Chapter 113 - Vampire

Quickly, the plans they'd agreed upon yesterday changed. Or rather, they were moved to a later time. The joint run had to wait as Ryan's parents delivered some shocking news.

"Cullen and Mark have agreed to meet you." The moment Natalie said it, Ryan's attention snapped up. Evan glanced between him and his mom, confused, since neither of the names sounded familiar to him.

"They did?" Ryan asked, seeking reassurance.

"Uh-huh," Natalie confirmed. "Actually, they wanted to talk to both of you after I gave them some details."

"Uhm..." Evan finally decided to voice his confusion. "Who are they?"

Ryan only now seemed to realize that his mate wasn't quite in the loop. He turned his gaze to him, and with his attention came an explanation. "Cullen is the vampire I mentioned to you. Mark is his mate."

Now Evan understood at least something, but another question still lingered. "Why do they want to see us?"

"They have information regarding Shadow Wolf," Natalie answered, speaking instead of Ryan.

"Really?" Ryan hadn't discussed the subject with him in a while, and Evan hadn't asked if he'd found out anything new, figuring that if he had, he'd automatically tell him. But it seemed that he'd kept something from him after all.

"When I called to ask if they had found anything new, Dad told me they hadn't had any success yet. However, the fact that they had been asking around for this information had reached Cullen, and as it turned out, he knew what it was about. But he didn't want to talk about it without further explanation," Ryan revealed what he had learned earlier.

"He was surprised that anyone even knew about the concept," Oscar added, providing further information.

"I asked Dad if they'd be willing to meet us," Ryan continued.

"They agreed, but only on the condition that you both come. Later, I heard from the packmates who live near them that they hadn't seen them so intrigued in a long time. Apparently, you've uncovered something that can capture the attention of even a decades-old vampire," Oscar chuckled.

"So, I'm going to meet a vampire?" Evan couldn't believe his ears. As excited as he was to finally make progress with Shadow Wolf, the potential encounter with a vampire intrigued him even more.

"You're supposed to stop by at any point during the day," Natalie interjected into their conversation again. "But just the two of you. I'm sure Angie and Michael will understand."

"We will," came a voice from behind them. Both Evan and Ryan were so engrossed in the conversation that they hadn't heard the footsteps approaching and turned around in surprise.

"But I want all the details later," Angie added, sitting down at the table next to them.

"Just make sure you don't get into trouble," Michael said, following her lead.

"When was the last time I got into trouble?" Ryan asked, turning to him in disbelief. It was clear he hadn't expected such advice and had no idea where it had come from.

"You're dating trouble," Michael explained simply, giving Ryan no further attention as he reached for the toast and jam.

Evan turned to Ryan's parents in alarm at Michael's words, but they didn't seem scandalized by the revelation—in fact, quite the opposite. Amused smiles played on their faces as they continued eating, as though they hadn't taken Michael's comment seriously at all.

Once again, Evan found himself comparing their reaction to how he knew his own parents would have responded. The moment they heard the word trouble associated with someone Evan was spending time with, they'd have immediately forbidden him from hanging out with that person. They would've insisted that the individual was a bad influence and warned him not to follow their example. Of course, in reality, Evan would've been the bad influence in that situation, but they would've chosen to overlook that.

Ryan seemed to sense that Evan's thoughts had taken on a more bitter aftertaste and squeezed his hand encouragingly in his lap, drawing his attention.

Evan gave him a grateful smile and nodded, silently assuring him that he was fine. More than fine, in fact, as he remembered once again who they were going to meet today.

"When are we leaving?" he asked.

"We can head out right after breakfast," Ryan suggested. "That way, we'll get some answers and still have time for a run."

"Sounds great." Evan's wide smile reflected his relief that his patience wouldn't be tested today.

"I'll pack you some cupcakes so you don't go empty-handed," Natalie chimed in immediately, and true to her word, she did just that.

