Power Bond - Odessa POV

Rain, thunder, and lightning all around me. The wind is whistling through the trees. My heart is wound tight in my chest as I rush to get to the top of a hill that looks down over a battle field.

“Arius…”

My large black wolf steps up to my side, he’s larger than any normal wolves, but he is no werewolf. Tilting his head back, he releases a loud, ghostly howl. My cloak billows around me as I hear the fighting pause below us.

Now, it’s my turn and I know I am not too late. I lift a flute and begin to play it. Though, oddly, no sound comes out. As I play though, the rogues begin to act oddly. They whine and whimper, surprising the king and his men as they watch.

I haven’t lifted a single finger other than to hold the flute to my lips. Suddenly, all rogues in the area turn and begin running toward me, seeking to destroy what’s causing the noise.

Arius growls lowly and bares his teeth, his fur stands on end. While the soldiers and king watch, his fur begins to spark, like little streaks of blue lightning streaking across his fur.

Right as they begin to run up the hill, he takes off with a flash. He zips from one rogue to the next, clawing or biting throats out. His movements are so fast, the king can barely keep up.

The king and his men only hesitate so long before they rush in from behind the rogues, pinning them against the hill.

Between my flute, Arius, and the warriors, we make quick work of the rogues. Two are captured alive and the rest have been taken out.

I lower my flute, Arius comes back to my side and we turn to leave. Before I make it more than ten steps, a deep, rumbling voice speaks from behind me.

“Wait. Who are you? Are you an enemy?”

I pause and consider things before turning a little. I’ve not actually spoken a word to anyone in such a long time. In this case, I can smell and sense this person to be of utmost importance to me. Being close, even with the storm around us, is intoxicating. He smells of storms and apple blossoms to me. Regardless, I know I can’t allow myself to relax. However, I do decide to answer.

Lucky for me, he can’t smell me as I’ve taken precautions to cover my scent.

“My name is Odessa Donovan, soul survivor of the Evergrove Pack.”

*************************************

*Levantus POV*

To stand before a cloaked figure and a giant wolf is disconcerting enough. To learn that the warrior who has been taking on rogues is a woman is another. Add that I cannot smell anything about her.

By now Jasper has joined my side and he asks the next question.

“How by the Goddess did you do that?”

The cloaked woman tilts her head to the side a little bit.

“A lot of training.”

I frown at her short answers, something about her is putting my lycan on edge, but not in a way that speaks threat.

“You didn’t answer me, are you a threat?”

Odessa sighs and rests a hand on the top of her wolf’s head. He hasn’t shown an ounce of aggression toward any of us. When she speaks, it always has a tone of sadness to it.

“Perhaps we should get out of the rain and then I will be more than happy to answer any of your questions the best that I can.”

I narrow my eyes at her.

“Would you be willing to travel back to the palace with us for a discussion?”

For a long while, Odessa seems to be quietly considering my request. Meanwhile Jasper mind links me.

~ Sire, are you sure about this?~

~Yes. I want to have the chance to understand her and her abilities along with her wolf. I can’t smell her… can you? ~

~ No sir, I can’t. ~

She finally speaks up after a moment.

“Yes, I will come back with you to the palace as long as Arius is welcome there as well.”

“Done.”

Having her agreement settles and excites something in me, but I don’t know why. Even my lycan is pacing in my mind, something about her seems important. Maybe it’s just the power she seems to possess. Either way, she’s coming along and we can try to learn more about her.

Getting back to the men, I motion for Odessa to join me on my horse after I’ve mounted. I reach an arm down, she seems to hesitate before grabbing hold of my arm by my elbow. I hoist her up and she easily swings behind me onto my horse. Arius steps up beside my horse, ready to run with us.

The fallen members of my pack are lifted onto the backs of their horses to be brought home to their families and honored for their bravery. Some of the men stay to burn the bodies of the rogues, they’ll follow soon after that’s finished.

As the storm finally begins to die down, we make our way home.

************************************

We ride for the rest of the night, all of us too restless to settle after the events that unfolded. We are too close to home to find a need to stop.

By early morning, we ride through the city gates, heading toward my castle at the city center. The hooves of our horses awaken some of the people of my pack, causing them to peek out their windows and doors to see what the commotion is about.

Before long, we reach the courtyard of the palace and begin to dismount. After a quick debriefing, I release the men to go home to get some rest.

Turning, I focus on the woman at my side and find myself floored. Her hood has fallen back to reveal raven hair, the light of dawn causes rainbows to shimmer in the long strands. Her beauty takes my breath away, but that isn’t what truly floors me. Her eyes, her eyes are a dull shadow violet. She’s blind.

This revelation causes me to stand in shocked silence for a beat too long. Jasper ends up stepping up to us and places his hand on my shoulder as he speaks.

“Come with me, my lady, I will show you to a room where you can bathe and rest. We will have food brought to you. Later today, we can meet reconvene.”

Odessa’s head turns in Jasper’s direction, she simply nods her head before holding her hand out. Jasper takes it gently and tucks it into her arm before guiding her away.

I couldn’t even say one word in that moment.