A/N I just wanted a cute sleeping couple picture for this chapter ð¶
Actaeon Island: The Vulcan Clan of Dragon Shifters
Emma POV
Slowly my consciousness came back as I started waking up. It was warm. I felt surrounded by it. Warmth that completely engulfed me, making me feel safe and protected. Little by little the feeling in my arms and legs came back. I was aware of the sheets below me and the blinding light behind my eyelids. I slowly opened my eyes bracing for the bright light only to see the sky.
It would seem I was in a strange room with a huge window that was currently open. Light breeze blew in from outside as the sunlight also seeped in. Where am I? I thought.
Suddenly something tightened around my stomach and dread filled me. Did the witches finally catch me? The last thing I could remember was Jake's terrified expression right before the creature bit me. Then I was infected with the venom, the witches might really have caught me. Slowly my eyes drifted from the strange stone like walls to my stomach but instead of seeing any kind of torture device it was just an arm.
My eyebrows furrowed in confusion as I finally noticed exactly whose arm it was. There was a light tingle of sparks along my stomach, back, arms and legs, virtually every inch of me that came in contact with him. His head shifted as he brought it down to my neck blowing his hot breath there as I could hear his light snoring. He was still asleep. Turning slowly not to wake him I could see his sleeping face. He seemed peaceful, content and so innocent. Looking at him like this makes it's hard for me to believe he has done all those evil things. Why couldn't he be like this when he was awake? Sighing softly I carefully reached for his arm wrapping around my stomach, just a few minutes of having him like this was enough. I can't forget everything he has done. As flashes of his rejection filled my mind and a sharp pain instantly cut through my heart. One of my deepest fears was proven, he doesn't love me just my power. He was just like all the others obsessed with what I could give them. Sadly though, I couldn't find it in me to break the bond. I have always wanted a mate. How can I just throw him away? No matter how horrible of a person he is. My hand continued to hover a few inches over his arm still hesitant as I was enjoying the feeling of being in his arms. The pull of the mate bond really was a scary thing.
I need to differentiate between him and his wolf, the man who only sees my power from the wolf who only sees me. With a new founded determination I finally close those few inches lightly gripping his arm to pull it off so I could get up but for some reason he didn't budge. I tried again and nothing a third time and still nothing. No longer bothering to be discreet as alarm filled me, I used both arms to push his away with all my strength. I managed to move it from around my stomach but it was extremely difficult and a light sweat formed over my forehead and my face turned red as I continued pushing his arm till it was completely off me. Finally free I felt winded still lying on the bed I tried catching my breath. Why the hell was I so weak?
Just as I was about to get up Jake's eyebrows frowned slightly as his fingers flexed as if looking for something. Suddenly he reached out for me, I tried getting up quickly but my arms and legs weren't working, it felt like jelly I must have been asleep for a while. Turning to me he wrapped his arm around me again also throw his leg over me completely caging me in, there was no escape. Panic filled me as I started struggling to break free but his grip was even stronger than before. It was a bad idea he must have sensed me trying to get away even in his sleep because suddenly he rolled completely on top of me. Instantly the wind was knocked out of me as I struggled to breathe but he was too heavy. He was crushing me into the bed. I managed a few shallow breaths before it became too much and I really couldn't breathe. I was suffocating. As the shock and horror of this knowledge consumed me, dark spots appeared before my eyes and I felt myself losing conscious once again. Just when I thought I was going to die Jake's weight was off me and I greedily sucked air back into my lungs. After a few deep breaths I finally noticed what really happened as the brightest liquid gold I have ever seen stared back at me. I was lying on my back with Jake hovering over me. His wolf must have felt my distress. He continued to stare at me worried before lending down to gently nuzzle my neck as a deep rumble escaped his throat. Was he purring? Slowly he came back up to look at me with an ashamed and guilty expression. It was then that I finally noticed exactly how bright those golden hues were, this wasn't Jake but his wolf. He must have given him control but why? It's not something werewolves often do with their wolf, surrendering control while still in their human form was a rare practice, normally a werewolf was too dominant too submit, especially an alpha.
Very slowly Jake's wolf leaned forward, I thought he was going to nuzzle my neck again but instead surprised me as his tongue reach out to lightly lick my cheek. He then looked at me again with that guilty expression before he continued licking my cheek moving to my chin and my other cheek while holding my gaze. It didn't take a genius to figure out what he was doing. It was a wolf's apology, this confirmed my suspicion. It really was Jake's wolf. Reaching a hand up to gently touch his cheek I stopped him and brought his face back up to mine before whispering.
