FLASHBACK
'Ha ha, he's like a rabbit.'
'A sexy one. Would be fun tearing him apart.'
'Me first...'
BANG!
Call the fucking ambulance! Theodore! Theodore, open those eyes! Theodore!
***
I stepped into the light, and it suddenly became even brighter, blinding. I looked around at the colorful walls and the chandeliers overhead, their brightness burning my sight more than it should.
My heart pounded hard against my chest, temporarily forgetting I had a chase just behind me.
This was the courthouse, but... empty... eerily silent... what was going on?
Bang!
Another bang! And down came the confetti, flowing like rain.
What the... My brows furrowed...
Then the roars and the noise of bottles popping hit my ears, followed by cheers. "Welcome home, Theodore!"
There was Alexei, holding up a bottle of wine and a tumbler, the cheeky smile so full on his face. "How dare you think you'll come back home without a party, big bro."
Of course, fucking Alexei, I grimaced, glaring at him as he cautiously walked up to me, raising the bottle up to my face. "You look pale. Did you run?"
Of course, I ran. I ran because I thought once again I was in danger. It was just like that day, the sharp dripping fangs, the hot breath caressing my neck... the splutter of blood... so I ran.
Still furious, I turned away from him, brows knitted, and strode toward the main exit, the one that wasn't shielded in fucking darkness.
The crowd murmured amongst themselves, and before long, Alexei's "excuse me" filled the hall as he ran toward me. "Hey, Theodore, Theodore, wait." He grabbed my arm—not with strength. He still remembered the main rule, how our father had stomped it deep in their heads that I shouldn't be grabbed hard unless they wanted my limbs torn off.
"Did I do something thing wrong?" he murmured quietly, and I felt my heart sink. "I just wanted to make you happy."
I felt the guilt sink in. Yeah, it wasn't his fault. That I had gone out there despite the warning not to, and gotten myself into some sort of situation that was bound to give me trauma for a lifetime, wasn't his fault. Alexei was trying his best.
I turned around to meet his soft greys, full of hope that I wasn't pissed at him. Raising my hand with a frustrated sigh, I ruffled his hair. "I don't like surprises."
He grinned wide, eyes twinkling. "Noted. Should have thought things through. Vidar told me you wouldn't like it. But he later agreed after I told him Fenrir wouldn't attend..." He pointed at Vidar, who was in the company of beautiful women. "Haha. He doesn't even care you're watching, huh..."
"Still haven't changed." I supplied, hoping Alexei didn't notice the way Vidar looked at me, as if daring me to stop him as he 'secretly' fumbled with a woman's bodice, a small sneer playing on his lips.
We were too old for the game he wanted to play, and I wasn't about to indulge him. It was always the same with him. Pushing, pulling, to get my reaction. Years ago, I would have given him one. Now? I'm too tired. Too broken.
I turned away, following Theodore as he led me to a group of about six men and women, all dressed too formally for the occasion. "The council. And yes, they are a pain in my fucking butt."
I bit back a chuckle as we stopped before the group of middle-aged persons whose tilted chins showed just how high their positions were.
Once, they had been rulers of different packs all connected to the north, but after a merger that took place hundreds of years ago, the Packs in the west decided it was best to unite, making it easier to ward off their enemies with their size.
It worked. The only problem was the war and distrust now raging within them.
"Doctor Theodore." I gave a small bow. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
They eyed me for seconds that felt like an eternity, like I was an intruder. Then finally, one turned to Alexei and grunted, "He's human."
The smile on my face faltered but still stayed, wry and ingenuine. What were they expecting? I knew it had been a while since I left the Pack, but they couldn't have forgotten about the Alpha's 'third son'.
I thought of pulling away quietly at the awkward silence when I felt fingers wrapped around my arm, and Alexei stepped forward.
His eyes hardened. "You'll address my brother as Prince Theodore."
The council stared at each other in confusion, shaken by the iciness in his tone.
"He's adopted," one of them tried. "He's not even a..."
"Prince..." Alexei's eyes blazed. "Theodore."
"Hey." I turned sharply to him. "It's not needed, don't...."
He ignored me. "Right now!"
I could see them shake in their shoes as their faces changed to one of grudging reverence. "Prince Theodore." Their voices echoed in unison. "Forgive the..."
"Not needed." Alexei snapped, pulling me away from their sight toward a standing waiter. He grabbed another filled glass. "Fuckers!" He grumbled before downing the glass.
I had never seen Alexei like this. The rage seemed to ooze out of him as he glared at the wall.
"You shouldn't have done that." I hissed. "You never go against the council."
