Ethan's heart raced in his chest, pounding like the drums of war as he crouched protectively over Kasia's unconscious form. Her dark hair fanned out around her head like a raven's wing against the cold stone floor. Ethan expected her to awaken by now, but she was still in a deep sleep.
"Kasia," Ethan said, shaking her lightly. Kasia's breathing was shallow and ragged, her skin clammy beneath his fingertips. He could feel the power within her- a new and pulsating energy that made him both excited and afraid.
"Kasia," he breathed, his voice rough with emotion. "Please, wake up."
A sudden gasp echoed behind him, and Ethan tensed, his gaze snapping as he turned around. Janet stood there, her dark eyes wide with shock as she took in the scene before her. Her nostrils flared, no doubt picking up the mingling scents of blood, sweat, and something else- something different.
"Janet," he growled, feeling a flush of embarrassment and dismay wash over him at her unexpected arrival. He had hoped for more time- a chance to figure out what was happening to Kasia before anyone else knew.
"She transformed fully?" Janet asked, her voice a mix of disbelief and horror. Kasia's torn clothes lay scattered across the ground, and then there was the undeniable change in her scent- the subtle shift that marked her as something other than human.
"Yes. Right after the fight with Aimee," Ethan admitted, his voice heavy with concern. He didn't understand how this was possible or how Kasia could become one herself. How would she deal with this? How would she handle knowing that they had wild sex in the middle of the woods? The thought made his chest ache with guilt. So much for trying to woo her.
Janet stepped closer, her eyes locked on Kasia's limp form. She had suspected something was different when Kasia was able to beat Aimee the first time. Kasia's half-transformation during the match did not shock her as much as she thought it would. It made sense, but what didn't make sense was how this could be possible.
Vampires were only known to turn humans. There was no record of a human being turning into a werewolf or lycan. So, how could this have happened?
"Impossible. This is impossible. Is this some joke by the Moon Goddess? Should we be worried about more humans turning?" Janet questioned.
Ethan hesitated, his gaze flicking between Kasia and Janet. "I think I know what might have caused this," he said slowly, worry etching lines on his face. "It could be the pills she was taking."
Janet's eyes widened in surprise. "I knew you weren't telling me everything. You said those pills only enhanced her senses. How could they have caused this?"
"I'm not sure, but I know what they are made of is what caused her to turn," Ethan admitted, frustration seeping into his voice. "It's the only explanation that makes sense right now."
"Alright," Janet said. "You'll need to debrief me on everything you know about those pills. And...we should get some clothes for both of you." She gestured toward the tattered remnants of their clothes. She tossed him a pair of pants and a large shirt.
"Thanks." Ethan quickly helped Kasia into the shirt before he put on his pants.
Janet couldn't help but scold Ethan for rushing the mate bonding. "I know you can make bad decisions at times, but this is ridiculous. This is too soon, Ethan. You should have been more careful."
"I wasn't trying to rush anything, Janet. It just...happened," Ethan explained.
"And you're the Alpha King. You should have controlled yourself. You know this is too much for her right now," Janet scolded.
"No, I didn't mark her," Ethan argued. To prove his point, he revealed Kasia's mate mark on his neck, a symbol that seemed both familiar and foreign to Janet.
"Where have I seen that before?" Janet thought, her brow furrowing. She decided to keep her recognition of the symbol to herself for the moment, not wanting to add more confusion to an already complicated situation.
"So, there is a symbol," Ethan said.
Janet nodded, confirming its presence. "Yes, but I've never seen this one before."
"Strange," Ethan murmured, his mind racing with questions. How could Kasia have a pack symbol if she wasn't part of a pack? What did this mean for her and for them?
"Let's worry about that later," Janet said, breaking the silence. "For now, we need to focus on what comes next."
Ethan looked at her, his eyes searching for guidance. "What do you mean?"
"You have to make a statement, Ethan. Now that Kasia is your mate, you can't keep this hidden from your pack and the council. They need to know," Janet repeated, her tone firm.
"I can't. Not yet," Ethan said.
"You cannot hide her. Everyone at the pack house will know. Hell, anyone within a mile heard everything," Janet explained.
"No, that's not what I am talking about," Ethan snapped. "She's a blessed blood. She's a red lycan."
"Are you sure?" Janet asked, and Ethan nodded. There were only two living blessed bloods, so how could Kasia be one?
"You have to tell the council," Janet advised.
"And repeat the mistakes of my past," Ethan scoffed. He still felt guilt for forcing the issue, as he felt he was also to blame for what happened at the Moonlit Sanctum.
"That was not your fault," Janet said, her voice softening. "No one blames you for what happened."
"Be that as it may, I will not put Kasia through what Lily went through," Ethan said. "But I will not hide her. She is my mate, and I have no plans to hide her at all. I will announce that we are mates, but I will postpone the mating and the Luna ceremony. I will not involve the council until we know what we are walking into. Kasia needs to be prepared, and I don't want her to be bombarded with questions and pressure. I want us properly marked so no one can decide her fate." Ethan remembered how the experience was for Lily. He didn't want the same thing to happen to Kasia.
Janet nodded. "Of course. I hope Kasia will go along with everything," Janet said, her voice softening. "If she doesn't, you will lose everything, her included."