A Deal with the Devil

The Truth is What We Make It

Cillian had no idea how he could make Maya fall in love with him. Hell, trying to convince Madison to be with him had been hard enough. When she had found out they were mates she had ran off and practically gotten herself killed, and she had grown up in the supernatural realm. Maya was an actual human with no knowledge of the supernatural. Where would he even begin?

As if to complicate matters, Liv was still up when he returned to the pack house that night. It was late, but she was in the living room reading over some documents. Liv had taken over the role of a Luna since Madison’s death, making sure everyone in the pack had what they needed. She had also taken a special interest in the orphanage since she knew that had been Madison’s pet project.

“You’re out late,” she remarked as Cillian entered the house, still pulling on his gym shorts.

“Had a lot to think about. Why are you still up?”

“Trade papers from the port cities in Alpha Mace’s territory,” Liv said, holding up the papers. “His tariffs are high, Cillian. We aren’t making enough to justify this.”

“It was a term of our alliance,” Cillian pointed out.

“Our people will starve this winter if we can’t afford afford to pay him and he doesn’t provide the food we need,” Liv countered.

“He wouldn’t do that,” Cillian replied calmly. “Mace and I have a good deal. He knows our pack is strong and could beat his if we tried.”

Liv silently agreed with that. Alpha Mace controlled a lucrative region by the sea, and he transported many goods, which meant people wanted him dead. He made deals with many packs for protection. The Crescent Moon Pack was one of those. Mace’s alliance with Cillian and the others kept him safe, and he wouldn’t jeopardize it. Still, Liv wished they had better business terms. Cillian didn’t seem to care much about that right now though. His mind wasn’t on business or alliances.

“Something else is on your mind,” Liv commented. “Are you okay?”

Cillian looked at his sister and felt a pang of sadness. How was he supposed to tell her she would never find her mate? Should he even tell her? The Moon Goddess hadn’t forbidden him from speaking about the matter. At the same time, it felt as if the information was something he should keep to himself.

“It’s nothing,” he lied. “I just appreciate your help and concern, Liv. Really, I do.”

Liv smiled slightly. “I’m at your service, alpha,” she said.

“Get some sleep,” Cillian said as he headed to his room. “And skip training tomorrow. You need to draft a new proposal for Alpha Mace on those tariffs if we’re going to survive the winter.”

Liv smiled at her brother’s retreating figure. He may be one of fiercest alphas in the land, but he was also one of the best leaders she had ever seen. He listened to other people and took their advice. That’s what made a good leader.

The next morning Cillian decided to train with Liam and tell him about seeing the Moon Goddess. He left out the part about Liv still, but explained the part Maya being his mate and the magic that prevented them from being able to feel it.

“It’s never easy for you, is it?” Liam asked. “But like two mates before I’ve even had one? How’s that fair?”

Cillian scoffed. “I don’t control that. I’m sure yours is out there. Besides, this is hardly easy. Nothing with Maddy was simple, and with Maya it will be even harder.”

“Yeah, so much for keeping Maya and this world separate,” Liam agreed.

“How do I even tell her about this world without sounding insane?” Cillian asked.

Liam shrugged. “Maddy once said some humans believed in fairytales,” he remarked.

“I don’t thinks she meant werewolves,” Cillian pointed out. “I think she meant like that Prince Charming, love shite.”

“I don’t know,” Liam said as he walked toward the pack house. “If I lived in a world without magic, I’d want to believe it was real.”

Maybe he was right, Cillian thought. He went home to shower and then went to the library. He browsed the shelves for a few moments before finding the leather-bound book he wanted. He had just seen Maya yesterday, but nothing said they couldn’t see each other two days in a row. Besides, it was a Saturday, and she would be sitting home alone.

****************

Maya awoke from her nightmare in a cold sweat. She could almost smell the blood this time, and just to be certain, she threw the covers off her legs. Nothing, just the cast on her injured leg. No cuts, no blood. She sighed. The dreams felt so real.

This time Maya had been in the woods. It had been snowing and she had been lying on the ground, her body covered in blood again. Everything had ached, and she couldn’t move without pain shooting through her body. She had crawled a small distance when she had seen two wolves come out of the woods. They had circled her. The words she spoke were too garbled for her to hear, as if she were underwater. The had only heard one word clearly: Cillian.

Maya shook the dream from her head. She never really took stock in dream psychology. She went about her morning routine and found herself reading on the sofa again. She really need her leg to heal so she could get out more, but until then, she had her books. She remembered someone once told her the safest travel was books and she had laughed because, sure, that was true, but it wasn’t the same.

Just before lunch, a knock was heard at the door. Maya struggled to get up and hopped over to the door on her good foot instead of using the crutches. It was quicker that way. She opened it and found Cillian standing in the doorway.

“I brought lunch,” he said, holding up a bag from a nearby Mediterranean bakery.

“You are too kind to me,” Maya said with a laugh. “Come in. Sorry for falling asleep on you last night.”

“It was late,” Cillian replied. “I found something in my things at home that made me think of you. Well, it made me think of your story about the wolf in the woods.”

“There was a wolf in the woods,” Maya said relentlessly. “I know you and Chloe think I’m crazy, but I know what I saw.”

“I believe you,” Cillian replied. “My father used to read me this story when I was young, and that’s why I thought of you.” He took out the book and handed it to Maya.

Maya took the book and looked at it with interest. She opened it to the first page and noticed it was a stylized children’s book, almost like a fairytale. She smiled slightly. “Your father read this to you?” she asked.

“Yes, he liked to believe there was some magic in the world,” Cillian said.

