Blessed Curse

Putting the Pieces together

Kealoha POV

I wanted to know more, “may I?” He nodded and I roamed his memories, his thoughts, his deepest, darkest moments.

There, this is what I wanted to know. I watch and listen and let out a satisfied and relieved breath. I watched as a witch, a friend of Nahe and Nanea’s, worked days to remove all the silver particles from him.

“Good as ever.” Nahe smiled at Keahi. “Now, it seems you have enemies. We can’t have that. The deal has already been made, they'll leave you alone. And if they don’t, they know the repercussions of going against me and my sister.” Nahe spoke like a boss, a girl who has been working in a criminal lifestyle all her short life. “What did you do?” Keahi asked. “Don’t worry about it. Just know that you are a free man now.”

I saw Keahi was suspicious, but he had no clue what my two sisters had done. None. I continued to roam around and saw a scene where he killed two humans for money. I felt his fear as he had become a wanted man. His ordeals of running and hiding before were nothing like in the scenes before me. He spent more time with his wolf, lying under logs and fallen trees in the forests than he had been human.

A brief image of him hiding as a man, a human hunted him, coming close, so close to catching him. Like a video player, I paused the scene, taking the human man's face into focus.

I pulled out of his mind, he was breathing hard. “Who was the human hunting you? And why was he hunting you?” His eyes held a lot of emotions. Fear and rage, all together.

“The car accident you saw, that was this man's son. He is what the humans call a ‘boss.’ A mob boss....” I watched as his eyebrows scrunched together as if he was trying desperately to will the reality of it all away, but what was done was done.

“I have told your mother and father, Dom, all of this. I wanted them to know who and what I am. Because I wanted them to know that I loved you the moment I came across your scent. I didn’t need to meet you, my wolf, and I fell in love with you just by your scent because it was your scent that saved me. Not Nahe, not Nanea, not some witches work. No, you did. My will and want to find you.”

I nodded, promising to let him speak and I listened. “It wasn’t until a couple of weeks after I was discharged my memories of that morning, with the silver, came crashing down on me. I remember, it was him, Mr. Conrad. And if he was the one who attacked me, it is he who your sisters made the deal with. He is who Naomi was promised too.”

I immediately crashed into his mind again. Searching, pushing, pulling thoughts and memories, searching for what he had just said and when I did, I felt a tinge of anger rise aiming at Keahi.

“You brought the destruction on us.” I pulled out of his mind and pulled out of his arms, and stood. “Kealoha, I had never planned for any of this. Please see that. Everything that happened, yes, led to everything we are dealing with. But see it, I hadn't planned this. I didn’t...I...” He stopped as tears of fear slowly fell.

“I am sorry. Like I said, you deserve better. And, today, I swear to you, I will not stand in your way of finding better things in life. I’ll never bother you again. Just please don’t reject me. I’ll turn myself in to Mr. Conrad. I’ll clear what I can up. I’ll seek witches to restore Naomi’s wolf. I’ll do anything. Just please, don’t reject me.” His words were filled with conviction.

So many thoughts ran through my mind. Every why, how's, what ifs? I mean, yes, he unintentionally brought this upon my sister. How would he have known my sisters were such traitorous evil spawns? Then a thought crossed my mind.

“My mother, when you told her about this, what was her reaction?” He looked at me confused. “I don’t know, umm-she didn’t talk much. I could see she was linking with your father, Dom. Your other dads were sent to gather Intel. When she came out of the mind link, it was.....oh s**t! She was super friendly. I think I get it...Come.”

In a hurry, Keahi pulled my arm to follow him. He explained his theory and I was flabbergasted. “Don’t say anything. I want to see something.” When we stopped in front of the door, we smoothed our expressions and knocked.

“Clear your thoughts. Just in case.” I whispered. He nods and we are given permission to enter.

When we did, it was just my mother and father, Dom. “Where's dad Maika and Dad Alaric?” I asked.

I ran out after my earlier arguments. So seeing them not there, had me wishing I had stuck around. I sensed something huge had occurred.

“Queen Makana, King Dom, I would like your permission to reject Kealoha....” I gasped at Keahi’s words. “Whaaaaa...” I couldn’t even speak, my whole body was wrecked with pain. He turned to me, “Kealoha, I apologize for bombarding your life the way I had. The mate bond guided me to do senseless things, such as wanting and accepting you as my mate. I shouldn’t have. And I apologize. But this is not the life I want for myself nor for you. So, I wanted to do this respectfully. You deserve an Alpha who's reputation and past life won't hurt your future. A mate who will be able to help you rule respectfully. I-I won't ever be able to be that mate.”

