Yeri: Norfolk's Future Alpha

After Lilo's funeral, Chief Han closed all borders of Norfolk and even put up magical perimeter with the Oracle's help and Morgan, to produce a glamour that was not visible to any children of the shadow. Following Abley's order, Reed decided to take Morgan and his friends back to Allegra. At first, Yeri wanted to stay in Norfolk, but Chief Han was worried of her safety. She was fighting against one of the higher ranking officer of Zenon, who found out her important lineage as the sole heir of the Northern Lycans. Norfolk was the last town before Allegra, which meant that if Norfolk fell under Zenon's siege, they would have easy access to Allegra.

Reed, Killian and Damon were packing up their belonging when Morgan came knocking at the door frame, breaking their focus.

"They lost Brutus, the high officer of Zenon. Abley managed to corner him in the woods but he escaped. I sense that another attack is imminent," Morgan relayed the message to the boys, to Reed's annoyance.

"Just how long must this war go on..."

"And lucky you, you're stuck in the middle of it." Damon interjected, patted Reed on the back as he hauled his bag downstairs. Killin did not say anything, but quietly followed Damon, leaving Reed and Morgan in the room.

"Anything new of your dream?" Reed asked, as he forcefully closed his bag.

"Nothing. Since I reunited with you, I barely dreamt of you anymore."

"That wasn't what I meant, but I suppose it's a good thing. Aint it sickening to be dreaming of a blood sucking monster like me?"

Morgan was stunned by Reed's words, "Don't call yourself that. You're still a Prince!"

"I am still a vampire." Reed bared his teeth, his white pair of fangs glistened.

"You don't hurt anyone in purpose, unlike those rouges..."

"Aren't you scared of me, witch?" Reed's eyes narrowed as he took a step closer towards Morgan, who stood stock still. She shook her head, did not break any eye contact with him.

"Ahem.." suddenly they heard someone coughed from the hallway. Yeri was standing in the hallway, arms crossed, looking at them with an unreadable expression. Reed was startled and took a step back away from Morgan.

"Time to go."

Yeri gestured towards them, signaling that the pack was leaving to escort them back to Allegra. Without saying a word, Morgan turned on her heels and followed Yeri, with Reed in her tail.

Abley and the guards greeted them outside of the hut, ready to take back the crown prince from his hideout. Reed refused the carriage and chose to walk the distance home, but the lycans suggested them to ride on wolf backs. While the Royal Guards scout around, Rocco took his sentries ahead and secured the surrounding perimeter of Allegra.

"Thank you, for everything." Reed shook Chief Han's hand with gratitude, as the Oracle gave a nod of approval behind him.

"Please look after yourself and if you need help, you know where to find us." Chief Han smiled and patted Reed on the back, slightly tugging at him and lowered his voice, "Be nice to my only daughter."

Reed's eyes widened at his words, he watched his expression as if he figured out that Reed and Yeri shared the mate bond.

"It is rare, what you share. She's my precious daughter.... my future alpha..." tears welled up in Chief Han's eyes as he continued to whisper into Reed's ear, "If... you decide to accept fate, please promise me you'll never hurt her." 

"Chief... I..." Reed tore away and glanced at Yeri who was loading things onto one of the wolf's back.

"If, however..." Chief Han tightened his grip around Reed's collar, "If ever... you reject her, please just return her to me. Don't let her go astray. Please, take her back home to me."

"I promise. I'll protect Yeri the best I can." Reed responded and Chief Han pulled him into a hug to hide his tears.

"Thank you, Reed. Safe journey."

Chief Han discreetly wiped his cheek, as Yeri turned towards them, "It's safe to go."

Lizzy transformed into her wolf form and took Damon and Morgan on her back, while Yeri took Reed and Killian. Together with the Royal Guards they departed Norfolk for Allegra.

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In a hidden fortress far away, the Zenons were in a serious meeting. King Zenon received news of Lilo's tragic death, and the discovery of a new pair.... between vampire and wolf. His advisors raised this concern as they witnessed the interaction between Lilo and Killian, and thought that it would be a huge threat to the vampires if they were to form an alliance with the moon's children.

