Serina: The Alpha’s Mate - Chapter 69

“What’s wrong? What happened? Who laid his hands on me? Damon? He didn’t. He only said that we met on the bus on my way to school. I don’t remember much that time but I am sure he didn’t do anything inappropriate to me.”

“That’s what you thought. I remember you were so sluggish back then. He did something to you. He – ”

“Ah! He did mention something like sucking my life force. He said that he felt something strong inside me and he tried to get it.”

“Oh? He told you that? He didn’t lie to you.”

“No, he did not. He told me about it when I couldn’t even remember at all.”

Nicholas sighed in relief and smiled. “I’m glad to hear about that but I still can’t accept the fact that he tried to do something bad to you. If he was successful back then, you would lose most of your memories, leaving you silly and foolish.”

“That serious?”

“Yes.”

“You are not saying this because you are angry at him, right?”

“Of course, not.”

“Anyway, Damon is a friend of mine. I heard that their family became a business partner to your family as well. I hope you won’t be prejudiced against him just because he’s a vampire. I know you are fond of wolves and they’re natural enemies but I don’t really think you’d have to be so judgmental against their specie. He wasn’t even judgmental about you.”

“You seemed to like him.” These words came out of his mouth before he could even control his jealousy. “I mean, you always say good things about him.”

“It’s not like that. In this place where I’m a foreign, it’s seldom to find people who can understand me. I can’t always rely on Brigette and Hillary with the time difference we have.”

“You can always rely on me. I don’t mind the time difference. I can also come and visit you. You don’t have to rely on Damon all the time. I’ll always be here for you.” Serina only blinked her eyes at him. She didn’t say a word because what Nicholas mentioned had been the opposite of what he did in the past weeks. As if reading her mind, Nicholas put down the vegetable he was holding and faced her directly. “I mean what I said. I know I’ve been stupid these past weeks but I won’t do it again.”

“Can I really trust your word?”

“Yes. This time, I won’t ever turn my back on you. I will always be there for you when you needed me.”

“Then, what if you’ll find out something really unbelievable and something that cannot be understood in a normal sense. What – ”

“I’ll accept everything. You don’t need to share those things to Damon. You can just tell me about it and I won’t say anything to disagree or argue with you.”

Serina finally smiled after she calmed herself and completely wash away the tension she was feeling around him. She knew she was jumping to another hellish fire but she just couldn’t stop herself like a moth addicted to a flame. Even though she’d be hurt and would probably die from the pain, she still decided to go freefalling.

“Nicholas, just this one last time. I’m giving our friendship another chance. I hope – ”

“Friendship? That’s all that you want? What if I don’t want us to be friends anymore.”

“What do you mean?”

“You sent me that invitation letter for your birthday. You showed me a little part of your true feelings for me. I want to respond to that. I don’t want us to be just friends. I want more than that with you.”

“But, I just told you. I have changed my mind. I don’t – ”

“Can’t you give me a chance in this field as well? You don’t have to say ‘yes’ right now but I hope you will allow me to pursue you and be with you when I have the chance.”

“Does that mean you won’t go back home?”

“I will go back home if I’m needed but for now, my mother and father wanted me to find my happiness. I already found her but I haven’t gotten the permission to be with her yet.”

“If you found her already, why are you still making a pass at me? Are you out of your mind?”

“I’m talking about you. Us.”

After several weeks of contemplation of being in constant pain and heartache, Serina finally felt a little ounce of happiness once again. She was really happy that Nicholas was there with her. That he didn’t give up on her yet. At the same time, she was worried. She was willing to become friends with him but she wasn’t sure if she can trust him with her heart again.

“Fine. I’ll let you pursue me but it’s not a guarantee that we’d be together. I won’t forget the fact that you casted me away for weeks even with the fact that we were friends back then. I felt that you treated me with special care and that gave me the illusion that you felt something romantic for me. However, it was just a delusion on my part. This time, you are telling me that you have feelings for me but I no longer feel the same thing. If you pursue me, I might have a change of heart and love you once again but there’s also a high chance that I wouldn’t.”

