Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Standing out in the sunshine should’ve been an impossible thing for him since the day he turned, but here—on the stretch of the seashore where ivory sand kissed the aquamarine waters, Alex stood unscathed underneath the open blue sky. The warm sunlight drenched his bronze skin, making water droplets shimmer and for the first time in forever, he felt free.

A little happy squeal made him turn his head, his lips already curling into a smile.

Out in the water, he saw her—his daughter—barefoot and laughing, dark curls bouncing as she splashed through the waves. Her bright yellow dress clung to her tiny figure, already damp from the ocean spray, her little arms outstretched as she attempted to chase a butterfly that fluttered above the waters.

“Mija, be careful,” Alex called out.

The little girl only giggled in response, twirling as the butterfly flitted just out of her reach.

“God, darling, she’s fast. I wonder where she got that from?” Henry’s voice drifted from behind him, deep and amused.

Alex turned before walking back to Henry, who was lounging lazily beneath the shade of a palm tree, long legs stretched out in front of him, a well-worn paperback in hand.

“Clearly from me.” Alex said smugly.

“Hmm, I guess she also inherited your stubbornness—but I adore that so it’s alright.” Henry replied with a smirk.

Alex rolled his eyes but he couldn’t fight the grin tugging at his lips. Leaning down, he pressed a kiss to Henry’s lips before eventually standing up to walk back to the water, letting the waves lap at his ankles as he reached for their daughter. “Mija, come here now. Your dad and I don’t want to lose you to the waves.”

The young girl turned to him, her big blue eyes filled with excitement and giddiness.

But then—something shifted.

The golden sunlight faded into eerie shadows. The waves grew darker and more aggressive, crashing harder against the shore.

Alex’s heart pounded with prickling fear.

“Hen?” he turned, but Henry was still lounging under the palm tree—only now, Alex’s vision of him was blurred and hazy, as if Henry was being swallowed by the encroaching shadows.

“Dear,” Henry called back to him, but his voice was distant, almost unreachable.

Eventually, a ring was heard—a low, insistent sound that was coming from neither the ocean nor the wind.

It was something else entirely. Something unnatural.

Alex tried to walk toward Henry, but the ground beneath him shifted and dragged at his legs. He spun back to reach for his daughter, but the waves seemed to make her float away from him, her little form growing blurrier by the second.

“No! Mija!” Alex choked out, panic rising in his chest. “Don’t go—”

Shadows surged around him like a storm of onyx, swallowing the brightness of the beach, the peace of the sky, Henry.

And then—

Alex gasped awake.

His chest heaved as he bolted upright in bed. His skin was damp with sweat and his hands trembled as his mind tried to reorient itself.

He looked around to find that he was in the nest in the dim bedroom, Henry still sleeping beside him.

No beach. No waves. No sand. No little girl in a yellow dress.

Still disoriented, Alex continued to blink rapidly, his heartbeat hammering as he heard a familiar sound.

Well, the insistent ringing definitely wasn’t gone.

Alex turned to find the source of the ringing to find it being Henry’s phone on the nightstand, the glow of the screen illuminating with Percy’s name.

“Hen,” Alex rasped, reaching out to shake his alpha awake. Henry stirred but didn’t fully wake, and so Alex shook him harder. “Alpha, wake up please!”

Henry groaned, slightly shifting before cracking one sleepy blue eye open. “Darling, something wrong?”

“Your phone’s been ringing endlessly.” Alex frowned and swallowed, his throat dry.

Henry frowned, still sluggish, but he rolled over to grab his phone. The moment he saw Percy’s name flashing across the screen, something in him snapped to attention.

“My love, I’ll just take this call outside, okay? Stay here.” Henry asked gently, sitting up.

“Okay, Hen.” Alex said.

As Henry slipped on a robe and stepped out of the bedroom to answer Percy’s call, Alex sat rigid on the bed, his mind still trying to shake off the remnants of the dream. He tried not to eavesdrop on Henry’s phone call as a matter of respect to his alpha, but he couldn’t help but feel that Percy wouldn’t be calling Henry this early in the hour just to catch up.

