Episode 6: Love Triangle

I stood over Genevieve, watching the slow steady rise and fall of her chest as well as the crescent moon mark on her neck burned into her flesh.

My mark

My mate.

A dark victorious smile spread across my face as I called for my beta

"Eric!"

The doors immediately flew open and Eric stepped inside, his hand already resting on the hilt of his sword.

"You called, Alpha?" Eric said, his voice tense waiting to see a corpse.

He was waiting to see another stone statue to add to my collection.

But this this it wasn't some random wolf, it would be his mate.

"Look up, Eric," I commanded softly, stepping away from the bed. "Look at the tribute you brought me."

Eric hesitated for a fraction of a second before lifting his gaze.

His eyes scrambled across the room until they landed on the bed and the moment he saw Genevieve breathing, the aristocratic mask he always wore completely shattered.

His breath hitched and he took a sudden step forward, his eyes widening in pure shock. "She... she is alive?"

"More than alive," I purred, watching his reaction like a hawk.

Eric's eyes dropped to her neck, and then he froze as the color completely drained from his face staring at the glowing crescent mark.

He recognized it instantly.

The werewolf inside him knew exactly what it meant.

"You... you marked her," Eric whispered, his voice cracking, a sudden wave of raw pain flashing through his eyes. "But she was... she was supposed to turn to stone. The curse—"

"It seems she was always the cure for my curse, just like it was prophesied," I interrupted.

I moved with supernatural speed, appearing right in front of Eric before he could even blink.

I leaned in close, letting him smell the scent of my blood and hers mixed together on my skin.

"Listen to me very carefully, Beta," I growled, my red eyes boring into his soul. "The mate bond you felt? The pull that made you hesitate in the Aries kingdom? It is dead. The heavens might have written your names together, but she is mine now. Not yours. Never yours."

Eric swallowed hard, his fists clenching so tightly behind his back that his knuckles turned white.

"I understand, Alpha," Eric choked out, forcing his head down. "She belongs to the pack. She belongs to you."

"Good," I sneered, turning my back on him. "Because your job just changed. From this moment on, you are her personal bodyguard."

Eric snapped his head up, utterly bewildered. "Your bodyguard, sire? For an assassin?"

"She is no longer just an assassin, Eric. She is my mate. The only woman in three hundred years who can survive my touch," I said, a cruel, ambitious grin spreading across my lips. "Do you know what that means for our enemies? For centuries, the other kingdoms rested easy knowing the Blood Demon could never sire an heir. They knew my bloodline would die with me. But now? Now they will realize I can build a dynasty."

I walked over to the window, staring out at the fading moonlight.

"The moment word gets out that Genevieve survived, every jealous Alpha and desperate king on the eastern border will send their best killers to slide a blade into her throat. They will try to destroy my future before it even begins, and you, dear Eric, will be the shield that stops them."

Eric looked at Genevieve's sleeping form, a complicated, tortured expression on his face. "You want me to protect the woman who was meant to be mine... for you?"

"I want you to show me where your true loyalty lies," I hissed, flashing my sharp fangs. "If a single hair on her head is harmed, I won't just kill you, Eric. I will make you watch as I turn your entire family line to dust. Do we understand each other?"

"Yes, Alpha," Eric whispered, his voice hollow. "I will protect her with my life."

"Excellent. Now, send for Lucinda. The little bird is bleeding out, and I need her fully healed by sunset to begin her....duties as my breeder."

Ten minutes later, the doors opened again, and Lucinda walked into the room.

She was a noble green eyed witch, draped in a beautiful dark purple gown that swept the floor and her silver hair was pinned up perfectly.

She was the best healer in the seven kingdoms, proud and fiercely loyal to my council.

Her eyes immediately darted to Eric, who was standing like a stone statue at the foot of the bed.

A soft, longing warmth flickered in Lucinda's eyes when she looked at him, a look that made it obvious to anyone with a brain that she loved my Beta.

Then, her eyes slid over to the bed, landing on Genevieve.

