The sun beamed all day from the clear blue skies as it watched the preparation being made for the coming night's ceremony. It was as if delighted by the notion of witnessing the union of mates, as it had a thousand times before, the notion of two souls coming together only to be bound for eternity. It was a sad affair that Maximus felt quite the contrary, he dreaded the notion of being tied to someone that wasn't meant to be his, not only did he feel like he was betraying his love, but the moon goddess as well, and it hurt.
He stood as the sun made his descent for the night in a sadness of orange and yellow hues, clad in black slacks, he remained barefoot and without a top. Perhaps that is why the woman by his door stood with her mouth agape as her eyes couldn't help but admire the bare broad shoulders of the mountainous man, he was truly chiselled as muscles flexed for attention. Attention she gladly gave only to be halted by a voice that questioned.
"What do you want Clair?" Maximus' voice was cold and void as he remained gazing out the balcony doors at the sun as it set, a glaring reminder that it was almost time.
"I thought I would check on you; I have barely seen you these last few days since you had decided to exile yourself to your bedchamber"
"Well you can rest assured and certainly throw your flowers away, because I'm not going anywhere" he said the words as he turned to look at the third princess that still stood near the door, in a golden robe that dragged on the floor. He gave little attention to her glittering face and the styled up hair, as it was clear she was all dolled up for the ceremony, save for the robe, which hid her attire for the evening.
His eyes clashed with hers and he saw their bright green dim at his words. It wasn't that he wasn't going anywhere because he wanted to be with her, however, the fact that he couldn't leave even if he deeply desired to, and Clair appeared to be most aware of this, not only because his tone remained cold, but his eyes expressed it all as he looked at her.
"Right, I see you're still upset about that then" she said with a swallow as she darted her eyes elsewhere, for if her greens remained any longer captivated by his eyes, her vines would surely catch their death in cold.
"Oh, well I don't know, I mean you kept me bedridden for an entire week, disregarding the possibility of my death from the damned poison, I mean gosh, how could I possibly be angry right?" he spat as his words heavily dripped with sarcasm that was like thorns rivalling her own as they pricked at her heart.
She blinked a few times to keep from crying, as the man she had loved for the longest of times made it clear that he could never feel even an ounce of affection for her. She could see it clearly now, the emptiness in his storm and oceanic eyes filled to the brim with anger, despite a part of her that tried to convince her that he might come to feel different once they are bonded and marked.
"I hadn't done it with intent to kill you Maximus, nor put your life in danger, I was trying to keep you from it, surely my father would have had you killed had you left" she tried to explain
"You would be surprised how little regard I have for my own life Clair, if it weren't for" Maximus stopped himself from saying anymore when he realised just who he was about to mention.
"Leave" the command was loud and clear despite the low tone he used
"No, what were you going to say Maximus? If it weren't for what?" she questioned only for her expression to be one of realisation when she continued. "Or who, is there someone else? of course, it all makes sense now, why you never seem to be around any other woman ever, or why my father wouldn't have let you leave, because had you left, you would have gone against him and mated another, like the usual rebel you are" she said, her tone one of revelation as she let out a chuckle in astonishment. When Maximus made no move to deny anything, it was her turn to be cold as an ice queen would be, and she stalked her way toward Maximus with everyword.
"Guess it's good that I did what I did huh, because hear me loud and clear Maximus, because I would hate to repeat myself, it will be a cold day as mount Everest, in hell before I could ever let another woman take what is mine, so whoever she is better
remain unknown, or else" she spat and her threat was clear. If she thought that her words would make Maximus more malleable to her demands and claim over him, if she thought that perhaps it would have him decide to show her an ounce of affection, she was dead wrong. Maximus may have been fine with his life being threatened, however, no one was allowed to make a threat toward his Amoura.
Perhaps the third princess ought to have been more cautious with who she threatened, ought to have gotten her facts clear, perhaps she would have known that threatening someone Maximus held dearest in his heart, would have been a bad idea. Perhaps she would have expected to have her own air pipes deprived of their purpose as she felt them squeezed within Maximus' hand as he held her face close to his own, his eyes a darker shade as Aurelius showed,
"Don't You Ever Threaten My Mate Like That Again, EVER" he grounded out, as it became clear that Clair needed to breath, with that he released her, and she couldn't help but let out coughs as she looked at Maximus in utter shock at what he had not onlydone, but said as well. It truly dawned on her, just what her father aimed to do, and she couldn't help but think he was truly cold, yet she couldn't deny that she was just as cold, for although an ounce of her feared for her own life, she couldn't help a satisfied smirk that donned her lips, her mind running haywire as her vines revealed all she plotted.
