Edith noticed Julian’s drastic growth. At only a month old, his body could already walk like a one-year-old baby, and he was almost a metre tall. She had been told by Ashley that Julian grew up so fast because he was a supernatural being who aged faster than ordinary humans.
Edith saw Julian sitting on the carpet in her room. She approached Julian and crouched down beside him and said, “My little caramel, look; I have something for you.”
Edith had a hotwheel car in her hand. Julian was so happy when he saw that the toy Edith showed him had moved into his hands.
“Do you like it?”
Julian just nodded; he never talked much. It’s not that he can’t talk; it’s just that he communicates more often through gestures.
Their attention was distracted when Seth stepped in and ran over to Julian. Seth lifted Julian over his shoulder and said, “How are you today, little wolf?”
“Happy.”
Julian touched Seth’s hand and spoke with a mind-link.
Seth saw that this afternoon Julian ate the chocolate waffle cake that Emma had made for him. Julian finished four pieces of cake all by himself.
After that, Seth saw a scene of Julian in a swimming pool with Jed. Jed showed a jumping and spinning action before splashing himself into the water. Julian followed the movements shown by Jed, and instead of spinning, the boy flapped his arms like he were flying.
And finally, Seth saw Julian holding the toy car that Edith had just given him, and Seth felt the excitement Julian experienced when Edith kissed his forehead.
“How did he do that?” Seth asked Edith.
“Do you mean Julian’s mind-link?” Edith replied.
“Yes. Mind-link can only be done while in wolf form, but Julian can do it in human form and at such a young age.”
“Why are you surprised, Seth? You missed too much of Julian’s growth, and remember, he’s a hybrid.”
Seth put Julian down and squatted in front of the boy. He touched his son’s tiny face and asked, “Can you do it again?”
Julian nodded. The boy showed him how he did it the first time with Edith. Seth saw that Julian was hurt from falling off a bench in the park. He ran over to Edith, who was cooking in the kitchen. Instead of answering, Julian only touched Edith’s hand, and the next second, Edith rushed to get antiseptic from the first aid kit at the end of the kitchen cupboard.
“Did you miss me? Sorry if I’ve been too busy lately.”
Seth hugged Julian and held him. He looked at Edith meaningfully. His recent hectic schedule had almost made him forget that he was also Julian’s father.
“Seth, I want to talk to you. Do you have time?”
“Okay. Hey, little wolf, have you ever heard of The Boy Who Cried Wolf?”
“Not yet.”
“Okay, I’ll tell you about it.”
Seth got on the bed and sat Julian right next to him. Seth started telling Julian stories and finally managed to put Julian to sleep half an hour later.
“I will start school next week.”
Edith started the conversation first. Edith waited for a response from Seth, but there was no reaction from his face. Edith saw Seth’s face look flat, and it started to disturb her mind.
“I see you’ve changed.”
“I feel normal. If you ask my permission for any changes in your life, then I will allow them. Is there anything else you want to talk to me about?”
“Is there something you’re hiding from me, Seth? I feel like lately you’ve been so cold to me.”
Seth turned his face in the other direction. He avoided making eye contact with Edith. Part of his heart was hurt for ignoring Edith, but he did not want the girl to be in danger. Plus, there would be trouble from other packs after she became an Alpha.
“I think you have my permission. The rest of the conversation isn’t important because it’s just your feelings. I have to go and take care of something.”
Edith wanted to ask more questions, but she saw that Seth had turned into a wolf and ran out of the room. Edith felt a sting in her heart when Seth ignored her like that. She didn’t understand why he felt that way.
*
Two weeks earlier…
Seth was running in the middle of the forest. He did not care about the thorny bushes that got in the way, and he had scratched several parts of his body repeatedly. He just wanted to find the vampire who had kidnapped Edith.
Seth kept running until he saw two figures-a man and a woman-on the edge of a cliff. The man grabbed the woman’s body from behind and brought his face close to her neck.
“Stop it.”
Seth shifted into his human form and shouted at them. The man pulled his face away from her neck and stared at Seth, who was standing in front of him.
Seth knew that Edith was being compelled, and he shouted, “Edith, please wake up!”
“No one can break a vampire’s hypnosis, Seth. She only obeys my orders. This is one of my favourite vampire traits. Let’s hear what Edith has to say about you. Do you love Seth, dear?” Kai provoked.
“No, I just love you, Kai. You never hurt me at all.”
“No! You were just used by him. He just wants your blood, Edith,” Seth shouted in despair.
“THAT’S NOT TRUE!” Edith looked sharply at Seth.
“You heard it yourself, didn’t you? She didn’t hear you at all. You should know, Alpha Seth. I’m starting to like your Edith, not just for her blood but also for herself. Her body scent is so seductive to my werewolf side. Ah, I want to own her like you do.”
Kai embraced Edith’s body and brought her face closer to his. He kissed Edith, and Edith kissed him back. Seth, who saw the scene, became so angry. He changed his body back to his wolf form and growled loudly.
He ran towards both of them and attacked Kai by biting his shoulder. He pulled him as far away from Edith as possible. Seth slammed Kai’s body against a large rock on the other side of the cliff.
Seth walked slowly as he looked down at Kai, who sat whimpering in pain. Seth was already showing his fangs, ready to pounce on the wounded vampire in front of him. He felt he would win this time.
Seth ran towards Kai and jumped on his hind legs. His front legs were ready to land his final strike on Kai’s body. As Seth widened his jaws to bite the vampire’s neck, unexpectedly, Edith landed her body on top of Kai, trying to protect him from Seth’s attack.
Seth’s fangs hit the side of Edith’s head. Fresh blood flowed out of the wide, open wound. Seth was so surprised by Edith’s actions that they were beyond his expectations. He had injured Edith!
Seth saw Edith’s body fall to the ground, and…
Seth woke up from the nightmare. His whole body was covered in sweat. In his dream, he saw Edith wounded and losing her life because of him.