My heart was breaking into a million tiny shards. He caressed my cheek as tears I hadn't even realized were falling, fell.

“Keahi. I respect your honor. As King, I have no objections,” my father said. My mother's eyes perused Keahi’s whole being. When her eyes turned to me, I saw a glimpse of something. Was that guilt? She didn’t even say a word, she just nodded and looked back at me.

“I am so sorry Kealoha. I believe this is best.-“ I went off the wall, “BEST! BEST!?” My power flared. It was so strong even my dad flinched. “Kealoha...” My breath was ragged. “Kealoha....” Keahi pulled my eyes to him. “Calm down baby. Trust me.” He whispered, and placed a long kiss on my forehead, immediately calming me.

“If we may. May we have a moment to commence the rejection?” Keahi says, holding my hand tenderly. “Alright. Kealoha, my daughter, I’ll send Lena, Harper and Harley.” My father said.

They excused themselves, and I couldn’t even think. What the f**k just happened? “Can you manipulate the sound for the cameras?” Keahi whispers as he places his forehead on mine.

If anyone was watching, they’d see a sad, intimate moment. A moment when two hearts, that were bound by spiritual and magical bonds, get brutally torn apart in horrific ways.

“I don’t understand?” I whispered with a hiccup in my voice. “Nod if you can manipulate the sound of the cameras.” I do, because I can. We still both had our foreheads attached to each other. Our eyes closed.

“Okay, do it. We need to be quick.” I sent out a wave of my magic, that caused not only the sound to go static, but the video as well. “Done?” I nodded in reply. “Okay, stay with me. Keep the cameras sound off. Listen to me, I am not rejecting you. I already told you that I can’t. I’ll die. But I think the reason why your mother hasn’t pushed forward with finding Naomi’s assailants is because she has a plan.” I was listening intently. My tears are starting to dry up now.

“I think she wants to make a deal with the man that is at the top of the food chain in all of this. Mr. Conrad. I think she’s going to use me. But you see she couldn’t, can’t because I am your mate. To do that would mean hurting you. Which she’s been struggling with the whole time.”

As he spoke, I was putting the pieces together and I could see where he was coming from. I saw a brief glimpse of her mind. It was a turmoil of emotions. Guilt was the heaviest of her burdens. Which I took as her not caring for Naomi. s**t! My tears pour now that I think back at the words I spoke. I misread her thoughts. She loved Naomi, but in order to help one daughter, she had to sacrifice the heart of another. f**k! Me.

“I see you understand,” Keahi says. “We must play our parts. When I try to reject you, cut me off with a blast.-“ I gasped. “No, I’ll hurt you.” I whispered. “I know, but I'm a big boy. I’ll heal. But they'll see it as if you hate me. We’ll have to sell the s**t out of our act, are you with me?”

Was I? I mean, what the hell? I wish I was better prepared. “Right now, they are watching, what they see is two hearts being torn apart. Because I chose to reject you, they know that you'll be blessed with a second chance mate. I think they think that this way they'll be saving two daughters.”

I get it. “But, what about Mr. Conrad? Naomi’s wolf? Keahi, there is way more to this than that.” I was thinking from every angle. Going down the list of things that have happened and there are a lot of factors.

“I’ll deal with Conrad. But, you must act the part of a grieving mate who got rejected, and Goddess please don’t accept the rejection.” His heart rate elevated at those words, “We wont see each other...fuck! If I am right, as soon as I reject you, and you blast me, I’ll be placed under arrest-“ I shot my eyes open. “No.” Keahi held in a smile, but continued. “Let everything play out. Find Naomi. She’ll need you all. We have to do this. Goddess, I hope it works in our favor.”

He pulled away, stood straight up, and mouthed words similar to the rejection creed. I faltered in my stance, not because he was rejecting me, no, because he wasn’t, but just the thought of him doing it, with a look of faked pain and sorrow gracing his face, had me bursting into tears. He said it had to be believable. So, I let my mind believe it. And f**k it hurt. I know the pain I feel at just the thought is nothing compared to the actual pain one feels about being rejected, but I acted like my life depended on it.

He knelt before me and when I looked up, tears pooled within his eyes. He nodded and with a jolt of electricity I shot my powers out, throwing him twenty feet away from me. Knowing I may have just killed him, I let a blood-curdling scream out.

The fake pain I was feeling for some reason felt real. So real that the last thing I remember was my father, Maika, holding me and growling ferociously at an unconscious Keahi.

