" They fucking paired me up with a god-damned traitor!"

"Vasílissa" Queen's Aria's chief guard and sister calle

"Lina". She replied and turned to look at he

Aria wondered what her sister wanted from her. She called her by her name most of the time and she only used her title when they were before the council, when they were in the mist of the people or when she needed something important

"I believe you're on your way out". Lina sa

"Lina. What is it that you need

"You look troubled. That's not a good face to show outside. By the way. Is anything the matter

"No. I'm perfectly alright, Lina. And you shouldn't worry about me. Let's go". Aria told her sister and proceeded to leave the border of Ourà Fengàr

"Wait over here". Aria told Lina and proceeded to recite the words in order to break through the borders of the Queendom. She pulled on her red cape and tied it around her nec

She usually had strolls like this almost everyday. She liked the feel of the trees outside the Queendom's borders, the dead leaves and flowers that were strewn on the ground, the streams and the eerie noises creatures of the forest would make

"Sure thing, Vasílissa". Lina said with a stiff nod. When Aria had been asked to choose a bodyguard she just mentioned her sister's name. She was just the best person and the only one she could trust. Her loyalty was beyond measure. They'd been trained together right from their childhood for the protection of the Queendo

*

Alfa Demitri had been on edge for some days now. He didn't know why his wolf wouldn't let him rest. He'd gone for a run several times but it didn't seem to calm him down so he didn't to go hunting. Not like he hadn't done so in a long time but at that moment,it seemed pleasing to his wolf

He jumped from the window of his tower and shifted mid air as he begun his run outside the pack borders

Aria didn't know where her feet were taking her but she decided to keep going whenever they willed. She was fully aware that she'd gone past her usual spot but she didn't see any harm in going beyond i

Cinnamon mixed with mint and a trail of fresh rain filled her nostrils as she went. It hadn't rained so she looked around for mint leaves and found nothing. Feeling somewhat alarmed, she took a few steps forward to see if she'd find any explanation to what she'd scente

She stopped abruptly when she saw a wolf. The traitors. Whatever the hell was a wolf doing around ther

Their pack was a good distance away from Ourà Fengàri so she was taken aback by the bundle of white fur which was closer to her height standing across her

Alfa Demitri stopped in his tracks when he spotted the Queen of Ourà Fengàri. Whatever was she doing there. His nostrils flared when his wolf started yipping but he saw red and forget about the pain in his hind legs when he chant

'Mate, mate,mate'

He didn't want a mate. Maybe his wolf had it wrong. The pairing was never done that way. There was no way a wolf was paired to someone in the Queendom. Not since they broke away. The bloody witch. She'd probably cast a spell on him

They stared at each other. No one moved or said anything. They just stared with spite but Aria felt a new energy course through her and her body suddenly didn't belong to her. The scar on her back was suddenly on fire and her eyes were white. A pain in her ankle caused her to move closer to the wolf who stood across he

She crouched down and her hands shot out to the wolf's hind legs, covering it

Demitri wanted to move but his wolf was savouring the touch of his mate. When she removed her hands,he could no longer feel the pain. It was natural for werewolves to heal fast but the gash he had wouldn't heal that fast. Not under normal circumstances. He didn't understand. She'd been staring at him with spite yet healed hi

Demitri kept thinking it was all a trap she was setting. The Queendom and the pack were enemies even though they didn't go to war seeking each other's blood. They were sworn enemies for centuries so she probably wanted to harm them and had trapped him into making his wolf think they were mates but he wouldn't be fooled. He was going to fight whatever spell or concoction she'd managed to get into his wolf and he was going to find whatever mole there was in his pack that obviously helped her penetrate the border

The energy she felt diminished within her as she stood. Her eyes returned to their normal colour and she could own her body again

"Bloody hell". Aria muttered when she realized how close she was to the traito

Without a second thought she turned and ran back to her territor

"Ismena" Her sister, Lina called as she followed her. She'd walked past her upon her return. An act which made her sister wonder why her mood had turned more sour than it initially wa

Aria ignored her sister and kept moving till she was inside her room

"Your mood is worse than it was before you left. What happened? And don't lie to me this time. You know you can trust m

"Oi moíres is toying with me, Lin

"I don't understan

"I mean exactly what I said. Oi moíres is toying with me. I don't know what they wan

"It's still not clea

"They paired me with a traitor, Lina. They fucking paired me up with a god-damned traitor!". Aria said and Lina couldn't be more shocke

"That's not true. The pairing isn't done that way. And how would you know?" Lina asked, her heartbeat accelerating. It couldn't be. There had to be some mistake somewher

"I met him on my stroll, Lina. A traito

"This bond is impossible. Even Thea Seléni knows tha

"Exactly why I said Oi moíres is toying with me but I have done no wrong and I certainly haven't requested to be included in their game

"I think we should tell mother right away. She might know what to do". Lina suggeste

"That's the option. Isn't it?" Aria asked and her sister nodde

"Call a meeting with the council". Her mother simply said when they informed he

"Council meeting? Mother do you think I would want the council to know about this

"Ismena, there has to be this meeting. I can't say anything without every member of the council being presen

"For what reason, mother?"

