Chapter 5 FORBIDDEN BLOOD
Marcella rushed down the stairs, her heart pounding in her chest. She saw her aunt clutching at arm that bled profusely. "Aunt Liv! What happened? Are you okay?" Marcella cried, her voice thick with worry. "I'm so sorry for how I spoke to you earlier. I didn't understand."
Aunt Liv looked up, her face pale but her eyes clear. "I'm going to be fine, sweetheart," she said softly. "And I'm sorry too, Marcella.I should have told you everything sooner, but I had my reasons."
Marcella’s brow furrowed. "What reasons? What happened here?"
Aunt Liv took a deep breath, wincing slightly. "It was a werewolf, Marcella. It attacked me. And now... now they know." They came looking for you.
Just then, Selene and Carmilla hurried into the room, their faces etched with concern. "Aunt Liv! Selene exclaimed. "Are you alright?"
Marcella turned to Selene and Carmilla, her expression softening with a forced smile. "I'm so glad you're here, but I think you should go home now. I'll take care of Aunt Liv. It's probably best if you leave now." She knew they couldn't know the truth, not yet.
Aunt Liv nodded, her gaze flickering between the girls. "Yes my girls, you have to go. I’d be just fine. I slipped and fell, just a few patches and i’d be good.
Selene stepped forward,her eyes filled with concern, “we can stay and help”
Carmilla nodded in agreement, “yeah we don’t want to leave you”
“No it’s alright my darlings, I’ll be okay i promise.
As Selene and Carmilla walked toward the door, they turned back to wave. “Bye Aunt Liv”, Selene said, “Get well soon”.
“Bye Marcella ”, Carmilla added, Her voice barely a whisper, “We’d call you later”.
Marcella and Aunt liv watched as the door closed behind them,the sound echoing in the sudden silence.Marcella turned to her aunt, her expression a mix of sadness and concern, “what’s going on aunt”? “if they came looking for me, why would they attack you aunt”??
“Your room, it’s cloaked with an invisible spell, That’s why they couldn’t find you”. I put it up years ago.Marcella’s mind raced, trying to process the information,”You...you’re a witch”?
Aunt Liv hesitated, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and resignation, “Yes Marcella, I am”.
It’s time you knew the full story Marcella, it’s time you knew who you really are.
Aunt Liv’s voice now laced with a wistful tone began to weave a tale of forbidden love and betrayal. “Your father jacob was a member of the Crescent pack, the most powerful and respected pack of all time, he was strong, loyal and fiercely protective of his own. She paused, a flicker of pride in her eyes, And your mother Zelda was a hybrid, vampire and witch. She belonged to the highest coven of witches, The Chalice Coven, known for their ancient mastery in magic, your mother was born a witch with vampire ancestry. Their love was a fire that defied the laws of both worlds. But love as it often does, finds a way.
The forest path crunched under Jacob's boots as he and Kaelen walked, the scent of pine needles and damp earth filling the air. "So, the elders are still pushing for the alliance with the Blackwood pack?" Kaelen asked, his voice low.
Jacob sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, it's all they talk about. Seems like everyone's forgotten what happened last time."
As they rounded a bend, a group of women came into view, laughing and gathering herbs. Jacob's gaze focused on one in particular. She had a cascade of dark hair and eyes that seemed to sparkle with an inner light. "Wow," he breathed, unable to look away. "She's... beautiful”.
Kaelen followed his gaze, his expression shifting from casual to serious. "Jacob, you know we're not supposed to... look at them like that. She's a witch." He lowered his voice, "And you, of all people, should know better."
Ignoring Kaelen's warning, Jacob found himself drawn towards Zelda as if by an invisible thread. He quickened his pace, his heart pounding a steady rhythm against his ribs. "Hello," he said, his voice a little breathless as he approached the group.
Zelda and her companions turned, their laughter fading. Zelda's eyes met his, and for a moment, he felt a jolt of something akin to electricity. "Can I help you?" she asked, her tone cool.