*************

Blake POV

The moment Lia ran off after Naomi, I took my leave in silence. Devon followed and we soon found ourselves taking a drive down to the shore line where the ocean mists kissed you just enough to sooth your broken soul.

Neither Devon nor I spoke during the twenty-minute drive. We were both feeling the loss of our mates' presence and it sucked.

We were brought up in harsh environments. Brought up to believe we were never going to mount up to anything more than omega's. Never mount up to be enough of a mate. And we took it with a grain of salt. All of it. The verbal, physical and mental a***e was tolerable compared to the pain I feel right now.

I saw so much anger towards me in her eyes. They threw daggers at me with sharp, precise aim that cut me down to shreds. She thinks I chose her family's side and that is the farthest from the truth.

***********

Introducing Devon POV

I am so conflicted. I know I am young, and I am still to meet my wolf, but I feel it in my bones. Lia is my mate.

The feelings I have aren’t like the stories. It’s more of a deep connection outside of the mate bond. I don’t know how to explain it, but I do feel it and all I ever wanted was ‘The One.’ Sadly, as much as she shows she does like me, she’s proven to me that she was somebody else before she was ever mine.

When she and I expressed our knowledge to each other, that we believed we were mates, she was honest. She flat out told me she wasn’t a virgin and she was still on a balancing scale on whether she wanted a mate right now. I was happy she had told me the truth, but it still hurt. In my head I wanted to be understanding because that’s what I was told a mate does. Be there for their mate in times of conflict, whether internal or externally. Just be there. But something in me broke too. I secluded myself from her for four days. Only causing my gripping pain to intensify. Because her scent was everywhere in the castle.

Her leaving and Blake and I’s drive to the ocean provided clarity for me. It allowed me to think straight for once since realizing she was mate and her words, ‘ I’m not sure if I want a mate.’ I guess I get it, we are both young.

I learned that in the human world, teenagers explore, find new things, new adventures. So I get it. And, now with her away, and now that I can think straight, I think I want the same. I've been so sheltered, I want experiences worthy of bragging about.

Parties, college life and everything about that life. I want that. I don’t want to be tied down at sixteen. No way. Goddess thank you for giving this time to breathe away from Lia so I could really think correctly.

With her near, my life revolved around her. Pleasing her, tending to her, making her smile. With her gone, I can think for myself. Hell to yes!

I mean, she’s still my mate, whether I liked it or not. And I’ll accept her when the time comes, but right now I want to live.

I'd always want Lia to be safe, to be okay. That is something I’ll always want while on my journey. She’ll always be my lifeline. And I’ll always be hers. I know I’ll always worry about her, but if this is what she wants, I’ll go along with it. If it makes her happy, then we’ll go along with it and both take our own adventures.

****************

Blake POV

It had now been four days since Naomi, Kahi, Lia, and Juliette had left. Four days of Kealoha being locked up in her room. Four days later, Keahi went missing. Four days of scouts scouring the island in search for the princess, the prince and Luna are in waiting. And nothing.

Not even a hint of their whereabouts. How the f**k? Not only were they missing and nowhere to be found, but so were Nahe and Nanea.

We live on a f*****g island for goddess sake. Yes, the biggest island out of them all, but it’s still a f*****g island. Airports are being monitored by wolves and vamps. So are all of the small and larger docks. There are over two thousand royal guard wolves deployed around the island as well as five hundred of King Alarics' most trusted and scariest vampires as well. Yet no one has seen them. The Kings have Alpha’s and Coven leaders on neighboring islands keeping their eyes out for Nahe and Nanea. And still nothing.

Devon and I returned to our lives back in Keaau. Thankfully, Tessa was so understanding and still allowed me to work and be employed. She thinks it’s me coping with my mothers passing, and taking on the task as my brother's guardian. Though it does have a little to do with it, it’s not the only thing causing my life to fall apart.

“Do you work today?” I turned to my brother and saw the same despair in his eyes as mine. “No, Teresa found someone to cover my shift. I’m off.” he nods and sits on the kitchen island in our apartment. “What are we doing today?” He asks, as I place a plate of breakfast before him.

I watch as he pushes the food around, his eyes shifting from the meat to the rice. Unsure if he was going to eat it or not.

“I linked Lia.” With those words Devon shot to his feet. “What? When? I've been trying to link her for days, she-“ I pat his shoulder, “me too. I guess my pestering links annoyed her and she finally answered.” He scoffs and sits back down.

“Did she say where they are? Are they safe?” His voice was so soft. “Yeah.” I was going to tell him everything when the knock on the door sounded. I smiled, “eat. All our answers are at the door.”