"You'll only find out if you do as I just sai

"Alright, I wil

The Nkaziéra, who leads the vampires, the Fa, who leads the faes, the Nerai who leads the fairies, the Kyrae, who leads the Valkyries, the Kon, leader of the dragons and the Réni leader of the witches took their respective places in the throne room of Ourà Fengàr

The elders of the council were looking grim. Even her father looked a bit uncertain as her gaze pierced his green eye

That wasn't what alarmed her most. It was the Vivlio Xòrki that lay open in the middle of the table, surrounded by white candles that had been lit. The Vivlio Xòrki was rarely opened and it was centuries old. History has it that it was established together with Ourà Fengàri; which means it has existed since witches, the first creatures of the moon were created by Thea Selén

Most of the members of the council averted their gaze when she looked at them

"Can we proceed now that everyone is present?". It was supposed to be a question but she let it out as a statement as the Kon, keeper of the Vivlio Xòrki stood and flipped his fingers, setting it ablaze as he muttered some words she didn't care paying attention t

Immediately the flames died and the muttering stops, words form over the lit candles

"Η Θέα Σελένη έχει βαρεθεί αυτόν τον χωρισμό. επομένως θα το τερματίσει. Μια συμφωνία που έγινε με τους Morai. Μια βασίλισσα και ο προδότης θα είναι μαζί δεμένοι μέχρι θανάτου από τη γέννηση. να γυρίσουν τα πράγματα στο παλιό

The words are of fire and that's not what makes Ismena stand. It's the meaning which she instantly gets

"Thea Seléni is fed up with this separation. therefore she shall end it. A deal made with the Morai; A queen and the traitor shall be bound together to death by birth. to take things back to the old

"You clearly don't mean that is about me!" Queen Aria booms with a fierce loo

"I suggest you calm down Vasílissa". The Kon who chanted the Vivlio Xòrki to life encouraged. The burning words hadn't disappeared so there was no way she was going to calm dow

"Calm down?". Aria sneered the words like some dark spell. The Kon swallowed. They all knew better than annoy the queen

She was brutal when angry and they didn't enjoy seeing her angry in particular

"Please, Ismena. Take your seat again.". Her father said calmly in a soothing voice. It did something to make her relax and gracefully sit back dow

Lina glanced at her and quickly averted her gaze. She couldn't feel what it was like for her sister but she could imagine it

"This is a long foretold prophecy. About a thousand years now". The Fa said making Aria side eye him. That clamped his mouth shu

"If it's long foretold. That Queen the prophecy speaks of could be any other queen". Aria told the

"Then how would you explain the pull you felt and the reason for this meeting?". Her mother, the immediate past queen of Ourà Fengàri argued. She was the only one that said that aloud. At least the anger directed towards her own mother would be limited as compared to the rest of the

"It could be someone playing tricks". Aria retorte

"The werewolves have no magic. And that's the only explanation for 'tricks'

"So you really think I'm this queen

"The crescent on your back says so". The Kon said firml

"Give me solid reasons why I shouldn't be wary of you for keeping this from me if you did know from the beginning?" Aria questioned with one eyebrow raise

"Pardon me, Vasílissa. It is Thea Seléni's bidding. I couldn't defy it". The Kon replied with his head hanging low. A sign of absolute respect. He did that so that her temper wouldn't fly to a zillion times higher than it already wa

Aria nodded after seconds and looked around the throne roo

"So what do I have to do?". Aria asked after a full minute of silenc

"Mate with the Alfa". The Fa said with finality evident in his ton

"Over my dead body!". Aria sneered angril

"Ismena!". Both her mother and father exclaimed but she wasn't having it. She paid no head to them at all as she continue

"I've served Thea Seléni in truth and she knows every one of my wishes. It certainly isn't mating with a traitor.

"Vasílissa...". The Elders begun but she ignored th

"You're all dismissed till I summon you again". Aria told them with finality hinting that no comments or suggestions were allowed and left the throne room, Lina trailing behind he

"I want to be alone". She turned to her sister after a while and Lina only replied with a stiff nod and stopped in her track

She had to talk to her sister. She was well aware of her hate for the traitors. The whole of their family. They'd caused war in Ourà Fengàri after all. The only war between witches and werewolves and it didn't help that Aria was half witch and half vampire

Even their brother, Eros, who was all about obedience to Thea Seléni and the council would not agree to it. Infact,he wouldn't believe it at all

But Aria still had to consider this bond. Defying Thea Seléni was the most dangerous thing to do. They could try toying with Oi moíres but Thea Seléni? That was out of question and she planned to make her sister see that

Maybe she was too angry and disgusted to hear or see anything in a reasonable manner but she would wait till she calmed and talk to her

*

Alfa Demitri paced in his office. He couldn't believe it. He thought they'd ridded the pack of any manipulation the day they broke away from Ourà Fengàri but no. How wrong he wa

"What's wrong with you? Been years since I saw you on edge like this". Meena; Alfa Demitri's sister and head warrior of the pack asked while looking at him curiousl

