Opening the door to the library, I noticed my sister crying on the floor, curled up into a ball. This was Mom's special place, too. Instinctively, I jumped at her as Ruzgard sat beside her, trying to comfort her too.
"Vera!" I called out, engulfing her in my arms.
"Rem?!" she sobbed while I snuggled myself into her.
You're as warm as always.
"It's okay, I'm here," I whispered.
She shook her head, trying to shove me off. Instead of being intimidated by her sudden push, I sat before her.
"Sorry, I—" Vera went to say as I stopped her by hugging her again, squishing her a bit.
"Don't apologize for that. I'm sorry for Alijah, he can be a douche sometimes." I smiled, drawing away from her to see her face better.
Snot and tears ran down her beautiful face, but it never detracted from it.
Yes… No matter what, you will always be…
"Sometimes?" she questioned my ability to judge him, narrowing her eyes as her brows furrowed.
I couldn't help but giggle, knowing the answer she wanted to hear.
"Well, okay. Most of the time." I adjusted.
Vera sighed in response and avoided my gaze, leaving me to wonder if this was deeper than my wolf snapping at her.
"Want to tell me what happened with Leonard?" I asked.
"Oh… Leon," Vera mumbled, glancing down at the floor. "It was a mistake."
I simpered, trailing my hand down her cheek, prompting those purple eyes to return to me. Under all that explosive nature, she was brittle like any other person.
"Should I tell him to find me another teacher?" I hummed as her lips curled downward, wincing.
"No, that'll take too much time. I was being selfish when I said that. You need to learn, and he's the best at it. I just thought..." My sister trailed off, dragging her sight back down.
Ruzgard nuzzled her in an attempt to comfort her.
I always felt so jealous of how close you are to her. It's a bond we will never share, no matter how much I love her.
"You thought?" I tried to encourage her to speak her mind, hoping I could help her with whatever was bothering her, but it seemed this was an old scar one I had no idea existed.
"I wouldn't see him so soon after that." Vera sighed, shaking her head.
"Oh... I see. Well, he doesn't seem like a bad person at least." I pointed out, causing her to smile bitterly.
Ah... You like him.
"He isn't a bad person. He's nothing like what royal vampires usually are." She also agreed, nodding.
I noticed something in the tone of her voice.
Yes... my sister does...
"Oh? Do I sense some old feelings in there? Is that why you were attracted to Alijah, too?" I couldn't help but ask.
She sighed, frowning. "Rem..." She quickly dropped the phone, clenching her hands into fists. "Yes, but he had a fiancée back then. It was one-sided, and nothing happened until after she died."
For how long have they known each other? And for how long has she been trying to suppress those emotions? Ah… I thought you had it all, but you're just like me, aren't you?
"You mean the mother of his son?" I mumbled.
She nodded, pressing her lips before letting everything go. "Yes, Olivia died because of an illness she was born with three months ago. Then, a week ago, I did something stupid with Leon when I visited."
I grabbed her hand to be there for her, but didn't know if I was doing it right.
"You slept with him?" I asked straight up.
She struggled to face me, wincing at the thought.
Hey, are you ashamed of it? Was that your first time? I… don't understand why you feel this way, sister.
"Yes, I did the deed with him." She mumbled, not wanting to meet my gaze.
I sighed, shaking my head.
Where is all the feistiness? A man surely can't tame you, Vera. This isn't like you.
"Hey, look at me." I grabbed onto her shoulders as she was reluctant to meet with me.
"There is no reason for you to be like this. You're still my amazing sister who outshines me at anything you put your mind to. It doesn't matter what you do; you'll always be my other half." I simpered, prompting her to fully turn toward me as her purple eyes got glossy again.
Ah… this doesn't suit you at all.
It almost reminded me of when her friends were using her. The same desire to protect her was surging within me.
"Rem, I… I don't know." She breathed, triggering me to grin.
"Please face me with the pride you usually do. I'm not used to this unless you're yelling at me. It's weird otherwise." I pointed out with a slight giggle.
