Akiro’s Point of View“You haven’t seen your brother for months already. Go with him and don’t follow me around,” I said to a frowning Heli.“I prefer being with you to this bastard,” he replied.Heldrix gasped, clutching the part of his chest where his heart was. He looked at his brother as if Heli betrayed him. The look of pain in his eyes would’ve been believable if it weren’t for the exaggerated way he spoke.“I’m Mother and Father’s son! I am no one else's child! How dare you call me a bastard?” he exclaimed.But Heli didn’t even spare him a glance. He just rolled his eyes before he spoke to me again.“Don’t worry about that guy. He’ll be fine. It’s his fault for being so stupid that his own wife threw him out while she was pregnant.”“I take offense to that.”“It wasn’t a compliment to begin with.”Before Heldrix could retaliate, I interrupted the upcoming bickering that would start. “I’m not asking you to stay, Heli. I’m telling you. Don’t follow me and stay with your brother i
Heli’s Point of ViewI’ll freeze Divine once I see her again. If it wasn’t for her, I'd be following my mate around like I usually do for the past months.But here I am in the abandoned house, forced to spend the time Akiro’s not around with my fucking annoying brother. “I can’t believe I got to see the day you sulk because your mate isn’t around,” Heldrix said, then he laughed loudly. I could feel a pinprick of irritation rising up to my head as he continued to laugh.“I’ll tell Divine about what you did a month before you learned she’s your mate.”Almost immediately, the annoying laughter stopped. Heldrix’ eyes were wide as he looked at me, a look of utter betrayal could be seen on those red orbs.I internally rolled my eyes. This man is just so dramatic. I really can’t stand him when he’s like this. “You wouldn’t,” he gasped.I shot him my most deadpan look. “Try me, brother.”“I will tell Akiro all about your sex life!”I glared at him, but then I immediately smoothed it out. “A
Akiro’s Point of ViewMy phone rang once again and when it ended a few seconds later, it lit up, which meant there was another message. I ignored it again like I'd been doing for the past twenty minutes. It seemed Heli knew I wasn’t at campus today if he was calling me non-stop. He always calls me during my vacant and lunch time, so when I didn’t answer or reply to any of his messages and calls, it must’ve worried him. But I really couldn’t bring myself to face anyone right now. My mind’s still reeling from the boy’s words earlier. It kept on playing over and over my head and all I could do was listen to it. I thought things would be fine when people found out I’m gay, because almost everyone at our university is open-minded and is part of the community, but it turns out there’s still a few people who hold onto the belief that being a homosexual is a sin. I never thought I’d be subjected to one of the homophobic’s slurs and insults. I prepared myself to hear those words even thoug
Heli’s Point of View“I think you should talk to my grandparents next week.”I stopped on my track out of surprise. I turned to Akiro, raising an eyebrow at him. “What makes you suddenly think of that?”“Well...” He trailed off. “My birthday is in six weeks, and they were planning to throw a small celebration for me. I’ll invite my closest friends, and I want them to meet you. I don’t want my grandparents to be surprised that I invited you, so I decided it would be better if you'd try to be on their good side before my birthday comes. Is that alright?”I wanted to tell him I really don’t care about his grandparents and that I don’t want to act so nice just to get on their good side.But I don’t want him to get mad and disappointed at me, not when he seemed so excited at the prospect of introducing me to his closest friends. So I swallowed the urge to tell him it wasn’t alright and instead, smiled at him. The smile that makes him blush even though he already saw it multiple times.“Yes
Akiro’s Point of ViewAfter a few days of us preparing and rehearsing for Heli’s upcoming talk with my grandparents, the day had finally come. I met with Heli at the abandoned house where he went after buying the tea set he would give to my grandparents. Heldrix returned to their world the other day, so Heli was the only one I saw there when I arrived. He was wearing a simple black polo shirt and faded jeans. The shirt highlights his paleness and his brown eyes, which he always changed into whenever there were other people around us. He looked devastatingly handsome. This is so freaking unfair! He didn’t even look like he had prepared his outfit for this!“Hi,” he greeted me warmly with a small smile on his face. “Is it time?”I shook my thoughts away as I focused on Heli. Grinning playfully at him, I asked, “If you’re ready. Grandma will be done with lunch soon.”He nodded.I knew for sure he was not nervous. He didn’t tell me about it, but I know he doesn’t like my grandparents as
Heli’s Point of View I am the fifth prince of Regia Solaria, the youngest child of Vladimir Hath and Camilla Hera Lancaster, and the most powerful ice-wielder in Eldritch. I am handsome, charismatic, rich, intelligent, strong— every positive compliment there is, I am that. Most of all, I am brave. So why the fuck am I feeling nervous while sitting in front of two old human beings? Why do I have the urge to fidget like a goddamn schoolgirl who was facing their crush? They were sitting on the couch across from where I am. Sitting side-by-side with the old woman’s arms crossed against her chest and the old man sitting ramrod straight. They’re both glaring at me, along with a look of barely hidden contempt and distaste. I cleared my throat. “Can... I will explain to you what I meant when I said the one who... killed Aki’s parents wasn't from our kingdom?” Their eyes turned sharper, the contempt in them darkening even more at the mention of Akiro’s parents. “Yes. Give us yo
