Diamond was standing outside of Aziza and Layla’s apartment before knocking on the door with the back of her knuckles. Diamond took a step back as she heard movement in the apartment and the door opened slightly with Aziza’s head peeking out.

“Morning,” Diamond said, “Layla needs to get ready as Ophelia is coming to pick her up.” 

“Okay, wait…why is she coming to pick up Layla?” Aziza asked with slight concern in her voice. 

“Moonlight Coven interview,” Diamond sighed. “Normally it takes weeks to months to get one but with three big members recommending her, and what her sub-race is, she got an express ticket to get one.”

“Oh, well I’ll wake her up…guessing that means we are going to be manning the shop?” Aziza asked and Diamond gave her the thumbs up. “Alright, I’ll get ready to go too.”

“Please do, also to remind you both, the walls in the apartments are thin.” Diamond said and Aziza just lit up bright red from the comment. Aziza closed the door quickly and Diamond chuckled as she returned to her own apartment. 

Layla was twirling her thumbs while sitting beside Ophelia in her suv and feeling nervous and unsure what to say to Ophelia. They had dropped off Aziza and Diamond at the Nightshade Inc store and now they were heading to the west side of the city.

“So little Az is a bit passionate in the bedroom?” Ophelia said finally breaking the silence and Layla turned bright red from her words. “Hickey mark on your neck is showing.”

“T-Thank you,” Layla said as she shifted the turtle-neck sweater she was wearing. “Normally giving me a few but last night…she was more passionate.”

“That is normal for any therianthrope when they don’t have hold back,” Ophelia chuckled and adjusted her own sweater. “Though hickeys are very normal thing for werejackals.”

“Really, what about biting?” Layla asked as she shifted her collar bit more. “Not that I’m complaining…”

“You’ve been dating for three years now, right?” Ophelia asked and Layla nodded. “It's normal for jackals to give lovers love bites and hickeys as they embed their scent into their mate.”

“That seemed a bit weird.” Layla said but her heart was fluttering as the thought of Aziza claiming her.

“They only do that when they find the mate they want to stay with forever.” Ophelia stated and chuckled. “I’m guessing Az had a nickname in high school, something like ‘One week girl’?” 

“Yes, that was due to only dating someone for a week before breaking up with them.” Layla said. “Whenever I asked her about it, she would just say something was off.”

“Even in a weakened state the werejackal mating instincts run hard.” Ophelia laughed and Layla tilted her head. “Werejackal are very picky with their mates but once they find ‘the one’ they are loyal to the end.”

“Then that means I’m the one for Az.” Layla said with a blush and smile on her face and her heart happily fluttering but a thought creeped into her mind. “Miss. Ashwood, how long do werejackal live?” 

Ophelia glanced over to Layla and saw her clutching her chest with a worried look on her face. “Without outside forces a therianthrope can live at least two hundred years. We know this due to a little old asian weretiger, she may have lived longer but she took her own life.” 

“She took her own life, why would she do that?” Layla asked and clutched her chest a bit more. “What kind of outside forces are you talking about?”

“At that age she barely did anything by herself, her healing factor was failing, and cancer would take her months later if she didn’t end it.” Ophelia sighed as leaned back in her seat a bit. “Outside forces like fighting other therianthrope or being frozen in iceberg.” 

“Frozen in an iceberg?” Layla asked with complete confusion and threw her off her depressing spiral of questions. “Who was frozen in an iceberg?”

“That’s for another time as we are here,” Ophelia said as the SUV stopped in a parking lot attached to a large building. The building looked like an old mental hospital that had been upgraded for modern uses. “Welcome to the main branch office of Moonlight Coven in Wacksqueslia City.”

“This used to be a mental hospital,” Layla stated and Ophelia smiled. “I remember it from history class, there was a big fire that caused it to be closed down.” 

“Yep and years later the coven bought it and fixed it up.” Ophelia said as she unbuckled her seatbelt. “The main floor and basement levels are for business, while the upper floors are living spaces for vampires and family members.”

