by Gift .
Maybe it’s the fact that she came to me? In my dreams? Or maybe the fact that she shares my color, although hers is platinum while mine is just silver. But others have had my color and didn't get my attention either.
I couldn’t place it, just something about her draws me in and I can’t seem to walk away. It’s as if she marked me, and doesn’t even know it. I had to get my hands back on her, with my mark she wouldn’t be able to resist forever.
Such a beautiful, fiery little thing she is. Her fighting my mark just makes me want her more. I just felt like I had to protect her, like I had to keep her safe ever since the first time she unknowingly dreamwalked into my dream.
Raziel or not, I wasn’t going to go down without a fight. I refused. I threw on a black button down shirt, silver suit vest over it, black button down slacks, and a pair of silver dress shoes. I ran my hand through my already messy hair and I vanished.
I needed to have a meeting with Alpha Drake, it was time to make a new deal.
(Alpha Drake)
“Fucking Reavers” I spat to Samael. “Always ruining my plans. There is no way Raziel is going to let Rayne go if he isn’t her mate, who am I kidding? And now with Raphael in the mix, and his mark…” I spewed to Samael who was silently listening.
Just the thought of my beautiful Rayne sporting Raphaels mark made my blood fucking boil. I was already preparing for the fact that if she was mated to Raziel I would have to accept it. A deal is a deal, and I wouldn’t go back on my word.
But to have the chance at having her as my Luna, the Luna of the Obsidian pack, the largest, most well known, and ruthless pack in the world, even if she hated me? I would give anything.
I was pacing back and forth in my office at the packhouse. There had to be another way. In fact, I made the deal with Raziel, he never said anything about another Reaver in the mix, nothing about Raphael. This changes everything. The deal is broken. Raphael marking Rayne changed everything.
My only issue was I can't mark her myself, I cant choose her just like she can't choose me. A wolf's mate is predetermined, I couldn't make her stay if she didn't want to.
“We can worry about that later, let's get her away from those filthy Reavers first.” Samael snarled. “Sean” I called out to my Beta.
He was just as large as the rest of my warriors, rippled muscles lined his body and scars ran down his arms and throat. We had definitely seen some battles in our day, that was not to be forgotten.
My men wore their battle scars proud, as did I. He was 6 foot tall and had sandy brown hair, blue eyes that sparkled in the right lighting but a hardened look on his face at all times. War does that to a man.
He is my second in command, and would take the pack over if anything were to happen to me. “Yes sir” He reported, “Start readying the troops, The Reavers have Rayne and we are going to get her back.” I snapped.
It looked like he was going to say something, but he chose not to. Good, I wasn’t about to take any other answer than yes sir at this point. This was fucking war. Rayne would be mine, whether she liked it or not.
I was on the phone with a couple of neighboring packs who owed me a favor for letting them live, asking for warriors to join us. I knew we had the largest pack in the world, but it couldn't be big enough when we were talking about Reavers.
I needed every nearby pack to join our fight or the effort would be futile. Honestly I was nervous, no pack has ever taken on a reaver, let alone possibly multiple reavers and lived to tell about it..
The next thing I know Raphael appeared in my office. “Wolf” He spat.
Chapter 33
(Alpha Drake)
“Reaver” I spat back, as I hung up the phone. “Can I help you?” I spewed. Yes he was terrifying but I wasn’t about to show weakness, I never did with them, and I never would.
I looked him dead in the eyes, my gaze not faltering in the least. I noticed this Reaver seemed to be different from Raziel. His demeanor was calm and collected, not fiery.
He seemed like he may be more of a man of business than his counterpart who seemed to love violence over anything else. I mind linked my pack, to alert them and have them on standby in case this went bad.
“No need to alert the pack, I’m here to make a deal” Raphael said, with a glint in his eye. How did he know I alerted the pack? What the fuck? Could they hear a mind link? I shook it off, “A deal you say?” My lip turned up into a devious half smile.
“And what do you propose, Reaver?” I said, a little more nicely, but not much. ”I want Rayne, what is your price?” He purred. How did I know it would have to do with her? Goddamnit, the only thing I didn't want to give him. “Dont fucking make a deal with him” Samael spat. “He cant have Rayne, she is ours” He said protectively.
“I can see your wolf doesn’t like the idea..I will ask again. Name your price.” Purred Raphael. “There is no price, she is mine.” I enunciated every word through gritted teeth. I swear I saw a change in Raphael's eyes but his face remained still and calm.
He definitely was different from his brother I thought. He took one elongated claw and sliced his hand open. “Drink” Raphael said as he held his hand out. I looked at him with confusion in my eyes. Suddenly the room went dark, and ice cold, I'm talking colder than I've ever been, chill to the bone cold.
