"Ah, I finally found you," a voice was heard from the mansion, making the mysterious man who had been protecting Guin unable to answer her question. "Why do I sense powerful heat from you? Did Ares attack you? Are you okay?" Lionel, the Alpha King, ran towards the vampire, supporting his entire body to check his health.
The Alpha's actions surprised Guin and worsened her mood. She knew there was a peace treaty between the werewolf and vampire clans, but she never expected the Alpha King's relationship with the vampires to be so close that they didn't mind touching each other. This confirmed her suspicions about the collaboration between werewolves and vampires to eradicate her clan. Guin could barely control her anger when the vampire said something unexpected that was able to quell her emotional surge.
"I'm your brother, not your child. What could your friend do to harm me?"
'Brother?' Once again, Guin was stunned when she heard the vampire's words and then realized that these two people had a strong resemblance―they could even be said to be identical twins if their hair was the same color.
If this person was Lionel's brother, does that mean he was ... a werewolf?
Guin felt a strange rustle interrupt her thoughts. A gentle touch to a lock of her hair made her turn her head towards the hand's owner, combing her hair to the front of her face.
"Are you okay?"
Very weird. Why does Guin always hear gentleness in this person's voice when talking to her but sounds harsh and annoyed when conversing with others?
"I didn't get hurt, thanks to you." Guin stepped back, letting the hair in this man's grip be released. After that, she immediately turned around and walked quickly to the mansion before the mysterious, handsome man could converse with her again.
"Jerome, she is human. You must not touch her." Lionel watched every change in his brother's expression and noticed his brother's eyes had turned red. "Didn't you say you were never interested in human blood?"
"I've never attacked humans," Jerome denied, giving his brother a blank look.
"Your eyes are red." Lionel's answer surprised his older brother.
Jerome closed his eyes as he took a breath before exhaling slowly to control the thirst that suddenly appeared. "I'm going hunting in the Enchanted Forest." Unfortunately, Lionel grabbed his shoulder and dragged him into the mansion to prevent him from leaving tonight's event.
"I knew you would try to escape. Guess what! I've prepared a vial of lion's blood for you."
"What for?"
"You think I'm unprepared? You are the main star tonight. What happens if the main star leaves?"
"Weren't you the one who gave me the mission an hour ago?"
"Isn't it finished? Besides, I'm not giving you a mission, I'm asking for your help, remember?"
Jerome could only sigh in resignation, following his brother's steps. Arriving in one of the rooms, Lionel gave Jerome a bottle of wine filled with blood. The older brother accepted it reluctantly, poured it into a wine glass, and gulped it down.
Not long after, his dark red eyes gradually faded and returned to their beautiful hazel color.
"This way, you can meet the others." Lionel smiled in satisfaction.
"Why should I hide my identity as a hybrid?"
"Did you forget what happened to Mom when everyone discovered she was a hybrid? If you weren't one, that evil bastard wouldn't have kidnapped you when we were five." That was a tragedy experienced by the Wildridge family, and Lionel didn't want it to happen again to his brother.
"Aren't I back now?"
"I know you're not a weakling, but I don't want to lose you a second time." Lionel's firm words made Jerome unable to retort.
Jerome lived happily with his parents and twin about twenty years ago. However, an unknown person managed to kidnap Jerome and seal his memory. No one knew what happened to Jerome, and the search was carried out for more than ten years until, at one point, the gods in the upper world decided to bring their Goddess mother, along with the Supreme Alpha to the upper realm.
"Brother, let me protect you."
'I don't need protection from anyone.' Jerome took his objection to heart. He poured another vial of blood into the glass once more, then drank it down. "Do whatever you want."
Lionel grinned at his brother's words. "Then, let's get this event started. I'm sure everyone can't wait to meet you."
Of course, many people want to meet the Alpha King's long-lost brother because of their curiosity. Jerome had been missing for more than twenty years until everyone thought Lionel was an only child. No one ever suspected that Lionel had twins, and Jerome was the firstborn.
When Jerome set foot into the Whitebridge Pack's territory a few months ago, the guards thought Jerome was an enemy who had infiltrated and had evil intentions against the Wildridge household. However, they did not dare to fight Jerome when they saw a splitting image of their Alpha King.
Only when Lionel came out to meet Jerome did all the members of the Whitebridge pack know that Jerome was their Alpha's long-lost brother.
The news about the brother's return—the eldest son of Lyodreck Wildrige, who was the true legal heir—attracted the attention of the entire clan. Tonight was the most anticipated day to meet face-to-face with the Alpha King's twin brother. Some were expecting a fight for the throne and witnessing the fierce battle between the two brothers.
Well, the most anticipated thing would never happen because the twins treasure and care for each other. Moreover, Jerome had no intention of leading a clan and preferred to be alone and undisturbed.
The twins entered the main hall, with Jerome walking after Lionel. Everyone knew Lionel as Alpha King but had never seen Jerome.
Amazement and whispers spread as soon as they saw Jerome. Born as twins, everyone could see the similarities between the two, but the auras of these two brothers were contrasting. If Lionel was a sun warrior who brings victory in battle, Jerome was more suited as the moon prince who brings calm and peace after a long war.
Lionel walked up onto the stage to start today's special event. The atmosphere fell silent when Lionel opened his mouth to start his speech.
"Good evening, everyone. No one can measure how happy I am tonight." Lionel didn't stay stuck in one place and walked to the right and left sides of the stage alternately. "Everyone has heard the heroic story of my father and mother, and some of you know that we have been in mourning for quite a long time."
Lionel paused for a moment to take in the solemn silence around him. "I have a twin brother that I worship very much. Even though our time together was very short before someone took him from our family, I never forgot him—we all never stopped thinking about him."
Lionel turned to his brother, who was standing next to the stage expressionlessly. He knew his brother didn't like being in this strange place. More precisely, Jerome preferred to sleep in his room rather than be the source of attention from hundreds of people he didn't know.
"But the Moon Goddess was fair and gave the best gift to our clan. My brother miraculously returned to us—"
"How do you know he is your brother? He could be a spy from the Underworld to trick you." Who knows someone dared to interrupt the Alpha King's speech, destroying the solemn mood and anyone who respects the Alpha King and his twin brother.