I taught you. Hold up your head and show no fear. When you get the chance you run and fight til your last breath. She spoke directly to me through the pack link. I took a deep breath as her words filled me with more power than I thought true. I brought my head up and forced the sobs to stop. My cheeks stained with the constant tears that streaked my ten year old face. 

“Rise, b***h!” My father’s voice ordered Talisma. She rose to her feet and held out her hands. 

“Do it, coward,” She growled at him. He slapped her face with the blunt end of the dagger. I reacted and snarled at him and bit into his ankle. He kicked me off easily. I rose to my feet. “Betrayers!! Both of you!!” He turned towards the large ground of werewolves. Some in human form and others in wolf form. “You see! They have betrayed us!!” I looked over at my sister, seeing her smirking face as she waved to me. The sounds of snarls and angry cheers were more like background noise to my ears. Talisma growled in my direction. 

“Stop your foolishness, child!” I was stunned. 

“You know better than to leave your enemy left standing,” She smirked. In one swift movement my father turned and slashed her throat open. 

“NOOOO!!” I screeched. “I hate you and you will die for what you did!” My father turned towards me. His eyes were red as he flipped the dagger back and forth between his palms. My sister came to my side and forced my wrists closer to this monster. I looked at him with all the hatred I could muster. She leaned down to my ear.

“No one steals the spotlight better than you, dear sister. You are nothing without a pack.” She then turned to my father. “Do it daddy.” His eye twitched with crazed red eyes burning a hole into my soul. 

“I hereby banish you, Tesla Silverblood, from the Silverblood Pack. May no one have mercy on your disgusting soul,” he snarled as he slashed the dagger across my wrists and then my thigh. I screeched in pain as I felt the bond of the pack rip away from my body and mind. I shifted into my wolf form, breaking the rope that bound my wrists. 

“Run, Tesla,” I heard Talisma’s voice force out with her dying breath. Tears flowed from my silver eyes as I turned and ran for my life.

~~

They were behind me. I could feel it. They were hunting me. I panted as I fought the burn in my lungs as they begged for more oxygen. Their snarls and howls erupted through the forest. I forced my small body to keep going. Dodging trees and leaping over rotting logs. I made sure to jump from tree to tree in an attempt to confuse the werewolves that were gaining on me. 

Run! Run! Run! The only word that ran through my head. My heart raced with everything it had out of fear, confusion, and heartbreak. The only person that ever treated me as a warrior was murdered in front of my eyes. I began wheezing as I forced myself more. Putting every ounce of energy I had into running. I didn’t want to look back. I was so afraid. I could smell their familiar scent as I raced for my life to the pack borders. As I did, there were unfamiliar wolves running at me from the front. I swear my eyes bulged out of my head as I ducked down. Sliding beneath a pure black wolf. 

I turned to look at him and watched as he collided with the first Silverblood wolf he came in contact with. I didn’t wait. I bolted from the scene and raced as far as my legs could carry me before darkness took hold of me.

~~

Floating. That’s what it felt like. I was floating in white light. Was I dead? What happened? All I remember is howling and wanting to protect those who were around me, regardless of who they were. 

Moon! I heard Skald and Tally’s voices. I smiled. I tried to respond, but something kept me from doing it. There was something in front of me. A woman with a bow in her hand. The feathers of arrows protruded from the quiver at her back. She was the definition of beauty and power. I gulped as I watched her in awe. Two wolves approached on either side of her as she seemed to glide towards my floating body.

“Hello Tesla,” The woman spoke softly. Her voice was like a breath of fresh air after being underwater for so long. I tried to speak. To ask her who she was. She held a finger to my lips. They were warm and tender. Her face looked like it was made of porcelain and her hair draped over her chest with ruby curls. 

“Shh… Do not speak, child. You did well,” She said before lifting her finger from my lips. Her wolves supported my weight as they lifted me up a bit. “You are not afraid?” I didn’t attempt to speak, so I only nodded at her. I felt nothing but comfort and love radiating from her. 

