Blessed Curse

Keahi

Blake POV

I’ve returned home. Devon stayed back with Lia, however, his reluctance to let me leave alone was very clear. Especially with the werebears still roaming and stalking my place.

Life had returned to normal. My work schedule is great. Five days a week, eight hours a day. Tessa had made me department manager and she’d even upped my pay. Life was going pretty well.

“Hi. Can I get some help?” I was helping a fellow coworker restock when a voice interrupted. “Uh-yeah sure.” I turned and found myself face to face with Lia. ‘Hey you.”

I pulled her into my arms and hugged her tight. “Feels like I haven’t seen you all in forever. Where’s Dev?” She laughed at my excitement, “he’s behind me you idiot.” I looked behind her and sure enough, there was my brother.

“Come here, damn have you been working out?” I embraced my much more muscular brother. “Yeah, been training with Lucas and Pika. Strict diet. It’s all paying off though.” I gave him another look over and couldn’t believe my eyes at how big he got.

“Well, what brings you guys into town?” I saw as a ‘look’ was shared between them, “Naomi will be home tomorrow. I know she is no longer your concern, but we thought of letting you know, you know, to keep you in the loop.” Lia explained.

It’s been nearly a month and a half now since we last saw Naomi. Even though we weren’t mates anymore, I was happy to hear of her return.

My once bitterness towards our bond being severed due to some f****d up s**t is long gone. I no longer feel like I was betrayed, stolen from.

“I’m in. I gotta see about work though.” Dev sighed. “Well, if you’re in, we’ll all be meeting at uncle Alaric’s tonight in preparation for Naomi and Tobias’s return. Come when you can. Security will be extra tight, but your name will be on the list,” Lia explains.

“Okay, I’ll link up with you when I’m heading that way.” Lia gives me another hug, as well as Devon, and they head off.

I get back to work when I get bumped into pretty roughly. “Excuse me. I am-“ When I turn, I am faced with werebears. “What did they want?”

I let out a loud irritated breath, “they came to visit. Can’t a brother and best friend visit me?” Graham, the ‘boss’ of the two, looked me over.

Graham and Greer, twin werebears, are the two who were sent to stalk me. They’ve kept their distance lately, seeing that I was no longer getting visits from Naomi, Lia or any royal family members.

They had made their presence known the second I returned home some odd weeks ago. They were very straight forward, and didn’t sugar coat a damn thing. They even let me know who they worked for and what they wanted. Why? Because werebears are fierce and strong beings. They don’t care who you are, they believe they are the more dominant species and don’t need to be afraid of anyone or anything.

“Hmm-you’re lying.” Greer, the shorter, more intimidating one stated. “All Lia said was that, hell is still brewing at the royal castle. That they needed a break from it all and would be staying at Vamp lands. It was my brother and best friend, keeping me posted.”

I was lying, obviously, but I’d never sell my best friend out, let alone my brother.

“And as I’ve said, Naomi and I’s bond has been severed due to the poison your, ‘master,’ had poisoned her with. We’re not mates, so I no longer know anything, nor do I care to know anything about her.” This was true.

They gave me one last stare down and finally left.

I finished my shift at WikiStop. I was aimlessly walking home when I heard my name being called. “Blake Bauer?” I turned and came face to face with Luna Aza and one of her pack members.

“Hello Luna. How are you?” She gave a slight smile, giving off a sketchy vibe. Her whole appearance had changed. She looked, bougie. Dressed in a very revealing, black high-end brand dress, she held her head high.

“I was wondering if you’d be able to get me an audience with the Royal Kings and Queen today.” I sighed. “While I am still friends with them, I no longer have that same welcome. I am sure you have heard what is happening and what has happened. Any meetings with the royal family have to go through their council and guards.”

She eyed me a minute too long, causing me to shift in my stance. “I’ve heard. Is it really that impossible?” I nodded, “ Yes. It is. I’m sorry. I’m sure if your business is urgent, they’ll grant you an audience as soon as possible. You’ll just have to put a request in.”

She gave me a curt nod, “alright then. It’s nice to see you Blake. Devon? How is he?”

“He’s doing well. Thanks.” I was going to bid her a farewell when her silent companion stepped forward, “Your brother, Keahi, is he at the Royal castle?” I took a step back.

