Blessed Curse

Coming Home 2

Ikaika POV



Dad, Maika and I had just returned from weeks of traveling. We attended and blessed a total of fourteen new pack Alpha and Luna ceremonies. While each one was unique in its own way, they were all well thought out and beautiful ceremonies.

But damn, it was nice to be home.

Sadly, throughout all the ceremonies, I hadn’t met my mate at none of the events. I’m not completely worried. I’m still young. Plus, I have a lot of surfaces to scratch before I can think of becoming a suitable mate.

Long flights, drives and walks with my dad, Maika, gave me insight into becoming a female wolf's other soul. I always thought I had figured it out. However, it seems I was very wrong. Everything dad Dom had said about being a strong mate came to me differently than when it came from dad Maika.

“Son, let's make our way over to the family offices at around two. Your mother and father have sent for us. I have to stop by Kealoha’s room, but I’ll meet you there.” I heard my father, Maika, call out from the hall. I respond an okay and continue to unpack and sort my belongings.

I went to lunch in the main hall. The room was different now with everything that had transpired. What was once a loud, boisterous, fun-loving space, one filled with laughter and family chit-chat, is now quiet and boring. *sigh*

After lunch, I went and met with some of the omega’s. Most were always pinning for me, but they all knew where to draw that line when it came to pursuing me.

Our head omega, Cora, was a gentle woman. Always felt a grandmotherly feeling coming from her. “How is everything Ms. Cora?” She pat my cheek softly and responded, “ Oh don’t you worry, young master, about us, but if I may, how are you?-forgive me if I’ve overstepped.”

“You’re fine Cora. I’m.....surviving. I know the word spreads like wild fire.” She blushes but I continue. “I miss how everything used to be. How the halls were always filled with one or the other family members talking freely or laughing. It’s too quiet now.”

She nods in understanding, “I know my dear, one day, hopefully sooner than later, all will be revealed. And if there is anything we can do to help lessen the burden on you, my prince, do not hesitate to ask. You hear me?”

I give her a respectful bow and we part ways.

Time sped by and it was quarter too, so I made my way towards the office.

Upon entering, I could feel the tension and hostility that was flowing like a tornado in the room. The air was warm with static, one I knew that would hurt if I was anyone else other than the child of the person conjuring the attack.

I took a few more steps forward but stopped dead in my tracks when I saw my baby sister. “Naomi, holy heck!” Without even caring who was present, or that my mother's magic was borderline manic, I took off running at her, pulling her out of someone's arms and crushing her into my chest.

“Sssshhh sissy, I got you. I’ll never let anyone hurt you ever again. I’m so sorry sissy. I should have been there.” I felt her shoulders jolt in a deep-sobbing cry, so I just held her tight.

“Ikaika?” I turned to my dad, Maika. With him, stood Kealohalani. She gave me a one-sided lip smile and I gave her a nod, encouraging her to please come. I needed both of them. More then they’ll ever know.

She didn’t hesitate and ran into Naomi and I’s little huddle. Not two minutes passed, I felt a fourth pair of arms circle around us and when I looked up, it was Kaleo. He let out a relieved sigh while the four of us just stood in each other's embrace.

“Come. Let’s sit.” Kaleo advises. We did, while still ignoring the group of adults who had congregated around us. “Omi, are you okay?” I asked. Her sobs lessened, her hiccups still present, just softer now.

“I-I’m human.” With those words my magic flared. I felt like Kealoha and Kaleo’s did as well. Our sister didn’t deserve this. I don’t care if I had already heard about this, it still pissed me off that someone had the audacity to hurt Naomi. And it hurt even more because it was our own blood.

I eaves dropped a few times when my dad, Maika, had conversed with others regarding Naomi. I knew she was human, but to feel it, sense it, to hear it from her own mouth, took me by surprise. Mainly because even though it was said in a whisper, I could tell she had already accepted her fate.

