DARKEST ( Supernatural Beginnings Series) Book Three

Pacts and Arrangements Part Five

“How can you say that Beta Tamzin, after all the Claws and the Fangs have a pact between them, shouldn’t they be esteemed guests as well after our dear Mariana’s return,” said Enid haughtly. The woman standing beside her turned her nose up in indignation, silently tacitly agreeing with her.

From Enid’s words, I now knew who this man was. He was Roman Fang of the Silver Fang Pack. From the scent of him, he was far from a good person. He stood at a formidable six feet and four inches, cutting an imposing figure against the backdrop of our harmonious celebration.

Every step he took was purposeful, each movement calculated, as befitting a prince raised in a world where danger lurked around every corner. His piercing eyes, a mesmerizing shade of deep ebony, bore a hint of both the human intellect and the primal savagery of his werewolf lineage. They seemed to gleam with an unsettling, predatory intelligence that made it clear he was not one to be trifled with.

His mouth, concealed behind a thin, well-groomed beard, was both sensual and dangerous as he spoke. His lips were full, framed by the curve of a pair of sharp, gleaming fangs that extended slightly beyond his upper lip. These fangs, inherited from generations of his royal bloodline, were a symbol of his dominance and authority among the Silver Fangs.

“What games are you playing here, Ingrim? The pact is null and void once a wolf has found its true mate. The law has always been this way and you’ve obviously come here with ill intentions. Don’t think I will sit by if you try anything against my granddaughter!” Wolfram said as he banged his fists against the table with such force that the long table shook hard almost near breaking point.

Roman didn’t even flinch at his actions, though the three people behind him did. His eyebrows frowned and a hint of disdain showed in his face before she covered it up, turning his attention, never leaving that of me and my mate.

“Don’t tell me this succulent gem of a wolf is your granddaughter's mate? If that’s the case, I don’t mind the laws at all if her mate joins along with our active pact. There are such things as loopholes, you know,” Roman said with a smirk. He took further steps towards Alexis and me. I gripped the handle of the teapot in my hand hard, willing myself not to throw it at him.

His attire was obviously designed to make a statement. He wore a tailored, obsidian-black suit that clung to his athletic frame, the fabric glimmering with a subtle, silvery sheen with patterns of moonlit wolves and runes, a nod to his pack's heritage. Around his waist, a belt fashioned from a blend of silver and leather bore the emblem of the Silver Fangs, a snarling wolf with eyes that seemed to pierce the very soul.

“That’s far enough,” Alexis said, her menacing tone causing him to pause in his steps. A look of surprise crossed his face, but the greed in his eyes made me feel uneasy and angry.

A hushed silence had long fallen over the crowd upon their entry, and the torches lining the area flickered ominously, casting eerie shadows on the onlookers. The setting itself was a stark juxtaposition of celebration and tension. Colorful banners and tribal decorations adorned the area, a stark contrast to the palpable unease that gripped the rival pack's members.

Roman turned around to lock eyes with Wolfram. The air seemed to crackle with an electric charge. It was a confrontation that would test the strength of the pact that had held for generations, though falling through when the age of marriage approached. Roman’s presence was a declaration of a challenge to Wolfram.

“Hmmm, tsk, tsk, I can’t wait to break you,” Roman murmured, but everyone present clearly heard his words. Without a word,, the teapot flew from my hands and straight toward Roman’s face.

“Ahhh! My son!” the woman standing next to Enid screamed out loud. Roman had no time to dodge my attack. Alohi and I were enraged, he was unworthy Alexis is mine! An extreme amount of energy coursed through me and began to suppress the pack members around me except for Wolfram and Alexis. Whimpers and gasps lit up around me, but my anger was heightened by his words. All I could think of now was “the camp” and what was done to her and some of the people she had saved.

Roman’s painful growls and moans were heard as he rolled around on the floor covering his face. Glancing over at my grandpa, the expression on his face looked proud, but I felt anything but that. We had to deal with this pact fast or Roman would try some dirty tricks as he obviously had Ingrim and Enid on his side.

“What is wrong with you? Is this what a princess should do?” Ingrim ran forward to help the woman who I now realized was his mother, Sade Fang. The pressure I had exuded had begun to calm down.

“That bastard has to get through me first, dare he touch my mate!” Alohi growled, pacing back and forth inside my mind. Her energy and mine flowed as the instinct to run and rip something apart right now was overwhelming.

Roman was finally helped to his feet and, by the looks of it, one could tell Sade was coming with him for her own purpose. The burn that the hot tea left on his face was slowly beginning to heal, but given the herbs I used in this particular tea, it would take a day at least for his face to be back to normal. His eyes bored into mine as if wishing death, but I stared back with one just as deadly. For a second, I saw a trace of fear in his eyes but he held it back. Signalling for them to leave now, but his mother didn’t seem to want to go just yet.

“What's the meaning of this? Aren’t you going to have her apologize to my son?” Sade asked.

