Chapter 5 - Unexpected visitor

Nicolai hugged his dad tightly. "I thought you were suicidal again. Oh, thank gods, I'm wrong," He mumbled softly.

Right after his mum died, his dad was said to have lost hope. The vampires described his state as suicidal.

Nicolai was just a baby then, so he was not aware.

When he was fifteen, his father quit his job to stay with him 24/7. that's when the rumors started to resurface.

Rumors that his dad was trying to kill himself again.

After hearing that, Nicolai started to fear that possibility. He kept a close eye on him.

Years passed, nothing happened, and that fear left his being.

'And now it's back. That illogical fear that dad will one day disappear…' he hugged him tightly.

"Why would you even think I'm suicidal? As long as you are here in this world I will be too," he whispered gently caressing his head.

Nicolai pouted. "it was the vampires. They spread absurd stories that you tried to kill yourself,"

"I ate a peach whole and choked on it! I was drunk. Oh god, what kind of rumors are these younglings spreading behind my back?"

"You tried to eat a whole peach? You really must have been hammered."

"Yep I definitely was…"

Kieran's smiles changed a bit...

Nicolai pulled away a bit and looked into his eyes. "y-you're really not going to die, right?"

"No I'm not," Kieran gestured for him to sit on the dining table. He removed his apron and peered at his son. "Old Rumors aside, I'm curious how you came to that god awful conclusion now?"

"Well first, you just gave up the job that you were so passionate about. The second one is obvious. We just moved to this dangerous place surrounded by wolves, voluntarily, might I add. Thirdly, you kept insisting that I make friends with wolves and with my unusual class schedule. I kind of guessed that you were intentionally trying to patch me up with rue."

Kieran sat down next to him. "Firstly I gave up my job to spend more time with you. I feel like you have become distant. Secondly, I think I made it abundantly clear that we are here for a mission, not suicide. Thirdly… well... I was not the one who chose your class schedule. I have nothing to do with the alpha's daughter."

Nico scoffed. "No one else can decide my class schedule other than you and me,"

His dad's expression changed into a soft smile. "Someone special did...." he mysteriously smirked and walked over to the counter. He started cooking some fresh pancakes. "so? How was your first day of school?"

"Good, I got a marriage proposal as soon as I got there."

Kieran froze. "w-hat?"

"rue, alpha Lowe's daughter. She proposed to me. I guess I can charm even my enemy,"

His dad suddenly moved close and sat by him. "so tell me about this rue girl? is she your beloved?"

"nah," Nico picked up the hot pancake and bit into it. "ah hot hot..." he opened his mouth wide, blowing on his scotched tongue.

He could feel his dad's weird stare on his face. He somehow looked disappointed that rue was not his beloved.

"You were expecting a daughter-in-law so soon ah? I want to be single until I'm thousand. I want to enjoy my life a lot,"

"Don't say that. When you find your beloved, you have to unite with them as soon as you can. You can't delay it," he sternly whispered. "Nico, you will meet your beloved here soon, so behave well. Don't reject them. Love them with all your heart."

Nicolai glanced at the half-eaten pancake. 'If I even have a beloved...'

Beloved, a vampire's destined mate.

Just like werewolves, vampires had their destined mate the moment they were born or created.

It was a bond that they would not be able to break. Even his mother was his father's destined mate. They met and fell in love instantly.

That's how powerful that connection is.

For his case, it was different

There have been no records of a half-breed vampire finding a beloved. The half-breed's body composition and digestive were more similar to humans, so the sun gods never gifted them with beloveds.

At least that's what the records said.

His dad thought was very confident that he will find his beloved soon..... it's as if he knew something.

"Why are you so confident? is find my beloved here?"

His dad faltered a bit. "I'm sure you will find a beloved soon."

"no, you said here. you said ill find a beloved here soon. Dad, tell me the complete truth."

Kieran stood up and took the plates to the sink. "it was a rhetorical statement. I didn't mean here- here. I just meant here in this world. ah, my back is aching. I'll go take a nap in my room," he walked away with a slight smirk.

