Spell Bound
Twenty-Five

Lucian

“I do have to apologize, it seems my mate went to go visit yours even though you told her it wasn’t the best idea.” Judah stated as he tilted back his drink, taking small sips of the liquid. A cheshire like grin bloomed onto his lips. “Spending time with Artemis has been good for her. Not only does she have another friend, she has someone other than Izumi pushing her outside of her comfort zone. She’s become mischievous, and isn’t afraid to fight for things that she wants. It’s unfortunate that it is happening against your request.” I could tell by his tone that he didn’t care that she went against what I requested. He only cares about her happiness, even if she is actively disobeying his request for her to rest. I cannot say that I am upset with her actions, Arabella meeting Marisol will only work to our advantage. The curiosity of how the blood magic is affecting Marisol will eat my Bella alive.

“Yes, Scarlet warned me that our Queen had asked her to undo the magic disabling spell. I am sure that she is helping my mate plan her escape with her friend.” I raise the cup of wine to my lips, after taking a sip of the liquid I put it down. “I am sure the two of them will make good friends.” Two mischievous girls who are willing to go behind their mates backs to do whatever they want. I am sure that they will have more fun together in the future.

Judah raises an eyebrow at me. “You aren’t worried about your mate not returning?” He asks.

I recline the chair that I am sitting in to raise my legs. “Why would I be worried? Despite her dislike for our kind she has shown that she has many traits that us wolves share. She is loyal to a fault. Since our Queen is helping her, she will no doubt return with the knowledge she needs to help save her life. Because of that I am glad that your mate is helping her leave. Arabella is headstrong, tenacious and innovative. When there is something that she wants to do there isn’t anything that anyone can do to stop her. That is how the two of us started the mating ritual.” I let out a soft laugh at the memory. “Marisol’s help will only ensure that her exit will lead to her return to save her. I have a few tricks up my sleeve if she decides to not return." Now that the two of us have completed the mating ritual I can tap into her magic anytime that I like. Finding her would be simple and easy.

Judah mulls over my words for a few seconds. “Do you think that your mate will be able to save mine?” He asks.

“I know that she will be able to replace out how. Not knowing how to save her has been eating away at her ego. Especially because she has been practicing blood magic for quite some time now. She will figure it out and then she will rub it in my face that I wasn’t able to figure out how to save your mate.” I smile at the thought of my little spitfire giving all of us shit because we weren’t able to figure out how to save Marisol.

“I am assuming that you and your mate completed the ritual the two of you started?" He chuckles under his breath, he was probably the only person that wasn't ready to fight me over my irrational actions. "Archer has been making preparations to leave.”

I nod. Of course my big brother was waiting to make sure that he saw with his own eyes that I lived. Just as I am sure he will be stopping at my pack to let everyone know of the good news, he wouldn’t be himself if he didn’t.

“Yes, her and I completed the ritual and then some.” I smirk. I do have to admit that she gave me a significant ego boost each time she chose to be with me instead of rushing to see her friend. For someone who claims to hold a high disdain for me, she was extremely passionate.

She only keeps adding on to the similarities that she shares with my kind. Almost every time her and I made love she would bite down on the same area on my shoulder. The area is the same area that a female wolf will mark her mate. I reach up and rub the area. It is a shame that the mark is already gone. I am sure there is something that she can do to make the marks that she leaves me with permanent. I want those around me to see that I wear her mark proudly.

"If I can please request that you don't let your mate know that we are aware of her helping my mate escape. It will certainly damage my mates ego to know that I am aware. It has already taken one too many hits this past two weeks." I have seen first hand how much it has frustrated my mate to see that I was always a step ahead of her. Ruining another one of her plans just might cause her to break, and that wouldn't be too great for me. I am quite fond of her arrogance.

Judah lifts his drink into the air. "If our mates want to keep secrets from us, then we are well within our rights to have a few secrets of our own."

I lift my drink up as well. We smirk at one another before taking a celebratory drink to our mates problematic behaviors. I am sure it won't be the last secret that those two will attempt to keep from us. It is just nice to know that Arabella is bonding with wolves within the pack lands, even if she doesn't know it yet.

The two of us sit in silence for quite some time.

We both turn our heads as we hear the door of the office open and I immediately know that it's Queen Marisol. There isn't anyone else who would dare step into the room without knocking first.

She immediately prances over to Judah, plopping herself into his lap. Her movements cause her tiara to shift slightly, but it still remains on her head.

"I hear you paid a visit to a certain witch, even though you were instructed not to." Judah stated before lifting his cup to his lips.

Marisol blushes and gives me a sheepish grin. "I just wanted to welcome her. Get to know her and see how you and her were getting along. That is usually what I do for those I help pair. She didn't seem as hostile as you described her to be."

