THE BLOOD OATH

THE PEARL - Part three

MAXIMUS

-          „ASTERA!!! WHAT THE F**K IS SHE DOING???” I asked the motherf***r David as I ran towards the pond. Just when I was about to jump in after her, I felt an arrow piercing my right shoulder. F**K! THAT HURTS! I pull out the arrow from my shoulder and I see the motherf****g David glaring at me. His wolf was there. Once a traitor always a traitor! I will deal with him after! I prepare myself for the plonge and I feel my head burning. The a*****e hit my head. Hard! I guess he can’t wait. I turn around, Xander ready to rip his head off when he starts throwing at me some sort of liquid. I can tell it’s a sort of wolfsbane because Xander has a pretty hard time coming out. I take two long strides and as I reach next to David he hits me again in the head. I start feeling a little lightheaded but I try to keep my eyes open. This s**t is strong, I can barely feel Xander’s presence, which means my healing process will be slown down. Great! With my last effort, I approach the pond and I feel the motherf***r tieing a soaked rope around my torso and my hands and my legs. And he hits me again in the head. I manage to growl and before I know it, I pass out.

ASTERA

As I plunge into the pond, I hear Maximus’s desperate voice yelling my name and my heart freezes. I hate doing this to him, but I have no choice. As I dive deeper and deeper, the water feels rather oily, and its dark color makes it impossible to see anything! The strange color must be given by the curse that had been cast upon it by the Devil himself. I hope to find the Pearl quickly because I can’t keep my breath any longer. I must get out with that damn Pearl! It’s so dark in here! I can see sh*t! F**k! Not even my Alpha sight can help me! Saradi! Feel free to help me anytime now... anytime! I can feel her taking control over my body and in a matter of seconds, I witness Saradi reaching for the Pearl and grab it. We swim all the way up and my head is out, taking in a big breath of fresh air. I almost choke when I see David’s large frame hovering over Maximus’s almost unconscious body sprinkling something over his head.

-          „ What te f**k?” I demand, eyes full of rage

-          „Alpha, he was going to jump into the pond after you. I had to stop him so I shoot an arrow dipped in dark wolfsbane and then I hit his head hard and I tied him up with ropes dipped in dark wolfsbane and he didn’t seem too affected by the poison so I had to almost crack his head, again. He’s one tough motherf*cker! If I would give any other wolf that amount of dark wolfsbane... well, let’s say he’s one luck bastard!” David said, with a smirk on his face.

-          „ RELEASE HIM!” I roared and I actually see David flinch. That made me smile. I like to see him terrified of me. „Maximus! Maximus! Wake up!” his eyes rolled back and he fell into a sleepy state. „MAXIMUS!” I could tell he had a hard time keeping his eyes open. „What’s wrong with him?”  

MAXIMUS

I could barely keep my eyes open. I heard Astera’s soft voice calling out my name. Maybe I am dreaming. No, no! This is real! I can feel her touching my skin. It must be real because I can feel the sparks wherever her skin touches mine. She must really be here! Thank you, Goddess! She is safe!

ASTERA

-          „What’s wrong with him?” I asked David with concern in my voice.

-          „His wolf can’t heal him quick enough because of the wolfsbane. He will recover once the poison is out of his system.” He answered calmly

-          „And when will that be?” I am starting to loose all my patience.

-          „I can’t tell. It may be an hour or it may be a week. It depends on his strength. Dark wolfsbane is 50 times more poisonous than normal wolfsbane.”

-          „What the f**k, David?! Have you lost your f****g mind?”

-          „Well, I had to do something! He was willing to sacrifice himself for you! And as Ginger pointed out, he might as well not survive the quick swim in the DEATH POND! Or worse!” well, I've gotta' give it to him, the bastard has a point! And he did saved his life, sort of... „We must get out of here! Let’s go back to the river and return to our realm!” he was right. We must leave this place! „How are YOU feeling?” David asked me, his eyes searching all over my body for God knows what.

