Nicolai hugged his dad tightly. “I thought you were suicidal again. Oh, thank gods, I’m wrong,” He mumbled softly.
Right after his mum died, his dad was said to have lost hope. The vampires described his state as suicidal.
Nicolai was just a baby then, so he was not aware.
When he was fifteen, his father quit his job to stay with him 24/7. that’s when the rumors started to resurface.
Rumors that his dad was trying to kill himself again.
After hearing that, Nicolai started to fear that possibility. He kept a close eye on him.
Years passed, nothing happened, and that fear left his being.
‘And now it’s back. That illogical fear that dad will one day disappear…’ he hugged him tightly.
“Why would you even think I’m suicidal? As long as you are here in this world I will be too,” he whispered gently caressing his head.
Nicolai pouted. “it was the vampires. They spread absurd stories that you tried to kill yourself,”
“I ate a peach whole and choked on it! I was drunk. Oh god, what kind of rumors are these younglings spreading behind my back?”
“You tried to eat a whole peach? You really must have been hammered.”
“Yep I definitely was…”
Kieran’s smiles changed a bit...
Nicolai pulled away a bit and looked into his eyes. “y-you’re really not going to die, right?”
“No I’m not,” Kieran gestured for him to sit on the dining table. He removed his apron and peered at his son. “Old Rumors aside, I’m curious how you came to that god awful conclusion now?”
“Well first, you just gave up the job that you were so passionate about. The second one is obvious. We just moved to this dangerous place surrounded by wolves, voluntarily, might I add. Thirdly, you kept insisting that I make friends with wolves and with my unusual class schedule. I kind of guessed that you were intentionally trying to patch me up with rue.”
Kieran sat down next to him. “Firstly I gave up my job to spend more time with you. I feel like you have become distant. Secondly, I think I made it abundantly clear that we are here for a mission, not suicide. Thirdly… well... I was not the one who chose your class schedule. I have nothing to do with the alpha’s daughter.”
Nico scoffed. “No one else can decide my class schedule other than you and me,”
His dad’s expression changed into a soft smile. “Someone special did....” he mysteriously smirked and walked over to the counter. He started cooking some fresh pancakes. “so? How was your first day of school?”
“Good, I got a marriage proposal as soon as I got there.”
Kieran froze. “w-hat?”
“rue, alpha Lowe’s daughter. She proposed to me. I guess I can charm even my enemy,”
His dad suddenly moved close and sat by him. “so tell me about this rue girl? is she your beloved?”
“nah,” Nico picked up the hot pancake and bit into it. “ah hot hot...” he opened his mouth wide, blowing on his scotched tongue.
He could feel his dad’s weird stare on his face. He somehow looked disappointed that rue was not his beloved.
“You were expecting a daughter-in-law so soon ah? I want to be single until I’m thousand. I want to enjoy my life a lot,”
“Don’t say that. When you find your beloved, you have to unite with them as soon as you can. You can’t delay it,” he sternly whispered. “Nico, you will meet your beloved here soon, so behave well. Don’t reject them. Love them with all your heart.”
Nicolai glanced at the half-eaten pancake. ‘If I even have a beloved...’
Beloved, a vampire’s destined mate.
Just like werewolves, vampires had their destined mate the moment they were born or created.
It was a bond that they would not be able to break. Even his mother was his father’s destined mate. They met and fell in love instantly.
That’s how powerful that connection is.
For his case, it was different
There have been no records of a half-breed vampire finding a beloved. The half-breed’s body composition and digestive were more similar to humans, so the sun gods never gifted them with beloveds.
At least that’s what the records said.
His dad thought was very confident that he will find his beloved soon..... it’s as if he knew something.
“Why are you so confident? is find my beloved here?”
His dad faltered a bit. “I’m sure you will find a beloved soon.”
“no, you said here. you said ill find a beloved here soon. Dad, tell me the complete truth.”
Kieran stood up and took the plates to the sink. “it was a rhetorical statement. I didn’t mean here- here. I just meant here in this world. ah, my back is aching. I’ll go take a nap in my room,” he walked away with a slight smirk.
‘Yeah right, he is slipping away now..’
Nicolai picked up the half-eaten pancake and bit into it. “Beloved ... so will I have a beloved.... I wonder how that feels,”
It was said that the first meeting with their respective beloved would be phenomenal. It would be like the world had stopped just of them. the scene of smell heightens...and a new mark appears on a certain part of their bodies.
Nicolai scratched his neck. ever since he stepped foot in this small town the back of his neck had been itching nonstop.. It was to the point of annoying...
‘Will I have my mark on my neck?.....’
He wolfed down the pancake, cleaned the plate, and walked back to his room. there were a few things to be sorted out.
