A Wolf's Oath

by Alli, Jennifer T.

  The little girl grabbed his free hand with slightly sticky fingers before pulling him inside the house. “I’m Dylan.” She grinned leading him inside the living room and guiding him towards the sofa. “What’s your name?”

  Depositing a small basket near the door he allowed himself to be led by the small girl, sitting on the sofa and breathing deeply as Erica's scent filled his senses. “I’m Sebastian.”

  “That’s a nice name. This is my brother Wyatt.” She pulled the reluctant boy over to stand still for Sebastian's inspection.

  “Where’s your sister?” he inquired while the children climbed on to the sofa and sat either side of him.

  “Erica's in the bathroom,” Wyatt answered. “She’s been in there for ages, she never normally takes this long. What’s she doing in there?”

  “I think she might have got paint on herself,” Dylan responded easily. “I saw her yesterday as well, she was scrubbing her neck in the kitchen sink. She was washing it really hard, it’s got to be paint or something like that if she’s scrubbing her skin that hard. It looked all red and sore. It doesn’t normally take her this long to wash off paint though, she must have accidentally tipped a lot on herself.”

  Trying to get rid of me Erica? A small smile appeared on his lips at the thought. It’s not going to work sweetheart. Though he was pleased that she was constantly aware of his presence, the news that she was causing herself pain didn’t sit well with him.

  Wyatt prodded him in the ribs quickly gaining his attention. “You’re new.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Erica doesn’t get new friends. All the ones she has now have always been around. So like I said, you’re new.”

  “Oh, well I’m not from this clan,” Sebastian explained, craning his head around Wyatt as he began to search for where the bathroom was. “I met Erica at a party I was at the other day.”

  “Did you see her dress?” Dylan cooed. “It was so pretty wasn’t it?”

  “It was beautiful,” Sebastian agreed remembering the first time he had seen her standing in the moonlight in the dark blue dress.

  “Her hair was pretty too wasn’t it?”

  “Yes, she should leave it down more often.”

  “Do you think she’s pretty?” Wyatt asked his eyes lowered as he avoided Sebastian's gaze.

  “Of course I think she’s pretty. Why do you ask?”

  Ignoring Sebastian's question Wyatt continued with his own line of inquiry. “Do you want to be her boyfriend? Is that why you’re here?”

  “That’s a very odd question to ask Wyatt. Is there something wrong?”

  “If Erica gets a boyfriend or a mate, she’s going to leave us and we’re going to be all alone. If you want to be her boyfriend then I don’t want you here,” he mumbled under his breath, still avoiding looking at Sebastian.

  “Wyatt,” he sighed, sympathetic towards the young child’s insecurities. Cupping Wyatt’s chin he forced him to look at him. “Your sister loves you, she wouldn’t leave you. One day you’ll reach maturity and want a mate of your own and when you do you’ll understand that all a male wants for his mate is for her to be happy. Erica's mate wouldn’t want to break up your family because he would know that that would make her upset.”

  “Really?” he pressed.

  “Of course,” Sebastian reassured.

  “Wyatt you can be so silly some times,” Dylan scolded. “Erica told you that already. You should listen more.”

  His worries now apparently reassured, Wyatt leaned back against the sofa, his hands behind his head. “You know I’m beginning to think that it might be sort of nice for Erica to have a mate then. Everyone else in the clan who has a mate seems really happy, it would be good if Erica could be that happy.”

  At least I’m not going to have to win them over as well. They might even be willing to help me. Inside help would be very useful, he grinned.

  Erica touched the sore skin of her neck resigned to defeat, Sebastian's scent refused to fade leaving her surrounded by him. I suppose I could become a hermit, she reasoned walking down the corridor towards the living room. That way no one would need to know about my pesky mate. The sound of giggling reached her ears and was immediately dismissed as nothing of importance until the deep timbre of a man’s laugh floated along the short corridor. She moved stiffly towards the living room. As Sebastian's scent grew stronger with every step she took, nervous energy began to fill her. Standing in the doorway that opened in to the living room her body froze at the sight that greeted her eyes. Dylan and Wyatt were rolling happily on the floor with Sebastian, using his body as though it was their latest toy and he was accepting their touches with a warm smile.

