Wolf Mated, page 4
Selene frowned. “Bracelet!”
There was no response.
Ciaran suggested, "You might want to try addressing it as 'Computer'."
Selene nodded in agreement. "Computer, I'm Selene. I'm a goddess. What do humans know about me?"
"It's it is an honor to meet you, Goddess Selene. Humans know that you often hailed in myth and tale as one of the most enchanting deities of the Greek Pantheon. Known for your immaculate beauty and a luminous aura that rivals the moon you govern. You have inspired human poets, artists, and dreamers for millennia. Your love stories, particularly with Endymion, are often cited as epitomes of passionate and unyielding love. The mere sight of your chariot drawing the moon across the night sky has been a symbol of hope, love, and illumination in darkness for countless generations..."
Selene smiled. Ivy could tell she was pleased with what she heard.
Then the computer continued: "In some legends, people were told you are so enthralled by your mortal lover that she chose to cast him into eternal slumber, essentially stripping him of choice and agency to ensure he remains ageless and hers forever ..."
“That's enough,” Selene halted the machine from uttering any more words. “I'm not sure why you're asking it to judge my love ..."
"It's a machine, it's not judging you, Selene," Ciaran reassured her. "It merely reports the data. I'm saying it only provides unbiased facts. My point is, you can ask it about our family tree."
Selene nodded in agreement. "All right, Computer, tell me where Alexandre is."
"I apologize, your search criteria is too broad. There are many humans with that name."
"What is it saying?" Selene's eyes clouded with irritation.
"It needs more specific information, Selene." Ivy explained.
Selene bared her teeth in a low growl, her eyes narrowing as she pressed the figure before her. "Is Alexandre LeBlanc related to Ciaran and Killian LeBlanc?"
"Ciaran LeBlanc and Killian LeBlanc are indeed connected by blood, but there is no record of an Alexandre with that same family name."
"How far in the past does this line trace back?"
"I can provide a detailed lineage reaching all the way back to the 11th century. Would you like for me to compile a list of them and send it to you?"
"No need," Selene snarled. "Just tell me which families currently contain an Alexandre, Computer."
"Certainly. Would you like to start with records of deceased or alive individuals?"
Selene looked at Ivy, then back at the watch. She didn't look as if she knew the answer.
"I don't know if he's dead or alive."
The watch hummed for haft a second. "Which age group would you like me to start listing?"
Selene glanced back at Ivy, then again to the machine.
Ciaran cleared his throat. "It should be obvious to you now that Alexandre is not a part of our family. I'd be happy to gift you this watch so that you may search further, but we must leave now."
Selene examined the watch, and shook her head. "I am aware I cannot use it without your assistance. But I have no intention to let you two boys accompany me into my realm. Still, I can take Ivy—it is safer for her to be with me."
Killian stepped forward in front of Ivy. "She is my mate; I can't allow you to take her away."
Selene chuckled. "Ah, so I heard. You rescued her from the depths of the underworld, far away from Samuel's grasp. Well done indeed. But isn't this precisely why you came here? Seeking help from that disgraced monk working for a lower level deities?"
As if on cue when Selene mentioned him, Tenzin grumbled groggily as he sat up on the ground, panting.
Ivy stepped forward, but Killian, once more, stepped between her and Selene. He was too tall, he blocked Ivy's view of Selene and Tenzin.
"None of us is going to go with you, Selene. We can take care for Ivy." Killian said.
Ivy stepped aside as Killian moved out of the way. As her view cleared, she saw Tenzin standing up behind Selene. He was still missing an arm and his shoulder wound was gone, yet he didn't seem to be in pain anymore.
He hunched and lunged forward.
“Duck!” Ivy shouted to Selene.
Without hesitation, Ciaran drew his gun and pulled the trigger at Tenzin’s head. His cranium burst apart, splattering a grisly scene as his body crashed onto the ground. Its spasms died out almost immediately, leaving nothing but silence in its wake.
Ivy watched as Tenzin’s soul drifted away from his corpse and vanished into nothingness.
