We didn't know what was going on. I didn't know if my werewolf instincts were already malfunctioning because of old age or it was just because I was with men who were certified crackers. I always trusted Fenris. I never doubted him. I never doubted my heart and this time I knew that I was going to follow it again when it came to finding Lucian.

Zinan, which was the child's name, swung on the child swing alone. No one was with him and the six of us watched him and observed him behind the brick wall that had the rusty words of "Skagit orphanage". A nun went out of the small and shabby orphanage and then wandered her eyes outside until she spotted "Zinan."

"Zinan dear, it's not good for you to stay outside. It's getting dark," the nun stated with a calm expression on her face. "And I see that you collected flowers again and made them into a crown. That's lovely," she praised and patted Zinan's blonde hair. The child flinch making the nun wince.

I snorted at that. That flower crown was natural. Lucian's beauty was natural. His personality was natural. There was nothing artificial about my mate. He was born to be beautiful.

The nun moved away when Zinan stopped swinging. She didn't offer her hand nor did Lucian hold hers. They just walked side-by-side in silence and they disappeared as they entered the scruffy establishment.

"Now's our chance! We should just bust in there and take Lucian away!" Slade whispered and was about to charge in but Sevor yanked him back. He should really put a leash on his twin. I'll buy the spiky one.

"We'll scare him away. It's better to gain his trust and know his history before taking him without any background," Thomas reasoned out.

"We'll adopt him," Raphael suggested and Samael nudged him with a mischievous smile.

"You incestuous little chicken; you're really rebelling huh? Welcome to the club," he chuckled.

Raphael glared at him. "Shut up, it'll be easier for us to get close to him."

Samael crossed his arms. "Yeah well, I'm more of a sneak in and kidnap kind of guy. I have the power so why not just use it to take Lucian?"

I sighed. "We'll come by in the morning and I'll talk to the nuns about Lucian. I'll make it seem like I'm interested in adopting him. Until then, let's just observe him for the night," I stated.

"Good plan, it's better than kidnapping and barging in," Sevor approved making Slade growl.

"Cazzo! (Fuck!) This is so stupid!" Slade snarled. "Who cares about morals? We can rule the world if we wanted to!"

This was the only time when I agreed with Slade in all those millenniums of knowing this dumb fuck. I seriously didn't know why I even thought of taking things slow but Thomas was right; we needed to know how this happened.

Samael and Raphael were the ones who watched Lucian for the night. If the five of us watched him, we were sure that we were going to get caught. The four of us stayed in the car that Samael was able to steal and we waited. During the night, we dropped by to the groceries to get some food to eat. Thomas just got a jar of honey and sweet and sour seaweed chips, Slade took ten packs of raw turkey and Sevor asked if he can just have a cup of coffee and bread so we had to drop by a coffee shop after. I also bought some burger and fries from the nearby McDonald's before we drove back to the orphanage to wait the night out.

"What's that?" Slade asked while I chewed on my burger. I was sitting in the front with Thomas on the wheels and the twins were at the back. The car smelled like blood because of the raw meat that Slade was feasting on. If we were normal, we would be scared with how the ancient dragon looked like but fortunately, all of us already existed during the ancient times.

Humans were amazed when they find elderly who reached an age that was beyond a century but really, that long was already considered just a year for all of us especially if you spent your summer vacation in hell once in a while.

"It's a greasy burger made from pure unnatural ingredients high in bad cholesterol that gets stuck in your heart's blood vessel that causes a high blood pressure, poor heart contractility and possibly cardiomyopathy or heart failure and may also lead to brain aneurysm, cerebrovascular accident, kidney problems and other things," I replied in a bored expression. I already forgot some things from medical school. Fifty years had already passed ever since I was called "Doctor Caleb". "Want some?" I asked and handed him the half bitten burger in which the younger twin took.

Slade sniffed the burger first before taking a bite. "Hey this is good!" he moaned and handed the other half to his brother.

"Yep, that's why many humans die from an unhealthy lifestyle," I drawled making Thomas chuckle. The perks of being a supernatural being were just too good. I get to eat anything without dying.

The night passed and I had to spend time outside of the car because I might smell like a dead chicken and the nuns might think that I was a bloody butcher.

"Fenris can't wait to be with mate again!" my wolf murmured dreamily.

Lucian's presence really spoiled him. His mere presence was already enough for the both of us.

The sound of children coming out of the orphanage was my cue to enter the premises in which my mate walked on.

I wandered my eyes to the little children running around and playing in the playground while I searched for a specific blonde-haired child. A nun must've noticed me when I heard her clear her throat.

"Excuse me; what can I help you with?" The nun asked with a kind smile. She was the woman who called Lucian last night.

