Chapter 4: Storm and secret
"Mr. Renon, the lady you brought is okay now," the doctor said as he approached. Emily stepped forward.
"The C.E.O., the woman's family members want to see you," she said, pointing at the old woman and her grandson. As Renon took a few steps toward them, he sensed a vampire scent from afar.
"Tell them I won't be able to," Renon said, glancing at Emily before leaving the hospital without seeing them. He entered his car, his heart racing with a whirlwind of thoughts.
Bera opened her eyes, her vision clearing. "Bera, are you okay?" the old woman asked, concern etched on her face. Thank goodness Bera was half-human; her secret was safe for now.
"Why am I here?" Bera asked, her voice hoarse.
"You collapsed. Thanks to the C.E.O., he brought you here and gave me two days off. Thanks to you, I can spend my two days happily," Emily said, her voice brimming with joy.
"I need water," Bera said, her throat dry as a desert.
As Emily tried to help her with water, she accidentally hit her hand on a nail, causing it to bleed. Lucian's eyes changed upon seeing the blood. The old woman quickly held Lucian back, trying to shield Bera from the sight, but unbeknownst to them, Bera had seen it all.
"Take," Emily said, stretching the bottle toward Bera. "Go to the nurse to help with your hand; I will meet you guys at the reception." Bera nodded as they left her alone.
Finally, they got home. Bera was in her room, attempting to read a novel, but she preferred watching shows over reading. Frustrated, she tossed the book aside and headed to the sitting room to watch her favorite program. As she settled in, rain began to pour outside, accompanied by heavy thunder that made her heart race with fear. The television screen started to flicker.
"What's wrong?" she muttered, standing up and moving closer to the TV. She gave it a light tap, but the flickering continued.
"Grandma, I told you several times, I can't and can never be the vampire king, and Bera can't marry me. She doesn't know I'm a vampire; how can she be the queen?" Lucian's voice echoed from his room, filled with frustration.
"She is. Don't be deceived; she has the vampire bracelet. It masks the vampire scent, and only the queen can use it," the old woman replied, her voice steady.
Lucian's voice rose in protest, arguing with the old woman. Frustrated, he stormed out of his room, and his eyes met Bera's. For a moment, he was shocked to see her there, but before he could explain, Bera turned and left, stepping out into the rain. Though she was afraid of the thunder, that was the day she decided to stop being afraid.
Lucian sat down on the couch, his hands on his head, while Bera stood outside, drenched by the rain. The old woman had tried to call Lucian inside, but he refused, choosing to stay out in the cold.
Bera, soaked to the bone, heard footsteps approaching. The sound was heavy and wild, like a predator stalking its prey. She quickly hid behind a large trash bin. The wolves reached the spot where she had stood moments before but didn't see her. Peeking out, she saw they were wolves.
"I can smell something," one of them said, scanning the area with keen eyes. "Oh, I might have been mistaken," he added, signaling the others to move on.
"Wait!" another wolf exclaimed, and just then, Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder and became scared. Bera's eyes widened, tears already rolling down her cheeks as she turned around, expecting the worst. A hand covered her mouth, and she was pulled into hiding. She looked up to see it was Renon.