I could see shadows slithering and writhing from everywhere and seeming to pop out of nowhere at the same time. They were slithering around at Raphaels feet and snake like tendrils were covering his hand drinking his blood. “What the Fu” I started to say, but shut my mouth when Raphael shot me a glare.
What in the fuck was going on though? At this moment I was not sure I would be making it out of this office again. I didn't let my fear show though, I wouldn’t. I would rather die a fearless leader than a coward.
Once the shadow tendrils had their fill they retreated to the floor writhing around his feet with the others. “These are the shadows, they will grant any wish, for a price…” Raphael stated. “Name your price for Rayne, wolf. I thought about it for a minute. Anything I wanted, I could literally have anything. More power, more wealth, more pack members, more status… But I wouldn't have her.
“If you don't make a deal with them, I will, and my outcome might not benefit you as much as yours would.” He said with a smirk. “I can't make a deal for Rayne, I want her as well and I can't just give her up that easily.” I said.
At the same time I summoned my pack through the mind link, and lunged towards Raphael hoping I didn't just sign my death certificate. Wolves came rushing into the packhouse surrounding my office.
“Shadows restrain him,” Raphael commanded. I was plucked out of midair and thrown back to the ground, shadows writhing and seething all over my body, holding me down with impeccable strength.
The more I fought the more shadows came. I may not have been winning, but I was giving them a run for their money. “Tsk Tsk Tsk” Raphael said, ever so calmly as he walked my way, waving his hand at the door and covering it in shadows, holding back the wolves threatening to enter from the other side.
“You have no choice, Wolf, what is your price.” Raphael Spewed. He was definitely getting pissed and I could tell. I was at a loss, the only thing I really ever wanted was my little sister Reya, back from the dead. Everyone else could stay dead for all I cared.
Everything I have done in all these years since her death, every deal I have made, every life I have taken, has been for her. In her honor. “Can the shadows bring back the dead?” I asked questioningly. “They can, although giving me Rayne alone will not suffice for that want. Their price may be a little more steep than you expect.” He purred.
“What is the price?” I asked. “A life for a life. I get Rayne, and you help deliver her to me. The shadows will have their fill of my sacrifice for this ask, as well as yours. You do not get to choose the life, or when it is taken.” Raphael repeated as if they were telling him right at that moment.
“Do you accept the pri
ce?” Raphael asked. I could see the tendrils writhing around anxiously at the thought of their sacrifices waiting to happen. They seemed anxious, and excited for the fact, ready to pounce at his every waking call.
A random death to bring back my sister? I would lose Rayne but I would have my sister… what could go wrong? Samael was in my mind begging me not to agree, the price was too steep. But he knew my past, he knew how many innocents I had killed, what was another?
"I accept your price" I said with a steady voice. Raphaels face lit up, it was the first time I had ever seen him show outward emotion, and that scared the fuck out of me.
What have I done? I thought, as the shadows split and went all kinds of different ways seething and writhing out of the room, no doubt to collect their bounties.
"I will let you know when the time comes, wolf." Raphael said as he was leaving. "Do not disappoint me, as the shadows can take what they have given just as easily." He purred in a deadly tone.
The shadows were only gone for a few moments when they returned with Reya. She was 13, literally exactly how I remember her. She was wearing that black and white polka dot dress down to her knees, no blood stains, and black slip on shoes.
Her eyes were ocean blue just like mine, and her brown hair short in a bob cut. She hadn't aged a day, I definitely had but she still recognized me. "Drake??!" She exclaimed as she ran straight into my arms.
"Oh Reya, I've missed you so much!" I said pulling her tiny figure into my arms. For the first time since she was killed, I cried real tears, and I didn't even care who saw me.
Chapter 34
(Raphael)
I stood there in Alpha Drakes office, shadows writhing at my feet. Alpha Drake had taken his newly risen little sister into his arms, and I could see the tears glistening from his cheeks. I knew calling the shadows would work, it’s a deal too good to pass up, that is if they don’t ask for the ultimate sacrifice, which they often did.
I was of course reluctant, I was not as friendly with the shadows as Raziel, none of us brothers really were. You had to be willing to give up quite a bit to work with them and the price usually wasn't worth the prize. However the shadows seemed to be my only option because Alpha Drake wasn’t budging.
He loved Rayne as well, and I couldn’t help but think of how special she had to be to get the attention of all these people. There was something more about her, something we were missing, there had to be.
I knew Alpha Drake would eventually cave though, everyone has a weakness, something they want more than anything else, even Rayne.