Half an hour later, Ryan and Evan were walking through the streets of The Dawn Guardians Pack territory, a box of cupcakes in hand and curiosity filling their minds.

Evan was surprised by how many people knew his mate and greeted him, even from a distance—and not just in the immediate neighborhood. Ryan's friendly demeanor seemed to have earned him recognition throughout the pack. Influenced by the welcoming atmosphere, Evan followed his example, greeting everyone with a smile and occasionally exchanging a few words. The more he got to know Ryan's pack, the more comfortable he felt in it. It was a stark contrast to the stifling atmosphere and constant wariness he felt back home.

The most important thing Evan had back home, apart from his broken family, was Angie. But now that she was here with him, Evan had one more reason to feel such a positive connection to this pack.

"I really like it here," he admitted aloud.

Ryan seemed pleased by his words, though there was also a hint of surprise in his expression in the most positive sense. "I'm glad to hear that. You're always welcome here, love. My parents adore you, you got along with my friends right away, and, of course, I'll always be here waiting for you with open arms."

Talking about a potential future made Evan reflect on the decision they'd have to make together in just a few months. Ryan's words made him consider a possibility that had not long ago been unimaginable to him. Now, however, he was beginning to see it differently.

"Don't forget all the dogs I haven't gotten to pet properly yet," he added to his list.

His boyfriend laughed and added in a playful tone, "What about the cats?"

Evan pursed his lips into a thin line, pretending to give the question serious thought. "Maybe I'll overcome myself," he said in a mock-serious tone.

Ryan instantly recognized the humor in his words and chuckled. "You'll love them by the end of this visit," he assured him confidently.

"I wouldn't bet on it," he replied, letting out a sound that exaggerated his doubts, even though they were clearly playful.

Ryan laughed, the sound so light and carefree, and gave Evan's hand a gentle squeeze. Now that they were far from North Hallson, Evan didn't care who might see them. He gave his boyfriend all the affection he wanted—holding his hand without hesitation or stealing the occasional sweet kiss.

Their good mood and humor lasted until they reached their destination—a house that, at first glance, looked no different from the others. Nothing about it hinted that it was home to the only vampire for miles around.

Evan had always imagined vampires as creatures surrounded by a deadly calm and eerie silence, but this house proved him wrong. Birds chirped, the breeze danced through the greenery, and the laughter of children echoed down the street.

Together, they walked up to the ornately carved wooden door, and Ryan knocked. Seconds later, they heard footsteps from inside.

The fact that the door hadn't been opened by a werewolf was betrayed by the scent first. Evan couldn't exactly describe what the man in front of him smelled like. Rather, it was a lack of scent—like smelling dry stone, unchanged by its environment. Moreover, his scent was as cold as fresh snow and hit his nose like a sharp peppermint. The only thing in it that was immediately discernible and unmistakable was the faint hint of blood.

"Cullen. Hello. Hope we're not catching you at a bad time," Ryan greeted him with a smile, and Evan added a simple, "Hey."

"Ryan." The vampire nodded in greeting. "And you must be Evan." He turned his attention to the wolf, who was as yet unknown to him.

"I am," he confirmed. He had no idea what else to say, too distracted by the man in front of him. He studied Cullen, searching for every detail that screamed he was no ordinary human. The only word that first came to mind when he looked at him was beautiful. His face was perfectly symmetrical, his figure slender but not overly so, and despite the fact that he should have been an undead creature, his skin had a vibrant color with a slight flush in his cheeks.

"Pleased to meet you." He gave Evan a soft smile, which Evan didn't hesitate to return. "Come in." Cullen stepped back from the door to let them in.

As soon as they were inside, Ryan decided to hand over the gift his mother had prepared. "My mom sent you some cupcakes," he explained, and Cullen seemed pleasantly surprised as he accepted the box of sugary snacks from him.

"Thank you. I can offer you some tea in exchange."

Evan and Ryan automatically accepted his offer and followed him out to the patio.

