— You don’t want me as an enemy.

The call didn’t make Cole back down; on the contrary, it made the man even more angry.

— Artur… Are you really going to defend these kinds of people? — he said through gritted teeth. — Have you forgotten where we stand in the hierarchy?

— If you’re done here, you’d better go… — Artur replied.

Noah stared at Cole in a way that went beyond mere appearance; she wasn’t analyzing his looks, but the blood that ran through his veins. Her years at college had taught her many things, both good and bad; her favorite lesson was how to alter people’s magical bloodlines. And, at that moment, she was seriously considering making Cole her first guinea pig.

Ace watched his friend curiously, unsure of what was going through her mind. Then she stopped, looked at Ace, and smiled. They both then turned their gaze to the group reluctantly leaving the pub. The tall, tanned man left some bills on the counter before leaving.

— For the work of frying the french fries. — he says.

Artur nodded.

The three watched the group disappear as they turned the corner.

— I spoke to Barlow on the way here… We’re going to close the pub for today. — he then sighed and looked at his friends. — Noah… How long has he been acting like this?

— He’s always treated me like this. — Noah replied, sitting down in one of the many empty chairs. — Trouble at the Sutherland mansion? — she asked, looking at him intently.

— I always forget that my best friends are wizards.

— Is that good or bad? — Ace asks, laughing. — Did Noah get it right?

— Uh-huh… — he murmurs. — I need my friends tonight.

— Rich people are something else, right? — Ace nudges Noah while laughing. — He shut down his friends’ workplace just to vent…

— I’m not going to complain. One more second, and by this time we’d be preparing the funeral for that bleached blonde.

— Bleached blonde? — Artur asks. — I don’t think I’ve ever heard Cole being called that.

— You’re welcome. — Noah shrugs.

.
.

In the southern part of the capital, as the city began to gain more greenery scenarios, and signs started to indicate suburban neighborhoods, there was a luxury condominium that housed some of Berkshire’s wealthiest families.

Artur lived there, alone, in a small, modern duplex. In the back, a large swimming pool reflected the moonlight. Noah was sitting on the edge of it, her pants pulled up to her knees and her feet in the water; Ace and Artur, on the other hand, had plunged headlong into the icy water.

The wind blew gently, bringing strands of hair to Noah’s face. She didn’t move, just staring at the dark sky, as if those thousands of dead stars could illuminate her with the answers she needed.

— So, why are we here? — Ace asked, breaking the silence.

— Shouldn’t you be back with your family at the mansion? — Noah asked, her eyes flashing amber for a millisecond. — Your older brother is back, right?

— The prodigal son returns home. — Artur chuckled dryly. — Let’s just say that with him at home, my presence is… unnecessary. He’s the perfect son, after all.

— Come on… There are no perfect people, Art.

— You still haven’t met Rowan, have you, Noah? — Ace asks, and seeing her shake her head, he continues. — Yeah, that’s what I thought… — Ace takes a sip of the beer leaning against the edge of the pool.

— There’s no such thing as a perfect person… — Artur sighs. — Tell that to my parents. Whenever Rowan comes to visit, he’s the center of attention. It’s like they don’t have any other children. It’s like… whatever I do, it’s never enough compared to my brother’s greatest achievements. I can’t even imagine what goes through Dane’s head in moments like these…

— Are you jealous of him? — Ace asked curiously.

— Jealousy, huh? — Artur crossed his arms and tilted his head, thinking deeply about his feelings. — When I was younger, it might have been jealousy… But we grow up, we mature… I don’t feel jealous. I don’t wish I had his life, much less to be like him. I’m quite satisfied with my appearance and my life. And I know my parents love me… they love all of us.

— So, how do you feel? Why do you always distance yourself and isolate yourself when he comes? — Ace asks.

— It’s not jealousy… — Noah says; her eyes gleam gold in the darkness of the night.

Ace stared at her.

— You’re scary sometimes.

Noah laughs.

