Chapter seventeen: Friendship

Alina’s POV:

The kitchen was surprisingly normal. Wooden counters, a large iron stove, and herbs hanging from the windows like this was someone’s grandma’s house. Not what I expected from a vampire estate.

Xavier—the guy Ryan introduced, slim build, perpetual I-don’t-care expression—was already there, perched on the counter’s edge with a bowl in hand, lazily chewing what looked like cereal

“Look who finally crawled out of her hole,” he said lazily, “Thought you might’ve fainted after your little performance earlier.”

He was referring to the scene I made when I got here— stomping my leg against the wall like a tantruming child, after what happened with Valerian at the cafe, only to turn and find five vampires watching me like I’d lost my mind. I’d muttered a string of curses and bolted upstairs. too upset to feel embarrassed. Dignity? Never met her.

Cerys shot him a look. “Don’t be an ass.”

“I’m not,” he said, mock-offended, though there was a smile pulling at his lips. This was officially the first conversation I was having with him. what a wonderful way to start it

Cerys breezed in behind me, tossing something onto the table. A sealed pouch of deep red powder

“Hope you don’t mind,” she said, far too casual. “I’m making tea.”

I was already shaking my head. “If it smells like blood, I’m leaving.”

She turned, wide-eyed. “You don’t like bloodroot tea?”

“It’s blood,” I said flatly.

“It’s not—okay, fine. It’s a little blood. Infused, but who doesn't like this stuff?”

just stared at her, dumbfounded. Not everyone finds joy in sipping blood.

Xavier chuckled. “She’s Lycan, remember?”

Cerys rolled her eyes as she poured water into a pot. “Right. You guys prefer raw meat and violence.”

“And we don’t steep it in mugs and call it healing,” I muttered, folding my arms. the idea of drinking human blood is utterly deranged

“You’re missing out,” Xavier smirked.

“She thinks it’s gross,” Cerys said, walking past him. “Which, you know, is fair. Lycan taste buds and all.”

“And I stand by that fact,” I said. “I don’t even get how you guys drink that stuff.”

“It’s a lifestyle,” Xavier replied smugly.

Cerys tossed him a look. “Not everyone’s into your... lifestyle, Xavier.”

He just shrugged, sipping again while locking eyes with me like he was trying to prove a point. slow sip staring at me just to prove a point.

“Careful you don’t choke. That blood might be laced with a vengeful spirit of the human it was taken from” I said with a sweet smile. noticing the way he coughed slightly, he coughed slightly, and I grinned in victory.

“You’ve got the attitude down,” Cerys said with a grin. “Valerian definitely didn’t bring home a quiet one.”

At the mention of his name, my shoulders tensed.

Cerys, of course noticed. “So, how’s the mate bond treating you? Weird, right? All the heat and instinct and no logic, I heard it's pretty wild for Lycans”

I glanced toward Xavier. He was pretending not to care but definitely listening.

“So,” she continued ignoring the fact that I'm not answering, hopping onto a stool and motioning for me to do the same, “you and Valerian, huh?”

I stiffened. “We’re not a thing.

“Oh?” she asked, raising a brow. “Because from what I heard, the bond thinks otherwise.”

I groaned and dropped my forehead to the counter. “Please don’t start.” I already had enough thinking as it is

"Why?, what's wrong with it?"

“I’m a Lycan.”

“And?”

“And vampires and Lycans don’t mix,” I said, arms crossed

Xavier raised an eyebrow. “Says who? Ancient history?”

“Common sense.”

"So you guys are bound now?" she said staring at the mark

"bound?"

“Bound. Cosmic string. Fate. Whatever you wanna call it,” Cerys supplied. “It’s more common in Lycans than vampires. You guys imprint. We usually just flirt, fight, and move on.”

“You have a vampire mate?” I asked, more curious than I wanted to sound.

Cerys laughed. “Gods, no. But I’ve slept with Lycans. More than once.”

I choked. “You what?”

“I’ve had my share.”

My head snapped up, eyes wide “What?” still trying to comprehend what she was saying

She just grinned at my expression “Relax. Just really good cardio. Don’t even get me started on their stamina.”

“Lycans and vampires don’t mix,” I repeated, clinging to that one truth I grew up with.

“That war ended ages ago. In this day and age, no one cockblocks.”

My jaw dropped. “Oh my god.”

“What?” she said innocently. “I like trying things.”

I stared, utterly speechless, I've never heard anything about Lycans and vampires mixing up not talk of being sexually involved

She cackled, clearly enjoying every second.

Xavier stood, dropped his bowl in the sink, and stretched. “Don’t let her mess with you too much. She’s been like this since the Dark Era.”

“I’m older than you, idiot,” she called after him.

“I know. And somehow still not wiser.”

He disappeared down the hallway, and Cerys turned back to me, smug. “See? We’re all one big dysfunctional family and welcome to the chaos" she was silent for a while before adding"you’re the one bonded to a vampire, but I'm just saying... it’s not that deep.”

After that, things settled into a more normal rhythm. She brewed a second cup of tea for me, and I watched her the entire time just to make sure she didn’t slip blood into it for laughs. I even sniffed it. Twice.

"You really need to fix your trust issues,” she said with a laugh. Then she gave me a curious look.

I stared at her cautiously, taking a sip from the tea

“So… how come there’s no info on you online?”

I blinked. “What?” staring at her not understanding what she was implying

“There’s nothing about you. No pictures. No stories. Except one photo with your family. And seeing you’re the only heiress to Hale Corporation, there should be news about you everywhere, believe me I searched but couldn't find anything"

"What?" my brows frowned further in confusion till I understood She was talking about my family’s business in the human territories—what my brother took over when he became the Lycan king. My chest tightened and I felt a slight pang, I haven't talked to them since I started this journey and thinking about this now, I really really missed them

"I've never left my pack" I said, trying to keep the sadness out of my tone, I might miss my pack but I'm not ready to return "So there's no way there would be news about me"

Her eyes widened as she stared at me

"Never ever?"

I nodded.

A slow grin spread across her face. “So you’re like… a newbie in the real world.”

“I have a phone,” I muttered. “I’m not that behind.”

“Seeing it online and experiencing it are very different,” she said, clasping her hands together. “I know—why don’t I take you out? Shopping sounds like a perfect way to start, in this group made of guys, I finally have a girl to do this with, I don't care what you call it but this must be a blessing in disguise”

I barely stopped myself from jumping at the idea, I nodded trying to keep my excitement in check.

My clothes were always handled by designers, but I’d stopped wearing most of them. There wasn’t anywhere to go. I’d always wanted to experience something like this, shopping till you're exhausted