Selene gave an amused smirk. ”If that was your way of trying to save me, then thank you, although it was unnecessary. He was merely mortal; no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t harm someone with my divine powers.”
Killian shook his head. "We have no intention of getting involved with the divine business..."
"You had already gotten involved the moment you tried to take Ivy away from Samuel."
“She is my soulmate. Would you rather I let her be held captive in the underworld? Whether or not Ivy accepts a relationship with you, you and she are related. If you care for her, then let her stay with us. She was born and raised among humans and the supernatural community in this realm. You can't offer her what we have.”
“I can speak for myself, Killian!” Ivy glared at him.
Ivy stepped forward. "I appreciate your concern, Selene, but I belong here, with Killian and Ciaran. There are things that need to be settled, enemies that need to be faced."
Selene scrutinized her with an inscrutable gaze. A moment passed, and then, with a graceful nod, she conceded, "Very well. I shall respect your wishes, Ivy."
With a flourish of her moonlit cloak, Selene disappeared into the night sky, leaving the trio in an eerie silence that lingered heavily.
Ciaran, his expression contemplative, ushered Killian and Ivy towards the chopper.
As they approached, a sense of foreboding clutched at Ivy’s heart, her eyes falling upon the lifeless body of their pilot. Gasping, she hurried to his side, kneeling and whispering a gentle apology to his spirit.
Ciaran sighed, glancing warily towards the mountains.
"It must’ve been Tenzin. When he couldn’t get to us due to your protective spell, Ivy, he targeted the chopper driver."
His words hung heavily in the air as they all boarded the chopper, Ciaran assuming the role of the pilot. The engine roared to life and they ascended, leaving behind the sinister depths of the wilderness.
In the uneasy tranquility that enveloped the cabin, Ivy murmured, "When Tenzin attacked earlier, he lunged at you, Ciaran, not Selene or Killian.”
His knuckles whitened around the controls. "Why would he want me?"
"I'm not sure," Ivy admitted, her voice laced with a thread of trepidation. "But I sense an intense hunger in him, an insatiable need for something more...something specific."
Killian, his eyes focused on the receding ground below, added, “At least we managed to eliminate Selene’s suspicion about Alexandre for now. It’s certain that the Alexandre she's searching for doesn’t belong to our family.”
Ciaran’s voice cut through the low hum of the chopper, his words laden with an unspoken concern. "I'm not sure we've cleared anything, Killian."
Ivy turned to him, her eyes probing. "What do you mean?"
Ciaran's expression tightened, "Before letting Selene ask the watch any questions, I coded it to give a negative response to any inquiry related to the name 'Alexandre LeBlanc.' So, the answer she received was predetermined by me, not the truth."
Killian’s eyes narrowed, his gaze locking onto Ciaran. "You did what?"
Ivy’s heart skipped a beat, an unsettling chill creeping into her veins. "So we don’t know if Alexandre is connected to our family or not?"
"Until I get the chance to do proper research myself, we won’t know anything for sure," Ciaran confirmed, his voice grim.
They exchanged anxious glances, the chopper slicing through the darkened skies, taking them away from the immediate danger but propelling them into a future veiled with uncertainties and secrets.
With a gentle lurch, the chopper ascended into the enigmatic abyss of the night.
Killian enveloped Ivy into his comforting arms, his scent, a blend of earth and forest, cocooned her within a reassuring tranquility.
Her eyelids, heavy with an unseen burden, surrendered to the weight, and as her conscious mind slipped into oblivion, a dark, boundless space embraced her.
Ivy found herself in an unnervingly familiar, gothic, and desolate street. Her calls resonated through the cobbled paths, disappearing into the spectral mist enveloping the sinister darkness. Drawn towards a faint, eerie glow, she gravitated towards an ancient inn that seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy.
The sign on the inn read: The Hanged Man Inn.
Realization struck Ivy's mind; this was the inn in the between world that Ciaran and she had come to rescue Killian from before.
