The Tripartite Mate Bond Chapter 70: CHAPTER SEVENTY

“ARES' POV”

I've messed up really hard. Aurora was sleeping upstairs now and the doctor assured us she's going to be fine, since her healing is super fast but I still felt like an asshole.

The fear of what could have happened if Kane’s stupid plans had come to pass dug deep into my soul and made me feel pain. I have already spent a lot of time trying to run away from my feelings for her and now that my head is screwed on right, he tries to take her from us and worst of all, he's pretending he was possessed. Who does that?

The witch said the same thing but I'm sure they planned it together and I needed to teach him a lesson. I love Aurora and even though I've never said it to her, I feel it deep within me. We were sorting out the new cameras Axel ordered in the pack when her message came in and we dropped everything to come and see her as well as praise her efforts at making the pack love her. She did an amazing job but Kane had to go and ruin it, not even allowi6her in her success.

“Brother, you need to stop pacing around so much, she's fine. You heard the doctor, besides it was a mistake” Axel said to me.

“One that could have been avoided if you both believed me. There's no way in hell I'll do something like that knowing fully well it might hurt her. The dragon has been hunting her dreams for crying out loud, what part of the mate bond you feel suggests you can ever betray her like that? I feel the same thing you feel and I just remember an itch in my chest that won't go away” Kane started his tirade again and I just walked out of the room in anger.

I felt that ridiculous itch as well and I nearly scratched out my heart in annoyance but did I betray my mate to the hand of a dragon that wanted to hurt her or betray the rest of her mates? No. So his excuse was lame and I wasn't going to stand for it.

I hated how much of Aurora we didn't know as the thought of getting her a gift became a problem. I'll obviously get flowers but that's basic, I need to apologize in the best way possible and I don't think a pretty dress would do it.

As I walked out of the elevator, I saw Cora and I knew I had to approach her. If anyone will know, it'll be her as she has been spending a lot of time teaching Aurora how to do her duties.

“Cora, can I talk to you for a minute?” I called her as she was about to leave the lobby.

“Good evening, Alpha. What can I do for you?”

“I need to get Aurora a gift, an apology gift and I'm a bit lost on what to get her. I feel terrible about the whole situation and I just need something that will make her smile” I explained.

“That's going to be a bit difficult because my brother has been buying gifts for her a lot before the whole “avoidance” situation”

“Avoidance? What do you mean by that?”

“Aurora was complaining that he wasn't spending time with her and was always running away from her whenever she got close to him. I still haven't figured out what happened but please, you have to understand that he's in love with her and this isn't about the mate bond. He genuinely loves and this whole situation just came right out of nowhere”

“I'll think about that later, Cora but there must be something I can get her so she at least doesn't hate me too much when she wakes up”

“There's an ice cream spot she talked about and how she wished she could just teleport there anytime she wanted. I'll give you the address and they have other things you can get her as well. Also, the pearl you guys destroyed? Get her another one and make it bigger” she said and took her leave.

I made some calls and took one of our own cars and I drove into the human town.

I quickly found the ice cream shop and I ordered five buckets of it and lots of other treats. I told them to package it properly and I drove to a witch town to get the pearl. There was no open hostility here but one could be attacked if you broke one of their sacred rules. It revolved around the earth and protecting her children. Most witches don't stay in their local town, preferring to live among humans in disguise and earn money by offering their services discreetly but if the need ever arose, they would come together and fight for their own.

I knocked on the door of the witch that I came to meet and when the door opened, it was a little girl that opened it.

“Hello there! Where's your mother?” I asked.

“You smell like… death” she said, her face frowning.

“No, I don't. Now go get your mother. You shouldn't be opening doors without knowing who is at the door, okay?”

“Who is that?” I finally heard the voice of the person I was here to see.

“It's me, Zelda. I need power pearls” I said as the girl opened the door for me to go in.

The house was like every middle-class house that witches tended to occupy. Pictures lined the walls and the sofas were worn and the rug had evidence of a lot of cleaning. They didn't chase wealth like the rest of us, content to just worship mother earth and solve problems. Of course there are the exceptions here and there but this was a basic witch’s lifestyle.

“Mom, I told the werewolf man he smelled like death but he wouldn't believe me” the girl complained to her mother who just came out of the kitchen, tying an apron.

“Alpha Ares! It's been so long. Please sit down, I'll get us tea”

“Don't worry, I just came for something. A power pearl, do you have it?” I said, stopping her from going back into the kitchen.

“Oh, I just made a fresh batch two days ago. I'll get them for you. Will you be needing anything else?”

“No. Wait, an explanation of what your daughter is saying will be appreciated. I'll pay extra” I said, trying not to give her the impression that I was affected by the words she said as I walked in here.

“Oh. Ada, come. Give me your palms” she calls to her daughter and the girl quickly heads over to her mom.

Zelda has been out pack’s witch for several years, her physical form not showing her age in the slightest.

She said some words in a language I couldn't possibly understand and I saw a glow physically manifest, showing the connection between her and her daughter. When she finished, she took a deep breath and a panicked look appeared on her face, making me sit up at the edge of the couch in fear.

“You are in danger, Alpha Ares. A lot of it.”

“What? How?”

“Wait, Mom, it's not him directly, it's his mate. Their bond is so strong that if anything happens to her, he will die as well.” The daughter informed us, shocking me.

The bond between my mate and the three of us was a well kept secret to avoid targets on our backs. With this information out in the open, it was dangerous.

We decided to ensure Aurora is always strong enough to defend herself to avoid being the weak link and so far, I hear she has been doing great so what would precipitate her death?

“How can I stop this? Help me, Zelda. I love her so much”

“I fear there's not much I can do being that we don't know the source of death. If we knew the exact situation, I could have done more, my daughter's gift is still developing and I can't force her into a trance. But I'll give you a protection rune alongside the pearl. It'll alert her to impending danger anytime she's going somewhere. That way, she can avoid death as much as possible or at least, be prepared for it.”

“Thank you so much, I really appreciate it. When are you going to let me buy you a better house though? You do so much for the pack and I don't know how else to show my gratitude. You won't take anything from us” I had sent a car the last time she saved us from near extinction by DarkMoon Pack and she sent it right back. According to her, nature demands balance.

“You know why, Alpha Ares. We must maintain balance or my gifts will diminish. But there is something you can do for me”

“Tell me, anything at all”

“When my daughter is fifteen, can she come to your pack? I want her to grow there. I fear I have angered my coven and they are waiting to take it out on her when she turns sixteen but I need her to soak in as much power as possible before leaving and your pack is my best option so she can be safe”

“That is not a problem. Once you are ready, send your familiar with her. She will be well received” I said, remembering the grumpy cat.

“Thank you so much, I feel relieved. I'll go get them. The pearls I'm giving you are a little bit stronger than the usual ones my kin makes. This one will activate with a simple spell. Make sure she memorizes it. It doesn't have to said out loud too”

“That'll be very helpful. The last one nearly killed her” I said and she nodded before leaving to get them. I took out my phone and sent twice the amount of money she charged for all her wares. If nature wanted to be upset, they could take it out on me, the woman was doing me a lot of favors.

“Alpha Ares?” The little girl came up to me.

“Yes?”

“Please protect Luna Aurora” she said, and that was the third time I was shocked today. How she knows my mates name is quite obvious but at this age, I can only imagine how powerful she'll be when she becomes a full blown witch.

“With my life” I replied.