"I've had enough of all your problems! Why can't you all be united as siblings for once? Even on a day when I'm supposed to be happy for my daughter, I get to act as a judge again." Styx kept ranting about how tired he is already of his children always at each other. 

"None of your children ever fights except when Lyne is around," Korba spoke up, her make-up and hair already rough and she had a blue dotted sheet wrapped around her body. 

"Lyne is cool, actually. I like her." Olivia's tiny voice filled the courtroom and everywhere turned silent. 

Lyne glanced at the wedding venue where the chairs have now been broken and scattered. The first time she would let her anger get the best of her. Or probably because her Wolf had anger issues. Her hair was still wet from the stream she had been thrown into during the tantrums and she had a white sheet around her shoulders too with Zeidan standing behind her.

"And when was Lyne going to tell us about her Wolf?" Reb asked and the room was filled with murmuring again.

"We were going to tell you all about it when we came. We just wanted it to be after the wedding." Zeidan chipped in and she was grateful he was there with her. Always there with her. 

"Since when did she have a Wolf?" It was Styx this time around and it took every willpower to stop herself from yelling at her Father. Asking him to tell her everything. About her mother and who she is. About her and everything. But he wouldn't budge, as usual. He will only dismiss her question as if it didn't matter.

"Just recently," Zeidan replied and with an excitement that churned her stomach added. "Some days after we mated."

"Oh my god! That's so cool." George commented and others added their comments too.

"So," Styx cleared his throat, and Lyne was forced to blush and smile. "Lyne had her Wolf after you mated with her? I knew it. I can never be wrong. My instinct can never be wrong."

"What had your instinct been telling you?" Lyne snapped, her face suddenly holding a long time of pain and grief. Memories of how much she had felt hatred washed through her. The bullying, the dismissal of her reports, how she had tended to her wounds herself, and how nobody would ever talk about her mother except her father who would only boast of her wits in wars.

"Was your instinct the one that told you I was pure human? Did it tell you to treat me like I'm nothing? Did it ask you not to talk about my mother? Did it?!" Her voice was shaky.

"You can't talk to our father that way, Lyne. You can take your proud ass somewhere else and not where you no longer belong." Korba replied, causing another fume of anger to well up inside her.

"You're right. I don't belong here." She could feel Zeidan's hands on her shoulders trying to calm her down. "But I'm grateful I'm not. I wouldn't want to be stuck in a place with no adventure." She paused and lifted her head. "And no ice cream."

"What?" Korba scoffed and the others laughed.

"You talk about ice cream. Have you ever tasted alcohol?" Korba asked, trying hard to suppress the laughter within her.

"You should try the game parlors too." Georgina offered and everyone started listing off places she could go to in Los Angeles. Immediately, the atmosphere in the room changed from being tense to a cheery and bubbly one too.

"Have you seen the beaches around?" 

"I went there once and I've been craving to go there again. Hmmm." Fifteen years old Reb inhaled and closed her eyes as if reliving the moments on the beach.

"Have you gone to play golf?"

"Yes." Lyne nodded. "Zeidan took me there once. It was wonderful."

"Wow." Korba smiled. "Maybe Azrael can take me golfing one day." 

"Since we are talking about tourist centers, has anyone tried the Sinners Bars? I hear the Vampires get their best blood 'tonics' from the bar." A familiar mocking voice butted in and Lyne's body quivered. 

"Hello, Sister. And brother-in-law." He turned around the room to face them. He still looked the same way. The same hot look that could sweep any girl off her feet. His golden hair still looked fleek and his lips were just as sweet as they are dangerous. Her brother had been very famous for sleeping with girls and dumping them thereafter. Where had he been since they arrived? Why wasn't he at the wedding? Has he started the Alpha job just yet? 

"How're you doing, Charles?" She replied, her voice a little shaky to her disappointment.

"Very well, thank you." He replied and his arms flung wide open, inviting her for a hug. 

She looked up at her husband who nodded for her to hug him.

"It's just a hug, I believe. It wouldn't hurt." Lyne heard him say, his voice hushed.

Like a prey walking right into a trap, she moved into her brother's arms and as they were wrapped around hers, something stung her nostrils. She sniffed his shirt and although the others thought they were finally getting along, only one name filled her mind.

Shelbrooke.

★★★★★★★★★★

"I still can't believe it. Charles is working for Shelbrooke. The most wanted criminal and enemy of the King of Vampire city and by marriage also an enemy to the Alpha of this Wolf kingdom. How fucked up is that?" Lyne chattered off as she got out of the bathroom in her room. 

Nothing had changed in the room save the bed that was made bigger to contain the both of them. Zeidan was busy looking at the designs of the room while he listened to his wife rant about Shelbrooke's scent on Charles. 

"I don't think it's possible, Lyne. You haven't even seen Shelbrooke before, let alone know his scent. You're just being paranoid."

"Well, maybe I am. Maybe I'm not. But my Wolf seems to be able to discern smells."

"But this one is too particular to be true," Zeidan replied. He was now taking off his shirt. "Do you mind talking about what happened between you and Korba earlier today?"

Lyne's hand gripped the towel tighter and with what she has been able to discover. Telling Zeidan anything about her has never been scary. She could tell him anything without worrying. And she was sure if she told him about Azrael, he would tease her madly about it.

"The more reason why I wanna hear it." She felt his warm body press against her back and she leaned in. "I want to know what fascinated you about him."

"Hmmm, nothing so interesting. Just the normal kid romance that has to do with admiring an adult's bravery and appearance. Let's just say I had a stupid crush on him."

She shivered when she felt his hand brush some strands of wet hair on her face. 

"Tell me the truth. When you saw me at first, what was on your mind?"

Lyne smiled as she remembered that afternoon again. She couldn't help but marvel at how beautiful he looked and his smiles were captivating. 

"To be honest," she started. "I think I fell in love with your appearance and I was so mad at myself for thinking I was in my right senses to have admired you or like you."

"So it was love at first sight. Just like I felt towards you." Zeidan concluded and she hunched a shoulder, her lips pouted as if she disagreed with him. He laughed and turned her towards him, his eyes gazing hungrily down her body. It made her toes curl.

"Don't even think about it." She tried hiding her smile as she warned him.

"Look into my eyes and tell me you don't want to get laid."

"My siblings' rooms are so close by, they're going to hear us." But then he stared right hard at her and she understood what he was thinking. "No."

"You wanted to experience how sex parties are done. How about I teach you now?" Laughing in excitement, he grabbed her arms and pinned her to the bed, their eyes not leaving each other. 

"I hope you're ready." And when she nodded, he rose to grab his tie which hung loosely on the dress rack, his smile belying mischief and many things she was sure he had imagined doing to her as she laid on the bed, submissive and ready to obey his command. But right here under her father's roof?

Well, maybe. It wouldn't hurt. She had wanted him since they arrived anyway.