19. Soul Bound
Soul Bound
Malcolm
M alcolm wasn’t happy when Robert called him to join him in looking at the last two challengers. The sun had already reached the hills, and the stadium was packed with all the McLarens. There were even those who’d come who didn’t have packs.
It wasn’t shocking to have a few lone wolves interested in taking over a clan. In history, there had only been three who’d achieved it, and all three had been considered heroes who’d brought life to their dying packs.
Malcolm wasn’t an outsider, but he felt like one as he watched the men who fought and laughed together afterward. He knew some of their names but not all, and while Agun and Derrick had shown their support by taking up the role of his guards, he knew this fight would be his only chance to win their respect, and he would have to perform well.
“Do you have a plan, boy,” Robert asked.
“Yes,” Malcolm answered, not looking away from the speaking Alderman on the stage.
The silence stretched after his answer.
“Are you going to tell me what that plan is?” Robert snapped in irritation.
Malcolm pointed at the man in the center. “Destroy him.”
“That’s a good plan, but it’s been a long time since you last fought one of your kind face-to-face like this.” Robert cautioned.
Malcolm wished he could introduce his uncle to Raijin. The man was anything but little. Whenever the ogre got serious, his skin turned red. His size also grew to that of a mini giant, and his fighting style was ruthless. Life was futile once one decided to go against him, and Malcolm had always enjoyed sparing with him.
He looked away from the men below to the side where he’d seen Lilly lead Eliza, and there she was, sitting with the mates of the rest of those who’d were competing for the title of Alpha. She sat up front, right in the center; he was sure it was his sister doing. Malcolm struggled not to howl every time he saw her.
She was beautiful in their traditional clothes, her skin warm chocolate and her eyes bright; she looked like a maiden fresh for the plucking. He’d spent the first half of the event sneaking looks at her, trying to remember that he actually had a role to play here. He watched her as she said something to Lilly, who stood slightly behind her before she laughed.
Part of him loved seeing her so happy. The way her expression brightened caused a corner of his heart to clench when he remembered how she’d looked when he’d first seen her. Her eyes filled with distrust, and her expression showing only hate.
Now, she could laugh with the people of his pack easily. He wanted to pull her into his arms and protect her from the world. He didn’t want anything in the world to take away the smile from her lips. On the other hand, he didn’t want anyone else to be able to put a smile on her face.
Laughing out loud at his messy thoughts; he leaned forward, leaning on his hand, completely ignoring the fight going on below. Unfortunately, his inattention was noticed.
Someone smacked the back of his head, “Ouch!” Glaring, he turned around and faced Robert, “Ouch, what the hell was that for?”
“Because you look like a drooling donkey ass. I would tell you to wipe your chin, but it would be a waste of breath.” Robert snapped before rolling his eyes. “Do you even know who’ll you’ll be fighting?”
He didn’t, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t guess; he glanced down and saw that the middle fighter was the one left standing.
Nope, he didn’t know the male standing there. “Who is that?”
“That’s Kirkle’s boy, Dannith. He’s the top hunter here, and he’s been betted on at least five times more than you,” Robert said, rubbing his fingers together. “I’ll win big if you squash him.”
Malcolm sighed. “I can’t even trust my own uncle to not bet on official business?’
“Official business? Don’t be a jackass,” Robert said, looking away and spotting Gregory waving toward him. “Well, it looks like it’s time for you to go fight.” He mocked sniffled. “Baby boy’s all grown up.”
“Call me a baby again, and I’ll knock you on your ass,” Malcolm growled as he headed down. Once he reached the bottom, he could feel the glares of Kirkle and his entourage. “Well, it would appear the Aldermen aren’t happy that I’m healthy and looking dashing in the McLaren plaid.”
“Yep, they definitely want you dead,” Robert said, taking his cloak. “Are you ready?”
Malcolm rolled his shoulder.
A part of his excitement stemmed from the obvious low expectations the McLarens had for him, some of them probably assuming that Veil City had taken his edge. “Don’t worry, this won’t take too long.”
Moving onto the sand, the crowd’s excited shouts filled his ears. But his eyes were on one person. When their gaze met, he knew she saw what others did not: the beast that stirred beneath. The one willing to tear her monsters apart, real or unseen.
“Your uncle has controlled the Aldermen long enough,” Dannith hissed, drawing his attention away. His eyes were similar to Kirkle’s, brown and beady filled with maliciousness. “I’ve every intention of winning.”