Lucinda walked closer, her eyes instantly locking into the mating mark on Genevieve's neck.

In an instant, the noble calm witch vanished and her beautiful face twisted into an ugly, venomous mask of pure jealousy and hatred.

She looked at Genevieve's pale face, and her hands began to tremble with rage.

She knew Genevieve was Eric's fated mate. As a witch, she could practically taste the magic of the bond hanging in the air.

"So," Lucinda said, her voice dripping with venom as she looked at me. "This is the garbage the Aries kingdom threw at our gates. I heard rumors that a girl survived the night but I didn't believe it."

"Heal her, Lucinda," I commanded coldly, leaning against the fireplace. "I don't pay you to comment on my taste in women."

Lucinda let out a sharp, nasty laugh, stepping right up to the bedside. "Heal her? Why? Look at her Vergil. She is nothing but a broken, filthy assassin. She has crawled into the beds of half the men on the border just to keep her pathetic pack alive. She is ruined and you want to make this your queen?"

At the foot of the bed, Eric flinched violently at Lucinda's words but he kept his mouth shut, staring at the floor.

I noticed the subtle movement, and a cruel smile touched my lips.

This was getting highly entertaining.

"Her past doesn't concern me, witch," I said smoothly, stepping forward. "She is able to survive my wolf and touch, that makes her more valuable to me than anyone else in this castle. Do your job and Fix her fucking neck."

Lucinda bit her lips annoyed by my words pulling a small silver vial of glowing green liquid from her cloak.

She slammed it down on the bedside table. "She doesn't deserve your mark Alpha Vergil, Everyone in the castle knows exactly who she is, The Aries Assasin. She belongs in the dirt."

"Then... why don't you put me there yourself, sweetheart?"

We all turned. Genevieve's blue eyes were fluttered open.

She was incredibly pale, and sweat was pooling on her forehead but her gaze was as sharp as a razor blade.

She looked directly at Lucinda, completely unfazed by the witch's hatred.

"Genevieve," Eric whispered instinctively, taking a half step forward before catching himself.

Genevieve didn't even look at Eric. She kept her eyes locked on Lucinda, a faint, mocking smile touching her bloody lips.

"You're... you're very loud for a servant," Genevieve choked out, coughing slightly. "If you're going to stare at me like you want to curse me, at least have the courage to try it while I can stand up."

Lucinda gasped, her face flushing with absolute rage. "You arrogant little low born wolf whore! You have no idea who you are speaking to—"

"I am speaking to a woman who is desperately in love with a man who will never look at her," Genevieve snapped back, her voice growing stronger through sheer spite.

She tilted her head slightly, wincing at the pain in her neck, but her smile only widened. "you wouldn't stop staring at Eric and I'm guessing you must hate me for being his mate, but don't worry... you can have him. He's a coward anyway."

"Silence!" Lucinda shrieked, raising her hand as purple sparks of magic began to crackle around her fingers.

"That is enough," I boomed, my alpha aura immediately silencing the room.

Genevieve stayed completely still, glaring at me with that same beautiful, stubborn defiance.

I walked over to the bed, looking down at my little blonde captive. "You certainly know how to make friends, little bird."

"I don't need friends, Vergil," she whispered, her eyes burning into mine. "I need you to get this crazy bitch away from me before I use her own dress to strangle her."

I let out a loud, genuine laugh. She was surely entertaining.

"Lucinda," I ordered, my voice dropping its playful tone, becoming dangerously sharp. "Heal the wound and keep her alive. If she dies because your magic 'slipped,' I will feed your heart to my hounds. Eric, you stay here and watch them both."

Lucinda swallowed her rage, bowing her head tightly. "Yes, Alpha."

I looked back down at Genevieve one last time. "Rest up, my fiery little mate. Tomorrow you will begin your duty as my breeder."

"I will never become your breeder." She hissed and I smiled.

"I am Vergil the demon wolf. my word is law, I own you now little blonde, your mind body and soul," I grinned, "You can either fulfill your duties willingly," I paused before adding.

"Or...I can take it forcefully."