I Scored Myself A Mate

Alexander had been left alone with Mark, the thick woods their only protection. His eyes were glued to the portal, he knew that their other two allies were behind the magical barrier and maybe them could help him with what he wanted to do. 

He looked at Mark, the red haired human was pacing back and forth, his eyes restless as he looked at the end of the forest. Half of the time had already passed, fifteen minutes and his best friend was nowhere in sight. It was supposed to be single. They would get in and then immediately out bringing the others with them. Then Mark would be able to see Mikael, once again they had been separated without being able to talk. Their kiss was the only memory reassuring him of their mutual feelings. He did remember Amelia's warning and vividly so, since that witch was the one who left an open door in his mind. A door that made him unable to sleep properly at night and a man whose few words were more confusing even though they were supposed to be some kind of explanation.

"So..." Alexander called out, getting his attention. "Are Ares and Ea knowledgeable in magic and stuff?" He asked him shyly.

Mark eyes him confused, unaware why he would ask him such a question. He was a human he didn't even know that magic needed knowledge. He had never found himself intrigued about that but maybe, he should study a bit. If his meeting with that monster was unavoidable he should know a few things before recklessly jumping into his death. 

"I don't know. They are quite old though, I am sure they have picked up a few things." Mark answered him honestly, the wolf next to him was contemplating his answer.

"Okay. Then I will be going for a while. You can stay here and wait." He told him and walked straight towards the portal.

"What? No! This was not the plan. We can't just do whatever we want. You can ask them later." Mark said stopping him momentarily from leaving him. Except for being scared about the plan failing, the red head was quite afraid to stay alone in this terrifying place at the crack of dawn. He was basically powerless by himself. He was aware though that Alexander was probably an improved version of a human and he wouldn't do much as long as they stick together they could possibly get out of most dangers. 

"It might be too late by then. I need to do it now before fear makes me regret it. If you're scared you can come with me." He proposed and Mark scoffed. 

"I am not scared! But anyways if nothing will change your mind I will come along to make sure you don't mess anything up. There's fifteen minutes left. I hope it won't take long."he said looking at the watch he was wearing. He had wore it especially to check the time and make sure that Allias and Theseus wouldn't be in trouble. If they did this right everything would be fine. He was sure of it. Allias had never failed in anything, even though now he was missing an arm. That had to be quite the drawback.

"No I think this will be quick." He said.

"Then let's go." Mark agreed with a sigh and passed through the portal first. 

Indeed right in front of them with just one step a whole new roalm was opening. Alexander had passed through it once before, when the whole pack had seemed refuge there to protect themselves from the hunters but with so many people, in a hurry and afraid he hadn't paid that much attention to this magical occurrence. 

The elf kingdom was truthfully brilliant. Not anymore covered in thick snow and endless cold, the grass was vibrant the trees tall and alive and a faint smell of orange was lingering in the air. His eyes hungrily took everything in. The endless swiveling oath in front of him that led to the enormous village, small houses and wooden road and right at the back the huge palace, dark and elegant standing proudly exactly like the king and his general. His lips were parted as he looked at the fairytale like beauty.

"What are you doing here? Is everything alright?" Ares asked with a worried expression the moment he saw the boys, interrupting Alexander's viewing. 

"He needs something from you." Mark told them and Ea tilted his head to the side, curious. 

"From us? What could you want from us?" Ea asked him.

"There is a little time so I will have to explain it in a hurry. As it seems Allias and Theseus might need our help so I want you to do something for me. Break a seal that has been placed on me. I don't know if you're familiar with this but I was the Great White Wolf. I sealed my power and I need you to release it so I can help Luke, be by his side."

"What?" Ares asked surprised. "Isn't that supposed to be a bloodthirsty monster? Why would you want to do that? Be with him the way you are. I am sure he doesn't want that for you either." 

"I know and yes he doesn't want it. But this is not about what Luke wants, it's about me and the feelings inside me. Like this I cannot be of any use. I am fragile and sickly I am more than a burden to the man I love than a help. He always worries about me and I always mess up. I won't be able to stand it. My guilt will kill me if something happens next time and I won't be able to do nothing." 

"Yes but this could ruin your life, you should...." Ares argued but was interrupted by Ea. 

"We will help you. I understand." He told Alexander and the wolf smiled brightly. Ares frowned, staring at his husband as he didn't know why he said he understood. Ea was pretty strong, a skilled assassin that could kill everyone in the blink of an eye so he didn't understand why he said he understood. Was there some kind of thought on his mind that he didn't know about it?

"Thank you!" He said excited.

Ea could understand the troubles of the young wolf. He was always small and he was never born with some kind of extreme power. The way he was now he only managed to achieve by training so hard to the point where his feet bled from running, his palms were filled with calluses and his sweat dumped his clothes from morning till evening. He had done all that just so he could help Theseus and be by Ares side. He had been the kid of a royal, raised in riches and he was quite spoiled but when Allias died, his only role model and Theseus was dragged into that big depression he realized he needed to change, just so no one he loved ended up like that again. On the other hand there was Ares. He was powerful and skilled with the sword, never flinching in the eye of danger. In their bed times he had thought that maybe like this he could get closer to him, if he was being considered as a comrade in battle. That was quite fruitless though. He was hopeful that at least things ended up in a good way. 

"So how do you break this seal?" Ares asked. 

"The seal is on my lower back." Alexander explained and raised his shirt. Indeed on his back there was a black seal, like a tattoo. It had the symbol of a howling wolf staring at the moon, scribbles and ancient letters in a circle around the huge design. Ares examined it with his eyes, barely able to make out the confusing writings. 

"This..." He mumbled and placed his fingertips on the design, tracing the complicated spell. "Is pretty ancient magic." Heumbled and Alexander nodded. 

"I don't really know how it could be broken exactly. The witch who did it never told me in case I ever changed my mind and wanted to break it. I was supposed to stay like this forever. " He told them. Ares stared at the boy's back a while more, his eyes focusing on the writings but still he was unable to think of a way to do it. 

"I don't know kid." He said and Alexander's hopeful eyes darkened. It would end just like this huh? Simply just one day would pass with him being useless. 

"Please isn't there anything we can do?" He begged them. Ares sighed scratching the back of his nape. He was troubled by all this since he actually wanted to help, Ea seemed to do so. 

"I think I know of a way." Ea announced all eyes on him the moment he spoke. 

"What way?" Alexander asked.

"We will have to kill you." He said.

....

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