Jackson peers down at Naomi as she examines the ground below her. She reaches forward and traces a finger in the snow. Her finger nail eases into a purple-blue. She shivers then glances up at Jackson. Her hair cascades to her right shoulder. She smiles lightly.

Jackson squats down beside her and his eyes fall on the snow. "What are you looking at?"

"The ground I guess. I'm not entirely sure. It's just weird to think about. Before us moving in there were people here growing from this garden living in these rooms..." Naomi straightens and motions at the large house. "What happened to them?"

Jackson looks out across the yard, pensive. The property is large and spans a great distance. The house, mansion, is ridiculous. It is unnecessarily large but Raurlin insisted on it. From the moment he saw it he told Jackson that he had a good feeling about it. Jackson didn't challenge him. His best friend now king. Hybrid king.

"Well I'm not sure if I'm being honest. The place has been abandoned for some time from what I can gather. No real records of the people who once lived here. But I'm confident we will make this our home, Naomi. You have nothing to fear on that front. How are you holding up?"

Jackson ushers Naomi into the kitchen as the workers of the moving company, sponsored by Stellan, are placing boxes down around them. Naomi settles in front of the large kitchen windows. Her eyes flicker over the snow falling.

"Everything is so loud. I can hear it all."

Jackson chuckles. "It's like that at first. The hearing, seeing, smelling. Everything is amplified. It'll settle, give it time. Anything else sticking out?"

"Nothing so far. I just..." Naomi sighs and wipes at her eyes then turns to face Jackson. "I feel like a stranger in my skin. I feel restless."

"Well the new you is someone different from your human self. You're stronger than you could imagine. Faster than you realise. You're raw potential and you are yet to exercise any of that. I think you could benefit from some exercise. I can work on it with you if you'd like?"

Naomi smiles again and it just about reaches her eyes. "I would like that. I'm sure we could fit in a gym in this place."

Jackson tenses slightly. "And the hunger?"

Naomi feels herself stiff and she immediately tells herself to relax. The hunger. The insatiable hunger that causes her to stare at throats longingly. The constant sound of blood rushing through veins almost forcing her to give in. She clears her throat.

"It's manageable."

Before Jackson can inquire further Raurlin walks into the kitchen. His face brightens as his eyes land on Naomi. He makes a beeline for her and engulfs her in a hug. Jackson uses the opportunity to slip out the kitchen. He stands at the door for a moment listening before making his way upstairs.

Sarah is standing in one of the bedrooms. She is leaning against a wall with her arms crossed. There's already a bed in the room and across from the bed are built in wooden cupboards. She is staring at the bed lost in thought. Jackson knocks on the door softly and she jerks then looks up at him.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Sarah rolls her eyes "my thoughts cost a lot more than a penny, vampire."

Jackson strolls into the room and he settles on the bed tapping the mattress beside him. Sarah sits next to him, their arms brushing.

"I thought we moved past that sweetheart. Unless you prefer witch over sweetheart. You've been quiet."

"I know."

There's a moment of silence. Jackson wraps an arm around Sarah pulling her against him. She settles against his side without protest.

"Do you want to share a room?" Jackson asks against the top of her red hair.

"I don't think so. I think I need my own space for now. To settle in."

Jackson nods but says nothing.

"Will the unpacking take long?" Sarah asks.

"Oh my strategy is to see who is faster between a newly turned vampire and the first hybrid king."

Sarah glances at Jackson with a look of annoyance that turns to laughter as he wriggles his eyebrows at her. Her shoulders drop and she leans back against him.

"My money is on Naomi" she tells him.

Jackson grins "it's a bet then, witch. I hope you know Raurlin is incredibly fast. I'll soon be able to afford those costly thoughts of yours."

In the kitchen Raurlin releases Naomi from the hug. He peers down at Naomi before pushing himself atop one of the counters. He looks around the kitchen.

"It'll be better once we've unpacked. I'm thinking we can see about getting a chef, some staff to assist with the cleaning."

Naomi nods her agreement but says nothing, prompting Raurlin to continue speaking.

"You know in old times there used to be a ritual the vampires used to follow when they met their aeturnum. A marriage of sorts. The wolves have it too. A mating ritual they call it. I was thinking that maybe, if you're ready, we could do something like that?"

Raurlin seems embarrassed by his question and he flushes slightly, running a hand through his hair. It's grown out quickly from the awakening ceremony. He's kept the sides short but his hair is now shielding the tattooed along his skull.

Naomi rests in front of him with her elbows on his knees. "And what kind of ceremony is fit for the hybrid king?" She asks playfully.

Raurlin huffs as he leans back. "I hate that. The hybrid king. I'm still Raurlin."

"And yet you're so much more to me. You're my aeturnum first. My king too."

Raurlin leans forward with a quick peck at Naomi's lips. "Then" he declares "the ceremony must be fit for my queen. Are you hungry?"

Naomi's stomach rumbles unexpectedly and she flushes then takes a step back. She crosses her arms over her chest.

"Oh Naomi" Raurlin urges gently "you don't have to feel embarrassed by that. It's normal. I'll always take care of you. What do you need?"

