THE BLOOD OATH

IVAN

ASTERA

We waited for a few minutes and then I knocked again. The door opened, revealing my father’s big figure. He looked like a mashed potato squeezed in that small absurd house.

-          “Father?” my tears rolled down my cheeks as I reached my hands towards him.

-          “Astera?” he responded, his tears rolling down his cheeks. It was different than I expected. I did not expected to melt the way I did. I really missed him! I have never thought about it, but it really hurt my feelings when he left. I tried to do my very best not to think about it and to focus on my Alpha title.

-          “What are you doing here?” I managed to grasp my breath and ask

-          “It’s a long, long story. Come on in!”

-          “This is where you live?” I asked him. It was a small round shaped house painted with the kind of colors that hurt your eyes and make you dizzy. And the patterns on the house where psychedelic, but I managed to recognize a symbol underneath all that crazy painting. It was an ancient symbol of protection witches used to protect the houses they lived in. When I entered the house, the strangest sight hit me: a plain minimalistic interior, with wooden furniture that looked kind of cozy. Here was no sign of the craziness that lied outside. Also, the interior was 10 times bigger that it looked from the outside. It had a round garden filled with small magenta flowers that smelled delicious.

-          “It’s not what it looks like, isn’t it?” he asked

-          “You’re damn right is not!” Dina said surprised.

-          “Oh, right, let me introduce you to my pack: you know Dina and Michaya since they were born, now they are my Beta and Gamma. This is …”

-          “Prince Maximus! You look just like your father, but you have your mother’s joyful smile! I would recognize that smile everywhere! And this must be your Beta. “

-          “Idris. A pleasure to meet you, sir!” Maximus added, slowly bowing his head. Well, that was unexpected.

-          “Your Highness, if you do not mind asking, what are YOU doing here?” My father asked him almost perplexed. “Oh... Sorry! I just realized. You must be my daughter’s fated mate. The real fated mate. Which is why you are all down here. Let me start by saying that I had no choice. The alternative was Astera’s life, which was not an option. I know what we did was wrong in many ways, but saved her life.”

-          “And I couldn’t be more grateful for that!” Maximus said.

After hours of talking and explaining to us how the blood-oath was done and how exactly did Edric saved my life by using the magic running through his royal veins, we came to the conclusion that I might not have a way out. I must marry the monster.

-          “I will not have it!” a soft voice came from the garden. “It’s absurd to think that we will let you marry to that monster!” I turn around and see her. A beautiful elven with fair flawless skin, cold eyes and warm smile. She must be Sierra.

-          “I’m sorry. I don’t want to intrude. I’m Sierra.”

-          “Nice to officially meet you!” I said to her.

-          “Nice to finally meet you! And I am so sorry that we meet under these circumstances... It breaks my heart to see you suffer. As I said, I will not accept it. It is said that somewhere exists a crystal… The Crystal that was formed when Moon Goddess visited Earth. She was tricked by the Devil to fall in love with him and when she figure it out she was under his spell, she dropped this tear, this extremely powerful tear that turned into a crystal. It is said that this crystal has the power to break any oath, any spell, any curse. Unfortunately, no one know if this crystal actually exist, and if it does, where it is, but there is someone that can tell us if the story is true.

-          “Who?” we all asked

-          “Blacklilly. And the Devil himself.” Father added.

A few moments later, a tall, dark and very handsome guy enters my father’s house.

-          “Good evening!” he says to us in a deep, grave voice. I look at his face and he turns around looking very confused. Then, he glances at Dina and his eyes instantly change their color. His already black eyes become darker and darker and they start to shine like a starry night. HOLLY GOD! IT IS HIM! IT’S DINA’S MATE! In under 2 seconds I lashed at him, pinning him on the small door, holding my knife at his neck.

-          “ASTERA!” father shouted at me “ASTERA!!! What are you doing? Leave David alone! Are you out of your mind?” Well, I must be, considering that I do not have Saradi with me and I am pointing a knife at an almost 6’7 tall hunk.

-          “Dina! Is it him?” I ask Dina.

-          Astera? What’s going on? Who do you think he is? Dina asked me

-          “DINA! LOOK at him! Is it him?” I forgot she doesn’t have her wolf and her senses, but if it really is him, I figure out she can recognize him by his eyes, even though she never saw his human form.

-          “OOOOOH MYYYY GOOOOOOD!!!!! HE IS!”

-          “Girls, what’s going on? Astera! Lower your… knife!" father asked.

