CATRINA

"Hey."

A voice is heard when I go to open the car's door. Turning back, I see my godfather standing in front of me in his I-don't-give-a-fuck-about-others stance.

"Yes?" I ask politely. I don't know what happened but the last time when I was standing below that tree watching my family fight, I had expected Dominic to help but he didn't. He was standing there watching the fight as if it's a comedy show. And it hurt.

It hurt to see that my godfather was not at all bothered at the sight of those rogues hurting his friend and his goddaughter's mate. He did nothing and it hurt.

"Vampires are cold, not wolves," he snorts at his own joke but I don't smile.

"I am dormant, not a wolf," I whisper. The aspect doesn't hurt me now as much as it affected me before. Not after Connor protected me from his own father. If I am supposed to shift, then I will and if not, it's fine by me. As long as I get to have a family with Connor along with my biological family, I have no complaints.

Dominic shrugs and then lifts his face to look at me. That's when I see his eyes. His red eyes. Not just the brown eyes with flickers of red in between but the full red eyes as if his pupils are bleeding red. It's bright like the colour of red roses. Like blood.

Knowing instinctively that something is wrong, I look at Cayden to check if he senses it too but he doesn't. He is making faces at Rieka who's leaning towards him a bit but pulling back when Cayden tries to touch her.

She's still unsure of him, not allowing anyone close to her except for Sierra, me and Connor.

"Hey, Dominic. How's the torture going on?" Connor asks him walking out of the house and towards the car. Dumping the suitcase in the trunk of the car, he rounds around the car and stands on my other side, not forgetting to throw a glare at my brother which is returned wholeheartedly.

"Yeah. Good. Can I talk to your mate?" Dominic asks once again surprising me. Connor also is shocked perhaps because he looks at me questioningly. I just shrug because I don't know what's going on here.

"Sure. She's your goddaughter," replies Connor and takes my baby girl from my arms. "Go say your goodbyes, baby. He's bound by his species. It's not his fault, you know, yes?" he whispers in my ear and I am surprised at the perceptiveness of my once ignorant mate.

I smile at Connor and then walk over to Dominic who waves at me to go farther as if he doesn't want others to hear our conversation. I leave Connor and Cayden to verbally abuse each other in code language since Sierra's playing the referee in my stead.

"So, what's it?" I ask quite rudely but really unable to keep that tone from my voice.

"Umm, I am sorry," he whispers, shaking his head and then stuffs his hands in the pockets of his pants, looking like an awkward teenager. However, he can't pull that look of, first because of his red eyes which look deadly and the second because he really looks badass with his I-don't-give-a-fuck attitude.

"Why?" I ask simply, not really getting it.

"Because I could've helped them but I didn't. I chose to stay in the background. I should've helped them but I chose to keep my end of a promise. A promise that I had made a long time ago," he whispers, his voice gravelly yet so low that I have to strain my ears to hear him clearly. His eyes have that faraway look as if he's recalling some troubling memory.

"What promise?" I ask. He shakes his head then takes a deep breath as if preparing himself, his expression turning cloudy.

"I had promised someone close to my heart, someone, whom I respect a lot, that I won't interfere in any other supernatural species' war. If I did it could mean that I changed sides. I would be called a traitor and then I would be put on a death warrant," he explains.

I gasp in shock, my hand automatically covering my throat as I digest his words.

"Who would do that? But aren't you the king?" I ask, not quite believing him yet the gloomy look on his face makes me want to believe him.

Dominic shakes his head and then walks ahead of me towards the broad pine tree. He turns and then settles with his back resting against the tree, bending his head but I do catch a glimpse of his fangs.

"I am the King of vampires," he says and then laughs humourlessly. "Yet, I am not," he adds but I still don't understand, so I wait for him to continue.

"You see, my dear, I do not have a mate. I lost her twenty-three years ago because some feral vampire murdered her in cold blood. Her only crime was that she was my mate. Since I am the vampire heir without a mate, I do not rule directly but instead, there's a committee organised. Like a board of directors in a human company? So even if I make the decisions, I have to first consult them. That's what Connor meant when he said I was bound by my species," explains Dominic, his red eyes looking troubled and somehow angry.

"Woah!"