  “Dylan! Wyatt! What are you doing?” she snapped. Her harsh tone stopped all laughter and she momentarily felt guilty for yelling, she rarely did so and never without a good reason. She glared at Sebastian, struggling to ignore how his playful smile made him if possible even more attractive. Just what has he told them?

  “Erica, I was beginning to wonder where you were. Are you going to join us? We were just playing a little.” He smiled, readjusting his arm behind him so that Dylan wouldn’t fall from her position on his back

  “No, I’d rather you left.”

  His smile didn’t falter in the face of her open hostility. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, I think we should all go out. What do you guys think?” he asked. The pair nodded enthusiastically and Sebastian turned back to face Erica, a wide smile now on his face.

  Not only has he turned my body and wolf against me, now he’s turned by brother and sister against me too. Her eyes narrowed as she continued to glare at him intensely.

  “I brought food,” he noted pointing to a small basket near the door.

  “Can we go Erica?” Dylan pleaded, turning large brown eyes guaranteed to make her concede on her sister.

  Erica didn’t hold out long, but she hadn’t expected to. “Fine, we can go.” It doesn’t mean I’m happy about it though, she mused, wishing that Sebastian could hear her thoughts and understand how much she disliked the idea of a mate. “Let’s just get this over with,” she snapped moving to the door and grabbing the small basket before tapping her foot impatiently as she waited for the others to join her.

  Noting the deep scowl on her sister’s face, Dylan climbed down from Sebastian's back and began to walk slowly towards her sister. “Are you ok Erica? You seem angry.”

  At Dylan's perceptive question, Erica forced her body to relax, smiling widely at her younger sister. “I’m fine Dylan, don’t worry about me. I’m just getting a little behind with all the work I need to do.” It’s not really a lie, she said, reassuring herself. I’m getting behind with my housework, but that’s to be expected when I’m constantly thinking about the mate who refused to leave.

  “We don’t have to go,” Wyatt suggested moving to stand beside his twin.

  Erica knew enough about her siblings to tell that though he had suggested calling off the trip, Wyatt was hoping that she would ignore his recommendation. His voice was muted and his eyes downcast as he tried not to look in the direction of the door. Dylan's mannerisms were slightly different, her body unconsciously leaning towards the door with a false smile plastered on her face, but the message was clear. They wanted to go.

  “No, it’s fine. We can go. I’ll do the chores later, it’s not as though they’re going any where.”

  “I’m willing to help you Erica,” Sebastian inserted, volunteering his services for whatever she required.

  A chorus of agreement flooded the room as both Dylan and Wyatt concurred loudly with Sebastian's suggestion.

  Just what I need, she sighed. He’s involving himself not just in my life but in theirs as well. If he keeps doing things like this then I’ll never be able to get rid of him.

  Good, her wolf beamed, immeasurably pleased with the idea that their mate would be nearby. I don’t want to be rid of him. He’s y
ummy and even you know it.

  Yummy? she repeated, baffled by her wolf’s choice of words.

  Yes yummy. You know, delicious? Scrumptious? Edible? You can’t tell me that you don’t want to take a bite out of him. I would in a heartbeat.

  The wolf’s words drew her gaze to Sebastian's exposed skin, his arms and neck were deliciously bare and she licked her lips imagining her mouth coming into contact with his skin. She could almost feel the warmth his skin emitted as his scent filled the room. Shaking her head to dispel her wayward thoughts, she smiled at her siblings. “Come on guys lets get going then.”

