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GAIA's POV

tap.... tap.... tap.... tap

Currently losing patience with waiting for Iris to get her ass down here so we can leave as quickly as possible since I have a pile of documents on my desk to run through before the day. I’m reluctant to even take her back to the wolf’s house for several reasons but I know the most prevalent one is because the alpha I’m still confused about will be there. This is not like the prior meeting we had, this one is scheduled, and permission was granted by said alpha. The approval document stated he would be there for the duration of our stay on their territory. I let out a sigh of displeasure and rubbed my temples for the hundredth time. A hand landed on my shoulder and pull my head into their chest in a hug. I almost forgot Thomas was standing next to me. I let my head rest on his chest and let my body relax under the calm he forced over my body through the bond. Thomas and I shared a bond closer than any of my siblings, a bond that was held higher than any bond formed, even a soul bond. Most bonds like the one Thomas and I share are only created after going through life and death situations, sometimes even death.

mweya wakasungwa

The ancient language describes

creatures that share a soul tie. Most of those in the mortal world confuse or link it to a soul mate bond or kindred souls they called it. But a soul mate and a soul tie, though both come from the soul are miles apart. This bond is closer than that to your children, your siblings, your parents, and even your mate.

“IRIS!”

Iris phased into the room looking excited at the prospect of seeing her mate again. A small seed of guilt bloomed in me at it. I can’t be selfish and keep her from him. I just need to calm down and breathe. Thomas patted my head as another sigh escaped my lips. “We’re there for max 5 hours and no more. You DO NOT mention anything about our coven’s location and nothing about why we live in secret. Am I clear Iris?”

“Yes, let’s go already”, she answered halfheartedly. “I am being serious Iris. If you so much as mentioned the name before I determine if we can trust them, I will place wards strong enough to lock you in your palace for the next 20 years. Do you understand?”

“Let’s go”

Thomas opened the portal and stepped through first before I did and lastly Iris. The area was different from the last time we were here. An open structure stood next to a lake surrounded by forest trees. 5 wolves were there when the portal closed. Ignoring them, Thomas and I turned to place a protection ward around the area. I could do it myself, but it takes less time and energy if we do it together. I cast the spell and draw energy from Thomas to do it. Thomas used his sword to draw the symbol on the grass while I crouched down to cast the spell.

nun ul ber prone el verasyo

The blue energy shot out from the middle of the charm into the sky and covered the area in a dome. I turned back to the group and noticed the female was a bit unsettled as she watched us and the dome in caution. Iris ran past us and jumped into the arms of the young male I’m assuming is Keiho her mate. Whatever they were saying and whispering to each other, I didn’t care. I watched the other 4 wolves walk over to us as Thomas stood behind my back before I heard him through the mind link.

“I can smell the distrust rolling off of the female, even a bit of anger and a tinge of fear.”, he snickered.

The alpha had a pensive look on his face as he drew near. Probably wants to know why I’m ignoring the bond we both can feel pulsing between us.

“I am Alpha Avalon. I lead the Todium pack of who’s territory you’re currently in. This is my Beta Charles, my gamma Luis, my brother Keiho, the pack doctor Eliza and Sean who guards this section of the territory.

Offering them a smile is the least I could do," Gaia. And this is Thomas my mweya and second in command.

The female scoffed and turned to speak to Avalon ignoring us, “Vampires are not to be trusted alpha. We know nothing about them.”

“Trust me wolf. Had my leader wanted to annihilate your pack, you’d already be dead. This is child’s play to us.”

“Are you threatening us? Pretty stupid for someone who is severely outnumbered”

I recognized the wolf who spoke. He was the brown-haired one that kept Iris behind Keiho the last time we were here.

I spoke to the alpha before Thomas killed the wolf, “Keep your wolf under wraps Alpha Keiho. I’d hate to have to kill him so early in our meeting.”

He looked at me silently before gesturing with his head for me to follow him, "I’d like to speak with you for a few moments please.”

I knew this was coming.

