"Get yer hands off 'er!" Theros demands in a snarl. The thunderous footsteps of the two wolves send vibrations through the floorboards as they stake their claim. The sounds cause Trance and I to grimance at their possessiveness.
When Thesis growls darkly, "Yeh," my anxiety flares. "Yer ta one 'oo woodn't piss off!" He snarls, the wolf surfacing from within. I notice his eyes dialate, turning the ocean depths to a dazziling silver. He slightly transforms in front of our group, dragging his daggers into Trance's direction.
Narrowing my eyes, I step in the way of their eye contact and scowl at the two wolves' behavior. I crossed my arms over my ample chest as Thesis flickers his attention from Trance to me.
"Don't you fucking dare scream at him!" Theros growls lowly at my tone, but does nothing else as he stands there, his body tense. Thesis glowers down at me with absurdity and bewilderment as his claws dig into his palms.
Before Thesis could interject on my statement, my mouth spoke before I could stop it. "If it wasn't for him, both of you would not be here," seethed I, with so much rage and conviction for my partner and friend that I suddenly forgot who I was speaking with.
My eyes widen slightly as my body straightens before I return to my current stance, protecting my partner from the two Wolvenrians in my living room. I had no time to think about what I was doing, only that I had a loyalty to one person, and it was my duty to stand by his side. Trance had done so much for me through our partnership and I couldn't ever repay him equally for it, but I with stand to protect him with my life.
Even if it means fighting against two Wolvenrian Alphas without a wand, I'll fight without conceding my life.
Thesis was overcome with rage. I saw the emotion storm in his eyes as he glared into mine. His claws flex and jerk from his anger, but he couldn't contain it. Thesis roars loudly from his stance as fur begins to sprout from his pores. The beast dares to roar again, but towards me this time. The gleam in his eyes told a different story than his body. Thesis' beast hunches down, huffing in my face. He tries to intimidate me for the second time in this form. I only ignore his body language and focus on those pleading silvery eyes, begging for me to choose him... To chose them.
My expression softens as he relays his words through his eyes. My teeth catch my bottom lip from quivering into submission. Trance only hides behind me, calming my racing heart as he stands closer. With his body heat near mine, I could feel comfort and a soft, soothing touch slide over my back.
Silently, my eyes dart from Thesis to Theros, who happened to be focusing on Trance the whole time, frowning. He seems to be listening to reason, unlike Thesis. He only stands afar, observing the situation. I could see the darkness in his eyes when Trance comforts me.
After what seemed to be an eternity, Theros is the one to rasp, "What do ya mean 'if it wasn't fur 'em,' Damara?"
I shivered and avoided their gazes, not wanting to answer the question. Trance continues to softly rub circles into my spine as the scene unfolds before us. Not knowing where to look, I observe my coffee table, noticing a few things out of place but nothing too suspicious. There were fresh neptune flowers filling the white vase. The rose look-a-likes were very gorgeous, especially since these neptunes were various shades of blue and purple.
"Damara," Theros whispers sternly.
Inhaling a deep breath, I quickly choose my words carefully. At this point, they could be thinking anything with the way Trance and I were acting. I give them both a faint smile before I turn to Trance.
"You might as well come in and sit down. We need to talk anyway," I sigh, dreading the conversation ahead. The two growl again, but I don't have it in me to defuse their claims while Trance closes the door.
I run a hand through my hair, realizing it was still in the curls and wires. I growled as I tugged on the locks and released them from their confines all the while I stomped to a single comfy chair. Spotting the table next to me, I set the wires down, counting each one to make certain I pull out all seventeen.
When I finished with my hair, the three men had taken a seat. Theros and Thesis had taken my loveseat as Trance sat on the edge of the couch to my right. Messying my hair, I fixed it to drape half across my shoulder and down my back. Although Thesis hadn't removed his wolfish eyes from Trance, he reverted back to his shifter form. Trance ignores the two wolves, hesitating to speak. Theros, on the other hand, directs his full attention to me, as if he was expecting me to explain.
I blew out a sigh. "Trance is my partner," I began, motioning to him. Thesis growls, but does nothing else. Theros remains calm, but grips the edge of the furniture.
"And while most partners bond to consummate, the Elders have given Trance and I a chance to find our own bonding mates." I delightful smile slides onto my lips before I could stop it. However, I only embarrass myself further by reverting back to a stolic expression.
I didn't want to hurt Trance and I didn't want the two wolves to get the wrong idea.
I cleared my throat, feeling two sets of eyes on me. "However," Thesis snaps his gaze to me, waiting for the rest of the sentence. "Elder Madea has decided to test my worth by the Reckoning." I explained with a disolate visage.
My body trembled at what awaited me with the Reckoning. Wickens normally go through their Reckoning at their prime age. To have me go through the Reckoning at such an immature time is reckless and disastrous, this could cause chaos. The catastrophe that awaits me must be far too compelling for Elder Madea.
"What is tis Rechonin' ya 'ave ta pass?" Thesis demands. He seemed to grow curious after I established Trance and I were not bonding partners after all. That must have given him security by the way he relaxes in his seat. Thesis no longer heeds Trance's presence, but mine instead.
"The Reckoning—" Trance speaks up, diverting our attention to him— "is an experience in which Wickens are pushed to their limits, and are forced to fight ancient gods to have their chosen essence awoken."
The way Trance speaks has my arms covered in goosebumps. It was a time in our life we were supposed to pass, and if a Wicken didn't pass, they were sentenced to the Spirit Realm as exile.
I shouldn't be scared of my Reckoning. It was something every Wicken went through and I was bound have mine. I just wasn't expecting the life-altering event so soon. As a Wicken of Light, we don't mature until our children begin to search for their bonding mates. I most certainly wasn't ready for my Reckoning, and it only meant one thing.
My body grew stiff at the realization, and I couldn't control my reaction. My bottom lip trembled and my lungs grew heavy. "She wants to kill me." I blurted without thinking.
My eyes darted to Trance with panic in my eyes. "She wants me dead, Trance. There's no way my magic is mature enough to fight a god—let alone defeat one!"
My hands gripped the edge of my seat as Theros protests with a dark growl. "Ya will not die." His voice is hard as he leans forwards, ready to pounce on whoever dares to hurt me. My heart warmed at his protective gesture, but it was our laws, not theirs.