Chapter Twelve- Love Confessed
"Alpha, what are you doing here?" Seto asked as they drew closer.
"Brokering a peace," Atem snarled, clearly angry. "I told you I was going alone. You disobeyed me!"
Everyone bowed their heads in shame except Seto. "I felt you were hiding something and suggested following you."
"Seto, if I told you where I was going, you likely would have turned this peace initiative into an attack. I know you too well."
Seto finally looked down. "Yes, alpha. You're right."
"And…you were also right. I am hiding something."
"Atem-," Bakura began, dropping the formal tone.
"Bakura, we were going to announce it anyway, so why not now?" He held his head and tail high as he said loudly and clearly, "Bakura and I are in love."
There were gasps from both races and then claps sounded and various vampires called, "Congratulations, Your Majesty!" Seto and the court, however, were slack-jawed.
"You're what?" Seto said in a strangled whisper.
"I love Bakura. I have for a few days."
"Alpha, this is unheard of," Aknadin protested.
"But it is possible. There is no reason we can't be together."
"Yes, there is!" Aknadin aimed a foreleg at Bakura. "He's a vampire! He could kill you and the pack!"
There were outraged hisses from the vampires, but Bakura quieted them with a gesture before moving to stand beside Atem. "So, you do not accept us being mates?"
"Correct. We understand that this kind of romance is possible, but it is absurd," Seto said.
Atem growled and Bakura put a hand on his shoulder blades. "Regardless, our love will proceed, but tell me something: If I was a werewolf, would you then accept it?"
"Of course," Aknadin said.
Bakura's mind raced. He had his subjects' support of his choice of mate, but he wanted the approval of the court too and knew there was only one way to get it. His back to his subjects, Bakura said, "Kevin, as my successor, I step aside and name you the new king. Atem…bite me." He extended his arm to his confused mate.
"What?" Atem said.
"I read in the vampire history book that a vampire can become a werewolf by being bitten by a pureblood and didn't you say a pureblood can turn someone on any night?"
I said a human could be turned and as vampires were human, I suppose that is possible. But, Bakura, are you sure you want to be turned?"
"Yes." His gaze shifted to the court and kept it level. "If they will not accept us as mates with me as a vampire, then I will become a werewolf for us to be together. I have already stepped aside as king, so please bite me."
Atem was surprised by Bakura's revelation of vampires able to become werewolves and his willingness to change races for them to be together. He licked the sides of his muzzle before saying, "All right." He wrapped his jaws around Bakura's arm and bit down firmly but gently. The gasp told Atem that he had just turned Bakura and could not take it back. Bakura will soon be one of us.
Bakura gasped as Atem's teeth sank into his arm and then released. His eyes widened as he felt his heart beating again. His skin darkened to a tan color and his fangs and claws shrank away, leaving him as the human he had been two years ago. Bakura then gave a wolf's howl as he sprouted fur, claws, paws, a muzzle, and a tail. Bakura blinked gold eyes as his change ended and he found himself on four paws. He turned to see the astonished looks of his former subjects. "I'll understand if you hate me now for what I've just done."
Kevin came forward. "You gave up your throne and being a vampire to be with the one you love. We fully understand your sacrifice." The others nodded behind him.
Bakura gave a wolf's grin. "I'm happy to hear that…Your Majesty."
Kevin nodded before adding, "Alpha Atem, I would be happy to cease our ancient feud and live in peace. As king and before all here, I declare that no vampire will attack or kill a werewolf from this night onward."
Atem nodded. "And I as alpha and pharaoh, decree that no werewolf will attack or kill a vampire ever again. Our hate for one another ends here and now."
Bakura folded back his ears as he sensed the court staring at him as they followed Atem and him back home at a quick clip. He knew he was different from the other werewolves as he had been a thief before becoming a vampire. He felt his tail tuck between his legs, and he softly whined, surprising himself with the sound even though he had heard Atem whine before.
"Bakura?" Atem whispered, concerned.
"Your court doesn't like me. I know I'm different as I was a criminal and no other werewolf was a criminal. I know I did the right thing in asking to be turned, but it doesn't seemed to have changed their perspective."
Atem nuzzled Bakura's cheek. "You did do the right thing and don't worry. I will speak with them." Bakura nodded, his ears erect and tail untucked. He had no reason to act the way he did. He had been reborn when Atem bit him. He was a living being again and it would take time to adjust to that after being a vampire for two years.
