Chapter Five: An Omen of Ruin

Talon’s POV:

I’ve always liked to play with fire, and I don’t mean that metaphorically.

The pain of the flames was no match to the pain of the ache I felt deep within me.

And looking at this boy, that was somehow fire personified, I couldn’t help but feel a connection to him that I am unable to describe.

“Alpha,” my Beta, Kai, started as he walked into the room that I had asked our new guest to be placed in while I watched over him. I was eager to see what other tricks he had up his sleeve. Eager to feel the burn of his flames again.

“The pack elders are deciding on what to do with the witch and they seek your presence so the council meeting can begin.”

“If they seek my presence then I would have been notified before they gathered,” I responded curtly. I still couldn’t bring myself to take my eyes off the white-haired boy curled up in the sheets with a pleased smile on his face.

I wonder what he was dreaming about.

“The presence of a witch on pack grounds is unprecedented. The elders think a coven might be gathering and—”

“Silence.”

Kai bowed his head sharply.

“I’ll handle the fire-starter. Tell the council to disperse,” I said, turning to face Kai for the first time since he walked into the room. He was a buff man with short brown hair and was easily the strongest wolf in my pack, but he was still just a boy to me. I’ve known him since he was in diapers.

Everyone was a child if you lived as long as I have.

“Yes, Alpha,” he answered, his head still bowed, but he didn’t leave.

“Well?” I asked as I arched a brow at him.

“Can I speak freely, Alpha?” he asked.

“What’s on your mind?”

He heaved a sigh before he started to speak.

“I share the worries of the elders. This boy could be a scout for the witches and you marked him instead executing him like the laws demand. We cannot afford to be caught off guard if they have somehow found a way to gather, especially after the devastating loss they took during the war.”

“Are you questioning my decision?”

He dropped on his knees so quickly I could have sworn I heard a crack.

“My Alpha. My Lord. I could never,” He rushed out, his head still bowed but with both knees on the floor.

“Then enough with the theatrics, Kai. If you are so worried then you should be patrolling the borders for the pack's safety.”

“Patrolling is pointless if the enemy is already within, Alpha.”

“Why are you so certain?”

“Because I know what the presence of a witch means for this pack. I know what he is,” Kai finished as he raised his head to glare at the white-haired boy on the bed.

I let out a humorless chuckle. “I didn’t know my Beta was psychic. Please, enlighten me.”

“An omen of ruin,” Kai said, with a somber expression as his gaze left the bed to fall back on me. “That boy will bring destruction on us for his kind.”

“I’ve heard enough of your conspiracy theories, Malakai. I’ve lived ten of your lifetimes. Lived in an age where witches were not persecuted on sight. So trust my judgement. The little match stick is harmless.”

I turned to face the white-haired boy laying in the bed, carrying my mark. A mark I had not given anyone in almost a hundred years.

I had marked him instinctively. My wolf had never had such a reaction to anyone in all my years. In fact, my wolf barely left the dark corners of my mind, barely interacted with me.

I don’t even know its name.

But it had clawed its way out to mark this boy.

Just who, no… What is he?

He doesn’t smell like a witch, doesn’t have that earthy, musky scent they often had, and he clearly wasn’t a vampire either. Some bloodsuckers have very powerful abilities but I doubt they’d be able to wield one of this magnitude.

“He smells like a wolf,” I mused out loud.

Kai, still on his knees, answered. “I thought so as well, it was why I called him a rogue when he first crossed the borders last night. It must be some sort of witch trick.”

“For someone that has never met a witch, you sure have a lot of theories concerning them.”

He flushed a soft red, and faked a cough to hide his embarrassment.

“I, uhh, read a lot of history in the archives.”

“No wonder your head is filled with all manner of conspiracy theories,” I muttered dryly. “Return to the council and disperse the meeting, and when you’re done, go back to patrolling.”

“Yes, Alpha.” He stood up and gave me a small bow before finally exiting the room, leaving me and the human-sized puzzle alone once again.

I paced along the corners of the bed, watching him sleep, wondering what dreams plagued him.

A small tent slowly grew where I’m guessing was his crotch area and I chuckled softly to myself.

I sat beside the bed, my huge frame enveloping half the bed as I leaned over to him, brushing a strand of rogue white hair off his face.

“You better be dreaming of me, little one,” I said softly as I watched him. “You belong to me now. Only me.”

He let out a soft sigh and rolled over to face me like he was reacting to my voice.

The soft morning light rolling in from the window lit up his face gently, like the sunlight was caressing him.

His features were soft, delicate, like he was a life sized doll.

He had a subtle heart-shaped face, with long, dark lashes that cast faint shadows over his eyes that, even closed, seemed to hold a quiet strength.

His lips were full and naturally rosy, slightly parted in sleep in a way that was almost inviting and against my better judgement, I leaned in even closer. Like a sailor drawn to his death by a siren’s song.

His lips looked soft, so delicious. I wanted to taste him.

Just one taste…

I leaned him so closely that I could feel his breath mingling with mine, creating an aroma that intoxicated my sharp senses.

I shouldn’t.

It was an invasion of his privacy. I had marked him against his will already. Kissing him without his consent would—

His eyes fluttered open.

Beautiful, bright green eyes that would put every emerald stone to shame.

I was spell bound.

Those beautiful green eyes quickly fluttered from sleepy confusion to a very wide-awake anger.

“YOU FUCKING PERVERT!”