Chapter 5

Chapter 5

I looked back at the little boy and his grey eyes. I admit they looked exactly like Lucas’ eyes. I felt the world tilt and tried to steady myself by leaning against the wall. How could he have a child?

“What is the meaning of this?” Lucas growled lowly.

“Why don’t you at least greet your own flesh and blood first?” she asked hurt but I heard the fakeness in her voice. She gently pushed the grey-eyed boy inside the house towards Lucas but the boy looked genuinely scared.

I wanted to run upstairs and lock myself in a room or just disappear out of existence but I figured my choices were pretty limited.

“What do you want from me? Money? Is that what you came for?” Lucas asked harshly. I hadn’t heard his harsh voice since the time I didn’t let him mark me and hearing it again made me shiver in fear but the woman named Abigail didn’t seem to flinch at all.

“He’s your son, Lukey. Don’t you want to even know his name? His hobbies? His life that you gave him?” Abigail reasoned. The more they argued, the more uncomfortable I felt. The little boy looked like he was in tears and I couldn’t let their argument hurt the little boy no matter what relation he was with Lucas. He may be Lucas’ and Abigail’s son but I didn’t want to see another broken soul.

“Uh Ms. Abigail, would you like to come in and talk?” I offered. Lucas growled at my suggestion.

“Don’t Alexia,” he hissed and I flinched at the coldness in his voice.

“That would be much appreciated little maid. Please take care of my little son while I talk with Lukey here,” she said the last part seductively. I flinched at her calling me a ‘maid’ but I decided to play along.

“Alexia’s n-“

“Of course, Miss Abigail,” I smiled meekly, cutting Lucas off. I didn’t want to further complicate things. It was best if they talked it out in private corridors while I took care of the poor soul of the grey eyed boy.

“Come here,” I smiled at the adorable child and he gladly took my hand, not wanting to be in the middle of his parent’s argument.

I led the boy to Amos’ room since it was the closest room and couldn’t make myself face not Lucas. It would be too painful and there was that fear of what might happen if Lucas didn’t settle it once and for all.

As I let the boy in Amos’ room, I saw Lucas’ back walk in his home office and Abigail’s smirk as she stepped inside.

“Maid, can you get us coffee?” she asked in her melodic voice that I mumbled a ‘yes’ and added a fake smile for fun. She smirked to herself and made sure the office doors were closed shut.

“Hi, what’s your name?” I asked smiling genuinely, turning around to the little boy. He sat on Amos’ bed politely, keeping his head down.

“Michael,” he muttered shyly.

“Michael, would you like me to make you a banana smoothie?” I asked and he instantly brightened up from the idea.

“Yummy,” he grinned and my heart broke by how similar he looked like Lucas. I took his little chubby hands and led him to the kitchen.

[Having fun yet?] The darkness asked.

[Yes, the time of my life,] I said sarcastically. The darkness laughed in my head making me shiver. Michael looked at me with curiosity but I covered myself with a smile.

“Let’s get that smoothie done for you.” For the next fifteen minutes while the coffee was brewing, I made Michael a banana smoothie which he gladly devoured half once the coffee was finished. “Will you stay here like a good boy while I get your mom some coffee?” I asked and he shook his head ‘yes’ giving me a cheeky smile.

I put the two cups of coffee on a tray and carried it towards Lucas’ office. I placed one ear on his door about to knock but there was only silence. Thinking that something was odd, I slowly opened the door without knocking, letting the door creek open.

Lucas was sitting on his office chair with Abigail straddling his lap, kissing him, my freaking mate. I dropped the tray in surprise, letting the cups crash to the ground and the coffee spilling all over my foot. Flip flops were definitely a mistake but the pain didn’t trigger in my head. No. The scene in front of me was the only thing processing at this point.

“Alexia!” Lucas yelled surprised, pushing Abigail off of him but I was already out the door. Finally, the throbbing bloody pain seared through me and I felt my feet weaken but I kept running. I was fully aware of the blood trail following me out the door but that didn’t stop me.