“Good. That means that you have acted with selflessness. You are truly the best warrior I have chosen thus far. You have been through so much.” I looked at her confused. She giggled. “Do not worry. I only answer to one goddess and she requested you to be the next warrior.” I assumed I was still looking confused as I tilted my head at her. What is she talking about? She sighed. “All in due time I suppose. Just remember this. You are going to be the finest warrior I have ever had the pleasure of marking. Protect. Defend. Love.” With that she began to float away and darkness began to creep into my vision. I panicked and thrashed. I wanted to scream out and run towards her. 

The darkness engulfed me as her voice graced my ears once more. “You are needed. You are wanted. Show them how powerful you can be.” 

My eyelids suddenly lifted as I took in a sharp breath. There were people around me and stuff hooked up to my arms. In my blind panic I couldn’t register where I was or who these people were. I shot up and shifted into my wolf form. Snarling and snapping at anyone who came near me. I panted with fatigue, but my accelerated heart rate kept me from passing back out. There were IVs still connected to my arms. My legs were shaking as I snarled and the people with scrubs and lab coats held their hands out to me defensively. That’s when I smelled it. 

“Tesla,” His voice seemed like an echo in my ears. I saw Skald and Tally on either side of him. A man? No. He was different. He’s my mate. His chestnut skin was tan, like the freshly cooked cinnamon bun that he smelled like. His hair is dark brown with a few dirty blonde highlights. His eyes were what stunned me the most. Those beautiful voids of gold and silver. His cinnamon bun scent filled my nose and almost instantly calmed me. “You’re in the hospital, Tesla. We almost lost you,” he spoke as he cautiously approached me. He got on his knees and cupped my furred cheeks. “You were amazing and beautiful, my little lily. Let these doctors check you, ok?” His words caused me to shift back to my human form. 

“W-what happened?” I finally spoke in a hoarse voice. He smiled. 

“I’ll tell you later. Just get some rest for now, ok. Don’t worry. I’ll be right beside you this whole time.” His voice made me wrap my arms around him and sob uncontrollably. I don’t remember what I dreamt, but I felt like I had lost something. I only remember darkness. Being engulfed by it. His touch was the only thing I wanted. 

~~

One week ago

L.J.’s POV

As I watched my sister being brought to the hospital, it felt different. It felt blissful. The effect she had on us all, had all the leaders accompany us to the Pride hospital. I had called Cassie to let her know what all had happened. She was there immediately and was in the hospital room instantly. Eldwin fully accepted her presence, but I knew better. Once she told him who she was, he reluctantly allowed her in the same room. Leaving all the leaders and Eldwin’s Delta, who I learned is Alex, behind. Kosovo looked like he wanted to go check on Tesla. She hadn’t even had the time to welcome him and he looked a bit hurt, but he understood the mate bond. Much better than I did. The mate bond was different for each of the were-beasts. From what I had witnessed from Tesla’s first mate, it was supposed to be a strong bond between werewolves. Something unbreakable. 

That first mate of hers made it look far different than how Eldwin made it look. I was truly grateful for this werewolf to lighten up her world. He was not leaving her side for a single second, that I was sure of. She may not be my sister through blood, but she was my sister through bonds. Once, I become the Pride Father, her pack and my Pride will forever be bound. Whether Eldwin knew it or not.

As the doctors and nurses took care of Tesla, I saw Skald and Tally dash into the hospital. Disregarding the nurses protests and dashed into the room where Tesla was held. Even though she appeared to be fine, her heart rate had slowed down tremendously. Skald and Tally would know this and be by her side. I knew that Cassie would yell at the doctors or nurses who would scold the two canines for being in there. I never had to worry with her around. It made my heart ache to know that I could never be Cassie’s mate. 

