The next thing Gavin knew, he was looking at a clear blue sky, soft grass against his back. The wind blew gently against his face as he sat up and looked around. He saw Erza, Tessa, Aria and Lyla scattered around the field.
The camp was in complete disarray from the skirmish with Kara earlier. Tents were knocked down; several craters filled the ground, and one of their coolers was busted wide open.
Erza rubbed her temples, her face scrunched as she sat up and crossed her legs under her. The light reflected off the silver locket around her neck as she glanced at Gavin. "Just for the record. We all just went through that right? Some kind of shared hallucination caused by extreme stress?" Her voice was weak and as she scratched the back of her neck.
A vibrant laugh rang out from above them. Erza looked up and groaned. Astrid and Kara floating above them before their feet touched the ground and their wings tucked into their backs. "Not you two again."
"You wish red, but no. That was all real." Kara grinned wide and she locked eyes with Erza. "You had the good fortune of meeting one of the primal gods of the cosmos and lived to tell the tale."
"So that was real." Wonder filled Aria's voice and she sat straighter. "I can't believe the gods are real." Her eyes were wide in thought.
Lyla let out a sigh as she ran her fingers through her hair. "I know what you mean. Man, so many different religions are going to be so pissed off." She shook her hair after getting some of knots out, her fingers twirled a few loose strands of hair as she looked at the group.
Tessa shook her head at Lyla's comment. "Yeah, I know what you mean." She turned to glare at Gavin. "You have a lot of explaining to do." Her tone wasn't hostile, but more hurt or angry.
"A drink," Gavin stood up and walked over to one of their coolers and grabbed a six pack of beer out. "I think under the circumstances is warranted." Erza frowned but otherwise didn't protest as Gavin passed one to each of them in turn. He walked over to the picnic table and climbed on top as he popped the can and took a long drink.
I really don't think alcohol is a proper coping mechanism for dealing with stress Gavin. Veronica's disapproving warning filled his mind.
Too late, partner. Gavin replied as he savored the watered-down beer as he drank. His right hand shook around the can, and he grabbed it with his left to steady it.
Astrid and Kara waited nearby as the others walked over to join Gavin by the table. "Erza already knows some of this, but I might as well start from the beginning." Gavin took his time to explain everything.
It took about an hour for Gavin to explain everything he knew. Tessa stayed quiet for most of it. Aria had asked the most questions, especially about Veronica and how his system worked. Lyla seemed to be off in her own world as she fidgeted with her hair.
"So, during my last fight in the training dungeon realm, I reached a new level in the system, and it gave me what it called an evolutionary path." Gavin finished his beer and sat the can down. "According to Veronica, I am now a Dread Howler Were-Wolf. I don't know exactly what that means," Gavin clenched his fist. "But I know its progress from when I started."
"That explains how you came so far, so quickly with controlling your shift." Aria commented with understanding. "I knew something was off. No one just learning to shift gets that level of control in only a few days." Gavin just nodded sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"So, each of the gods created a unique Demi human race? Koray created the shifters, Lunaria created the Valkyrie?" Erza turned to direct her question at Astrid.
Astrid's eyebrows rose as she nodded and stepped forward to join the group, Kara right behind her. "That's correct. Lord Thanarion created the Vampires." Gavin shivered as the bite scar ached on his shoulder. " Lady Lunaria created Valkyries. Lord Veyran created the Elves. Lady Tempestra created the Merfolk. Lord Ares created the Draconians. Lastly, Lord Koray created the Shifters." Astrid listed off the six different Demi human races. She raised a finger on her hand as she ticked off the gods.
"Why do we only know about shifters? Like, why aren't the other races common knowledge?" Tessa's whispered words filled the quiet clearing. Erza fidgeted with the locket around her neck as she listened.
Kara looked up from where she sat. "That's because of what happened with the shifters in ancient history. The alpha bloodlines quickly grew in power and political influence. The human leaders of the world government feared that. So, in secret, they rounded up everyone that was part of the royal alpha bloodlines and purged them." There was no joy or mirth in Kara's voice.
If Gavin didn't know any better, he would say Kara was shaking with anger as she talked about the purge. Huh, interesting. Information to save for a later time.
Tessa paled. Her skin tone reminded Gavin loosely of the Vampire Lord from the training dungeon. "Apparently, that's what happened to my family. You heard Lunaria. Apparently, I'm supposed to be dead." He grinned at Tessa. "Looks like they missed."
Tessa groaned at his misplaced humor. "Now really isn't the time for jokes dude."
Erza smacked the back of his head. "She's right." Gavin yelped and rubbed the spot as she looked at Kara. "So, I'm just taking a guess that once the other races saw what normal humans did to the shifters, they decided to remain in secrecy?"
