A Wolf's Oath (10 page)
“
Come on guys, let’s head inside. Your sister and I need to
have a talk.”
“
Let’s just play for a little longer Sebastian,” Wyatt pleaded,
turning his big brown eyes on him, confident in their ability to
get his new friend to agree.
If he hadn’t needed to talk to Erica so urgently, Sebastian
was sure he would have conceded defeat to the plea so eloquently
expressed in Wyatt’s gaze, as it was he barely managed to choke out
a no. “I’m sorry guys, no more playing today.”
“
But Sebastian,” Dylan whined joining her brother in his
demands. “You’re going to have to go home soon and we won’t be able
to play then. So you should play with us now.”
“
If that’s all your worried about then don’t,” he consoled.
“I’m going to be around for quite a while. There’s going to be
plenty of time for us to play together but for now it’s time we
head in. Come on,” he urged, holding out a hand to each of them.
Reluctantly, they each took one of his outstretched hands, allowing
him to guide them back through the trees to the cabin.
As soon as he entered the house, he knew something was wrong.
There was no sign of either Erica or Anna and his mate’s scent was
far weaker than it should have been had she been in the house. She
was gone. Frustration welled up within him and he struggled to
resist the temptation to scream with anger.
She ran away! She ran away before I could even talk to her.
What the hell happened?
His wolf raged within his mind, throwing itself against the
cage that confined it within Sebastian's mind. Dangerous impulses
rushed through him as the wolf sought to gain control of him and he
began to fear for those around him.
Calm down,
he snapped.
Go after her. Go and bring her back here now. She can’t
escape us. I’ll be free tonight Sebastian and we will hunt her and
claim her. There is nothing that can change that.
We were making progress with her, something must have
happened. Just give me a minute to think.
A
small piece of paper on the living room table caught his attention
as Erica's scent hit him hard. He reached for it, his eyes quickly
scanning the contents.
Dear Sebastian,
If you’re reading this letter, then I’m no longer in the
cabin. For that matter I’m probably no longer within the boundaries
of the clan. I’m long gone by now, or at least I hope I am. I know
you wanted us to talk about the claiming Sebastian and I’m sorry
that we’re not going to get the chance to do it face-to-face, but
if I’d stayed to talk, you would have caught me easily, we both
know that. I really did want to trust you but this is too big a
decision to base on less than a week’s worth of knowledge about
your character. Maybe if we’d have more time together things would
have been different, while I may not have shown it, I was actually
coming to care for you. I know it’s impossible for you to stay away
on a night like this, but please Sebastian, if you care for me at
all, then wait until you have no choice but to come for me. Give me
a head start so that there is a chance, even if it’s a slim one,
for me to escape. I still don’t want Dylan or Wyatt to know about
us just yet, so please don’t say anything to them. I’m leaving them
in your care. I’m trusting you to take care of the only family I
have left. Please take this as a sign that you and I have a future.
There is an ‘us’, it’s just not possible to develop it further
right now. Given some time the possibilities are
endless.
Erica
His eyes read over the paper again, ensuring that he read
each word correctly so that he could understand how she had felt
when she had written her farewell letter. A sad smile crept across
his face as he re-read the line where she told him that she really
did care for him. Sebastian’s thoughts scattered as his wolf howled
loudly in his mind, demanding his attention much in the way a young
child would. The wolf roared, rattling at the bars that kept it
confined, the noise so loud that Sebastian was sure that his ears
would burst under the onslaught.
Be quiet. Are you trying to kill me?
Sebastian demanded, pleased beyond belief when glorious
silence filled his mind even if it was only for a
moment.
Go after her and bring her back to us. The claiming will
happen tonight. I won’t allow anything different; I won’t tolerate
this any longer. She’s our mate and it is about time that she
accepted that.
Didn’t you see what she wrote in the letter?
he asked perplexed.
She
said she cares for us; all she wants is more time. Is that really
so much to ask for? We’re asking for eternity, all she wants is a
few weeks. She’s been through a lot in her life, it’s amazing that
she even cares a little bit considering the fact that she had
resigned herself to being without a mate for life. She never wanted
this; we’re forcing it on her. If she wants a few more weeks then I
say we give it to her.
Weren’t you reading the same piece of paper that I
was?
The wolf retorted.
She’s ashamed of us. No one knows that we’re her mate, no
one. She refuses to tell her family the truth and you entertain her
in her deception. Not even our own brother is aware of the fact
that we have a mate. If we allow this moon to pass without claiming
her then she’ll simply do the same thing again at the next full
moon and the one after that and the one after that! She’ll never
allow us to claim her if we give her the opportunity to even
consider being free of us. She’s a wolf; this is natural for our
people. I don’t see why she’s refusing the instinct so strongly.
Surely her wolf is of the same opinion as me. I can practically
feel how much she wants us,
it snarled,
clearly uncomfortable with the situation.
No. We will claim her tonight that’s the end of
it.
All she wants is more time.
She can have all the time in the world to get to know us,
after the claiming. I don’t know why she’s being so difficult, you
gave her your word that you wouldn’t do what her father
did.
Yes, I gave her my word, you on the other hand have agreed to
nothing. If something were to happen to Erica I would be the one
forced to deal with you and judging from how you are now, I would
probably end up being driven crazy. Are you willing to give her
your word as well?
No.
Sebastian growled at the curt response.
Why not? It could reassure her and then maybe she would agree
to the claiming.
She’s our mate, where she goes it’s only natural we follow.
