~ Ten ~

“Do you know me?” Lyall asked the two vampires in front of him.

“Oh yeah sure. You’re quite famous.” Nick replied.

“Come on... Just hand over the girl. We have to do something about her.”

“Be patient, Pierre.”

“But Your Majesty...”

Brukk!

Eira fainted behind Lyall. Lyall and Miro were shocked.

“Eira?” Lyall shook Eira’s body gently. But Eira had fainted. Blood was still dripping a little from her neck.

“Did she bleed out? (stands up and looks at the vampires) this is all because of you!” Miro shouted.

“Oho...calm down young dog.” Pierre tried to calm him down.

“Wolf.” Miro growled.

“Okay, wolf. There’s no difference. Even your smell is similar to dogs. But your smell is more like a wet dog which ugh is hard to—“

“Pierre...” Nick scolded

“Okay, sorry. But it’s not entirely our fault.”

“It’s not your fault? You’re crazy. I don’t care if you’re vampires, demons, ghosts, or whatever. But you hurt our friend and sucked all her blood!” Miro growled. His breath was irregular.

“Hey… Calm down… Pierre is right. It’s not entirely our fault. Human blood is our food. So we have no choice but to drink it.” Nick explained.

“There’s still animal blood that you can drink.”

“You mean your blood? Sure, why not.” Pierre chirped.

“We’re humans.” Miro growled.

Pierre tilted his head and grinned. “Didn’t you say you were a wolf?”

Miro growled even more.

“Okay, stop. Both of you.” Nick took a deep breath. “Like I said earlier, our food is human blood. But we know the limits. Some limits have been set. We won’t break them and your friend (pointing to Eira) passed out from shock. She didn’t lose any blood. She managed to escape. We’ll hypnotize her, so she doesn’t remember anything about us.”

“Can you do that?” Lyall asked.

“Of course.”

“Then do it.”

“Are you stupid or what? She’s unconscious! We can’t hypnotize her if she’s unconscious.”

“Calm down Pierre.. They’re young wolves. Naturally, they don’t know much.”

“Since when did you get so wise?”

Nick sighed. “I only behave in a territory that isn’t mine and is full of wolves. (looking at Pierre and with a forced smile) so, we only can hypnotize her if she’s conscious. What I’m afraid of is that if she’s conscious, she’ll be even more scared and shocked.”

“So what should we do?”

Nick paused for a moment. “Let’s take him to a witch.”

“And where can we find a witch here?” Lyall asked again.

“I know where.” Nick replied with a thin smile.

“Can we trust them?” Miro whispered very softly.

“You should. It’s better to involve a witch. And we’re having a meeting on the other side of the forest. You can come with us. And yeah… I can hear you. We also have keen hearing.”

Lyall stood up. “How do we get there?”

“Lyall, are you sure about this?” Miro asked again.

“We have no other choice. Better to try than to let it go. Please take us.”

“Then, turn yourself into a wolf.”

Lyall frowned. “Why do I have to turn myself?”

“I can’t carry two people at once. If you transform, you can carry the girl.”

“I’ll transform. You just hold Eira on my back.” Miro offered. He knew Lyall didn’t want to transform into a wolf. Lyall nodded. Miro transformed himself into a wolf with dark brown, white, and black fur. Miro lowered his body. Lyall lifted Eira’s body onto Miro’s back and then he got on too.

“Let’s go.”

The two vampires sped away. Miro followed them, running quite fast.

“Just hold on to my fur.” Mindlink Miro. Lyall obeyed. Miro quickened his pace following the vampires. When he transformed into a wolf, he could see the vampires even though they were walking very fast. He could even catch up with them.

It wasn’t long before they arrived at the other side of the forest. The vampires entered an area protected by magic. But Lyall and Miro couldn’t get in.

“Wait a minute, I’ll call Darius.” Nick said and went inside. He became invisible. Miro still hadn't changed. He was aware, because if it turned out that the vampires were tricking them, they could leave immediately.

Shortly after, Nick came out with a fat man. The man looked at the wolves Miro and Lyall.

"So... Which one do I need to help?" Darius asked.