"First, they protected the crown prince of Allegra and second, you killed the chief's daughter. Third, you said that a vampire mated with a wolf? What kind of rubbish is that?"

"My Lord." Drake, the king's general stepped forward, "I suggest that we send a spy to infiltrate the kingdom of Allegra and find out the truth. It would greatly help us decide the next step."

"I hear you, Drake.... the problem is, who... who would be the best volunteer to do this job." King Zenon massaged his temple, he let out a long sigh. "Most of our spies have been captured and they were pretty useless."

"Send me, Father."

A feminine voice resonated from the back room and emerged a slender beauty, her pale skin was cool and her auburn hair lit up the room. Her plump red lips curled into a sly smile.

"Clarissa..."

"You know I can get things done, Father." Clarissa, the eldest daughter of King Zenon volunteered herself for the job. She was the most sought after female vampire in the kingdom, but she had no suitor. Rumor said that she rejected her mate and even killed the poor bloke in cold blood. Her mean demeanour and cunning tricks get her almost everything that she wanted, except one.... Reed. Her fascination with Reed started in her youth when Zenon and Allegra were allies, but ever since King Zenon became more ambitious to rule, him and Count Gladstone fell out of touch. 

"Come on, Father, you know how much I like Reed. I've been waiting all this time to return to Allegra and court him." Clarissa begged her father.

King Zenon had his reservations, knowing how ambitious and hard headed his daughter could be. At the same time, he wished to overthrow Allegra and take the kingdom to be his. Nobody really knew what was the reason of the falling out, but it coincided with the death of Count Gladstone's wife, Queen Valeria.

"You have to thread carefully, we are already the most hated tribe here." King Zenon warned Clarissa.

"Trust me, Father, I can get good intel from inside the walls. They won't even know who I am." Clarissa replied confidently. King Zenon shook his head in surrender.

"One full moon, that's all you get."

With that, Clarissa made her way out of the meeting chamber and disappeared into the night.

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The townfolk of Allegra made it their business as soon as they heard the news of the return of the prince. They decorated the streets, human and vampire alike. They celebrated his return for a week straight, hosted festivals and free parties too. Although the vampire trio seemed happy to be back home, there was something off about them. It was almost like they came back a different person. They matured so much during the months they were away; they have grown from the war and the deaths around them.

Lizzy returned to Norfolk, with bags of presents from the Count, while Yeri stayed behind. She was acting as a liason between the Northern Lycans and the Gladstone Empire. Abley prepared a room for her in the same wing as Reed in the castle, separated by a short corridor. She was the only werewolf in Allegra and people had the tendency to stare at her whenever she went outside. Her unique facial feature and her cool and calm demeanour attracted attention from human and vampires. Nobody knew about her mate bond with Reed, except for Abley. When Reed told Abley about it, he too was in denial. He could not believe that a vampire and a wolf could mate, and that Killian's grief was apparent due to the death of Lilo, his late mate. 

The three boys were spotted at the Moonlight Lounge, in their usual VIP section but with a heavier security presence. Killian was no longer the happy-go-lucky playboy who used to chat up some girls, he was playing with his drink, lost in thoughts. Damon was sitting at the bar, sipping on a big jug of sheep's blood cocktail as he watched his two bestfriends fighting with their own thoughts. Reed was leaning over the railing, seemingly looking down at the dance floor, where the crowd happily danced and made out. He kept twirling a small ribbon in his hand, that was used as a decoration.

"Okay that's it, guys. come on, look alive for a bit." Damon broke the silence as he trudged over to their booth and plopped next to Killian, who looked up with a forced smile. Reed turned around, resting his back on the railing, trying to shut off the fleeting thoughts of random people that infiltrated his mind. He shook his head in frustration, trying to shut off the mind reading as more inappropriate thoughts filtered through from the dance floor, especially when young females made eye contact with him.

"Sometimes I hate being telepathic." Reed grunted as he threw his body to the couch, lied down with his eyes closed.

"Don't tell me you hate being sexualised by those... girls..." Killian commented.

"I used to not hate them but now, after what we've been through, they sound very....." Reed trailed off, trying to find the right words, "naive."