"I'm okay now, I forgive you." I really couldn't be mad at his wolf, not when he looked so afraid of me rejecting him.
Bright golden hues melted into chocolate brown as Jake blinked a few times taking back control from his wolf.
As he stared down at me I could see the longing in his eyes. He wanted me or so it would seem. I knew better, he regretted rejecting me. He wants me back for my power and everything that comes with his mate being the right hand.
Uncomfortable with his penetrating gaze and not wanting to stay in such a position with him I quickly shifted under his arm and slide out from under him.
Reaching the edge of the bed I was about to get up when he suddenly grabbed me from behind causing me to struggle against him. I didn't want to stay here with him when the wound of his rejection was still so fresh in my heart. I needed space.
Suddenly I was roughly thrown back on the bed as a strong hand gripped both mines above my head and Jake was once again above me, this time with his knees on both sides of my hips.
I tried getting out of his steel grip but nothing. I felt like a new born baby against him. His lips parted but no words came out. He swallowed then tried speaking again but nothing.
Crack! Bang!
Both our heads snapped to the door as it was smashed off its hinges and an angry Ryder emerged followed closely by Alice, Ethan and Deacon.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Ryder roared approaching Jake.
As if suddenly realizing the compromising position he was in, he quickly slipped off me and backed away a few steps for safety with both hands up.
Deacon acted quickly, grabbing Ryder as Ethan spoke softly trying to calm him down. Alice checked on me as Ambrose finally strolled in without a care. Ignoring everyone he made a bee line for me embracing me in a fatherly hug.
"How are you feeling my child?" He questioned gently, concern deep in his voice.
"Not sure... mostly confused." I responded still staring at my hands. 'Why couldn't I escape Jake's hold?'
He hugged me as if to comfort me before speaking.
"We have a lot of catching up to do but don't worry, you are safe."
Sighing lightly I finally looked up at him with a small smile.
"It's good to see you again, Ambrose even if it means things are bad. What happened?"
I questioned worried, my confusion over the absence of my strength forgotten for a second. If I was here with Ambrose the werewolf council failed to protect me. After all Ambrose and the Vulcan clan was a last resort. I hope they are alright.
"You were bitten." Ethan stated gravely.
Suddenly flashes came back to me, that thing grabbing me from behind, Jake's scared eyes then the blinding pain in the back of my neck. I could have felt the venom enter my bloodstream, slow and painful before I pasted out but that's all. I didn't know what happened next or how I got here.
"Uhmmm well..." Ethan paused for lack of words looking to Ryder for help. For the first time ever Ethan looked unsure of himself.
Sharing a knowing look Ryder stepped forward taking a seat next to me as Ethan went to my other side. Ambrose stepped back giving the three of us some space as Jake growled lowly not liking the male attention I was receiving but knowing he couldn't just rip me away from them. What Jake didn't know was that though I wasn't blood related to them I still considered them my brothers.
"You died." Ryder spoke barely above a whisper as his hand took my small soft one in his large rough one and Ethan started rubbing circles into my back in a soothing manner. I froze unable to comprehend what he just said. A million thoughts raced through my head.
I died. How am I alive now?
Ambrose's voice broke through my confusion.
"Remember the olden days before the war? Each witch had a guardian angel."
I nodded softly and he continued.
"You have a guardian, reason why you are alive. She brought you back."
Ambrose gestured to Alice who smiled softly.
"It would make sense why your foresight acted up. You were meant to met them both." Ethan input staring at both Alice and Jake.
"Also you're Ryder's seco-"
Ambrose continued but was cut short by the man himself as Ryder growled out.
"She has had enough for today. She needs rest."
Looking up at Ryder, I spoke softly.
"Actually I feel good. Just I'm..."
I trailed off once again staring at my hands in confusion. All eyes turned to me in knowing before Ethan spoke up.
"The venom wasn't the reason you died. It was blood loss."
I stared at him even more confused than before as he continued. He fully well knew there was nothing on this earth that could hurt me enough to cause blood loss. Even with the venom I should have healed. How did I really die?
"The venom was created to contain you, not kill you but the witches must not have expected you to die. In fact they don't know you did. The venom turned you into a... human."
My whole world froze as everything went silent, hu-human? I'm human? My world suddenly unfroze and came crashing down as wide eyes stared back at him.
"The bite on your neck had punched some major arteries and you bleed out."
He spoke softly gauging my reaction. I seemed just about ready to have a mental breakdown. Taking some deep breathes I started to calm down until I looked up into chocolate brown eyes. Jake stared at me in worry as I looked back at him all the while Alice's words of warning came back to me,
'He will kill a human you just so that he wouldn't have to be bound to a human.'