— It’s more of a feeling of injustice, isn’t it, Art? But don’t confuse it with inferiority…

Artur wasn’t angry at his friends’ comments. He couldn’t help it. They were always direct, but they didn’t mean any harm.

— It adds anger. Or is it resentment? Of all of them for thinking Rowan is a role model… Come on, the idiot has flaws like everyone else. I’m just as competent at my job as he is. I’m also angry at being a beta. Even Dane, that jerk, is better…

— But don’t forget that Rowan isn’t exactly an alpha either… — Ace threw away the can of beer and grabbed another from the cooler. — Don’t forget that your brother went through hell, for a long time, to be accepted by everyone here. They wanted him dead… —

— Isn’t he an alpha? — Noah asks, confused. — Wait… Your older brother is an omega?

— No. — Artur shakes his head.

— I don’t understand then… — Noah shakes his head.

— It’s a long story… Maybe another day… — Ace sighs. — On the other hand, you, Art, are everyone’s favorite. You’re the most suitable to succeed your father, both on the Board and in the company…

Is this a good thing?

— If that’s what you want for your future, yes, it’s amazing. — Ace comments.

— What if I don’t know what I want?

— Why don’t you start with the simplest thing? — Noah decides to speak. — Just be yourself, Art. The Art we know, not the Artur Sutherland who needs to act like a Sutherland twenty-four hours a day. Just… be yourself.

— I don’t think my parents would approve of that advice…

— That’s why the advice is coming from a friend and not from them…

Artur laughed.

— Okay, I understand. But before I even consider following that advice, we’re having a welcome party for Rowan tomorrow. Would you two come to keep me company and prevent me from going crazy?

— Obviously! — Ace shouted. — I’d be crazy to refuse an invitation to a party at the mansion…

— I kind of knew you’d say that, Ace… — Noah shook his head, laughing at him. — Honestly, I’m not really in the mood to dress up and smile for rich people… But… I’ll make that effort for you, Art.

— Thank you. — Artur smiles at his friends and turns, moving away from the edge of the pool and floating in the water, observing the vast carpet of stars in the sky.

When she started working at the pub three years ago, even before she had formed a close relationship with Artur, Ace told her all about the city, including its most well-known residents. He also reminded her of the hidden hierarchy that was still maintained by some citizens.

The Sutherland family was the wealthiest and most influential in the region, and according to Ace, philanthropy seemed to be their middle name. When Noah inquired why, Ace explained that years ago, when the southern region of the country was attacked, the Sutherlands helped the poorest and weakest areas to rebuild, and in doing so, made Berkshire what it is today: a thriving city. In fact, most of the city’s businesses belonged to the Sutherland family or their associates.

Mr. Sutherland’s wife, May, was an omega with a rather strong personality. Beloved throughout the town, she was considered the town’s matriarch. May had four children: Finn, the youngest, at only twenty years old; Dane, twenty-eight years old; Artur, thirty years old; and the oldest, Rowan, thirty-five years old.

The wizards became friends with Artur after a rather unusual situation. One afternoon, Ace invited her to go hiking in a forest near the cabin where he lived; the man insisted it would be an ’adventure’ that would strengthen their friendship.

The sky was tinged with a faded lilac hue, a cold twilight. In a clearing, a man was being surrounded. Three alphas against one beta, but this beta didn’t behave like one. He bled from the corner of his mouth, his dark hair plastered to his forehead, and yet he remained standing.

Proud. Defiant. And strangely serene, as if he were used to it.

She remembered stopping. Frozen for a moment. He was the one who noticed her presence first, but he didn’t move. As if he were waiting to see how far this would go. Ace held her arm, uncertain what to do; he hated getting involved in fights. Unlike her.

Noah didn’t wait. She couldn’t wait. Not when a white thread connected that beta to her and Ace. A thread that indicated some kind of connection not yet materialized. Before Ace knew it, Noah had already interfered.

A snap of the fingers. An illusion.