Chapter 10-The Blood Exchange

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Chapter 10-The Blood Exchange

Sydney Carrington's POV

I looked at the flowers that Kingston had given me and sighed as his words repeated once again in my mind.

No matter what you choose to believe, I do care Sydney.

I groaned in distaste and scowled distastefully at the roses that Kingston had given me. Why on earth was I still keeping them for anyway? Was I going crazy? I stood up to get rid of the flowers but something tugged at my heart.

The emotion that had flashed in Kingston's eyes when I told him that I didn't care for him made me feel guilty as hell. I wasn't one to be mean or nasty. But it seemed as if Kingston yearned for my affection.

That was something I couldn't wrap my head around. If he really cared for me like he had claimed, why had he hurt me? Was this some sick twisted game he was playing? To let me drop my defenses and once again, hurt me?

If so, I wanted no part of it.

But something tugged in me and I guessed it was the wolf urging me and reassuring me that it wasn't so. It wanted me to give Kingston a chance which was bloody ironic considering when he had hurt me, the wolf wanted to take control to get back at him.

I sighed, I knew the mate bond was working between my wolf and Kingston's and it wouldn't be too long before the wolf would urge me to go to Kingston and to accept him. The mate bond was that strong.

Still, I was determined not to give in. Or I should just accept it as it is?

I groaned and hit my cheek lightly. This was already the wolf talking. I stopped and stared at my reflection in the mirror and studied myself. The bruises on my neck were gone and I was sure that the wound on my head was healed by now too.

My eyes were still bright and my hair was still shiny and full. In fact, I've never looked better in my whole life. It was ironic that while I was somewhat miserable, I looked at my best.

Sighing and still conflicted with my thoughts, I quickly slid on some clothes that were meant for painting and headed to the art room that Kingston had given me.

Now that I've been here in the European pack for more than a week, I've come to realise that the land that they owned was so huge and vast. It wasn't going to be easy to escape but I will.

Also, as I was Luna and the mate to Kingston, he had given me a whole new wardrobe of clothes. I wasn't about to complain about that. I was a girl that liked shopping and dressing up. Who didn't? Maybe Sarah.

The thought of my sister Sarah made my mood turn a sour. I wondered about about my siblings constantly and how they were doing and such. Was Sean alright? Did he make it back home safely?

Gone were the days that I could have my tv marathons with Sarah. Or I could spend time with Sean by helping him with his homework. And I missed them so terribly much. They were all I had left of my family and I yearned for them to be with me now.

Tears blurred my vision and I paused from painting to wipe them away. But at least, I knew that they were safe back home. If they were here with me, Kingston would always use them against me to do his own bidding.

And I didn't want that life for my siblings. I wanted them to have the happily ever after I knew I could never get.

I sniffled a bit and continued painting. It wasn't long before I realised I was painting a lake in my old pack where my parents would bring our whole family there every weekend.

I was about to put my brush back on the canvas when the door burst open and I tensed, thinking that it was Kingston but Cara's voice shrieked.

"Syd! Oh my god! Adam asked me out!" I turned around and looked at her amused as she entered the room, all frantic and full of excitement.

"What did you say?" I questioned curiously with a smile on my face. Cara paled and gasped, horrified. "Oh god! I forgot to give him an answer!"

I bit back a laugh as she turned around and dashed back down the stairs where I assumed Adam was waiting anxiously for an answer.

I turned back to my painting once again and this time, I could feel his stare on me.

I remained silent as I continued to paint, trying my best to ignore his presence but it was simply impossible. Kingston was the sort of man that had a presence that commanded attention and respect immediately.

And I probably guessed that he knew that I was aware of him. I was the sort to wear my heart on my sleeves. It was a good and bad thing at times.

"Where is that?"

He spoke up and I turned to him and answered quietly, "It was a lake at my old pack."

Kingston didn't reply and I didn't know why I continued the conversation. "My parents would bring my siblings and I there every weekend before they died. We would spend the weekend swimming, playing and simply spending time together as a family."