Maximus knew then that he had revealed the ultimate weapon she could use against him just as her farther did, and he couldn't help but cuss himself for that, for putting one more target on his mate's back. He decided then that he had to figure it all out, make a plan on how to keep Amoura safe, for her saw it clear as day then, through Clair's green vines that she aimed to disregard his threat toward her.
Their heated moment poisoned with nothing but dark passion, was interrupted by a knock on his doors, and Maximus bid whoever it was to enter. It was the princess' handmaid that had come to alert the princess of the time, it was almost time and they had to leave.
The princess walked toward the doors, and before she could disappear from his sight, she gave him one last promise filled look before she left. Maximus was left angry as he tried to think of plans, that seemed to all be of no use and that made it seem like his mate's death was inevitable. However, he refused to give up, he would have to find a way to hide her where no one else could find her, it was such need that squeezed his heart with urgency, he couldn't breathe for a second.
"Oh man, you look like how I feel" said an Alpha as he walked into the room, and glanced at his friend.
"Oh yeah, and just what is it that you feel Camron?" Maximus questioned with a dry chuckle
"Sadness for my friend, that he's being forced to mate someone that isn't his mate. She's not gonna be here right?" the Alpha questioned, slight concern in his tone
"No, I gave Levi strict orders, her witnessing all this would surely kill her" he said to which Alpha Cam gave a nod of understanding before he said
"However, we both know the king, Maximus" he cautioned
"I know, that's what worries me most, considering he probably has more power over my Beta than I do at the moment" Maximus sounded almost resigned, however, he kept the hope that as long as he did what the king asked, then there would be no reason for the man to bring his mate here, right? he hoped he was right, for if he turned out to be wrong, then he would be doomed.
"Oh man, yea it's official, I'm really sad for you man" he said with a pat on the Alpha's shoulder. With that, the men made to leave before anyone could come to fetch them, for surely if they stood in his bedchamber any longer, the king was bound to send someone, if only to check and see that Maximus hadn't made a run for it.
The trees towered even above those abnormally tall, in the woods. the clearing was set up above the pit that silently remained beneath, filled to the brim with newly caught rabids. There was a podium set to the near end of one side of the clearing, which could be estimated to be nearly as big as a football field. It was reserved for such events in order to accommodate the king's pack and guests, who had arrived and stood littered about the field, waiting in anticipation.
From the doors that led to the pits beyond, appeared the royal family in all their splendour, both Maximus and his dear friend Alpha Cameron followed behind, and Maximus' feet felt dragged as they weighed more with every step. On the stage that faced the werewolf community, stood an elder, his title a fitting description for the old man had grey tendrils for aged hair, and a few wrinkles littered about his face and his eyes exposed the kind of knowledge only aged people can bear.
The king was first to ascend the few steps and to the centre of the stage, the queen went to stand on the corner of the other side of the wooden stage and both Eurich and his older sister Cassandra flanked either sides of the elderly man, both held an item in their hands, that was to be used for the ceremony. Eurich held an intricately designed dagger, and Cassandra held a golden chalice that matched the hilt of the dagger. Clair stood in the middle, facing Maximus, who looked like he would rather be elsewhere if not dead.
The minute everyone had taken their place and the moon had reached her height and fullness, the king turned away from the crowd he had been perusing and faced at those that had stood behind him. He looked at the elder and with a nod, told him that he may begin.
Maximus still wore mere black slacks, still remained barefooted and without a top covering his well-muscled chest, before him, Clair also remained barefooted, however, her body wore a white cotton blouse that cropped above her belly button and exposed her shoulders, paired with a flowy white skirt that halted mid-thigh. Facing the couple, the elder walked forward, and with the silence of everyone, only his voice could be heard.
It was an incantation that spoke of mates and bonds, of their significance and importance, it turned into a prayer to the moon and asked for her blessings, that the pair's bond be fruitful and prosperous. It prayed that they have ever lasting happiness and bare children to continue the lineage. Oblivious to the fact that with a descendant of an Original, the Alpha, will never come to have a child with a mate that wasn't his truth and destined, therefore, quite frankly, his death would be the end of his lineage.
Alas, that wasn't the only thing the Elder was ignorant to, Maximus prayed for the opposite and unconsciously so, his refusal to acknowledge the soon to be made bond, he vowed to never be happy with anyone else, unless that be Amoura, vowed to never touch the woman as he would have Amoura, and although he would mark his arranged mate, the bond would be ignored as if it didn't exist, to him it would mean nothing but bear as a reminder of just what had been sacrificed, just who he was protecting, just why he did it all for, just how much he loved Amoura that he would imprison himself for eternity than have her harmed in anyway. He prayed that when their bond be broken, that she be allowed to live a happy threat-free life, he would make sure of it.