I told you. I told you. The darkness kept repeating in my head. I broke down crying, not exactly sure where I was running off to but in ten minutes I found myself in front of Derek’s house. I was about to knock but decided not to bother anyone. Instead I went around his house and went inside his garden which I had found during my time at Derek’s house.

The garden was absolutely beautiful which hosted a large fountain in the middle of it. As I ran down the hill and sat on the cold stone of the fountain, I wiped those silly tears away. Coming down here was like escaping the real world and entering a whole new world made just for me.

I checked my feet to find it stained in dark red blood but the injury in my heart was far hurt than my feet. There were small glass still stuck in my feet and I painfully took the fragments out, suppressing a scream.

I finally sighed, taking long gulps of air and readying myself. What in the world was Lucas thinking? It wasn’t like him to suddenly kiss another woman but then again she did bear him his son. There must be some reasons I’m not understanding.

[Maybe there isn’t any reason at all? Old feelings never leave you,] the darkness said. I guess that was somewhat true but I furrowed my brows.

[What exactly do you want?] I asked it.

[All I am doing is caring.] Yeah, right like I believed that. I scoffed, making my feet move and groaning, wishing I hadn’t done that. Did healing work on myself? I wanted to try but my energy was already dimming and I felt like I could faint any second.

“Alexia? What in the world are you doing here?” Derek asked. I didn’t even hear him coming. When I sniffled and looked up at his approach I noticed the crease in his brow, making him looked stressed and deep in thought.

“Might I ask the same to you,” I said but chuckled. He had every right to be here. It was his garden.

I come here when I need an escape in the world if you know what I mean.” Derek sat next to me on the cold stone and looked up at the blue sky. I knew exactly what he meant. “You have to appreciate everything you have before it’s taken from you.”

“Thanks for saying that now,” I said a little too sarcastically. Derek turned his attention fully on me now.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. He didn’t try scooping through my head. He was too much of a gentleman to go digging through my privacy.

“Lucas’ old girlfriend came back with a little boy, proclaiming that he was their son,” I said, suddenly feeling like I was going to throw up. Were all those moments fake? Did he just woo me and mark me so he could look good in front of the society?

“Oh Alexia, you don’t know that for sure,” Derek said, soothing me.

“The son looked exactly alike and that’s not even the worst thing,” I said, taking a deep breath. It had to be said sooner or later. “I caught them kissing.”

Derek stood up, cursing in every language possible. “That bastard. Where is he?” he said, finally switching back to English.

“No, no. Please, don’t hurt him,” I begged desperately, getting up to my feet and falling back down from the pain of my bloody, injured feet. The weight of me standing had made me stumble back to the ground.

Derek caught me before I hit the floor and could scrape my knee. “Alexia! You’re bleeding!” he exclaimed as if he hadn’t smelled it.

“You’re a vampire and a king at that,” I mumbled, sitting back on the fountain. “You couldn’t smell my blood?”

“No wonder your blood practically sang to me today more than normal days,” Derek mumbled.

“My blood sings to you?” I laughed, suddenly feeling dizzy. Derek caught me again.

“You’re losing conscious. I need to bring you back inside,” he said getting into position to carry me.

“No! Lucas will come here first. Please don’t let me leave this place,” I sighed in ragged breaths.

“Fine. I will get the First Aid kit but please don’t do anything irrational while I’m gone,” he said quickly before speeding back to the house in a blur.

A few moments later he came back with a kit. He took off my sandals examined my bloody feet without even looking like he was going to eat it.

“Where’s your bloodlust?” I asked partially because I was curious and partially delusional from the blood loss.

“I learned to control it,” he said abruptly, taking a quick breath to air. “I’m going to put rubbing alcohol on it to disinfect the wound so try not to scream.” He slowly began to dab the alcohol in a cotton ball and quickly cleaned the cuts making me wince and grab his shoulder to steady myself.

“That hurts like crap,” I managed to say.

“You’re doing well,” he tried to smile but he looked hurt to see me like this. After cleaning everything, he put on some type of healing cream making my skin cool and then wrapped it in gauze. “There. You’re all clean and wrapped up,” he smiled. “Those were nasty injuries and you ran all the way here in them so the damage is even worse but since you’re a Bloodwolf, I’ll give it maybe three days before it completely heals. In the meantime, you won’t be able to walk.”