"Feel free to take a seat. Mark's gone for a run, but he should be back in a bit. I'll get the tea ready."

"Thank you."

Cullen disappeared back into the house, and Evan and Ryan sat down on the wooden bench with padded cushions. They both couldn't stop looking around; this nook behind the house looked more than cozy. The wooden roof above them created a pleasant, cool shade, while from the side, the sun's rays gently fell on them, caressing their skin.

"One day, we'll have a home like this too," Ryan broke the silence.

"I'd like that." Evan turned to him with a smile. Though they still hadn't sorted out their plans for the near future, the distant one looked more than promising.

Before Cullen could return with the tea, a brown wolf ran onto the patio. He gave the visitors a brief glance before stretching and moving to the door of the house, seemingly unconcerned. Ryan stood, presumably to help him open the door, but it wasn't necessary.

"Welcome back, darling." Cullen let the wolf in while stepping out himself, holding a tray with a teapot and cups in his hands.

The wolf rubbed against his legs gratefully before disappearing into the depths of the house.

"Mark will be joining us in a moment," Cullen announced, setting the tray down on the wooden table. He poured tea into the cups and placed two of them in front of the visitors, keeping the other for himself. "Help yourself to the sugar, if you like."

Once he was comfortably seated across from them, Ryan and Evan reached for their cups, adding sugar from the sugar bowl before carefully lifting the cups to their mouths. Evan had never drunk from a ceramic tea set before—much less one this finely decorated—so he handled it with extra care.

"This tea is lovely," Evan complimented. He couldn't stay quiet, as he had never really had tea this good. He wasn't a fan of tea, always preferring coffee, but if all tea tasted like this, he might reconsider his choice.

"Thank you." It seemed like the right thing to say. "My family has a penchant for quality tea."

"Once you taste tea from Cullen's family, you won't want to drink any other. It's both a gift and a curse," Mark said as he opened the door, joining the conversation.

"I believe that," Evan replied with a soft smile, though he felt slightly uneasy at suddenly being in the presence of both of them. A powerful aura emanated from them the moment they stood side by side. Though he hadn't been worried about being in the presence of a vampire until now—especially since he lived peacefully among wolves—there was something murky in the air that sent chills down his spine.

Mark stood next to his mate and placed his hands on Cullen's shoulders. Cullen placed his hand on top of his, and suddenly, they looked like a couple from a medieval painting of noblemen. Evan couldn't help but stare at them.

Sensing his inner turmoil, Ryan grasped his hand, his thumb gliding soothingly over Evan's knuckles.

"You didn't come here for tea, though," Cullen said abruptly, changing the subject.

Ryan cleared his throat and took up the explanation. "I was told you could help us regarding the Shadow Wolf," he said, cutting straight to the point.

The vampire nodded. "But first, we'd like to know why you're so curious about it." He sipped his tea and then set the cup on the table, paying no further attention to it. The atmosphere suddenly grew more serious, and Evan knew they had to choose their next words carefully.

Evan followed Cullen's example and put down his tea as well. "We're trying to help our friend," he replied honestly.

"A friend?" Cullen repeated, sounding surprised.

"Uh-huh," Evan confirmed with a nod. "He lives in witches territory."

"That doesn't exactly sound like ideal living conditions. What is he? I'd guess wolf, but since you're asking about Shadow Wolf, that's probably not the case." Cullen's tone shifted to genuine curiosity, clearly intrigued by the story.

"He's human," Evan revealed. "He's a warlock's weave," he added.

"Warlock's weave?" Cullen repeated. "It seems your situation is more complicated than we thought."

Evan nodded. "It's been a long time since my friend moved to a town that's in the heart of witch territory. He was afraid he was losing his mind. Plus, he was drawn to one of the warlocks from the very start, and he didn't know why," he began to explain from the beginning.

"The warlock still hasn't told him he's his soulmate. The problem is that everyone around him quickly stopped hiding who they really are without giving him an explanation. It's like they're waiting to see how he'll react," Evan continued.