Alex could feel in his gut that there had to be a reason why Percy would call Henry so early in the morning—and he had a strong feeling that he wouldn’t like it.

The moment Henry sat on the couch in the living room, he swiped to answer the call in order to not waste any more time and his best friend’s mobile credits—and patience.

“Hi Pez,” he answered, voice thick with sleep. “Apologies for missing your calls. Is something wrong?”

“Hey Haz, I also apologize for ruining your night with my insistent calling,” Pez greeted, his tone unusually serious. “I just want to let you know—that your sister’s here.”

Henry’s posture straightened, his eyebrows nearly flew out of his head in shock. “Bea’s there? Why? Is she alright? Does she need something?”

“She said she needs to talk to you in person.” Pez hesitated before adding, “It does not sound good, Haz. For the longest time that I’ve known you and your sister, I’ve never seen her this distressed. It might be better for you to come over to our apartment and talk to her yourself.”

Henry’s stomach churned. Bea wasn’t the type of person to be so easily rattled. If she was distressed enough to show up in the US unannounced, then whatever she had to say to him was serious.

“Okay,” he said, already standing up to head back to the bedroom. “If she’s there, tell her that I’ll be over as fast as I can.”

“Got it, Haz. We’ll see you soon.” Percy said before ending the call.

Once the phone call ended, Henry slipped back into the room and Alex immediately sat alert on the bed.

“Everything okay?” Alex rasped.

Henry hesitated for a second before responding. “I don’t think so, darling. It’s my sister. She’s here in the US and she…needs to talk to me about something.”

Alex was quiet for a moment, his dark eyes searching Henry’s face.

He hesitated for a second and then nodded. “Okay, go talk with your sister. Just come back when you’re done.”

Henry’s heart softened at the worry laced in Alex’s voice and he leaned down to press a kiss on his mate’s lips. “I’ll always come back to you, my love. You stay here, alright? I love you so much.”

“I love you too.” Alex said with a sigh. “Be safe, please.”

Henry dressed quickly, pulling on a turtleneck, jeans and his sneakers before grabbing his phone. He took one last glance at Alex—his mate, his entire universe—before exiting the room and heading out of the house.

—

Henry was very thankful for Uber rides being available early in the morning—as it made the 30-minute trip from Alex’s house back to his apartment somewhat bearable, especially as there’s yet to be the rush hour traffic in Downtown Brooklyn.

Upon getting to the destination and after making sure that his fare was paid, he got out of the car and stood outside the front door of the apartment that he shared with Percy, his anxiety bubbling just beneath the surface.

He used a key that he had to open the door, only to be greeted by the sound of paws tapping against hardwood floors. He only had enough time to look up before a blur of brown and white fur darted toward him and a wet tongue eagerly licked his cheeks.

“David!” Henry breathed, barely able to brace himself before the beagle launched into his arms, tail wagging furiously.

David’s paws pressed against his chest, the beagle’s warm tongue continued to lick at his chin as the dog let out an excited series of yips at the sight of his owner.

“I missed you too, my sweet boy,” Henry cooed, running a hand over David’s soft ears, scratching at the spot he knew his dog loved the most. “Sorry I didn’t come sooner.”

David barked in response.

“I suppose you also owe me an apology, Haz.” a familiar yet serious voice called from the couch.

Henry fully stood up to find Percy sitting on the couch, arms crossed, though his expression wasn’t its normal playful mood. Beatrice, ever the regal young lady, paced beside him in restless silence. When Bea laid her eyes on her brother, her tense expression softened and she stepped forward to capture him in a long overdue sibling embrace.

“Hen,” Bea murmured, voice quiet but heavy with emotion.

“Hi, Bea,” he returned her greeting, his voice a mix of warmth and wariness.

When Bea pulled back, Henry walked over to where Pez was seated and gave him a manly embrace.