'Yeah right, he is slipping away now..'

Nicolai picked up the half-eaten pancake and bit into it. "Beloved ... so will I have a beloved.... I wonder how that feels,"

It was said that the first meeting with their respective beloved would be phenomenal. It would be like the world had stopped just of them. the scene of smell heightens...and a new mark appears on a certain part of their bodies.

Nicolai scratched his neck. ever since he stepped foot in this small town the back of his neck had been itching nonstop.. It was to the point of annoying...

'Will I have my mark on my neck?.....'

He wolfed down the pancake, cleaned the plate, and walked back to his room. there were a few things to be sorted out.

The first thing he did was unpack all his essentials and his toilet tried. The things he had and brought were so little, It actually fit the small car they traveled in.

he got it done in record time.

The next thing he did was clean the room.

The bed was kind of dusty and the window glass panes were covered in a layer of soot.

With industrial cleaners he cleaned his room well. After that he hopped into the bath and took a long-deserved hot steamy bath.

Thankfully the water heater in this house was working. If not, he could have ended up an icy sculpture.

Wrapping a towel around his waist, he walked out of the room.

"Hi," a small voice said to his right.

Startled, he bolted to the bag where he kept his gun.

"Whoa you don't need that," that familiar voice whispered playfully.

Glancing back, he saw rue standing on the balcony with a bright smile on her face. she was smoking a cigarette and puffing out smoke.

"w-what are you doing here?" he tightly clenched his towel and walked close to her. it was freezing out there yet she was only wearing a normal t-shirt and jeans. "come in its snowing,"'

"Nah this cigarette is strong. It will leave a scent behind," she smiled at him.

Opening the balcony door, he stood right by it. If he walked out there and stood beside her, his wet hair will definitely freeze over and he would have to repeat his bath again. "What brings you here? You do realize this is trespassing right?"

"This used to be my hang-out area. Tsk, now I can't even smoke in silence,"

"Eh, I'm not banning you from visiting. Just give me a heads up next time. Cuz I might shoot you accidentally,"'

Rue turned over and stood facing him. "that gun is loaded with silver bullets?"

"Yes, I was wading into dangerous waters. I needed something to protect my family," he mumbled, wiping his hair casually.

Rue silently smoked her cigarette with a small frown.

"Nico, you and your dad are here for the alpha king, right?" she suddenly mumbled.

"I am," he admitted it openly. There was no use denying it or lying about it. The wolves definitely knew why the vampires entered their town suddenly after so many years.

"Do... will you kill the alpha king if you find him?"

Nicolai took a careful look at her. her face was sullen, and she looked sad.

"I don't know. I will personally not take any action but I won't stop my father if the elder committee orders to do so,"

"I see..." she nodded, tossing the cigarette butt to the ground. "It's good you are finally here. It was a long wait but you are right on time."

"Huh.. What are you talking about?"

Nicolai became vigilant. This girl really was acting too weird.

"If what I know is true.... no I know it's the truth. you.. you will be the..."

There was a sudden knock on the door. "Nico, I've baked some of your favorite dried strawberry cookies~"

"Dad wait" he ran to the door, but he had already opened the door.

"What are you anxious about? I have seen you buck naked so many times, boy. There is nothing I haven't seen. wait…. were you wanking?"

"no!" Nicolai hurriedly looked towards the balcony. It was empty... there was only that cigarette butt on the ground, indicating the presence of his unexpected visitor.

"Heck, are you trying to become an ice statue," he ran to the balcony doors and closed it. "you have a human body. You need to take care of it,'

"Y-yeah..."

"Is everything okay?" he walked close and touched his cheeks. "you look freaked out..."

"Nah.. I saw a spider under the bed,"

"s-pider! Oh my god, just wait here I will bring the bug spray," he ran out of his room hurriedly.

Nico flopped onto the bed with a sigh. 'she said she was expecting me.... what the heck was that about? This rue chick is weird.... she is totally suspicious. Maybe I should keep my distance,'