This wasn’t fair. Naomi never did anything to even hint of deceit or harm another. Naomi was a giver, a nurturer. This is what her fate ended up being? This is total bullshit.

I took in a much needed breath and at my exhale I looked at Kealoha. “You, my beautiful Queen of a sister, are you okay?” She smiled a promising smile, “I am brother. Soon I’ll let you all know what happened.”

I didn’t pressure any more then I had either. For I knew Kealoha. If I kept pestering her, she'd shut you out with no hesitation or remorse.

“Brother? You? I feel your emotions. I have felt them. I am so sorry. I never wanted you to ever feel like you were not enough to be part of everything. You are my right-hand man, my best friend. I failed you three as the big brother and I swear to you now that I will never allow myself to ignore you all. I promise.”

When I looked over to my father Alaric, he gave me a curt nod with an approving smile which I knew held a high level of respect. Standing next to him was Kahi. He stood stoic. Not giving away any emotions, but he was a part of us. A part of me. He was my baby brother and I’d be damn if I ever let him feel like he’s anything less than important to me.

“Kahi? Brother, I have failed you as well. I should have been the one with Naomi, finding the ones responsible. I am only half the man you are. Please, forgive me and my lack of action.” I watched as several emotions crossed his eyes.

“Yes, you should have stepped up, or at least said something. You or Kaleo. But I get it. You two are bound by the laws of the court as the next Kings. I, however, am not and I will never let a group of old men tell me who I should or shouldn’t protect.” I watched as his eyes pinged directly at our father, Dom.

“I’ll never change you, Brother. And when I become King, rules and laws will change.” He gave me a tight-lipped smile and I sighed.

I wish I could turn back the hands of time. Allow myself to see and feel the depth of emotions that I have right now, back then. Because, I would have really liked it if none of this had happened. And if I could, I’d be a better brother.

Omi leaned onto my shoulder, as Kealoha had done on the opposite shoulder. Kaleo squeezed his arm as far as he could to give me a brotherly pat when a throat cleared.

“I have witnessed many bonds in my lifetime, but you all have a bond that surpasses anything that I have ever seen. The lot of you together are the fos of life. I’m impressed.” I turned to the guy and realized who he finally was.

“Tobias?” He gave me a smile and a bow. “Nai.” (Yes)

His eyes refused to leave Naomi and I had a nagging feeling that there was much more to everything happening thus far.

**********

Tobias POV

Finally, everyone had gathered as I had requested. The aura of the Queen was comical. She continued to try to assault me with her magic, but after a couple of hours, she finally gave up.

“Goddess?” I called out and, in a shimmer of a light, Anela arrived. “You could have, gave me a heads up Tobias.” I gave her a chuckle and gestured for her to sit to my right.

When her skin and senses felt the atmosphere, her eyes shot at me. “What have you done?”

“Now, now. Don’t rush. All is well. Your daughter seems to forget that I am not one to be trifled with. She’s lucky she’s alive for the disrespect she’s shown me.” I watched as a series of levels of anger glinted in my old friend's eyes but soon she settled down, allowing me to continue before she went all goddess on me.

“Now. First. Naomi will be returning with me to my realm.-“ I was cut off by a series of growls and shouting but with a raise of my hand, all quieted. “As I was saying, Naomi will be returning with me to my realm. She is not safe here.” I stopped to await another round of nay sayers, but none came. Just confused and hurt expressions.

“The human you all seek, Mr. Conrad is not a simple human. He is-well, was, a powerful warlock. Many ages ago, he sought asylum and peace. He was a very powerful warlock in a time when many others sought power. He was endlessly hunted. When he came calling for refuge, his payment was to relinquish his powers, for in my world everyone is equal and no one is more powerful than the other. Well, he did. I’ve kept them and he’s been, human, I guess you could say for many many moons.” I let the information sink in before continuing.