"And how does he react?" Cullen asked, his tone carefully neutral, revealing nothing of what he thought so far.

"He's tried different approaches. Asking didn't help, as they always gaslighted him. He tried ignoring it and even responding sarcastically, but nothing worked. In particular, his warlock continues to show magic in front of him without offering any explanation," Evan revealed.

"That's odd," Mark responded. He didn't elaborate further, instead waiting—like Evan and Ryan—for Cullen to weigh in.

The vampire remained silent, seeming to ponder their words. When he finally spoke, it was with a question: "And you're sure he's his weave?"

Ryan nodded, taking it upon himself to clarify. "During our research, we came across a soulmate ritual. We tested it on ourselves to confirm it works. Then we taught it to our friend Rory so he could verify for himself that he truly is a weave of the witch."

Cullen nodded, but instead of answering, he reached for his cup of unfinished tea. He raised it to his lips, taking a slow sip. Then, before setting it back on the table, he lifted it higher, offering it to his mate.

The moment the cup was in Mark's hands, the vampire resumed the conversation. "Supernatural beings hide their bond for only two reasons: either they don't want it, or they have a serious reason to keep it hidden. Frankly, I'm not sure which is worse in this situation."

"Alex doesn't seem to not want their bond," Evan offered, waiting to hear what the vampire had to say to that.

"In that case, the situation might be worse than you thought," Cullen replied. "If he showed him his magic but didn't tell him about their bond, I conclude that he wants him to know that magic exists. Perhaps he's teaching him without your friend realizing it."

"Teaching?" Evan repeated, confused.

Cullen nodded. "Different witches perform magic in different ways. It depends not only on their customs but also on the scope of their abilities. Some need objects to amplify their spells, while others can cast magic with just a thought. Some even cast spells unintentionally—for example, they might think about having tea, and it brews itself."

"Is it important for Rory to know how Alex's magic works?" Ryan asked.

"That's a complicated question," Cullen replied as he picked up the teapot and poured a refill into his empty cup. As steam rose from the cup, so too did the young wolves' concerns. Neither dared to voice them aloud, instead waiting in silence.

"Witches can use the essence of their soulmates. Essence is an endless energy source—while it can be drained, it always replenishes itself. Every living being has an essence, but only witches can control it. Their weaves can learn to control it to some extent as well," he explained.

"Are you saying that Rory could learn to control magic?" Evan asked, needing to ensure he had understood correctly.

"Yes," Cullen confirmed with a nod. "It's not easy, but since his soul is connected to the warlock's, in a way, he's also connected to the warlock's magic."

Neither Evan nor Ryan had any idea how to react. They were both shocked by this revelation. They had come here seeking answers about Shadow Wolf but instead discovered that their friend wasn't as defenseless against magic as they had believed.

Thankfully, Cullen realized this and continued on. "If the warlock doesn't explain to him how to do this, it's possible he might do it unintentionally, which could be dangerous. It depends on how long their bond is triggered without them completing it."

"Months," Evan replied simply, still dumbfounded.

The moment the vampire frowned, Evan knew the next answer would be no better than the last. "In that case, I'm surprised he hasn't accidentally managed to do it yet."

"There's one thing I don't understand," Ryan interjected, breaking his silence. "If it's so dangerous, why would Alex risk it? He's his soulmate—shouldn't he be trying to protect him?"

"That's something I don't have an answer for. Your warlock's intentions can only be revealed by him. Perhaps he's protecting him from an even greater threat," Cullen offered before taking a sip of his tea. "Witches are constantly at war with other covens. Not to mention, vengeful witches often cast curses without caring about the consequences. There are several possible explanations, but none of them are positive. I'm sorry."

It took a few seconds for them to organize their thoughts enough to reply. "Could Shadow Wolf have been helpful in this situation?" Evan asked hopefully, redirecting the conversation to the original topic.

He finally got a positive response.