"Yeah. The people on that committee are old class, not wanting to mingle with other supernatural species. When I used blood magic to locate you, I received a warning from my brother who's also on that board to not interfere any more than I already have. That's why I did what I did," he mutters, clearly distressed because of someone else's command.

"It's okay."

I can only say that much as I am speechless with his explanation. I never thought that this would be the reason behind not helping.

"Did you find the one who killed your mate?" I ask, hoping that he won't shut me out. He just looks so alone at this moment that my hands itch to comfort him.

"No. I can't find him. I've spent twenty-three years tracking him. That's the reason why your adoptive parents got away with their attitude towards you. After her death, I just forgot about you all," he whispers.

"I am sorry," I whisper and no longer able to control myself, I take those few steps and stand in front of him, hugging him even when needles poke into my body at the touch. This pain is different, much different from the side-effects of the heat yet I don't feel it as I stroke my godfather's back, trying to soothe him.

Slowly the pain recedes in my body and I am able to breathe easily. I feel Dominic's hands stroking my head and shoulders before he lets go and I take a step back, hoping that I helped him a bit.

"Your mother asked me to keep a watch on you. I also offered a hefty amount as your trust fund to your adoptive parents. Yet I was keeping watch to make sure you were taken care of properly. I didn't know about your younger sister, Fiona, till a few days ago when Christine told me. My mate died a year before Fiona's birth. After that, I set off to seek vengeance and because of my absence you had to suffer-"

"No, Dominic. That is not your fault. They had adopted me as their own. Even if they had their own kid doesn't mean that they should abandon me," I whisper, willing him to not feel guilty about this.

He sighs and then nods as if indulging me.

"Okay. Since then I am trying to track down my mate's murderer, to avenge her but two years ago, I accidentally stumbled upon the rogues and when they came to know about my heritage, they kidnapped me with the help of a witch. After a year in captivity, Sierra was also kidnapped. She was depressed because she thought Fenris was dead but that guy has a will as strong as iron who came back, fought Xavier, ended him and freed me. Your mom was also freed along with Cayden."

By the time he finishes explaining, tears are running down my cheeks as I hear about how my father kidnapped people for fun. How he had his own soulmate imprisoned along with his son.

Even when I already knew about it, listening to it from a third person, about my father's cruelties always leaves me shocked and horrified about his deeds. And out of nowhere relief courses through my mind realising that my father and my step-brother, both are dead and won't cause any more harm to me and my family.

"I am sorry for your loss, Dominic and also for misunderstanding your behaviour as a careless attitude," I whisper feeling ashamed of judging him without knowing his side.

"No. No need to apologise," he whispers and smiles his half-smile allowing the fang to peek out of his lips for a brief second.

"Come on, let's go or your mate will have my throat," he chortles, his expression losing the gloomy look and transforming into the same I-don't-give-a-fuck look which has me grinning back at him.