"I... I just wanted to say hello," Jacob stammered, "You're... beautiful."
A flicker of annoyance crossed Zelda's face. "We're busy."
Jacob pressed on, "My name is Jacob."
Zelda hesitated, then sighed, "Zelda."
Meanwhile, Kaelen watched from a distance, his jaw clenched. He shook his head, muttering under his breath. "What was he thinking? Does he not remember the history? The rules?" He knew Jacob, usually so level headed, had been completely captivated. This was not going to end well.
“Zelda, we’re running late”, Her sister Liv called out.
"I have to go now ," she blurted out, already halfway to her sister.
As she hurried down her group, Liv's teasing grin was already in place. Zelda couldn't help but laugh, the tension easing slightly.
“Spill the beans,” Liv asked, falling into step beside her. Then, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, Zelda groaned inwardly. Liv had always had a knack for getting under her skin. "It was just a conversation, Liv," Zelda said, her voice a little sharper than she intended. "And you know it's wrong, being seen with him." Liv's smile faded slightly, "We just spoke, that's all," Zelda insisted, hoping to end the conversation.
Jacob replayed the scene in his mind: Zelda's face, her words even though it was only her name he knew, the way she'd turned and walked away. A pang hit him, a mix of admiration and regret. He shook his head, trying to clear the fog of his thoughts. Kaelen. He was waiting.
He pushed himself forward, quickening his pace.
He found Kaelen, not with the usual welcoming smile, but with arms crossed and a storm brewing in his eyes. “You really went after her”? Kaelen's voice was tight, laced with a frustration Jacob rarely heard.
Jacob flinched slightly, the earlier joy of the encounter with Zelda fading. "Yes because i wanted to kaelen”. he started, but Kaelen cut him off. "A witch, Jacob? You know the rules. You know what we're supposed to do." The words were a low growl, tinged with a jealousy that surprised Jacob.
"I merely spoke to her kaelen, why are you making such a fuss”? Jacob asked leaning forward, "I feel drawn to her, you’re my friend, i thought you would be supportive of me,He watched Kaelen's face for a reaction, but it was unreadable.
“Supportive of that which is forbidden"? Kaelen echoed, a slight edge to his voice. "But... what about the Blackwood pack? You know, the alliance?" Jacob shrugged, a flicker of unease crossing his mind. Kaelen had always been like this, subtly undermining his decisions, "Look, she's... she's not the one for you, Jacob. You're going to ruin everything."
"Kaelen, I..." Jacob started, trying to find the words to explain. "I am not marrying anyone i don’t love”. Kaelen’s eyes narrowed. "Your father will be furious. Your future is with them." "You're a soon to be Alpha, Jacob," Kaelen reminded him, his voice taking on a sharp tone. "You have a duty to your pack. You must accept the alliance. It's the only way to secure our future."
Jacob frowned, a wave of frustration washing over him. "Why are you suddenly so adamant about this Blackwood alliance, Kaelen? I thought you weren't for it before." He searched his friend's face, trying to understand the shift in his attitude. There was something in Kaelen's eyes that he couldn't quite decipher, a glint of something he'd never seen before. It made him uneasy.
Jacob turned away first, something he rarely did. He told himself it meant nothing that Kaelen was simply being protective, loyal, the way he had always been. But the feeling refused to leave. It settled in the back of his mind small and invisible but impossible to ignore.
He had known Kaelen his entire life. They had grown up side by side, trained together, bled together. There was no one he trusted more.
And yet.
He replayed the look in Kaelen’s eyes that brief, unguarded flicker and found he couldn’t name it. It wasn’t concern. It wasn’t even anger. It was something older and darker than either of those things, something that had clearly been sitting there for a long time, waiting to be seen.
Jacob exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders as if he could shake the feeling loose.
Meanwhile, a few paces behind him, Kaelen watched Jacob’s back with an expression he would never let anyone see. His jaw was tight. His eyes were cold.
And for just a moment, the faintest smile crossed his lips.