"If only they see how brutal our war was..." Damon chugged his drink to the amazement of his best friends, "What? You're not the only one allowed to drown in sorrow alright."

Reed sighed as he played with the ribbon thoughtlessly.

"Our lives changed so much since that day, when they attacked us here..." Killian swept the floor with his eyes, "Lilo and Yeri saved us."

Damon placed a comforting hand on his best mate's shoulder and squeezed him gently. Killian replied with a smile.

"We gotta live on, so that Lilo's sacrifice did not go to waste." Damon smiled back.

"Cheers."

Reed reluctantly raised his glass when his eyes met another pair at the top of the stairs. He straightened himself up, his heart started to beat faster and his face flushed... whenever she was near. It was the mate bond working its magic, trying to reunite two lost souls together. Damon and Killian followed his gaze and found Yeri, standing at the top of the stair adjoining the VIP section, talking to the security. A moment later, she was making her way towards them. Everyone's eyes were on her, not only because she was wearing her battle gear, which made her stood out, but also because of her wolf scent.

Reed stood up as she approached them.

"What are you doing here in that....." he looked her up and down, she looked like she was going to war.

Yeri checked her own outfit and looked puzzled, "Well... I don't exactly own skimpy dresses and tight ass pants. I'm a warrior, not a slut."

Damon almost choked on his drink while Killian was holding back his laugh at her remarks. Some girls started to whisper around her, but Yeri remained aloof.

"I was supposed to come here to protect you, but you seem to evade my watch all the time. How am I supposed to protect someone who did not want protection?" Yeri made eye contact with Reed.

"Sorry, I just needed time to be alone." Reed curtly replied.

Yeri grabbed his arm and tugged him close, speaking in a low whisper so that nobody else could hear them, even when the music was blaring in the club.

"If you hate me all that much, just reject me right here and now. I don't mind."

Yeri was referring to their mate bond which was still in a limbo as they did not accept, nor reject it.

"It's not that simple." Reed groaned in frustration, fighting back the urge to touch her.

"I have responsibility to my people, my tribe, as their future alpha, and yet here I am playing babysitter for a vampire prince who probably does not need me afterall." she made a gesture at the security team that Abley placed around Reed.

Reed huffed and finally took Yeri's hand and pulled her away from the crowd so they could talk in private. He dragged her with force to the back of the bar, with one fierce look, the guard standing at the door to the roof moved aside to let them through. They took the stairs and arrived at the rooftop bar, which was closed for renovation after the rogues attack. It was a small, dark and damp room with lots of overturned furnitures and broken planks of wood.

"What now, Reed..."

Yeri was not ready when Reed planted his lips on hers. She struggled to get away from him but for some weird reason, her strength seemed to disappear and warm butterflies replaced it. Reed pinned her against the wall, his hands locked hers on her side, made it harder for her to break free. Blood rushed to her head as she felt the world begin to spin. 'Must be the vampire venom' she thought to herself, but Reed did not bite her.... he merely kissed her. 

Reed broke away from her, loosening his grip on her and stepped backwards in disbelief. He never thought he would do that to anyone, let alone a she-wolf.

"Told ya it was not that simple to reject you." he licked his lips, tasting the leftover taste of Yeri.

"Why... did you..." Yeri's breath quickened and her eyes got warmer as tears welled up in her eyes.

"You have no fucking idea how hard it is to stop myself from touching you."

Reed put his hands on the wall beside Yeri's head, framing her as he closed the distance between them.

"I may have kissed a thousand females in my lifetime but you... you drive me crazy." he muttered.

"You're so strong... so... opiniated.. highly intelligent and skilled in the art of war..." his lips grazed Yeri's slightly as she twitched, her fists tightened on her side as she felt his body loomed over her.

"You're empathetic and loyal... you'll do anything to save those you love...."

Reed's right hand tucked a stray strand of hair away from Yeri's face, as they exchanged glances.

"And for the love of the moon, God, Yeri you're beautiful..."

With that, he placed his hand on her cheek and pulled her into another kiss, one that was more lust filled, one that was passionate and sincere. Yeri was too dumbstruck by Reed's words that she could not say anything in return but to take in whatever Reed was doing. Their mate bond clicked in place as they finally embraced each other. Yeri wrapped her arms around Reed's waist as their tongues wrestled each other.

