The couple slept in absolute bliss and ignorant of the bubble that had magically wrapped itself around them. They had finally marked one another with the idea that they would die peacefully, together, what they hadn't expected was to live in the days that would follow and possibly for maybe years to come.
The power fully woke from its peaceful slumber in both of them, and silently so, that they didn't feel it as it washed over her red mane only to return it back to its former white glory that was only decorated by a few tendrils of silver. Her red eyes faded into their molten silver, and the mark on her neck was a beautiful round array of moons that surrounded a wolf that howled to the moon.
His wounds healed and he himself was bound to be shocked when he wakes up, by the streak of white hair next to the centre of his hairline, that would stand a singular contrast to the stark black silky tendrils of his hair. A chant sounded around them as the bubble beamed brighter than both moon and sun, only to combustion into starry dust. It echoed into their dreamless dreams in an endless chant.
Threaded by the silver twining vines of the moon, two souls made one, didn't matter what came in between, for by moon's decree, you were bound to forever be. As fate would have it
.....
Maximus could feel his cheeks being poked only to be deprived of air when his nose was pinched shut. He let out a breath through his lips and opened his eyes only to receive the shock of his life at the image before him. There she sat atop him, her hair the colour he loved most and her eyes the kind of storm he wouldn't mind being destroyed by. He blinked a couple of times as if to confirm that he was not dreaming as she beamed down at him and he was hit by a wave of absolute happiness he knew was both theirs combined.
He propped his body up and leaned on his elbows barely surprised by his healed body for he had felt it patch itself together the day before. He couldn't help but shiver when Amoura traced the mark on his shoulder, a face of a woman that had moon's for eyes and crescent moon's for earrings.
The reality of it was hard to comprehend, they had marked each other expecting death, yet as they sat atop the hospital bed, it was clear that they were alive.
"How is this possible?" it was Maximus that questioned as he gazed at Amoura, who only offered a smile with eyes full of timeless wisdom and said.
"Because none could ever contend with fate and win, for what's written in stone will always be what is. We are destined, have always been and always will be. Although you may have not felt it, our bond never broke even when I was marked by another, I felt it in the sparks that lit my skin ablaze wherever you touched, and deep down I knew it still thrummed alive, it was weak but it was there. And our marking was right, it was what should have been in the first place, hence we're alive. It's crazy how I feel and what I know now." she explained, marvelling at the power that whirled within her, running free through her veins only to make her feel most alive. She could feel it in Maximus as well, and could tell that change was coming.
She refused to dwell in the knowledge that came with it, the remembrance of the Oracle's words. She decided that she would not tell Maximus just yet, she couldn't burst the bubble of happiness they felt then.
"And you never told me" he accused
"Well, it's skipped my mind a lot, honestly "
"Just, when are you going to quit forgetting important things? " he questioned trying to hold back an amused smile for it was impossible to get mad the woman.
"I can't help what my mind chooses to forget"
"Actually you can" he challenged
"Well I can't " she defended.
Their moment was interrupted by a knock on the door, and it seemed as if they had forgotten just where they were. Amoura got of the bed and put her boots on only to throw her coat on as well before she unlocked the door and let the doctor in. It seemed that the man was the one to receive the biggest shock of his life, from seeing the change in the human that walked to stand by the side of the bed, to the fact that Maximus could properly move as he made to sit up on the bed, as if not enough, he could tell from their combined scents that they had clearly marked each other, and he sadly knew that the king would have their heads for it. Alas he proceeded toward Maximus and began questioning the Alpha, from how he felt to just how much movement he was capable of.
It was safe to say that the Alpha no longer needed the bandages nor would they have to attend his funeral for he looked more alive than ever. The Alpha couldn't help but chuckle when he heard Amoura's stomach grumble begging for food and the doctor assured them that breakfast was yet to be served and so they be best to get going. Maximus could tell that the doctor had questions and looked not only confused but concerned as well and perhaps a little shocked by his miraculous recovery he could only credit to his little red, for had she not made the ridiculous request, he would have surely died by now.
