Chapter 44-

Rowen:
I try not to look as uncomfortable as I feel sitting across the table from James and his eldest son Irvin waiting for my mate to come back so that we can come to an agreement about her leaving with me. It’s not hard to tell that they both are seething with rage towards me and would gladly kill me if given the opportunity. I won’t say that I like or dislike either of them, but they potentially stand in my way, and I can’t just kill them because then I wouldn’t have a chance of ever winning over my mate and she threatened to kill me or herself if I hurt her pack. Having my mate where I can’t see her also adds to my unease, I know that she won’t be harmed by her pack, but I can’t shake the fear that her family won’t allow her to leave with me. Now that I’ve found her although it was unexpected, I don’t think I could just leave her behind. Even without knowing that it will weaken me to be far from her there was something about her pleading her case with me and submitting before me that made me want to be near her and to take care of her. The instincts that’s come when a mate bond is realized are much more powerful than I anticipated. When she comes into the lodge to join us again followed by her mother and beta father, I am able to see her more clearly. Although still young she is very beautiful and holds herself with an air of superiority, this will serve her well if she is to be my queen. She tries to hide her fear by keeping her head up and maintaining eye contact, but I can hear her heartbeat racing. Hers is not the only one, I can tell by the increased pulse that everyone in the room is on edge. I’m surprised again by her when she walks right in front of me and holds out her small delicate hand. “My name is Oriel. I thought we should be properly introduced.” My hand dwarfs hers as we shake hands and when we touch Oriel gasps and goosebumps cover her skin. Another confirmation that she is truly my mate, I also feel the sparks dancing up my arm when we touched. I thankfully was able to hold my stoic face, but my heart began to race. “Hello Oriel, my name is Rowen Dunkan the ruling vampire king of Europe.” Her cheeks flush pink and she takes the seat next to her mother, her brother immediately stands behind her in the same protective manner that the beta of the pack has done with their Luna. “Let’s discuss what your intentions are now that you have discovered that my daughter is your…mate.” The last word is practically growled out as if it pains the alpha to say such a thing out loud. “I intend to take her back to my castle of course. Now that I know of our bond, I couldn’t possibly leave without her. To separate mates is an unforgiveable crime against our kind. This you know.” “I am aware what a horrible act it is to take one’s mate away.” James’s words are full of venom and his cold stare is matched by his brothers behind him. “Unlike your rat of a brother we don’t delight in harming women, and we hold the mate bond sacred.” “I apologize for my brothers’ actions, he misled me to believing war was justified with your pack. I don’t agree with or stand by his actions today and I guarantee you I meant no harm against your mate. I share the same ideals as my late father, he believed in the unification of supernatural beings. Perhaps through this match we can bring together our kind again. I have several enemies and would like to remove you and your pack from that list. We can cease the useless fighting that went on today and instead move towards a future where we can be allies.” Oriel lifts her eyes and meets mine her sweet voice filling the room. “If I go with you, the fighting will stop, and we will be allies? If my pack needed aid in the future, you would bring forces to defend them?” I ignore the low growling from all the men in the room. “Yes. You would come with me and when you became of age, I would make you my queen. As relations of my queen your pack would be entitled to my protection and aid if needed.”
Ember:
I can tell James is just about to the end of his rope. I can feel his anger, fear and unease through the bond. I know he is happy the pack will be safe now, there was no way with the appearance of the additional vampire forces that we would have come out of battle without great losses. I’m not sure what it is, but I feel a sense of peace when I think about Oriel being mated to Rowen. If I could I would obviously keep her here with our pack, but I see the determination in her face and believe that Rowen will keep his word about protecting her. She still has a long time yet before she is of age, almost 6 years until she’s twenty until then she will remain untouched and safe. I see the anger at the thought of loosing his daughter is overtaking my strong mate and I don’t want something to be said at this table that can’t be taken back. “Rowen thank you for sitting down with us to discuss matters properly. I would like a few minutes with my family to privately discuss Oriel and your mate bond and what that means for her. We should only be about ten minutes and then we can reconvene. Is that acceptable to you?” “Of course, Luna. I’ll give you time to discuss so that we can come back together and make plans for our departure.” He looks at James and they both stand facing off over the table. Oriels sweet voice breaks the tension. “Thank you Rowen.” He nods and leaves us at the table. I wipe a few stary tears that seemed to have escaped my eyes. “Oriel, again if you are at all uncomfortable or don’t want to go with him you don’t have to. We will do whatever is necessary to keep you home and safe.” “Yes, princess you