10. FAMILIAR
Amelia couldn't help but glance at her mate frequently. He was just perfect and calm.
Some strands of hair fell to his forehead and she wanted to touch them. There was a slight resemblance to Reginald but nevertheless, he had his own unique look.
As if sensing her stare at him, he turned his face to his side and stared at her. He had a warm smile as he stopped walking and turned his front to her.
His actions made her stop too and she faced him.
He was still holding her hand and she waited for him to say something.
"I'd really love to mark you Amelia, I want to make you mine." He spoke soothingly and she loved the way it sounded.
"I want to mark you too Aaron, I really do." Her words were filled with true feelings and he sighed before pulling her into his embrace.
What his brother said kept gnawing at him and it disturbed him greatly.
He was ready to overlook the part that his stepbrother slept with his soulmate but he was worried about the fact that they might still be in love.
"Please stay with me Amelia. I've waited patiently for my soulmate and here you are…I can't lose you." His words were laced with worry and Amelia sensed it.
Her brows drew together in confusion and she slowly pulled away to look up at him.
He was gritting his teeth as if trying to control his emotions. It was obvious he was greatly disturbed.
A deep frown marred her forehead as she cupped his face in her hands. Her heart itched at the way he looked.
"I won't leave you Aaron…"
"Please don't…I don't want to fight with my stepbrother for you, please don't go to him." He was feeling insecure.
Amelia's eyes glistened as she gazed into his sky blue eyes in slight surprise.
"Reginald told you." She stated and a cool sensation washed over her, making her feel guilty.
"He did," Aaron confirmed as his sky blue eyes searched her black ones.
She was lost of words as she watched him. Her heart seemed to have stopped but she decided to tackle the situation by coming out clean to whatever question he would ask her.
"Are you still in love with him, Amelia?"
"I'm not," came her truthful reply to his question and he searched her eyes for any lie or mixed feeling.
When he found none, he pulled her closer and tightened his hold around her, burying his nose in her neck and inhaling her scent. It helped calm his insecurities.
Amelia felt content as she hugged him back. She was still overwhelmed with the fact that she met her mate very quickly.
"I'm not going anywhere Aaron, whatever I had with Reginald is over, I'm yours now." She wanted to clear every doubt from his head so she said those words to reassure him.
His hold tightened further and she felt him nod.
.
Amelia's mother stood above on a balcony with her mate Radolf as she watched them.
"Isn't it strange that two cousins are soulmates?" Radolf had a worried look.
"Have you forgotten that my parents are both cousins." Phoebe reminded him and he sighed.
Phoebe was Everand's sister.
"Though they sure do look good together," he agreed and Phoebe smiled at him.
Her gaze returned back to them and she saw how they held their hands as if reassuring each other they wouldn't leave no matter what.
"They remind me of when we first met."
What she said brought memories and Radolf faced her with a wide grin because he was very fond of it.
"You tried to kill me for my blood," he chuckled and she laughed too before leaning her head against his shoulder and he wrapped his arms around her lovingly before planting a light kiss on her forehead.
"But instead, you accidentally marked me."
"I did," he agreed as he stared into the distance with warmth in his eyes. He wanted things to remain the way they were. Phoebe was the best thing that happened to him and now their daughter also found her mate.
"I love you Phoebe," he whispered for her ears only.
"I love you more Radolf."
*
Seated under the shade of a huge tree, Angelina's eyes were closed as she enjoyed the peaceful surroundings.
Being around the others reminded her of her late mate and it saddened her.
She was still young and needed closure but with her mate gone, she wasn't sure she would have another.
A tear escaped her closed eyelid and her lips trembled at the pain she felt.
She could vividly remember it like the clear sky, how they went to battle many decades ago and how he lost his life.
And to top it all, Connery constantly reminded her of him because they were brothers and almost had similar looks.
Would she ever be able to move on? She wondered to herself.
It was still a miracle how Valeria was able to move on after Reginald's father died.
Luther was Angelina's life and when he died, she had stopped living until Reginald came into existence.
While reminiscing past memories, her eyelids suddenly came open as she sensed a presence.
It was strong and always came when she was alone. Her eyes slowly scanned her surroundings and she frowned deeply.
She knew someone was following her but she couldn't pinpoint where the person was exactly.
As if answering her unspoken question, a crow cawed and her head swiftly bent backward as she looked up at the tree branches.
Her lips parted as a frown marred her forehead.
But all too soon, the frown was replaced with surprise and she gasped in shock as she stood up on her feet.
"That's not possible," she muttered to herself in disbelief.
The crow tilted its head one side as it watched her questioningly. Its black eyes scrutinized her as it adjusted itself on the tree branch.
For a minute she was too stunned to speak as she stared back at it in disbelief.
She was a white witch and they were known to never have familiars. Only dark witches, mostly called evil witches, had familiars because they were cruel and demonic.
There was a strong pull as she kept staring at the black crow who patiently waited for her to make a decision.
The pull was strong and that was what convinced her about it being her familiar. It was a pull to bond with it and she would become its master.
Intrigued by it, she stretched forth her hand invitingly and waited for it to come to her.
Its gaze shifted to her palm and it hesitated as if giving it a thought before flying down to descend on her hand.
Her eyes widened and she laughed nervously because it was all too strange to her.
"You feel it too right?" She questioned it and it cawed.
Her eyes lit with pure fascination as she used her other hand to pet it and it rubbed its head against her palm, enjoying the attention.
When she stopped, it gazed at her with undivided attention but unknown to her, its focus was directed at her neck.
And before she could do anything, it flew out of her hand and went straight for her neck where it bit her harshly at the right side of her neck.
She hissed in pain and was about to grab it but it flew out of her reach and went back to the branch it stood on earlier.
Her eyes were wide as she held the place it bit her. When she pulled her hand away to stare at it, she frowned at the sight of blood.
Confusion clouded her face as she lifted her eyes to stare back at the crow and it cawed loudly at her.
"Why did you do that?"
Slowly, she began to lose consciousness and she swayed and staggered before falling heavily to the ground.
Her eyes were a bit blurry as she watched the crow until she went unconscious.
*
Her eyes snapped open as a sharp gasp escaped her lips before she sat upright in fright.
Trees surrounded her and the place was covered in darkness, meaning it was already nighttime.
But how was she suddenly in the woods to begin with?
She slowly got on her feet as she scrutinized her surroundings on high alert.
The night wind blew against her and she felt the cold bite deep into her skin.
Her head turned in every direction when she heard a crow caw.
The rustling of leaves also put her on edge as she tried to find her way back to the pack.
She braced herself for whatever would attack her as she maneuvered through the trees.
Several caw sounds were heard and it irked her.
As if recalling what the bird had done to her, she quickly touched the spot where it bit her but she felt no pain.
When she looked down at her hand, she noticed that there was no sign of blood as well.
Did the crow bond itself to her?