This man's presence was very loud, even without his mouth moving. He had a very commanding aura about him. If I wasn’t a bloodborn alpha, I am sure I’d submit.

“He was arrested by the King and Queen for rejecting their daughter as his mate. He was also arrested for conspiracy and assault against a royal member. His whereabouts have been unknown since.” This was all true.

While Keahi was still technically my brother, we didn’t have a bond like Devon and I. Why I don’t remember having an older brother is still beyond me. Plus, it’s not like I was sending harm his way.

“Is that so?” I shrugged as to say, ‘yup’ and he took it and turned. Leaving Luna Aza and I standing there.

“Who’s that?” I asked the Luna. His aura had pressed hard. “A friend.” I eyed her. “Whatever, have the day you deserve.” I turned and left her standing there.

I felt as she flared her Luna aura at my disrespect, so I countered and she gasped. “I'd be careful who you go around challenging Luna. I may be young, but I outrank you. Now, goodbye.”

I could see her fighting against my alpha aura, but any blood born alpha outranked an appointed Luna or alpha.

I walked away, leaving her with one last push of power, and she bowed.

I hated using that sort of power against anyone. It doesn’t matter if they were the ones who started it. I’ve lived through years of that sort of a***e. But I was done being pushed around.

*********

Mr. Conrad’s POV

Where the f**k was Keahi? I’ve got several species looking for him and nothing.

“Nahe?!” I shouted as I returned to my estate.

She came bouncing in like the child she is. “Where the f**k is Keahi?”

She plopped down on my office sofa and played with her nails. “My parents went through great lengths to persecute him. Far as I'm concerned, he can f*****g rot.”

Her little child-like tantrum was getting on my last nerve. “You f*****g child. I need him. His blood is what will f*****g seal our plan.”

Her face distorted into one that I'd witnessed once. f**k!

I was smacked across my face with a force so powerful, I was sent flying across the room. Where there was only Nahe standing, there was now Nahe and Nanea.

“I’d mind your tongue. You don’t want it to go missing, do you?” Nanea, the usually quiet one, seethed.

I am a warlock of old. However, I was no match for these two without my full powers. Anyone would throw caution around them, but I am not a simpleton. Even without my full powers, I could put up a fight. But is it time yet?

I smiled a challenging smile at the two, “you won this round.” Nanea sat next to her sister and, like a typical teenager, began scrolling on her phone.

“I don’t know why you need Naomi and Keahi so badly. I’ll gladly give up my powerful blood for the cause.” I dust myself off and scoff at her low level of education in the arts of magic.

It was true, I could use her blood and it may just do the job, but the magic of old, written in the scrolls of old, called, the Divine Will, states it’s the phoenix of the sun's blood and a first born blood alpha; who are mates was what was written.

She is neither, therefore, it wouldn’t hold.

“If you are not of any use, you both may see yourselves out. Your taking up space is bothersome, let alone useless.” Nahe scoffed and stood. Nanea followed suit. “We may be young, but your ignorance in the matter of our potential is pure idiocy.”

They left and went back to the drawing board. “Hector?” I called out to one of the fae creatures who served me.

He walked in not a minute later, “ Yes sir?”

“Call for Sury. She, nor her father, had any kind of communication. Is Mark still imprisoned in the Wolf king and queen's territory?” He bows, "yes sir regarding Mark. He's kept quiet. Your spell has held."

“Sir, I have King Fergus on the line.”

I nod as he passes the phone over. “Fergus, what the f**k is going on? Have your people found the man I am searching for?”

“First off, I do not answer to you. Our alliance isn’t that strong for you to talk to me as if I'm one of your grunts. Second, no. You speak of this wolf as if he’s this high and mighty alpha. I have not heard or seen such a wolf.”

I couldn’t help but feel irritated. “The Wolf King, King Dom and his mate, Makana, arrested him and the story goes is he was taken by werebears. With this information, if I find you have him and willingly hid him, I will bring hell upon your kingdom.”

The line went silent for a bit when a loud burly laughter filled the receiver of the phone. He laughed a minute longer than he needed but soon he recovered. “Watch yourself, you’re showing your weakness there.” And he hung up.