I felt Thomas bristle behind me in unease. I turned to him and nodded in reassurance. He grabbed my head and rested his forehead against mine. From my peripheral, I saw Avalon tense, his hands fisted at his side and his eyes darkened. I forgot how possessive the mate bond made us. Another sigh left my lips, “Behave Thomas. Keep an eye on Iris and do not kill anyone.”

*********

THIRD-PERSON POV

Gaia followed Avalon out of the clearing and out of ear reach from everyone else. The last thing she saw was Thomas glaring at the beta Charles in a defensive position. She wondered what it was about the wolf that set Thomas on edge. He was usually a calm vampire and relatively quiet around anyone that wasn’t her. Lost in thought she almost smacked into the back of Avalon who abruptly stopped. Avalon spun around on Gaia with narrowed eyes, “We’re mates.” Gaia knew this was what he wanted to discuss ad found herself in a dilemma for the first time in centuries. “That’s not possible. In fact, it’s 100% impossible.”

“Why do you continue to deny this bond when you feel what I feel? I know you felt the connection when our eyes met, this isn’t something that can be faked Gaia.”, Avalon couldn’t find a plausible reason for Gaia’s actions. He knew that she felt the bond between them, yet she continued to deny it.

“Whatever we felt must’ve been a reaction to the spell I cast. A side effect of such a wide-scale spell. Or some sick joke a few young witches might be playing to test their magic out. I am centuries older than you. There are a few spells I’ve seen do this.”, Gaia vehemently tried to deny what she was feeling with a list of excuses.

What she felt for Avalon could not be a mate bond. William made sure she would never feel something like this again. He must’ve found a witch to spell them. That had to be it. Gaia felt the more she spoke, the more sense this situation made. Her thoughts were however interrupted when a rush of sparks traveled up her arm. A gasp escaped her lips at the familiar feeling she had long forgotten. Avalon had grabbed her with his hands and started running it up the length of her wrist to her shoulder, “Are you telling me this feeling is fake? A result of a spell? This is real Gaia; I just don’t know why you’re so bent on denying it.”

“Are you…are you rejecting this bond?”, the vulnerability in his voice pulled a wince from Gaia. That’s exactly what she wanted to do. She couldn’t handle a mate bond and protect her family from William at the same time. Gaia felt as if the Gods were playing a sick twisted game at the expense of her sanity and the lives of the people she loved. Everything that has happened in the last few centuries suddenly felt surreal. She always felt strange that they managed to stay hidden, safe, alive for the last few centuries. Gaia always felt that someone like William was not incompetent, he allowed no mistakes and he always got what he wanted. She knew they couldn’t stay hidden forever. William’s forces were bound to find her and her people eventually. She always found it strange that a few centuries later and he still hadn’t found them. Now she was beginning to think her paranoia was justified. Everything felt peculiar….it felt planned.

And suddenly she wondered if it was just her; was it all in her head? Did no one else feel the way she did?

Well, maybe Thomas did. He was always quick to remind Gaia that it wasn’t possible to live the way they did for so long with someone like William hunting us. This had to be someone’s game they were acting out. None of this could be real. But the sparks exploding under her skin where Avalon touched her couldn’t be faked. All of this was very real. And that frustrated her.

“Look, Alpha Carter- “

“Avalon” “Excuse me?” “Just call me Avalon…. please”, this time Avalon couldn’t hide the defeat in his voice. Gaia could almost see the defeat on his face.

A sigh of resignation passed her lips, “It’s not safe to talk here. I know we barely know each other but you’ll have to trust me. You’re better off without this bond.”

Avalon glanced up at the trees before locking eyes with Gaia. He stepped up to her and grabbed her hands in his, “Then let me decide that. I at least deserve a reason or some sort of explanation.”

Gaia could feel herself getting lost in those crystal blue orbs. That bubbling feeling was coming back the longer she held Avalon’s gaze. When he leaned down and placed a short kiss on her lips, she couldn’t help leaning into him just to keep his soft lips on hers. With eyes closed, Gaia reveled in the familiar feeling sparked in her. And just like that, it clicked what she was feeling all this time, so familiar and yet unfamiliar, want.

