Close to the finish line

Author's note: This is from Seraphina's point of view

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After our talk about mind-reading and how to stay safe, Ash and I stepped on the terrace that is facing the garden.

Duke, Luca, Zoe, Sergio, and Calista were already there, seated at the table and munching on appetizers while the smokey scent of barbeque permeated the air from the corner where the cook was doing his meaty magic.

"What did we miss?", I asked while taking my seat next to Duke.

"Nothing much.", Duke said casually before planting a kiss on my cheek.

His arm around my shoulders felt right and I wanted to go back to the bedroom because last night (and this morning) was fantastic and I wanted more of my hot boyfriend.

I leaned on Duke and appreciated our closeness and everything we have. Friends, family, majestic house on a huge lot. Eternity with Duke won't be enough, and I hoped that we will have many moments like these in the future.

The only thing missing for absolute happiness was my father, but I was determined more than ever to bring him back.

My plan was that as soon as we move in here, I will get Zoe and Luca to watch over Notte Pharmaceuticals and several more things, and I will focus on finding a cure for eternal sleep.

The first steamy batch of meat was served, hot from the grill, and we all dug in.

I did my best not to stare at the scene of Sergio piling food on Calista's plate. She frowned a bit at his gesture, but didn't refuse him.

Duke nudged me. "Eat, before it gets cold, love." My gaze moved to the plate in front of me, only to see that it's full of meat that was already cut into bite-sized pieces.

I stifled a laugh. Werewolves and their urge to feed their mates.

But my heart was warm and fuzzy because this was another sign that I am Duke's mate.

Ash was talking with Luca about London, and Zoe listened as well.

The poor girl was unable to hide her lack of enthusiasm, but she didn't want to spoil this for Luca. Zoe is aware that since they were kids, Luca was taking the back seat and supporting Zoe silently, and this was the first time for Luca to ask something that doesn't include Zoe, something for him only, so she decided not to voice her disapproval.

I still think that Luca was planning a birthday surprise for Zoe, but if it's going to be a surprise, I shouldn't say anything.

I knew that Sergio will stay here (in his villa), and the kids are coming with us. Luca and Ash will go with Duke to London, and Zoe will follow me to Genoa where Duke will join us after he ensures that Luca is settled in his new place.

I turned to Calista. "What are your plans after this? Other than Sergio, we are all heading out this afternoon. Mitch can drop you off wherever you want to go and since Drago and I will be going in opposite directions, maybe we can share a ride."

Calista chewed a piece of meat from kebob slowly, in her dignified princess way of eating, and she wiped the non-existing mess from the corners of her mouth before responding, "Sergio told me about the abandoned town nearby. I was wondering if it's OK for me to stay longer so that Sergio can give me a tour."

'Cough! Cough!', Sergio nearly choked on the food that was in his mouth, and he washed it away with beer.

Based on Sergio's reaction, I realized that 'tour of the town' had a different meaning, but I didn't expose them.

"Is that OK with you, Sergio?", I asked.

"It will be my pleasure.", Sergio responded in a deep voice while looking at Calista, and I rolled my eyes because Sergio was unable to suppress his grin, and the grease mixed with red sauce around his mouth was horrible.

It seems that all werewolves are messy eaters.

"Alright.", I said to Calista. "You have Mitch's number. Whenever you need a ride, you can give him a call."

"Thanks. I will call him if I don't find an alternative.", Calista responded and focused on the food on her plate. It was obvious that she didn't want to talk about it further.

Calista usually avoided using Mitch as her driver. I believe she knew that whenever Mitch was involved, Aldus was aware of Calista's whereabouts, and Calista tried to move independently, outside her brother's shadow.

I let out a long breath. I really wanted to tell Calista about my father's condition. After all, Calista is a vampire and she would definitely have some clues about eternal sleep, but I feared her reaction and retaliation.

I pushed those thoughts to the side and focused on what's coming.

Zoe's birthday is in one week and we will have a bunch of teenage werewolves visiting. However, before that, I had one task, and that included telling Fynn that Mateo is alive… and needs his help.

According to Sergio, we will need several strong werewolves to hold Duke down when his wolf awakens because Duke's father was immune to silver and resistant to poisons, so we need to use brute force in case his wolf goes berserk, which is very likely to happen. After all, we are going to be stirring a fully grown Alpha beast from his twenty-something years-long slumber and he will be confused, feral, and probably not happy that we are disturbing him.

I was thinking that Ash and Luca can help, but Sergio said that they don't qualify because once the aura of the Supreme Alpha is released, all werewolves will submit and won't be able to act against Duke.

Of course, as a shaman, Sergio will conduct a ceremony to boost the resistance of participants, but for regular werewolves that won't do much while for the ones with Alpha power, it might be just enough.

Sergio admitted that he won't be able to help beyond preparations that will happen before we awaken Duke's wolf because Sergio won't have the power to resist submitting.

That's why I need to talk to Fynn and Lazarus and ask for their help, but Fynn is first on that list, and we will invite him to the villa on a pretense of him attending Zoe's birthday.

Now that most of the preparations for awakening Duke's wolf are in place and we are down to the final few steps, I was getting increasingly nervous.

What if something goes wrong? What if instead of awakening Duke's wolf, I lose Duke?

His wolf might take over and suppress Duke's personality completely, or Duke might die during the procedure. Anything is possible.

Am I willing to risk Duke's life for a chance of him becoming stronger? Do I have the right to make that decision for Duke?

What would I do if roles are reversed and I'm the one facing this choice?

"Why are you not eating?"

Duke's question pulled me out of my dark thoughts.

"What's wrong?", he asked, and I could only imagine how horrible my expression was.

I moved to sit on Duke's lap, and I hugged him tightly, burying my face in the crook of his neck and allowing his scent of pine trees mixed with the ocean to calm me down.

Duke's arms wrapped around me, and he rubbed my back gently.

Duke knew that I was upset and he gave me time to compose myself and speak up. He is awesome like that.

"What will I do if I lose you?", I whispered, only for Duke to hear, but soon I realized that whispering for privacy was in vain because we were sitting at the table with werewolves and a vampire who all heard me clearly.

I knew that Calista was probably wondering what that was about, but I didn't care. Soon, she will find out about Duke's real identity, and there was no point in hiding it from her.

"You won't lose me, love.", Duke murmured close to my ear and then he kissed me there. "Do you think that after eleven years of waiting to be with you, I will give up easily?"

I lifted my head to see his enchanting endlessly blue eyes and he kissed me on the lips. "Didn't we do all the tests and exercises and I passed them all? If your father said that those are enough to be prepared, I believe him, and you should believe him also."

Duke was right. I was getting panicky now at the finish line out of fear of what's beyond it.

I wished that father was here. In case something goes wrong, he would know what to do.

Father always knew what to do.

I really missed him.

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