Blood Bound

by Tay T

  Her jaw had completely unhinged, and the inside of her cheek was a bloody mess from when she bit into the soft flesh.

  Maya hardly had time to recuperate.

  The fearsome Alpha blurred to where she was and lifted her by her shirt until her feet left the ground and dangled rather pathetically underneath her.

  The fabric of her vest seemed to squeak under the pressure, and she could hear the sharp crack of one of her black heels hitting the marble floor.

  Maya didn’t have any strength to struggle or fight after that. Her dark concealment shattered like glass all around her until locks of inky hair shimmered into vibrant red and curled around her chin and cheeks, sticking to the blood dripping off of her face.

  The Alpha’s aura moved all around her, manipulating the air until she was left completely motionless and choking pathetically before him.

  Maya deemed it one of the most painful things she had ever felt.

  “Open your eyes, bitch.” The Alpha’s voice was extremely gruff, sinfully deep, and darkly macabre to her ears.

  How did he expect her to open her eyes when his aura was choking her to death?

  She wanted to tell him she couldn’t even move a finger but stopped short of croaking the defiant words out. In her mind, she realized she needed to buy time and play a submissive female until she could use her ace card.

  With that thought, Maya forced every bit of strength into her eyelids.

  When she finally opened them to stare him in the eye, or what she thought was his eye, since her vision had long gone blurry, her head spun uncontrollably. Some type of electric shock danced upon the surface of her skin where his hands touched, which she quickly shrugged off from the pain.

  But it was an instant reaction for the Alpha. His body immediately became rigid, and the force of his hands and aura lightened.

  Maya was quick to use the opening. She willed the hidden poison up her throat and blew the black powder into his face, managing to bypass his aura to completely cover him from head to shoulders.

  He jerked strongly, and his grip slackened as his bulky body stumbled several steps back.

  Without much effort, Maya was able to free herself from his hold and came crashing painfully onto the cold marble floor. She could hear his harsh intake of breath, and then a loud, thunderous thud as he keeled over before her.

  Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

  Blood roared in Maya’s ears and dripped down her mouth in rivulets.

  With blurry vision, she managed to get back on her feet, stance slightly crooked from the missing heel, but the dark sorceress didn’t care too much. Because she had succeeded.

  A wide smirk tipped the corners of her mouth in a malicious and chilling way, while the thrill of beating him made adrenaline pump briskly through her veins and manipulate a blush onto her pale cheeks.

  Maya slowly wiped off the blood collecting on her chin and limped over to his fallen form. Her entire body was as tense as a spring. She was still wary of him and didn’t want to get caught unawares again because that had cost her dearly.

  Using one hand, Maya collected her heel and slipped it on, all the while glancing down her nose at the fallen Alpha.

  The black powder was matted on his face and hair, covering his true features like a charcoal mask.

  Maya swept her hand across and cleaned off the poison with her magic. In seconds, his regal features were unveiled to her mocking gaze.

  So this is what the lethal and dangerous Cardinal Alpha looks like.

  The first things she noted were a tall, perfectly shaped nose bridge, long dark lashes, and a head of messy brown-blonde hair. He looked to be in his late twenties and had beautifully tanned skin and high cheekbones. Even his lips appeared perfect with how full and firm they were.

  The Alpha was handsome, far more so than she’d thought for a monster everyone feared. If she didn’t know any better, she would have believed this was what a god looked like. But unfortunately, monsters like him had beautiful outer skin to effortlessly fool those around them.

  Maya frowned, thinking she was smarter than that.

  She kicked him twice in the leg to make sure he was subdued before she threw a dark spell over him and herself.

  Within three seconds, the spell completely camouflaged his true features. His masculine traits were replaced with feminine ones, and he became a tall woman with short brown hair and healthy glowing skin.

  As for Maya, she had changed from a hotel staff member into a young, nerdy girl with thick glasses and a mouthful of braces. She was now dressed in faded jeans and a dark purple t-shirt.