The first thing he did was unpack all his essentials and his toilet tried. The things he had and brought were so little, It actually fit the small car they traveled in.
he got it done in record time.
The next thing he did was clean the room.
The bed was kind of dusty and the window glass panes were covered in a layer of soot.
With industrial cleaners he cleaned his room well. After that he hopped into the bath and took a long-deserved hot steamy bath.
Thankfully the water heater in this house was working. If not, he could have ended up an icy sculpture.
Wrapping a towel around his waist, he walked out of the room.
“Hi,” a small voice said to his right.
Startled, he bolted to the bag where he kept his gun.
“Whoa you don’t need that,” that familiar voice whispered playfully.
Glancing back, he saw rue standing on the balcony with a bright smile on her face. she was smoking a cigarette and puffing out smoke.
“w-what are you doing here?” he tightly clenched his towel and walked close to her. it was freezing out there yet she was only wearing a normal t-shirt and jeans. “come in its snowing,”’
“Nah this cigarette is strong. It will leave a scent behind,” she smiled at him.
Opening the balcony door, he stood right by it. If he walked out there and stood beside her, his wet hair will definitely freeze over and he would have to repeat his bath again. “What brings you here? You do realize this is trespassing right?”
“This used to be my hang-out area. Tsk, now I can’t even smoke in silence,”
“Eh, I’m not banning you from visiting. Just give me a heads up next time. Cuz I might shoot you accidentally,”’
Rue turned over and stood facing him. “that gun is loaded with silver bullets?”
“Yes, I was wading into dangerous waters. I needed something to protect my family,” he mumbled, wiping his hair casually.
Rue silently smoked her cigarette with a small frown.
“Nico, you and your dad are here for the alpha king, right?” she suddenly mumbled.
“I am,” he admitted it openly. There was no use denying it or lying about it. The wolves definitely knew why the vampires entered their town suddenly after so many years.
“Do... will you kill the alpha king if you find him?”
Nicolai took a careful look at her. her face was sullen, and she looked sad.
“I don’t know. I will personally not take any action but I won’t stop my father if the elder committee orders to do so,”
“I see...” she nodded, tossing the cigarette butt to the ground. “It’s good you are finally here. It was a long wait but you are right on time.”
“Huh.. What are you talking about?”
Nicolai became vigilant. This girl really was acting too weird.
“If what I know is true.... no I know it’s the truth. you.. you will be the...”
There was a sudden knock on the door. “Nico, I’ve baked some of your favorite dried strawberry cookies~”
“Dad wait” he ran to the door, but he had already opened the door.
“What are you anxious about? I have seen you buck naked so many times, boy. There is nothing I haven’t seen. wait…. were you wanking?"
“no!” Nicolai hurriedly looked towards the balcony. It was empty... there was only that cigarette butt on the ground, indicating the presence of his unexpected visitor.
“Heck, are you trying to become an ice statue,” he ran to the balcony doors and closed it. “you have a human body. You need to take care of it,’
“Y-yeah...”
“Is everything okay?” he walked close and touched his cheeks. “you look freaked out...”
“Nah.. I saw a spider under the bed,”
“s-pider! Oh my god, just wait here I will bring the bug spray,” he ran out of his room hurriedly.
Nico flopped onto the bed with a sigh. ‘she said she was expecting me.... what the heck was that about? This rue chick is weird.... she is totally suspicious. Maybe I should keep my distance,’
Chapter 6The next day at school, everything was normal. He got the usual dose of stares, leers, and growls and, as an added touch, a few scoffs. Nicolai ignored all of them as usual and got to his class.It was a class he shared with rue. In fact, he shared all his classes with rue.She waved at him from the front seat.The wolves behind her were growing loudly.He peered at her. She genuinely looked excited to see him.But he was not. After what she said yesterday he became cautious of her.He walked past her and took the third-row seat. The werewolf next to him was a nerdy guy with glasses and a starched shirt. He gave him a shy look.“Nicolai,”“Gary,” he said softly, exposing his gappy tooth.“Nice to meet you, Gary. Say, show me your schedule.”“y-yeah.. sure.” He readily handed him his schedule. They shared four out of five classes.“Can yo
While his son was getting dressed, Kieran silently walked out of the room. the information he just gave was weird. Why did the alpha daughter call his son out to that particular house.... why.... Werewolves did not like sharing the information of their clan’s witch’s location. Even if it was an abandoned house, it would have been kept a secret from anyone. Then why... why did his son know? He did not want Nico to learn about anything beforehand. It will only put him in danger from all three species. “I’m running out of time.. I need to see this Rue girl.” With a determined mind, he set out to the local high school. Lunch break had started and the wolf children were all making a racket playing and laughing in the lawn. He got down from his car. As he walked, the wolves became silent. It was not his intention, but his body exuded a sense of blood lust after years of being the top predator. The younger wolve
