The silence was oppressive. You could cut the tension with a knife.
Viktor's focus was on Alpha Rafael and the little one beside him. Both of them stood together, but they looked so different.
Alpha Rafael was tall and broad, with short dark hair. Viktor wondered at the exact texture of those strands. He wanted to run his hand through them. How would it look grown out?
Rafael had purple eyes. They were dark as he stared at the other dissenting Alpha. There was a threatening frown on Rafael's face, and looking at it caused a strange heat in Viktor. Something he had never felt before.
Was it attraction? Lust? That was impossible.
And yet Viktor's traitorous heart beat faster. He told himself that this strange feeling was probably curiosity, nothing more.
He turned to the little one. When he'd first come out, he thought he had heard him call out "mate" at Viktor. What would possess him to do that?
Viktor knew a little about the concept of mates for wolves.
Lifelong partners.
It was a term werewolves used to refer to their other half. Their myths said it was the Goddess who assigned each one their mate. Viktor thought it an overly romantic notion, slightly ridiculous too, because no old one would busy themselves with pairing up mortals.
The small one beside Rafael appeared to Viktor like a flower who had survived much harshness, like a flower just before it bloomed.
Viktor had never seen such a vibrant shade of red as anyone's hair before, but it fit him, like a halo framing a pale face with beautifully spread freckles. The little wolf had big pale blue eyes that made Viktor have the strange urge to hide him away from the world's evil.
"I will acquiesce to the start of this treaty, however," the last Alpha spoke.
Viktor looked at him, and to give resemblance, he knew this one.
The last time, Alpha Siluren had followed his father to the Land of Night for the last treaty. Viktor knew his type. Siluren and Belmor were the same, always thinking themselves too clever, eager to see it all burn down.
Would the treaty hold with these two opposing it? Should Viktor even care?
If war came, maybe he'd just stay away from it. He looked in Rafael's direction. Maybe he would take them too.
"The treaty has begun."
---
Rafael reached out to caress Julian's face. There was no sharp pain in his chest as he did so. A huge relief went through him. He let out a breath.
"I can touch you," he said. "It's gone."
They were inside Julian's room. The activities for today were done, and Rafael was tired. He'd taken Julian to his room after.
Julian nodded.
"The pain is gone," he mumbled.
"Is the vampire our mate?" Julian asked, looking up at Rafael.
Rafael stilled. He'd wanted to deny it, but he knew Julian could feel it. With just them, what was the use denying it?
"My wolf calls out to him," Rafael replied.
"Mine does too," Julian said. "I wonder if h-he can feel the connection too."
"I don't know," Rafael replied.
"I hardly know anything about vampires." Julian said.
"I know even less. We are only ever told that they're monsters."
Rafael needed the thought of the vampire, their mate. He didn't seem like a monster, but looks were deceiving, and Rafael had heard the stories About how what wicked and seductive creatures vampires were.
Julian started to giggle. Rafael looked down in surprise.
"Mistress Tonia used to tell me… she used to say they'd throw me out and a vampire would get me. And look at how things are now."
There was a smile on Julian's face after he said the words. The smile was a little sad, but looking at it, Rafael felt like he'd seen a rare flower in bloom.
Rafael found himself smiling too. He found himself craving warmth. His bed alone from Julian suddenly seemed very unappealing.
"It's late, Julian," Rafael started. "Can I sleep here with you?"
Julian's face reddened.
"Sleep?" he repeated.
Rafael nodded.
"O… o-okay then."
---
They were in a lavishly decorated room inside the main pack house.
"You should have called their impertinence," Belmor said while pacing in front of Viktor. "How dare those mutts disrespect us! And you let them off."
Viktor did not reply, just watched him emotionlessly.
"Say something!" Belmor erupted, looking at Viktor.
Viktor felt his irritation surge.
"Do not raise your voice at me, Belmor," Viktor said.
Belmor shrunk back a bit.
"We are under the King's orders, Viktor. Remember that."
There Belmor went again, trying to intimidate Viktor with the King's name. It was almost laughable.
"I have tolerated your insolence more than I should, Belmor. Do not test me," Viktor said.
He ignored the obvious anger on Belmor's face.
"You dare be so arrogant with me—"
"Get out," Viktor's voice lowered. He let his darkness seep into the room.
Belmor paled. "The war will happen"
"Now," Viktor added.
As the arrogant lord scrambled away, Viktor smirked.
Alone, he let out a sigh. Years past, he might have killed Belmor, hell, even that mad king, if they'd ever so slightly annoyed him. The years had really tempered him.
He wondered at Belmors last words.
There will be war.
Why was everyone so intent on war? Viktor could feel the influence of a larger force... An older one.
No matter, those two would remained unharmed.
As he thought of them,
Suddenly, he felt a sharp tug in his chest. Like a call, one he could not ignore. Like he should be somewhere else.
He stood up from his bed and clutched his chest. The pull became stronger with every minute.
He stood up and left the room.