“Hey Pez, I really do apologize for not being able to answer your calls.”

“It’s alright, mate. I know that you and your darling Alex have been soaking in the bliss of romance and all that. No worries.” Pez reassured him.

Henry managed a small smile before turning his attention to Beatrice. “So, Bea, what brings you here? Not that I’m upset that you’re here, it’s just that you don’t normally come by unannounced.”

Beatrice took a deep breath before replying, her fingers twisting together. “Hen…you need to come home. To London.”

The smile vanished from Henry’s face. His entire body stiffened, dread curling in his stomach. He normally doesn’t snap at his beloved sister but he currently feels the strong urge to. 

“Bea,” he said tightly, “You know that I love you, but if you’re asking me to go back, you better give me a damn proper reason to.”

“Gran wants to see you.” 

Henry’s jaw clenched. He had spent years allowing himself to be manipulated by his grandmother, bending to her will and allowing her to dictate every aspect of his existence. But he was long done with that. 

“She does?” he said, voice clipped. “Why? I made myself very clear in our last phone call a few weeks ago. I told her that I’m staying here. What part of that does she not understand?”

“Hen, please—”

“No!” Henry’s sharp voice sliced through the tense air of the room. “Bea, I left for a reason. I’m not just going to go back just because she’s suddenly decided that she wants to see me again.”

Bea’s eyes flicked to Henry’s neck, where the faint mating mark was peeking out just beneath his collar and sighed. “Hen, if you don’t go…there may be consequences. Not just for you—but for Alex too.”

Henry’s fists tightened at his sides. “I know, and that’s exactly why it’s better for me to stay here. So that I could protect him.”

“Hen, you’re not listening to me,” Bea’s voice was more desperate now. “If you don’t go home, and Gran finds out about Alex, about your relationship with him—she’ll bring endless chaos. She’ll do everything she can to make sure the world knows what you have done. What Alex truly is.”

Henry shook his head, already stepping toward the door. “Let her bring the chaos. I’m not leaving Alex behind. Fuck the consequences.”

“Hen, please. You’re putting Alex at risk if you don’t go back. Do you really want that for him? For you?” Bea begged.

But Henry was already opening the door. “No, I don’t want that for him. But I also know that it will be pointless if I go back home. Gran won’t suddenly approve of my choices. If anything, she’ll only tighten her grip on my life.”

Beatrice looked at him, her eyes filled with heartbreak. “Hen—”

Henry squared his shoulders. “I’m sorry, Bea, but I’ve made my decision. I’m staying here and I’m going to protect Alex.” he firmly added before going out the door.

Beatrice was stunned into silence as she stared at her brother’s retreating back while the door slammed shut and when it did, she dropped into an armchair with a thump and immediately sobbed, leaving Percy to console her as she cried.

—

The streets were beginning to roar with the hustle and bustle of city life, but Henry could barely register it. His mind was still spinning, Beatrice’s words a constant loop in his head as he walked the long road back toward Alex’s house.

Toward his mate.

The side streets were quiet, save for the occasional sounds of honking horns and rustling of leaves. But still, something felt…off.

As he walked, he could feel eyes on him, the subtle prickling sensation of someone following him. His alpha instincts screamed at him to look behind him and confront whoever—or whatever—was lurking in the shadows. But he forced himself to just keep on walking.

He took a shortcut through an alleyway and the world seemed to slow for a moment as he heard a sudden thud behind him. 

He could feel them—whoever they were.

“I know you’re out there.” He said to the shadows lurking around him, keeping his voice steady despite the adrenaline in his veins. “Enough lurking. You may come out now.”

As if summoned by his words, two figures hop out of the shadows. One was as tall as Henry and the one was a little bit shorter. Despite the height difference of the two men, they were both built like superheroes—muscular, broad and unmistakably here for him.

Henry turned around to face the two men, keeping his own expression as stoic and nonchalant as possible despite his heart pounding inside his chest.