When Maximus was presentable enough, he held Amoura proudly by the hand as they walked out of the hospital and inhaled the fresh air only the outside could give. Amoura felt abuzz with energy as every thread connected to every werewolf within her vicinity thrummed alive. She could even feel the babe that was yet to be born and still slumbered within its mother's womb.
Yet with life she felt death as well, that although she and Maximus finally marked each other, the consequences remained, wolves would still turn rabid without cause until she restored the balance. She felt the other kind of death, the natural end of life and it saddened her when she felt like she'd just lost a peace of her.
It seemed both were used to attention as they barely bat an eye at the eyes that were on them. The pack may have suffered a loss a few days ago, however seeing the Alpha alive eased some of their hearts for he had truly saved them. What they couldn't understand however, was why and how he was mated to a human. For Amoura, although she held the power of what they worshiped, she still remained human to everybody else, for it would not show itself to just anybody. Cruel minds existed even amongst the most kind, and if the power were to introduce itself, that would be like dangling candy in front of a child. Then again, with such power, could she still be classified as a human?
The pack house was a flurry of people hurrying to the table for breakfast as the cooks placed the cooked food on the table. When all were seated, both Amoura and Maximus entered just in time and before the Alpha of the pack could have the first bite, who stood up with a smile and barely any surprise at his guests and made sure to let them know that the last two empty seats to his right, were reserved for the both of them. Of course the doctor had been sure to notify his Alpha of the events that took place the day before, and before the leader could send a warriors to imprison the human for what she had done to the others. And as the Alpha looked at the pair, he knew, had he done that then it would have been a big mistake on his part.
"Alpha Maximus, back to the land of the living I see" the Alpha started, to which Maximus gave a mere nod and hummed in agreement, holding Amoura's seat open for her.
"If you'd do the honours" the Alpha motioned for the food and Maximus understood, it wasn't simply because the Alpha wanted to honour him, however, considering his new status it was required of him to be the first to break the meal, a new status that had however changed from last night. As the thought came to mind, he noticed then that something had changed within him, he felt the bubble of power within him yet to fully embrace him and he couldn't help but wonder.
It was a familiar snarl that disrupted their breakfast, Amoura had just eaten half of it when she felt it, right before her, the young woman's eyes clashed with hers, the hazel browns had a taint of red and she knew what would come next, she was changing and she had no idea what to do.
(You have your power now dear, just let it lead you, her essence knows what to do.) Spoke a voice in her mind, one she had forgotten still remained along with the other two
She heeded to her words and let it overcome her, her gaze still locked with that of the now crazed woman who would soon turn into her rabid wolf if she did nothing. Amoura felt the power sift through the threads connected to her, with that she noticed that the woman wouldn't be the only one to turn and soon would be chaos. When it latched onto the threads that felt wrong, the essence wrapped itself around each thread as if to magically fix them and just so, it worked.
To everyone's astonishment, the woman's snarling came to a halt from where they had retreated, and watched her eye colour return only for her to blink as if awake again. Amoura let out a sigh and her body felt heavy. Indeed, she was human, and her body unfitting to hold let alone use the power without consequence. Her head lolled only for her to catch it in her heads as she placed her elbows on the table. She groaned in nausea and Maximus was brought out of his shock and confusion and he placed a hand on her back in rubbing motions in attempt to ease her pain
"Little red? " he questioned, his tone heavy with concern
"Don't stop" she groaned out in the pleasure of the relief that washed over her. Her body fed off on the energy his body unconsciously gave, and unaware of this, Maximus kept his motions as she wished. When she lifted her head back no longer feeling weak and nauseated, she shot him a tight lipped smile
"You okay?" he asked his brows furrowed, and with a relieved sigh she nodded
"I'm good"
No one could understand what had happened, for her power had worked in silence well concealed, therefore, all they knew for sure was that one of their pack members was about to go rogue yet before it could happen she stopped, and the human felt sick after that. Some thought it nerves from the close escape from her death as she had literally stared at in the face, yet others knew that a werewolf going rogue doesn't simply halt the turning out of nowhere, and so they remained suspicious of the silver eyed human with snow white hair dressed in a Gothic coat and mated to the Alpha that had come to their aid.