Maya smiled and looked back at the book. “’In the beginning, the gods and goddesses roamed the Earth, enjoying their dominion over the humans.’ What an odd way to begin a story,” she laughed.

“My sister, Ash, loved that line,” Cillian said with a laugh. “It gets better.”

“I’ll trust you then,” Maya replied. “’One such goddess was Ishtar, the goddess of love and war. Ishtar’s beauty was that which inspired many a poem, and her rage was that of a destructive storm. Despite her well-known vengeance, many came to seek out the Goddess’ love. Each time she turned the men away with cruel words and deeds.’

‘One man, a poor shepherd, would often make fires for Ishtar. He offered her sacrifices and baked her breads. After seeing her turn away so many suitors, he finally found the courage to profess his love. Ishtar refused his love, and as punishment for his boldness, she cursed him. Every night he would turn into a wolf, ravenous and uncontrollable. He would terrorize his flock, and his own hounds and chase after him.’

‘The young shepherd suffered many nights, and found himself in the woods one night begging for death. The Moon Goddess, Selene, took pity on him, however, and granted him a reprieve. She gave him two gifts to cope with the horror Ishtar had inflicted. The first was the ability to change his form when he wanted, and the second was a female mate to share his burden and his love. From their union sprung forth the first pack of werewolves, and they lived happily ever after.’” Maya finished the story and closed the book.

“Your father read you a story about curses and werewolves?” she said quizzically. “It’s a bit sad actually. This shepherd was a nice guy who got cursed for falling in love, so he was given a different lover? Seems a bit odd.”

“You’re reading too much into it,” Cillian said with a laugh. “I think the idea was that he was rewarded for being a good, kind person. Selene gave him someone like himself.”

“She couldn’t just make him human again?” Maya asked.

“I’m guessing not,” Cillian remarked. He wondered if the shepherd had asked. Honestly, he never really questioned the origin myth. Like all origin stories, it had been passed down by word of mouth for centuries before being written down, so who knows how close to the truth it was. Maybe werewolves were a form of evolution? Cillian couldn’t prove otherwise. He bet Madison’s former roommate could make an argument for that.

“You don’t believe in any kind of religion or magic?” Cillian asked.

“I believe in what I know and see,” Maya answered. “I’ve never known of a god or goddess to curse a human before.”

“Clearly you’ve had a good life then,” Cillian remarked.

“People with bad lives aren’t cursed,” Maya argued. “We can’t blame it on gods and goddesses and curses. We can blame it on corrupt governments and policies that put corporations over human well-being.”

Cillian had to admit that with an attitude like that, Maya would make an excellent Luna. She obviously cared about people more than money or wealth. “You may be right,” he agreed.

“You always do that,” Maya said with a laugh.

“Do what?” Cillian asked in confusion.

“You agree with me. I try to argue with you, but you always just end up agreeing. It makes it impossible to stay mad at you,” Maya explained.

Cillian laughed. “I was married to a lawyer, remember?” In truth, he hadn’t noticed the way he gave into Maya’s arguments. He had done something similar with Madison at times. Maybe he had subconsciously known Maya was supposed to be his mate even if he couldn’t feel the pull the way he had with Madison.

“You miss her still,” Maya observed.

Cillian only nodded.

“Is it bad that I’m a bit jealous of her?” Maya said with a sad laugh. “I know I shouldn’t be, but she sounds like someone who would have made me feel inexplicably inferior.”

“Don’t be jealous of her,” Cillian replied. “She’s gone, and she would have liked you. You would have liked her as well, I think. Either way, it’s time for me to move on.” He took Maya’s hand in his.

Maya smiled sadly. She wanted to believe Cillian, but at the same time she knew she could never complete with his wife. She may be dead, but she would still be Cillian’s first love. She wanted to. As she looked at her small hand in his and then up into his deep blue-green eyes, Maya realized she could never be enough. Not for a man like this. He was successful and handsome. How could she even compete with the woman he had chosen? He chose you as well, a voice at the back of her head reminded her. A larger part of Maya, however, felt wholly inadequate.

*************************

“She’s a very logical person,” Cillian said to Liam after explaining the previous evening to him. He had left Maya after dinner the previous night and gone home dejectedly. Maya was no closer to believing in werewolves and magic than she had been before the story and their chat.

“Logic,” Liam scoffed. “Witches and demons are logical and look how they end up.”

“I’m sure Cassie resents that statement,” Cillian pointed out.

“Cass aside,” Liam amended.

“Maybe that’s who we need,” Cillian mused. “Cassie is a witch and has magic, but she’s also a fairly normal person, right?”

“Normal to us or to humans?” Liam asked. “I think there’s a difference.”

“If Maya could see magic-”

“She’d think she was insane,” Liam said. “Or she would think it was some trick or a lie. Humans have explanations for magic. They don’t have explanations for people turning into wolves.”

“No, they just have really bad books and movies about it,” Cillian said sardonically.

“Keep being human for now. Maya will fall for you and then you can reveal yourself,” Liam offered.

“How do you see that working out?” Cillian asked incredulously.

“Fair,” Liam agreed. “You could always have someone else shift in front of her and see what happens.”

“I think that’s your worst plan yet,” Cillian scoffed. “That would scar her for life.”

“Or,” Liam said, drawing out the word, “fix all your problems. It’s a toss up.”

“You’re an i***t,” Cillian stated. “I’m highly considering giving the beta position to Tommy.”

Liam laughed. “He doesn’t want that, and you’d hate it. So what do you plan on doing about the whole Maya not believing in...well, you basically?”

 “I’m still working on that,” Cillian said, hiding his despair.