“Edmund, Allan,” he addressed the two men flatly. “I assume you’re here for me?”

“Yes, Sir. We’ve indeed come to collect you and bring you back to London.” the taller one, Edmund, answered.

Henry scoffed. “Collect me? What am I? A fucking parcel?” His eyes flickered between them. “Let me guess—Gran sent Bea with the same orders, hoping she’d be able to persuade me to go back. Since that didn’t work, you two are here to handle it another way.”

Edmund and Allan remained silent, their expressions unreadable. 

Henry’s jaw tightened. “I said no to my sister. What makes the both of you think that you could convince me to do otherwise?”

“Sir, please,” The other man, Allan, said with a firm voice. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”

Without another word, Edmund launched himself on Henry but Henry was agile enough to sidestep out of the way, sending the burly man crashing into a bunch of trash bins instead. Allan tried to attack next by swinging a punch toward Henry’s ribs, which Henry immediately deflected, twisting his attacker’s arm just enough to send the other man tripping a few steps behind him.

Edmund regained his footing, breathing heavily. “Sir, please,” he repeated.

Henry stood his ground, fist raised to punch if needed. “I said no.”

A beat of silence.

“Then we apologize.”

Henry barely had time to ask a question before something hard and metallic—a pipe—struck the back of his head. Pain blossomed like fireworks behind his eyes as his vision grew blurred and heavy and his knees buckled beneath him.

“We’re truly sorry, Sir, but your grandmother ordered us to bring you home, whether by persuasion or by force, and we don’t want to go back to her empty handed.” Allan said with an almost regretful voice, dropping the pipe with a loud clang to the gravelly ground.

The last thing that Henry felt was the firm grip around his arms and being dragged into a van before dizziness took over and darkness swallowed him whole.

Chapter Text

The sun was starting to set, painting the streets in light rays of yellow and orange, yet Henry still hasn’t returned.

Alex sat curled up on the nest, one of Henry’s jackets draped over his shoulders, the fabric still carrying his alpha’s comforting and familiar scent. He held his phone in one hand, his thumb repeatedly swiping down the screen to see if there were any messages or calls from Henry, but to his dismay, nothing came up.

He’d repeatedly told himself that Henry would come back home soon. He allowed himself to think of the comforting thought that maybe Henry just got caught up with Bea and Pez, lost in conversation after so much time apart. That there was no reason to panic.

But as the seconds stretched into minutes and minutes stretched into hours, the little pep talks and reassurances started to crumble.

Henry would never be out this long without at least a phone call to check in.

Deep in his gut, Alex knew that something was not adding up.

Alex clenched his hands into fists to try to stay controlled and not go ballistic. His vampiric senses heightened with his anxiety and his inner omega whimpered with worry. He could clearly hear the city humming with noise outside the window, the distant sounds of car horns honking and people chattering, but it all felt muffled under the weight of his worry for Henry.

His mind, busy as always, conjured up numerous possibilities—Henry’s Uber breaking down, Henry being sidetracked talking with Bea and Pez, Henry stopping by the local library to grab some books to read.

Alex tried to keep his thoughts positive, but none of those possibilities could explain why Henry still isn’t back.

He could no longer sit in agony, waiting for his phone to miraculously ring with a call.

He needed someone now.

With shaky hands, Alex grabbed his phone off the nightstand and immediately dialed June.

“Come on, Bug! Please pick up.” he muttered while the line rang.

On the third ring, his sister’s voice chirped through. “Hey, little bro.”

He was so relieved to hear her voice that he couldn’t help the tears that fell from his eyes. “Bug—” he mumbled in between sniffles.

June’s voice instantly shifted from cheerful to concerned. “Alex, are you crying? Is everything okay?”

“Can you and Nora come over? Please.” he answered shakily. “I need someone.”

“What? Why? Where’s Henry?” June’s tone took a sharp turn.

Alex continued to sniffle and cry, panic clawing itself at his throat. “He–he left hours ago and he hasn’t—come back. I don’t know, Bug…I feel like something happened to him.”