Akiro’s Point of ViewI couldn’t help but to lunge myself at Heli and wrap my arms around him after he finished telling me what they talked about. He looked really surprised that it took him a few seconds to return the hug. I heard him sigh before resting his head on my shoulder.“Thank you,” I mumbled against his chest.“For what?”“For talking to them,” I replied. “I know you don’t really care about their opinion, and that you’re only doing this for my sake. So thank you.”He hummed, but didn’t bother deigning a reply. Instead, he just burrowed deep into my neck, inhaling my scent like what he usually does when he’s hugging me. I didn’t mind, though it tickles me and gives me goosebumps. I can also smell his natural scent, which is really, really addicting.We stayed like that for a few minutes before I eventually pulled away. Heli didn’t want to let go at first, but at my insistence, he reluctantly loosened his hold on me.“Now,” I said. “Let’s go out?”He raised an eyebrow. “Where
Heli’s Point of ViewAs if it’s not enough that all these old vendors keep on interrupting Akiro and I’s date, this fucker just appeared out of nowhere and was introduced as Akiro’s childhood friend that he had lost connection with for years.And now, he wants to catch up with Akiro while he’s with me. The audacity of this fucking idiot. He couldn't tell it in front of Akiro earlier but now he’s texting him about it? How rude of him.Thankfully, Akiro shares the same sentiment.“He’s really persistent. He must’ve missed me so much,” Akiro said after pressing the send button. “But that’s quite rude of him. He knows I’m with you, and he keeps insisting to meet me somewhere.” He added with a frown.I internally grinned. Serves you right, fucker.After replying to that fucker, Akiro shut his phone down and hid it in his front pocket. “I’m getting tired.”“Do you want to go home?” I asked.He shook his head. “Let’s go to the abandoned building. Let’s skate there.”“Skate?” I frowned in con
Third Person’s Point of ViewAkiro sometimes hates himself for being so... compassionate. It drives him insane whenever he’s putting someone else’s comfort before himself, but he keeps on doing it anyway because he can’t bear the guilt of putting his own comfort first over someone who’s clearly in trouble.Like right now.It’s been two hours since Heli left and he still hasn’t returned. Akiro’s bored out of his mind in the first hour he’s alone, but the next hour that follows suddenly made him nervous and anxious.He doesn’t know what is troubling Alliah and why it’s taking them quite a while, but it makes Akiro nervous. As to why he’s feeling that way... he’s not entirely sure. Is it because of Alliah’s tone when she was asking for Heli’s help? Or is it because Heli and Alliah have been together again for the past two hours? Akiro really didn’t know. Maybe it’s both.It was when another hour had passed that Akiro decided to leave the room in an attempt to search for his mate. But he
Third Person’s Point of View“So you mean to say that werewolves have their own way of getting their own mates? Like how vampires have the Crystal of Fate?” Akiro asked his werewolf acquaintances.“Yup! In our case, it is believed to be the Moon Goddess who gave us our fated mates,” Savannah responded. “And unlike vampires, where there’s a Crystal that would show them who their mates are, werewolves just have to hope they cross paths with theirs.”“One way to know who a werewolf’s mate is when a certain scent gets too strong. They’ll know immediately what it means when, among a crowd of mixed scents, there’s a certain one that you smell so clearly and profoundly,” Pierce added. “Their wolf’s instinct would move on its own when they sense their mate is around.”Akiro nodded in understanding. “That’s kind of... uh, how do I put it in words? Difficult? Because you’d have to be lucky to cross paths with your mate then. Is there any case where a werewolf never meets their mate?”“Lots,” Wa
Third Person’s Point of ViewHeli was never the friendly type. He can count on one hand the number of people he considered friends. The rest were just acquaintances or just mere beings living in the same space as he is.One of his friends he considered was this woman clinging on to his arms. “— and it was so annoying, Helios! Alphas are just so infuriating, you know? All they want is a hole for their disgusting knots! I don’t want that! I’m not just an omega they can bed!”“Was it really disgusting?” Heli replied dryly. “I remembered you telling me before how you love being knotted.”Alliah glared at him, though her cheeks were tinted red. “Of course, it is! You know it’s only the heat talking.” She scoffed.Helios snorted at that, totally not believing it. Alliah pulled away from him, much to his relief, because he didn’t have the heart to push her away. “We haven’t seen each other for months and this is how you’ll treat me? You are so mean!”The vampire rolled his eyes, looking ex
