Elaine POV
“A blood promise?” Opal hissed.
My head was spinning I couldn’t get a grip on reality. I was back home with Opal, locked in my bedroom. I felt sick for making her come back. Richie wouldn’t have asked her to go back if it wasn’t for me. Azaire hated me and it made Dove weak.
She curled into a corner and wept she couldn’t explain why I lied and broke his heart. I knew it had something to do with the blood promise but was it so powerful it alerted my thinking?
“I don’t know, Opal. My head’s not on straight.”
“All I know is you lied, Elaine. It was horrible.”
Tears stung my eyes. I wanted to crawl into my bed and die because I couldn’t believe I hurt them all when the Pack had been attacked. Uncle Damien was in the hospital and he might not walk again.
“Okay, we’ll figure this out.”
I nodded. “I hope so.”
“You have to tell Azaire you lied though.”
“I didn’t lie,” I said, but I was lying! I didn’t have control over my mind right now.
I didn’t sound like the normal me. I sounded like a robot.
Opal grabbed my hands and squeezed them. “This isn’t you, honey. You would never hurt anyone like this. You’re not like your Father.”
“I’m loyal to my Father,” I said but in my heart, it wasn’t true.
“You sound brainwashed! Where’s Blazer? I have to talk to him.” She stood abruptly.
I shook my head, taking her hand and bringing her back to me.
“Please stop. I’m exhausted. I just want to rest.”
“I just want to fix things.”
“I don’t think you can,” I whispered. “Can we talk about something else?” I wanted a little sense of normalcy. “Let’s talk about your baby. You were serious about that, right? Richie didn’t seem surprised.”
She sighed. “That’s because he already knew. He told me!”
“Yeah, wolves are very sensitive to their babies.”
She blushed and tucked a strand behind her ear. “It happened so soon! I wouldn’t want it any other way though. I feel so free when I’m with Richie. To think I couldn’t stand him when we met. In a way, I hated him my whole life.”
“I get what you mean. I didn’t like Azaire either but I can’t think of my life any other way now. I know he wants kids too but he’s being so considerate of my dreams.” I covered my face with my hands and sobbed.
Dad kept showing how horrible he was. He had no mercy and no emotions towards his children. He didn’t care who he hurt. I needed to remind myself there was no redemption for him.
“Stop crying! That won’t help us. I’m going to find Blazer because he seems like the only brother who gives a fuck. I think because he didn’t show up at the Blood Moon Pack is a good sign. He didn’t know about their plan.”
“I don’t want you to get in trouble, Opal,” I sniffled.
“Elaine, I’m pregnant without an official mate. My Mother’s about to disown me. There’s nothing worse I can do at this point.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Just stop. Pull yourself together. We need a plan. I’ll be back as soon as I talk to Blazer.”
Opal was right. I contemplated calling Azaire but that would only make things worse. I couldn’t tell Opal the truth and I doubted I could tell Azaire. My poor mate. I broke his heart.
“Alright,” I stood.
I walked to the mirror. I was a witch my magic was strong there had to be a way to find out what was wrong with me. Blood promises were like contracts they didn’t have the power to control your mind and make you lie! When Mom was bound by the blood promise not to reveal Dad’s crazy plan she didn’t lie she just couldn’t tell the truth.
“Aha! That’s it. My Mother.”
She would know what to do. I tried not to sound worried but the second she picked up the phone my voice cracked and she found me out. I couldn’t hide the truth from her so I told her about the blood promise and Dad showing up and taking me away I couldn’t say I lied to Azaire, but I was adamant something was wrong.
“I wish you hadn’t made that promise Elaine. Your Dad’s plan is nearing its destined time.”
“You still can’t tell me,” I said.
“Unfortunately, honey. I think the only one not under the blood promise is Avena and she’s so loyal she would never confess.”
“Not without being threatened,” I grumbled.
“She doesn’t know what love is so she doesn’t love anything. There’s nothing you can threaten her with Elaine. Now I need you to stand by a window.”
“Why?”
“In case you need to jump out of it,” She said casually.
I didn’t like where this was going.
“Now, I need you to take the hand you made the blood promise on. This is a powerful spell so you might need to draw power from your wolf.”
“Okay.”
As Mom recited a spell in a foreign language for me to repeat I clawed energy from Dove. A tiny cut opened up on my forehead and I winced.
“The spell should reveal any evil mark on your body. Hold your hand to the sun.”
I did as she told me to and raised my hand to the sun. My heart jumped to my throat. A skull tattoo was etched into my skin where Dad cut my skin to make the blood promise.
“I-it worked. He did this to me!”
“A seasoned witch would have known what Laiken did,” she said remorsefully. “I would remove the mark myself but the spell Avena cast won’t let me leave town. Elaine, I feel so helpless.”
“I’m just as powerful as Avena, Mom if not more. I’ll take care of this.”
“Is that so?” Avena’s chilling voice rose up my spine.
I hadn’t heard the door open. She stood near my bed with her arms in front of herself.
“Talking to Mother dearest I see. I hope she knows we’ll be sharing a title soon. You’ll have to get used to calling me Mom soon. Your Father and I are getting married.”
Gross.
“I’ll call you back, Mom.”
“Be careful, but take her out.”
I tossed my phone on the bed.
“You’ve known Laiken a long time but you still don’t know how cruel he is. He won’t marry you. It’s against sacred law for wolves to marry other creatures.”
“It’s also against sacred law to mate with other creatures and produce hybrids yet here you are.”
“He wouldn’t jeopardize his throne like that. He cares more about his Pack than he does about anyone else.”
Avena raised her hand to curse me but I unleashed my power and blocked her spell. Redirected spells bounced all over my room, burning holes in the walls and my cute carpet but in the end my spell got hold of Avena, sucking the air from her lungs. She couldn’t utter anything. She battled to loosen the invisible hand around her neck.
“It’s over,” I rasped, exhaustion taking over but I forced myself to be strong.
Avena dropped to her knees.
The door swung open again this time Dad and Nik burst into my room.
“Elaine stop!” Dad ordered.
“She’s tried to kill me more than once!” I yelled.
“Help,” Avena whispered.
Dad shifted into a wolf instantly. Before I could think the wolf jumped and shoved me against the wall. I hit my head so hard that everything went black quickly.