Blood Bound
B***d Bound Chapter 2

DEEP INSIDE THE THRIVING forest of darkness lay a sorceress’s cavern so petrifying most creatures—dead or alive—knew better than to cross paths with.

They feared the darkness seeping through the rocky walls and the thickly encompassing aura of the beast currently residing within its hidden depths.

No creature dared to approach.

From the distance, a hooded figure was spotted wearing a cloak as dark as night, heading northbound in the direction of the dark sorceress’s cavern.

Upon seeing the dark cloak and luminous green eyes, the woodland creatures were able to identify the figure as the dark sorceress whose keep currently housed a monster so scary all the animals fled in mass amounts.

As she walked past, the veil of dark magic surrounding and seeping from her suffocated those close by like a spreading disease. She ignored the array of curious yet brave creatures and started her descent into the darkness.

With a hint of complacency in the depths of her vibrant green eyes, her cold gaze settled pointedly on the hidden cavern.

No crevice or cranny could be seen by inquisitive gazes, and it pleased her greatly to acknowledge that. Yet Maya was greatly displeased by the aura still oozing from the walls of her keep.

Although she tried to mask the immense energy, it was an impossible feat.

The Alpha’s aura was too prodigious to conceal.

She had tried many spells, but everything seemed to fall flat and fail before it could even begin to veil his substantial amount of power and energy.

When Maya realized no spell could complete the task, she’d quit thereafter due to the lack of patience.

With steady footsteps echoing behind her, Maya descended into the darkened cavern.

The heel of her boot clattered lightly in rhythm, and her cloak dragged on the clean floor, announcing her arrival.

Maya snapped her fingers together, feeling the swirl of dark magic encircle her form and expel outward into the atmosphere.

Her magic was like a gust of black dust as it warmed the air and lit all the candles inside the cavern.

To the eye, the inside of her keep was kept fairly clean.

Only one table and one chair stood on the right side, while a small shelf of books laid on the left. Looking deeper into the cold and stony chamber, a tall, fearsome male was strapped by thick silver chains against the freezing walls, seemingly harmless in sleep.

Chained tightly against the wall, with dark spells plastered all across his bulky form, was no other than the Southern Cardinal Alpha, Xavier Thaeos. His eyes were shut tight behind curled lashes, as if in deep slumber. And his handsome face was peaceful, almost in imitation of sleeping beauty in the children’s storybooks.

Maya snorted at the laughable jest.

He might seem to be docile and calm, but she knew otherwise. Under all the beautiful pretense of human skin laid a lurking beast, a monster so terrifying most would rather beg for death than be caught in its sinister claws. It would chase, seize, and kill at the first given chance. But Maya didn’t plan on giving him the opportunity to take her head off from her shoulders.

That would be far too foolish of her.

The Alpha’s dark lashes fluttered and opened before Maya was given the sight of his beautiful citrine-colored eyes. Just the first glance kept her captivated, and it took her several seconds to properly compose herself.

How was he able to freeze her with one heated look?

She didn’t know. But the strange reaction caused some sort of alarm to sound in her ears, loud and shrill, yet she made the mistake of hitting snooze and would soon learn regret was only a six-letter word, meaning nothing when all was settled and done.

“Welcome to my lair, Alpha,” she said mockingly, trying to mask the sudden discomfort brought on by his magnetically charged gaze.

“What a warm welcome,” he derided in return, voice deep and husky to her ears.

Maya swallowed down the urge to shiver as the hairs on her arm stood on end.

“Well, Alpha Xavier, you are currently my esteemed guest. If you follow all of my directions like a good little bi—Alpha, I will let you go in due time. And if you choose not to…there will be consequential punishment,” she warned coldly.

A thick, dark smirk found its way onto her b***d-red lips as she watched his mirthless expressions with a smug glint in her eyes.

You’re my bitch now, Alpha, she thought.

And what an oddly pleasing thought that was.

Maya’s smirk widened.

I’m curious as to what your punishments portray. Are there any whips…or more chains involved? he asked. His sharp glance fleetingly brushed across her pretty features before flitting away.

The Alpha’s words caused the palpitations of her heart to increase in rhythm, stuttering a beat for some strange and elusive reason. But Maya steeled her wavering emotions with a hard frown and ignored his mockery.

Butter knife, dull box cutter, or rusty scissors. Take your pick, she replied monotonously.

Her face had lost the slight warmth and remained moderately cold and stony.

At this point, Maya was extremely annoyed at his lack of interest and lazy countenance, to the point of gnashing teeth.

What gave him the right to be so damned smug when he was in her hands now? When he was the one chained to her wall like some type of sacrificial offering?

You’re not curious as to why I’ve captured you? she asked.

When his gaze returned to her face, her shoulders tensed and b***d boiled with building frustration.

“I’m more than curious about you, little sorceress,” he answered. The Alpha noted her riled expressions, and the corner of his lips curved upward into a knowing smirk.

“Odd thing to be curious about in your predicament, Alpha.” A furtive glance was sent his way.

It was obvious he didn’t care, in the least, about what his imprisonment entailed. As to why, the answer evaded her.

Everette, Maya called, voice echoing in the cavern.

After a moment, a snow-white dove approached the l*p of the chamber and paused just as the lethal male’s aura brushed up on its feathers. Almost on instinct, the dove’s red eyes swiveled from around the dark sorceress to the monstrous creature behind her.