Astrid nodded. "It's called the Great Treaty of Secrecy." Astrid looked around. "There are many parts to the treaty, but long version short is this." She looked at Gavin.
Her voice hardened by a degree as she spoke. "Do nothing to bring attention from the humans. Do not reveal your race under any circumstances."
Lyla spoke up then. "What happens if say a Valkyrie is recorded or witnessed among humans and word got out about it?"
Kara crackled her knuckles and smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. "One of two things usually happens. Depending on the severity of the issue, excommunication or death."
Tessa gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. "That's so extreme."
Astrid nodded. "We have to be. Normal humans outnumber all the Demi by about a ten to one margin. If the other races aren't careful, we risk extermination or a similar purge event like the shifters went through."
Gavin nodded, his face grim. "I hate to admit it, but that does make sense."
Erza looked up at him and sighed. "This is so much to take in all at once." She counted on her fingers. "First, apparently the known religions are a lie and there are eight gods in existence." She lifted one finger.
"Second. Six of those gods created a demi race of powerful human like beings." She lifted her middle finger. "Thirdly. One of them gave Gavin a quest and attached an AI system to his soul to help him accomplish this divine mission." She lifted her ring finger.
"Fourth, I've now met the queen mother goddess herself." She lifted her pinky. "Fifth and lastly, Gavin is part of the alpha bloodline." She lifted her thumb.
Gavin chuckled as he leaned against her shoulder and enjoyed her body heat. "That about sums it up, though I have met two gods now." His smug tone irritated Erza. What did he think, this was some kind of competition now?
She glared at him. "Congratulations. Only an idiot brags about near death experiences."
"So, what do we do now?" Aria questioned the group as she leaned forward, elbows on her knees and chin in her hands.
Erza let out a deep sigh of frustration. "That… I have no answer for right now, Aria."
Gavin ran his fingers through his hair. "I think it's fairly obvious what we need to do."
Erza turned to look at him. She gestured for him to continue with a scoff. "You do?" Skepticism was thick in her voice.
He nodded. "We spend the rest of the summer training like crazy. Didn't you hear Lunaria? She assigned the sisters specifically to train you," he paused a moment. "If that is something you still want to do."
Erza didn't hesitate. "As crazy as everything is right now, yes. I still want to train so I can stand by your side. You're not getting rid of me that easy wolf." She reached her hand out to give his hand a reassuring squeeze.
Emotion and pride choked Gavin as he looked at her. "I hoped you were going to say that." He looked over at the sisters. "So, when do we start? I have about 2 months until classes start at the academy."
Kara grinned as she strode forward, her hands on her hips. She leered at Gavin and Erza. "Get a good nights rest you too, we begin at dawn."
Gavin nodded. "We will be ready." He looked at Erza. "Won't we?"
She nodded; her eyes shone with determination. "Yes." She vowed.
Kara laughed as she walked away and joined Astrid. Together their wings expanded from their back. Astrid's pearl white wings were odd to see next to Kara's multi-colored ones.
Together the sisters flew off into the sky.
The camp remained silent for a while after the sisters left. Everyone seemed to be deep in their own thoughts as they came to terms with the day's revelations.
"Seriously though, I'm surprised you guys aren't freaking out." Gavin eventually said. The tension in the camp was palpable as everyone was lost in their own thoughts.
"Honestly, so much has happened in the last few hours that I don't even know where to begin." Aria rubbed her face with her hands as she stood up.
"First question, are you still… you know… you?" Tessa finally seemed to find her voice as she peered at him.
Gavin looked from her pale face to his hands. He opened and closed them as he felt Veronica's presence in his mind, a constant comfort. He nodded slowly. "Yeah, butt munch. It's still me." He grinned at her and wagged both his eyebrows.
Tessa nodded and stood up. She glared at Erza who tensed and sighed. Tessa walked over to stand in front of Erza. "I'm sorry, for being such a bitch to you lately. Maybe… maybe I was wrong. But just so you know, I'm not going to stop fighting." With those words spoken she spun to face Gavin.
"For the record, I'm not sorry about this." Her words didn't have time to register as she grabbed the scruff of Gavin's neck and placed her lips against his.
Gavin sat there stunned in shock. Someone other than Erza was kissing him. No. Not just someone. His oldest and best friend. I must be dreaming. There's no way in hell she's doing this.
Aria and Lyla stood there open jawed as they watched the display. Then the clearing got eerie. Birds stopped chirping. Insects stopped buzzing. Even the wind seemed to die down.
It was false peace. The calm before the hurricane that was Erza O'Malley, came for them.
Erza went still inside. Her entire world fell into absolute silence. No fear. No anxiety. Then something ancient, primal and feral snapped awake. Someone was kissing her boyfriend. Her partner. Her mate.