  Using her magic, she lifted the Alpha and settled him over her shoulders, letting his head fall back against her neck.

  As he breathed, Maya felt his warmth pillow against the skin peeking from her shirt. It bothered her slightly, tickling her, but she didn’t remove him in her rush to leave the hotel. And because of her haste, she failed to notice the slight quirk on the “unconscious” Alpha’s full lips.

  If only she had seen the sinful smirk on his handsome face, she would have—possibly—decided otherwise in the usage of this particular Cardinal Alpha.

  If only.

  CHAPTER 2

  Deep inside the thriving forest of darkness lay a sorceress’s cavern so petrifying most creatures—dead or alive—knew better than to cross paths with.

  They feared the darkness seeping through the rocky walls and the thickly encompassing aura of the beast currently residing within its hidden depths.

  No creature dared to approach.

  From the distance, a hooded figure was spotted wearing a cloak as dark as night, heading northbound in the direction of the dark sorceress’s cavern.

  Upon seeing the dark cloak and luminous green eyes, the woodland creatures were able to identify the figure as the dark sorceress whose keep currently housed a monster so scary all the animals fled in mass amounts.

  As she walked past, the veil of dark magic surrounding and seeping from her suffocated those close by like a spreading disease. She ignored the array of curious yet brave creatures and started her descent into the darkness.

  With a hint of complacency in the depths of her vibrant green eyes, her cold gaze settled pointedly on the hidden cavern.

  No crevice or cranny could be seen by inquisitive gazes, and it pleased her greatly to acknowledge that. Yet Maya was greatly displeased by the aura still oozing from the walls of her keep. Although she tried to mask the immense energy, it was an impossible feat. The Alpha’s aura was too prodigious to conceal.

  She had tried many spells, but everything seemed to fall flat and fail before it could even begin to veil his substantial amount of power and energy. When Maya realized no spell could complete the task, she’d quit thereafter due to the lack of patience.

  With steady footsteps echoing behind her, Maya descended into the darkened cavern. The heel of her boot clattered lightly in rhythm, and her cloak dragged on the clean floor, announcing her arrival.

  Maya snapped her fingers together, feeling the swirl of dark magic encircle her form and expel outward into the atmosphere. Her magic was like a gust of black dust as it warmed the air and lit all the candles inside the cavern.

  To the eye, the inside of her keep was kept fairly clean. Only one table and one chair stood on the right side, while a small shelf of books laid on the left.

  Looking deeper into the cold and stony chamber, a tall, fearsome male was strapped by thick silver chains against the freezing walls, seemingly harmless in sleep.

  Chained tightly against the wall, with dark spells plastered all across his bulky form, was no other than the Southern Cardinal Alpha, Xavier Thaeos. His eyes were shut tight behind curled lashes, as if in deep slumber. And his handsome face was peaceful, almost in imitation of sleeping beauty in the children’s storybooks.

  Maya snorted at the laughable jest.

  He might seem to be docile and calm, but she knew otherwise.

  Under all the beaut
iful pretense of human skin laid a lurking beast, a monster so terrifying most would rather beg for death than be caught in its sinister claws.

  It would chase, seize, and kill at the first given chance.

  But Maya didn’t plan on giving him the opportunity to take her head off from her shoulders. That would be far too foolish of her.

  The Alpha’s dark lashes fluttered and opened before Maya was given the sight of his beautiful citrine-colored eyes. Just the first glance kept her captivated, and it took her several seconds to properly compose herself.

  How was he able to freeze her with one heated look?

  She didn’t know. But the strange reaction caused some sort of alarm to sound in her ears, loud and shrill, yet she made the mistake of hitting snooze and would soon learn “regret” was only a six-letter word, meaning nothing when all was settled and done.

  “Welcome to my lair, Alpha,” she said mockingly, trying to mask the sudden discomfort brought on by his magnetically-charged gaze.