....
Witch Council Headquarters
Deep within the darkest parts of the witches' coven laid a secret room, the very same room that was used many years ago to torture the hybrid. Known to only a few the laboratory was hidden with very strong magic. It was where all the witch council's dirtiest secrets laid. The biggest of all beginning it was the birthplace of the walkers.
Cain stood from behind thick protective glass looking down with a certain traitor wolf to his right. Royal Lucas looked on in awe as the slow and painful transition from werewolf to walker played out right before his eyes. He watched as his men was injected with the venom and died only to wake up with red eyes. Turning to Cain he spoke with a gleam in his eyes. Sure he knew they would obey Cain but he was hoping they would remember him and instead that way he would be there only master, reason why he specifically chose his men to give to the witches.
"How long does it take? They seem ready." Lucas questioned.
Not taking his eyes off his new pets Cain responded.
"The easy part is done. Now comes the deciding factor. Their body needs to accept the change."
Confused Lucas questioned.
"Then how do we know they are ready?"
As Cain turned to Lucas dark eyes with an outer ring of red stared back at him causing a shiver of fear to run down his spine and almost as if Cain could smell his fear he smiled darkly.
"When they bow down accepting me as their master. If not, they die"
"You kill them?" Lucas questioned in disbelief.
Cain sighed feeling irritated he had to explain to this wolf.
"No, the key is me. If they don't accept my blood they will die but it will come at a price. Taking my blood will bind them to me making me their master."
Cain spoke a bit slower this time, if he had to explain himself again he would just kill the ex-royal instead. How did he even become a royal being so slow?
"Ah I see, but didn't you say only a handful will remain while the majority dies. How come no one died yet?"
Lucas questioned but instead of getting angry Cain smiled like a proud parent being told their child was placed first in class.
"Actually I think they will all survive. They are too strong to die. Unlike the strays I had before they are council warriors. Once the process is complete their power will be equal to a vampire maybe even stronger."
Lucas' eyes sparkled at that. It was the reason he joined the witches, power. Why protect the weak when you can rule over them?
Turning to look at his pets Cain spoke again.
"We have always admired the vampires, too bad they were uncontrollable. They were the inspiration to creating the walkers. Imagine an entire army of them under our control. The war will end. The world will be ours."
Cain finished chuckling darkly while Lucas smiled along uncomfortable. Cain scared him but he tried not to show it.
"Well then I think that's it for me. Goodnight." Lucas keeled before turning to leave. He had enough of Cain's twisted mind and being that near scared him.
Cain watched the wolf walk away with a dark simile. Sure he got an army of council warriors but there was something he wanted more, the council leaders themselves.
Before Lucas could leave there was a knock on the door and a timid young witch came in. Kneeling in front of Cain he spoke.
"The council requests your presence. The wolf is to come as well."
The young man finished as Lucas gulped and Cain's dark simile stretched into a secret smirk. That in itself had Lucas sweating bullets and recoiling. He didn't like the way Cain was looking at him. Like a shiny new toy but refusing the council was instant death.
"Lead the way." Cain ordered the young witch.
Taking deep breathes Lucas tried calming his racing heart as fear shot through his system. Cain, the psychopathic right hand he could manage to survive with but the actual witch council, different story. They terrified him, not to mention the worst of them all, council leader Alaric. Lucas only met him once before and after taking one look into his almost fully red eyes Lucas kept his gaze on the floor.
Normally a dark witch has a thin outer ring of red but Alaric was different, only a small part of his pupils remained its original colour as everything else was red. Not even a speck of white. Unlike a vampire whose pupil alone was red, Alaric's eyes were too close to that of a demon's reason why Lucas was so afraid. If not for the speck of dark blue at the centre one could mistake witch council leader for a demon. It also reflected the darkness of his soul and exactly how far gone he was into the darkness.
The young witch came to a stop in front of massive double oak doors before knocking lightly.
"Enter."
A deep cold ruthless voice spoke as the door opened slowly.
....
Sneak peak: Next chapter meet the Witch Council and some Deacon and Alice â¤
A/N: I really wanted to do an double update but I'm having some trouble, I'm adding something into the plot and realize I need to rework some stuff.
Guys the new stuff I am putting in will make this book epic, I'm so excited but I can't tell you guys. This is going to be a long book and I really want to update more often but my personal life is demanding. I'm sorry for my slow updates.
It's a bit unedited but I didn't want to leave you guys for so long with nothing.
Thank you for reading
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