When all breakfast events had passed, the day at the pack became filled with Maximus discussing strategies and figuring out solutions on how to handle another surprise attack that he was sure would come sooner or later. Amoura on the other hand had gone from playing tag with the pups of the pack that had pleaded that she come play with them, to being subject to a headache that would surely come resulting from just how many tugs her hair had felt when a few girls had found themselves obsessed over it. Hence she now spotted a few braids here and there, some poorly applied red lipstick and blush, not forgetting the mascara that was starting to make her lids itch. It was official, she loved kids but never will she ever put make up on again, for her skin truly felt irritated.
Maximus let out a booming laugh the minute he saw her and he had to admit she was quite the sight. With heated cheeks and a full on pout that made her look like a petulant child, she spat
"You, quit it" she pointed at Maximus and then proceeded to point at the first teenage girl she saw and said
"And you, help me get rid of all this please" it was more a demand than question. The teenager couldn't help but hide her amused smile behind her hand, whilst she could hear a few snickers from around. Nodding, she pulled the human toward her room where she knew she had enough make up wipes to rid of the mess that was on her face.
When Amoura was satisfied with the amount of times she had thoroughly washed her face, she thanked the teenager and headed for where she could feel Maximus was. She found him outside on the porch briefing the king's men, or at least the few that were left. They were to leave right that minute for his Beta had called about how the king had sent men, after all, with orders to have him detained, he figured the reason the men before him were yet to do so was because he had just told them that they would return to the castle. He wondered if the king knew about his marking of another, perhaps he did for truly his mark on Clair would have burned itself off by now, and part of him hoped she hadn't died, not because he cared, however because he simply didn't want to have been the cause of her death.
It was when they were halfway to the castle and the moon high up in the sky, that he felt his muscles ache. He thought the pain would subside only it simply intensified as it crawled up his spine and it felt like he was being burnt alive from the inside out. Groaning in pain, Amoura demanded that the car stop as she fussed over her mate.
Maximus knew he needed to be outside, feel the air, the soil, the trees in the woods, he needed to be outside and he groaned as he made to exit the car. Amoura jumped out after him as she followed him, staggering toward the edge of the woods. When she saw some of the men approaching Maximus as if ready to haul his ass back into the car, she shot them a glare and spat
"Touch him and you die" her cold tone sent shivers down their spines, didn't matter that the human was merely half their size, her threat was heavy with promise and they retreated only to simply watch it all unfold.
She found Maximus not too far away neither too deep in the woods, he was on the ground clutching at his head as if trying to rip his hair out, only to calm down when she placed her hands onto his and said
"Let it happen Max, don't fight it" she soothed. She knew what was happening, it was time and the bubble of power within him burst and latched on to every particle of him within.
When he felt a bone pop, he groaned, confused as to why it felt like he was changing but for the first time. It seemed although his adoptive father had told him of his history, he had left one crucial part out, and that was lycanthropy. The Originals were lycans, faster and stronger than normal werewolves, strong enough to contain the essence they were bestowed with. And every son descendant would turn when their power awakened, turn into their most true and pure form, and it seemed that Maximus would discover that road all by himself, with the voice of Amoura to guide him through.
Next came every single bone of his body and he felt like an agonised pile of mush, he couldn't stop from screaming when his skull followed and he grew a muzzle. It all became the epitome of a grotesque portrait in Amoura's eyes as she watched every bone break only to set into a new place, felt the movement as she caressed where she could in attempt to ease his pain. Not all of it for he was meant to feel it, embrace it and finally overcome it, like a rite of passage.
When he lay on the damp cold ground of nature, his form bigger than the human that curled herself into his curled form, his breathing became a calming lullaby as his heartbeat returned to its former rhythm. The king's men stood astonished, it would seem their king wasn't the only lycan that remained, and they struggled to comprehend just what that meant.