“Mm, I like a wolf who thinks positively,” Malcolm said as they circled one another. Malcolm watched Dannith shift back and forth, spotting when his hand moved to his side and mentally sighed.
Tricks such as the use of secretly hidden weapons weren’t nearly as surprising as they should be.
When Dannith rushed him, he spun out of the way and watched as he nearly ran into the crowd. “Come now, you’ve got to be better than that if you want to take me down.”
Dannith growled and attacked once more; lunging as if to claw him across the abdomen, only he slipped out a short knife at the last minute.
Malcolm brought his fist down hard on the back of his neck; Dannith released a short grunt as Malcolm grabbed him by the neck and raised his knee slamming it into his stomach, grabbing his shoulder, he flipped him on his back.
The crowd hushed, as he wiped the sweat off his brow. “It’s a good thing our kind heal fast, now. Get up.”
Dannith shakenly stood his pupils dilated with shock. Like everyone else, he’d assumed the wolf from the city would be easy to beat, but he and everyone else had no idea of Malcolm's fighting experience. In the veil he’d learned what it meant to fight to the death.
Dannith eyes narrowed. “You—you! Outsider,” he bellowed as he ran at Malcolm.
Malcolm jumped high, flipping midair, he landed lightly behind Dannith. And grinned, exposing his lengthening canines.
“Don’t tell me that’s all you have?”
Malcolm placed a hand on his shoulder, only for him to turn around again and try to stab him once more in the stomach. He flinched, his nose wrinkling as he looked at the knife that hit his hand. “This again, aren’t you tired yet.” He grabbed the short blade and brought his elbow down on the Dannith’s back.
“Malcolm,” Eliza called.
He half-turned and met Eliza's fearful gaze. He smiled, lifting his hand holding the blade, and letting it drop. Seeing the weapon, her eyes widened, but she visibly relaxed, seeing that he was fine.
Turning back to Dannith, who was now on his knees, his mouth twisted.
“A werewolf is only to use his body for these challenges, but I won’t call this fight off,” he said, approaching Dannith he knelt and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I learned a lot when I was banished. One of those things was that no one can be trusted, not when fighting.” His claws extended and he buried them in his shoulder, he ignored the other painful cries.
Yanking his hand back, he stood and sighed, turning to Robert. “It would seem that Kirkle’s son isn’t able to continue.”
“Die,” Dannith bellowed as he suddenly stood.
Malcolm half-turned, expecting to see him running at him but he wasn’t running for him but for Eliza. Kirkle’s sons reared his back before slinging three blades at her.
As if in slow motion, he watched them fly at her, even as he ran towards her he wasn’t moving fast enough. Just as the blade passed the railing, a bright light flashed. A wall of light held the three blades still in the air, and behind her were two wings that spread out as if to protect those behind her.
Eventually the wall fell away like water, and the wings disappeared as fast as they appeared. But the audience had already seen it and felt the power pouring off Eliza. Her brown eyes sparkled like fire before they resettled into brown.
She didn’t say anything as she stood and walked towards the bar. Her eyes were cold as she stared Dannith down. “You’ve violated the rules.” With a chilly tone she spoke causing those near her to instinctually show their necks as the pressure from her aura suppressed them.
Malcolm walked up calmly, and grabbed the stunned werewolf by the shoulders, turning him around. With a change in his expression, he grabbed Dannith’s head and pulled with all his might. The sound of tearing flesh and breaking of bone was music to his ears, he stared into the shocked eyes of the now dead Dannith. The body, now without a head, hit the ground.
Eliza cooly looked down at the body as if she wasn’t staring at a person who’d been breathing or talking earlier.
Malcolm turned to face the stunned crowd; he spoke to them although his eyes were still on the head. “For those of you who believe that my time in Veil City made me soft, I hope you’ve learned today that that is not true.”
Lifting Dannith’s head high, he shouted, “Mercy is given by the weak, and the kind. I am only kind once, after, it’s up to you to ask your gods for mercy, for I, Alpha McLaren, will show you none.” He released a deep howl.
The crowd began thumping their chest, the rhythm filling the air. Howls joined soon enough; this was where he belonged. He was meant to be here on his people land, surrounded by their cheers and shouts of awe. It had only taken six years for Malcolm to finally complete one of his greatest wishes.
The tall iron doors, that had the McLaren emblem carved into to them opened revealing the wolven the warrior class. As soon as they came into view, they entered and once they reached Malcolm they took a knee and clapped their fist to their chest lowering their heads.
“Our Alpha.”
“Make your vows, " he said tossing the head aside.