Naomi glances up at Raurlin and admits in a small voice "I could kill for a cheese pizza."

Raurlin erupts into a flurry of laughter and it's a warm welcome sound. "Pizza for my queen coming right up. Do me a favour doll, can you find out who all is having so I know how much to order? And Naomi? Nothing wrong with craving a pizza."

Naomi nods her head then walls out the kitchen. Her heart is racing, she knows it is. She knows Raurlin can hear it. Probably Jackson and Stellan too. The realisation only causes her heart to beat faster. She throat quickly down the front steps and into the driveway. Stellan is standing at the moving truck examining a clipboard.

"Naomi. Everything okay?"

Naomi settles against the truck and squeezes her eyes shut. Stellan rubs a hand gently on her back in circular motion and she can feel her breathing settle. Naomi cracks an eye open.

"No no. Keep your eyes closed. Listen. Right now I'm going to inhale and then exhale. Listen to the way the air sounds coming and going out. Listen"

Naomi strains, tilting her head. Stellan rubs a hand across her shoulders.

"Relax Naomi. This is your nature. It comes easy to you. The ability to zone in on a single sound. The ability to focus. You already know how. You can do it. You just have to believe you can."

Naomi forces her body to relax. She focuses on her breathing then she listens. She listens as Stellan gathers a deep breath. The way it sounds as the air travels in through his nose and then again out. In and out. In and out. The steady beating of his heart lulls out the noise around her. It's strong and sturdy and certain.

Stellan takes a step back and Naomi opens her eyes slowly expecting the noise to rush in all at once but it doesn't. She smiles then grins at Stellan. Stellan looks down at her with a proud smile.

"It's the same thing I told Raurlin" he explains. "It used to be a lot for him too. The noises, smells. I'm surprised he hasn't shared my brilliant advice with you yet. I used to tell him to find an anchor, a single thing you hold on to to keep you grounded. That's why he and Jackson are so close. It will be easier for you because he's your aeturnum."

"We haven't had much time to speak" Naomi admits "things have just been so hectic."

"It will settle," Stellan assures her. "How are you managing?"

"The question of the day," Naomi mutters. "I've come to take lunch orders. We're ordering pizza. How many should we get?"

"A couple large should suffice. I think I'll head into town for a real bite. Care to join?"

Naomi shakes her head. Almost too quickly then she slows her head shaking. "No thank you. I need to be here for now."

Stellan nods his head. "I'll be back in about an hour. The guys know what needs to be done. I've made a note here of everything that's coming in. They can start unpacking too if you'd like."

"That won't be necessary but thank you Stellan."

"Are you sure?"

"It won't feel like home if someone else does the unpacking. I'll make sure operations remain running smoothly."

Stellan takes a step back and attempts a grand low bow. "My queen" he announces loudly and then is out of sight almost instantly. Naomi grins at the empty space that once occupied his large frame. She walks back to the house.

The guys are carrying beds and bedframes upstairs and Raurlin is walking out the kitchen. He looks up from his phone at Naomi. "Success?" Naomi nods.

"Stellan says a couple large should be fine. He just went into town for..."

Raurlin nods his understanding and Naomi exhales at the relief of not having to actually say the words. He goes back to typing on his phone. He locks the screen then slips his phone back into his pocket.

"Order is in for a large cheese pizza for my queen. And a couple large everything for the guys. Shall we sit?"

Raurlin walks past the foyer to the drawing room. There's a large luxurious leather lounge suit already placed expertly facing the large glass doors that lead to the pool. Naomi flops down onto one of the couches and Raurlin settles down beside her.

"What will we do?" Naomi asks as she looks out to the snow falling on the pool. "How will we run a kingdom of two species?"

Raurlin pulls Naomi against him. He kisses the top of her head but remains silent. After a few moments Naomi's body relaxes completely and her breathing settles to deep inhales and exhales. Raurlin looks out to the snow falling atop the pool water and further past the garden.

Raurlin isn't sure how much time has passed but soon Stellan walks into the drawing room. He smiles down at Raurlin and then settles on a couch beside him.

"You managing okay Raur?" He asks in a small whisper.

Raurlin nods slightly. "I'm worried about Naomi. I feel like she's shutting down."

"When was the last time she fed?"

"Just before we left wolf territory. She won't speak about it either."

Stellan nods, rubbing his thick beard. "She needs to. You know what happens to vampires who reject feeding. Talk to her about it soon, Raur. I'll take her on a hunt with me when she's ready. She will learn fast."

Raurlin bites down hard. "She'll have to."

Naomi stirs and she sits up. She swallows down, her throat dry. She rubs at her eyes then looks from Stellan to Raurlin with a confused frown.

"How long was I out? An hour?"

Stellan shakes his head "hardly. My mission was a quick success. I didn't want to leave for too long. Had a good nap?"

Naomi nods "yes. I don't know why I'm so tired. I didn't even know the dead could tire."

"Everyone tires when they don't eat" Raurlin probes.

Naomi stands up and she stretches "yes you're right. How far out is the pizza?"

Authors Note:
This book is a Wattpad exclusive if you're reading this anywhere else then my work was published without my authorisation.