Tainted

"Shouldn't we be out there looking for our mates?" Eires heard a male voice say just as she was getting comfortable in Jason's arms. Resisting the urge to pull the shadows around herself and her mate, Eires knew she needed to take baby steps with revealing parts of herself to Jason. Trying to figure out where she had heard that voice before, Eires felt her stomach drop when she heard familiar voice reply.

"It's been four hours since the mating ritual started Kyle, if we haven't found our mates by now I don't think they're actually participating this year."

"I suppose you're right babe, but won't your dad be annoyed if he found out that we're breaking the rules right about now?" Kyle replied.

"Look Kyle, I don't see why you're being such a pain about it right now. You sure as heck didn't complain when I brought you here every time we decided to ditch training, grow a pair or I'll find someone else to be my boyfriend while waiting for my strong Alpha mate."

'Ouch' Eires thought to herself. She normally didn't care much for Kelsey's boyfriend Kyle, but what Kelsey said must have stung because for as long as she can remember Kyle has been following her around like a lost puppy. Eires supposed she had better say something to notify the quarrelling love birds that they were not alone before Kelsey started embarrassing Kyle further.

Untangling herself from her mate, Eires linked 'No, it's alright you don't have to get up. I'll handle this.' Seeing Jason give her a nod, Eires got up from her comfortable spot and took a few steps towards her sister. Clearing her throat Eires said "Maybe you guys should take this someplace else Kelsey, this cave is currently occupied."

Jumping at having been caught, Kelsey relaxed when she recognized Eires "What are you even doing here?"

"Well, I guess I'm being uncomfortable staring at you and Kyle naked, so if you could just find someplace else to fight that would be great." Eires said sarcastically

"You're not even supposed to be outside in this area right now Eires, if dad knew you were here you'd be in so much trouble, so how about instead of me telling him you just make yourself disappear so that me and Kyle can....." Kelsey trailed off when she spotted Jason behind Eires.

"Oh my goodness. Jason! I didn't know you were hiding out here. Did you follow me here because you saw me and Kyle wonder off? That is the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me." Kelsey squealed as she made a beeline towards Jason.

Eires didn't know what to make out of the situation she was currently in. She supposed Jason must be from a pretty prominent pack if Kelsey is tripping over herself in front of him. Seeing Jason uncomfortably inch further away as she got close to him, Eires let out a small smirk.

"Hi Chelsea was it? I do believe you're..." Jason started out but didn't get much in as Kelsey decided this would be the best time to sit herself down on his lap. Seeing another person being so intimate with her mate, made Eires's so angry that she let out a low intimidating growl.

"What's your problem Eiry? Like I said you're not even supposed to be here! So you might as well make your way back home and leave me and my mate here in peace!"

Seeing Jason awkwardly extract himself, she heard him say. "I think you're mistaken Chelsea. I already have a mate and quite frankly I'm getting quite annoyed with you throwing yourself at me every time we meet."

"First of all, my name is Kelsey you don't have to play coy with me to keep my interest you know I've only got eyes for you Jason. And second of all stop lying pretty boy, everyone knows you don't have a mate waiting for you back home. Don't you feel this pull between us? You know you want me" Kelsey said then flicked her hair aside, baring her shoulder blade in his direction. Eires has always suspected that Kelsey was somewhat delusional but her acting like she had a right to Jason as her mate despite hearing him reject her multiple times was on a whole another level all together. She had better let Kelsey know that he was hers before Eires lost control of the shadows threatening to engulf them all.

"I suggest you go someplace else Kelsey and leave me and my mate in peace to spend the rest of the night to get to know each other a little better. " Jason said trying to dismiss her.

"There's no one else here except Eiry, and she can't be your mate she's not even a real wolf! You need a strong wolf to be your Luna." Kelsey argued.

Jason paused, took a deep breath and said through gritted teeth. "I have tolerated you throwing yourself at me twice today, I've even tolerated your intruding on a very personal moment, however what I will not tolerated is insolence towards my mate. You should know better than anyone that my future Luna automatically outranks you even if you are Alpha Deluna's daugther ."

"You've got to be kidding me. I bet she hasn't even told you she's tainted when she tricked you into making her your mate!" Seeing her sister look at her accusingly at her, Eires was pleading with her eyes that Kelsey let it go and let her tell Jason in her own time.

"She didn't trick me into anything. You're so lucky you're the Alpha's daughter right about now. That is about the only thing keeping you alive with such disrespect you've shown to my mate." Jason said dangerously.

"Why won't you believe me! She's tainted Jason! She's... " Kelsey was cut off mid-sentence as Jason shifted and was currently pinning her down, with his teeth dangerously close to her throat. Just like that, suddenly everything was moving at a thousand miles per second. Upon seeing his girlfriend being pinned down, Kyle finally decided to grow a pair and pounced on Jason. Knocking both of them onto the ground.

This day couldn't get any worse Eires thought to herself as she tried her best to think of solution where they would all leave with their limbs fully intact.

"What have you done to him? He can't possibly be your mate. You can't even shift when there's a full moon!" Kelsey said as she grabbed Eires by her shoulders. Feeling the shadows pulling closer towards her, Eires felt her powers building inside her like a crescendo only to be broken by Jason's mind linking her with the words 'Is that true? You can't shift?'

Feeling her powers slowly dissipating from inside her Eires turned towards Jason. She could see that Jason had Kyle pinned down without much effort and he was jus staring at her. Fury slowly building as he waited for her answer.

'Yes, that is true. I have never shifted.' Eires admitted. Staring into his eyes, Eires could feel both rage and sadness build up in him. She couldn't take it, the silence was deafening. 'This was a mistake' Eires said before turning around and running toward the exit of the cave. Feeling her heartbeat get faster and faster, Eires let her powers take over and within seconds she was enclosed in a shroud of darkness.