If that means following her to whatever awaits us beyond this world
then so be it.
If you’re going to be like that, then I’m following her
instructions to the letter. She doesn’t want to be caught this moon
and I will do everything in my power to ensure that she
escapes.
“
Sebastian?” Wyatt’s questioning voice pulled him away from the
internal debate he was having with his wolf, drawing him back to
the realities of his surroundings.
“
What is it?”
“
Where’s Erica, we looked everywhere for her but she’s not
here.”
Tell them,
his wolf urged.
They like you and I’m sure they’d be willing to
help you.
I told you I’m following her instructions to the letter. Now
shut up.
“Erica and I have to go away for a
few days,” he lied, thankful that they were young enough not to be
able to detect the slight tremor in his voice that told of his
deception.
“
Where are you going?” Dylan inquired, coming to stand beside
her brother.
“
We’ve been summoned by the royal clan. You know there’s
nothing you can do to get out of a royal summon, if you’re called
then you have to go.”
“
Oh. Well who’s going to look after us if both you and Erica
have gone?” Wyatt pressed.
“
That’s a very good question.” Sebastian smiled, his hand
already reaching for the phone in his pocket. “Why don’t you two
pack a bag each just in case you can’t stay here and I’ll tell you
who’s coming for you.”
They nodded, quickly leaving the room. His hand had been
dialling while they were still in the room and he placed the now
ringing mobile to his ear, waiting for a response.
“
Hello?” His brother’s voice came through the line clear and
strong and Sebastian sighed in relief.
“
Ryan, it’s Sebastian. I need your help.” The sound of wind was
the next thing he heard and he smiled. While others thought of his
twin as rash, arrogant and sometimes just plain rude, he was the
best person to have around in a crisis. He was already on his way,
no questions asked. It was just the way his brother was. He would
drop everything if someone needed his help, especially if that
person was him.
“
I’m on my way right now.”
“
I can hear the wind, I already know that. Thank you
Ryan.”
“
This had better be good, you’re dragging me away from the full
moon feast for this. Hang on a second, why aren’t you at the estate
for the feast? For that matter, where have you been the last few
days?”
“
It’s complicated.”
“
So complicated that you can’t tell me? I’m your
brother.”
“
I promised that I wouldn’t tell anyone what was going on. I
don’t want to break this oath Ryan, so can we just leave it at
that?”
He paused before answering. “Fine, but I swear there will be
a time just like this in the future where I need your help with
something and I don’t want you to ask even a single question, just
do as I tell you.”
“
Fine.”
“
Where are you? I’ll get there a lot quicker if I don’t have to
track you while running.”
“
I’m in a small cabin in the West clan.”
“
The West clan? What the hell are you doing there? Never mind,
no probing questions asked and all that. Is it ok if I ask exactly
what you need me for or is that a secret too?”
“
There are two kids here, a little girl and boy. The boy is
called Wyatt and the girl’s name is Dylan. I need you to take care
of them for me. They’re good kids so it shouldn’t be all that hard
for you. The cabin has my scent all over it so you should be able
to find it easy enough.”
“
And why exactly can’t you take care of them?” Ryan asked, the
agreement not to ask questions momentarily slipping from his
thoughts.
“
I’m not going to be here.”
“
Oh, well that’s fair enough then.”
“
What, no more questions?”
“
I thought you didn’t want me to ask any.”
“
I don’t.”
“
Well then there’s your answer. Hang on, there is just one more
thing I need to ask.”
“
What is it?”
“
How quickly do you need me to be there? The west clan is a
fair distance away.”
Watching the sun sink further into the horizon as the day
ended and began to be consumed by night, he answered easily. “As
fast as you can. I don’t have long.”
“
Well then that’s all I needed to know.” There was a quiet
click and the phone went silent.
Thanks Ryan.
“
We’re all packed,” Dylan grinned. “Now who’s coming to take
care of us?”
“
My brother Ryan is on his way right now.”
“
How will we know who he is? Erica always says you shouldn’t
let strangers in the house.”
“
You’ll know him because he looks exactly like me, well his
hair is a little longer but that’s about it. Trust me you’ll know
him when you see him.”
“
Do you really have to go Sebastian?” Wyatt inquired, his tone
pleading, clearly wishing that Sebastian could stay with
them.
“
I don’t have a choice Wyatt.” He smiled, but he could already
feel his wolf moving restlessly within his mind, anticipating the
moment the full moon would make it’s appearance and it would gain
control.
I’ll give you as much time as I
can Erica, but I’m not sure you’ll be able to out run me on a night
like this.
His skin felt itchy and the feeling was distinctly
uncomfortable as fur sought to cover his body. The sky was dark now
and the moon had made its appearance moments before. The urge to
change into his lupine form was upon him but he refused to easily
surrender control to his wolf; trying to give Erica valuable time
to increase the distance between them. He sat on the sofa in
Erica's living room, his arms wrapped tightly around his chest as
his mind sought for dominance over his wolf. He knew that it was
hopeless and that the wolf would win the fight but he was fighting
for his mate’s freedom and he would do the best he could to win
even if the battle was against himself. Dylan and Wyatt had long
since decided to play in their bedroom, realizing that he wouldn’t
be playing with them any more tonight and so he sat alone watching
the moon cross the sky. He had called Ryan a while ago and knew
that his brother would soon arrive but he wouldn’t be here to greet
him. Fangs erupted in his mouth, large and deadly and he knew that
the battle was now officially lost. If he stayed here any longer he
would be a threat to all around him.