When time came that the two first bind their blood, the elder held his hand open only for Eurich to place the dagger on it. he then placed it On Maximus' open palm, and Maximus knew what had to be done. When he had his palm sliced, dripping crimson that escaped from the slowly healing wound, he let the blood fall into the chalice that was now in the elder's hands. Clair's actions were the same as Maximus'. She was long over the slight embarrassment she had felt, when Maximus had left her hands hanging when she had outstretched them for him to hold as lovers do during such ceremonies.
With both their blood in the chalice, the elder chanted with closed eyes as he gave the golden goblet a swirl, and when he was done, he gave it to Maximus. That's when he felt it, Maximus felt it from the bitter taste of the blood that didn't even taste metallic, that this was utterly wrong. It was truly wrong for if their bond was blessed, then their blood combined would taste of nothing but sweet as nectar for the gods, yet it bore nothing but bitterness as it was black as ink. Clair on the other hand found herself most delighted after the exchange, she could feel an inkling of strength and she revelled in it, in the notion of it increasing once they were both marked.
Oblivious was everyone, perhaps apart from the Beta that wasn't supposed to be there, and the King that watched from the distance where he stood, to the human that stood at the end of the vast crowd, who gave a slight groan in pain, her face streaked with salty tears that drowned her eyes and suffocated her heart at what they made her see. The Beta couldn't help then but sympathise, and the king couldn't help then but let a sinister smile decorate his lips, before returning his gaze to the oblivious Alpha, who looked to be in pain himself.
Except, Maximus's pain was not the physical kind but the emotional kind as the full brunt of his betrayal hit him. When the elder commanded that they mark each other then, Aurelius almost refused to let his canines show, but they did as they gleamed in the dead of night lit by the moon above, they were long and sharp, and tore at her skin as ravenous wolves would, it hurt her just the same, as the pain overwhelmed her body until he retracted, with the urge to spit her blood out as it tainted his tongue and repulsed his taste buds. When Clair marked Maximus in return, that was when mayhem befell and chaos was born.
It began with her scream, a scream that tore at Maximus' heart and made his eyes snap in her direction, he felt like his own eyes were deceiving him. Yet there she was, held up by his trusted Beta who wore his own pained expression. Maximus cared little for the pain that hit him, provided it didn't hurt even as close as it hurt her, he left a stunned Clair on the stage as he ran her way. Everyone watched stunned when they realised there was a human amongst them and the newly mated Alpha ran toward her. Her screams were so sharp they almost tore at everyone's ear drums, with their heightened senses.
To the king, her wail of pain signified their bond breaking, and with that he considered his job done and his power secured. What further shocked the werewolf community was when the light turned into a red hue, and the rabids howled from beneath as if they sympathised with her cry, except they didn't, their howls weren't ones of pain but of hunger, as they felt stronger than they ever had.
All looked onto the sky and realised that the full moon now bled blood instead of her usual white and silvery shine.Her screams stopped minute Maximus held her in his arms and he carefully wiped her tears away as he rocked them back and forth on the ground. However, as everyonelooked on as silence reigned, thinking it was all over, Amoura opened her eyes then.
Her gaze fell on no one in particular, as they vacantly looked onto the sky, her eyes a reflection of the moon, Maximus couldn't help but release a gasp in surprise and question and he tried to comprehend just what it was that was happening and why, for he too had merely thought that her pain meant their bod had broken and nothing more.Until she spoke,
"When the moon turns red, And eyes most prone to bleed, Souls will be tethered, Until my soul is freed. For, you have meddled with matters not of your own, And made a play for my throne, You shall bear the consequences, As death becomes king. Unless you prepare my ascension, home" her tone said the words as if a mantra, and draped the atmosphere with an ominous air.
Maximus wondered what they meant, whereas the
king had an idea. Everyone shivered as they heard her words, her tone had held essence of ominous power no human should ever possess, as for their meaning, even they couldn't understand, however, the elder knew then, that because Clair was not Maximus' true mate and the human obviously was, they had inevitably angered the moon.
Eyes that had held fear and curiosity now held wonderment as her eyes fell closed and her white and silvery strands turned crimson as the moon returned to normal. No one had ever witnessed what had happened, and everyone wanted answers, yet they knew they would get none from their king, whom then found himself perplexed at the abnormal change.
Maximus caressed her cheek as he lovingly looked at his mate, eyes dripping with regret for the abomination he had done, for as he held his mate in his hands, he realised just how wrong he was, his mate was strong, and he had been stupid to give into the
king. Regret washed over him as he saw her eyes open and they landed on his heterochromia ones, they remained red as she let her tears falls.