  Almost identical smiles appeared on her sibling’s faces as they ran to embrace her, hugging her legs tightly before bounding out of the door. Standing now that his body was free of Dylan and Wyatt’s added weight, Sebastian moved to the door. Upon his approach Erica immediately moved to stand outside. Grasping her wrist lightly before she could move too far out of reach, he pulled her close to him once more. “We’re going to talk mate, and this time you will neither run from me nor dismiss me as insignificant so I suggest you prepare yourself.” His warm breaths feathered across her cheek and her body shivered at the sensation.

  Just what does he want from me now? she mused before pulling her treacherous body away from his and following Dylan and Wyatt’s trail into the woods.

  Chapter Eight

  Trailing a few feet behind Erica, Sebastian found himself enjoying the gentle sway of her hips as she marched onward, determined to increase the distance between them. Allowing her the small act of rebellion, the distance between them continued to increase until she was almost out of sight. He smiled as he watched Dylan and Wyatt transform into their wolf forms, the cubs running quickly, moving further and further away from them.

  Out of earshot. He grinned, quickening his pace to reach his mate. “Erica?” She groaned upon hearing him call for her, stopping her fast pace. “I told you that I was going to talk to you so there’s no need for you to act as though you weren’t expecting this.”

  “I was hoping that you would just let it go. No, wait, what I was really hoping for was that you’d get a clue and realize that I want nothing to do with you.” She sped off again.

  He sighed, but remained still confident that she would return to him. “I know about your parents Erica, I know what happened to them.” She halted abruptly, turning to face him.

  “What did you just say?”

  “I know what happened to your mother and father Erica.”

  “Who told you?”

  “That isn’t important. I know now and there’s nothing anyone can do to change that fact now. What we need to focus on is us and our relationship.”

  “There is no us,” she hissed moving closer to him. “There is you and there is me, but there is no us.”

  “Erica, you need to accept that there is most definitely an us. You’re here so am I. We’re mates. There is no changing that fact. We’re meant to be together. The instinct is never wrong.”

  “I don’t care about the instinct Sebastian, it hasn’t done anything to benefit me in my entire life. All it’s done is take, take, take and I’m sick and tired of letting it do whatever it wants. I want nothing to do with it! So let me give you some advice, save your breath because my opinion isn’t going to change.”

  “Erica,” he sighed, resigning himself to an uphill battle.

  “My name is Eric!” she screamed. “The only people with the luxury of calling me Erica are my family of which you aren’t a part.”

  “We’re mates, there is no closer family than that Erica,” he snarled deliberately calling her by name.

  “You think you know about my family, well you don’t! You know nothing about us so don’t try to act as though you do.”

  “I will admit that I don’t know as much about you as I probably should do as your mate, but that isn’t due to lack of trying. I’m doing my best to get to know you but you refuse to talk to me, so how am I meant to know about your family?”

  “You want me to talk about my family?” Her voice was harsh, but that didn’t deter Sebastian from nodding his head in agreement. “Fine if you want to know so badly then I’ll tell you.” Her shoulders slumped as she began her tale. “I love my family more than anything in the world, I don’t know what I’d do without them. But you might have noticed that we’re pathetically small for a family of werewolves. Dylan, Wyatt and I are all that’s left of our family.” He nodded again. Erica's family of three was almost unheard of considering their immortality. “I don’t know why but the hunters seem to have a personal vendetta against us. They killed all of my grandparents, the one aunt I had, both my uncles and then finally they came for my mother.” Tears began to fill her eyes and she sobbed as unwelcome memories flooded her thoughts. “The twins couldn’t have been more than a year or two old, I’d just reached maturity and they took her from us. If that wasn’t bad enough my father, my father…” She hiccupped, before turning her tear filled gaze on Sebastian.

