C22 ALEXANDRU POV

Alexandru – Point of View

I laugh harder, sharp and cold, because, really, who are these old witches trying to fool?

"Vampires?" I scoff. "You’ll have to do better than that. Pull something fresh, not bedtime stories. You’re grasping at straws to avoid the inevitable, your deaths."

They flinch. Despite the protection charm between us, they know what I am. And what I’m capable of.

"Why would we lie to you?" the older one hisses. "That’s why we hexed your mate. Her magic, it draws the Vampire. Whoever or whatever it is."

"I’ve had enough fantasy for one day." I growl, stepping forward. They instinctively back up. Cowards. Even with a barrier, they fear me.

I pick up a pencil from their cluttered table, casually twirling it in my fingers. Let them think I’m calm. Let them underestimate me.

"We believe a faction of wolves is working with dark magic, necromancy. They tried recruiting us." The younger witch speaks fast, like her words might save her. "We refused. What they were doing… it broke every code of magic. They’re trying to raise a vampire from the dead. Use his blood to create an army. At first, we thought it was impossible. Vampires aren’t real, until we saw signs. Something has risen. And it’s drawn to your mate’s power."

"You came for her." My voice is soft now. Dangerous. "You could’ve come to me. To us. We would’ve listened. Helped. But you came for her."

"We wanted to save the world," the older one whispers. "Power like hers, it’s only ever existed once before. The last time was… your mother."

I go still.

"My mother’s a wolf," I say through clenched teeth.

She gives me a knowing look. "Your real mother. Doesn't it strike you as strange that you’re the only Lycan in your bloodline?"

The pencil cracks in my hand. My breath shortens, chest tight. A noose of doubt wraps around my neck.

"Lies." I choke out.

"What would we gain from lying?" she screams. But all I can see is Addie, alone, hexed, hunted.

I bare my fangs, eyes glowing neon. "YOU CAME FOR MY MATE."

"We’re sorry - we just -"

The pencil flies. A perfect throw. It hits her throat dead-on. Blood gushes. She falls, choking on crimson.

I watch her die without flinching.

The other screams and drops to the floor, clutching her sister. I walk over and crouch beside her, meeting her tear-streaked eyes.

"Tell your coven," I whisper. "No one touches Adaline Vulkov. Touch her, and you die. Let this be a warning."

I straighten, hands in my pockets, and walk out.

Behind me, she screams, "She’ll be your death, Alexandru! Adaline will be the end of you, I’ll make sure of it!"

I don’t turn back. Let them try.

I will lay the bodies of her enemies at her feet.

__

I step inside the bar, blood still my fingernails, just as Justin Bieber’s "Baby" blasts through the speakers. The absurdity of the song in this moment almost makes me laugh.

I roll up my sleeves and drop onto the stool beside Zach. He gives me a disappointed shake of the head, but he doesn’t say anything. Everyone knows he’d do the same for Catalina. Has done the same.

I try not to think about the witches’ words, their lies. My mother is my mother. There’s no mystery there. No secret vampire lineage. The only threat we face is the Romania Pack.

"Did she say anything useful?" Rick hands me a shot of vodka.

I down it in one go. "She said Addie will be the death of me."

Rick laughs. "Everyone knows that."

But I don’t laugh. I don’t know what I feel.

"They wanted to kill her," I say. That sobers the table. "Because her power draws evil. She’s a beacon for darkness, and it’s too much for her. It calls to everything that wants to destroy her."

Another shot. "She said the real threat is a Vampire Lord."

Rick chokes. Zach spits his drink out. I smirk.

"My thoughts exactly."

"Vampires?" Zach raises a brow. "Was she high?"

"Wouldn’t be surprised."

Still, the idea gnaws at the edge of my mind.

Rick straightens, serious now. "Tell me exactly what she said."

"Apparently, some wolves are working with black magic. They want to create vampires. Use them to take over the world. She said the air was laced with wolfsbane and vervain, like they’re preparing for something darker. But it was all nonsense. They weren’t even sure of what they were saying."

I leave out the part about my mother.

"Do you believe any of it?" Zach asks.

I shrug. "Unlikely. But we’ll take precautions. Better safe than sorry."

"We bow our heads." Rick says solemnly, and we all lower ours in agreement.

"Hey boys!" a voice sings.

We look up to see Alina, Faye, Catalina, Elena, and Francia.

Francia.

"Brother," Alina grins, already grabbing my drink and downing it before I can stop her. She cringes and hands the glass back. "That’s disgusting."

The bartender slides her a juice. I give him a nod of approval, but frown as she crosses the room to talk to him. What the hell?

"Hey, big brother." Francia nudges me and I smile, kissing the back of her hand. She sits on my lap like it’s nothing, and I hold her steady. From a distance, we probably look like lovers, but she’s one of my best friends. She was family, the kind you chose, and I have chosen her.

"You look stressed," she says, rubbing my shoulder.

"I am." I sigh. "My ex is going through something. I’m just… trying to help."

"Aurora?" Alina overhears and asks. I nod.

"Some women harassed her. Thought she was mine. Thought she was family. So, I had a… conversation with them. Told them she’s not." I pick my words carefully, because of the human in our midst.

Alina nods but looks worried. I give her a sharp look to drop it.

"But you’re still in love with her," Francia says casually.

I freeze. All eyes turn to me.

"You should trust her," Francia continues, unfazed. "You two have a vibe, like you belong to each other. She grew up with you. Nothing will change that. Just support her. Let her fight her battles. She’s your woman. At least she was. And she’ll be fine."

There’s silence. Then, respect.

Francia doesn’t even know it yet, but right now, we’d all kill for her.

"Let’s talk festivals." Rick breaks the tension, smiling.

"Mardi Gras was a success," Faye says. "New Orleans Jazz is coming up fast."

I smile, listening to my family talk, laughing around me.

But there’s a hole. A quiet emptiness where Adaline should be.

And behind it all, like a whisper in the back of my mind, your real mother…