There and then he won their loyalty, and the people all fell to their knees. He turned to find one person who hadn’t, but he would never ask it of her. No, the woman who stood while others kneeled had enough power that he could feel it buzzing against his skin, calling to the beast that remained behind his mental bars.
It licked its maw, eager to be released to see if those bold brown eyes would remain so brave in its presence. Malcolm smirked; his mate would stand against Satan himself. Her back was straight, and her chin lifted with pride. Malcolm turned his attention back to the soldiers.
Robert stepped forward. “Your Alpha has been chosen, now. Let’s party!”
A roar of cheer went up, and slowly, the crowd began to disperse. He walked towards Robert only to hear Kirkle's masculine wail as he gathered his sons' body parts. He didn’t look at the man, nor did he say anything. He would give them the right to mourn in privacy. With that, he made his back to the main building, his men following him.
For him, this moment never felt more right.
“You’ve done well,” Robert said as they walked away from the fighting pit. The pack had already moved to the festivities. “I didn’t expect any less from you.”
Malcolm shot him a skeptical look. “Yet, someone yelled at me about having a plan. Wasn’t that you?”
Robert didn’t answer him. Instead, he pointed at five men who stood a little ways away. “Let me introduce you to your guardsmen. They are the most talented among these pups here.”
Malcolm glanced at his uncle right before they reached the five men. Two of them he already recognized: “Derrik and Agun, I know.”
“Yes,” Robert said, pointing at the male with blue eyes. “This is Jamie; he’s cousins with Kirkle.”
Malcolm lifted his chin, narrowing his eyes slightly on the men. “You’re not feeling bitter about your cousin's death?”
Jamie shrugged. “The rules are clear, and he was already lucky enough not to be shamed. He earned his death.”
Malcolm gave a short nod. “Then welcome,” he reached out, clasping hands with him. “I expect nothing less than loyalty.”
“And I don’t have any intention of giving you anything less,” Jamie said, offering him a cool smile.
Robert turned to a man with blonde hair. “And this is Archie. He’s pretty brutal, so if you ever need a sparring partner, he’s it.”
Archie gave a low chuckle, and the scar at the corner of his lips kicked up. “He’s exaggerating.”
“Did you, or didn’t you throw me into a ravine?” The one who hadn’t been introduced spoke up, his nearly black hair pulled back in a low ponytail. Spotting Malcolm looking at him, he lifted a hand, “And I’m Will.”
“Malcolm,” he said in the introduction, pulling back. “I’ll be your Alpha from now on. I hope to serve you well.”
“Oh,” Archie said crossing his arms, “I don’t think you have much choice. We’ve got high expectations for you.”
Malcolm was taken aback by his words, and he grinned. “Is that so?”
“It is,” Agun said, adding his own two cents. “So, don’t bother thinking about failure.”
Malcolm couldn’t help laughing. This was what he’d missed in the veil, this easy comradeship. The ability to be understood without explaining himself. Family, he’d missed his family.
And he wasn’t too much of a coward to admit that.
Eliza
The savage glee that had been on Malcolms face was carved into her memory, causing her to feel breathless.
The way he’d toyed with his opponent had been a bit too fun to watch. She’d been worried for nothing; he hadn’t once taken his opponent seriously. Every move he’d made had been calculated; that handsome face and easy smile hid a predator who knew exactly how to go about killing his enemies.
The memory of the black look on his face as he pulled the head from the other werewolves’ shoulders would have traumatized her a few months ago.
Instead, her mind was caught up in the storm of violent anger. How dare that weak dog attempt to kill her? And his throw had been so wide that he could’ve harmed the women seated behind her.
Eliza fury had been so blinding, her magic reacted first, completely slipping from her control.
Pressing a hand to her forehead, she sighed. She was glad the others had dropped her off back at her cabin, where she could rest alone and change clothes.
Her heart was racing, and her cheeks felt warm even as she tried, and failed at not imagining Malcolm grinning with blood splattering across his fierce expression. Something was wrong with her getting so excited at the image of him being so ruthless, especially when he was kind and patient with her.
She half-turned and fell on her bed. Grabbing his pillow, she brought it to her face and inhaled his woodsy scent with a touch of mint. She sighed; she wanted him.
The danger of her desire would derail her plans. The door opened, and she slowly pushed herself back up to watch Malcolm enter, He didn’t look at her as he shut the door behind himself.
“So, you’re now their Alpha, their leader,” she said by way of greeting.