"The witches are at it again

"The witches

"You heard right,Meen

"But I was on patrol yesterday and I didn't smell them. I even took a little stroll beyond the pack borders but there was nothing". Meena said looking doubtfu

"I didn't say they've come here

"Okay maybe you should speak in a language I understand". Meena said with an eye roll. She hated it when her brother got all closed off and spoke in ways that weren't clear enough to her. She preferred her straightforward brothe

"I met that bloody queen of Ourà Fengàri and Adonis kept yipping, 'mate mate mate' in my head". Demitri said as calmly as he could manage but it came out as more of growl

"Oh no

"Damn right. N

"But the witches haven't attacked since we left Ourà Fengàri after the war they blamed on us

"Exactl

"But what if it's not their doing

"It is...

"How sure are you Demitri. You have no proo

"I d

"Which i

"I can't have a mate. Let alone a witch and a blood sucke

" I thought it was a myth

"It isn't. You've read the history. Which Àlfa after our great great grandfather has had a mate?". Demitri all but growled at his sist

"Hey stop growling. I'm not the one responsible for the anger

"So what are you going to do. It's not like you can enter Ourà Fengàri and claim witches have put a spell on you"

Meena asked

"If it happens that we cross paths again and it happens again, I'm going to Ourà Fengàri with pack warriors. They'll have no choice but to give us an audienc

"And what if she really is your mate? And don't you think you should tell one of the elders about it? They could know what to d

"She's not my mate. It's impossible. And even if she was, I wouldn't accept the bond." Demitri sai

"If it really is true you'll have to accept it and moreover if it really is true,then you can't fight the bond and you'll both suffer consequence

"You seem to believe that that manipulator is my mate" Demitri accus

"I don't like your tone, Demi. It's too accusing. Do you even for a second think I've planned something against you?". Meena questioned sounding very shocke

"That's not what I sai

"But isn't that what you implied

"Look. Can we stop discussing this? It's doing my head in. I'll just try finding out what the hell is happening

"Alright. I'll leave you to sulk over nothing". Meena said with a tinge of amusement which made her brother more suspicious of her but he kept mum as she skipped through the doo

Vita Vier thought he was hallucinating or for the fun of it someone has used a masking spray and had gone bad but when he caught a glimpse of a certain sharp movement,all his senses heightened. His ears stood on point, his wolf pushed through to see through his human eyes, the hair on his skin stood on end so he prepped himself to attack inwardl

He stood, watching, marking time,his eyes following every movement around the eastern side of the pack border

Not long after,he caught a whiff of the scent again. It was of rose flower mixed with wet wood. No one in the pack smelled like that and he knew every one of the wolves in his pack. He leaped over the border and grabbed the culprit by the throa

"A fucking male witch!" Vita Vier snarled baring his teeth at her. His anger was instant and he squeezed his throat causing him to wheez

"Me..mer.. mercy". The male witch wheeze

"Mercy?" Vita Vier growled, clearly displease

He wanted to scoff at the male witch but he was too beyond angry. Furious, even to be a teeny tiny bit humorous

"P...pl..plea..

"Oh fuck off with the pleading. You witches didn't know mercy when you fucked us up. Your manipulation isn't working can't you see?". Vita Vier said and dragged the culprit to the Àlf

It was against rules of the treaty signed for any member of Ourà Fengàri to cross the Queendom's borders to the borders of the pack

Demitri was busily skimming through a history book of witches and what extreme their power could go when he heard his door creak open. He growled before looking up. Blood,sweat, rose and wet wood all mixed. He was sure it wasn't a pack membe

"What's this?" Demitri growled upon meeting the witch's eyes. He dare look him in the ey

"Found him on the pack borders". Vita Vier said with a smug look and dropped him on the floo

"I knew it. I fucking knew it. The witches are at it again

"What is to be his punishment?". Vita Vier asked already aware of what is done to anyone who breaks the rules of the treaty. The person's fate is decided by the werewolf council and the Queendom's counci

"Keep him in the dungeon. We're taking him to Ourà Fengàri and both councils will decide his punishment". Demitri declared and Vier dragged the male witch to the dungeo

Demitri felt grateful. At least he'd found a way of going to Ourà Fengàri to gather more proof about the witches and their game

s.n.l.."r.e!r..a..".d.d.e.t.s.y.r. "?"d"d.eds"d.o"e... ."er."r"s"o"f"" ?"y"."o"."s.r.."l.a"?"?"y.s!

*****.... s.r.em "d.y.e.e.m.s.d.y.?" "d.m.m.t..n... n.k..". .".o..i.s.i.l"d". t"?"r.d.d.s"t"r"e.d.r"t"d"a"e".s.y.r.. s.m..r.. ed.e.d.t...**m..k.i.?"?"id.r.d.rà Fengàri and both councils will decide his punishment". Demitri declared and Vier dragged the male witch to the dungeon.

Demitri felt grateful. At least he'd found a way of going to Ourà Fengàri to gather more proof about the witches and their games.