She abruptly removed herself from his arms, body jerking away as she snapped out of the trance. A flash of fear in her eyes as she softly touched her lips before she turned away and stalked back to the clearing, “If it is what you want, do not say I did not warn you… follow me”

*********

Thomas broke his glare from the wolves as he sensed Gaia approaching.

I don’t like the she-wolf, I can sense the possession she holds for the alpha. Though from the looks of it, the feeling isn’t reciprocated.

Gaia let out a small chuckle as Thomas’s voice sounded in her head. Gaia glanced at the she-wolf, Eliza, as Avalon called her. She had a small glare on her face as she stared in the direction they were approaching from.

“Iris, wrap up whatever it is you’re doing quickly. We’re leaving.”

Iris frowned in annoyance as Gaia’s voice sounded in the clearing. Before she could retort, Thomas leveled a glare in her direction. Thomas and Iris rarely got along. He always thought she was too irresponsible, reckless, selfish even. She always failed to show appreciation for the way Gaia kept them safe all these years. Iris allows found Thomas as annoying as her sister. They were all perfectly okay with sacrificing everything for someone who could not be bothered by them anymore.

“It’s not safe here for much longer. The ward is going to dissolve in a few minutes.”, Thomas said looking up at the ward that was physically fizzling.

Gaia narrowed her eyes at the group in contemplation, “I do not trust you wolves.”

Eliza cut Gaia off before she could finish speaking, “The feeling is mutual”

“Interrupt me again and I’ll be forced to separate that tongue from your mouth.”

Eliza snarled and made a move to step forward threateningly before Charles grabbed her arm and held her back. Gaia fully turned her body in Eliza’s direction and twisted her hand. Gaia couldn’t understand where this animosity from the she-wolf was coming from. It was different from the usual hatred their species shared for each other. This one felt almost…personal.

Charles felt his body completely betray him as a strong blow of the wind separated him from Eliza. Eliza could feel her body being lifted on the ground as the air slowly left her lungs as if it was being forcefully drawn out. Her fear-filled eyes looked at Gaia who slowly walking in her direction. She desperately tried to get away but her struggling remained futile as her legs kicked in the air underneath her. “A simple flick of my wrist and you’d be joining your ancestors in the afterlife. Do not cross me again pup, it won’t end well for you.”

While all of this was going down, Thomas found it interesting that the Gamma appeared unbothered while the enforcer acted as if he wasn't there.

Gaia turned away from Eliza, leaving her body to crash to the ground. “Control your wolves’ alpha. I won’t hesitate to kill the next one that shows me disrespect. Let’s go”

“Take care of the necessary stuff at the pack Charles. Keiho and I will be back before sundown. Eliza, you will return to the pack.”, Avalon instructed. He turned away when he got the subtle nod from Charles.

Eliza, however, was not satisfied with being ignored, “Where are you going Avalon?”

“There are some things Gaia and I need to discuss.”, Avalon sighed.

“What things? You’re going to be alone with her? Why can’t Charles or I go with you?”, Eliza rushed out. Gaia and Thomas watched them with peaked interest. The slight pitch in her voice was accompanied by an anxious tremor, she sounded almost panicked at the thought of Avalon and Gaia being left alone.

“I don’t believe it’s any of your business Eliza. When I give you an order, you don’t question it.”, Avalon bit out.

“Of course, it’s my business, I’m your fiancé.”, she cried.

“An eligible marriage partner does not mean you’re my fiancé. That was decided by the elders of the pack.”

“Fiancé?”, it finally clicked to Gaia.

Now her behavior makes perfect sense.

“Now I definitely cannot trust her.”, Gaia crossed her arms in the motions of weaving as she cast another spell.

kaefiy na do iksamoon

The wolves keeled over in pain. Their chest felt as if it was caving in. Short pants escaping their lips, a moment of passing pain. Gaia's eyes shot over to the gamma who hardly flinched.

Interesting indeed.

“You are now bound by blood to never speak of what happened here today. Nothing.”, Gaia gave one last look before turning around and opening another portal with Thomas’s aid.

nun ul ber prone el verasyo

Blue energy yet again shot out and opened another portal. Thomas waited for them to cross over before stepping in. The last thing he saw was the ward collapsing as he locked eyes with Charles.