Her footsteps reverberated ominously as she pushed open the weather-beaten door, revealing an interior draped in an eerie, dim light.
There, perched by the mantle of a smoldering fireplace, was Sable, the witch who’d aided Killian in the past. Her eyes, ancient and inscrutable, locked onto Ivy, a cryptic smile forming on her ageless face.
"Welcome, Ivy," the witch greeted, her voice a harmony intertwined with melancholy and foreboding. "We’ve been expecting your arrival."
Ivy, engulfed by a combination of dread and curiosity, approached cautiously.
“There is someone you should meet, particularly now that you’re part of the LeBlanc family."
Ivy snorted. "I don't remember announcing this news on social media. How could it spread so fast?"
The witch gestured toward a shadowy corner of the inn.
Emerging from the velvety darkness was a man, elegant, yet harboring an abyss of sorrow and malevolence within his eyes.
The hair behind Ivy's neck stood up, but she didn't want to confirm her suspicion.
"I'm Alexandre LeBlanc. Welcome to the family, Ivy."
The man gracefully took Ivy’s hand, planting a gentle kiss upon it.
A searing pain, both physical and metaphysical, surged through her at the point of contact, igniting a maelstrom of images and emotions within her soul.
“Ouch!”
With a sharp intake of breath, Ivy jolted awake. She was back in the safety of the chopper, protected by Killian’s embrace, away from the phantasmal inn and Alexandre. Her heart raced, and her skin glowed with a sheen of cold sweat under the chopper’s dim light.
“It was just a dream,” Ivy whispered to herself.
“If it was a wet dream, I hope I was in it!” Killian planted a gentle kiss on her cheek.
She snorted in response. “After you left me at the sanctuary, you think I'd let you into my wet dreams?”
“I'm sorry; we have to talk about this. I can explain, then you can do whatever it is that you want with me.”
“Be careful what you promise, Killian. I can come up with all sorts of torture you've never heard of…”
As her fingers subconsciously grazed her hand, they brushed against a tender spot compelling her gaze downwards. There, on her pale skin, a vivid red mark blossomed precisely where Alexandre's lips had touched her in the dream—or whatever that encounter had been.
“What is this?” Killian asked as he gently touched the red mark.
“I must have bumped into something when we were crossing the stone path…”
Chapter
Six
Ciaran's call had barely ended when Viv’s exuberant shout echoed through the sanctuary. “Hell yeah! He's gonna get me the weirdest Aussie thing he can find at the airport!”
Nina was slightly disheartened when Ivy stayed quiet during the call. Yet, they were in mid-flight at the time. Ciaran kept his words brief, as he didn't want to entertain the possibility that their call might be intercepted.
They were arriving at Melbourne Airport, instead of the private airfield from which they had departed.
Looking at Viv, Nina couldn't help but smile.
The fourteen year old's enthusiasm was radiating throughout the room. The young druid had formed a genuine connection with the Sanctuary, with the pack, and especially with Ciaran.
Nina pondered what kind of life Viv had before she escaped from her clan.
“Watch your language, young lady,” Damien cautioned gently, an amused smirk making his rebuke less severe. His gaze lingered on Viv, observing her without commenting.
He was beginning to understand how the pack worked. Being Killian's protégé carried a heavy burden. Nina could discern that Damien relished this role. He didn't choose to be turned into a werewolf. But when it happened, he accepted the new life as a wolf shifter, taking in all the good, bad and ugly of the pack lifestyle.
Nina leaned nonchalantly against the wall, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips. “Define weird, Viv. He might bring you a live kangaroo. Remember he's British - for him, the roos are exotic."
Viv snorted, trying to disguise the anxiousness in her eyes with a glint of mischief. “If he does, I'm going to name it after you, Nina.”
Damien interjected, "Okay ladies, we have a lot of work to do before they arrive. Viv, can I get your help?"
“I’m fuckin’ peachy, Damien.”
"I'm not sure what that means," he chuckled, "But I guess it's a yes."
"That's a yes, sir!" she joked mockingly with a salute.