  The sight of her tears affected him deeply, almost as though it were a physical injury, each one feeling like a knife to the heart. He pulled her close and she continued, crying into his chest. “I thought he loved us. I really did. But your wonderful instinct took him from us. After mom died, he withdrew from the world, he didn’t care about anything or anyone and that included his family. Dylan and Wyatt were just babies but he couldn’t even try to be strong for their sakes. No, instead he took the easy way out and walked right into the hunter’s waiting arms. He probably didn’t even try to fight back; he just let them kill him. He left us orphans.” She pulled away from him, tears streaking down her face. “If you want someone who listens and believes in the instinct then you’ve come to the wrong place. I want nothing to do with it or you.”

  “Erica, I’m sorry for what happened to you.” Though he had heard about the tragedy that had befallen his mate, her version of events moved him and he felt new protective instincts rushing to the front of his mind.

  “I don’t need your pity,” she snapped, rubbing her cheeks as she sought to remove the evidence of her moment of weakness.

  “This isn’t pity. It’s care. I’m your mate and I care about you. All I want is to see to your happiness. Is that so wrong? Mates care and protect each other, that’s all I’m trying to do sweetheart.”

  “Being mated is what took my father from me. I don’t want to hear about being mates from anyone. All I want is to be left alone with my family, is that so much to ask?” She demanded.

  Frustration crept up alongside his newfound desire to protect and he moved forward, gripping her shoulders firmly within his grasp to ensure she couldn’t escape him. “Being mated is also what brought your mother and father together. Being mated is the reason that you and your siblings are here now. Can you honestly tell me that they weren’t happy when they were alive?”

  The sad memories of her parent’s death were replaced by the laughter and love that filled her home when they were alive. They were more than happy, she conceded in her head, though she was unwilling to admit such thoughts aloud. “That isn’t the point.”

  “Then what is Erica? Being mated brings so much joy to our lives. How can you deny both of us that happiness?”

  “Even if they were happy when they were alive, it doesn’t change the fact that their deaths devastated our family. There was nothing we could have done for mom but my father chose to end his life and he left me alone with two children that needed him. They never really had the chance to know our mother but they could have known our father if he hadn’t been so selfish!”

  “Erica, I’m not your father! Don’t blame me for his actions. What’s between us has nothing to do with what your parents did.”

  I told you so, her wolf commented.

  Shut up! Erica yelled in response.

  “I know you aren’t my father. I’m neither blind nor stupid. But my father’s actions taught me something very valuable about male wolves and that’s what prevents
us from being mates Sebastian.”

  “I don’t know how many times I’m going to have to say this to you before you understand it but we’re already mates Erica, there is nothing anyone can do to change that.” And if they tried, there would be nothing on this earth that could prevent me from causing them major harm. The violence of his thoughts might have at one point in time frightened him but as he stared at his mate, still beautiful despite the tears that stained her face, he came to accept the aggression in his nature as necessary to protect her.

  “We may technically be mates but I won’t accept you Sebastian.”

  “Why not Erica? I can make you happy.” I know I can, if she just gave me a chance.

  “If I accepted you and then something happened to me, can you honestly tell me that you wouldn’t do what my father did and abandon our family?”

  Though he had expected the question on some level, it didn’t make it any easier to give her an answer. His mind raced as he tried to give her an honest answer. The world is so beautiful with her in it, even with her clear animosity towards me. If we were fully mated, it would be even more wonderful, could I really continue to live if she were dead?

  “Your silence answers my question Sebastian. You’re no different than him. I can’t do that to my family Sebastian, I just can’t. It’s hard enough with Dylan and Wyatt but I couldn’t bear for my own children to go through it too Sebastian, I just couldn’t. Can’t you see that this isn’t going to work?”

  Could I really leave behind a family I started with Erica? An image of a small girl with flaming red hair and bright blue eyes filled his mind. The girl smiled at him reminding him of Erica the one time he had seen and heard her beautiful laughter before she ran from his thoughts, leaving a small hopeful grin on Sebastian's face. “I’m not your father Erica. I wouldn’t leave our family behind. Life without a mate would undoubtedly be hard but there would be pieces of you left behind in our children and I would treasure them for all eternity.”