“Say less, Alex. Nora and I will be there in 10. Just stay where you are.” June reassured him.

Alex swallowed down the lump in his throat as he ended the call. Hunger gnawed at him, but he was in no mood to go to the kitchen and grab a bottle to feed. He curled up again in the nest as he waited for June and Nora to come, his omega crying out for his alpha.

By the time he heard the front door opening to signal June and Nora’s arrival, Alex barely had the strength to push himself up from the bed.

His earlier agitation became something far worse—weakness.

He hadn’t fed since Henry left despite his bones and fangs aching for sustenance.

The moment June stepped through the bedroom door and saw him—his bronze complexion turned pale, the tear stains on his cheeks—her expression immediately darkened with worry.

She slowly stepped forward so as to not spook him and sat on the edge of the bed. Alex looked up from his spot and once he saw the face of his sister, he crawled to her arms and immediately sobbed again.

“Shhh, Alex. Don’t worry, I’m here now.” June whispered in comfort, arms wrapping around him, her hands caressing his back in soothing circles.

She held him close, letting him bury his face in her shoulder as his sobs wracked his body. His hands clutched at the fabric of her shirt like she was the only thing tethering him to reality. June just allowed him to cry—to let the dam inside of him burst and release everything he had been holding in.

Nora stood in the doorway, her usual playful expression turning somber as she watched her best friend shatter.

While still holding a crying and whimpering Alex in her arms, June turned her head slightly toward Nora.

“Babe, could you grab a bottle of blood from the kitchen?” She whispered softly. “I don’t think Alex has fed yet. Please.”

“Got it, babe.” Nora said with a wink before turning on her heel to go to the kitchen.

“I don’t know where he is, Bug,” Alex choked out between sobs. “I’m scared.”

His voice broke on the last word, and June’s heart ached for her sobbing brother.

“I know you’re scared, Alex,” she whispered, pressing a kiss to his curls. “But we’re going to find him, okay? Nora and I are here to help. Don’t worry.”

Alex trembled in her arms, his breath coming in uneven gasps, but he nodded weakly.

A minute later, Nora returned to the room holding a fresh bottle of blood in hand. She crouched beside the bed and held the bottle out to Alex.

“Here, Alejandro.” she coaxed gently.

“Don’t want that. Want Henry.” Alex mumbled, shaking his head and burying his nose deeper into June’s neck.

“My little brother,” she said firmly, pulling back just enough to look into his exhausted red-rimmed eyes despite Alex’s objections. “Please feed. I know you’re worried for Henry but it’s not going to be helpful for Henry too if he comes back here to find out that you passed out on the ground because you starved yourself.”

Alex still wanted to object but he knew that June was right. With trembling hands, he reluctantly reached out and took the bottle from Nora’s hands. His hands shook as he twisted the cap off and June steadied his hands, guiding the rim of the bottle to his lips.

The moment the familiar tang of blood touched his tongue, his fangs ached in relief, and he drank the content of the bottle in deep, desperate gulps, his body greedily absorbing the nourishment. But even as he wiped the last bits of blood from his lips and his vampiric strength slowly returned to him due to the warm blood he drank, his mind hadn't calmed down.

Henry was still gone.

June sat beside him, her hand resting on his knee—the touch easily keeping him from spiralling further.

“Alex, I know this could hurt your sweet little busy brain that’s probably running a million miles an hour right now, but I need you to slow down and tell me and Nora exactly what happened. Start from the beginning. We can’t help you find Henry if we don’t know what we’re working with.” she said with a gentle smile.

With a sharp inhale to steady himself, Alex spilled everything out to June and Nora.

“This morning, a ring woke me up and it was a call from someone named Percy. I haven’t met the guy but Henry tells me that he’s his roommate and bestfriend,” Alex said, his voice still hoarse from crying. “I don’t know what their conversation was truly about since Henry took the call in the living room, but when he came back, he told me that his sister Beatrice was at their apartment…and that she needed to talk to him. So he quickly got dressed and left. He just told me that he’d be back.” Alex’s voice cracked at the last word, and he shook his head.