I envy his ability to bury his pain-filled emotions and show a happy carefree look to everyone else around. I bet it is an exhausting task.

~~~~~

"Finally, I am out of that box," mutters Connor as we make our way out of the airport. I chuckle at his hatred for aeroplanes and public transport.

As we step out from the huge glass doors of the exit section of the airport, cold air blasts on my face making me shiver and sneeze.

"Cold?" asks Connor and I just shrug since I don't feel anything like cold. Maybe just a reflex to the cold wind.

"I feel fine," I say instead and follow Connor towards a young couple. The girl looks around, taking in everything that's there in this place while the man stands behind the girl, his arm around her waist, showing his protective stance and possessive attitude.

He's surely a werewolf!

"Ah, finally the Alpha arrives."

The man speaks as soon as we reach them, his expression transforming from vigilant to smug in a split second. His eyes move from Connor to me, and then to Rieka who's sleep in my arms. Looking at the baby his eyes widen and he looks back at Connor, question clear in his eyes.

"Who's that?" he says, pointing at my baby and I sense that he's holding a growl back making all my protective instincts flare up.

The woman beside him squeezes his arm and when he glances at her, she passes him a glare that shuts him up. The scene makes me want to smile but I don't, not when he's kind of threatening my daughter. The female then smiles at me quite sheepishly.

"I am sorry for my mate's rather rude behaviour, Luna Catrina," says the female glancing at Connor once before settling her gaze on me and Rieka. "My name is Ivory and this is my mate, Yuri Borovkov. We are the Beta couple of Alpha Connor's pack, Blue Moon. We have come to pick you up," she explains and then smiles at me politely. She even bows her head slightly.

I am pretty sure my mouth is hanging open by the time she finishes speaking. Connor chuckles from beside me and pulls me closer in the circle of his arms while pushing the trolley forward.

The Beta couple guides us to an Audi SUV where Connor goes ahead to put our luggage in the trunk while I stare at the car in amazement. It looks quite intimidating, especially when it's all black in colour.

A throat clearing has me looking away from the car and towards Yuri who appears quite awkward now.

"I am sorry for showing my shock, Luna," he says, his eyes looking at me straight in the eyes, showing that he isn't lying.

Honesty is much better than fake love.

"Not a problem, Beta Yuri. She's Rieka, my-"

"Our adopted daughter," speaks Connor while walking towards me with a glare fixed on his face. I stifle a smile while nod at Yuri.

"Oh. What a nice name!" exclaims Ivory, clearly trying to diffuse the situation and I smile at her. She bends a little, looking at the sleeping baby in my arms and lifts her hand to stroke Rieka's cheek with her index finger.

"She's so soft," Ivory whispers with awe and my smile widens at her expression. I feel a gaze on us so I look up and find Yuri staring at Ivory with intense emotions flashing in his eyes. The moment I catch him staring he blinks and then smiles before asking Connor about our trip.

"A pain in my ass," he says and when I raise my brows he adds, "she's sleeping. Come on."

"Fine."

He grins at me and drops a kiss on my head before opening the door for me to get inside the car. I watch Yuri doing the same to Ivory and can't help but smirk mentally at their gentlemanly behaviour.

Connor settles in beside me and takes Rieka from me, and positions the baby in his big thick arms. The sight never fails to make my heart melt, it's so adorable to look at.

"So, Yuri, how is the pack?" he asks Yuri in a whisper and the dutiful Beta launches into brief detail about the two weeks in his absence. I gasp particularly when Yuri talks about a rogue attack not far from my old hospital, speaking of which I remember that I have to ask Connor about how to proceed with my job.

"Did you torture anyone?" he asks.

"What is with you and torture?" I ask, which causes Ivory to chuckle while Yuri rolls his eyes.

"Luna, torture is the best sort of weapon to know about the rogues. They won't speak without losing a body part," he explains and I wince. I still do notice that he calls me Luna and not by my name.

"True," adds Connor while looking down at Rieka's sleeping form. He has a huge frown on his face as if he's thinking hard about something unpleasant.

I can't resist not asking him so I squeeze his shoulder in question. He looks at me and then back at Rieka before sighing in resignation.

"She's in danger," he whispers all of a sudden shocking me with this news.

"How?" I ask, my heart now beating wildly as panic threatens at the forefront of my mind.

"Rogues always hurt pups," he says as a form of explanation so I just nod even when I don't get it.

Before I go to ask anymore, the car comes to a stop and I am forced to look outside and take in Connor's family house, my new home. It's a frightening yet exciting feeling.

Soon, the door to my side of the car opens and I see Yuri standing there waiting for me. I look to my right and see Connor's opening his own door and getting out, slowly so as to not jerk the baby.

I get out and go around the car towards Connor who immediately pulls me under his shoulders, while Yuri puts all the suitcases just inside the house.

"Rest, Luna. I'll come tomorrow morning to play with Rieka," she says and I sense that she's nervously looking between Connor and me as if seeking approval.

"Call me Catrina, Ivory and I would love to have you as my friend," I whisper which causes a small carefree smile to slip on Ivory's face before she nods and bows her head a little. Saying their goodbyes, the Beta couple leaves us.

"Let's put this pup to bed so that I can have you to myself," he says and I blush under his heated stare.

"You never gave me a tour of the house," I say while following him inside the house.

"Oh yeah? How about first I take a tour of you and then show you around our home?" he asks cheekily, his eyes glowing in arousal. I nod as my body demands his immediate touch while my core heats up in anticipation.

~~~~~

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