In response, she frowned and flicked my forehead, leaving me in pain as I rubbed it.
"You're an idiot, you know that?" Vera huffed, triggering Ruzgard to chuckle because of it.
"Yet we wouldn't change her for the world." He assured, prompting her cheeks to turn rosy.
"Many people have told me multiple times, but hey, I'm me." I beamed, sitting down again beside her.
She shook her head, smiling at me. "You make everything seem so simple when it's not."
"Well, is there any reason to hold back your feelings for him? I mean, he is single now." I nudged her.
She gazed away again, grabbing her arm to soothe herself.
"He's part of royalty." She noted as I tilted my head.
What? But we…
"So are you." I declared, triggering her gaze back toward me.
"It's different. Well, I guess it was the same for Mom, but she got lucky with two twins who took Dad's genes most. If she had been stuck with just us, then... Well, you saw what happened to Alijah once." Vera sighed, biting her lip.
"But..." I trailed off, shifting my gaze toward the side.
Do they also have this blood purity nonsense, Lycans are obsessed with?
She grabbed onto my hands. "That still happens at this date and age. I mean, it almost happened to her, too, and vampires... well... They're worse than us, if not the same as the ones of old."
I appeared to have stepped too far ahead. The races couldn't interfere with one another's affairs, even if they were cruel.
"I see," I mumbled, slumping my gaze toward the floor.
With Alijah and me, there were chances we would get Lycan pups, but even then, another Luma was inevitable, too.
Hybrids are never ideal. Why… do we have to be so…
"Rem, don't get me wrong. I would never regret having a little semi-dominant hybrid like you. So never think about that. But you also got lucky. You have a Dad who loves you to death, even though you're a luma. Not every father is like that. I mean, Celestelia wouldn't exist if they were." Vera tried to fix her previous statement.
"You know we'll love even your kid if it's not a full human or whatever you decide to marry, right? I'll make sure of it and so will you and the rest of our family." I stopped her right there.
She simpered, "I know, but I want to stay away from the vampire royals. It will be nothing but trouble, and the last thing I want is a war between us and them. We have enough enemies as it is."
I got up from the floor, handing her my hand. "What happened to Ryker's son? He seems less trouble than this fling."
"Oh, he got married to a nice elven girl. I always told you there was nothing with us." She huffed, narrowing her eyes at me.
A soft sigh left my lips, "We'll see."
Accepting my hand, I helped her up. A weird sensation came over me as soon as she touched my skin. Three pulses rippled through me, an odd warmth that filled my soul in a way I never knew I'd ever feel.
Huh? What was…
When she let me go, I gazed at my hand, unable to figure out what had happened.
Maybe it was a nerve or something… Eh… There's no way for me to know.
"What now?" She mumbled, biting her lip.
"Let's go back. The boys have something to tell you, and I don't mean the current comatose brothers of ours." I smiled, heading for the door.
That weird experience was quickly forgotten when I saw Alijah waiting outside the library door. Vera followed me back out, too.
So, that's why there aren't any ghosts around.
"Couldn't you have waited back a bit further away?" I grumbled.
We were having a sisterly conversation that didn't involve him, but he was the only one who could stop me if I went out of control for any reason.
So, I can't be too angry with you.
Vera ignored my wolf altogether by sidestepping away from him and heading towards the stadium, where she also overlooked Leonard's apology before turning toward Alijah.
"I need to blow off some steam, so hurry up and let me kick your arse." She incited him, prompting him to smirk and shake his head.
"As you wish, witch." He gave in.
Although everything seemed hostile toward my new teacher, part of me hoped she would open up to the possibility for Leonard. He appeared to want to make amends with her. Though I didn't know what they had said to each other the morning after the act occurred, nor did I want to know.
I don't think you're a bad guy. Maybe… You will be able to find a way to connect with her. It worked out for Mom and Dad, so I don't see why it can't work for you two.