Kieran heard soundless footsteps following him. Even though the person following him made sure not to make any obvious sounds, he could still hear it with his keen hearing. “what?” he glanced back.Rue stood there blankly. “Well, you have to make your son agree to my plan. He thinks I’m a weirdo,” he grimaced.“I still don’t trust you,”Rue frowned. “I told you everything. What else do you need to prove my sincerity?”“There was an obvious flaw in your story. You said you were born on an eclipse and the moon goddess did not gift you with a mate, if so, then the whole clan must have known about this. There is no use for you to act out a charade. If you clan doubts your lies then Nico will be in even greater danger,”He sighed loudly. This young girl was smart, but sometimes younglings were quite naive.Kieran glanced at her but she had a triumphant smile on
Nico silently left to his room after that. he did not even bother to ask. He knew he will only get radio silence for his questions... Laying on his cold bed, he peered up at his ceiling. The paint was peeling off and hanging by a small bit. ‘that’s my life right now. It’s hanging by a thread. So many lies and so many hidden truths. I don’t know..... dad doesn’t have to complicate things. He can just tell me the truth. I can handle it... I can...’ But his father only treated him as a baby boy. It was so unfair. He silently hummed a song waiting for nighttime to arrive. By then his stomach started to growl. He tottered over to the small mini-fridge in his room and drank some goat blood his father got from the local butcher. It was tasted grassy and kind of different. He was not used to the taste. Grimacing, he placed the bottle in the fridge. ‘Pancakes. I saw pancake mixture down.’ He decided to give up on blood and chose
Deep in the night, Nico snuck down to the basement. His dad usually sleeps right at 11 pm so he was in the clear. He can finally uncover the truth.He tightly clenched the torchlight as he moved closer to the basement door.It was left open to his relief. He snuck in and climbed down the cold stairs. Last time he didn’t notice it but the basement was pretty deep underground.He flashed the torch at the walls. The walls were translucent blue in color. ‘blue?’ he touched the surface. It was very cold.The thing he previously thought of as a rock or a boulder was actually frozen permafrost.Permafrost, a layer of ice deep underground the arctic that never melts. It was natural that this old castle had one. Many houses had this. it was to store meat. it acted as a natural refrigerator.But none of the wells dug up to permafrost was this deep or this spacious.It usually looked like a small well where people
Nicolai ran back to his room and got ready. It was a very simple choice. He had only black or blue clothing. He chose the ink blue turtleneck and black jeans to go with it. He did not bother styling his soft, wavy black hair. Any kind of gel he applied to it will not stay. His hair type was that way. ‘What was the use of styling it?’ Nicolai peered at his reflection. His brown-gray eyes looked much bluer than usual. A sudden itch on the back of his neck distracted him from admiring his face. “God, seriously, why does it itch so much? Fuck, I wish to just tear at it” he scratched the spot unconsciously until it turned red. He instantly regretted that decision and placed a wet towel over it to soothe the irritated skin. After the redness somewhat went away, he tosses the towel away and swiftly wore shoes. He let his shaggy hair be and ran down the stairs. “I’m ready to impress a crowd,” Rue stood down there with a bright smile. “
After throwing fits, things smoothed out between Alpha Lowe and him, albeit it took a bit of time.Six months to be exact.Alpha Lowe came to the conclusion that his son-in-law was going to be an annoying preteen vampire with anger issues. He also learned that if one of the sides did not give up, they would end up hurting each other badly.Nicolai sat on the cold dusty floor peering at the broken ceiling, thinking about all that happened in the past.He still couldn’t believe that the pack actually believed Rue’s lies or the fact that Rue’s mate never appeared.She was twenty. It was past the prime time she can find a mate.He sat her silently. She was chewing on a gummy loudly.“What? you want a gummy?”“Nah, why are we here again? In this witch’s den,”She smacked him hard. “Don’t call it that,”“Fine, a witch’s adobe,” he evaded her sma
Kieran left the house in tears. He knew today was the day. The day he had to leave his son forever. He silently walked over to the broken-down house.The door was left unlocked. He walked in and sat on the cleaned spot on the ground.He could still feel his beloved’s presence in this house. In every brick and every dust-covered thing...she was there.This was the house they first made love, the place where he proposed... now it’s in ruin.Yes, his wife was a witch, the witch of the arctic pack.Twenty years ago when he was assigned to overlook this pack, he met her, Eloise. a beautiful brunette. She was like a ray of sunshine.Her smile could really light up the room.Kieran took out the crumbled photo from his pocket. His beloved’s face was slightly smeared from years of folding.“Eloise... oh honey... today I am finally going to join you. I’m happy and anguished at the same time. Our son.... who will