“Derek, why do you care so much?” I asked suddenly. He didn’t have to do all those things for me but every time I needed him, he was there.

“I once met a werewolf who was just like you and she was very dear to me but she grew up and left me. I guess I just feel that same connection with you.” I sat there listening to him talk and smiling.

I suddenly hugged him, trying to show him how I felt. To show him how much I appreciated all he had done for me. He was shocked at first but returned the hug, chuckling and running his hand through my messy clump of hair.

“You’re still my little Bloodwolf,” Derek chuckled.

“I thought I told you not to call me that,” I teased.

“Well we’re alone so it’s OK,” he grinned. “By the way, how did you find this place?”

“Well it is in your backyard.” I gave him my best ‘duh’ look.

“Yes true,” he rambled.

“What are you doing here in the first place?” I asked. I was so selfish about my own drama that I didn’t even get a chance to hear Derek’s problem.

“Oh, nothing. I don’t want to put you in this little mess my little Bloodwolf,” he smiled but I saw it falter. Since I trained myself to recognize Lucas’ emotions, everyone else’s was way too easy to guess.

“Don’t lie to me Derek Hainsworth!” I said in a half serious tone.

“Gracie and I didn’t end on a good note the last time I saw her,” Derek said slowly, not wanting to go any further and I didn’t push him any further. He looked rather love struck than anything else.

“You love her,” I gasped, finding it hard to believe. I mean this was Derek Hainsworth we were talking about.

“I would like to say ‘loved’ but old feelings do come back to haunt me,” he said disappointed. “Am I an idiot having feelings for a werewolf?”

I had no idea why he was asking such a deep question to me when he was the one who helped me realize I loved Lucas. “Well I’d say that you can’t exactly control your feelings and you are never an idiot in my eyes Derek but I do want to advise you to let go of that feeling because-“

“Brandon is already mates with her,” Derek finished, sighing. “I know all the answers yet I choose not to listen to them.” I placed one hand over his and the other on his cheeks to bring them to face me. He slowly turned his head, letting me get a good look at his emerald eyes that looked beyond the word ‘devastated.’

“Derek,” I said, trying his name in my mouth. He looked at me but with distant eyes and I waited until he gave me full attention. “You are the most amazing vampire I’ve ever met and the best I’ll ever meet in my life. You are precious, beautiful, and amazing. I don’t want one unfortunate event to burden you and bring you down.”

Derek’s seldom face turned into a small smile and he swooped down and kissed me on my cheeks. “You have grown over the past month I see,” he said. “You’re becoming into a woman of wise words.” I think my cheeks grew pink because I felt them flush.

Suddenly, he stiffens and drops my hand. I looked at him curiously but he stood up before I could ask.

“Lucas is finally here. That kid. What took him so long?” Derek said irritated and I stood up and fell back again. “Hey, Alexia. Don’t stress yourself.”

“Please don’t tell him I’m here,” I begged, grabbing onto his arms. He nodded stiffly.

“Of course little Bloodwolf but he needs to see me telling him that or else he won’t believe me,” Derek said and turned to leave.

I was left alone with the fountain as my company. The little spurts of water splattering continuously were my only entertainment as I watched the sun dive back into the horizon. Within half an hour, Derek returned next to me, making me flinch by how quiet his entrance was. In his hand were a blanket and a picnic basket.

“It took him a while to convince him that you weren’t here,” he said, spreading out the blanket on the grass below. “Thought you might be hungry so brought some food with me.” I grinned at his thoughtfulness and slowly situated myself on the blanket, making sure my feet had support.

“Did he have any particular reason why he was searching for me?” I asked, curious.

“He said that he needed to explain and clear out any misunderstandings and asked me to drag you to his house if I find you,” he said, eyeing me and I silently thanked him. “Maybe he did have an explanation. Lucas is more on following through the action than actually thinking rationally. I’m sure he didn’t mean to hurt you the way he did.”

“Yeah, hopefully but for now I think I need time.”

“Then time we shall feast on,” he smiled. “I can’t stay in there for the night so I think it’s warm enough to sleep outside, don’t you think?” I looked around the garden and at the night sky that were beginning to reveal stars.

