Blood Oaths and Witches

His POV:

                                     
Ben and I were escorted to a guest room, and the moment the door clicked shut behind us, I let out a frustrated breath, pacing the room in an effort to burn off the tension. "What the hell was that?" I turned to Ben, trying to make sense of the whirlwind that had just torn through the house — and my mind.

Ben slouched into a chair by the window, his fingers raking through his tousled brown curls as he stared out into the Garden . "I don't know, man," he muttered, clearly just as shaken as I was. "I've seen her before, though." He leaned back, eyes narrowing as if trying to piece something together. "She's got a reputation. Works for CAT—hardcore negotiator, always in the middle of some high-stakes deals. Feisty as hell." He let out a small laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. "But when she looked me in the eyes back there, my wolf... he just whimpered like a damn puppy. I've never experienced anything like it."

I stopped pacing and turned toward him, my brow furrowed. Ben was one of the strongest wolves I knew. He didn't back down from anything or anyone. The fact that she—a petite, fiery witch—had managed to unnerve him like this spoke volumes. "It's probably nothing," I said, though the words sounded hollow, even to me. "She's a witch. Maybe she cast some kind of spell on you. Don't let it get under your skin."

But even as I said it, I wasn't entirely convinced. The way my own wolf had reacted to her... that surge of possessiveness, the primal urge to claim her as mine—it was unlike anything I'd felt before. My wolf was restless, pacing inside me, urging me to find her, to chase her down and... No. I shook my head, trying to rid myself of the thought. That wasn't an option. I was here for her sister. Lana was off-limits. She wasn't even a wolf. I couldn't let my instincts get the better of me.

Ben sighed, running a hand through his hair again. "Maybe you're right," he said, though he didn't sound entirely convinced either. He glanced out the window, his expression still dazed. "But damn, she's something else."

I grunted in agreement, my mind still reeling. But we didn't have time to dwell on it. Soon, we were called down to dinner, and as we walked into the dining room, the weight of what was about to happen settled heavily on my shoulders. This wasn't just any dinner. This was the beginning of a contract that had been hanging over my family for generations—a contract I was now bound to fulfill.

The dining room was grand, with long windows that let in the last of the day's fading light, casting a warm, golden glow over the space. Alpha Elijah sat at the head of the table, his wife Ana beside him, regal and composed, though there was an undercurrent of tension in her gaze.

As we took our seats, their sons entered the room, each one a towering figure of strength and dominance. They moved with the grace of seasoned warriors, their powerful frames a testament to their wolf blood. Despite their mother being a witch, there was nothing diluted about their strength. Aden, the eldest, nodded to me respectfully. "It's an honor to meet the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack. I'm Aden, and these are my brothers—Max, Ian, and Mac."

"Likewise," I responded, offering a polite nod. "This is my second-in-command, Ben."

Ben grinned at them, ever the relaxed one in tense situations, though I could feel his gaze flicking over them, sizing up the competition as always. They were strong, no doubt about it, but there was no hostility here. Just the weight of unspoken tension, like the air before a storm.

"What's going on, Father?" Max, the youngest of the brothers, asked as he sat down. He looked like he could barely contain his curiosity, his brows drawn together in confusion.

"We'll discuss everything once your sisters join us," Elijah replied, his tone authoritative but laced with a deep sadness. The Alpha didn't want this any more than I did, but neither of us had a choice. The blood oath demanded it.