Blood Oaths and Witches

His POV

His POV:

I saw her emerge from the forest just as the storm broke, the last raindrops dripping from the leaves like the fading remnants of a spell. Without thinking, I opened the window and leaped to the ground, the wet earth soft under my boots. I crossed the clearing, my eyes locked on her silhouette beneath the great willow tree by the lake. The air still hummed with the storm's energy, but it was nothing compared to the storm brewing between us.

We stopped inches apart, the space between us crackling with unspoken words. Her eyes held mine—steady, fearless. "It's over," she said, her voice like the wind that had just quieted.

I frowned, inhaling her scent. Summer. Honey. Magic. The mix of it made a low growl rumble from deep in my chest. "What's over?" I demanded, the words barely more than a snarl. I was too close, too aware of her.

"Maya is married," she said, her tone sharp as broken glass. "It's done."

My hand was at her throat in an instant, my fingers brushing against her pulse, feeling the way she swallowed, but her gaze didn't waver. "What did you do?" I growled, my wolf pushing to the surface. "Witch."

"She married her soulmate," she spat, each word defiant. "Not even the Council can break that bond."

I stared at her, fury and disbelief crashing through me. Then, slowly, I let go and turned away, my hands curling into fists. "You've doomed us all," I said, the words low and bitter.

"As long as my sister is happy, I don't care," she replied, her voice cold.

I stiffened. "Your sister won't be happy for long," I muttered. "Not when they come for her."

She stepped forward, her voice laced with finality. "It is done. You can wait for the Alpha to have another daughter."

I laughed, dark and humorless. "But he already has."

Her silence told me she hadn't considered that. My wolf growled in approval, sensing victory. "I am not a wolf," she said quietly, but there was doubt now.

I stepped closer, my breath against her ear, the sweet scent of her hair filling my senses. "It never said anything about a wolf daughter," I whispered. "Only a daughter of Alpha Black. You're willing to burn the world to protect your sister, but are you willing to watch it burn because of you?"

She was still, though I could hear the quickening of her heartbeat. Gently, I moved her hair aside, exposing the curve of her neck. My voice was low, dangerous. "Are you ready to take your sister's place? To protect your family? Because I'm not leaving here without a bride."

Her voice trembled when she spoke, but it was no less determined. "They won't let you marry a witch."

I smiled against her skin. "Then we'll convince them. Like your parents did."

She spun around, her hand pressed to my chest, and the contact sent a shiver through me. I craved her, more than I cared to admit. Her eyes narrowed, her lips curling into something between a smirk and a warning. "You have no idea what you're inviting in."

Her words felt like a promise, one laced with danger. But I couldn't help the smirk that tugged at my own lips. "No more than you invited in when you stood against me for your sister."

Her gaze darkened, and for a moment, we were locked in a silent battle of wills. Then, she nodded, her jaw tight. "Then so be it."

Before I could say another word, I found myself tumbling backward, the icy shock of the lake's water closing over me. I surfaced, sputtering, just in time to see her walking away, her hips swaying with unspoken defiance.