Chapter 3

Calix p.o.v.

" Giovanni, get it together!", Felix yelled, pinning him to the ground in the office. I stood at the door, ready to block him if he gets away.

This is exactly why I didn't want a werewolf kid in this house. A clumsy child who doesn't realize how serious a cut can be. If Giovanni got to her, he'd kill her. When hunger strikes, it doesn't matter if the person in front of you is your family, your sister...all that matter is thirst, thirst for blood. And werewolf blood tasted way more delicious than humans and animals.

What if Ragnar and Simon weren't home? Ragnar was the only one with enough self-control to help Freya. Obviously, because he is not like us. He is not a vampire. Yes, we are real. Vampires aren't a myth. It's just we aren't stupid enough to show ourselves to humans as werewolves did. Stupid animals. We disguised ourselves as spies, and do dirty work like killing, stealing, and all that shit for humans in return for money. They never remember we took more precious things than money from them, their blood.

That's how our spices survive all these centuries hidden, and safe.

About Ragnar...What he really is, is still a mystery to us even after a century-old friendship. He is a priest, a good one. And he is something more, something he never talked about. I knew he craved something, he is hungry for years...but for what, we don't know.

Or should I say, too scared to know...

But one thing is clear, none of us are good for Freya. We are too dangerous for her. I'm ashamed of myself, for even thinking about hurting that little girl. The second I smelt blood, my mind was clouded by it.

Ten years, no accidents. I'm shocked she hasn't hurt herself sooner, but her blood smelt so sweet, it was tempting.

I can't blame Giovanni for licking the knife, but I also know he knows better. He knew it would drive him insane. Now that he's had a taste of her blood, he'll likely always crave it again.

Giovanni stopped thrashing and took several deep breaths. His fangs retracted and his eyes darkened. Robert got off him, sitting on the floor next to him.

I sighed, leaning against the wall. I pondered what will happen now. Simon didn't allow her to see Giovanni, probably because she'd be scared of him. A good idea on his part. He's always been the caring nurturing one for her. That's why I was so shocked to see, that even he, was so drawn to her blood. He caught it with everything in him, but if he had the chance, he'd drink from her too.

Giovanni slammed his fist on the floor, "Fuck!" He raged, rubbing his hands over his face. Now the guilt sets in.

"Don't do that to yourself," Felix tried to comfort him. He reached out to touch his shoulder, but Giovanni pushed it away.

"I fucked up, that's all there is to it," he stood up, running his hand through his hair.

"It could have been much worse. But it wasn't. Take it as a victory," I dismissed, walking out of the room. I don't hear much coming from the kitchen.

I walked inside, seeing Ragnar hood Freya up as she sat on the counter. The water was still running over her hand as Simon stitched her up. "Did she lose too much blood?" I asked.

Ragnar blinked up at me, then looked back at her hand that was being fixed. "No. She's always been uncomfortable around blood, you know that" he answered.

I forgot about that. When she was in first grade, a kid cut his knee on the playground, and she threw up at the sight of it. Ragnar had to bring her home for the day. I suppose it's good she just passed out.

"How's Giovanni?" Simon asked.

"Beating himself up," I said like it was obvious.

Ragnar looked at her face, looking like a hurt puppy. I rolled my eyes. That girl has him wrapped around her little finger. "It should have never happened. I should have seen it coming. When she runs, I stop her before she trips over a rock. She climbs a tree, I catch her when she inevitably slips. She wasn't allowed to go down the stairs by herself until she was seven. I don't even let her cut her own food," he thought out loud, guilt all over his face.

"This isn't your fault," Simon said firmly. "She's a kid, Ragnar. Freak accidents like this happen more than you'd think. You've babied her, that's the only reason she hasn't been hurt sooner. Kids are clumsy. You said it yourself, accidents happen," Simon gave him a small smile, finishing up the stitches.

Ragnar shook his head, "I could have hurt her. When it happened, didn't see Freya, just saw..." his upper lip shook as he snarled, angry with himself.

I wanted to ask what he saw...what he craved? Blood? Flesh? Soul? What...what possibly Ragnar could yearn for that made him feel guilty...so much that he live his life like a priest, devoted himself to human god...live his life in celibacy. I wanted to ask, but I knew better. Ragnar is never going to tell us the truth. He never did.

My heart pained as I looked at the pale face of my niece, Freya...all these years, I actually started to think of her like family. I should have known, werewolves and vampires could never be family. And she didn't even know what we truly are! She will hate us if she ever found out that we are not humans, that befriending us will give her and her pack no good...if anything it will make everything much worse.

I want to tell everyone how right I was. How much of a bad idea it is to have a fragile little wolf in the house. But it won't help. We can't send her away now, everyone's too attached. It would be too cruel for her. She's only here until she's eighteen anyways. Years go by fast when you don't age.

I leaned against the counter, "Ragnar, she's okay. You didn't hurt her, no one did. Giovanni didn't even get close to her. When this happens again, and it will, we'll know how to handle it."