don’t have to go anywhere with that bloodsucker. We can get you and your mother into the bunker and to a safe house while we take care of him and his forces.” Lucas looks so devastated when she replies. “Daddy no. I know this sounds crazy and of course I’m scared of the unknown, but I want to go. He has promised not to touch me before I am of age and that he will keep me safe. This will keep our pack safe and grant us a powerful ally. Also…I do believe that mates are a blessing, the moon goddess put us together for a reason.” “How are we able to trust him!? What if he goes back on his word and hurts Oriel or goes against our pack? We can’t trust the vampires, look at what his brother did!” “James, I don’t know if its fair to judge him for what his brother has done. Is there a way to hold him to his word?” “Yes, there is.” Lucas pipes up. “Because he is a vampire, we could require him to sign a blood oath.” “What is that?” I ask. “A blood oath is a contract that magically binds supernatural creatures to the agreed upon terms. If a vampire breaks their blood oath they are stripped of their immortality and die not long after. That is why they are so uncommon now. Breaking a blood oath is essentially a death sentence. It’s worth a try and if he is genuine about his intentions then it won’t be a problem, that’s the only way I can know my baby will be safe. If he refuses to sign, then I want you and the kids to go back to the bunker and make for the safe houses.” “James, I don’t think it will come to that.” “Listen all of you the only way Oriel is leaving this pack is if that bloodsucker signs a blood oath if not, I’m sure he will try to fight us to take her. That will not happen while I’m alive. If things go wrong, you need to run. Understand?” He grabs my face and I nod and kiss him. “I will protect our children no matter what.” “I love you queenie.” “I love you too Alpha.” After I kiss both of my mates and check in again with Oriel, we send for Rowen to come back.
Oriel:
Rowen comes back to the table and thankfully most of the animosity from before has died down. Will he agree to a blood oath? Maybe he will think I’m not worth the hassle and just leave or he will try to fight my dads and take me. Both of those scenarios make me feel sick to my stomach. I know it’s crazy, but I already feel an attachment to him so the thought of him not thinking I’m worth the trouble of such an agreement hurts. My father jumps right in. “We hold to our word that a mate bond is sacred and won’t try to break that by separating you from Oriel, but she is my daughter and a beloved member of this pack. If I allow her to go with you, I will need assurances of her safety and of your intentions to be an honorable mate to her when the time comes. Surely you understand a love of parents for their precious child.” “Of course, Alpha I will take care of your daughter.” “I thought you might say that. Since you are so confident of your ability to care for her, you wouldn’t mind signing a blood oath that stipulates her care and safety.” The room turns tense as my dads and Rowen stare each other down. “What stipulations would be included in this blood oath?” My mate asks clearly suspicious of the people in this room. My mother starts “You would need to guarantee her safety.” “That I can agree to.” “You would also have to agree to wait until her twentieth birthday to hold your mating ceremony and have no sexual contact with her before then.” “Of course.” He glares at my parents and my face heats. “I am no sexual deviant. I would never mate a child. She will remain untouched by me until our mating ceremony. Yes, she is my fated mate, but I recognize she is still a child I would never act dishonorably.” “Good. We meant no disrespect, but you have to understand we only want to be sure of Oriel’s safety.” “Yes, I understand, anything else Luna?” I hate that I sit here unacknowledged, this is my life and I feel invisible. I am not a child! “You would also have to agree to never attack this pack again.” This time he spends a few minutes thinking it over, I can tell he feels pushed into a corner and doesn’t like it, but he agrees. “There is one more thing, not included in the blood oath but a request that her fathers and I have. Please allow a chaperone and companion to stay with Oriel at your castle so that she feels comfortable and won’t be alone.” “Is there someone you have in mind?” Rowen asks. “Yes, we would like to send Irvin our eldest son as her companion and guard.” I look at my mother and Irvin. I know it will hurt my family to be without us both. My mom nods at me and smiles, she knows how much it would hurt Irvin and I to be apart I smile back and swallow over a lump that has appeared in my throat I have already cried too much today, and I don’t want Rowen to think I am weak. “Fine she may bring her brother, but I have conditions for her as well.” I nod for him to continue. “You will keep yourself virtuous until our mating ceremony. If I catch you with another man, I will kill him, and the blood will be on your hands. You will respect and honor me. You will train for your future position as queen, and you will swear your allegiance to me alone.” I look at his fierce face, hating that he wants me to bow to him and submit but I look at my family and know that this is in everyone’s best interest. “Yes, I agree.” Rowen abruptly stands and looks at me. The sun is about to set we will make for home tomorrow. My men and I will camp outside of the village, and I will collect you in the morning, be ready princess. Alpha draw up the contract I will sign tomorrow before we leave.”