Moon Bound

24

Oracles
~
Cadence
~

"We can turn back, you know?" Accalia suggested thoughtfully to Cadence.

Cadence thought for an answer but angled her head over to the sun coming above the trees and emitting rays of sunlight on her skin.

"We're not turning back!" Lycus hollered in front of them.

Accalia's hands shifted to her hips and she shot daggers at the back of his head. "Maybe we shouldn't have done this so early in the morning!"

Stalking in front of the two girls, Lycus led them to the oracle who lived off the outskirts of the main pack houses and quarters, taking solitude in an old cottage.

Lycus whipped around. "You realise, mate, you and I will not be going in with her? We're just taking her there."

Accalia stopped in her tracks and worked up a sour expression.

Lycus sent her a scathing look. "Alright, darling, don't be surprised when Vaela tells you to run along."

Shoving his hands into the pockets of his jacket, he shifted away and continued his stalking.

Accalia huffed and kicked up her feet against the dirt. "I hate when he calls me that."

"What?" Cadence asked to pass the time, "Mate or darling?"

"Both! He talks to me like I'm some pet of his."

A fleeting but laughable question followed through Cadence's mind and she almost felt giddy to ask.

"Do you think he's attractive?" Cadence questioned, quirking up a thin brow.

Cadence couldn't deny the lycan prevailed in beauty like some unearthly being who shouldn't be on this earth. Damned and unnatural he was with the fur and claw. He was a dark allure one would dream of coming across but not want to cross paths with in reality.

Accalia staggered, locks of hair whipping around her. "I—er. He has done a lot of damage, Cadence, he's nothing but a beast."

Those words emitted into the air and Cadence huffed in amusement.

It didn't go unnoticed by her. Lycus went rigid in his shoulders and picked up the pace, fists clenching. 

She could have laughed at him, how pathetic he appeared. The bond between mates was doomed and cursed but even then, it would seem Lycus would gladly allow it.

The sun rose over the trees, standing brightly against the wood and inflicting warmth onto Cadence's skin. These past few days had been grim.

And it was about to get a lot worse. Cadence had only ever heard of oracles and she couldn't decipher if they were as believable as they were known to be.

Her belief would be held into question as the three walked toward a weaving path with a garden of grandeur and grace. The place bloomed in wildflowers, bright colours welcoming in the morning sun and dew soaking at the stems and roots of plants. Lavender welcomed Cadence's nostrils as her nose twitched unpleasantly. The floral aroma was stifling but sweet.

A stirring notion brewed in Cadence's stomach and she debated whether to make a run for it. She could. After all, Lycus's word held no power over her. But Accalia wanted to know, she was fretting with overwhelmed and that didn't sit right with Cadence.

Lycus knocked on the wooden door and right on that last clatter from his fist, it pushed open.

What if she's a nutcase? Cadence thought and peeked over Lycus's shoulder to snatch a look.