As I shook that thought from my mind I turned back to the leaders and my father. I stood beside Alex. To which he nodded to me respectively. I’m not sure if it’s because he respected me or he felt that he should. Either way, I hope that he knows that I am completely on their side. Changes needed to be made in this Pride and I was going to do it once I took over. Lions and wolves would no longer be enemies but allies. Same for the avians and bears. 

“That’s what the Mark of Marzanna does?” Baranby spoke in almost a whisper. Kosovo looked over at me with a look that I couldn’t place. That must be a russian goddess of sorts. Even though his father did not have an accent, everyone knew that his blood line began in Russia. 

“Yes. As well as others. She protected the entire area from evil. Her power healed us all,” Nascha spoke as she held her hands in front of her. “Why were we not informed about the Goddess incarnate Pride Father?” I looked at my father. He held his head low. Not in shame but in thought. When he didn’t say anything I thought it best to give him a recognizable voice. 

“Father!” I spoke firmly. He jerked his head up. 

“Yes. Sorry. I was aware of the mark she bore. However, I did not know to what extent it entailed,” he spoke with truth. Not looking at anyone in particular. 

“Such power. If it falls into the wrong hands then it could destroy us all,” Barneby spoke with a gruff voice. I heard Alex and the two warrior wolves growl. 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Alex spoke as he contained his growl. 

“What I am saying is that there was a troll on the borders and no one even heard or smelled it until it was just a few steps away. Not to mention those vampyre hybrids,” Barenby grumbled. Kosovo placed his hand on his father's chest. 

“I think what my father meant to say, is that, with that amount of power, there could be a lot of different enemies wanting to grab it for themselves,” Kosovo said gravely. My heart sunk for Tesla. She finally found a second chance at happiness and there would be people who would try to take it from her. 

“We will not let that happen,” I spoke up unintentionally. “That is my sister. Whether we share the same blood or not. I’ve fought with her. We defended each other. We defended this territory for years. Even when she was at her weakest, she still fought for innocents. There is no evil on this earth that will ever get their hands on her.” I realized that my voice was getting more guttural than it usually was so I took a deep breath and looked at everyone before me. That’s when Alex took a step at my side. 

“She is my future Silva, and no one will dare touch her before meeting my fangs. I speak not just for myself but for my whole pack. We have waited for her for eight years. We need her to help lead us. We will gladly follow her through any battle as long as our alpha allows it.” I smiled at his words. I placed my fist to the left of my chest and bowed my head. 

“As future Pride Father to the Sunstone pride, I will see to it that she is protected at all costs. The mark of any goddess is a sight to be cherished and respected,” I spoke as lionesses walked by. I noticed their heads hanging in shame and I couldn’t help but smile. “Therefore, so long as Tesla Silverblood draws breath, I, Lionel Sunstone Junior, dedicated my services to her and her new pack.” My father looked a little upset. I couldn’t tell if it was anger or pride, but either way I didn’t care. My mother, taking the sidelines to all of this, finally rose to her feet. She walked to my side and faced the other leaders. 

“I, Amana Sunstone, dedicate ma life to da goddess mark. She saved mah life. I am proud ta be da mother of the marked one.” Her words were truth. Finally she saw what I have always seen in my sister. Finally they will all see her for what she was and not what they thought she was. Kosovo looked at his father and they both nodded. 

“The Pinepaw Clan will defend and protect the marked one,” They spoke in unison. We all looked at Nascha. She looked up with golden eyes. 

“The Moonbeam Flock gladly gives their lives to the marked one,” she said with an elegant bow. I was satisfied with everyone’s responses. All were truthful. All were serious. Eyes turned to my father. He looked around at everyone staring at him. 

“You heard my wife. We will gladly give our lives to our daughter. I thought her word was stone,” He said crossing his arms. Sure enough his words were true. Looks like my father did more than just make one alliance. He made several. He established it under less than desirable circumstances, but it would be up to me to keep these new bonds together. I looked at Alex. 

“Alex, right?” I said with my arms across my chest. He raised a brow at me questioningly. 