She moved out of his embrace to kneel before him as he let his head fall, his gaze to the ground in shame as she wept.
"What have you done?" she whispered out, her question made Maximus look at her with tears in his own eyes,
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry" he whispered out his apology as he went to cradle her face in his hands. She closed her eyes at his touch, as sparks lit her ablaze, something Maximus couldn't feel. With a shake of her head, she spoke up
"So much blood, there was so much blood Maximus, there'll be so much, what haveyou done?" her voice sounded frantic when the image of the vision assaulted her eyes again, she abruptly stood and staggered backwards and away from Maximus, who was quick to stand only to tread toward her.
"What are you talking about Amoura?" he questioned perplexed as he contemplated her words, yet it was like she was deaf to him when she paid his question no mind
"What have you done!?" she screamed as her eyes lit aflame and aimed to burn him, he came to a halt only to look at her with his eyes wide at her anger
"I was trying to protect you, you weren't supposed to be here, I had to keep you safe, can't you understand?" his tone sounded tired as he explained, hating the look of anger, hurt and betrayal in her eyes, which hardened at his words and she spat
"I would have rather watched you die a thousand deaths than to betray our bond, for at least then we'd be together because I would have gladly died with you. You don't know what you have done, you've damned your kind and unless everything is made right again, you all will cease to exist" her words brought out gasps from most of everyone that watched, some believed her and some thought her delirious from pain, for it was obvious the girl was in pain at having watched the man she must have clearly loved, choose another.
The king however, powerful as he was felt a spec of fright at her words, he knew what he had done and wondered if whether Selene had had it and planned to kill everyone, but then he remembered that no god or goddess cold meddle with earthly happenings, therefore he was safe. With that false hope in mind, he brushed it to the side as he walked toward them. Before Maximus could say any more, the king spoke
"Well, well, well, the murderer finally shows herself, was that a threat to my people, human? Planning to kill them as you had done many, many times before?" he questioned, a gleam in his eyes as he watched the angry human set her gaze on him, uncowering.
"What do you mean, she's clearly human, how could she have killed a werewolf or even come to kill one?" Maximus questioned, angered at the king calling his mate murderer, thinking his words to be ridiculous. The king let out a chuckle as he looked at Maximus
"So ignorant" he tsked, and continued "This beloved human of yours, is a hunter crafted weapon against werewolves, and she was the one responsible for the Greystone massacre, and many more" he explained. Amoura couldn't help but cringed at her past transgressions she had done when she knew no better and was in no control of her actions, she had been nothing but a mindless machine then, and the pack had been a quaint kind of innocents, and when she had regained her conscience with time and the memories remained, she couldn't help but hate herself then, and now as the king mentioned it again.
"Therefore, it is only just, that she be executed, now that she's here" the king declared, Clair couldn't help her smirk as she waltzed her way to touch Maximus' arm as if in comfort, who was ignorant to her touch, for his mind was stuck on what the king had just said, all he thought was, it would happen again, his mother's execution, all over again. His heart almost stopped beating as his eyes filled with tears and he grasped out a
"No, you can't, I won't let you" he said with a set face filled with determination, one look at Amoura, he marvelled at how beautiful she was, just like she was in Scileria, perhaps even better. Even though gone was her hair that shone as the moon, he couldn't deny the fact that she looked wondrously lethal with the flaming tendrils and eyes that looked ablaze. He had done what the king had asked and it still hadn't been enough, he would be dead before he witnessed his mate die as his mother had. It was with those thoughts that he turned and looked back at the king that seemed couldn't be happier, and said the next words that further shocked every soul that stood in witness of the scene.
"I, Alpha Maximus Demetre Augustine, challenge you, Alpha Mikaelle Alaric Stone"the king could only smirk and Amoura jumped between the two of them, shooting Maximus a look of rage, she directed it toward the king
"Take my life, and spare his, please, please" she pleaded, gone was her anger as she watched the king, she knew the look that swam within his eyes, could feel the power that was way beyond what Maximus had, he wouldn't make it, and she would be damned before she watched him die when she could do something.
"Amoura no, baby no, please, it would kill me" he whispered toward her as she looked at him, tears in her eyes, so frightful yet not for her own life but that of her mate's. The very image and sound of him had Amoura's own heart give. Yes, she was angry at her mate for what he had done, yet as she stood looking at how defeated he looked, she couldn't stand it, and she walked toward him, only to hold his face in her hands, not caring for the glare Clair threw her way.