"Yes." Cullen nodded. "I'm living proof of that, after all."

"What do you mean?" Ryan asked.

With the change of subject, the person answering their questions also shifted.

"The supernatural world is based on traditions. Everything has strict rules—that's what keeps our world functioning. You can imagine how the races reacted to the idea of a bond between two different kinds of supernatural beings."

Evan knew only what Ryan had told him so far about Cullen and Mark's bond. That meant he was aware that the pack had grown accustomed to the presence of the vampire and judging by the reactions of their neighbors, it seemed that no one minded their relationship—or so it appeared.

"Bonds between supernatural beings and humans are common. After all, they're to be expected when humans outnumber us. But the union of two supernatural beings, who are fundamentally different in their ways of living, is unexpected. Some might even say dangerous," Cullen added.

Evan had a million questions running through his mind, but he didn't know which ones were appropriate to ask. Ryan seemed to be in the same boat. Fortunately, the couple in front of them appeared to understand their hesitation.

"There were a lot of people trying to divide us—not to mention those who saw us as a threat and wanted to get rid of one or the other. We were looking for different ways to help our situation and also ways to protect the other. That's how we discovered Shadow Wolf," Mark explained.

Evan's attention shifted quickly from Mark to Cullen as the vampire pulled the collar of his shirt lower, offering them a glimpse of the scar on his skin. It looked as if a wolf had dug its claws deep into his chest, just below his collarbone.

"When you choose to give a piece of your soul to someone, you must ensure it penetrates deeply enough to merge with their essence," he explained.

Here, the first obstacle presented itself. After all, Rory, despite being the witch's soulmate, was still human. He had no healing abilities. A wound this deep could cause irreversible damage.

"What if the receiver is human?" Ryan voiced the same concern, but unlike Evan, he managed to speak it aloud.

Surprisingly, the vampire offered them a subtle smile. "It's a protection spell. It wouldn't harm a human when it's meant to protect them. Werewolves have a supernatural healing ability rooted in their essence, in their soul. They simply pass it on."

This response calmed Evan, if only for a brief moment.

"Can you teach us how to do that?" he asked.

Cullen turned his head upward, shifting his attention to his mate, who stood beside him.

"I can teach you," Mark replied. "But you have to ensure your connection is strong enough and your intentions are pure, or it won't work. That's the first thing they told me when I was learning how to do it. Most of the time, wolves use Shadow Wolf to protect their mates or families. I've never heard of anyone wanting to protect a friend like that."

"Is that a bad thing?" Evan asked, unsure how to interpret that last sentence.

Mark didn't answer immediately, and Cullen took advantage of the pause to respond for him. "Of course not. If you care for your friend enough to protect him with your own soul, that's all that matters."

Then he turned to Ryan. "But I have to ask," he continued, his curiosity piqued, "Are you at peace with the fact that your mate wants to give a piece of his soul to someone else?"

The ink-haired boy nodded immediately. "Of course. I want Rory safe as much as Evan does. Besides, even though it's a piece of his soul, it doesn't mean he's giving away part of our love."

His answer brought smiles to the faces of everyone present. Still, Mark decided to offer a warning. "But you must understand that the relationship between your mate and his friend will change because of this act. They will become closer than before."

"Romantically?" Ryan asked simply. "You mentioned they did it to protect family members as well," he added, almost refuting his own question.

Mark clearly appreciated Ryan's attentiveness, judging by the smile he gave him. "Not romantically," he confirmed. "Just closer. They'll seek each other out more than they already do. And while Shadow Wolf ensures the wolf will always sense when his human is in danger, it's not just that. It's similar to the unfinished bond between mates—strong emotions are felt by both."

"What if we live too far apart? Will that be a problem?" Evan asked, focusing on one part of the explanation.

"I don't think so," Mark said, though he looked thoughtful. "You both have your soulmates—someone to soothe your soul."

So, there seemed to be no obstacle for Evan to undergo this ritual. Only one question remained. "When can we start?"