I stopped and frowned to myself, why was I spilling all these information about myself to Brendon Kingston? I stole a quick glance at Kingston to see him looking at me with a soft look on his face.

He stepped towards me and this time, I didn't step back. He rumbled out, "I'm sorry that they passed."

I let out a small smile before replying softly, "Me too. I never got to say goodbye."

A comfortable silence started and I sighed before realising that I was actually having a normal conversation with Kingston. About my parents no less!

I guess Kingston knew roughly what I was thinking as the atmosphere turned awkward and he moved away from me before glancing at me.

"I have a meeting to go to. Would you like to join me for dinner later?"

I inhaled sharply and my jaw worked, thinking of a response. What was wrong with me? First telling him about my parents? And now I was thinking about having dinner with him?

I knew it was going to take some time to be adjusted here but having dinner with him? I was going to turn him down but this time, I would do so nicely. I couldn't best with the guilt of hurting him again.

"I- I have to finish up the painting. Before the paint dries. Maybe some other time." I said quietly and Kingston nodded stiffly. "Alright. I'll see you later."

And with that, he was gone.

I sighed heavily wondering if I had hurt him with my refusal. But then, it couldn't be helped. I wasn't ready to have dinner with him. And I wondered for a fleeting moment if Kingston really was a monster after all.

***

I sighed and entered my room and stopped to see a beautifully packaged box on my bed. Frowning, I walked towards it and picked it up. A note fell onto the ground and I reached for it.

Sydney,

I heard you like chocolate. I hope you like them.

Brendon.

I bit back a small smile as I opened the box to see assorted kinds of chocolates in it and I assumed that Cara must have told Kingston about my love and obsession with chocolate.

I took one from the box and bit into it, enjoying the taste as rich dark chocolate entered my mouth. I finished the piece and closed the box, humming in delight as the chocolate touched my taste buds.

Suddenly, I gasped as pain exploded in my body and I grasped at my throat. It felt like I was being strangled, and I collapsed onto the floor. I wanted to scream, but my lungs simply couldn't work. I coughed and I looked down at my hands to see blood. I panted and struggled for breath to enter my lungs.

Panic started and I felt like I was about to pass out. Was this how I was going to die? I coughed once more and I grabbed at my throat to somehow relief the pressure on it. My vision turned blurry and somehow, everything became quiet.

Distinctly, I could hear yelling but I couldn't make sense of everything. I coughed once more and I could feel a sticky liquid on my hands and I knew it was blood. This time, the pressure on my neck was so immense that I could feel myself fading.

And that was when everything became black.

***

Brendon Kingston's POV

"Alpha, there is some unrest among some of the pack members. Some are concerned that there may be war between us and the American pack."

My expression remained blank and I glanced at my Beta, Rhett Parker who answered for me. "There isn't going to be one. We have signed the peace treaty with them almost fifty years ago and we intend to uphold our part of it."

Rhett Parker had been my best friend since we were young and he probably knew me way more than I did myself. He was younger than me by a year but yet he was as ruthless as I was when it came to the pack. At twenty-eight he was still unmated. "But sir-"

"Do you think the Alpha King would even allow something like that?" Rhett cut in and the leader turned silent. "Of course not Beta Rhett. My apologies."

Another leader brought something to attention and I looked down at the table deep in thought. Sydney was opening up to me more when she talked about her parents and I could sense that the wolf was pleased about it. I too was happy about it, however, we weren't at the stage where we would have dinner together and I should've known.

What did you think? After hurting her, she would want to have dinner with you? My conscience mocked and the voice sounded so like my father's that I was stunned.

"Brendon."

I looked up to see Rhett looking at me with concern in his brown eyes. I glanced away and I realised that my hands were curled into fists and my body posture was tense and rigid. That showed how much an effect my father had over me.

Suddenly panic exploded into my chest and I gripped onto the table and breathed heavily. "Brendon are you alright? What's going on?"

The only thought I could think of was Sydney. And that she was in trouble. I ignored everyone else in the meeting room and I bolted out of the pack house. Knowing I couldn't make it back home in time, I shifted while running.