Layla took off her seatbelt and left the SUV when Ophelia was getting out of it too. “Is there a reason why they choose to live in a coven house?” Layla asked.

“Some are saving up to buy their own place, some can’t live around humans, and some have jobs that make them travel around.” Ophelia said as she led Layla into the building. “The reason is many but you don’t have to worry about it as you have an apartment.”

Once inside the lobby room had a large floor space with few large planters against the wall and in the center of the room is a round reception desk. The receptionist bolted up in seeing Ophelia but she motioned for them to sit down and they did.

“This way, Layla.” Ophelia said to lead Layla down a hallway that was left of the reception desk. It led to a room that was a restaurant with booths and Ophelia stopped in front of a corner booth with Anderson already sitting there.

“Just on time, Ophelia.” Anderson said as he looked at his phone and smiled on his face seeing the homescreen. 

“Layla Lilacwood, this is Anderson Silvervine, Diamond’s father,” Ophelia said and Anderson waved to Layla, she waved back. “Just wait here with him, I’ve something to do before the interview.”

“O-Okay.” Layla said as she slid into the booth across from Anderson and he took off his hat, putting it on the table. Ophelia turned around to walk away and out of sight. 

“So you’re little Az’s mate,” Anderson said with a charming smile. “You're a very lucky gal, though a bit surprised you don’t have a ring already.”

Layla paused as she gently fiddled with her ring finger, “Truth, I always had a feeling Az wanted to ask but due to my family she held back.” Layla said while looking at her finger. “Maybe that will change with moving out of their place.”

Anderson rubbed his goatee and smiled, “Are you currently looking for a part-time job by any chance?” Anderson asked as pulled out a business card. 

“I was thinking of picking something up,” Layla said and Anderson slid the card to her. She took the card to see ‘Corvus' Nest’ and that it was a bar chain that had been around since 1710. “Looking for any night shift part timers?”

“I do have a night shift for a medical student.” Anderson smirked as he held hand out to Layla shake and she took a hold of it. “Welcome to Corvus’ Nest team, Miss. Lilacwood, or will be Mrs. Smith soon?”

“No, Az has hinted at taking my family name instead of keeping hers.” Layla giggled and Anderson chuckled. “She t-” 

Layla stopped as the booth behind her started speaking a bit loudly and it caught her attention. The booths were separated by large planters and large flush greenery, though it didn’t soundproof the booths anyway. Anderson’s attention was also locked onto the other booth and kept quiet. 

“If we get in this coven we will be able to do anything.” A male voice said. “Just look at that rootfang beast that killed all those other beasts, she got away with it, there was no way the coven didn’t help.” 

“Well not right away, man, we will have grease wheels a bit,'' another male voice said. “The rootfang’s step-dad is well connected.”

“Probably just asked ‘daddy’ to get her cleared,” Male one said. “Maybe even gave him a little action from it too.”

Anderson silently snarled from the words and Layla felt disgusted by the men’s words. Layla noticed Anderson’s hair tips started to turn black and black feathers started to grow on his neck. 

“I heard the rootfang got a sweet little thing under her wing,” Male two chuckled. “I think I could get some action from her if I give her some food?” 

Layla’s eyes widened and there was a large crunching sound causing silence in the room. Anderson’s eyes widened seeing Layla’s hands shift into hunting mode and one of her clawed hands just crushed the table edge. 

“That was reinforced with magic,” Anderson could only muster up at the sight of her crushing the table. His hair had returned to normal and the feathers had disappeared. 

“Excuse me, the heads of the coven are ready for you.” A female voice said and they looked to see a blonde hair woman in a suit. “Please follow me, please.”

Anderson grabbed his hat to put it on and got out of the booth, Layla followed suit. Layla crossed her arms to hide her clawed hands and the two followed the lady to the elevator in back of the room. 

“You know the floor, Mr. Silvervine, yes?” The woman asked as the elevator door opened up and Anderson tipped his hat.

“Yes I do,” Anderson said and leaned into the lady's ear to whisper something to her. Layla didn’t catch what he said as she was glaring over her shoulder to the two vampire males that were talking before. “This way, Layla.”