“He is one of my most trusted men, and it is he who has gone against me. He knew the poison recipe and I am very sure he has made more than what he used on Naomi. Conrad is a very witty man. You see, even though he gave over his powers, he still possesses his inner-soul power. This power isn’t strong but with the right help and the right potions and spells, it can be manipulated. I fear it is what he has done.” Again, I await to be questioned but again, nothing but curious and anxious stares.

“I have been searching for every lead, under every rock, zipping through portals faster then I have ever done before, and each time I am but a few minutes away, he disappears. With this information, I now know that whoever he is working with is very powerful and has gifts that enable him to elude me each time.” I sigh at my own realization that I failed when Naomi’s hand was entwined with mine.

“You haven’t failed Tobias. You’re just slow.” I chuckled at her comment and placed a kiss on her forehead.

“Um-excuse me? What the hell is going on between the two of you?” It was Anela who interrupted our little moment.

“Ah-yes, next order of business, Naomi is my-----uh-you all call it mate. But she is my final animal spirit. She is everything and all the things I have searched for for the last hundreds of years. She is my phoenix spirit.” With that, the whole room either gasped or went completely dumbfounded, while the parents and Anela went white.

“Wait-wait-wait, hold the hell on. Naomi has a mate, it’s Blake-“ Naomi cut her mother off, “he was my mate. The bond is gone. The last of whatever we had broke when I left his apartment. We are okay.”

No one said anything. Again. So Naomi reiterated my explanation from her perspective.

“When Tobias first arrived, I felt a weird pull on him. Nothing like a mate pull, the one that we want to just hump them and mark them where they stand. No, not like that. It was more of a warmth, sort of like a subtle yearning just for him to be near. When he left, my soul cracked. When he didn’t come back, I kicked it off as a silly crush I had conjured because I was becoming human. Now, I know in the deepest part of my being, he is my soul mate. He is who I am destined to be with.”

I pulled her into a gentle hug. “I’ll always be yours Anastasia.” With almost a foot and a half height difference, her neck crooked up and she smiled.

She pulled away, giving me the nod to continue to share her story. “Naomi is the lost phoenix of the sun.-“ A series of ‘what’s’ echoed but I held my hand up to silence them. “Anastasia is the first phoenix of the sun. She was born under the thumb of the ancient Greek gods, some odd three hundred years ago-possibly earlier than that. Every so many decades, sometimes even centuries, if she uses her powers, she returns to the Temple of the sun to be reborn. Anastasia or now Naomi is the Phoenix.”

Anela stood upright and took one step around me to approach Naomi. “My beautiful granddaughter, please?” Anela gestured for Naomi to stand and Naomi did without any resistance.

We all watched as Anela closed her eyes and soon a bright light illuminated the entire space. Winds of magic bellowed and whistled as Anela’s magic swarmed around the office. It hadn’t been two, maybe three minutes, when Anela opened her eyes and stepped back.

“How did I not know?” Anela whispered, crying. “It’s okay-um-moon goddess. No one knew.” Anela’s eyes watered heavily at Naomi’s words. “She is your grandmother Naomi. Show some respect.” With that my magic flared.

“I suggest you speak with less anger, for I will not hesitate to kill you for disrespecting her.” I glared at the so-called queen and Anela mimicked my anger. “You will respect Tobias and Naomi. Do I make myself clear?” She looked at everyone in the room.

When she got her answer, she turned back around to Naomi and desperately tried to hold it together. “Omi, I know I have failed you, and I am deeply sorry. But to me you are and will always be my granddaughter and I will die protecting you.”

Naomi didn’t hesitate. She leaned in and pulled Anela into a hug. Their embrace was short but filled with everything they both needed to know.

“Now, I know everyone’s minds are racing. So, I’ll answer them as best as I can.” I looked around the room when the King, King Dom, stepped forward. This time his aura was off. His heart was chaotic.

“I, King Dom, release you, Naomi, from our bonds. You are hereby an outcast of the Kingdom of wolves and are ordered to leave immediately.” A series of gasps circled, “Dom, what the f**k are you doing?” The following king, King Maika, angrily shouted. The third king, King Alaric, crossed the space in a flash and held Dom by the throat, squeezing it until he turned a darker shade of red.

