BLOOD TIES

CHAPTER 4

BLOSSOM'S POV

"Mate."

The word echoed in my head as I stood staring at the handsome stranger sitting right across from me at my workplace. I had never seen anyone like him and never felt an energy like his. I had known that I was not human for my whole life, something my Aunt Zelda hadn't hidden from me. She had taught me everything I knew which living amongst humans and like them was among one of the many. For twenty-four years, no one had suspected who I was. Not until now which meant that I had to be extra careful.

The world wasn't friendly to people like us. It was what Aunt Zelda had taught me and I believed her since she was the only family I had known my whole life. She was not only that but my best friend. I was different, just like she was which made our bond so strong. I didn't know who my parents were or if they were alive or not but I knew that I had grown up with the best love anyone could ask for. That was why I knew that I couldn't put her in any danger so immediately I got the chance, I got away to warn her. She had warned me about something like this telling me it was the reason we had moved to different places all our lives. This town was the only one we had stayed the longest but now it was time to move again.

I found her sitting in her working chamber working on a new potion. She used her skills to heal people but only using natural herbs from the woods and no one had suspected that she was a witch. Sometimes when I was not too busy I helped her because it was fun using my powers for a little bit. All the other days I was always doped up with a spell which also hid my werewolf abilities. It had always worked until now.

"What is it? Why are you not at work at this hour?" she asked as I barged in breathlessly.

"Something happened," I tried to explain but my body was too worked up after running all the way there. I could feel my blood boiling in my veins heating my whole body and before I managed to say something else, I collapsed on a chair. I could see her, hear her and feel her but I couldn't speak.

"Oh no! Your powers are getting out of control!" she said as she touched my forehead then quickly rushed to the large table and mixed several potions. "Here, drink this." I took it obediently then exhaled deeply as I regained my strength. "Now tell me what happened."

"I was working the register at the bar then took a break. When I got back, I found this... guy sitting there. He looked at me like he knew me," I explained recalling every second of it. "My wolf fought wanting to be let out. The pull was too strong and I had to run out of there."

"But... how is that possible? Have you been taking your daily dose?"

"Yeah, you know I don't skip it."

Aunt Zelda furrowed her brows then said almost to herself, "It isn't supposed to happen until you are thirty."

"What?" I asked in shock wondering what she was talking about. "What isn't supposed to happen, Auntie?" She stood up abruptly as if she had just realized that she had said more than she was supposed to. I had never known her to keep secrets but something told me that there was so much more that she had not told me. "Please, no secrets remember?"

She turned to me slowly, "Your body is repelling my potions which means your wolf is growing stronger, and taming her won't be possible anymore."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that anyone can find you now and we need to be ready."

"Ready for what? Can't we just move again and find somewhere new?"

She took both my hands and squeezed lightly, "Not anymore my love. They will find us anywhere now."

"What are we going to do? Fight them?" Despite being powerful and able to win any fight easily, we had avoided conflicts all along and the only fights I got involved in were only during my practice sessions in my dojo which didn't count as fights.

"Only if we have to. I have taught you to control but with your wolf starting to react like that, you have to stay away from people."

"What?" I wasn't angry at her. I knew that she was trying to keep me safe even though I was old enough and strong enough to protect myself. I was just shocked. How could I not live around people? My nature didn't allow me to be isolated. I was my best self when interacting with different people who were all always very friendly to me. After being homeschooled until high school, my college years and the two years after had been my best because I had the freedom to be anywhere I wanted. "What is my life going to be like?" I asked and sighed in disappointment but she didn't respond. I knew this was not what she wanted either but it had to be done. I nodded, "Alright but I'm going to my last session at the dojo. I can't just leave my Sensei like that without telling him after all he has done for me."

Aunt Zelda remained quiet for the greatest length of time before she nodded.

"Alright, but I'm coming with you. Just... in case of anything." She had only been to one of my sessions which she sabotaged by putting one of her spells on my competitor after he had hit me badly. I knew that she loved me and it hurt her to see me hurt but knowing that she was always going to sabotage even a chance I had the potential to win fairly, I had made her promise to stay at home to avoid anything like that again. I looked at her questioningly and she understood why immediately. "I will not intervene at any point."

"Good, otherwise I'll knock you out myself."

"You wouldn't!" she said playfully.

"Try me," I responded, controlling my power by letting only my fingers glow. She raised her hands in surrender and we both laughed. I was powerful but I couldn't beat her. She only let me believe that I could which was fun.

That however wasn't what was in my mind at that point. I never talked about my mate with my aunt but I had always thought about it. What I hadn't expected was that my mate would turn out to be right where I was living. Why hadn't I seen him before? I could feel him even at that moment. My wolf hadn't rested from the moment our eyes had met. His eyes were kind yet fierce and he exuded a powerful aura that made my heart race. His face was symmetrical and well proportioned with a perfectly carved jawline. He was everything every girl dreamed of and would swoon for at first glance. I wanted to see him again. I needed to see him again just to make sure but I couldn't tell Aunt Zelda that otherwise she wouldn't let me back out there. My instincts told me to be careful but my curiosity was stronger.