What the f**k?!

**********

Keahi POV

The water was hot and soothing as it ran down my body. My skin all the way to my bones ached in ways I have never felt. And I knew it was due to my betrayal.

I never felt Kealoha’s ultimate betrayal of her giving herself to another wolf. I knew that much. So what was the pain that I felt that took me to my knees?

My mind wandered in all directions. No explanations came to me and finally I just huffed and got out of the shower.

I had just wrapped the towel around my waist when a knock sounded on my door. “Yeah?”

I got no reply, so I walked to the door and opened it. No one was there. I shrugged it off and just as I went to close the door a cold breeze zipped by and I fell still.

My head spun in all directions. “Who the f**k is in here?” I whispered, not wanting to cause a panic in the werebear’s territory.

I was retreating back to the closet when a tall, pale, slender man stopped zipping and stood ten feet in front of me. A vampire.

“Were you sent here to kill me?” It was the only logical explanation I came up with.

His smile gave me the creeps. “On the contrary, I was sent here to see if the rumours were true. And tsk, tsk. How true they are. I wonder how your mate will react?”

I c****d my head to the side, “what?” His eerie smile never faded, “I was sent here to see if you were in fact being held captive here. But it seems, ‘held captive,’ doesn’t fit the life you live. You look like you are a free man. Able to leave when he can.”

He was talking in code. “What the f**k are you talking about? I am a slave here. I work to eat. I have no wolf.”

“May be so. But see, I’ve watched you now for a few days. Let’s just say, Princess Kealoha will not like what I have to report.” My whole body went rigid.

“Kealoha sent you?” I felt a panic start to creep up into my core. “How did you all know I was here? How long have you all known? The King, King Dom and Queen Makana, do they know their daughter sent for me?”

Every question rambled out of me in a slurry. “King Dom and Queen Makana have nothing to do with why I am here. Your, mate, is why I am here.”

My heart ached at the sound of the word, mate. “I was going to take you out of here, but it seems you have-----become quite an asset to the princess here, haven’t you?”

“You speak as if I am the only one who betrayed our bond. Kealoha sent you, for me? Yet she chose another to rule at her side.” I didn’t want to come off as jealous, but even though our mate bond was only hanging on by a mere thread, it was still there.

“You are dumber than a door knob.” He sighed, “what she sees in you is beyond me, but I was sent here to scout for you. I’ve found you. Instructions were never to bring you back. Just surveil and report. So that is what I will do.”

He turned to leave and I needed to know if what I felt was her, choosing another mate. “Has she chosen another mate?” He smirked, “chosen isn’t the right word. Given, yes.” I c****d my head to the side, “given? What do you mean? Given?”

He let out another irritated sigh, “she has been given another mate. I won’t play like I know how wolf s**t works. She was just given another. What did my king call it? A second mate? You are mate number one, and my Lord Cristian is mate number 2.”

“She can’t have another second chance, mate. I never rejected her. Our bond, even though weak, is still intact.” I could see I was irritating him, but I needed to know what the f**k was going on.

“Not second chance--just second, mate. As in two mates dumbass.” He fixed his suit coat, and straightened, “now, I will report back. I can’t say if I’ll be back for you. If she still sees you worthy, I guess we’ll know.”

Then, poof, he was gone. Leaving behind a cold swirling whirl wind of air.

**

A couple of days later......

“Your presence is being requested in the Kings’ den,” Brownie says. I nod and swallow the thick saliva that my nerves decided to clog my mouth with.

He guides me to the King of werebears' den, one place I have never been to. “Speak only when spoken too. Keep your words respectful. And never look away when he is talking to you. Do that and you’ll live.”

I nod and he opens the door. “Good luck,” Brownie whispers, then closes the door.

“So you’re the first born alpha who is being hunted by Conrad?” My steps halted. “Come closer.” His order was commanding in ways I couldn’t ignore.

“What’s so special about you?” I c****d my eyebrows, not knowing what the hell he was talking about. “Excuse me King, I don’t follow.”

“Conrad has been scouring the earth for you. Why?” His question was very good. “I killed his son over a year ago. Stole his money and weapons.” I could see he was confused, so I went into detail of what I had done.