I smirk at her statement. "Maybe she likes you. I think the two of you will become fast friends. I hope that some of your kindness will rub off on her." I truly doubt it, more like Marisol will end up falling head first into one of Arabella's impulsive ideas. I don't worry much about it, Judah and myself will always be there to catch our mates when they fall.

“Maybe.” The guilt is evident in her tone, but Judah nor myself call her out on it. “Anyways I wanted to ask you for a few favors!” She perks up.

“Whatever it is you ask of me you know that I am willing to do it.” I can only assume that this is a part of their plan. Keep me distracted long enough so that she can make her great escape.

Judah hides his smirk behind her hair, the two of us are probably having the same thought process.

“Well I was thinking that you could help collect the donations that the pack has gathered up for the victims of the recent attack.” She states solemnly. The witches had gone completely silent after the coronation, but a week afterwards they begun their attacks again on some of the packs. “Some people have non-perishable foods, others have clothes and blankets and a variety of other things. Even though these are trying times it is so wonderful to see our community coming together.”

Even while trying to deceive me she is still thinking of the greater good for her people. She is nothing short of admirable.

"Of course I will. I should bring my Bella, it would be nice for her to see that we all stand together during trying times. She will see that we are not the savages from the stories she was told in her childhood." I respond.

I lift up my cup to hide my smirk as a look of panic crosses Marisol's face. Why not mess with her just a little bit? She is the one helping my mate escape me.

"Yes, I think that would be a wonderful thing for the two of you to do together." Judah chimes in, joining me having a little fun at his mate's expense.

"No!" Marisol exclaims. She takes a deep breath, attempting to compose herself. "I mean I just don't think that she is ready for that yet. Meeting a bunch of wolves I mean. I think we should wait until she is just a little more comfortable."

"I thought you just said that she isn't as hostile as Lucian described. I am sure that she will do fine." Judah states before placing a kiss on her cheek.

Marisol pushes his chest away, narrowing her eyes at him. "I said that she isn't doing it, and that is final." She commands.

Judah's smile widens at his mates show of authority. "If that is what you demand that so be it. Lucian will just have to fall in line."

Marisol smiles slightly, and turns to me. "Your mate said that she is going to figure out a way to save me. She seems very determined."

"Yes, I am sure that she will figure out a way to save us all." I take a moment to observe Marisol. She seems a bit better today, maybe all she needed was a little visit to my mate to give her the hope that she needs.

"One more thing." Marisol states. "I saw your mate for the first time today in person. I am not sure how to describe it, but she just looks familiar to me. I know that I have never seen her before but-" She cuts off her own words. "I am actually losing it. I am sure that she just looks like someone I have seen in passing or something."

"Don't worry too much about that. You have been going to packs and meeting new people for a very long time. At some point I am sure that everyone looks similar to someone you have met at one point in your life." Judah reassured her as he fixed her tiara that had shifted due to her movements.

Marisol nods. "I think that I am going rest now." She places a quick peck on Judah's check before standing up from his lap. "I can't wait to make our rounds and collect donations tomorrow!" She cheered as she skipped out of the room.

Arabella and Valentina both go silent as I step into the room.

Both women glance at one another before staring at me.

I keep my eyes on my little spitfire as no one speaks a word to one another. I'm just waiting for a snarky remark, or for her to let out a cocky hint about what she has planned.

Instead she stands from the bed, and hugs Valentina. "I'm assuming you're here to take me to our room?" She asks.

I hide the shock that runs through my body at Arabella stating that the room is ours, but I don't miss the way Valentina's eyebrows raise at her statement.

"Yes, I've missed you so much over the past few hours." I say before entwining her fingers with mine. I turn to Valentina. "Thank you for keeping my mate company."

Valentina nods, but doesn't speak a word as we walk out of the door. I am sure she is processing her friend talking bad about me one minute and holding my hand without a fight the next.

I glance over at Arabella as we walk hand in hand throughout the hallways. She may not see it, but I know her friend does. Maybe a day or two away from me with her friend is exactly what she needs to consciously acknowledge her feelings for me.

She doesn't notice that she was still holding my hand until we made to the door that leads to our room. She snatches her hand out of mine before rolling her eyes once again.

I close the door behind us, grasping onto her wrist before she can move. "Get changed. I want us to go for a walk." I command.

She gazes up at me with her beautiful eyes. "Throughout the pack?" She asks.

"The pack members have a strict curfew to be within the areas that have been deemed safe when the sun comes down. There have been a few more attacks." I state as I walk towards the closet pulling out some clothes for her.

I hand her one of my black t-shirts, the jean shorts that she is already wearing will do. She doesn’t need to worry about impressing anyone.