Fresh tears started to fill his eyes when he spoke. “That was like 5am this morning, June. And it’s almost 7pm and he’s not here yet.”

June squeezed his knee again in comfort but her expression was unreadable. “Did Henry seem…off after his conversation with Percy? Like he was nervous about something?”

Alex hesitated. “I guess? But to be fair, he’s always been more hesitant about leaving me than anything else recently.” His fingers curled into his palms. “I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to him, Bug.”

“If something did happen to Henry, we’re going to figure it out, Alejandro. You’ve got us, alright?” Nora said gently as she pulled her laptop from her bag and opened it.

Alex managed a small, wobbly smile before his expression turned to confusion at the sight of Nora’s fingers flying over the keyboard. “Uh, not to be an obtuse idiot, but what are you doing?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m tracking down your alpha’s phone to hopefully get his location.” Nora said with a wink.

June only smiled at Alex as they allowed Nora to do her work, the beta’s brows furrowing in concentration.

After what seemed like a few long minutes, the sound of keyboard keys tapping ceased and Nora’s eyes narrowed. “Okay, y’all! I have good news and bad news,” she muttered.

Alex and June immediately perked up from their spots on the bed. “Can I get the good news first?” Alex asked, slightly panicking.

Nora turned her laptop screen toward the Claremont-Diaz siblings. “Sure. So, good news is I found Henry’s phone.”

“That’s great, and the bad news?” June asked, dreading to know the answer.

Nora’s frown deepened. “The bad news is…I found it in an alleyway a couple blocks away from an apartment complex.”

Alex’s breath hitched in his throat. “So what—what does that mean?”

June and Nora exchanged a worried glance.

“It could only mean one of two things,” Nora said carefully, “Either Henry made it to Percy’s place before something happened or…he never made it there at all.”

The weight of Nora’s words settled in Alex’s chest like a chunk of lead.

His gut was right all along. Henry wasn’t just late or caught up chatting with Bea and Pez.

Something very wrong definitely happened to him…and they had to find answers fast.

June’s voice sliced through the silent air. “Babe, where’s this alleyway?”

Nora swiveled back to the laptop, her eyes narrowing as she studied the screen. “It says here that it’s between Fulton and Livingston.”

“Then that’s where we start.” June said, standing up to grab her coat and purse.

Alex felt the room slightly tilt as June stood up with the entirety of her commanding presence. His body was still recovering from the sobs that shook him, but his mind was slightly relieved that they had a possible lead on where Henry could be.

“I’ll drive,” Nora said, snapping her laptop shut and slipping it back into her bag. “Getting an Uber at this hour is hell. Let’s just hope traffic isn’t that bad because we don’t need to waste any more time.”

Alex barely registered the movements around him as they all prepared to leave. His thoughts were locked onto Henry—on the possibilities of what could be happening to his alpha right now. The rational part of his brain fought to remind him that Henry is an alpha and that he was strong, but he can’t help himself to worry.

June noticed his hesitation and placed a firm hand on his back. “Get dressed, little bro. We’re finding your alpha.”

Alex nodded before forcing himself to move. He walked to the closet and put on a black shirt under a black jacket and jeans. Once he was dressed, he bent down to put on his sneakers and followed June and Nora out into the driveway, determination to find Henry fueling his every move.

The three of them piled into Nora’s car, the streets of Downtown Brooklyn illuminated by the dim glow of streetlights as they sped toward the alleyway of Fulton and Livingston. Alex’s knees struggled to stay still in the backseat, his fingers tapping anxiously against his thigh.

Nora’s voice cut through the tense silence. “We should be there in about 20 minutes.”

“Make it 10,” Alex muttered.

Nora looked at him from the rearview mirror but didn’t argue as to not add to Alex’s growing frustration.