"Bring her down, this is the witch I told you about." Nick said. Miro lowered his body. Nick quickly lowered Eira and placed her on the ground.

"Looks like someone's causing trouble." Odys said sarcastically.

"Not a trouble. Just a little mistake."

"A little?! You even asked for help from wolves and witches!"

"She's... Eira."

"Alpha!" Miro looked surprised to see Carl.

"Miro? Lyall? What are you doing here?!" Carl was no less surprised.

"You know them, alpha?" Darius asked.

"Of course. They're members of my pack. What's wrong? What's wrong with her?" Carl crouched down and observed Eira. "She was bitten."

"We found her in the forest--."

“No! I.” Nick tried to explain but Pierre quickly cut him off. “I found her in the forest, just with the wolves. I mean… Real wolves, not fake ones like them. She’s human, so I thought I didn’t have to look far, and of course, I know the rules. When I was going to hypnotize her I got distracted by the wolves. They attacked me. It was weird. Usually, they’re afraid of me. Then the girl ran away and I met the two do—I mean… Wolves.”

“She passed out before we hypnotized her. Can you help us, Darius?” Nick asked.

“Of course, Your Majesty. I’ll try.”

Darius cast a spell, and in a short while, the blood on Eira’s neck and clothes disappeared, and the bite wound also disappeared without a trace. Darius cast the spell a second time.

“Done.” Darius said then stood up.

“Will she remember anything? About the vampire?” Lyall asked.

“She shouldn’t.” Darius answered. Eira started to wake up. She was surprised by the large number of people gathered around her.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“Are you okay, Eira? Does anything hurt?” Alpha Carl asked. Eira shook her head.

“N-nothing.” Eira tried to stand up.

“It’s okay. Sit down first.”

“I’m fine, Uncle Carl.”

Carl helped Eria stand up. “What do you remember?”

Eira tried to remember. Everyone was silent waiting for an answer.

“I was playing with the wolves and… And… I don’t remember.”

“You fainted, Eira, that’s why we’re all here. Didn’t I tell you not to go into the forest for a while?”

“I just…”

“Never mind… She’s fine. It’s better to take them home. Their house is quite far from here.” Darius suggested.

“Okay, Ron will take you guys.”

“I’ll walk.” Lyall said. Everyone looked at him. “You know what I mean. Besides, I want to practice. That’s why I came to the forest. Run from here to the house, I think that's enough."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course, uncle."

"The man is awake." Pierlea ran to tell them. Several people ran.

"Go straight home after. Do you understand? (joining Scott) and bring Miro!"

"Gosh, I'm like a little kid who has to be supervised." Lyall grumbled.

"Come on Eira. I'll take you." Ron said.

"Wait, but why are they allowed to go into the forest while I'm not? Is it because they're men? Isn't that unfair and discrimination?"

"Well, they—"

“Don’t say it’s because they know this forest. That’s the most bullshit thing I’ve ever heard. I was born and raised here while he (pointing at Miro) came from Japan and he (pointing at Lyall) came from… I don’t know where.”

Lyall pointed at himself and looked at Miro and Ron who were holding back a smile.

“This is the first time I’ve seen you this upset. Usually, you’re the best at hiding your emotions.” Ron said.

“Because I… I… I want to go to the forest and meet those wolves.”

“What’s up with you and those wolves? Are you guys dating?” Miro and Ron looked at Lyall with strange looks. “What? I’m just asking. She cares more about those wolves than herself.”

“Whatever you want to think. I don’t owe you an explanation.” Eira looked away.

“Welp I don’t want to know either.”

“Didn’t you ask earlier?”

“Yeah… Because I’ve never seen a very stupid girl. Going to a forest that’s dangerous just because of a wild animal that can take care of itself!”

"You called me stupid?!”

“Okay. Stop it. There’s no point in arguing. Lyall, I’ll take you and Miro too. No more arguing.”

“What? No, no, no. You heard it yourself. Alpha—I mean, Uncle Carl said I could practice. As long as I’m with Miro!”

