***
“You’re right.” Philip sighed. “We have a lot to celebrate. Too bad Troy’s not going to be on the Island from day one like every other person.”
On the week in question, Troy had exams to write. Unfortunately, however, it was the most appropriate time for the ceremony. Since all alphas were invited to the ceremony, the planning committee had to find a date that would be suitable for everyone. The final day that was settled on was chosen after taking into consideration events that had already been planned. Troy’s last paper was on a Thursday which meant he could not be on the Island from Wednesday like everyone else. The alpha and his mate were therefore going to join the Soiree on Thursday evening.
“That sucks but unfortunately, that’s the most appropriate time.” Jeremy sighed. “The two of you can go there later and have all the fun you want. After all, that’s his Island too.” He added quietly. “You two will be in the cave by the way. I know Troy will love seeing all those pictures. Besides, you’ll be away from all the raucous.”
“That will be great.” Philip grinned. “I think Stan’s plan to assign a watcher to each human is great.”
“That was a brilliant idea.” Jeremy nodded. “We can’t afford for any human to see what they’re not supposed to see.”
On Saturday morning, everyone with the exception of the humans was to move from the Island to Stanwood Pack where the ceremony was to take place. The entire pack and guests would then party till the next day. Due to obvious reasons, the humans were going to be told that the ‘marriage ceremony’ itself was private.
“I hope we’ve not left anyone out,” Philip muttered. “Hey, are you going to invite Enzo?” He gave his friend a quick glance.
“Why the fuck should I?” Jeremy growled. “He’s not my pal or yours for that matter.”
“Aw come on, Jer. That’s your son-in-law. That makes him family.”
“Would you like to be there if you were him?” Jeremy scoffed. “I mean the guy is older than our grannies. What’s the fun in hanging out with people whose grandparents are your age mates?” The alpha of alphas scowled.
“You must be shitting me.” Philip chuckled. “Are you still angry because the guy wanted to take Sylver away? I thought we thrashed it out.”
“The nerve of that idiot to even suggest…ugh…” The scowl on Jeremy’s face that very instant couldn’t have gotten any darker.
“That had been some day…” Philip sighed.
“Tell me about it,” Jeremy muttered.
The day the vampires had landed on their land and the chaos that had ensued was definitely not going to be forgotten.
It hadn’t been pretty…
**
“What?” Enzo breathed, staring at Philip. “You mean the baby is my soulmate? How?”
“What do you mean how?” Paige chuckled. “Isn’t it obvious?”
“Dude must be really dense,” Stan muttered.
“Stan…” Ryan groaned.
“Just surprised at his question that’s all.” Stan shrugged.
They were seated in the conference room, two sets of supernatural species, trying to fully comprehend what was going on. For the werewolves, there was Philip, Jeremy, Ryan, Stan, Joel, Deloris, and Paige. Gloria had opted to babysit a sleeping Sylver. And for the vampires, there was Enzo, his mother Aurora, his sister Gaia and Piero Jilani, his uncle. Immediately after everyone had gotten seated, Philip had announced, without beating about the bush, that Enzo was Sylver’s mate. Enzo looked genuinely surprised.
“No need for name-calling, please,” Aurora said coolly. “As I said earlier out there, we don’t really know your ways. In our world, one would have to be of age to have a soulmate. It just doesn’t happen with…babies.”
“Yeah, tell me about it.” Stan drawled. “Babies don’t have mates in our world either. Hell, I’m a grown-ass man but even I don’t have a mate. So we’re just as shocked as you, trust me. But all the signs are there.” He gestured towards Enzo who looked lost in thought. “Your son said he felt a pull. What the fuck did you think it was?”
“We don’t know.” Gaia snapped. “That’s why we came to find out.”
“Vampires have been known to marry humans, witches, warlocks, and other supernatural beings. Hell, even elves.” Piero Jilani rasped. “But never has there been an instance where a vampire has married a werewolf. I believe that has never happened for obvious reasons. I mean the kid is clearly part warlock but he’s still a wolf. And we know that it’s a natural instinct for a werewolf to want to bite his or her partner during sex…”
“Says the pathological biter,” Paige murmured.
“I’m not going to sit here and deny the fact that we love to bite,” Piero said, his intense dark eyes boring into Paige’s. “But we all know that our bite wouldn’t kill your kind, right? Unfortunately for us, yours…which you kinda don’t have control over during sex with your…mate,” he sneered the word, “would instantly kill a vampire.” He turned his gaze on Stan. “So pardon us if this theory seems strange to my nephew. It certainly doesn’t mean he’s dense. And I will appreciate it if you take that back.” The vampire stared Stan down.
“Good point.” Stan nodded, turning his eyes back on a bemused Enzo. “I take it back.”
“Enzo…” Ryan called out softly, watching the myriad of emotions that flitted across Enzo’s handsome face. “How did you feel when you were inside that bubble with my son?”
“I already told you, I felt content.” Enzo shrugged.
“Have you ever felt that way about anyone?” Ryan asked.
“No.”
“And you don’t think that’s strange?” Ryan asked.
“Listen…” Jeremy finally spoke. “To be honest, I’m definitely not for this…thing.” He flicked his wrist dismissively. “So…”
“Jeremy…” Ryan’s gasp cut Jeremy off. “What are you doing?”
“Just telling it like it is, baby,” Jeremy responded smoothly. “I will be thrilled if you could forget about all this and just go back to wherever you came from.” He addressed the vampires. “Forget you ever came here. My son is just a baby. He’s definitely not ready for a mate so…”
“You expect me to forget about Sylver?” Enzo looked incredulous.
“You can do it if you put your mind to it,” Jeremy said curtly. “You can always get one of your older folks to compel you to forget about him or something.”
“Jeremy…” Joel growled low in his throat. A clear warning.
“I’m not going to sit here and listen to my mate explain to these people what is going on, Uncle Jo,” Jeremy growled right back. “Almost as if we’re begging the guy to take my son as a mate.”
“No, no, no, you completely misunderstood me,” Enzo said. “I already feel it within that Sylver is special to me. Hell, I defied all warnings and came here didn’t I? I’m not an idiot. It’s just that I wasn’t expecting this at all. Like my uncle explained, not only is Sylver a werewolf, he’s just a baby.” He added the last bit in a shocked whisper. “It is very rare for a vampire to find a soulmate. Much less a soulmate that is a baby werewolf. I apologize for my silly question.”