“Yeah?”

“I think you should get my future brother-in-law. It’s time to make this official,” I said matter of factly. Alex exchanged glances at everyone that had formed a circle in the waiting area. My father said nothing, to which I was thankful for. He left us for a few moments to go to Tesla’s room. Took thirty minutes for him to return. My guess is that he explained everything that was transpiring here to Eldwin. Once They both returned, Eldwin couldn’t stop looking over his shoulder with worry. 

“My Delta has informed me on what I missed. I can not express how grateful I am to all of you for your dedication and loyalty. Whether Tesla was marked or not, this does not mean that we can not be allies,” He spoke with words of an alpha and a worried mate. “As much of you know, our mates are what gives us strength. They keep us in line and on track.” The males laughed at this and the females grumbled. They knew how frustrating it was, I suppose. I wouldn’t personally know, but judging from the faces I saw, Eldwin hit his mark. 

“We have all been blind to each other. Not seeing the bigger picture. I am happy to say that my mate, Tesla, has opened my eyes. Not only her but her brother Lionel Junior.”

“L.J. is fine, brother,” I spoke as I chuckled. 

“L.J. it is then.” He said, looking at me and then turned back to everyone else. “We should’ve stood together long ago, but because of our differences we didn’t. I hope from this moment forward, we can all be united as one. As guardians of... “ he paused. Pondering what he should call his mate. 

“The Marked One,” Kosovo said tenderly. Eldwin smiled at him thankfully. 

“The Marked One.” Eldwin repeated. My father held his hand up with a blade. I don't remember him pulling out. He proceeded to slice his palm. 

“As the adopted father of Tesla Silverblood, I bound us all to her. So we may come to her aid in her time of need. To protect the innocents and the pure. To protect family and friends. From this moment on we are all one,” my father spoke with a ring of power in his voice. He passed the blade to Nascha.

“As the Elder of the Moonbeam Flock, we vow to protect the marked one, Tesla Silverblood and her offspring from evil and chaos. We will come when we are called.” With that she sliced her palm and passed the blade to Barnaby. 

“The Pinepaw Clan will guard with our bodies and cherish with our souls. We will use our strength to knock down the forces that threaten Tesla Silverblood and her offspring. From now to the end of time.” He too sliced his palm and passed it to Kosovo. As future Clan, he gladly took it and repeated his father’s words and motions with the blade. It was passed to Eldwin. 

“I, Eldwin Feathermane, Alpha of the Misty Mountain Pack, gladly give my life and soul to not just the marked one but my mate. My pack will fight for her. Protect her. Cherish her and worship her,” He spoke these words as he sliced his palm and passed the blade to me. I took its warm handle in my palm as I looked at it. Seeing the blood of everyone else’s drip from it. I looked at Eldwin and nodded to him respectfully. I knew my sister was safe in his care. I looked around our circle. 

“I, Lionel Sunstone Junior, vow to protect my sister. Whether she is my blood or my spirit, we are connected all the same. As future Pride Father, I promise to come to the aid of the marked one. I promise to come to the aid of my sister. If I fail, then may my soul never find peace,” I spoke as I sliced my palm. Feeling the warm slice of the sharp blade graze over my palm with ease. We all held out our fists and squeezed the blood from our palms. 

“We, the guardians of the Marked One, vow our lives to her. Now until the ends of time.” We all spoke in unison. As if we all knew what each one was thinking. Our blood dripped onto the floor as a hushed wind swept around us. Gently grazing our skin with a warm touch. When we all looked down we saw that our blood had mixed and formed the mark of the goddess. We all looked in awe of the pact we all just made. Who will keep their promises and who will betray my sister? 