“Alaric, stop!” The queen shouted, but he didn’t. His grip tightened and no one intervened. I watched as a beast of impressive magnitude transformed before me. King Alaric’s true self was magnificent.

“I, Alaric, King of Vampires and wolves, relinquish my ties to you, Dominic. If you do not except my daughter, I do not except you.” In an instant, cries filled the room. Wails of howls filled the air for hundreds, even thousands of miles.

“Alaric, baby, look at me,” the queen pleaded, but his mind was set. “You of all the people I had trusted with everything I had and you let him do this. To my daughter. You both are a disgrace to everything in the wolf world. I, Alaric, hereby reject Makana as my mate. You lost your way and I will not be on the side that sides against your own child.”

I stood in awe at the events before me. I’ve only heard stories of earth's wolves and the mate bond. How rejection is frowned upon. But here I am witnessing one. One that is very high ranking too.

“Alari----Ahhhhhhhhh!” The queen crumbled to the floor, as had Dominic. The two of them were writhing in pain as Alaric stood tall.

Anela didnt’ contest Alaric’s rejection. Nor did she look angry. Getting a better look at her, I could see pain and sadness. “Anela?” Her eyes were murky, “I had failed my friend. I-I don’t know what happened.” I pulled her hand and gave it a soft caress. “They chose this.”

“Brother?” I had forgotten all about king Maika as his shout was loud. “I know where you stand Maika. I’ll always be there for you and our children. You call, I come. But them-,” Alaric points to the queen and king who were writhing in pain, “they are nothing to me.”

Maika stood there in total disbelief. I expected him to help Makana or Dom, but instead he just walked out. Kealoha, Kaleo and Ikaika in tow.

Alaric closed his eyes and soon he was in his human form, “Naomi baby, know that I am and always will be your father. I don’t care what. Let anyone contest it and I will bleed them dry.” He placed a soft kiss on Naomi’s crying eyes.

“Now, Tobias, take care of my daughter. And if you need me, my kingdom is at your beckoning.” Without further words, he and their youngest son, Kahikokle, vanished.

**********

Ikaika POV

Coming home now seemed far from joyous or relieving. Now all I wanted was to get as far away from here as I could.

How could my mother and father Dom do this? How?

I walked out with my siblings and father Maika, the future unknown as of now. “Dad? What’s going to happen?” My heart was twisting and the pain was heavy on my shoulders.

“I-I don’t know, son. It’s up to you if you want to go stay at your dad Alaric’s. My duty is to you children, but we have masses of wolves counting on us to keep them safe and intact as well. I have to stay, for the Kingdom.” His eyes cast out the large picture window, the day was overcast. It was if the weather matched how we all felt.

“I’ll stay, dad. Whatever you need, I’m at your service.” He pat me on the back when Kaleo stepped up. “I’ll stay and help as well.” Dad Maika gave us both a smile, one filled with gratitude and respect.

“Kealohalani?” I asked, seeing where her heart and thoughts were. She’s already dealing with so much, we couldn’t possibly ask her to do anything else other than to heal. Right?

“I’m going with Dad Alaric. Dad, can you get a security team-“ she was cut off by my brother Kahi, “no need. I’ll escort you. I have fifty of our fastest and strongest vampires awaiting tita (sister). When you are ready, we are.”

Kealoha nodded and looked at me, Kaleo and my dad, “Dad, you could share with my brothers my story. It doesn’t matter who it comes from, but they have a right to know. It may give them some answers as to how and why things have happened thus far.”

I watched as my dad and Kealoha held a silent conversation, then she turned to me and Kaleo. “Please be safe brothers. Watch your backs. If you need me, I’ll be here.” She placed a kiss on our cheeks and left with Kahi on her wing to pack.

What the f**k is going on?