“That would be wonderful,” I smiled and shared with Derek a piece of our secret world where there were no such things as heartaches.

Zane’s POV

I glanced at Reagan’s dad, trying to look intimidating but I think I was the intimidated one. He walked around me, observing me closely as he made a complete three-sixty-degree circle.

“You are not an original but I smell their scent on you,” he finally said after close inspection. “You are different and you know of things you shouldn’t.” I gulped but trusted that it was Wyatt who told him about my history. “You are also mated with my daughter,” he said, finding this of his own amusement.

“Yes, sir,” was the only words I could speak of at the moment.

“Father, don’t hurt him,” Reagan said sternly, coming up towards me. “He hasn’t done anything nor is he any threat.”

“If he is the mate of my daughter, he has every right to be a threat in my sight,” Reagan’s dad boomed loudly, making my ears ring from his piercing voice.

“I understand your concern and your resentment but I promise you that I am not a threat,” I said, sounding a lot braver than I felt.

“Why wouldn’t I think you’re not a threat?” he tried again.

“Father please,” Regan groaned.

“Enough! You will leave tomorrow,” he said to me then turned to his daughter, “and you will go up to your room now.”

“Father I’m not a little kid anymore. I’m eighteen. I can choose to leave when I want,” she growled.

“I’ve been putting a roof under your head for the past eighteen years. Show some gratitude and follow your brother upstairs.

“More like keeping me locked up from the real world ever since mother died,” Regan spat.

“Reagan,” he said in a softer tone. “Please don’t do this right now.”

I was glad I wasn’t in the center of attention now but I was pulled into something different. A small shudder overcame me and something powerful shook inside of me, making fall to the ground.

“What a disgraceful child!” Reagan’s dad said despicably but I barely heard it.

The weird sensation in me burned and I felt pain both physically and emotionally. I felt a deep sense of hurt that seemed like something shattered my heart. I grabbed my chest, trying to beat the sensation out but it was too hard to bear.

Somehow I knew it was Alexia feeling this but I had no idea what was happening and how I could even feel what she did. I struggled through, feeling more of the physical pain which was equally hard to bear than the emotional.

The feeling left as quickly as it had come and my hearing returned. I heard the shouts of someone beside me and found Wyatt and Regan surrounding me. It was hard to make their faces out from the major headache and dizziness I was experiencing.

Wyatt looked at me clearly disturbed as he felt and understood what I felt. Although he had a fairly clear idea he still asked. “What happened?”

“Alexia.” I breathed, still trying to regain some part of my dignity. I had collapsed to the floor like a stupid child in front of Regan’s dad.

“Did something happen to her?” Wyatt said lowly so only Reagan and I could hear.

“Wait your sister?” Regan asked and Wyatt frowned.

“How do you-“

“She’s hurt. I don’t know what happened but I need to contact her,” I interrupted, feeling alarmed.

“What’s going on?” Reagan’s dad growled and I could tell he looked annoyed.

“Father this is official business. I need to take him out of here,” Wyatt said standing up to his father.

“Just because a rogue wolf collapsed like a girl does not mean it’s your business,” he scoffed, looking at me with disgust. Gee, my mate’s dad just called me a girl.

“This is my business. He was part of Slade’s pack,” Wyatt partially explained and this time I got an arched brow from Reagan’s dad.

“Alpha Slade, hmm,” he pondered at the thought. “And why would this be of your concern?”

“Father, I am sorry. I will contact you when things settle down. Zane, Travis, Jessabelle, follow me,” Wyatt said grimly, bowing to his dad before he made us follow him out.

Outside the room I noticed most of the guests had already left. Only few lingered by to see what the big commotion Regan’s dad had made.

“Nothing to see people. Everything is fine,” Wyatt said loudly to the crowd. I haven’t seen him actually take action before. Back with the Elders he was always the one hidden in the back listening to the conversation rather than getting himself out there. Despite his quiet behavior with the Elders, he managed to get everyone out of the ballroom.

“Hey are you OK?” Travis asked, putting a hand on my shoulder.

“Just shaken up,” I said. “Let’s just get out of here.”