The formidable male expelled such a dark and powerful aura that Everette couldn’t help but shrink back into herself. She landed on the ground and didn’t dare to come any closer.

Everette, the dark sorceress called again, brows furrowing.

The dove took a tiny step forward before a shimmering of white light completely enveloped her tiny body, and she gradually elongated until a humanoid form of a young, seventeen-year-old girl appeared. Her short white hair was cropped around flat, pointed ears and her skin was pale and translucent like pieces of rice paper. With bright red eyes, she turned her gaze back to Maya and did all she could to keep herself from looking at the terrifying Alpha just several yards away.

Maya shook her head. She pulled out the ancient scroll from under her cloak and smoothed the thick fabric flat on the table. Because her sharp gaze was settled on the faded words, she’d failed to notice the odd glint of recognition, which had sparked and disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared, in Alpha Xavier’s golden eyes.

Everette, bring the white witch in. Maya calmly took a seat on the only chair in the cavern, turning her head to face the resting Alpha whose heated gaze remained unwavering on her face. She ignored him and drummed her slim fingers on the table, entertaining herself with the tapping noises.

Upon Maya’s dismissal, the dove shifter exited the cavern, filled with extreme glee and relief.

Before long, Everette came back, dragging a struggling blonde-haired white witch behind her. The witch had her mouth taped shut and arms tied painfully behind her back by thick ropes enforced with black magic, keeping her from using her powers.

The moment the white witch saw Maya, her eyes glowered with hatred and disgust. She struggled and struggled and struggled against the binds, but soon tired out and flopped on the cold ground in a

messy heap of tears, snot, and anger. Hopelessness and humiliation were quick to fill the witch’s trembling body.

If looks could kill, the dark sorceress would be six feet under. But too bad it couldn’t.

A sly, dark smirk blossomed on Maya’s red lips. She swept a lock of hair out of her face and returned her cold gaze back to the scroll on the table.

After retrieving the Cardinal Alpha, Maya had spent several hours perfecting every plan of action she’d drafted. Other than a werewolf’s b***d, she also needed a specimen—several of them—to test the ritual’s validity.

Maya wasn’t stupid enough to test it herself. For all she knew, it could be a trap enriched in empty promises of supreme power, which could easily kill her in the end. So she decided to make use of the white witches who had provoked or attacked her recently.

This particular woman had thrown a caustic potion at Maya, who—at the time, had her back turned. Maya was in the process of replaceing ingredients for her spells and potions, minding her own business, when the white witch sneakily approached.

Although Maya was at a disadvantage, the potion was easily deflected with a wave of her hands.

If the poisonous substance had connected to her skin or clothes, Maya would have turned into a walking skeleton within the span of minutes. And so, to use this woman as a specimen seemed like a rather fitting punishment. After all, she was just another white witch who claimed to be all good.

The white witch was crying miserably, as if she were going to be thrown into the barrier with the Cardinal Alpha, who would immediately eat her.

Oddly, that didn’t sound like a bad idea. But Maya was assured this particular Alpha wouldn’t like it.

He didn’t seem like the type to eat such deviating white witches; it would surely give him a stomach ache.

The humorous thought made her red lips curl upward.

Since all her specimens were here now, it was only time to begin.

Maya waved Everette off towards the Cardinal Alpha to start the experiment. She was excited at the prospect of finally taking his powers.

No.

Not taking.

Sharing.

A win-win situation for both.

Well…mainly for her anyway.

Everette took a small step forward, trembling like a leaf in the wind. Her limbs felt like jelly as she shuffled closer to what seemed like her death.

Her red eyes were wide with unshed tears and her lower l*p was trembling in extreme terror.

Pitifully, the white-haired shifter turned her head to give Maya a desperate and pleading look.

It was obvious the dove did not like the idea of being in close proximity to the Alpha.

It made her skin crawl and hackles rise, and she was urged by her animal instincts to run as far as she could, before he killed her with just the might of his aura.

After one glance at the lazily reclined predator, Everette stopped in her steps.

She tried to force her stiff muscles forward but found it beyond difficult because every nerve fiber in her body had bowed down to the call of her instincts.

The Cardinal Alpha’s predatory eyes suddenly glanced sideways at Everette’s trembling form before flitting away, as if she were unworthy of even a smidgen of his time.

Everette could tell he was daring her to come closer, daring her to put her neck right in the palms of his hands, so he could—snap.

The dove gave a chirping squeak of surprise that sounded like a strangled gurgle. Before she could process the situation, her humanoid form shattered into a poof of smoke. She ended up back in bird form, with her feathers standing on end around her little neck.

Maya’s eyes narrowed as she stood up. She dropped the scroll on the table and placidly stepped past Everette’s shaking form.

The little dove immediately floundered like lost prey and ducked behind a table leg, trying to replace a spot to hide from the scary beast.

How are you going to do anything if you can’t even complete this task? Maya asked, clicking her tongue at her little companion, who was sweating bullets and shaking like a willow in the wind.

Maya wasn’t surprised the Alpha’s slight glance had managed to revert Everette back into her animal form. But this sole action made the feeling of unease grow inside her and gnaw at the back of her mind.

Maya ignored it and steadily stepped towards the barrier.

Her fingers curled into a fist, and a pointed dagger magically appeared in the palms of her dainty hands, glinting maliciously in the light.