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Chapter 8

"Valerie lets go," Sophia barges into the art room, she seemed uneasy. I raise my brows, a clear indication she needs to explain why, but she doesn't and leaves, expecting for me to follow. I wanted to finish my painting; it was almost complete as my thoughts ran to last night once again as it has done the entire night.

'… I'll kill them all…'

Would I be a fool to believe that? Maybe it was the look in his eyes, the promise in his words that hadn't made me doubt his words but still. An entire pack? No one has that kind of power. No one would do something so reckless for a mere nobody.

Setting my brush down, I follow the youngest Storm through the mansion. Wolves ran in all directions, from the kitchens to the dining hall, to the living space. I didn't see any kids around, nor any humans.

I did feel a strange presence, though. It wasn't like that which the Storms carried. This felt… warmer. Something I haven't felt since my mother.

We reached Sophia's room, "can you please tell me what the fuck is going on?" I grumble charming isn't around her, which is unusual. A long-exasperated breath escapes her, shuffling through her closet searching through clothes.

"The council is here," she reveals, my brows brush in confusion.

"And they are?" I ask, she pauses in her search for a dress and turns to face me. From the look on her face, I should probably know who they are, but due to unforeseen circumstances, I don't.

"We have a hierarchy. Us Storms sit at the top, we watch over the creatures our Deity's put us in charge off, but there are different species," I nod, I already knew that. What I didn't realise is that they aren't just the rulers of one species, but different species. I assumed Sophia watches over the witches, Jax the werewolves, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

"We then have the council; they watch over us to make sure we're fair. We place votes. There are six so you'll need more than half the votes in your favour. We then have the Royals, a class of creatures that watch over their own species. Wolves, Faeries, Witches, Demons, Beasts, and Mer-creatures. Royals have their classification too within their own jurisdiction, but I won't bore you with those details."

"If that's true, then this pack doesn't belong to Jaxson?" I tell her curiously, why is he here then? Sophia shakes her head and pulls out a simple black skater dress.

"This land belongs to Jax, as far as the troll bridges go. Anyone who steps on his territory is under his rule. We keep order, build a system, and create laws that everyone answers too. The wolves here, are warriors from packs around the world here to protect him and to relay information back to their Alphas. Here put this on."

Sophia passes me the dress. I take it as I ask, "what kind of information?" She shrugs, crouching down to snatch a pair of heels. I cringe internally at the sight of them.

"Whatever the king tells them too," I strip out of my cotton knee-length dress and stare at the simple black skater dress. It was shorter and far more revealing than my simple dress, but I couldn't seem to care.

"Your back?" Sophia mutters, her eyes trained on something behind me. I take a glance and find myself staring into a mirror. Long, jagged scars ran in different directions from every angle to every corner. Not an inch of skin left untouched.

"Silver is quite deadly to us creatures," I murmur, soft tingles running down my spine at the memory of the place I'd gained them. Her glamour green eyes find my violet ones, she seemed… pained?

"It never stops hurting, does it?" she whispers, rubbing her wrists where a soft green light protrudes from her hands, and I see the scars wrapped around her wrists, similar to my own. They no doubt belonged to chains.

"No, it doesn't," I reveal, she covers the scars once again and gently takes the dress from my hands. The glow returns and wraps around the dress, a sad smile sitting on her face.

"Wearing a dress like this will only bring the pain back. I cloaked the dress, so when it touches the scars it'll feel like cotton," a single tear escapes her eyes, I was slightly in 'awe' because I can't remember the last time I'd seen a tear that wasn't my own.

"Thank you," taking the dress from her hands and throw it over my figure. The neckline was low, covered my nipples but stops just above my belly button and shows off the silhouettes of my breasts. Its hugs my thin waist and flows out mid-thigh.

"You look gorgeous," she compliments, wiping the tears from her eyes and smiling. I didn't know how to accept her compliment, something painful once again tugging at my heart.

Its too bad, my soul can't reflect the beauty you see.

"Why am I attending this meeting?" I ask, running my hand down the contours of my dress. Sophia was right; it feels light as a feather, and soft too.

"The revelation of another Storm finding a mate has reached the council. It will indicate many changes and being my brother is very… influential his enemies will target you," she states, gesturing for me to slip on the shoes but I refuse, "you need to put them on."

"No, I don't need to do anything. Now show me the way," I smile, a groan slips past her lips but otherwise listens, and we both leave. Usually, I'd want no part in this meeting, but I needed to know who that feeling belongs too. The warmth I hadn't felt since my mother.

I know, its dangerous. But I couldn't fight the desire to move closer to it.

We find ourselves outside two large doors protected by guards; they both bow their heads respectfully towards Sophia and allow us entrance. A large table filled the entire room, about 15 meters long. My eyes immediately find Jax, he's dressed as he always has and lazily slumps back in his throne at the head of the table and rests his chin on his fists. He is making no move to stare in our direction.

But the others do.

I recognise Dylan first. He sat to the right of Jax, no traces of humour or playfulness detected. His eyes were cold, distant, and profound. I almost don't recognise him. Next to him is a man drenched in tattoos, eyes completely black, and I knew what he was.

Demon.

I've never met one, but I knew better than to test one. I can see why Dylan is serious now, but this particular demon does not threaten me. He looks dangerous, but so am I. The next is a woman dressed in white, a cup of tea resting in her hands. Her dark brown hair falls to her hips, and a sword is attached to her hip.

Faerie.

Never met them either, but I do know that taking whatever they offer will mean eternal servitude which will never fucking happen. Opposite her is a centaur sitting on the floor and somehow still manages to reach everyone's height. I was in slight 'awe' of him. They are noble creatures, loyal to the end and immensely powerful.

Next to the centaur is a naked woman slathered in scales, a thin, silk dress robe to cover her assets. She's beautiful – almost dream-like -devious smirk curls on to her lips as her blue eyes follow every curve and dip of my figure and I have to resist the urge to shudder.

Siren.

Next to her sat a familiar-looking man, he even smelled familiar, but I couldn't register where I'd smelt him before. He was large, but nothing compared to what I've encountered before, and I knew he's a wolf immediately.

And lastly, I find golden eyes already watching me. The warmth I had felt protruded from him, and with a single glance, I understood why. His golden blonde hair is tied back in a high ponytail, falling to his hips. Silver circle sat at the centre of his forehead. The rims being much thinner at the bottom than the top. Also, much smaller circles and lines scattered across his forehead, turning into a crown.

Oracle.

Everyone seated at the table stands and bows respectfully to Sophia, except the Oracle. Oracle bows to no one but our Deity's. They prophesise and are the only ones to have met our Gods and Goddesses. They are the only ones who stand on the same level as Storms.

I watch him as I move to stand beside Jax; our eyes don't leave each other. He felt so welcoming that I wanted to drop every wall surrounding my damaged soul. I almost did, but I didn't. When we all take our positions, he stands, and I take an unconscious step back.

Nobody makes a move; we all watch the Oracle as he stands directly before me holding my gaze with his intense golden ones. Maybe if I didn't have practise staring into Jax's intense pale orbs, I might have actually looked away. A warm, inviting smile engulfs his face, and without thinking, he does the one thing he isn't ever supposed to do.

Not for anyone.

He bows. It isn't just a simple nod; he takes a knee and keeps his eyes cast to the ground. What's even more mind-boggling is, he's bowing to me. A criminal. Nobody. A killer.

What the actual fuck is happening?!

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