His Mate, His Enemy

Episode 02

Lily rested her legs on the table as she drew. Her pencil scratched on the paper as she drew the winged figure from her dreams. It was a massive creature with long fangs and talons, wings that seemed to stretch for miles to the air and soulless eyes.

"Eek. Your drawings are creepy," Violet said as she walked to the fridge, her eyes on the drawing paper. Lily shrugged as she turned to look at her sister. She was wearing a loose sleeveless shirt that highlighted her lean, powerful arms, honed for fighting, and she wore black, tight shorts that revealed legs built for running and kicking.

Lily liked to pretend that she did not know what her family did but seeing Violet was always a reminder and also a reminder that she was not chosen for that. It was not that she wanted to, she knew she could never be able to handle it, but it hurt all the same. Violet walked over to where she was drawing then plopped by the chair beside her.

"Why don't you ever use a tablet? It's better and easier that way," she said. Lily rolled her eyes.

"It does not feel real, does not feel…genuine. It is like…that feeling of pencil on paper is just unmatched in my opinion," she said. Violet shrugged then stuck out her lower lip for a while, staring at the image.

"Looks a little like Tyler," she said and Lily slapped her forehead.

"Aw, c'mon Vi. Not everything gruesome I draw looks like my ex.

"They would have…if you'd let me smash his face in after he cheated on you," she said. Lily rolled her eyes then was silent for a moment as she remembered what was going to happen when the night came.

"Hey, are you okay?' Violet asked.

"I should be asking you that?" Lily said, suddenly feeling sour.

"What do you mean?"

"Just that…just that you are going to meet…them. I mean, we have not had any reason to deal with them for a long time and knowing you would have to meet those savages…those things… I mean, I am very worried about you, Vi," she said. Violet was silent for a while then shrugged.

"I mean, if there ever was a safe time to meet one of them then it would be now since we are talking peace here. I mean…it would be nice to stop fighting or looking over your shoulder for a fight. They would also stop their…diabolic practices, and maybe we can just…be?" Violet said like she was not even sure that this would work. Lily stared at her for a while then reached out to touch her cheek.

"I just…want you to stay safe. I know that you are a wonderful fighter, but these are not even human beings. I just want you to be safe," she said.

"Dad and many of the clansmen will be there. I am pretty sure that I will be as far from danger as possible," Violet said.

"Great, now I have to worry about the both of you," Lily said and sighed. There was silence for a while then her pencil started scratching at paper as she continued drawing. It soothed her to draw, made her feel better. Violet pulled her close the kissed her on the forehead.

"You worry too much. It will be fine," she said then stood and walked away, taking her milk with her. Lily sighed. She did not even know what do with herself now. It was a Saturday and maybe all she would do was draw. She shrugged. It was not bad, as far as Saturdays went, but she worried about her sister and her father.

****

Alfred sat on one of the chairs, his elbows on his knees, cracking his knuckles absently as he looked at the men and women who were seated opposite him. These were the very people whom he had devoted his life to hating, the arch enemies of the werewolves ever since they had hunted the last of the vampires to extinction.

He could see the leader of their clan, the one that every werewolf pup was taught to despise. Julius was one of the wealthiest men he had heard of and was a skilled and lethal warrior, trained in the art of hunting supernatural creatures. Alfred realized that it was difficult to tell what the man really did from his face. It bore no scars or marks and his entire demeanor was calm and quiet.

"Hello Frederick. It has been a while since we saw each other. I am glad that this time, it is under more favorable circumstances," he said quietly. Alfred watched as his father nodded then spoke.

"We are here to broker a peace between our people. Something has been attacking both our kinds, and it would be foolishness to continue fighting without addressing this issue," Frederick said. Alfred wondered if small talk would kill the man.

"Ate you saying, them, that this peace is a temporary one in your opinion?" An elder from the Witchers asked. She was a small, lean woman with blue eyes.

"I am merely stating that this peace was necessitated by our mutual danger and that should be the focus of this meeting. Of course, should a time come when this threat is neutralized, and we see that the peace is still beneficial to the both of us then we can continue with it, no?" Frederick said. Alfred could already see his father giving himself wiggle room, trying to escape and create loopholes to use in the future.

"Well, you see, Frederick. The thing is that I cannot agree to this type of peace. What I want is permanence, and I'd rather continue the war than to take a break from it. So tell me…are we ending this?" Julius asked. Frederick stared hard at him and their gazes felt so intense, Alfred was starting to feel the tension build in both parties then Frederick nodded once.

"Then that will be so," he said. Alfred wondered why the other Alphas did not speak over him to even voice their desire to speak then he realized that to do so would be to challenge his father and if there was anything that Frederick hated, it was challenges.

"Are you all in agreement, then?" Julius asked, looking around to the other werewolves and they each nodded. Julius smiled and leaned back then the haggling began. It bored Alfred terribly but in the end, it was decided that no humans would be killed without reason and without reporting their matter to the Witchers first except in matters of self-defense. The same was agreed on the Witchers' part then they decided on the peace that would be sealed in blood. The oldest of pacts.