Chapter 22 - Siblings

Kaius freezes the moment Vera turns away from his grasp. He found her observing an old family photo, taken on the day of his father's three hundred sixty fifth birthday. Kaius didn't dare to inch closer because of the power Vera emits. It was enough to send him reeling back onto his ass, had his foot not caught him. It was immense, and full of a sorrowful rage Kaius did not understand. Even Alpha Remorous, an Alpha of the Jarkine Plains who has lived well over a thousand years, has never bestowed such immense waves of power towards any living being. Kaius didn't understand in that moment why Vera felt as she did, but it was made clear when he watched her reflection lingering on his mother's.. their mother's face.

Kaius's mouth ran dry. He wants to comfort his sister, and wipe the pain from her eyes. His beast whimpers before snarling, roaring to tear something, someone apart. He had never felt so angry for something anyone has done, not even to his full blooded sisters. Her grief fuels his rage. Kaius began to want revenge for what his mother has done to Vera.

She must be avenged— Before Kaius could finish his obscure thought, he catches himself. Then, the Wolvernrian blinks, suddenly aware of the gory thoughts of his mother.

Kaius was stunned, completely stunned at how she could suddenly control his emotions with her own.

Kaius's tongue flicks out and wets his lips. Does she know what she does to me? To my emotions? Can she.. can Vera control it? Kaius thought the worst, now perceiving Vera as the enemy. If she could mold her power and manipulate others, she could be invincible! Vera seems to have the ability to manipulate others emotions without even trying.. or maybe she was. Rohgan! She has already enchanted Alpha!

Whether or not Vera was intentional with her ability, Kaius would never know until he knew the truth of his parents. He only knew Vera would have to be observed closely. If and when, she proves her loyalty to the pack, and to their family will she be accepted without suspicion. She has the ability to seduce Alpha Mirran, an alpha who has lost his beloved luna, and that's a powerful gift in Wolvernry; a weakness. Kaius has no knowledge of Vera's culture or her world, mostly because Wolvernrians preferred above the water rather than beneath the surface.

Kaius swallows, She's a dahken kylenta!

He had heard tales of the dahken kylenta that lurk within the waters of Aquatica. They feast on the flesh of their own, dwelling within the crevices of caverns. Most have lingered above the surface and those who have lived to tell the tale speak of massive waves crashing and remarkable creatures ripe with earth-shattering beauty. Kaius had never before seen one with his own eyes, but his koud, on his father's side, had went wild for a woman with hair as green as the moss in Faelkyria and demonic eyes. To this day, his koud is imprisoned for his own safety.

The Wolvernrian's eyes widen remarkably at the realization of his sister's heritage. He was genuinely distressed assuming her way of life. Kaius steadies his heart just in case she could hear his heartbeat throbbing in his chest. It was going a mile a minute, and still counting. It's when Kaius saw the pure affection in her eyes that he decided to test her loyalty to the pack.

The hand Vera touches her mother's framed photograph with sinks to her side defeatedly. The siren knew she couldn't hurt her mother, just yet. First, she was to gain their trust by perusing their culture and society as if it was hers— because, in a way, it is hers. This wild, unfamiliar, untamed side of her she's never known has breached her curiosity more than anything before. All because she was glancing at a few photos. Vera needs to appear friendly and inviting before they discover Vera's true purpose of being in Wolvernry. She would follow through like her father has asked, but she would not stand with the noreeth raikes as if she ventured with them all her life.

She would rather die. By the megalodons.

After turning right at the bottom of the stairs, they cross a large room with many more pictures and furniture, but Vera doesn't dare to look any more; the lights reflecting from the glass frames were enough to keep her eyes from wandering astray. The powerful aroma is enough to glide a smile against Vera's lips once more. She inhales sweetly, closing her eyes and savoring the distinct smell of sweets and pork for the first time. When her wondering green eyes locate the only other set in the room, the grip of her hand on the furred blanket tightens.

She didn't want to see her this early in the morning.

Marzena smiles widely at the sight of her first born walking into the room. It fades quickly when she realizes Vera is only wearing a fur blanket. Marzena never stops flipping the flat orange hotcake as she calls out, "Noelani! Fetch sum clothes fer Vera. She might beh able ta fit inta yehs." Marzena occupied herself with the oven, flipping the bacon.

Noelani, a beautiful woman with sunshine locks and a large bosom, gently tilts her head in acknowledgment to the order. Noelani sweeps her sights to the mermaid she's heard about so many times. Noelani takes a deep breath before she faints.

Vera is exceptionally beautiful; especially for a Wolvernrian. At first sight, Noelani almost drops the book she's reading onto the table and her heart flutters as the two females lock eyes. Her supple, dark shades of skin could make anyone's knees weak. Her body wasn't an hourglass like her sister's, Taliesin, and has more of a behind than her sister as well. She seems to have a perkier bosom than Noelani carries, and lacks the identity marks of a true Wolvernrian. A smile softly guides itself to the woman's face before she marks her place in the large book she's reading and leaves it on the table.

Noelani internally snickers happily to herself, Looks like Talie's got sum competition durin' te Samhain Moon.

After a slight exchange of words, Vera's attention is directed to a female with beautiful hair that's braided parallel to her postured spine. Iseki would be jealous of her perfect stature. She stands before Vera with a quaint smile. "Noelani," the female's irises blink amber for a moment before returning to their muddy brown, "an yuh must be Vera?"

Vera returns the smile before nodding in confirmation. "Yes," she pauses a moment, staring into the Wolvernrian's deep irises in wonder. "How.. do you pronounce your name?" Vera asks softly, hesitating with her words.

Noelani stands frozen for a moment. She blinks once as a smile breaks across her lips. Noelani grins. "S'like: "No-lahn-E,"" she giggles, mouthing the word slowly for Vera.

A smile alights Vera's lips as the female laughter. Her laugh was beautiful and Vera wished to join her, had she known exactly who this woman was. Instead, Vera observes her care-free attitude and smiles along with the young Wolvernrian. Her beautiful hair fell in a cascade of a braid as the loose strands of her blonde hair frames her face in a dark waterfall. Vera envied her contagious smile that fell from her face.

Then, another voice cut in.