  “What a warm welcome,” he derided in return, voice deep and husky to her ears.

  Maya swallowed down the urge to shiver as the hairs on her arm stood on end.

  “Well, Alpha Xavier, you are currently my esteemed guest. If you follow all of my directions like a good little bi—Alpha, I will let you go in due time. And if you choose not to…there will be consequential punishment,” she warned coldly. A thick, dark smirk found its way onto her blood-red lips as she watched his mirthless expressions with a smug glint in her eyes.

  You’re my bitch now, Alpha, she thought.

  And what an oddly pleasing thought that was.

  Maya’s smirk widened.

  “I’m curious as to what your punishments portray. Are there any whips…or more chains involved?” he asked. His sharp glance fleetingly brushed across her pretty features before flitting away.

  The Alpha’s words caused the palpitations of her heart to increase in rhythm, stuttering a beat for some strange and elusive reason. But Maya steeled her wavering emotions with a hard frown and ignored his mockery.

  “Butter knife, dull box cutter, or rusty scissors. Take your pick,” she replied monotonously. Her face had lost the slight warmth and remained moderately cold and stony.

  At this point, Maya was extremely annoyed at his lack of interest and lazy countenance, to the point of gnashing teeth.

  What gave him the right to be so damned smug when he was in her hands now? When he was the one chained to her wall like some type of sacrificial offering?

  “You’re not curious as to why I’ve captured you?” she asked.

  When his gaze returned to her face, her shoulders tensed and blood boiled with building frustration.

  “I’m more than curious about you, little sorceress,” he answered. The Alpha noted her riled expressions, and the corner of his lips curved upward into a knowing smirk.

  “Odd thing to be curious about in your predicament, Alpha.” A furtive glance was sent his way.

  It was obvious he didn’t care, in the least, about what his imprisonment entailed. As to why, the answer evaded her.

  “Everette,” Maya called, voice echoing in the cavern.

  After a moment, a snow-white dove approached the lip of the chamber and paused just as the lethal male’s aura brushed up on its feathers. Almost on instinct, the dove’s red eyes swiveled from around the dark sorceress to the monstrous creature behind her.

  The formidable male expelled such a dark and powerful aura that Everette couldn’t help but shrink back into herself. She landed on the ground and didn’t dare to come any closer.

  “Everette,” the dark sorceress called again, brows furrowing.

  The dove took a tiny step forward before a shimmering of white light completely enveloped her tiny body, and she gradually elongated until a humanoid form of a young, seventeen-year-old girl appeared. Her short white hair was cropped around flat, pointed ears and her skin was pale and translucent like pieces of rice paper. With bright red eyes, she turned her gaze back to Maya and did all she could to keep herself from looking at the terrifying Alpha just several yards away.

  Maya shook her head. She pulled out the ancient scroll from under her cloak and smoothed the thick fabric flat on the table. Because her sharp gaze was settled on the faded words, she’d failed to notice the odd glint of recognition, which had sparked and disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared, in Alpha Xavier’s golden eyes.

  “Everette, bring the white witch in.” Maya calmly took a seat on the only chair in the cavern, turning her head to face the resting Alpha whose heated gaze remained unwavering on her face. She ignored him and drummed her slim fingers on the table, entertaining herself with the tapping noises.

  Upon Maya’s dismissal, the dove-shifter exited the cavern, filled with extreme glee and relief.

  Before long, Everette came back, dragging a struggling blonde-haired white witch behind her. The witch had her mouth taped shut and arms tied painfully behind her back by thick ropes enforced with black magic, keeping her from using her powers.

  The moment the white witch saw Maya, her eyes glowered with hatred and disgust. She struggled and struggled and struggled against the binds, but soon tired out and flopped on the cold ground in a messy heap of tears, snot, and anger. Hopelessness and humiliation were quick to fill the witch’s trembling body.

  If looks could kill, the dark sorceress would be six feet under. But too bad it couldn’t.

