20.
Near the family castle
Unknown
"Can someone explain to me why four vampires, two hybrids, and three humans couldn't get a hold of one man in one van?" he shouted at the lot of them. They looked so sure of themselves as they stood before their boss but inside they were quaking with fear.
"H-He wasn't alone sir" one stuttered. The blonde-haired man rolled his eyes and sat down on the armchair on one of the worst hotels he has ever been to. "Of course I knew he wasn't alone. He had fucking guards," he shouted. It came as a surprise when they all found out how the alpha kept hidden all these years. Being protected by the throne was ten times better than Witness Protection, they went all out in security, the guards they chose are highly trained but he expected more of his men after he gave them Intel he learned from his deceased brother.
"They are sentinels sir. If stepped anywhere close to them, they would have sensed an ambush. I don't think so" another piped up. He looked at the bold soldier with a raised eyebrow. "It seems we are making decisions for ourselves now huh?" he asked his men.
"No Sir!" they chorused.
"Then why isn't that alpha here? If he's out of hiding it means his daughter is now mated to that fake Russian prince. Is that good news for me?" he shouted.
"NO Sir!" they chorused once more. "With the incompetent idiots I seem to have working for me, I did some digging of my own. As usual, gossip is the only way to get anything in that castle. I have a description and name of the girl. They left for New York but who knows how long they are going to stay there. Some of you should stay back and keep an eye on the Saville residence while myself and the others take a trip back home," He said to the lot while walking to the window.
"It's time for a family reunion," he said more to himself rubbing his family ring on his right hand.
New York
The childlike grin didn't disappear from Sienna's face as she held on to her father's hand as he spoke to her. "There are some people here to celebrate with us," he said to her smiling down at her like the proud father he was. A few seconds later in walked her brother and mother in all smiles as they rushed to the alpha's side. Her parents and brother enveloped her in a warm cocoon of love, thanking the Goddess for keeping her and her father safe in their journey to this day. "Oh, papa. Come. Meet my mate," she said excitedly. She missed the amused smile between her parents and rushed across to Nikolai who was standing aside looking on, feeling contented to see his little mate happy.
Stretching out her hand to him, he quickly took her hand, linking their fingers together. Nikolai made it a promise to himself and Vadim to always have the shine of happiness in her eyes as they witness now.
"Papa. This is Nikolai Starkov-Saville. Nicky this is my papa Emilio, my mama Maria and my big brother Jovian" she introduced. Jovian bowed then shook his new brother's hand while her mother hugged him with tears in her eyes which confused Sienna greatly. When it came to her father, Angelo stepped up also. "It's great to meet the man who the Goddess chose for my daughter. Welcome to the family Prince Nikolai." Emilio said with great emotion and he too brought her mate into a hug. What shocked her after was the words he said next. "You remind me greatly of your grandmother. She was a lovely woman and wanted the best for you and my daughter."
"Oh. I forgot.... wait...." Sienna's once happy expression was now one of confusion and suspicion. Emilio looked to Angelo who nodded and suggested they sat down for a talk. Questions swirled in the depths of Sienna's mind as she sat dumbfounded beside Nikolai on the love seat. His soft lips against her ear as he whispered bringing her back to earth, "Remember. Meeting each other is faith." he said. Nikolai smiled her way as she looked up at him with questions in her eyes. He was a bit skeptical as to how she would react to the news, he took everything calmly but in his mate's circumstances,' he didn't think she would.
Angelo and Emilio smiled approvingly as they witnessed the interaction between the two. Clearing his throat, Angelo stood and walked to the center of the room looking at everyone seated before him. He smiled with great happiness, silently wishing his mother was here to witness it all.
Witness what her keen planning and love for her family brought forward. The two mates sat on the love seat while Sienna's family sat on her left and Nikolai's family sat on his right. Angelo glanced at his Amelia as she sat rubbing her slightly swollen belly and looking at her son and her daughter with love and pride he used to see in his parents' eyes. Emilio and Maria held each other's hands tightly not wanting to let go.
Love. Family. Loyalty. Words he grew up by and words he raised his family by in which he hopes his children would do in the future.
"The Royal family has truly grown over the years and we were blessed with great leaders, stemming from Queen Mina and King Lucian. King Landon and Queen Arabella. King Michael and Queen Emma. From the last royal couple, the bloodline grew stronger, grew with power that linked so close to the Moon Goddess and the first werewolf which was Castio De Leon ( Author's Note: If confused about the name please refer to 'The Wolf Prince Mate' my own version of werewolf origin is there). We were considered dangerous and unstable by hunters and our own kind who were ignorant and thought us not fit to rule. It first started with my brother Caiden whom the kingdom thought was the strongest because he was first born," Angelo started. He gave a wry smile at the description given to his brother.
"Caiden's wolf was unstable with the gifts and power he inherited and was easily corrupted by the Dark God Corvineus, we were thankful that his wolf Rion was able to come back to my brother. With my sister, Rebecca she was labeled as a strong fighter untouchable among all she-wolves her gifts were easily handled due to her soft nature and posed no threat. I, myself..." he continued. Reaching the part of explaining to everyone about himself he was stuck. Lost for words. He didn't know how to tell them what he and his son can do in wolf and human form.
"My wolf and I are linked directly to the original wolf Castio De Leon. His wolf spirit is now mine. Lykos." he finally said.
"So.... that means...." Jovian started in utter shock and awe at the same time to be in the presence of the first werewolf.
"I am higher and stronger than all the wolves in my family and kingdom."
"So why are you not the king?" Emilio asked.
"Daddy prefers this life. The life of a prince who nobody sees as the ultimate leader or whatever. If he was king, the privacy which he lives for would be no more." Mina explained smiling appreciatively at her father.