Layla’s head snapped to the elevator and entered it once see Anderson was standing in it. “Yes, sir.” Layla said as she entered the elevator. She closed her eyes to calm down and let out a loud sigh.

“It’s alright to lose control of your powers, you just got them.” Anderson said as he adjusted his hat. “Or is it from losing your cool? Piece of advice, get used to feeling rage when dealing with other vampires.”

Layla checked her hands and they have returned to normal, “Why, are they all as bad as those two?” Layla asked and put her thumbs in her belt loops. 

“No but every vampire has some prideful thing that can get under your skin.” Anderson said as the elevator stopped. “The real trick is not ripping out their throats when you do get angry.” 

“Right, not acting on it.” Layla said as the doors opened and Anderson stepped out, Layla followed behind. 

They walked down a short hallway to a large desk with a secretary sitting behind it and behind her was a pair of large wooden doors. Layla could hear yelling in a different language behind the door and Anderson leaned over to Layla.

“Irish Gaelic,” Anderson whispered and Layla nodded before hearing another language being yelled. “French.” Layla’s eyes widened when Ophelia’s voice rang out but yelled in language. “Oh, it's been awhile since I’ve heard her yelling in Greek.”

“What are they yelling about?” Layla asked and was a bit worried it was about her joining the coven.

“My guess…trying to move a couch into the interview room from the side room.” Anderson said and Layla thought she heard the secretary snicker from Anderson’s words.

One of the doors opened up and Ophelia stepped out of the room, “We’re ready for you, please come in.” Ophelia said as she adjusted her suit jacket. 

Ophelia led them into the room, the room was sparse with only one long desk that had three chairs and a very comfortable looking couch in front of the desk. 

Layla sat down on the left side of the couch and Anderson sat on the right, leaving the middle open. Ophelia sat down behind the desk, in the seat closest to Layla and nodded to her.

Layla looked over to the other three people in the room and sat behind the desk. “Hello, Miss. Lilacwood, my name is Jeanne Lavigne, one of the heads of Moonlight Coven,” The woman beside Ophelia. She had short blonde hair, blue eyes, pointed ears, and inverted triangle body shape.

“I’m Finn Moore,” The man closest to Anderson. He had long ginger hair tied in french braid, pure black eyes, and his body shape reminded her of Superman. “I’m basically the head of HR of the coven.” 

“You already know me, this interview is just formal,” Ophelia said and the other two nodded. “You are an official member of Moonlight Coven and we had three choices for your guardian since you are very new to our world.”

“And guessing with me here, means I was chosen to be her guardian.” Anderson said as took a more relaxed sitting position. 

“That is right, Nix and Ophelia were the other two choices but Nix is overloaded with her work.” Finn said, flipping open a folder. “And Ophelia has her hands full with working with the Cleaners and Cops.” 

“With winter, Anderson’s schedule is opened up.” Ophelia said and Anderson smirked. “His wife, Amaris, really gets affected by winter, basically complete hibernation.”

“Actually that won’t be happening this year,” Anderson said and all three paused and looked at Anderson with worry. Anderson leaned over to Layla, “You’re going give first hand experience in dealing with a pregnant therianthrope.”

“Oh no.” Jeanne groaned as put her face into her hands and Finn leaned back in his chair while muttering something in Gaelic. Layla raised a brow from their reactions and glanced at Ophelia, who was glowing happily with a smile. 

“How long has she been pregnant and does Diamond know about it?” Ophiela then paused to think what she asked. “What am I asking, of course she knows with her nose.”

“Three months now,” Anderson said as he put up two fingers with a big toothy grin. “We did tell Tullia about it a month but Diamond silently confirmed it two months ago.”

“Please tell me, the sperm donor isn’t part of a high society family,” Jeanne asked with her face still in her hands. “We don’t want another Vi family incident.” 

“There will be nothing like the Vi family incident this time.” Anderson said and Jeanne sighed after hearing that. “We are off topic, we are here because Layla is here for her interview.” 

“Right, shall we begin then,” Finn said as he leaned forward. “So…what would you like for brunch?”