“The answer still no, Lyall. Now let’s get to the car.” Ron firmly said. He invited Eira to walk first. Lyall snorted in annoyance and kicked the grass in front of him. “Just follow along. After I drop Eira off, I can drop you off.” Ron whispered very quietly, almost inaudible. But of course, Lyall and Miro heard him. Lyall rubbed his face roughly then followed them.

Throughout the journey they were silent. Lyall just stared out the window in silence.

“Aren’t mates supposed to be affectionate? Why are they fighting?” Miro mindlinked Lyall. Here he goes again! Even Ron can hear him.

“That just makes me curious. Were they just acting earlier? So that we think they’re not mates. So no one makes fun of them.”

Lyall held back his emotions. He took a deep breath and shook his head. If only he hadn't promised not to turn off his mind to Zaiden...

"But I'm very sure, they're mates. They just don't admit it or even hide it. Just look at the quiet Eira, who could have been so aggressive earlier. People can't change without a reason. They must be hiding their relationship. I thought so. It must be—"

"Can you be quiet!!" Lyall suddenly shouted, making the whole car jump, even Eira. Eira, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, looked at Lyall and Miro alternately and then faced forward again.

"Looks like your friend is going crazy, Miro. He's screaming for no reason. No one has spoken since earlier." Eira grumbled.

"I—" Lyall snorted in annoyance. He looked at Ron who was also staring at him in the rearview mirror.

"Can I kill him?" Lyall asked Ron with his Mindlink.

"So mean. Wanting to kill your friend." Miro was still talking with his mind-link.

"Don't be too confident. You’re not my friend.”

“Stop bothering him, Miro. You look so much like Zaiden.” Ron shook his head. He also spoke using mind-link.

Soon they arrived at Eira’s house. Eria thanked Ron and then went into her house. Ron drove his vehicle again. After some distance, he stopped his vehicle again. Lyall got out of the car in a hurry, without saying anything. Ron held back Miro who wanted to open the car door.

“Just leave him alone. Besides, his mind link isn’t closed, and some of the pack members are patrolling. He’ll be fine. You need to rest. I’ll tell Zaiden.”

Miro nodded. The car drove off again.

Meanwhile in the forest...

Everyone stared at Scott as if he was on trial.

"Are you okay, Scott?" Carl asked.

"I didn't know you were a werewolf." Scott said.

"Yeah, no human should know. That's the rule." Carl explained.

"So you killed the people here? All of you?"

"Whoa... Don't just accuse, human. We never killed those people." One fairy firmly objected. "Especially us, the fairies."

"Nobody here killed them, Scott. My pack is investigating."

"Okay, now that he's awake and I don't want to waste any more time. Let's make the deal. I'm sick of being here." Odys returned with his annoyance. "And don't tell me to be patient anymore! I've been patient enough!" Odys stared at Darius and Carl with a sharp gaze.

"Are you ready Scott?" Carl asked.

"But I have a condition." Scott said.

“Oh my gosh, what’s up this time.” Odys snorted in annoyance. “Hey young man! Don’t you know? You have to make a deal with us now, because now you know who we really are. If not, you will die! Do you hear that?! Die! That has been the rule since your ancestors!”

Scott was nervous and scared, but he managed to hide it. He glared back at Odys sharply.

“Scott? Please, do this deal. What the gentleman said is true. Don’t make me do it.” Carl pleaded.

“I don’t care. Go ahead if you want to kill me. Just do it. But once I die, I will spread everything.”

“What does that mean?” everyone looked at Scott in confusion.

“I have handed over all the books about you, all of you. If there is no news from me, my friend will spread it to social media and even to national TV.”

Everyone fell silent then Pierre laughed.

“He’s kidding, right? No? Then how can you think they will believe a fairy tale book.” Pierre laughed again.

“I thought humans were as stupid as they used to be.”

“Not just books. But this.” Scott pointed to his chest, more precisely to a pin he was wearing. A small pin shaped like a moon with wings. “This is a camera that has been recording everything that happened.”

Nick walked quickly and forcibly removed the pin and destroyed it. Scott laughed.

“Do you think that destroying it will erase all evidence? No. The camera is broadcasting live and connected to a computer far away from here. And I can assure you, even my entire family will get the video.”