THOMAS'S OATH

THIRD-PERSON POV

Gaia was too shocked to comprehend what she was seeing. Thomas, her best friend, who she thought told her everything, was there. In the arms of Charles, here mate's beta, and best friend, getting fucked into submission. She grinned when she realized it was her advice to Charles that landed Thomas in this situation. Though Thomas and Charles were so into what they were doing that they didn’t even hear her approach them. They were always at each other’s throats and complete opposites at that too, but Gaia had long suspected they were mates. Yet she wondered why Thomas would choose to keep it from her and go as far as to block his side of their bond. When mweya bonds are formed, nothing is kept hidden from the other unless one of them wills it; two halves of a kindred soul form into one whole. Charles had told Gaia that his mate who she now confirmed was Thomas, was rejecting the bond because of his oath to his master. But Gaia would never keep him away from his mate because of the oath they swore to kill William. She thought it would be hypocritical of her to finally start allowing herself to be happy again while stopping her subordinates from seeking their own. Lost in her thoughts, Gaia hadn’t realized Thomas and Charles had stopped and fixed their clothes while heavily glaring at each other. From her point of view, and the emotions she was getting from Thomas, they were definitely about to start fucking again. Thomas moved to pick up his discarded sword, but Charles grabbed his shoulder and trapped him between the wall and his arms. It was then Gaia noticed for some reason Thomas’s presence appeared smaller. He was taller than her, but Charles still appeared taller by at least 6 inches. His dark midnight shoulder-length hair was the stark opposite of Charles’s short ginger cut. One thing Gaia did notice was that even though Charles was a wolf, he was just as pale as Thomas in terms of complexion. She actually giggled a little at the thought, must be Irish.

A sudden moan and grunt brought her out of her thoughts. Thomas was no longer fighting Charles. Charles sucked on his neck while Thomas’s free hand that wasn't in Charles's pants roughly grabbed his hair. They just finished having sex and they’re going again? Gaia would prefer not to be an audience member to live porn, so she cleared her throat to catch their attention and smirked in amusement as she watched them scramble apart from each other, "As much as I trust and love you, Thomas, I think you owe me an explanation."

At the sound of her voice, they both watched her like a deer caught in headlights. Thomas, however, spoke first, "Gaia....I-- we-this isn't what it looks like."

She could only raise an eyebrow at him, " Is that so?". Walking over to the bed, she sat down facing them, "Do explain."

When no one attempted to explain she frown, "Well?"

Still nothing.

" Thomas, you've had first-hand experience of what it's like when I lose my temper, right? I want to know why you would keep something as important as finding your mate a secret from even me and more importantly why you’ve been avoiding the bond."

No answer even then.

"Fine then. You won't speak to me as a friend, then you will speak to me as your master. Do not make me ask again."

Thomas hesitated, "Gaia....". He frowned and looked away.

GAIA’s POV

"Kneel", I commanded.

Immediately he knelt in front of me, "Is Charles your mate?"

"Yes master.", he responded.

"How long have you known this?"

"The same day you found your mate.", he answered almost ashamed. Now THAT surprised me.

"WHAT?! You kept it from me for that long? When were you going to tell me?", I asked; hurt covering my anger. I tried to not let my hurt seep through the bond but from the way Thomas bowed his head, I failed.

He flinched at my outburst and Charles growled not liking the way I was speaking to his mate. "You stay out of this Charles.", I growled back.

"I didn't tell you because I didn't want to accept the bond master.", he stated.

"Why?"

"We both know what would happen if I did Gaia. Or have you forgotten my oath to you the day we escaped, and you saved my life? I told you that until he is dead, and we’ve attained freedom from him, I will put my happiness aside and even my life.", Thomas reminded me.

I didn't forget his promise but I'm safe from him. At least for now. He deserves his happiness after all these years.

"And what about me? Don't I deserve happiness too? How can you be so selfish? Do you know what I've been going through all this time because you're ignoring the bond? My wolf is dying, and I am slowly growing weak. I can't survive without you and whether you like it or not I will always keep trying to get you to accept the bond. And until I return to the moon goddesses’ side, you are MINE.", Charles interrupted.

I turned my attention back to Thomas to see him wearing an emotionless mask.

"Then so be it", he stated coldly.

Now any normal person or supernatural might not have heard what I just heard but he's been my mweya for over 2 centuries. It may have been small and almost unheard, but I heard correctly, the distinct sound of his voice cracking with emotions that resembled sadness and loss of hope. He was willing to put my happiness before his. He knows Charles will have a second chance mate, so he doesn't care as long as Charles is happy in the end and his oath to me is fulfilled. Thomas may be one of the most intelligent persons I knew but he can also be the dumbest person ever. I carried my gaze over to Charles who looked so vulnerable at the moment I felt my heart breaking for him.

"I know what you're doing Thomas and it may have worked on anyone else, but I've known you since the crusades, you can't fool me. If you want him safe and if you want to be happy, accept the bond and stop trying to reject it."

His eyes went wide while Charles looked confused.

"Take it off."

"Gaia", he pleaded.

"No. You're my friend Thomas and even if you were any other vampire from my coven, I still wouldn't allow it. I can see what you're doing. You don't want it to happen again, don't you?", I asked. "I don't either."