They broke the kiss for a few second to catch their breaths, but as soon as their eyes met again, their bodies got warm and wanting for more. Reed would have pulled Yeri on top of him if there was no knocking at the door. Startled, they pushed each other away. Yeri was wiping her face and lips furiously, while Reed was fixing his clothes, hiding the bulge that was awaken. The door swung open and Abley's face appeared.

"My prince, there is a guest at the palace, the King has requested for you to return." Abley spoke calmly, trying his best to ignore the tell tale signs of them making out in a dark room.

"Great, right.. uh.." he looked at Yeri who has put her poker face back on, "Fine, let's go."

and then he followed Abley out of the club, leaving Yeri to ponder what the heck just happened.

She made her way back down to the VIP section and found Killian by his lonesome at the booth. Damon left his unfinished cocktail on the table and Yeri took it in a swig, frowning after tasting it, gagging a little. Killian watched in amusement.

"I thought you don't take raw blood..."

"I thought this was a cocktail." Yeri tried to wipe her tongue with the sleeve of her shirt.

"It was.... but with pork blood mixer." Killian chuckled a little and ordered a new drink, a human cocktail this time. "Here, wash it off."

She downed the new drink in one gulp, finally getting rid of that metallic blood taste in her mouth.

"So... what did Reed do to you to make you drink alcohol like that?" Killian teased her, secretly guessing that they must have done something physical.

"Nothing."

"Sure? Then why do you have pash rash?"

"WHAT?" Yeri wiped her face in panic as Killian burst into laughter.

"I was joking."

Yeri frowned, "Not funny, Killian."

"He DID kiss you. Thank you for confirming." Killian took a sip of wine from his glass, to curb his laughter.

"Don't know what possessed him to do such things to me." Yeri pouted her lips, looking away, aimlessly watching the people dancing downstairs.

"The mate bond is really no joke, hey."

Yeri turned to look at Killian, "I'm sorry about my sister."

"Hey, I'm sorry too. I might have lost a mate but you lost a family." Killian offered her a gentle smile.

"Did you...kiss Lilo too?" Yeri asked him carefully. Killian's face lit up briefly at the mention on her name.

"Oh we did more than just kissing." He chuckled as he reminisced, "We affirmed our bond, Yeri."

He looked at Yeri with longing eyes, "We accepted it and consummated. We marked each other before the war. We wanted to tell you and Reed once it was over but..." his face contorted in pain. Yeri got up from her seat and moved to sit next to him. She gently pulled Killian into a hug.

"I loved her." Killian confessed, finally breaking down in tears in Yeri's hug.

"I know, I can tell." Yeri patted Killian, her heart ached watching him cry, "I loved her too."

Few moments passed in silence as Killian composed himself and let go of Yeri.

"I never thought I would find love, but I did. Reed might not know it yet, but I think he'll figure it out soon." Killian wiped Yeri's tears with his calloused fingers, from all the carpentry work he did at Norfolk.

"He is a prince. He should be with someone of the same status." Yeri tried to deny it.

"You are technically a princess too, no? You're the chief's daughter, the future alpha of Norfolk." Killian returned it to her.

"I...I think he deserves someone better."

"But the mate bond..." Killian replied.

"Can be broken." Yeri insisted. "I don't think I am good enough for him and he should just forget me. Better if he rejects me..."

"Do you know how painful it is to lose a mate? It's like your heart is ripped out of your chest!" Killian raised his voice in frustration.

"I don't want him to treat me any differently just because of the mate bond. IF he does want me, I would want him to like me for me... not out of obligation to fulfil the stupid destiny." Yeri retorted.

"Fuck, Yeri you should know how lucky you are to have found your mate, your DESTINED mate."

"I want someone to love me because they want to, not because they have to!" Yeri stood up, gritted her teeth as she turned to look at Killian one last time, "I have other purposes and responsibilities in life and finding a mate has never been my top priorities."

Yeri stormed out of the club, not looking back as she made her way into the nearest wood to release her wolf and run around freely.