Nothing could happen to Sydney. I wouldn't allow it. I thought determinedly as I sped back home. Bursting into her room, I spotted Cara shaking an unconscious Sydney lying on the floor. I shifted back, not caring if I wasn't clothed. "What's wrong with her?" I questioned quickly as I headed towards them.

"Brendon! Oh god! Sydney! She-" Cara cut herself off as she spotted blood on the ground. "Oh god oh god." Cara chanted distraught and I tuned her out. I pulled Sydney to me and checked for her pulse at her neck and breathed a sigh of relief to feel an erratic and irregular pulse.

She was still alive but barely.

"What are you going to do?" Rhett asks as he entered the room and my mind raced. There wasn't going to be enough time for the pack medics to save her especially when neither of us knew what had happened and what had caused this.

"The Blood Exchange." I said quietly and Cara gasped aloud and Rhett raised an eyebrow. "It can't be undone." Rhett warned and I looked down at Sydney who coughed once more and blood splattered onto the ground.

"Get me a knife." I ordered and Cara jerked to her feet and ran down for one in the kitchen. "Brendon are you sure?" Rhett asks carefully as he pulled up the sleeve of Sydney's shirt on her left wrist.

"She's dying." I said quietly and I knew I sounded lost and pathetic but Rhett nodded. "It is your decision."

Now, Sydney's heart rate was even slower and I growled impatiently for Cara. "I'm here!" She shrieked and passed the knife to me.

I took a steady breath and rested the sharp blade of the knife just above my right wrist. Without hesitation, I sliced my wrist and put it against Sydney's mouth, letting the steady trickle of my blood flow into her mouth.

Once my wound started healing, I pulled my wrist away and did the same for Sydney and I enclosed my mouth over her left wrist and swallowed a few drops of her blood. And I murmured, "My life for yours."

Immediately, Sydney's wrist healed and my name appeared on it in a black scrawl. All of us watched with bated breath as Sydney's breathing evened out and her body was heaving from the effort of having to breath.

The Blood Exchange was for mates who wanted to be bonded beyond death. If one died before the other, the other would die at the same time as both mates shared their life-force.

The Blood Exchange would be completed when both mates said the vow 'My life for yours' and the proof of it will be on the wrists of each other. As I have said the vow, my name will be on Sydney's left wrist. And because Sydney hasn't said the vow, her name isn't on my right wrist.

So for now, as the Blood Exchange has not been completed, if I died, Sydney wouldn't die. But if she did, I would die along with her as well. However as both of us shared a life force of sorts, our healing rate was intensified and even more so as I was an Alpha.

Rhett stood up and threw a pair of jeans towards me. "Cover that up. None of us want to see that." I ignored him as he and Cara left the room now that Sydney's health was stabilised.

I carried Sydney up and placed her onto the bed gently before shrugging my jeans on. My wolf was howling for her to be okay and I went to the bathroom for towels and began cleaning the blood up.

Once the blood was all gone, I called up a few of the pack medics that were female to change her out of her blood splattered clothes and to put her in my room while they cleaned up her room.

Meanwhile, I was deep in thought on what could have happened. There wasn't any knife wounds or signs to show on what could have caused her to almost die.

Now, I was sitting beside the bed where Sydney was and I held onto her hand gently, caressing the soft skin. Looking down at her, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt hit me in the gut. This was my fault too. I should've been a better chosen and I could have prevented this from happening. What type of chosen was I if I simply left her all by herself most of the time with no guards?

But looking at her appearance, her skin as pale and except for her chest heaving slightly from breathing, I would have thought she was dead. Whatever happened earlier was a direct attack on her and it wouldn't go unpunished or without consequence. I thought darkly as the wolf howled for revenge and blood.

***

A/N: Hey guys! Here is the next update! Holidays have started! Which means more updates every 3-4 days! So do let me know what are your thoughts and such by commenting. Also please vote! And thanks so much for reading! Have a great day! :)