He reached up and unclasped his cloak and pulled it off. He settled it on the back of the chair near the door. “It looks like it.”
“The body of the other opponent?” she asked, as she straightened fully. “Did his family retrieve it?”
“His father will burn him on the pier tonight,” he said, as he walked towards her. “I shouldn’t have teased him so much; my playing with him is what pushed him to the edge.”
Taking note of his troubled expression she stood and walked over to him. “Don’t blame yourself for what he did," she said, stopping right in front of him. “Plus,You can’t be responsible for me forever. I—one day, I’ll have to face the music and return to the place I ran away from.”
“I wouldn’t send you away,” Malcolm said his expression turning grim. “And those who’d hunt you down wouldn’t be able to rip you from my hands.”
“And what if I don’t want anyone to hurt themselves over me? I know that the time I have is borrowed. I am not stupid enough to think I can live here in hiding forever.”
“You aren’t getting it, Eliza,” Malcolm snapped, averting his eyes. “I don’t think I could stay here without you.”
“You shouldn’t get attached to me,” she said, hardening her heart. “I won’t lie about my feelings towards you. I want you, but we have to be realistic about what would happen if I stayed. I am an experiment gone wrong, and someone will come looking for me sooner or later.”
“Then they’ll find me and my men,” Malcolm said, facing her abruptly. “I won’t let you go for anything. I’ve waited my entire life for you, for this. Once a wolf claims something as its own, it won’t let go. Not even in death.’’
She looked into his eyes, trying to find the lie, but she couldn’t. She wanted to. If she could find a crack in his facade, she could pull herself away from him. Unfortunately, she could tell his was telling the truth.
Malcolm desired her. The her that was broken and had little resemblance to the woman she’d been before. Eliza wanted to curl into his arms, be comforted, and avoid the reality around her and inside her. The silent sound of magic she’d ignored stirred around and moved as she grew stronger.
“If someday I have to leave, don’t stop me,” she said softly.
“What are you trying to say,” he demanded.
“I need you to promise me that if I have to go, you won’t chase after me. That you would go on as if you never met me.”
“No,” he spat.
“Malcolm,” she pleaded, reaching out to him.
He retreated a step, avoiding her touch. “I won’t make such a stupid promise to you, now or ever. If you leave, I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth, and across the seven realms,” he threatened, turning around and slamming out of the cabin.
Her heart hardened as she watched him go.
“You shouldn’t let him leave like that.”
She looked right and saw the wisps of the speaker's white gown. “Ashe, I don’t have a right to go chasing after him.”
Ashe, her white body was nothing more than a mirage or maybe a ghost that just wouldn’t leave Eliza alone.
“You’re carrying guilt that doesn’t belong to you. You don’t have to fight for me; I’m already dead,” she said, turning to face Eliza, she wore a sad smile on her pale face. “You have to let me go.”
“No, I won’t,” Eliza said, clenching her hands at her side. “I can’t. Not until they pay for what they did to us. I want to break them like they broke us. I want to steal into the night and ruin their peaceful rest as they’ve done to us.”
“And who is our enemy?” Ashe asked as she faded. “Is it them or, yourself?”
“Everyone,” Eliza answered, her eyes turning a bright hot amber. “You're either with me or against me.”
“I was afraid you’d say that,” Ashe's voice whispered as she disappeared completely from sight.
Eliza stared at the door for a beat, she turned and walked away from it. She’d fogotten who she was meant to be. She’d lived for her revenge, and she was only moving because she’d picked up the gauntlet. Walking over to the book that sat on the counter, she lifted her hand and placed it on the cover. Her hand began to softly glow and vibrate, just as the book did, the same words slipped past her lips, as her heart began to race, and with a spark, the book vanished. Leaving behind only a scorched table.
Retracting her hand, she whispered, “So mote it be.”
She looked up at the window, only to frown at seeing something strange in the distance. Two men stood on the sidewalk outside of her cabin; their eyes were staring directly at her. She felt the urge to hide, but another part of her refused to move and her hand lifted abruptly, and black light crackled in her hand at them. “Leave.”
“You smell like the key, but you are not the key; what are you?”
Eliza flinched, surprised that she could hear them even though they were so far away.
One of them lifted a hand to his brow, giving her a mock salute before the two disappeared from view. Her hand lowered, the crackling black energy dissipating.
“Who was that?” she mentally queried.
The goddess didn’t answer, and she didn’t push it. She was exhausted. She reached up and pulled one of the hair decorations from her hair. “I need a shower,” she said to herself as she headed into the bathroom.