However, Vera was a stubborn girl who built walls thicker than anyone else. So, it would take time if the vampire wanted to win her over to be friends. As the month passed, nothing changed except my bum, which was getting more tired than usual. Leonard and Alijah were ruthless towards me, yet my lover was the worst since he didn't pity us.
My favorite time was with Vera when all I had to do was try to meditate, yet if she ever caught me slacking.
I'll get an earful worse than Alijah and Leonard can give me.
Most days, I felt like my arms could fall off by the end. The only place Alijah and I usually had any fun anymore was in the bathroom. Sadly, I passed out cold for the night when I fell onto the bed, leaving me wishing for more energy that I could acquire.
Surprisingly, my training with Leonard revealed that I was quite good at handling a weapon such as a sword.
Perhaps a trait from Fenrir that stuck with me.
Either that or Leonard was an amazing teacher, and he was extraordinary, but so was Mom, who failed to teach me magic while being successful with strangers. Vera called it a calling, which left me wondering if Midnight knew I'd have an affinity for it.
You did create this, but why… aren't we going to fight for dominance soon?
Although the first few days with Leonard were full of confusion and mistakes, I slowly improved, which made me happy. I needed a win so badly, and I was finally getting it. Sadly, my sister's relationship with the vampire was stuck in place.
She always ignored him, even though he tried to be friendly to her daily. However, it all changed instantly after the initial month had passed. It was like any other normal torturous day when Vera felt queasy during one of our sessions, suddenly passing out on us, leaving me to catch her before she hit the floor.
Leonard had stepped out since afternoons; I practiced with Vera or Alijah. My brothers were with Alijah at the time of Vera's illness. When I touched her forehead, thinking she might have come down with an illness, I felt the same sensation I had a month ago, but stronger.
What the heck is going on?
This was something that only ever happened with her, as every time that Alijah or anyone else touched me, I didn't experience this. My wolf quickly noticed what was happening as I yelled at Aiden or Caden to call Mom, who was at work with Dad.
Something was wrong with Vera, and I didn't know what it could be. When it took Mom and Dad to get home, I felt guilty for ignoring the previous times I had ignored the pulsating warmth that invaded me every time I touched her.
If I didn't, would you still have reached this point?
Caden had brought Vera to her room while we all sat idly, waiting for the medic to arrive. While we waited, I confessed what I felt when Alijah tried to comfort me, noticing I was anxious and unable to handle what was happening well.
"It's okay, it's not your fault. You didn't know." He breathed as I snuggled myself onto his chest.
How… do you know what to say every time?
It felt like hours passed before the medic, mom, and dad arrived, but it was only minutes. Lucky, when he arrived, he quickly put my guilt to rest, announcing something that would shock everyone in the room. The sensation I had been feeling was that a new life was being formed in Vera.
She was pregnant, leaving everyone in the room speechless, especially our parents, who knew nothing about their daughter's relationship with a certain vampire. Everyone in the stadium on the day of the confrontation knew—or suspected that Leonard was the father of her babies, though.
Vera still hadn't regained consciousness, leaving us to speculate quietly. None of us said a word to Mom and Dad, who were stunned after receiving the news.
Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes. "Can everyone leave? The last thing she needs is a spectacle of this."
Silence filled the room. They never expected me to kick them out, but I was the only one who knew about Leonard in detail.
If anyone will tell her, it's me, especially after we all found out before her.
After everyone left, including my wolf, it took her a bit, but the moment Vera opened her eyes, I prepared myself to break the news to her.
"Hey, how are you?" I asked as she frowned.
"Considering I'm in my room instead of the stadium, something happened. Argh, just tell me." She huffed, wincing.
Ruzgard was right beside her, still asleep, as I shook my head and grabbed her hands.
"Vera... you're pregnant," I announced, causing her jaw to drop.
Even though her complexion still hadn't recovered, the color completely drained from her face as her pupils turned bigger than ever before. I expected the news to turn her world upside down, but not this.
Why… do you seem so terrified about what's to come?