“Brother, you better not be intending to leave without me,” a very angry Reagan said, marching up to Wyatt.

“I have every intention of doing so Reagan,” Wyatt said harshly to her sister. “What do you plan to do? This isn’t anything you want to get entangled in.”

“I already am,” Reagan smiled proudly at her brother. “I helped them with the prophecy.”

“What prophecy?” Wyatt snapped, turning to us. “The prophecy was already fulfilled. She killed Jace.”

“There’s more than that,” I said grimly.

“What do you mean?” Wyatt raised an eyebrow, clearly interested.

“The second part is about how to get rid of the darkness from Alexia,” I explained and his interest turned into a frown.

“And so you used my sister to save your own who isn’t even related to you in the first place?” he asked accusingly.

“Hey now, don’t pull me into your girlish complaints, Wyatt. Travis was right. I’m probably their best bet on cracking the prophecy,” Reagan said, stepping forward to block her brother from me.

“And why would you think that?” challenged Wyatt.

“Because I had nothing else to do once mother died and I was trapped in that blasted mansion. It became a hobby,” she said sarcastically. Wyatt twitched at her sister’s harsh words but nodded.

“What do you plan to do?” Wyatt asked me.

“According to the prophecy Reagan deciphered, we need to obtain the Hope Diamond.” I stopped right there, not knowing what we were supposed to do after we obtained it. “Then what?” I asked, looking at Reagan for help.

“If I am correct, according to the prophecy, to trap the darkness is by the stone. Pierce the stone in the darkness and although it will be bloody, it will work,” Reagan said confidently on her words.

“One thing,” Wyatt interrupted. “Does that mean we’ll have to kill Alexia? The darkness is inside of her.”

Crap. That was one thing we all did not expect. “Now what?” I said frustrated. I kicked whatever that was near me which happened to be a flower pot and it crashed.

“Watch it Maxilum,” Wyatt growled.

“Hey!” Reagan exclaimed. “What if the darkness could take physical form? Lure it out and kill it!”

“And exactly how do you guys plan to do that?” Travis scoffed. “There’s logical way.”

“Then don’t think logical,” Reagan grinned.

“We shouldn’t go through many steps. Let’s try taking this one at a time,” Wyatt suggested.

“So first we go to Washington D.C. and steal that Diamond!” Reagan said excitedly.

“There is no ‘we’ in this Reagan. You’re staying home.” Wyatt crossed his arms and looked at Reagan with those blazing emerald eyes of his. I understood he was playing the role of the protective brother.

“But brother! I want to help. You need it to!” she argued.

I tried to score some points on her side. “Yeah. She’s the one who cracked the puzzle. Might as well bring her. She might be useful.”

“Do not make my sister sound like a thing,” Wyatt growled. I stood my ground. I had enough of his little snappy attitudes.

“Hey now. Let’s break it up,” Reagan said nervously. “Wyatt, there’s nothing you can do to stop me from coming and Zane,” she looked up at me and blushed when our eyes met, “don’t try to get on my good side.”

My face instantly fell. Was she kidding me? How in the world was I going to convince her that she was mine? Wyatt apparently thought it was funny and smirked at my shocked response.

“So it’s settled,” Jessabelle smiled, trying to break up the awkward atmosphere. “Travis and I will be leaving tomorrow with a bunch of hunters so keep in touch just in case.”

“Then I guess we should leave tomorrow to,” I said, looking at Reagan and then at Wyatt. “You’re tagging along, I presume?” Wyatt snorted and laughed.

“Of course I am. Just in case you think you can screw around with my sister.”

“Wyatt!” Reagan shouted, punching her brother. “Stop embarrassing me!”

Wyatt just grinned and put his arms around his sister, messing her hair on purpose. She complained even louder but she couldn’t help the burst of laughter she suppressed.

An instant tug on my heart made me swallow those girl tears. Reagan and Wyatt’s playfulness reminded me of Alexia and me back when things were normal. That would never happen ever again.

Travis gave me a pity look and I just accepted it without any complaint. I tried smiling as the siblings continued their little witty comebacks and sighed, thinking about Alexia. Tug.