Bonds And Betrayals

7.

I always knew Abbati was unhinged. Always knew he'd do anything for power. Always knew he had only his best interest at heart.

But this, this was…too much. This was stooping too low, even for someone like him. But I guessed it made it easier for him to lie about my identity, because he had ALWAYS kept me hidden.

I kept my head down, my body shaking, my hands clasped in front of me, hoping desperately that Abbati wouldn't see me. That he wouldn't notice. At least now, with the fake me present, I may escape the possibility of becoming luna.

“Everyone out!” Turk hissed, letting go of me and pushing me towards Blade. “Get her out of here and wait for my instructions.”

“Yes, Sabbene.”

Blade gripped my wrist, and yanked me towards the door. I still kept my head down, hoping and praying Abbati wouldn't notice me. Even more so was my fear that he may sense me, sense Ash, because while the potion may have worked here, I wasn't sure the connection with Abbati wouldn't flare up.

Thankfully though, we made it to the door without anyone calling us back.

“You dare come into my pack after days of silence?” I heard Turk snarled, and for a moment, I wished I could turn around and watch Abbati get chastised. “After days of ignoring me and making me look stupid, then you waltz in and bring…” the words trailed off as the door shut behind us, and the cold night breeze hit me square on my flushed face.

Only then did I release a deep sigh, and for the first time since Abbati showed up, I felt Ash stir.

‘That was…’ her voice was hoarse, shaking from fear. ‘I thought…I wasn't…’

‘Deep breath,’ I called, trying to soothe her. But because the bond is very thin now with the potion, there was little I could do for her. ‘We are safe. We are okay.’

‘But for how long?!’ she practically screamed, pacing around in my head. ‘How long until we survive this nightmare and be free? Until when will we bloom and be happy, Sasha?’

I got what she was talking about. Knew how lonely we both had always been. More so I than her. The first seventeen years of my life were brutal. I had no one with me. Arnold was the only one who snuck in to see me, and even he wasn't free of Abbati's punishment when he found him in the attic. Arnold, who took the risk to meet with a witch and get me a potion to get away. My brother whom the world knew, while I remained hidden. Arnold, who I was supposed to contact when I was safe so he'd know where to bring my next potion. But I couldn't anymore, because I lost my backpack, the one I stored his contact information in.

There was also Inna Mari, my wet mother, the woman who breastfed me as a baby, before Abbati sent her away when I turned four.

I still remember her kind face. Her warmth. Her laughter. The stories she told me about my mum every night. But Abbati said that was making me weak, so he sent Inna Mari away.

Loneliness had always been a part of me. But when I got Ash’s spirit five years ago at seventeen years old, it was easier, because I had someone with me. Now at twenty-two years old, three months shy of being twenty three, I had never experienced what a true connection with another person felt like.

‘Some day, all this will be history, Ash. Let's just endure it.’

‘Our mate…’

The air thickened, my heartbeat picking up, my senses went into overdrive with a scent that had buried itself in my memories. And without turning, even before he spoke, I knew he was here.

“Blade,” he called, and his voice, oh his voice was…everything.

“Yes, Yallabai?” Blade paused, turning to face Bello.

He wasn't alone. He was with the man he had arrived with earlier, and the man was looking at me…strangely.

“Funny I returned home to find my brother acquainted with a lady I never met,” he said, stopping before us. He looked tired, yet very handsome. He had a skin cut haircut, three quarter beard unlike his brother’s bushy one. Russet brown skin tone. Piercing golden eyes. Rippling muscles, the type wrestlers have.

“I…he…the Alpha…”

“No need to make excuses. I know he found her on his trip, didn't he? But a human? Why did he choose a human? Wasn't he going to marry Lamido’s daughter?”

Blade cleared his throat, tugging me closer to him. “I have no right to discuss Sabbene’s business, Yallabai. I apologize for that.”

“Right right,” Bello nodded, patting Blade on his shoulders. “Sorry for putting you in a situation,” his eyes zeroed in on our hands, and his jaw ticked. Why wasn't he doing anything? Why wasn't he prying me from Blade? Why wasn't he saying anything? Didn't he feel the bond? Was the potion really disrupting these things?

But then he moved closer, his hand still on Blade’s shoulder and squeezed.

Blade hissed, then grunted as I moved back, watching the scene play before me. And then I heard it, a c***k, and a muffled scream from Blade.

“Now, now, Blade. You know I hate seeing women being manhandled, don't you,” his voice was calm, but also carried a hint of danger as Blade's hand slipped from mine.

Bello stepped back, as the man behind handed him a handkerchief, wiped his hand and threw the handkerchief away, a disgusted look on his face.

“I hate getting my hands dirty,” he murmured.

“Apologies, Yallabai,” Blade panted.

“Here is a piece of advice. Next time, keep those dirty hands to yourself, or else I am going to rip your hands off. Am I understood?” Again with that calm voice, carrying that telltale sign of danger I was starting to like.

“Ye…yes, Yallabai. It was a mistake. I was simply trying to take her back to the Alpha's quarters before he finishes his meeting.”

“As his personal bodyguard, you should be by his side, especially when another Alpha is in there with him. Go, I will keep her with me until he finishes. After all, I am not sure if he'd want anything to do with her now that Lamido has arrived with his daughter, don't you think?”

“Cer…certainly, Yallabai. But…”

“Are you trying to challenge my authority, Blade?”

Blade cowered even more. “Of course not, Yallabai. I…I…”

“Leave!” Bello growled, taking a menacing step towards Blade. “And make sure you wash your hands and get rid of that scent,” his voice was low this time, and somehow, I couldn't help but notice the vibration from his body, and his scent getting overwhelming too much.

“What…what scent, Yallabai?”

“Her scent. Get rid of it before I break you into pieces. Now, out of my sight.”

And before I blinked twice, Blade had left, and I was once again being dragged by my wrist by Bello.

Only his touch was different from Blade's. It was soothing. It was warm. It was perfect. It was… EVERYTHING.

Then I was shoved into a dark room, before roughly pulled into a toe-curling, heart-stopping hug that had my insides melting in mere seconds, and turning Ash into a moaning mess.

A sound followed, guttural and gritty, vibrating between us as he spoke. His voice was calm and quiet, devoid of the harshness from a moment ago.

“I've found you. I've finally found you.”