"So, for once, put your happiness before mine.", I almost pleaded.

"Take it off and let him in, it's ok."

Immediately defeat took over his features and his exterior came off where the real Thomas appeared. His eyes were now clouded with unshed tears, and he looked exhausted. He even looked paler than usual, and he's a vampire. Thomas may be an empath but if he wanted to reverse that ability then he could show whatever fake emotion he wanted. He would never allow the real him to show if he didn’t want to. Exactly what he’s been doing to Charles.

“On your feet”, when he got up off his knees from kneeling at my feet, Charles walked over, picked him up, and turned him around to face him, "Thomas?"

Thomas did something I hadn’t seen him do in centuries. He started crying, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry...... I'm so sorry Charles."

"Shhhhh, It's ok baby. It's okay.", Charles spoke to him softly.

He dug his face into Charles's chest while Charles wrapped him up in a tight hug. I smiled at my best friend; he'll be happy this time and I'll be damned if I let his vile father ruin all our happiness a second time. I felt my nose running so I sniffed and then I caught the scent. Avalon is back. I started laughing and smiling like crazy.

They both looked at me as though I've lost my mind. "What?", Charles asked.

"Good heavens… Can’t I smile and be happy? Your alpha’s back and so is Nathaniel. It seems he brought Iris with him as well."

My nose started running again and I got annoyed. I stood up in confusion to look for something to wipe it with. Why the hell is mucus coming out of my nose. Vampires don’t get sick. In my state of confusion, I got hit with a dizzy spell that made me lose my balance. I stopped to grab the wall and that’s when I noticed what was coming out of my nose. It wasn’t mucus; it was blood. I stared at my palm covered in my blood in confusion, then everything got so blurry and unsteady. Thomas caught me before I hit the ground, “Gaia. Tell me what’s wrong. What is it? Gaia!”, Thomas shook me a few times, but I couldn’t find the strength to even move, much less talk.

I vaguely heard him telling Charles to grab me. He passed me over to Charles but then they started arguing and yelling at each other.

“Nathaniel will know what to do.”

“YOU’RE FASTER THOMAS!”

“You don’t understand Charles. We draw from each other. We’re mweya. Even if I wanted to, I can’t physically leave her, especially not like this. I CAN’T.”

“GAIA?!”

Someone shouted my name in panic, it sounded like Iris. I couldn’t be sure. She wouldn’t come here for me. She probably already went to find Keiho.

“Iris! Go and find Nathaniel. He’ll know what to do.”Oh. So, it was her…When did she get in here?

My ears were ringing with a dull thump, and I could hardly stay tuned to reality. Everything looked blurry and I felt drained, and hungry. so hungry. I could see the blood in Charles’s neck running through his veins. I took a large intake of breath through my nose. so sweet and enticing. I could almost taste it.

Iris crouched down and grabbed my face, getting my blood all over her hands. She attempted to use the flair of her dress to staunch my nose in hopes of stopping the bleeding, but it just kept flowing, “WHY IS SHE BLEEDING SO MUCH?!” Thomas shoved her away, “GO!”, I faintly watched as Iris phased out of the room.

If I could just get a taste my hunger might be sated. When he looked up, in the blink of an eye I had him pinned on the floor with my fangs hovering above his neck.

"GAIA STOP!"

I was shoved off him and thrown into the wall, but just as quickly I was back on my feet and rushing towards Charles. He tried fighting me off but soon enough he was losing. He tried to kick me, but I just grabbed his foot and snapped it in half. His pained snarl echoed in the room, but I was too delirious to notice. I faintly felt someone try to grab me, but I just shoved them away and advanced on Charles. All I wanted was to quench this thirst in my throat and the only way to do that was standing across the room trying to help someone up from the floor. I could smell the fresh blood from over here. I could hear the vein in his neck pulsing as it pumped blood. A small voice of reason at the back of my head was screaming at me to stop attacking my friends but my hunger won that fight. I rushed to attack Charles again, but Thomas pushed him away and ended up in my grasp instead. I snarled as I realized this, but momentarily got distracted as Thomas weakly collapsed on the room floor.

Charles tried to hit me again but failed as I grabbed his hand and rung it behind his back forcing him to his knees in pain. He thrashed around and tried to get out of my hold, but I wouldn't let go. Wolves and vampires were sometimes equally matched in strength, but I was no ordinary vampire and Charles knew that. I easily overpowered him and moved to sink my fangs in but was yanked away by two strong arms. I easily overpowered them and sniffed to find the tempting smell of blood, but I was slammed back into the wall and held down. The strong smell of Avalon made me pause. Avalon? I felt a faint sting in my chest before my vision started clearing and my hunger eased. When I looked around after my sight came back fully, I was being held down by Nathaniel and Avalon and a syringe was sticking out of my chest.

"What the fuck was that?", Charles yelled.

I knew that feeling all too well: The increase in aggression and the undeniable hunger.

Thomas was slowly moving off the floor while Iris knelt and healed Charles’s injuries. He attempted to come to my side, but Charles grabbed his hand while looking over at me in caution. It pained me to see that look of distrust and fear in his eyes.

"It's here.", I stated as I pulled the needle out of my chest while standing with the help of my brother.

"What is?", Avalon asked slowly.

"The Blood Moon."