The shadows asked for a life in return for his sisters, they did not ask for a life for my end of the bargain, but they did however ask for something else from me. They wanted a love for a love, the ashes of my chosen mate, for Rayne.
She had been dead for many years now but I kept her ashes in a beautiful silver and black urn on my mantle. She was human, and she died human. She refused to let me change her into any supernatural being, said she didn’t want to live a cursed life.
No matter how much I begged her she wouldn't budge. I contemplated turning her anyways multiple times, but would have risked her hating me for it.I couldn’t lose her and as much as it hurt me to see her grow old and wither away, I knew it was what she wanted.
Her name was Roxy, she had a head full of medium length brown curls that couldn't be tamed if she tried. Olive skin that tanned easily in the sun and light brown eyes that seemed to burn into my soul with every glance.
She was about 5 foot 9 inches and had the most beautiful curves. I loved her from the day I met her when she was 16, until the day she died at 92, peacefully in my arms.
Her brown hair had turned shades of grey and white, her curls slowly straightening, her curves fading as she aged, her olive skin slowly losing its luster, but those beautiful brown eyes never lost their fire.
Not even when she spoke her last words… “Thank you for giving me such a wonderful life, I will always love you” She said softly as she stared deep into my eyes, burning a hole into my soul. Then she closed her eyes, and exhaled her last breath.
I remember the torment it put me through, and how angry I was at her for not letting me turn her, not letting me preserve her fragile life. I spent a good part of 20 years or more hating myself for not just turning her anyways.
Having her hate me, but still being here would have been a fate better than what I endured. I had to cling to the good memories, the good times in order to get myself by.
I recalled the time we first met, she was young, only 16. She was walking along the river trail on her way to school, she was alone. I was sitting on a park bench nearby reading, which was something I have always loved to do.
She was wearing a levi mini skirt, with some pink tennis shoes and a pink shirt, her curly hair was a mess of course, falling only to her shoulders at the time. She walked by and flashed me a million dollar smile.
I remember my heart fluttering and thinking how? She is simply human, how can she make me involuntarily react like this? The next thing I knew a vampire had appeared out from the woods and grabbed her, not realizing I was sitting close by.
He was about to sink his teeth into her neck, she was screaming when I materialized in front of them. I used my fireball to engulf the vampire and throw him across the trail into an adjacent tree. He got up and ran at the sight of me.
Her eyes were wide with fear, and I wasn’t sure if she was more afraid of me, or the vampire. “Are you ok??” I asked, looking into her beautiful brown eyes for any trace of fear towards me , but there was none.
“Yes, thanks to you…. What are you?” She asked me, curiosity in her light brown eyes, just begging for knowledge. I ignored her question, “What is your name?” I purred, “Roxy” She said. I knew right then that she was the one.
We had spent literally every single day of the rest of her life together. That was only one of many. The memories we shared would never be replaceable. The years had passed at least 100 by now, I had lost count honestly. I hadn’t even tried to look for someone new, I hadn’t cared. I hadn’t even looked for her, she found me.
No one piqued my interest anyways, no one could live up to Roxy I had thought, until Rayne. What was giving up the ashes of someone I once loved many many years ago, to get a chance with someone new? It was time to move on anyways, it had been a century after all.
I materialized to my home shadows in tow as we approached the mantle. The silver and black urn was sitting right in the middle, adorned with glittering filigree and vines that when the light hit them, sparkled casting reflections across the room. The sight of the urn had more memories flooding back.
I was standing at the mortuary, urn in hand, solemn face void of emotion. I couldn’t breathe, let alone speak to anyone. I materialized at home in front of the mantle and had just enough time to set the urn down before I lost it.
I fell to the floor in a crumpled mess, tears streaming down my face for what seemed like an eternity. Every emotion I had been holding in since she passed just released into the open.
It was as if every molecule of air was sucked from my lungs. It was all I had to suck air in so I could keep shedding tears like a waterfall. My heart was completely shattered, my every being was torn into pieces. I wasn’t even sure how I could ever live on without her.
I don’t even know how long I layed there on the floor at the mantle before I fell into a deep and thankfully dreamless sleep. After I woke, I swore I would never show outward emotion again and the urn remained on the mantle in the exact spot I left it before my breakdown.
I had never touched it once in 100 years.
I tried to justify my actions anyway I could, making it seem like it wasn’t such a big ask, like it wasn’t such a big sacrifice. Whatever I had to do to tell myself that this was ok.
Samael was in my mind howling at the thought of losing her ashes, he was not happy with me, but I had to do it, I had to do this. It was time to move on.
The shadow
s writhed and slithered to the urn, shattering it into 1,000 pieces, sending silver and black shards flying into my chest and across the room. I fell to my knees as my heart shattered once again, right along with it.