It was almost dawn when the group returned to the palace. Atem stopped at the Throne Room entrance. "You six wait in there while I take my mate to our chamber. I will speak to you then." The court filed in and Atem led Bakura up to his room, the latter's eyes heavy with sleep. They entered and Bakura jumped up and laid on his side, forcing his eyes open. Atem licked a cheek. "Get some rest. I'll join you after speaking with the court."
"I promised to stay awake to see your human form," he mumbled.
Atem chuckled. "Bakura, you're a werewolf, remember? The sun won't hurt you and you can see it later."
"You're right." Bakura yawned as his eyes slid closed and he was fast asleep. The sun rose and both resumed human form. Atem admired Bakura's darker skin before leaving for the Throne Room.
He entered, took his seat, and fixed the court with a stern gaze. "I am very disappointed in all of you. I told you to stay and you chose to ignore it. Bakura asked to be bitten and you still won't accept that we're mates."
"Pharaoh," Seto said. "We cannot overlook the fact that he was a criminal and a vampire."
"I am not overlooking it, either. Bakura ceased being a criminal when he became a vampire and was reborn when I bit him. Also, remember that all werewolves are killers on the full moon. We are no better than criminals or vampires despite being simple wolves."
"Yes," Isis said softly. "You are correct, pharaoh. We are killers, full moon or not. We are no better."
"Agreed," Mahad spoke up. "Bakura has killed as we have. I now see that he will fit in with the rest of us."
"So, the rest of you agree?" Atem saw nods and he smiled tiredly. "Good. Then let us rest and open court later."
Bakura felt something against his back as well as his waist. He smiled when realized that it had to be Atem, his leader and mate. His eyes slowly blinked open, squinting at the sunlight he had not seen in two years. Once they had adjusted, they fell on his tanned skin and a tanned arm over his waist that he knew wasn't his. He heard a deep breathing change subtly before a voice said, "Good afternoon."
"Afternoon," he repeated softly and in awe. "It's been so long since last seeing sunlight." He rolled over and his eyes widened. Lying beside him was a handsome teen with deep purple eyes set in his tanned face, and spiky tri-colored hair topped his head. "I was right: You are just as handsome in human form." His comment elicited a blush from Atem.
"I will be opening court soon and announcing the peace between us and vampires and us being mates. I also believe that any human-eating should only be during the full moon so the vampires will have an easier time feeding."
Bakura nodded. "I agree, but I don't know if I could eat a human."
Atem laughed. "Believe me, you will as you'll think as an animal. Now, I have a court to open and you will be by my side." He pulled Bakura to his feet and led his mate into the hall, telling him of how the court was accepting of him now, realizing that he was no different from other werewolves on the full moon.
"I'm a little nervous," Bakura admitted weeks later.
Kisara giggled. "I was horrified at the thought of killing or thinking like an animal. But, I later realized that sometimes it's nice to think as a simple wolf."
"I will remember it in the morning, right?"
"Right." Kisara found it hard to believe that Bakura had been the vampire king for he seemed more like how she had been on her first full moon the previous cycle. Well, he used to rule a village of vampires and was familiar with them. Becoming a werewolf is probably a bit disconcerting.
Bakura shifted on his feet as the stood with Kisara, Atem, and the court outside the gates. The city had been surprised and shocked that Atem had fallen for the vampire king who was now his mate and a werewolf like them. He took to walking among the people day or night to get to know them and savor the facts of being alive. He no longer had to roam for blood. He enjoyed actually eating food again. He loved seeing and feeling the sun on his skin and not dying from it not to mention being able to touch silver without turning to dust. The only thing not different was ruling, but he did so with a mate and being called Beta at night. Still, I love being alive and being with Atem. He gazed sideways at him. No one wore silver as part of their show of faith that vampires won't attack them.
The moon rose and Atem howled with Bakura following suit. He shifted into wolf form, feeling his mind reverting to wolf as well. He heard howls behind him and smelled their scents. He looked at the wolf beside him and knew him to be the alpha and his mate. The alpha looked at him and growled affectionately, smelling his scent on the wolf's foreleg. Bakura growled lovingly in return and nuzzled a cheek before barking to say he was hungry. The alpha barked before running toward the desert to hunt, Bakura following him. They would eat together before playing as only wolves can and celebrate living together for life.
The End