Simon wrapped her hand in gauze, expertly securing her wound. "Good as new," he winked at Ragnar, patting him on his back as he left the room.

I watched as Ragnar scooped her up and carried her to her room. And just then, I smelled something, something familiar, like Freya...but different too, disgusting animal.

Her Father is here...the real one.

•••••••

Ragnar's p.o.v.

Fear... An emotion, I never thought I'll feel again, but today I did. And I never wanted to feel like that again, that helplessness. The realization that I'm useless, I have no power against that urge inside of me. How can I even think like that, How can the blood of my own daughter make me... fuck, was years of restraining, years of praying did nothing?

I grasped the cold silver cross around my neck, rubbing my thumb over it...trying to calm my negative emotions. I gave one glance to Freya, tugged inside her warm blanket. I never thought I'll get this attached to her. I can never have a child of my own, but raising Freya all these years...gave me that exact bliss and satisfaction I was yearning for centuries. A family.

So even if I knew, living with vampires like Giovanni, Calix, and others is not safe for her, living with me is not safe for her...I still did not attempt to ask the nuns to take Freya with them or call her parents to take her back. I should, I really should after what happened today...but still, I didn't. Because I am selfish. And Freya is my daughter, not by blood but I raised her, and she is my family.

I'll never let her go, at least not until she gets married or meets her mate. Until then, she is all mine. My daughter.

My body abruptly straightened as I felt someone entering the tower...the footsteps on stairs, the air suddenly reeking of filthy sweat. Disgusting. I hate this man. But sadly, can never show my hatred. Why the hell I decided to become a priest again? If only I weren't, I could at least punch that man in the face.

Sighing, I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and left the room. My room is right next to Freya's, entering inside I hurriedly wore my holy cassock over my black shirt. Checked the color of my eyes...deep blue, a little darker because of anger, but nothing suspicious that could make him question my human form. Good. Ruffling a hand through my jet-black hair, I climbed downstairs.

He was right in front of the stairs, Giovanni glaring at him, he glaring at Simon...and Simon glaring at me. What...oh, I yanked my hair, wincing at the pain. Simon nodded, and I sighed in relief. My eyes must have been red again. It's not my fault, the mere presence of this man inside my tower makes me furious.

" Father Ragnar.", he greeted, giving me a fake tight smile as I stood in front of him. I smiled back with gritted teeth, " Alpha Ethan, what brings you here?", I asked, looking at familiar green eyes, just like Freya. And with that same blonde hair and pale white skin...he exactly looked like her father. He is her father. If only I could kill this damn wolf...

He inhaled deeply, " Is Freya hurt? I could smell her blood..."

" It was a small cut.", I interrupted, irritated by his concern. Where was this concern when he practically sold his daughter for a war treaty, where was this concern when he send his three-year-old child alone with some guards...where was this concern when he agreed to let his daughter live with humans. What if, I wasn't here and someone else, someone bad would have taken Freya instead... Didn't these thoughts give him nightmares?

If I were him, I would have never let my child go through that all.

" Father? Are you alright?", he raised his brow, and then only I notice I was panting like a dog. Fuck. Taking several deep breaths I just nodded, " why are you here again?", I asked, trying to sound as polite as I can. I am a priest for god sake, anger, jealousy...hatred, I shouldn't feel these pathetic emotions.

" I am here for my daughter."

I cringed at the word...she is my daughter. He is just a fucking sperm donor.

Again, trying to control my anger, I nodded, " For shifting ceremony...I'm afraid she couldn't attend it, she is resting, blood makes her sick..."

"With due respect, Father, I know what is right for my daughter.", he interrupted looking up at my eyes as I was towering over him from one or two inches, " You are human, you won't understand these things. She needs her real parents today."

I wanted to deny it, I wanted this arrogant fucking alpha to show his place...I wanted to beat the shit out of him. But I didn't, instead, I stepped aside and let him go upstairs to her room and then took her away, she looked back at me, hope in her big emerald eyes. But I just gave her a reassuring smile.

One wrong move and he can take her away, not just for tonight but for forever. He is her father after all. Just because Freya deny him to live with them, didn't mean he can't force her. He can and he will... if he ever suspected, even a little, that I am not some humble human priest but also a motherfucking monster hidden inside a black holy cloth...

As we all settled around the fireplace, silence sliced us like some knife...screams of agony surrounded the entire realm. Her screams, and then sounds of cheers and claps...then more screams and cries. I don't think I could bear her pain if I even go there...I might definitely snap at those foolish werewolves for being so happy while Freya is clearly in pain.

I looked at Giovanni and Simon, and then others, all in pain. We couldn't go out. Even when Simon, Robert and twins only came here for this day, to meet her wolf. But what we witnessed today, the way her blood made us insane...we couldn't go, we shouldn't.

There will be lots of blood, vampires cannot even stand there...and even if I'm not one of them, I'm far more dangerous for her...