~~

It had been a week since we all made the blood pact. Dedicating our lives to my sister. No one dared leave after that. My father didn’t try to coax anyone to leave either. We all felt at ease I think. Kosovo, Eldwin, Cassie, myself and Tesla’s best guardians, Skald and Tally, made her hospital room look extremely small. None of us wanted to leave her. She had been seizing up severely every other day. The doctors were confused at her predicament. I had told them that it might be the nightmares she was trapped in. I explained to everyone openly that she had been having extreme nightmares about her past that were progressively getting worse the last few weeks. These doctors were highly trained to treat physical injuries to were-beasts. Not mentally straining ones. All they could do was sedate her and make sure she was comfortable. 

Skald and Tally didn’t move from her bed, even when Eldwin would cuddle with her on her bed. I heard him whispering words of encouragement into her ear every other hour. I could feel for him. He had spent a long time looking for his mate and now that he has her he had to process so much information, be brought into a battle, and then witness her basically lose every ounce of energy she had. He would growl when anyone else would come near her. It pissed me off but I understood. 

As we all sat in chairs and recliners that the nurses brought to us, Tesla’s heart rate began to spike. The machines beep rapidly as she drew in a deep breath and held it. We were all on our feet listening to it, when the nurses came in. One with a needle to the IV tube that connected to Tesla’s arm. The whites of her eyes showed as she let out a howl that knocked everyone down on their knees. It was like the one a week ago but it sounded different. 

“Beware!” a voice rang out. It was coming from Tesla. It definitely didn’t sound like her voice. This voice was soft , yet sharp. “He comes to claim a prize that is not his!” I was looking up at her from the tiled floor. Her back was arched, while Skald and Tally sat on either side of her. Their eyes glowed silver. Their jaws moved as Tesla’s moved. “Beware the war! The war of the gods!” With that Tesla’s body shot up and she leapt from the bed. Immediately shifting into her wolf form. She looked confused and unaware of where she was. I went to go console her before Cassie grabbed my arm. 

“Don’t. Her mate can handle this,” She almost whispered in my ear. I watched as Eldwin kneeled before her and cupped her cheeks in his palms and he spoke gently to her. She calmed almost immediately and shifted. Whatever he said to her, she began sobbing her ugly cry. I remember those tears on the countless nights that I once consoled her. I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of pain in my heart. I had always been the once to be there for her and now I was just her brother. 

~~

Eldwin’s POV

As Tesla cried into my chest, I brought her into my arms, seeing her pain and confusion. Did she not remember what had happened? I rubbed my cheek on her forehead before placing a loving kiss on it. I picked her up bridal style and brought her back to the bed. Her dog’s, to which I learned were wolf-dog hybrids, were immediately back on the bed with her. They laid on her legs before I had the chance to cover her with the sheets. My heart was breaking to see her like this. From what L.J. had said a few days ago, her nightmares seemed to control her. She was being haunted by her past. I desperately wanted to know what had happened to her so I could help her overcome this chaos that raged in her mind. 

Her sobs softened as she fell back into sleep. I prayed to the goddess above, that she’d rest peacefully. She was still sweating. Her dreams were truly going to be a problem, but if she didn’t remember them, then that would explain her outburst. I don’t know what is worse. Feeling helpless or watching her fight her inner demons. I turned to L.J. who was just starting to regain his footing. 

“Does she mention anything to you about her dreams?” I asked as I walked over to him. The nurses obviously agitated with my presence. Could they really blame me for wanting to be next to her? Skald and Tally were being shooed away as they made quick work to redo her IVs and check her vitals. 

“No. I only know what she cries out when she has the nightmares,” L.J. spoke sadly as he looked at Tesla. “Sometimes she screams out a name. Sometimes she’s whimpering. She’s done this before. The shifting after a nightmare thing that is.” I nodded. I needed more information. 

“Do you remember what name she says? Maybe we can help her gain closure,” I said as I watched her heart rate go back down. 

“Talisma,” L.J. said as he rubbed his chin. I didn’t recognize the name, but I was sure that I could find something about it. I am willing to do anything to bring her mind at peace. I will do anything to keep her safe, even if it’s from herself. 

~~