The ground beneath one of the attackers’ feet melted for a second, and he fell, eliciting laughter from the other two – a brief distraction, but enough for the beta to retaliate. Quick, precise blows. One to the chin, another to the legs.

Ace finally approached, with that carefree air of someone who sees the world through rose-colored glasses, even when everything is in ruins. And then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, the three looked at each other, in the midst of the end of a fight that should never have started.

It was strange how it all happened.

None of the three exactly fit the term that defined them. A divine being who spoke with the dead but was afraid of the living, a beta who refused to bow before alphas, and she, a newly arrived eximius who preferred silence to confrontation – but who, that afternoon, interfered without hesitation.

Now, looking back, Noah realized that that encounter hadn’t been a coincidence. Life sometimes chooses the most unlikely bonds to keep it going.

As far as Noah knew, both Artur and Dane helped their father a lot with managing the business and the city; Finn was still in college. But she had never heard anything about Rowan. Only a piece of advice from her uncle: no matter what happened, she should stay away from Rowan. But that only fueled her curiosity even more.

It could be said that, ever since she was introduced to the family, the Sutherlands had spoiled her as if she were their own daughter. Therefore, when Noah appeared with Ace, arm in arm and dressed elegantly, the family beamed with happiness.

After May hugged her for what seemed like an eternity, the older woman linked arms with Ace and began introducing him to various people. She loved to brag about her son’s lovely friends. Noah, on the other hand, slipped away to meet her friend or his siblings.

Knowing Finn’s personality, Noah was sure he’d be in the kitchen, and that’s where she found him, enthusiastically decorating some cookies on a tray, generously adding chocolate chips to them. Noah watched the scene leaning against the kitchen door-frame, amused by a tall and certainly handsome alpha handling cookies so delicately.

Artur then joined her; both watching Finn’s movements. Contrary to the preconceived notions of those who didn’t know him, although Finn seemed like a carefree type of person, in reality, he was extremely introverted, serious, and quiet, and only showed this side when it came to cooking, being the great food lover that he was. Sweets, then, were his favorite.

— Stop it.

— Stop what? — Artur asked, not knowing what he was talking about.

— You’re staring at me like I’m a lab rat. — Finn replied, clearly annoyed by his brother’s strange behavior; until he turned his head and saw Noah beside him.

Finn ran to her, pulling her into a hug and lifting her off the ground as he spun her around.

— Noaaaaah! — he shouted her name.

— I’m surprised how your personality changes when it comes to sweets or Noah. — Artur said, looking at his brother now, clinging to his friend, which made him laugh.

— What can I say? Food is better than people… except Noah. She’s the best. — he said, smiling broadly as he hugged her tightly.

Noah smiled too.

— Do you need help with anything? Although I think you can handle it… — she commented.

— No, everything’s ready! — Finn cheerfully placed the cookies in the oven and began to hum when he remembered something and stopped. — Oh, Noah, I have something for you in my room… There was a fair at college and they had lots of handmade things… I bought you something. Just a minute. — He then ran out of the kitchen, ignored the people in the living room, and went upstairs.

Artur looked at him and then looked around the living room.

As a welcome party for Rowan, his father had invited some close friends. It wouldn’t have seemed bad, if his father hadn’t, at the moment, been ignoring his other children while proudly telling everyone about Rowan’s great achievements during his business trip abroad. His mother was doing the same, repeatedly saying how much she was looking forward to him returning home, in just a few more minutes, as she was assuming.

They were forgetting the fact that Dane, Artur, and Finn, all together, raised about ten million within their community to help a neighboring town where some neighborhoods had been devastated by forest fires. In their free time, Dane and Artur went to Khastas and helped the citizens rebuild the town, while Finn made enough food for those who survived.

Thanks to this, the mayor of Khastas, Nikolas, allied himself with Berkshire. An alliance that, in Artur’s opinion, would be of great economic benefit in the future.

— What a joke, right? — Dane said without taking his eyes off the book he was reading, unbothered by the party and still wearing his navy blue pajamas. Perhaps because it was a designer silk set, people thought it was fashionable.

— You’re brave to walk around like that at a party in front of your mother… — Ace said, suddenly joining them and punching Dane in the shoulder.

— This, my dears, is a silent protest.

— Is it working?

— I think we’ll know in a few days… — Dane teased. — Hey, Noah, tell me something…

— What?

— You’re a witch, right?

— As far as I know, yes.

— Is it true that there are witches stronger than alphas?

— Yes. Why?

— How strong are you?

Ace, Artur, and Noah looked at him, finding the question strange, so unexpected. Just as she was about to answer, Finn came running.

— Damn it, Artur! Are you crazy?

Artur looked at everyone, confused.

— What have I done now?

— How could you… why did you bring her here, today, of all days? Have you all lost your minds?

Dane smiled, placed the book on his chest, and laughed loudly, now watching the scene unfold before him as if he could savor something delicious in it.

— That’s why I’m asking about your strength, Noah. Maybe the night will end with something like wine, only more… human.

The atmosphere between them grew tense, and what made them most nervous was Ace’s behavior. His eyes were pale, his body motionless, and his veins pulsed, emitting a faint light. Ace then let out a long sigh and came to his senses.

— Okay, that was weird. Honestly, I don’t understand anything you guys are saying… — Noah sighed. — Ace, what did you see?

— Rowan is coming home. — he replied.

— Exactly! Rowan, our brother Rowan is coming back. Right now. — Finn emphasized his brother’s name, exasperated. That sentence should have been enough, as he said, but no one understood him yet. — Dane, help me, please.

— Noah is an Eximius, isn’t she? — Dane said.

— Well, that’s kind of obvious. We all know that. — Artur scoffed. — What’s so wrong with that? Sorry, guys, maybe the alcohol made me dumb, I don’t know…

A loud horn blared from outside the mansion. A faint rumble of an engine approached, making Noah shift in her seat. Something wasn’t right, and she was slowly feeling something inside her. An unsettling sensation.

— And our dear brother, Rowan is… — Dane said, leaving space for them to remember.

— Alpha. — Artur replied.

— Ex-alpha, Artur, ex-alpha! Did you forget what he became? He’s like… a fucking vampire… How could you forget that?! — Finn grabbed Artur by the collar. — Why did you bring them here today?

Artur seemed confused and scared.

— Ace? — Noah took a step back, grabbing his friend’s arm.

— Your blood is… — he couldn’t finish the sentence. — We should get out of here, Noah. I’ve never seen so much blood in my life.

— Damn it, I forgot. What the hell, I completely forgot about that… — Artur looked at Dane. — Finn, your motorcycle. Give me the keys. I’ll get it out of here… — He turned to Noah, who was now staring intently at Ace. — Noah, let’s go.

— Of course… — Noah murmured, a little annoyed. — Man, I’m really unlucky in this life…

— Noah… — Artur said softly. — I’m sorry for bringing you here, I…

— Ace… — she called to her friend and raised her hand. — It’s not fair… What a fucked up life I have, huh? — she then laughed hysterically. — Oh, shit. — she wiped away a tear. — Oh, this is really going to be fun, Dane.

The three Sutherland brothers were now silently observing her strange behavior. She didn’t seem nervous when everyone else was.

— Fun?

— Vampires don’t exist, Dane. — Noah tried to control his laughter, wiping away the tears that wouldn’t stop falling. — Oh dear… Let’s see what your brother has become, huh?