“Humph, your son needs to be taught a lesson about his ill manners. They are fated mates, Ms. Fang, his words were disrespectful,” said Wolfram confidently. He folded his arms across his chest and stood his ground. Four sets of frowns came from the other side, knowing who had started things first.

“You can’t go back on your word, Brother; a pact is a pact. You can’t deny that,” said Ingrim. It was clear who he wanted to curry favor with.

“What an ass kisser you are, Ingrim, how much further will your lips venture until you admit defeat? In what way has my father not honored the pact and what did the Fangs do with the resources that were given? Everyone here knows the truth, yet you still want to play dumb,, shame on you Uncle, and, it's a shame on my father to have you as a brother.” said Harold, as he too glared at Ingrim.

“How dare you say we squandered resources? Are you trying to bring dishonor to the Silver Fang pack? We are royalty, unlike some mangy human slut someone claims is their mate instead of pure blood, who knows what you’ve picked up from outside. Who can say the Claw’s bloodline isn’t tainted? I bet…..”

Pa! Pa! Pa! No one had seen my mother move. What we did see was Sade Fang falling to the floor with a bang. My mother stood fierce and formidable above her. Her hunter gear is on full display. Her hands were balled into fists and slivering brass knuckles that looked like claws done on each hand almost made me laugh, but Alexis beat me to it.

“Ha Ha, Oh s**t! Mom, you’re so badass!” Alexis doubled over in laughter. Making Sade glare at her, holding the side of her face in anger.

“Slut who and tainted what now, I dare you to get up and say it again!” Connie said with an aura that rivaled King Wolfram’s. Dad walked over to his wife with an amused smile.

“And you say our Mari doesn’t get her temper from you, humph I told you before that Sade has never been worth it. Dad, I think it’s time for you to make them leave. We’ve all had enough with their folly.” said Harold as he took his wife’s hand, and balled her fist to remove the brass knuckle. Then he took her hand in his and led her away from the Fangs.

“Maybe this isn’t the best time to discuss things, my King. How about Ingrim and I accompanying the Fangs back to their kingdom? We can always come back to the pact another day.” said Enid, with a trace of fear in her voice as she started from me to my mother.

She then helped Sade off the floor, who was still holding the side of her face. A black wisp of steam had begun to filter from between her fingers. Mom had added wolfsbane to the claw part of the knuckle. Once it scratched her face, it would leave a scar. Wolfsbane wasn’t toxic to the Claws, but was so to the Fangs. If she didn't get it treated soon, half her face would wither away.

Tamzin and Wolfram watch as his brother leads the duo away with his wife. Many of us shook our heads at his blatant backstabbing. I wondered how Grandpa and his brother ended up this way. My instincts said it had a lot to do with Ingrim’s wife Enid, who definitely had eyes on my grandpa, but that was only the peak of things going on between them. Alexis turned around to look at me, taking my hand in hers.

“Are you feeling okay after that?” she said, kissing my hand and then placing it over her heart. The heartbeat calmed my soul and the Alohi who was pacing in rage inside me. I looked into her eyes and smiled. I could feel Aasim come to the surface just for a moment and fully calm Alohi the rest of the way.

“I really needed this,” I said with a sigh. Some of the pack members had got up from the table to help clean up the mess that was made during Roman’s confrontation.

“I would like to apologize to you all for this mishap. This is supposed to be a joyous time during the ceremony. I have failed you as king in this light and will make it all my friends and family in the future. Please accept this apology.” Wolfram said, then slightly bowed. Many members, my parents and even me look at him in surprise.

“Get up you old fool! What the hell are you apologizing for, let alone bowing? You are King Wolfram and none of what those digbats did is your fault. Why are you so silly? Not only me, but the entire Red Claw pack has your back. There is nothing to forgive, for we all agree on your actions just now.” said Beta Tamzin with a smile.

Wolfram looked around him to find many friends and pack members in agreement with her words as they nodded and encouraged him as their King. Smiling, I walked over to my grandfather, wrapping an arm around his shoulder.

“Don’t tell me my mate, and I slaved the kitchen for nothing. This you see is some good eating right here. Isn’t this a celebration and tradition after all?”

“Ha! You cheeky kid! You and Tammy are right, this is supposed to be a celebration, not some mopy kill joy fest. Let’s eat everyone.” Wolfram said as his spirits were renewed.

Cheers and applause rang out around the long tables and soon we dug into the food and drinks before us. Roman’s words would stay in the back of my mind and I knew he wouldn’t be letting things off that easily after all. He had his eyes not on just me but also on my mate.

The way he moved, talked, and acted all resembled the mannerisms of Suxhen. It made me worry about my friends back in the other worlds whom I hadn’t heard from in some time. When we got back to our private chambers, I would ask Alexis if her team had any updates on everyone’s progress. I had a feeling they had run into a roadblock, one that this time wouldn’t be so easy to break away from.