The Blackwood Chronicles: The Treaty Game

The crowds at the annual Treaty Games were bigger than ever. It was the one hundred and forty-ninth year that the packs had declared peace with each other. To celebrate, each pack under the treaty took turns hosting a sort of Olympics. This year was being hosted by the Silver Crescent pack. Darius Blackwood knew of the pack growing up as being reserved and reluctant to give up old traditions. Their pack leader was a young man, around Darius' age. Caium Argent now sat on a dais facing the arena. Darius had faced him at last year's Games and there was no love lost between them.

Despite cheating during the Champion Challenge, Caium lost to Darius for the fourth year in a row. Caium took over the Silver Crescent pack from his father the following Solstice.

Darius felt the pressure to defend his title as this would be his last year at the games, as he was slated to take over from his father at Winter Solstice later this year. Rules of the Treaty Games dictated that no Alpha could participate. When a wolf shifter becomes Alpha, they gain the strength of their pack through the bond, creating a completely unfair advantage.

Waiting for his turn in the ring, Darius did some breathing exercises to centre himself, slowing his heart rate down and allowing his wolf companion the opportunity to connect and be ready for when the fight started. He opened his eyes toward the dais Caium was accompanied by a female about his age, her hair was blonde, her skin was sun-kissed and her deep sapphire eyes had a sadness in them that Darius couldn't place. It pricked something in his heart that this female looked so sad but Darius had to focus and so he took his eyes away. It was the final fight in the Games and the final fight he'd voluntarily participate in.

The previous fight had ended and the announcer was getting ready to introduce the next two contestants. Darius quickly centred himself and his wolf became focused on the upcoming task. Darius' amber eyes glowed. In the human world, they called this Brazilian Ju Jitsu but amongst the shifters, it was just a battle to near death. As the announcer called his name Darius' paraded into the arena and a section of the stands erupted louder than others. The Blackwood Pack was in full force today to support him, his mother – who happened to be his biggest fan – had made a sign and everything. He gave a nod to his pack and blew a kiss to his mother before focusing on the centre of the ring.

Darius shook hands with his opponent, took his position and waited for the announcer to call out.

"FIGHT!"

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Even though his face was significantly bruised and his lip was bleeding from the split, Darius had come out victorious and had won the Champions Challenge and Blackwood Pack remained the overall winners of the Treaty Games. The Silver Crescent pack threw a dinner to end the week-long event and everyone was fairly trashed before the food was even served. A male voice came over the speaker system to get the attention of those in attendance.

"Good evening all. Please take your seats as the closing ceremonies begin." With a nod, the male stepped away and Caium with a different female from before stepped forward. This female was the complete opposite of the one before but Darius was already fairly intoxicated to make any logical reasoning in his head. It was common knowledge that the Silver Crescent pack members took multiple partners.

Caium made a speech that Darius barely paid attention to. As members of his pack started pairing off Darius decided to make his way back to his room. He meandered down the halls of the pack house where senior members of every pack stayed, toward his room. Darius wasn't walking straight and before he realized it he crashed into a female. A shock went through his body and his blood hummed in a way he had never felt before. Before he could get back up the female was gone, leaving behind a trail of the most intriguing scent of wildflowers. He had the strongest urge to follow her but he went against it.

Darius didn't believe in forcing himself on anyone. He'd had a couple of relationships throughout high school but most of those girls were humans and there was no future with them. After a long conversation with his mother, he lived a fairly celibate life, focusing on his physical and political training, learning from his father the ins and outs of being an Alpha. He found his room eventually but he couldn't get the shadow of the female out of his mind or her scent out of his nostrils.

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Alia Goldwyn waited. As she always did, kneeling on the floor in front of the bedroom door, in skimpy lingerie, per his request. She knew now that he had met his fated mate she'd always be second but she was bound to do as she was told. The Silver Crescent pack had this tradition of binding the Beta's daughter, if he had one, to the Alpha's son as a precaution. That was her predicament. She had been the Beta's daughter – her job was to produce an heir and when he found his fated, she would remain what the commoner labelled as the Alpha's Whore. That was the fate the Moon Goddess had dealt her.

She had listened to his speech. Caium hadn't declared Fern as his fated, which meant that she would have to submit to his drunken intercourse. Alia thanked the Moon Goddess for keeping her from bearing children, which would make it difficult to leave. A shot of pain hit her heart at the thought of leaving. A product of her bonds to Caium. The bonds were more like shackles, forever chained to a life her parents had realized too late would have her remain unloved and abused.

Time passed slowly. Her knees ached from her bowed position in front of the bedroom door. Alia couldn't risk being out of place. She had waited all night one night, Caium having conveniently forgotten to send word that she wasn't needed. But to not be in her place meant the temper of an Alpha. Footsteps stumbled outside her bedroom door. Finally! Alia thought. The door flung open and Alia's eyes were on the floor before Caium could right himself to notice she had been watching the door.

"What a good..." Caium stopped abruptly and sniffed the air. He came closer sniffing as he moved and then the low deep growl that escaped his mouth from the bottom of his chest shook Alia. What did I do wrong? "You slut! You absolute whore! How dare you let another male touch you!"

"Alpha I promise no male has touched me. I swear on my life I am faithful to you and only you." Alia kept her eyes on the floor.

"You lying piece of shit! I can smell him all over you." The back of Caium's hand hit the side of her cheek with a crack. Alia didn't dare raise her hand to caress the sting, she hadn't been given permission.

"I did not do what you accuse me of Alpha I swear!" Alia pleaded a tear rolling down her cheek.

Caium's yelling caused an audience to form outside her bedroom. Alia fortified her mind so as not to succumb to the embarrassment of being all but naked. Fern pushed through the crowd, concern on her face as she looked at Caium.

"Caium, my love what is the matter?"Fern placed her hands on his shoulders pressing her body against his back.

"She slept with another male! His scent is everywhere on her. Fern, get Daniel immediately." Alia winced at the change in his tone. He was so tender and soft-spoken with Fern.

"Fern!" Alia begged still staring at the floor. "I would never dishonour Alpha in this way, ever! Help me."

"I'm sorry Alia" Fern snapped her fingers and a female went to do what Caium asked Fern to do instead."You wreak of another male. I know that you think your life is rough being in your position but this is no way to get attention." Fern had stooped her level making eye contact. She had no real sympathy in her eyes.

Daniel Farrow, Alia's cousin on her father's side and Beta to Caium could be heard shooing the crowd of drunks away while he made his way into the room. "Caium, what on earth is going on?!"

"Can't you smell her, or rather the male she's been with?"

Daniel sniffed and his eyes widened in disbelief, "Alia!"

"You know what! Everyone leave! Get out!." Caium shooed them out the door and slammed it shut. "I'll deal with you myself."

Caium turned and backhanded so hard that Alia fell to the ground, smacking her head on the leg of the bed. He then kicked her over and over in the stomach. Alia tried to curl up in a ball to lessen the blow but Caium reached down grabbed her by the throat and threw her into the wall. The drywall broke in an imprint of her body. She let out a gagged sound as he squeezed her throat. Tears streamed down her face as she stared into his eyes which were full of rage.

"You are tarnished, Alia. You are a slut and a whore. You broke your promise to be faithful to me and for that, you will be executed. Until then you'll live the rest of your days in the dungeon. You are dead to me."

Caium let her go, dropping her to the floor. Alia's hand went to her throat and she pushed herself to request the one thing she desired. "Release me."

"Oh you'd like that, wouldn't you? No! I will never release you. You will die bound to me." And with that, Caium strode out the door, Alia glimpsed him taking Fern by the hand and leaving out of sight.