~~~
Draco and Serena found refuge from the pouring rain within the shelter of a cave. Serena leaned comfortably against Draco's side, seeking solace from the downpour. It was a tranquil moment, one that held a sense of intimacy between them.
As they rested there, the sound of raindrops echoed in the cave. Serena's casual words broke the silence, her tone nonchalant. "I'm kind of thirsty, forgot to eat before we came," she mentioned, her words carrying a hint of playfulness.
Without hesitation, Draco took swift action. He reached for a sharp stone nearby, cutting his palm and allowing his blood to pool at the center. Holding out his hand to her, he offered his own life essence. Serena's gaze fixed upon the crimson liquid, an entrancing sight that held a deep allure for her kind.
However, Serena's response took a different turn. She looked at Draco with a casual demeanor, her voice carrying an underlying current of curiosity. "Are you hungry?" she asked.
Draco, perhaps anticipating her intention, insisted that he wasn't particularly hungry and gently pressed for her to take sustenance from his blood. But Serena's reaction was unexpected. She ignored his offering, opting for a different approach. With a swift and precise motion, she used a sharp nail to pierce her own arm, intending to tear out a piece of her own flesh.
Draco was taken aback, immediately intervening to stop her. His voice carried a mix of concern and disbelief, "What are you doing?" He couldn't fathom why she would resort to such drastic measures.
Serena's response held a mix of frustration and anger. She answered with a pointed question, her voice carrying the weight of her emotions. "Why, it's okay to treat your body like trash but not mine?" She went on, her words laced with accusation, "Do you enjoy seeing me treat my own body as a source of food? How does it feel?"
Draco's attempt to explain was met with Serena's determination. "You always do this. You're not a source of food"
She made it clear that she saw no difference between his actions and hers, and that his offering of blood had deeper implications. The tension in the air lingered as Serena's frustration grew, and she left, her emotions undeniably raw.
~~~
Serena and Kelly exchanged a glance as they finished counting the remaining blood bags. With just ten left, they knew they had to replenish their supply soon.
"We've got to refill our blood supply. You take north, I'll take south," Serena suggested.
"No, I took north last time. I want south," Kelly objected.
Serena sighed. "Kelly, you're more familiar with north."
Kelly crossed her arms. "Well, I can also become familiar with the south."
They stood facing each other, a silent argument playing out in their expressions.
"Fine," Serena finally relented. "How about a coin toss? I'll take heads, you'll take tails."
Serena flipped the coin into the air, watching it spin before landing on heads. She grinned. "I win. Have fun in the north!"
Kelly scowled playfully. "You're enjoying this way too much."
Their banter was interrupted by the entrance of Draco. "What's going on?" he asked curiously.
"How did you enter?" Kelly asked him, surprised.
Draco held up the spare key with a smirk. "Magic, obviously."
Kelly rolled her eyes. "You're unbelievable."
Serena avoided his gaze. "We're going away for three days."
Draco raised an eyebrow. "Really? Without me? What am I going to do here?"
Kelly tried to steer the conversation away. "Our blood supply ran out, so we need to refill. That's why we're going."
Draco's eyes lit up. "Oh, can I help?"
Both Serena and Kelly immediately responded in unison, "No."
Draco chuckled. "Alright then, be good till you return."
~~~
As Serena and Kelly headed out the door, Draco couldn't help but feel a mix of curiosity and apprehension about being left behind. Little did he know, this time alone would lead him to uncover some unexpected truths and pave the way for new adventures.
After Serena and Kelly left, Draco decided to spend time with Leroy. Leroy had plans with his friends, and Draco decided to tag along. They all met up at the local arcade, where the vibrant lights and sounds filled the air. Leroy introduced Draco to his friends - five guys and three girls - with a friendly smile.
"Guys, this is my cousin Draco. Draco, these are my friends: Frank, Dylan, Peter, Marco, Mike, Lorraine, Karen, and Kathy," Leroy introduced.
Draco and Leroy had been homeschooled until six months ago when they both decided to attend school. However, Draco's choice of Adril Community School, a public school meant for humans, was quite different from what Leroy had expected. Most werewolves attended Alpha High, which Leroy had assumed Draco would go to.
The girls' eyes lit up at meeting the future alpha, and the guys offered him friendly handshakes. They eventually gravitated towards a Street Fighter game, engaging in 1v1 battles. Draco leaned against the wall, quietly observing them. He wasn't skilled at video games and had no intention of embarrassing himself in public.
Kathy, one of Leroy's friends, attempted to strike up a conversation with Draco, but his responses remained curt and short. Eventually, she gave up on trying to engage him.
"Dude, you suck. You have no wolf and no game," Mike teased Leroy after Leroy lost one of the rounds.
The room filled with laughter, everyone taking Mike's comment as a playful jest. However, Draco didn't find it funny and couldn't hold back his irritation.
"That's not funny," Draco interjected abruptly, his tone serious.
The group fell into an uneasy silence. Draco's unexpected reaction caught them off guard. He was like a dark cloud casting a shadow over their playful atmosphere.
As the tension settled, the mysterious voice in Draco's head made its presence known again, its words growing more sinister, "Let's break his leg."
Draco's head throbbed with the sudden intensity of the voice, but he tried to push it aside, focusing on his surroundings. He knew he needed to find a way to control these strange impulses that seemed to be invading his thoughts.
Draco's mind became a battlefield as violent impulses surged within him. Leroy quickly noticed something was off and pulled Draco out of the arcade, away from their friends.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Leroy demanded his tone a mix of concern and frustration.
Draco's reply was sharp and filled with irritation, "What's wrong with me? What's wrong with them? They can't talk to you like that. The lack of respect."
Leroy attempted to reason, "It was a joke, Draco. You don't need to hurt them."
Draco's response was defiant, "I didn't."
Leroy's gaze held a mixture of disbelief and concern, "But it looked like you wanted to."
Draco tried to dismiss it, insisting, "What are you talking about? I'm calm."
Unbeknownst to him, his alpha aura was radiating strongly, creating an intimidating atmosphere that affected both wolves and people in proximity.
Seeing the situation, Leroy made a suggestion, "Maybe you should just go home."
Inside his mind, the voice that had been plaguing Draco taunted, "How impudent. We should teach him a lesson."
A surge of pain shot through Draco, causing him to stumble back. Leroy reached out to help, genuine concern etched on his face. However, Draco's inner turmoil was overwhelming. He smacked Leroy's hand away, his voice strained, "I'm fine."
Without waiting for further discussion, Draco turned and left abruptly, his steps hurried as he tried to escape the torment both inside his head and around him.