-          “Knives!” Stupid David added, acknowledging the other knife I was pointing at his guts. Everybody looked stunned, except for me and Dina and David. “Start explaining! Now!” I demanded David, slightly scratching the surface of his neck. I heard Dina clearing her throat. Of course I will not kill him… now, at least! Without our link, it will take Dina a few moments to figure out my plans.

-          “I think I have some explanations to give. Leave poor David alone. It’s not his fault. I asked David to team up with a rogue vampire that owed me a favor and to kidnap you and to bring you to me.”

-          “Well, your stupid muscle almost killed MY Beta and best friend. And also, WHAT? What do you mean by ‘kidnapping’ me?”  I asked shocked.

-          “It was the only way I could think to save you from the horrible fate I damned you to, by promising your hand to that savage beast. If they would’ve brought you here, you wouldn’t meet with Edric and he would not had claimed you and all of this could’ve been avoided.”

-          “I was against this plan! I thought it was stupid. No offense, my love!” Sierra told my father. “I knew that if you were at least 5% how your father described you to be, then his plan would fail miserably. Again, no offense, dear!”

-          “None taken. And you were right! As always! Asteraaaa! For the name of Goddess!! Drop the knives!” father insisted

-          “That was the dumbest plan I have ever heard! What did you think?? And just so you know, that filthy animal almost kill Dina with his magic mix! And his fangs!!!”

-          “Well, that actually was my fault…” David added.

-          “Oh, I know! Trust me, I know!” I said, cutting him a liiiiittle deeper.

-          “I am so, so sorry! The “magic mix” as you call it, was indeed a magic mix of plants, herbs and other… stuff. They were supposed to cancel your hyper senses and to put you out in a deep sleep. For the vampire, that mix draw his animalic side out and he could not control his urges to bite Dina.” David said.

-          “Ahem, cool cool. I see. But why did YOU bite her??? Did you also lost your human side? Did your animal also got out of leash?” I asked him.

-          “I am so sorry! I tried my best not to harm her. She is my mate, after all.” Jaw drop moment for everybody. Everybody except me and Dina.

-          “YOUR WHAT?” almost everybody asked in unison.

-          “MY MATE!” He howled, claiming her.  

-          “Baby, it’s you choice if I cut his throat and his guts out or if you want him.” I turned to her, smiling, knowing very well what she will choose.

-          “I figure he can live. This time. Let him be.” Dina said to me, smiling. I lowered my knives, throwing him one last threatening look.

-          “That was unexpected! My beta and your beta, to be fated mates. I did not see it coming, I must say.” Dad said to me, laughing.

-          “Don’t! Just… don’t! I’m still mad at you. Not only for abandoning mom, and me, not only for damning my live for eternity promising me to a lifeless monster, but for almost killing my best friend you have no excuse! Let’s go!” I said to my pack, fighting to hold up my tears. I run out the house, slamming the door behind me and I finally started to cry. I let it all out. I haven’t cried since I was just a little kid. I promise to myself I will never cry. I felt warm arms wrapping around my body and my pain started to ease, but my tears could not be stopped. “I hate to be seen like this. I am such a mess!” I said to Maximus, as he was holding me tighter and tighter.

-          “Don’t you ever say anything like this to me! Never again! Now let me see that pretty face and that gorgeous smile of yours!” he said to me, with his eyes filled with… something… different.

-          “I’m a mess!”

-          “Correction! You are MY beautiful mess! And f.y.i., next time you want to beat up a 6ft tall wolf, let me know. I will hold him and you will hit him. Deal?” he said smiling.

-          “Deal!” I said, smiling back at him. Then, he leaned over and kissed my forehead. Waves of pleasure and peace were running up and down in my body.

-          “We must go back into the house to figure out our next move. Whenever are you ready, just let me know and I will go in there with you. I am your wolf! Try not to forget it anymore! Especially when you are touching tall, dark and handsome fellas.” He said with a grin.

-          “HAHAHA! Were you jealous of him? Do you want me to threat your life also, not to feel left outside?”

-          “Do not laugh! Even though Xander is sleeping somewhere, my instinct to protect you is the same, Astera. Also, HOW could I’ve known he was Dina’s fated mate? I just saw your body touching his and I might have gotten a bit… surprised.”

-          “Admit it! You were jealous!”

-          “YOU ARE MINE!” He roar at me. I like it when he claims me. I don’t know why or how, giving that I have Saradi on radio silent, but I like it! It makes me want him more and more. I took 3 deep breaths and we got back into the house.