I returned her smile. "Oh, I'm just looking around. The kids are lovely," I answered. The woman maintained her smile.

"Are you interested in adopting? Have a wife?" she asked making me laugh.

"Ah well I'm interested in adopting but I don't have a wife," I answered her. I will never have one anyway.

The woman didn't change her expression. "Single parents are welcome. I am Sister Glenda," she introduced.

"Call me Caleb," I replied and extended my hand for a handshake. She took it and we shook hands. She was a young nun. Then again, everyone was younger compared to me.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to look around. Are these all the orphans?" I asked.

She looked at the children and then placed a finger on her chin. "Hm...I think they are compl-Oh! Yes, Zinan is not here yet."

"Zinan?" I asked pretending to be ignorant.

"Yes, Zinan, he is really quiet and might I say...troubled," she said and her expression saddened. Well at least I know that the orphans didn't have a mean caretaker.

"Why don't you take a look of the kids here? I will try to get Zinan out," she stated. I really wanted to see Lucian now and I was sure that Slade was already causing a ruckus in the car from the length of waiting.

"Why don't I see Zinan first? I really adore shy kids," I said. Yeah I do adore shy kids, especially if the kid was a savage.

Sister Glenda took a second to think before nodding and leading the way to the scruffy place. Really, one tantrum of Slade or one reckless prank of Samael and the place will crumble down. My piss would be considered as an acid to these walls if the stream would make a hole. Maybe I should try later to test that theory. I observed the fading furniture and the wall coverings that were already peeled and drawn by the kids.

Sister Glenda entered the room at the end of the hallway where there were twelve small beds. We didn't find Lucian in any of the beds but his scent was strong here. Did Samael and Raphael take him?

"Hm...He's not here. Maybe he's in the...ah, I know," Sister Glenda stated before exiting the room.

"So, tell me about Luci- I mean Zinan," I started the conversation. Sister Glenda took a while to form her words that I thought that she had a glitch of stupidity.

Kidding, she seemed nice. But she was a human.

"Zinan...Zinan was brought here last month. He was standing in front of the orphanage with a nametag hanging around his neck. He was really quiet. We brought him to the sheriff but no one knew who this boy was. No one came to pick him up and no one came to find the child so we assumed that he was purposely left in front of the orphanage," the nun stated.

"Did you ask him where he came from?"

The nun sighed. "We did but we couldn't make out from the things he was saying. He said that he came from some royal family. Every time we touch him, he'll say that Voltaire will get mad. We really don't know how to handle this situation," the nun stated with a troubling face. "He has night terrors. He wouldn't play with other kids. He...doesn't eat anything but the bland bread that most kids complain about," she added and a tear slipped down from her eye and she immediately wiped that away.

She was sad.

I was angry.

She was concerned.

I was furious.

"I'm sorry Caleb; I'm just really worried about him. If only we had some funds then we could somehow get him to talk to a therapist."

My lips twitched. I was trying to smile. I really was. But someone hurt my mate. It was either his memories during ancient times or it was his current ones. Was he in the possession of an abuser before he was taken here?

We entered the kitchen and Sister Glenda slowly opened a wooden double-door cabinet. There was a broom, a mop, and other cleaning materials in the cabinet and there was Lucian sitting with his knees up to his chest. He was visibly shaking.

And I was visibly trembling with anger and anxiety.

"Zinan, you're here again," Sister Glenda murmured. "What are you doing here?" she asked and then bent down.

"Mate is sad. Mate looks like he is in pain. Fenris wants to cuddle him..."

I swallowed my saliva and kept my hands to my back. "Me too Fenris. Me too."

I wanted to embrace him so bad. I wanted to take all the pain he was carrying.

"Monsieur Voltaire told me so. I must...be pure," he whispered.

"Who's Voltaire Zinan? Is he your dad?" Sister Glenda asked. She made sure to avoid touching Lucian to avoid upsetting him. Lucian didn't answer and Sister Glenda sighed before standing up.

"I'm sorry Caleb. I'll show you to the other kids if you want," she offered and I shook my head.

"No...If it's okay, I'll spend my time with Zinan. He doesn't bother me at all. He's just misunderstood," I told her. I brought out my wallet and then handed her my identification card. "I'd like to talk to him," I stated. She must have understood that I wanted to do it privately because I did hand her my I.D.

She looked at me curiously before cautiously taking my I.D. "Please don't take too long. If there are any problems, please inform me right away," she said.

I nodded with a smile. "Don't worry. I won't do anything that will harm Zinan."

The nun walked out before looking at Zinan one last time. I know that she will stay put or maybe just hide behind the wall. She won't leave the child alone with a stranger.