-          „Fine! Let’s just go!”

-          „Just fine? Do you feel any changes? Do you feel any different? Do you feel darkness surfacing, taking over you? Do I have to fear for my life?”

-          „Stop being such a f*****g c**t and get your s**t together! If I wanted, I would’ve killed you before you were even awake! Now shush and help me out with Maximus!” I must admit I was thinking about it myself. I did not felt any different. I don’t think I was affected by the cursed water from the death river. Which can only meant that I am, indeed, one of the descendants of the first wolves and a direct descendant from the Moon Goddess herself. No wonder I loved her so much and I feel such a deep connection with her! „You really did a number on Maximus!” I said. 

-          „I had no choice! He was feral! His wolf took over and if I haven’t done it, we would fish his lifeless body out of the pond right now. Or worse!” he had a point...

-          „Thank you!” I mumbled under my breath.

-          „If I am about to be part of your pack, I should at least act like you are my Luna. Alpha, Alpha Luna.” He made me giggle.

-          „NEVER! DO! THAT! AGAIN!” I heard Maximus’s hoarse voice trying to argue with me.

-          „OH MY GODDESS! You woke up!” I jumped around and snake my hands around his neck.

-          „I was never asleep! This f****r almost knocked me out! I will f****g kill you, you motherf***r!” He said to David as he tried to get up on his feet. He was still weakened and he barely could stand up. I helped him stand and he continued to curse and threaten David.

-          „That’s not very royal of you!” I said to him as I started to laugh. „Leave the poor man alone, he was trying to save your life.”

-          „By drugging me with God knows what?” He asked frowning.

-          „Dark wolfsbane” David answered.

-          „Oh, ok! Cool! I did not know it was dark wolfsbane! Now I feel a lot better! Geez! Thanks! You f****r! You say it with such ease, like it was coffee.” Maximus added ironically. I could tell he started to feel better and he could walk by himself, but I could sense that he did not want me to let go of him so he continued to play the role of the hurt puppy, even though his wounds almost healed. I liked it to see him being vulnerable for me. I must stop myself from thinking about this kind of stuff. It’s a good chance that we don’t get to be together. The thought of not being able to be with him makes my heart clench.  

Soon, we arrived at the river, waiting for Khanos to appear. Maximus was almost fully recovered. He is so mad at me, he barely looks my way and when he does, his eyes are throwing daggers at me. Lucky for me, I can feel our mate bond calming him, that being the only reason why he still holds on to my shoulder.

-          „I see you are all getting along now.” Khanos said with a sinister smile on his face. 

-          „Let’s just go!” Maximus added, without even looking at me. I feel chills going down my spine. I hate it when he’s mad at me. He has his reasons. After all, I betrayed him.

-          „My fee?” Khanos asked and without even looking at him, Maximus paid for the three of us. I was surprised when I saw he also paid for David’s ticket. After we got on the boat, he took his hand off my shoulder and never looked my way. I could barely hold my tears from falling down my cheeks. It hurts me so much seeing him so cold.

-          „What’s up with you?” David asked noticing my sad face.

-          „Nothing!” I answered faking a smile.

-          „Oh, ok. I guess it has nothing to do with Maximus not talking to you.” He smirked. I could see Maximus’s ears flinch. He was listening to our conversation.

-          „I’m fine!” I snapped at David. „You should better worry for yourself. Remember that Dina rejected you and then she killed you.”

-          „Technically, she did not rejected me, because my name is not ‚David Shithead’ as she put it out, and also, I did not accept, her rejection. So technically, she is still my mate.” His eyes wander. I could feel he was worried she would reject him again.

-          „Get off!” Khanos ordered as we landed on the other side of the river. „I’m so sick of your drama! I hope this is the last time we see each other!” He added with a bored look on his face.

We got off the boat and at the same time, Maximus and I started to summon Blacklilly. I smiled looking his way but he turned his face and look the other way. It made my heart shiver. A portal appeared and we went through it, back into our realm.