Bound by Blood

Bound by Blood
Nicole looked at the phoenix.

“You can’t follow me looking like that.”

He blinked, the flames around his body flickering.

“Like what?”

“Like a walking bonfire,” Nicole said. “You need to change.”

“Change?”

“Yes. I know you can take human form.”

The phoenix went completely still.

“You really weren’t lying when you said you knew me from your past lives. No one knows I can take human form.”

Nicole sighed.

Had he seriously thought she was lying this entire time?

The phoenix tilted his head, his usual arrogance returning.

“If you know me so well, then you should also know I hate taking human form.”

“And I can’t have a giant phoenix following me around.”

Nicole gestured toward the sky.

“You made quite an entrance when you broke free. That red light could probably be seen from miles away. People will come looking for the source, and if they discover your seal has been broken, my plans could be ruined before they even begin.”

The phoenix frowned.

He clearly didn’t like being told what to do, but he also knew she was right.

Finally, he sighed.

“Fine. You owe me for this, girl.”

“Sure. Just hurry.”

His flames slowly faded as his enormous wings folded inward. His fiery body began to shrink and change until the powerful creature standing before Nicole disappeared beneath a bright red glow.

When the light faded, a man stood in his place.

Nicole stared.

He was tall and broad-shouldered, with sun-kissed skin and molten-copper hair. His golden eyes remained exactly the same, fierce, proud, and impossible to ignore.

He was undeniably handsome.

Nicole had seen many attractive men throughout her lives, but very few could compare to him.

Alpha Ace Carter was still the most handsome man she had ever seen, at least in her opinion.

The phoenix came close.

Very close.

But he definitely knew it.

Nicole laughed.

“You’re still as vain as ever.”

The phoenix smirked, completely unbothered by the fact that he was standing naked in front of her.

“Of course. Why hide perfection?”

His golden eyes caught Nicole looking at him.

His smile immediately became more annoying.

“What’s wrong, girl? Are you shocked by my size? I’ve heard werewolf women appreciate men like me.”

Nicole blinked.

Then she laughed.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. You’re not the first naked man I’ve seen.”

His eyebrow rose.

Nicole reached into her bag and pulled out the second set of men’s clothes she had asked Nadine to prepare.

So that was why she had needed two outfits.

She threw them toward him.

“Put these on before your ego burns someone’s eyes out.”

The phoenix caught them.

“You don’t have to sound so ungrateful for the view.”

Nicole rolled her eyes and turned around.

Behind her, she heard the rustling of clothes as he attempted to dress himself.

While she waited, Nicole remembered something more important.

“We need to make an agreement.”

“What kind?”

“A pact.”

The phoenix chuckled.

“A pact with a weak werewolf? Have you forgotten that I am the mighty Phoenix...”

Nicole glanced over her shoulder.

He stopped.

Then sighed.

“You get the point.”

“Yes, unfortunately, I do.”

Nicole turned forward again.

“That’s exactly why I want a pact. You’re powerful, and I have no guarantee that you won’t suddenly betray me or decide to burn an entire pack because someone annoyed you.”

“I wouldn’t do that.”

Nicole raised an eyebrow.

There was a pause.

“Well,” he added, “not without a good reason.”

“That doesn’t make me feel better.”

The phoenix laughed.

Nicole continued, “You could destroy everything I’m planning before I become strong enough to stop you. If we’re going to work together, I need to know I can trust you.”

This time, he took her seriously.

After a moment, he said, “Fine. I’ll make a pact with you. I swear I won’t betray you.”

Nicole nodded.

“And I’ll promise the same.”

“Good. Now that we’ve settled that, turn around and help me.”

Nicole frowned.

“Help you with what?”

“These ridiculous clothes.”

She turned.

Then immediately pressed her lips together.

The mighty phoenix who had threatened to destroy the werewolf race only a short while ago was standing before her with his shirt half-buttoned, the sleeves uneven, and his pants twisted around his legs.

Nicole failed to hold back her laughter.

“Oh, Goddess.”

His golden eyes narrowed.

“You have a lot of nerve laughing at a mighty Phoenix.”

“I’m sorry.”

She wasn’t.

“Truly.”

She laughed again.

“Come here. Let me help you, mighty Phoenix.”

He crossed his arms, clearly offended.

Nicole stepped closer and fixed his shirt first, straightening the collar before correcting the buttons.

He watched her hands with a slight frown.

“You really don’t know how to wear human clothes?”

“Why would I?”

Nicole looked up at him.

“You’ve taken human form before.”

“That doesn’t mean I wasted my time learning this nonsense.”

“Of course.”

Once Nicole finished fixing his clothes, she stepped back.

Then her expression became serious.

There was still one thing left to do.

She bit the tip of her thumb until a small drop of blood appeared.

The phoenix immediately understood.

Nicole held out her hand.

“Your turn.”

He stared at her for a moment before doing the same.

A bright drop of blood appeared on his fingertip.

Nicole pressed her wounded thumb against his.

Their blood mixed.

A strange cold sensation immediately entered Nicole’s body, spreading through her veins before settling somewhere deep inside her.

The pact had begun.

The phoenix’s golden eyes remained fixed on hers.

“I swear that I will never betray you.”

Nicole felt the promise settle into their connection.

“I swear that I will never betray you either.”

Their joined blood briefly glowed.

Then the strange sensation faded.

Nicole slowly pulled her hand away.

“Thank you.”

The phoenix waved dismissively.

“Don’t get sentimental.”

Nicole smiled.

“Fine, Lucas.”

He froze.

“What did you call me?”

“Lucas.”

His eyes narrowed.

Nicole tried not to laugh.

“I can’t keep calling you Phoenix every time I need your attention, so you need a name. I’ll call you Lucas.”

For once, he seemed genuinely speechless.

“Nobody has ever dared to name me.”

“That sounds like a lonely existence.”

His expression darkened.

Nicole smiled innocently.

“So? Do you like it?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You also didn’t say you hated it.”

The phoenix stared at her for another moment.

Then he rolled his eyes.

“Whatever. It isn’t terrible. I’ll tolerate it for now.”

Nicole grinned.

“Good. Lucas it is.”

“Don’t get too comfortable with it.”

“Whatever you say, Lucas.”

He rubbed the bridge of his nose.

Nicole almost laughed again.

The terrifying ancient phoenix was much easier to annoy than she remembered.

Then Lucas’s expression became serious.

“I have something I need to do.”

Nicole’s smile faded.

“So I’ll leave for now.”

He turned.

Nicole immediately caught his hand.

Lucas stopped.

His gaze dropped to where her fingers wrapped around his before slowly returning to her face.

“You’re not running away, are you?”

“I just made a blood pact with you.”

“I know.”

“I keep my word.”

Something in his voice made Nicole loosen her grip.

“I’ll return after I settle what I need to do.”

Nicole slowly released him.

“All right. I’ll wait for you.”

Lucas didn’t move immediately.

His golden eyes lingered on the hand she had used to hold him.

Then he stepped away.

A flash of red surrounded his body before he leaped into the air and disappeared through the trees.

Nicole watched the last trace of red light vanish.

She shook her head.

“Still as dramatic as ever.”

But a small smile appeared on her face.

She had found him much earlier than she had in her previous lives.

She had freed him.

She had changed the beginning of their relationship.

And now, for the first time, they were bound by a promise neither of them could easily break.

Nicole looked toward the place where he had disappeared.

“It’s good to have you back, Lucas.”