Third Person’s Point of View“So... why haven’t you marked that bull-headed vampire yet?” Akiro abruptly turned around, eyes wide at Savannah’s question. “Uh, what?”“Come on! Don’t act clueless, cutie. We can smell him on you, but we don’t smell you on him,” the blonde said. “Not that your scent is strong. Humans do have weaker scents than vampires and shapeshifters, like merfolks. Well, merfolks smell like saltwater, so I don’t think that’s the right comparison.”Akiro just got even more confused by the blonde’s rambling. “I’m not acting clueless. I’m just quite surprised at how forward you are considering this is the first time we met.”The blue-haired man laughed loudly, while the other two just chuckled at the pouting Savannah. “He got you there, Sav,” the blonde man said.“Not even an hour since you met, and you have already asked him a personal question,” the blue-haired man shook his head. “It’s not my fault! I’ve been dying in curiosity when I saw Helios’ neck was still un
Third Person’s Point of View“This is all good and fun, but can anyone introduce that handsome man right there to us? He looked extremely delectable just standing there by himself.”Almost immediately, all attention was on Akiro. He instantly blushed as several pairs of eyes watched him awkwardly stand there, avoiding everyone’s gaze.“Shut the fuck up.”Akiro felt goosebumps all over his body when he heard his mate’s cold voice. His tone was harsh and sharp as he glared at the man who spoke. The blonde-haired man merely raised an eyebrow at Heli, unfazed by his tone and glare.“What? I just wanted to know his name,” the blonde said.Heli growls viciously at the man and, in a blink of an eye, was already on Akiro’s side, arms wrapped possessively around the confused human. “Helios?” Alliah looked so confused as she looked at Heli and Akiro, a frown on her face.But for the first time since they arrived, Heli ignored her. He continued glaring at the blonde man as he spoke. “This is my
Third Person’s Point of ViewAkiro was expecting days of traveling on a carriage or horse when they said they would travel to another kingdom. He was expecting days of seeing new places and scenery and meeting new vampires. He was expecting to rest in an inn or what after hours of traveling.It didn’t occur in his mind that they would arrive in the middle of the Kingdom of Regia Luximere’s courtroom in a matter of a few seconds once they all exited through the secret backdoor of their kingdom.He completely forgot that one of the Lancaster siblings has the ability to teleport to other places, which means an easy and quick travel without the hassle of carriages and coming to stop at some rest stops. Akiro wanted to facepalm as he forgot once again how different this world was, and how the vampires' abilities are so convenient to their way of living.He wondered if it was so easy to travel to different places, then why can’t he just go home after the meeting to check on his grandparent
Third Person’s Point of View“Grandma? Grandpa?” Akiro knocked on his grandparents’ door before he slowly opened it. He saw the two were just sitting on their bed with their backs leaning on the headboard. They were both holding a book.“Akiro. Come in, son,” his grandfather greeted him warmly.He smiled at them before approaching their bed.“What brings you here, Aki?” his grandmother asked.“I’ll leave later for the monthly meeting with the allied kingdom, remember?” The old couple frowned for a moment, as if remembering, before recognition flashed in their old eyes. “Ah. So it’s later.”Akiro nodded. “I wanted to spend time with you before I left. The next three days, my friend Shiro— you know him, right?” The old couple nodded in response. “He’ll be the one to bring your meals here. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to tell him, alright? And if you want to walk around the palace garden, just tell him as well. He volunteered that he'd escort you along with a few knights if you
Third Person’s Point of ViewAkiro woke up early the next day despite sleeping late, though Heli was already gone when he woke up. He assumed Heli was in the training room like what he usually does in the morning. After washing his face, Akiro went down to the dining hall for breakfast. Shiro was usually asleep this early in the morning so he decided to eat with the others today. There were already a lot of them inside, just chatting idly with each other. Heli wasn’t there, which means he’s not yet done in the training room.Akiro sat beside Carmela and Alter who were silently talking in the corner. “Good morning.” He greeted them.The two immediately turned to him. “Good morning, Aki. What a miracle that you joined us here,” Carmela teased him, which made him blush.“Well... Shiro’s still asleep so...”“It’s no problem, Aki. You don’t have to explain to us,” Alter gently said.Among all the Lancaster siblings’ mates, Akiro feels the most comfortable with Alter. He didn’t know if it
Third Person’s Point of ViewAkiro sat quietly on the chair beside Heli. The whole family was gathered in the private sitting room, which is their first gathering since the Lancaster men had returned from the fight. Despite knowing he didn’t do anything wrong, Akiro can’t help but feel nervous as the room slowly fills in with the family members. He glanced at each of them but no one looked as nervous as he was. It just made him even more nervous, which of course, Heli noticed.He slid an arm on his waist as he leaned closer. “Don’t be nervous. The King and Queen just have an announcement to make.”“What announcement?” “Our engagement.”“WHAT?” Akiro stood up in surprise, his blue eyes widened comically. Heli laughed at his reaction, followed by the others who seemed to hear their conversation.Akiro blushed so hard he felt like his face would explode any second by now from how hot it feels. Damn Heli!“I was just kidding. Sit back here,” Heli said, still grinning.Akiro glared at h