"We need you to watch the pet. Nina and I have to oversee the alpha challenge, which will take place outside the Sanctuary. Though it's close enough, there could be a lot of strange shifters around that might make the pet anxious."
Viv glanced at the Pixies, the puppy husky, Snuggleworth, the brown Cavoodle, and Samba the cat before turning back to Damien. "Can I play with them? I'll pay you if you let me."
Damien chuckled. "You don't have any money, Viv. So, can you take care of these animals?"
"Fuh ..."
Damien wagged a finger. "I'll tell Ciaran if you use another foul word. You know he doesn't put up with that."
Nina smiled at Viv. “Damien is just kidding. He wouldn't rat on you. But, surely you know Ciaran likes fancy speeches...”
"He sure does talk well. All right, fine, I'll look after the pets."Without another word, Viv carried the beloved pets out to the backyard.
Viv was in her element around animals; taking care of them was more of a joy than a chore for her.
As serenity returned to the room, Nina eyed Damien. There was a fleeting trace of weariness in his gaze, only to disappear just as quickly as it came. She knew that the energy from his wolf shifter side had made him strong, especially since he now had Killian's blood running through his veins. But it was the mental exhaustion that she saw.
“Have you thought about what kind of challenges to add to the pre-event? I’m sure there’s something to drag this out for at least another day or two. I can help you with that.”
Damien sighed, his gaze heavy with concern, yet masked by the unwavering calm that had become a hallmark of his leadership. “I’ve considered a few options. Extending some challenges, adding new ones...But every change I make draws more attention and criticism, especially from Lachlan and his followers.”
“Lachlan doesn’t have many followers, Damien, he’s barely part of the pack.”
He nodded. "You're right. It's his father's camp that I'm referring to."
Nina nodded. She had met Merrick Drury once, and that encounter hadn't exactly left a good impression with her. "Killian said Merrick was here even before Killian's father joined the pack," she said warily. "There must be a reason he never asked his son to get involved, until now."
Damien shrugged. "Maybe he's still not asking; Lachlan just works his way in. If Lachlan has his father's support, he wouldn't need to sign up with Adam, correct?"
Nina nodded. "True. Why don't we use Lachlan’s arrogance against him? Let him think he’s gaining the upper hand while you’re orchestrating everything behind the scenes.”
“I'm not sure if he'll fall for the trap. Lachlan has his reasons to be arrogant, Nina. Killian saw something in me, believed in me. But I didn't earn this deputy position through challenge and combat. Sometimes I can't help but feel like a placeholder.”
She stepped closer, placing a gentle, supportive hand on his arm. “Damien, you’re here because you have the strength, wisdom, and compassion that this pack needs. That's earning it in my book.”
She lifted her hand, gracefully pushing the lock of hair away from his forehead. Staring deeply into his emerald-green eyes, she stood on the tips of her toes and leaned in for a passionate kiss, but before their lips could meet, the intercom buzzed.
The crackling voice through the sanctuary’s announcement system declared a visitor for Viv, waiting at the gate.
Damien switched on the screen. On the intercom, he saw a man in his 50s, his gray hair cascading down in thick waves, partially pulled back in a braided tail. His skin, although etched with lines and wrinkles, had an inherent vitality to it, like old leather worn smooth over time. Piercing green eyes, which held the wisdom of many years and countless secrets, stared intently into the camera.
He was adorned in a blend of traditional and modern attire; a long dark coat with Celtic embroidery and a modern shirt underneath. An intricately carved wooden staff, hinting at his druid lineage, rested beside him.
"My name is Eamon O’Connell," his voice was as deep and rich as old wood, "I'm a member of the druid clan. I'm here to see Vivian."
Nina peered through the small window and saw Viv in the backyard. The animals, sensing the tense atmosphere, circled her nervously. Although there was a distance between them, Nina could feel the unmistakable energy of mage magic emanating from the gate's direction.
Viv couldn't possibly make out the words coming through the intercom, but Viv stared back at Nina, questioning.