Lyla glanced knowingly to her red sister. Erza's eyes were vibrant in their barely restrained fury. Deep brown swirled and mixed with the traces of red as she stood up. "Oh shit. That stupid twit." Lyla muttered and rushed over. Sweat slid down the back of Lyla's neck as she reached out for Erza.
Erza's mana exploded in the clearing as she stalked towards her prey. This stupid, fucking girl. I'm going to rip her apart with my bare hands. He is mine. MINE!
The wind whipped around the clearing as the temperature near the fire pit rose in response to her fury, her wrath. The air went still, heavy and ominous as she walked slowly, vision narrow towards the back of Tessa.
Gavin's mind went blank as he kissed his best friend. She tasted like soda and honey, different than Erza. That was when his mind realized exactly what was going on and fear gripped his heart.
Lyla blocked Erza's path firmly as Tessa stepped back from Gavin. Tessa had a deep blush over her cheeks as she placed her fingers to her lips. "That… was better than I imagined." Her words were a whisper of relief as she looked down to see Gavin's reaction.
"Well, what the hell was that for?" He had a goofy expression on his face.
Until he looked at Erza. Then all the color paled from his skin as a shiver of utter fear ran down his spine. Which of us is going to die, me or Tessa?
Lyla pushed Erza back gently, yet firm. Her grip on Erza's shoulders was like a vice as she kept Erza grounded in the moment. "I know you don't want to hear this red. But we all have been put through the emotional ringer today. Gods are real. Other races are real. The stupid shit isn't thinking properly. Neither of them is." Lyla spoke in a gentle tone as she kept Erza back for a moment. Please just go to your tent, both of you. Don't make her any angrier.
"Today's been a lot, I'm turning in for the night before another deity decides to yank us to their realm. Plus, I got something I wanted after all that chaos." After that Tessa walked over to her tent and began to reset the rigging lines that got messed up from the fight with Kara earlier.
Gavin lifted a brow in confusion and fear. I… just kissed another girl in front of her… I'm so fucking dead. He turned to Erza and asked. "What was that about?" His entire body language was defensive… fearful of her response as he felt her pain and anger through their bond.
The emotions that trickled through their bond stole his breath. He had hurt his mate, his partner that he promised to love and cherish always. "Erza… Erza… I… I'm." Gavin stuttered in shame and pain as he tried to find the right words.
In his mind, Veronica sighed with disapproval. You should have pushed her away the instant she kissed you.
I didn't think. I couldn't. Gavin protested weakly. He knew it was a paltry excuse. Shameful even.
Erza smirked that promised future retribution as she watched Tessa. Her anger simmered down to a low boil as she watched her retreating. That was impressive coming from the twit. Maybe I need to watch her more closely. "Nothing, just some girl things."
"This has been the best camping trip of all time." His words were gentle and yet surprising to everyone. Erza glared at him. Aria winced at his stupidity.
"Alright, pay up Aria." Lyla's voice broke through his thoughts as Aria sighed and handed over some credits.
He looked confused as Erza scoffed in annoyance. "Seriously, you guys had a bet on this too?" Her tone was filled with annoyance and agitation as she crossed her arms over her chest.
Lyla grinned without regret as she pocketed the credits. "Damn right. If you weren't so dumb and blind, you'd have realized how the girl felt about him. But then again, you didn't even realize how your own mate felt." Lyla's teasing words filled Erza's mind.
"Maybe there's a chance for a threesome after all." Gavin's whispered words were to no one in particular. But suddenly, he could feel a shift in the air as both Aria and Lyla paled and looked behind Gavin.
Brown hues of mana swirled around him, a clear response to Erza's mounting fury. "You flipping idiot!" she snapped as a fist covered in red flame crashed into the side of his face.
Gavin cried out as he was sent to the ground. His cheek burned, the skin on his face was sore and sensitive from her magic as he reached up to rub the mark and hissed. Erza stood above him, shaking with pain and anger as she reached down to grip him by the collar of his shirt. "You are mine. MINE. I do not share with anyone what is mine." She snarled as she crashed her lips to his in a deep, possessive kiss.
She stormed off then, down one of the foot paths and away from the camp. Hurt, shame and anger radiated through their bond.
Gavin sat there, rubbing his cheek from her punch. Go after her you reckless idiot. Veronica insisted.
She just punched me… Erza actually punched me… Gavin still struggled to reconcile the fact that he screwed up so badly.
"Go after her Gavin… fix this before it's too late." Aria leaned down to whisper and offered her hand to help him up. "Don't let her run off hurt."
Gavin hesitated and nodded. I won't ever let her run off like this…How could I have been so stupid.