“Let me guess, you want for us to talk some more?” She asks sarcastically as she lifts the bottom of her shirt, effortlessly pulling it off of her body.

I smile at her sarcasm. “Of course I want to talk. I always want to talk to you my little spitfire.”

I feel my cheeks heat up as I look away from her tempting body as I hold out the top to her. I don’t want to be the one who initiates our intimate moments until she is comfortable being mated to me.

I wait until I am positive that she is fully clothed until turning to look at her. “I think some fresh air would be good for the both of us.” I reach over and intertwine our fingers. “A nice romantic stroll under the stars.”

She doesn’t protest as I lead her out of our room and through the long hallways. I smile at her and I make it to the main level of the pack house. Usually this place would be buzzing with activity, but ever since the attack it’s better for them to be in their safe houses.

“I always assumed that your kind lived in caves of some kind.” She states as she begins to observe our surroundings.

I chuckle and begin to lead her towards the exit. “No, most of the members of the packs live within the pack house it’s kind of like one huge apartment. Those that are higher ranked within the pack have their own homes, but most wolves prefer to live here.”

I slow down our pace once we make it out the door.

“I understand the appeal of wanting to live in the pack house.” She whispers. “Who wouldn’t want to be close to those you love and trust?” She asks.

I tug her closer to me, planting a quick kiss on her cheek. Then that is exactly what her and I will do. We will live our lives in the pack house, I’ll handpick people that will mesh well with her personality to be her friends, maybe I will somehow convince Valentina to live with us. Having her friend a few doors down from us will help her adjust to living with me. “Yes, there are plenty of wolves who could live in their own home with their mate, but they just prefer living in the pack house.”

She nods. “I guess there’s a lot that I don’t know about wolves.” She shrugs.

“It’s a good thing that you have me to teach you.”

She smiles at me as her cheeks flush pink.

We continue to walk the pack in silence. I make an effort to make sure that we don’t go anywhere near the edge of the forest. Even though I know that she could easily take down any threats to her I still refuse to take any chances with her. She is just too precious to me.

She silently observes our surroundings, the shock of us not living like savages is probably still wearing off.

We pass small home, play areas for the pups, the training grounds and a few small shops. The way that Arabella slowed down when we walked pass a shop that is owned by a witch that sells different kind of herbs lets me know that she is interested in it. She would never acknowledge it out loud, but I am sure she would like to go inside and look around the shop.

I could see a glimpse into our future already, Arabella and Valentina running a shop that sells different herbs and elixirs that will help our pack members. Arabella’s need for knowledge will help her discover new things that will help our pack and its members.

I continue to lead her through the pack until we make it to a small garden. We stop at one of the bench’s and sit in silence as Arabella observes all of the plants around her.

Arabella’s hand squeezes mine before she turns to me. “Can I ask you a question about Marisol?”

I want to plead with her to understand that while I do care for Marisol, it will always pale in comparison to my feelings for her. Tell her that I was stupid for letting her think that Marisol was a threat to her. I want her to know that I am in love with her but instead I say, “You can ask me anything, Bella.” I lift her hand up to my lips and pepper kisses on her knuckles. “I will never lie to you.”

“The reason that you want to save her is because the two of you are connected through the moon goddess. That’s why she is special to you?” She asks.

I remove my hand from hers before wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her closer to me. She curls into my body, resting her head on my shoulder. “Every wolf apart of a pack within the pack lands cares for Marisol. She is our leader and helps mellow our king from making harsh and irrational decisions. Without a proper queen all of the pack lands will crumble. Her and I were both helped by the moon goddess so I guess in a way we have that connection, but that is nothing compared to the connection that you and I share.” I press a light kiss on her mark. “We share the most important connection. We are bound together for life.”

She nods, relaxing in my hold. “I saw her today.” She admits softly. “She’s really pretty, in an odd way.”

I chuckle at her observation. The side effects of the blood magic infiltrating her system has to be what she is talking about. Her hair and eyes are an odd combo at the moment, but I am sure when my Bella helps hers she will go back to looking like her normal self.

“I hope you were nice.” I warn before nipping her neck. “What did the two of you speak about?” I ask.

“Mostly you.” Is all she says.

I don’t ask her to elaborate, I doubt she said nice things about me to Marisol. Especially if her friend was there.

We just sit in the garden for a few hours. Every now and then Bella would point out constellations that she knew by heart to me.

I tried to extend the night as long as possible, knowing that she will be gone come morning. Yet, when she started to doze off I knew that it was time to take her back inside.

I stood over and watched her sleep after tucking her in. I am going to miss my little spitfire over these next couple of days, but I know she will come back to me.

I just need to giver her time and space for to realize her feelings for me.