  A sly, dark smirk blossomed on Maya red lips. She swept a lock of hair out of her face and returned her cold gaze back to the scroll on the table.

  After retrieving the Cardinal Alpha, Maya had spent several hours perfecting every plan of action she’d drafted. Other than a werewolf’s blood, she also needed a specimen—several of them—to test the ritual’s validity.

  Maya wasn’t stupid enough to test it herself. For all she knew, it could be a trap enriched in empty promises of supreme power, which could easily kill her in the end. So she decided to make use of the white witches who had provoked or attacked her recently.

  This particular woman had thrown a caustic potion at Maya, who—at the time, had her back turned. Maya was in the process of finding ingredients for her spells and potions, minding her own business, when the white witch sneakily approached.

  Although Maya was at a disadvantage, the potion was easily deflected with a wave of her hands. If the poisonous substance had connected to her skin or clothes, Maya would have turned into a walking skeleton within the span of minutes. And so, to use this woman as a specimen seemed like a rather fitting punishment. After all, she was just another white witch who claimed to be all “good.”

  The white witch was crying miserably, as if she were going to be thrown into the barrier with the Cardinal Alpha, who would immediately eat her.

  Oddly, that didn’t sound like a bad idea. But Maya was assured this particular Alpha wouldn’t like it. He didn’t seem like the type to eat such deviating white witches; it would surely give him a stomach ache.

  The humorous thought made her red lips curl upward.

  Since all her specimens were here now, it was only time to begin. Maya waved Everette off towards the Cardinal Alpha to start the experiment. She was excited at the prospect of finally taking his powers.

  No.

  Not taking.

  Sharing.

  A win-win situation for both.

  Well…mainly for her anyway.

  Everette took a small step forward, trembling like a leaf in the wind. Her limbs felt like jelly as she shuffled closer to what seemed like her death. Her red eyes were wide with unshed tears and her lower lip was trembling in extreme terror.

  Pitifully, the white-haired-shifter turned her head to give Maya a desperate and pleading look.

  It was obvious the dove did not like the idea of being in close proximity to the Alpha. It made her skin crawl and hackles rise, and she was urged by her animal instincts to run as far as she could, before he killed her with jus
t the might of his aura.

  After one glance at the lazily reclined predator, Everette stopped in her steps. She tried to force her stiff muscles forward but found it beyond difficult because every nerve fiber in her body had bowed down to the call of her instincts.

  The Cardinal Alpha’s predatory eyes suddenly glanced sideways at Everette’s trembling form before flitting away, as if she were unworthy of even a smidgen of his time.

  Everette could tell he was daring her to come closer, daring her to put her neck right in the palms of his hands, so he could—snap.

  The dove gave a chirping squeak of surprise that sounded like a strangled gurgle. Before she could process the situation, her humanoid form shattered into a poof of smoke. She ended up back in bird form, with her feathers standing on end around her little neck.

  Maya’s eyes narrowed as she stood up. She dropped the scroll on the table and placidly stepped past Everette’s shaking form.

  The little dove immediately floundered like lost prey and ducked behind a table leg, trying to find a spot to hide from the scary beast.

  “How are you going to do anything if you can’t even complete this task?” Maya asked, clicking her tongue at her little companion, who was sweating bullets and shaking like a willow in the wind.

  Maya wasn’t surprised the Alpha’s slight glance had managed to revert Everette back into her animal form. But this sole action made the feeling of unease grow inside her and gnaw at the back of her mind.

  Maya ignored it and steadily stepped towards the barrier. Her fingers curled into a fist, and a pointed dagger magically appeared in the palms of her dainty hands, glinting maliciously in the light.

  CHAPTER 3

  After Maya had stepped into the barrier, the Alpha’s aura completely enshrouded her form, brushing soothingly against her skin in smooth and soft strokes. It felt like he was petting all over her body—all over her soul—with a thousand hands.