8| The Mate Bond

CEDAR BLAKE 

I was stuck here while Alpha Dominus decided what to do with me. Apparently, I have lost my freedom again and as if that wasn't enough, my past came back to torment me! I wouldn't be digging up the past if I didn't want to get a hold on my life, keep the reins in check and make sure nobody controlled it, but I always fall back on both my hands and knees to beg people who don't care if I scraped myself or not!

“The elders call, you answer!” Adonai grumbled, stepping closer to me.

Feeling the least intimidated, I stood up and came to stand in front of them, giving them both a square look. When he moved closer to a discomforting proximity, one of the guards stepped forward to put a hand on his shoulder.

“Move aside, General,” I spoke in one of Dominus's domineering manner to the chief guard, sending the big man stepping back again with an eye roll. “I can handle myself!” 

I refused to cower or lower my gaze in front of Adonis and Adonai. Gone are the days when they make me shake in fear and bring me so much pain that I wish I were dead. If Dominus Maruto is afraid of not knowing what I am thinking, they should also know that I am no longer the Cedar they used to hurt for fun.

My fingers clenched at my sides as their presence suddenly filled the space and their smell enveloped me. When my eyes met Adonis’ in an intense gaze, although he looked unbothered initially, my wolf stirred inside me. It was the first reaction ever since she met them.

It was only just for a second, just enough for me to feel the unwanted pull between us. Their heads suddenly jerked up and their eyes clouded in confusion, before their eyes clashed into each other questioning themselves to know if they both had felt exactly the same way.

The mate bond. 

No.

The possibility twisted in my gut like a blade. I could not feel it completely, not like I should have, but there was… something. 

A pull I refused to acknowledge at once.

My wolf had become silent, as she had been since before the full moon, only to react strangely to my worst nightmares. The moon goddess wouldn't despise me this much to keep this a secret.

And of course, because the universe had a sick sense of humour, they both had felt it too.

The way their dark eyes lingered, the hesitation in Adonis' stance, and the way Adonai's jaw tightened as if he was physically forcing himself to hold back. They knew.

But like me, they pretended they didn't. They refused to, because they've always deemed me too weak for them.

Good.

Let it stay that way.

“Don't think you can still order me around in Oakwood, even if Dominus hates me, he needs me and would not tolerate anyone other than himself hurting me.” My breath hung in my throat, but I masked it with a glare.

Both Alphas didn’t react to my words at first. Adonai merely observed me with those huge piercing eyes of his, especially after I dropped the last lines. Their hesitation to put me in my place immediately spoke volumes. 

“Don't you miss Crystal Moon?” Adonis' lips twitched as his hand thrust forward.

As if he were unable to stop himself, his knuckles almost caressed my cheeks before he shrugged the thought off as if realising that it was a bad idea and let his hand drop back to his side.

Despite myself and the turbulent emotions I felt, I laughed at his question. 

“You mean if I missed being a pawn in your games? If I miss being your foot match, doormat and anger relief? If I miss the pain you both caused me? Hell yeah, I do. And that is why I want you both to get far away from me!” 

“If you think you're safe, free and prioritised by Dominus, you're mistaken. I thought you'd be wiser to have been with the one who saved you.” Adonai pointed out, making me wonder what he meant by the one who saved me. 

It was Dominus Maruto who had saved me. He told me that. Oh, and I fucking believed him and that was why I signed the contract without reading it. I hope this isn't what I am thinking!

I opened my mouth to respond, but I stopped when a familiar powerful smell hit my nostrils. Still trying to place my finger on who that overpowering and knee-weakening smell belonged to, I felt his presence behind me.

“When someone says get far away from me, it means leave me the fuck alone and never come finding me again! Need I remind you both how to run?” His thick and resounding voice sent goosebumps down my skin.

Without hesitation, the twin alphas started backing away from me. The guards took flight as well, well aware of who he was and what he would do to them if they dared try to stop him.

I turned slowly to look at the man standing beside me now, looking exactly the same way he had looked when I first saw him standing in his uncle's sitting room.

“It was you.” I swallowed hard, silently hoping that I'd made another mistake. 

“Was it?” he drawled.

His eyes locked with mine. For a while, we stood there, staring at each other and waiting for whatever magnet pulling us together to break.

“I recognised your voice.” My guard deflated, so I lowered my gaze as he stood unmoving, his gaze never wavering. “...but I couldn't remember where I had heard it.”

“Little thing,” his voice was a mere whisper as he spoke.

His Adam's apple rose as he swallowed and let his hand which held a satchel just like a week ago, fall to his side with little effort. My eyes looked everywhere but at his face, and I felt my heart race at the simple movement.

“You ended up becoming my uncle's toy. You've got people who want to kill you by all means, and now you're in the grasp of the most selfish and greedy man.” He shook his head and brought his face closer to mine as if he meant to sniff it. “You're pathetic.” 

As my eyes widened, he straightened himself and brushed his hair back with his fingers before turning to walk away. 

“Breathe, Little thing. You'll need lots of air to survive.” Deklan said as he threw his bag over his shoulder again and disappeared into thin air. 

How did he know that I was holding my breath when I had no idea? Could he read my mind as well? Is that like a family hidden power? This is the second time that I have seen him vanish. Does he have teleportation powers? Who exactly is Deklan, aside from being Dominus's nephew?

“Breathe,” My wolf purred, sounding excited. 

“Bitch.” 

Releasing a deep breath, I clutched at my racing heart and went to sit back down as I felt my knees threaten to give in. I can't be responding this way to that man who is so full of himself! 

And how could I be the mate of the twin Alphas? Am I cursed?