"Well, fuck them."
His fist clenched.
Oh... he really was angry. Alexei never swore, and when he did...
And there, I couldn't hold it anymore. I chuckled into the back of my knuckles. The protection was strange. The protection without wanting anything in return... stranger.
Alexei had always been pure-hearted.
He scowled at me and then sighed. "That was a bad start to everything. Guess it's ruined already."
I glanced at the room and shrugged. "Doesn't look ruined to me." I picked up a glass and raised it at him. "For a formal occasion, Vidar looks like he's having fun."
Alexei smirked slyly. "Is that your way of telling me you want to have that kind of fun, or...?"
I dug my ribs into his side, and he spat out his liquor, coughing as the wine went into the wrong pipe. "I... I was just joking. Why so serious?"
"Can't still believe you're Alpha."
His grin widened as he massaged his ribs. "Vidar decided a desk job wasn't his thing and deceived me into thinking the position wasn't a desk job. Soo... You'll get used to it, but I suspect you'll be too busy with Fenrir to even notice."
I sighed, rubbing my temple. "Sounds like a nightmare patient."
He grinned. "More like a nightmare in general. But hey, you're stuck with him now."
I shook my head and took a sip from my glass, the warmth of the liquor spreading through me. "I don't think I can give him what he wants. If the Beta loses touch and goes on a rampage, then he needs a psycho..."
"He specifically asked for you." Alexei cut me off, staring into his glass. "Every time he broke through a restriction, he demanded for you. I had no choice."
He asked for me? But why? I hated the feeling in my gut as the suspicions made my stomach churn.
Couldn't be. I was overthinking.
Alexei watched me carefully, his usual cheekiness nowhere to be found. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Maybe I have." My voice felt like sandpaper in my throat.
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Look, Theo… if you don't want to do this, you don't have to."
"Well, you've already made that decision for me, haven't you?"
Alexei winced. "I'm sorry. I just..."
I tapped him twice on the shoulder. "It's fine. I'll do what I can for him."
"Thanks, brother." His guilt softened, and like an afterthought, it spilled. "I missed you, you know. It was hard on all of us after you left."
What should I say? That I was sorry? That I needed to run to keep my sanity? He'd never understand. I'd make sure he never knew.
I glanced at the crowd, noting the way people kept sneaking glances in my direction. Some with curiosity, others with thinly veiled disdain.
They might have addressed me as 'Prince Theodore,' but it was clear they still saw me as the human outsider, the anomaly in their world of wolves.
Some that remembered me; 'The royal whore.'
But I was beyond that. I left it long ago.
Alexei must have noticed because he leaned in and said, "Ignore them."
I hummed in response, finishing my drink. "I'd have rather this was a close occasion. Maybe until they get used to me again."
"Yeah, I understand." He rubbed at the back of his neck. "But the council needed to be here. This wasn't just your welcome party."
"Oh, not?"
"No." His jaws tightened as he looked at the council talking amongst themselves. "A decision is being made in the pack. A very big one. The council has the same vote. It's me against them."
"Sounds tough," I murmured.
A servant walked forward and whispered in Alexei's ear. "They're here."
Alexei nodded. "Bring them in."
Now I'm curious, as it's all happening so fast. The confetti is being swept away, the way the crowds straighten, including Vidar, already brushing down his rumpled shirt and walking over to us.
"What's going on?" I asked.
He exhaled. "The Vampires... they want to be part of the merge."
Oh... okay.
Wait... what??
A loud range of footsteps echoed into the hall, sending my gaze sharply to the entrance, but they were already at the center of the room.
About twenty of them filled my space, cutting the air out of my lungs.
Pale skin, pointed fangs that glittered when they smiled... the red pupils...
Cold sweat broke out on my forehead. Watching them stop before Alexei, my heart began to pound.
"Alpha Alexei." The one whom I suspected was the leader smiled. "I hope we come to an agreement today."
Fuck...
A sexy one. Would be fun tearing him apart.
Me first.
He looked at me, their leader, and I thought I saw those eyes gleam...
Fuck!
I staggered back, knocking down tables, chairs, and trays, snatching all of the room's attention toward me.
No!
It can't be!
"Is he..." The Vampire leaned down, stretching a hand toward me. "All right..."
"Back off!" I heard myself shout. "Don't fucking touch me!"
"Theodore." Vidar stepped forward.
But I'm already stumbling away to the dark exit, fighting the urge to turn back, to see if they were close...
The dripping fangs, nails digging into my chest, prickling into my skin...
What the fuck... a ball formed in my throat. What the fuck have I done...