“I’ll make sure you’ll have a change of heart and be with me. I won’t miss this opportunity of being with you forever.”

“I don’t believe in forever. We’ll all die.”

“Whatever’s fine. If not forever, I’d be with you for a life time.”

“We’ll see about that.”

Both of them finally reconciled. Although they haven’t mentioned anything about what they are, for now, it didn’t bother them. At least, they’re back to being friends. Nicholas continued to cook their food and they shifted their topic to his sister’s birthday party. Nicholas told her of the things she witnessed but he stopped talking when they finally arrived to the point wherein he left to check the intruder with his wolf form. If he knew it was Serina, he wouldn’t change to his wolf form at all.

‘Don’t forget that I can read your mind. How can you be so selfish? She’s ours.’ Kiro snapped and snarled at Nicholas but the latter only smirked at him.

“By the way, I promised to visit your forest again but I didn’t get the chance to. I met your favorite wolf last time. His name was Kiro, right?”

“Yes, that’s my wolf. Did he attack you or something?”

“No, he did not. In fact, our first meeting was quiet embarrassing. At the same time, I am really happy to have met him. He’s the first wolf that I can talk.”

“Talk?”

Serina stiffened at his question and that’s when she realized the mistake of her word choice. “I mean, I don’t know how it all happened but I can understand him.”

“Really? Like you can read his mind or something? That’s how I speak to him, too. Maybe you really have affinity for the wolves. Kylo, Hunter and Sierra can still remember you as well.”

“That’s probably the case but I can only communicate with Kiro not with the other wolves.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah.”

Nicholas didn’t show any expression on his face but in his mind, he was already contemplating of the possible reasons why she can communicate with his wolf but not to him as a human and certainly, not to the other wolves. “If you can get a vacation leave, I’ll bring you home and I’ll let you play with the wolves.”

“Including Kiro?”

“Y-yes. Including him.”

‘And how are we going to do that?’ Kiro questioned him because he knew that was a little bit unrealistic when they’re sharing the same body.

‘I’ll think of a way.’

Nicholas finally finished cooking two dishes and a rice for both of them. He knew that Serina loves rice so he made sure to cook a little more than what he used to. Both of them started eating their food and when Serina tasted the first dish, she frowned. “Is this some recipe you got around?”

“No. I guess I mentioned that this was what my mother used to cook for me when I was young. I love this dish very much.”

“Then, why does it taste like the ones that Lambert cooked? Recently, he had been cooking in his room because he didn’t want to go outside and he would always cook a little extra. One of his dishes tasted like this. Is this a recipe made by your mother?”

“Uh huh.”

Serina continued to frown but it never occurred to her that Lambert might have taken those food from Nicholas and then sent it to her. She honestly believed his words.

Seeing that she was being suspicious, Nicholas didn’t want to add another layer of lies to her. He admitted his fault this time. “I cooked those food and asked Lambert to bring them to you.”

“You did?”

“I was worried that you weren’t eating a lot and you look thinner so, I cooked those dishes. I couldn’t find another excuse and I was worried you’d be annoyed by me so, I device that plan instead.”

Serina wanted to get mad for what he did but she remembered how much she enjoyed his food so, she just bit her lower lip to stop herself from blurting any harsh words. “Thank you for the food. I enjoyed them so much. I never suspected Lambert, not until this moment.”

“I hope you won’t take this against him.”

“I won’t. I know that he was worried for me, too.”

Serina and Nicholas continued to eat their food peacefully. They didn’t talk about negative incidents anymore and when Serina was getting a little suspicious over something, before she could say anything, he’d admit them. It’s better compared to the white lies he built in order to obtain her love once again.

As they continued to eat their food, Nicholas placed his utensils and wiped his mouth with the table napkin while leaving Serina confused. “Just eat your food. I’ll entertain our guest.”

“O-okay.”

She didn’t know there was a guest and her dragon didn’t say anything either. She was very quiet in her mind that Serina thought Brittislava was talking to Alina again. Little did she know, the dragon was keeping herself quiet while holding the energy to herself.. She cannot allow Nicholas to find out the truth of Serina’s life before she turns 18.