When I was done telling my story, his demeanor still hadn’t changed. Actually, if anything, he looked even more perplexed.

He stood and walked over the window that overlooked the lower valley. His stance was very commanding. “Whatever your history is with Conrad, that is not what he is seeking you for.” He sighed and I stood there, awaiting the next bout of either questions or commands.

“One more thing, and you may leave.” I waited, when he turned around, “you will stop seeing my daughter. Your little rendezvous will end, NOW. Do I make myself clear?” I guess the look on my face showed something amusing because King Fergus laughed.

“There is nothing in this den that I do not know of wolf. My daughter was a lone child. She’ll seek any and all attention, anywhere she can get it. Don’t feel special because you two are sleeping together, she has at least twelve others. All with the same promise. Her.”

I bowed in submittance. “Yes sir.”

“You may leave.” I gave a respectful bow, “I like you.” I bowed once more and left.

“Unscathed? The walls didn’t shake. The windows are still whole. Looks like the king likes you.” Brownie says with a smirk. I rolled my eyes at the i***t of a bear and we went back to the warehouses, so I could complete my work.

And, not so long into my shift, I was being summoned by Sury. “Tell her I can’t will you. These forty plus pallets need to be loaded in the next hour. Then those in by four.” Brownie twitches his lips, seeing that I was obeying the king.

“As you wish.” He turns and leaves and I get back to work.

Here I thought I was someone a little more special. I knew I wasn’t the only one she was bedding, but on our last time, we confessed our love. Was that all fake? I felt her aura envelope me, accepting me?

The feelings I have for her are real. I’ve never felt that sort of connection with anyone. Not even Kealoha. And now I am lost. I feel betrayed. Hurt.

“Keahi? Up in my office.” I hear Mr. G announced over the intercom. I finished the last of the pallets that needed to be loaded and headed upstairs to his office. Only to be confronted by Sury.

Mr. G stepped out and left me there with a mess of a Sury. I rubbed my hands down my face, awaiting her pity story.

When all I hear is hiccups and crying, I let my frustrations of the day wash off of me.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” I finally asked, not sure if I even wanted to know. “You, you spoke with my father?” I nodded, “ Yes. He’s made his orders clear.”

I remained at my spot, near the door and waited for her next words. “He commanded you to keep your distance from me?” Once again, I nodded.

“And you listened?” Her voice went up one octave. “He’s the king Sury. I am practically human. I am no match for him or anyone.” Her eyes wandered out the window that overlooked the warehouse.

“You said you love me.” I sighed, “and I do.” Her head whipped in my direction, “then why don’t you fight for me, for us?” I couldn’t help the chuckle that left my lips. “I. AM. HUMAN!” Her eyes casted away once again.

“You know, you can stop this act. I don’t know what you are trying to do here. You have a dozen, probably more, men out there with the same promises. I was a fool to drop my guard. A fool to think that I was someone special to you. But you know what, I have someone who, and if, by the grace of the goddess, still loves me. Bound to me by fate.”

I turned to leave when her sobs became louder. And like I’ve done to countless other girls in the past, I left her standing there. Just this time, it hurt more than it ever had.

I was just at the bottom of the steel stair case when Mr. G came to go up. “All good?” I nodded, “Yep. Gonna get back to work. If there is any extra work needed to be done, here, in the fields, around the barracks. Let me know. I’ll be available at any time.”

He watches me as I walk past him. “Hey, kid.” I turn to Mr. G and he lets out a breath, “she’s--she’s never took anyone like she does you, you know. I know her story around her isn’t pretty. But we’re animals. Our natures are not by the book. She’s unclaimed. But she takes to you. I can’t say it’s enough, but I see the way she looks at you. It’s different.”

I bow, “okay. Even so, I was commanded to stop. King Fergus will not have a wolf and a bear intermix anyhow.”

He gave me a curt nod and let me walk away. The whole time, I cussed myself out for ever dropping my wall around my heart down to someone who was not my mate.

Yes, I was in survival mode. But my dumbass thought with my d**k that somehow connected to my f*cking heart. F*ck!

If the vamp comes back, I’m gone. This, all of this, isn’t who I am. That isn’t who I was meant to be.