"It's okay Maxy, hey, look at me" she instructed and his eyes fell on her own as his hands encompassed her own in his warmth
"It's okay" she tried to stretch out the words, to reassure him that she had a plan. His reaction to everything made her realise that although he had betrayed their bond, it didn't mean that he didn't love her, he had said it was to protect her, and she couldn't help but scoff at that for she ended up where he feared she would, anyway. As she looked at the king, who held a smugness about him, she knew then that there would be no way she would let him win. Her Maxy would be hers again, that was a vow she made to herself, even though she knew not just how that would happen, she trusted the moon, and she had told her that there was a way and that help would come. Kissing his cheekfor the first time in their reality, she faced the king.
"Well, that was quite the challenge, however, as much as I am not the kind to shy away from a challenge, I cannot subject my own daughter to death, because killing you would be killing her, therefore, I shall accept your dear mate's offer instead, it's still just as sweet" the king spat with all the delight he felt. For even if Maximus was her true mate, her death would not make much impact on the Alpha for he was tied to another.
"I do have a dying request; you wouldn't deprive me of that would you?" she questioned. She barely showed her relief at the king's words to not accept Maximus' challenge, for she was sure, so long as she lived, she could try and find answers to stop the oncoming blood bath that would soon be everyone's end, including Maximus, and she wouldn't have it. The king couldn't help but find her bloody eyes fascinating, and how her red tendrils were more red than those of his eldest daughter, that made her quite the image as she coldly looked at him
"Of course, ask away" the king said in all his confidence. As her mind plotted at a speed, she hoped that things would go accordingly. She knew what the king's execution entailed, and she held no fear for it, for she had no intentions of dying.
"Should I survive this said execution, I ask that you let me free, I'll disappear to never be seen again" for truly she would, only to search for answers as well as on how to defeat the king, after all, everyone had a weakness, all she had to do was find where his were located. The king couldn't help but scoff at the ridiculous request, then he remembered just what she was capable of, although part of him couldn't believe that a human could kill a werewolf.
Then again he figured all she had killed must have been weak, and he knew with certainty that rabids were far from that, they attacked with pure instinct, and besides, it's not like she would be facing just one, he would make sure that they are a number great enough to tear her into pieces, that her own abilities will fail her. With that in mind and a smirk on his lips, he agreed with a nod.
"Okay then, should you survive, I will set you free" he said. Everyone found themselves shocked at everything, quite frankly overwhelmed, however some found themselves excited to witness a live execution as they had never seen one before, and some merely wanted to see how she would survive or if she would. Others couldn't help but think, even if she did live, the king was not a man of his word, he would find a way to twist
his word around one way or another and that wouldn't end with her freedom.
"Amoura" Maximus started, but Amoura merely looked blankly at him, she couldn't be distracted as she walked away with two of the king's warriors holding her arms behind her back leading her to the doors that led to the pit. He could tell that she was angry and thought that she probably hated him as well, then again he couldn't find it in him to blame her at all. Only to think himself stupid for thinking she could ever hate him, considering the fact that she had just offered her own life in place of his. He couldn't help but worry about her, she was headed for her death yet he could detect no fear from her. He wondered if whether she had resigned herself to death, the thought stabbed at his heart as he pushed Clair's hands from him and walked to follow the king.
Everyone that wished to watch the execution, from those that hated her for what the king had told them she had done, to those that simply looked for entertainment, to those that slightly empathised with her, to those that were merely curious about the human,
"Ha! she's gonna tear them all apart, I tell ya" Jack confidently stated as he walked next to his father, who walked near Maximus. The royal family had long since entered the door, and Maximus found himself dragging his feet dreading all he was about to witness. Yet oddly enough, as he remembered the look in her eyes when she assured him that it was okay, he knew he was missing something, like she knew something she didn't, and he figured the least he could do was trust her decisions, even if that meant her death, he had hurt her enough after all, perhaps death was more just.
"Shut up, don't let the king hear you say that" Alpha Cam chastised his giddy son who seemed no less excited about watching his friend's mate fight for her life, yet he hoped
that if what his son had told him was true, then she do it again for not only her life but that of Maximus.
"What are you two on about?" Maximus questioned when he backtracked to the Alpha's son's words, his brows creased in confusion and question
"Apparently, you mate can tear through rabids like a pup does toilet paper" Alpha Cam informed. "believe it or not" he added
"It was the truth dad, don't worry Alpha Max, your mate's got this" Jack reassured as they entered through the doors. The child seemed so confident that Maximus couldn't help his hope, for it would make sense of why his mate made the request she had made. He wondered then if whether she would truly disappear to never be seen again, should she win.