I sat down on the floor and heard the squeaks of rats nearby. There was a moment of silence before I started the conversation with him. "Your name is Lucian, isn't it? You are Prince Lucian," I said which made him dart his gaze at me. This knowledge must have caught his attention. No one must've believed him when he told them that he was a Prince.

"Did Voltaire tell you to stay here?" I asked him. Lucian simply nodded. He was still shaking. "You don't have to follow what he says. He's not here," I said and he harshly shook his head disapprovingly.

"Don't say that. He'll come. He'll come. He'll come!" he shouted at me and continued to rock his body in a panicked pace.

"Do you want him to come?" I asked again. How much damage had he done to him? How much did he take from him? I want to know. I want to know so that I can do the same and crush this Voltaire.

"I'm not allowed to be scared or I'll get punished. I'm not allowed to laugh. I'm not allowed to cry. I'm not allowed to love. I'm not allowed to be touched or touch. I must erase all of it. I must be numb to everything. I need to be...pure," he chanted as if the words were already carved in his mind.

"But you're shaking," I pointed out. "You're scared aren't you?"

Lucian's breathing became even more labored. He clenched his head and his eyes were starting to water. "I am. I am scared but I shouldn't be. It is...filthy to have emotions!" he yelled and then shoved me with terror in his eyes. "Leave me alone! Leave me alone! He'll come. He will!"

I narrowed my gaze and strengthened my aching heart. This wasn't the time to cry. But I was frustrated and my throat was beginning to get sore.

"Then I'll protect you when he does. I'll stay with you. I won't allow him to go near you. In that way, you won't be scared anymore. You won't have to hide here. You can eat whatever you want to eat. You can play with other kids," I assured him.

Lucian withdrew from his outraged position and then pulled his knees to his chest again. "But...he'll get mad. I won't be pure anymore..." he murmured. His tears finally broke out.

"That's why I'll stay with you," I replied and smiled at him. I extended my hand to him and he looked at it like it was some hand of Satan.

No offense Lucifer.

"Having emotions isn't bad. Those are what make life interesting. And you know, you're still pure to me. You are a pure joy to me," I confessed.

Lucian was already stubborn in this age but he wasn't as stubborn as the older Lucian. Taming him was difficult already but he was still a child. It was easier to change his mind and heart. I saw how Lucius trained him before. I wasn't sure what had happened before because Lucian didn't want to say anything but I knew that he had something hidden.

But today wasn't my day.

Lucian shook his head again and then ran off. I heard Sister Glenda call him but apparently. He didn't turn back. I got out of the kitchen and found her looking at me suspiciously.

"You are encouraging his imaginations."

Imaginations?

I wanted to laugh at that.

She clearly didn't understood him. This was beyond of what anyone can do.

Those weren't imaginations. Those words coming out from his mouth were the truth and no one bothered to listen to him. No one believed him. No one stood by his side to fight them. He was all alone in this war.

"No, you're wrong. I'm confronting his nightmares," I answered back. "I'm his reinforcement in this battle. And until he accepts my help, I won't stop coming here. So please Sister, let me help him," I stated firmly.

I wasn't begging. I was already sure with my next actions and with or without her permission I will come back here.

Sister Glenda stared at me as if she was judging me. "I don't know your purpose but you seem sincere. Don't let me regret my decision," she said and then handed me my I.D.

"Thank you," I sighed. "I'll come back tomorrow," I said.

"I'll be expecting it then," she replied with a small smile before leaving me.

Seconds later, Samael and Raphael materialized behind me. I turned to them and let out a sure breath. "I want to know what happened."

Raphael and Samael looked at each other like they knew something. Oh I know that they knew what happened. Samael can read memories and Raphael was Lucian's guardian angel. They knew something that I don't and it pissed me off.

I crossed my arms over my chest. "Spit it out," I demanded.

Raphael broke the eye contact with the demon when he decided to end the awkward silence among us. "It's nothing. It's better if we gain Lucian's trust first before we even give you the details."

"I know you guys know something and I want to know too. He's my mate," I spoke in a serious tone.

"If you look at Lucian closely you'll know that it ain't a pretty memory," Samael said in a gruff voice. "We'd like you to have your shit together for now. Can't have you in diarrhea can we?"

"It's decided. You'll meet Lucian alone since you're the first person who talked to him. We can't overwhelm him with our numbers so we'll be hidden."

Samael and Raphael started to walk and I let their words sink in. The demon knew that I was a crybaby when it came to Lucian but I needed to prepare myself.

"Samael, is it something that'll break me?" I asked him. Raphael and he stopped walking and the demon turned to me with a grim expression that he rarely had.

"Yeah," he replied with a bitter smile.