"Lykos' true form made it's self-known after being at rest for years when my Amelia was in danger. He became human as you can say, he suppressed my human side and took control. He shifted and was still able to be human....."
"What do you mean shift and still be human. Like when we accidentally let out a claw or our fangs?" Sienna asked interrupting Angelo.
Angelo looked at his son and nodded. "No like this, my beautiful flower," a deep Russian voice said beside her. She squealed in fright not aware as to Nikolai's changes beside her. Sienna took in her mate, his oceanic blue eyes were no more replacing them were eyes reminding her of the light from the full moon and dark clouds storming in them. His eyes were mesmerizing and so enchanting pulling her to him. His fingers were longer and showed strength, his body grew more muscle giving him the body of a true warrior. His black hair was longer covering his now pointy wolf ears and his wolf fangs that were elongated were sharp as knives.
"Everyone. Meet my son Vadim," Angelo said with pride. Everyone turned to the once silent prince as his voice too was changed. Now stood before them was Lykos in his true form looking at his pup but Sienna didn't notice for she was too caught in the entrapment her mate caused.
"Vadim," she breathed out, running her fingers through his long dark locks then cupping his cheek. Vadim held her hand in that loving position and kissed her palm. He felt so free and at peace to finally be with her just as his human was. He waited so long for her but was patient with his human.
"Sienna." He tried her name on his tongue and loved it instantly not because it sounded right but it brought a blush to her cheek as he said it. Not holding back he pulled her to him and claimed her lips, pulling back his fangs not wanting to hurt her. Vadim's kiss was full of need and want, something more than passion which she got from Nikolai. It was euphoric as he nipped her wandering tongue in his mouth, he tasted divine on her lips, she didn't want to stop but had to. Vadim sensed her hesitation and broke their kiss, pecking her lips then forehead he stood up and turned to his father.
"You said your son Vadim what did you mean?" Zarif asked still confused at the change of his best friend.
Lykos has been waiting for this moment for years, or centuries for his son to be reborn into the perfect human. He waited so long, when he surfaced to his human, Angelo told him of his son, his human supported him throughout the years. They were both ecstatic when Nikolai first shifted the Moon Goddess herself came to them and delivered the news but the downfall was Vadim would truly surface when he finds his mate. How lucky he was for his son to be re-birthed in the son of his human, the Goddess couldn't choose any better.
It saddened him centuries ago to see his son grew so corrupt by Corvineus but held hope when his human form was killed but his wolf spirit was kept and nurtured by the Goddess. Now he can witness his son be happy and on the right path this time.
"Hello Father," Vadim said with tearful eyes. Lykos grinned and opened his arms for his son, with the biggest smile he rushed into his father's arms. He missed his father so much. Beside the goddess, he witnessed his father and human's journey to find their mate. How loved he was by his given family, how they accepted him into the wolf family bond. He was entirely pleased when little Nikolai's turn came early to shift, at eleven he was reunited with his father. Only when he finds his mate and she accepts him then he can surface.
Lykos held his son for the first time taking in the familiar musky scent he remembered from centuries ago. Holding him at arm's length he tugged at his boy's long hair then threw his arm around his shoulder. "Not only is he my son in human form known as Nikolai but in wolf spirit also. Vadim is Castio De Leon's son past wolf spirit. The second wolf of our kind." Lykos said proudly hugging his son once more.
'How is mate?' Nikolai asked his wolf from his sanctuary within. He was anxious when his wolf told him it was time. His mother, Amelia accepted Lykos with great love, he wished for the same. Vadim looked over at his now still mate as his human family came to welcome him into the wolf bond entirely. The look of shock was still on her face but she looked a bit withdrawn.
'I do not know. She seems sad? I cannot make of this emotion I am feeling from her.' Vadim confessed. He was feeling nervous? Scared? Distant? Was this how his mate is feeling? The squeezing of his shoulder brought him back to the people around him. The De La Vegas came to him, thanking him for accepting their daughter and wished them happiness but he just wants a certain De La Vega to just look at him and give him that smile he loved the first time he saw it. Both families surrounded Vadim, talking all at once of how lucky their family was blessed to have them both but Nikolai and Vadim were worried at the lack of enthusiasm from their mate.
"Sienna?" Vadim called out to her the question was in his tone of voice. She looked up at him, her once warm brown eyes were now filled with uncertainty and fresh tears waiting to fall upon her cheek.
'Something is wrong,' Vadim warned his human. He gave his human the vision he was seeing before him both were confused. They took a whiff of her scent, it was fading.
'No. No. No. Vadim let me get her,' his human started to say panic was seeping into the recces of his mind.
"I... What. I mean. This. And me...... How.... Why.... I-I am not good enough." She was mumbling all this nonsense as everyone looked on at her, the stares made the tears came down. They expected her to receive this news without any doubt. Finding out her mate was one of the creators of their kind was a bit of a blow to her low self-esteem.
'She is not responding to calls.' Vadim said to Nikolai. He began to feel weak and somewhat sad.
'Vadim. I need to be out there' Nikolai shouted but his wolf froze in fear as Sienna's tearful eyes met his.
"I'm sorry Vadim. I can't do this," she cried pushing her way through the gathering and running out. 'NOOOO!!!!! Sienna!!!! SHE'S REJECTING US. Let me out, Vadim.' Nikolai screamed out in pain and desperation. The light in Vadim's eyes dimmed, his breathing began to get labored. Slowly he retreated back into his human, "Son? Vadim?" Lykos and Angelo called out together. Vadim cowered into his sanctuary as Nikolai surfaced once more.
"Which way?" he asked with his voice breaking. They pointed out the door, heart pounding he followed her dying scent hoping he can bring her back into his arms.
He has to.
He can't lose her.