The closer they got to the alleyway, the more knots twisted itself into Alex’s stomach. The streets in the area were eerily quiet, shrouded in shadows, with only dumpsters and debris lining the pavement.

Alex leaped out of the car the moment Nora pulled over, his eyes darting to every corner of the area, searching for any sign of Henry. But to his dismay, the alleyway was empty.

“Nora, can you track his phone again?” he asked, his voice raw and tight.

“Sure, just give me a second.” Nora chirped, her GPS in hand. “His phone should be…right over…there.” she said, pointing toward a darkened corner near an overflowing dumpster.

Alex rushed forward without blinking twice, his hands trembling as he crouched down to find any traces of Henry’s phone. He was very thankful for his enhanced vampiric eyesight, as it did not take him too long to find Henry’s phone, lying face-up on the dirty pavement with a cracked screen.

His breath caught in his throat as June and Nora hovered behind him with grave expressions.

“Oh shit, this isn’t good.” June murmured.

Alex let out a sharp exhale at June’s remark, but he made no retort as his grip tightened around the shattered phone.

“Wait, if Henry’s phone is here, but he’s not…” Nora’s voice was softer now, cautious. “That could only mean someone took him.”

Alex shut his eyes tightly, inhaling deeply before standing up and forcing himself to focus. His head was spinning, but there was no time to let his brewing panic take over.

“Nora, you said there’s an apartment complex that’s near this alleyway. Can you pull up the exact location?” Alex asked, his voice sharper than he intended.

Nora glanced at her GPS again before pointing down the block on their left side. “It’s just a couple blocks down this road—about seven minutes…”

She didn’t get the chance to finish speaking before Alex started walking in the direction she pointed.

“Alex, wait…” June called after her brother.

“No! I’m done waiting.” Alex snapped, quickening his pace. He could’ve used his vampiric speed, but exhaustion and anxiety clung to him and he couldn’t risk burning himself out.

Nora and June exchanged a worried glance before hurrying to catch up to him.

Within minutes, the apartment complex finally came into view, its sleek exterior exuded an aura of sophistication and modern design. Alex barely took a second to breathe in the view before pushing the front door, the soles of his sneakers echoing against the tiled floor as he stormed up  the stairs, June and Nora following close behind.

Percy’s apartment was on the third floor—close enough that they didn’t lose momentum, but far enough for the weight of uncertainty to press harder against Alex’s chest.

Before June or Nora could even reach for the doorbell, Alex pounded his fist against the door.

The door swung open moments later, revealing a wide-eyed Percy. Behind him, Beatrice stood frozen, her face pale as she took in the sight of the three individuals on the threshold.

Percy blinked. “Uh, hello there. Can I help you with—” His gaze flickered between Alex, June and Nora before a slow smirk tugged at his lips. “Well, hello to the two gorgeous ladies.”

Alex didn’t have the time or patience to watch Percy flirt with either his sister or bestfriend. “Are you Percy?” he cut in. “I’m Alex. Is Henry here?” he asked, not waiting for an answer before stepping forward.

A sudden bark tore through the room as David bolted from his dog bed, yapping furiously at the unexpected guests.

“David, down!” Percy demanded. “They’re Henry’s friends. Be nice, please.”

After one last bark, David trotted back to his dog bed, his eyes carefully watching the strangers coming into the house.

“Sorry for that, David hasn’t seen strangers in a while,” Percy’s expression shifted from apologetic about David’s behavior to one of realization. “But I assume that you must be Haz’s mate.” He straightened, offering a quick nod. “I’m Percy, Henry’s best friend and this is his sister, Beatrice.” Percy gestured to Bea, who gave a small, hesitant wave. “Nice to finally meet you, but…sorry to say that Haz isn’t here. He left hours ago.”

Alex’s stomach plummeted at what he heard. His breath turned shallow, and he shook his head. “Did he tell you where he was going?”

Percy frowned. “No. He left rather angrily. All we know is that he was going home. To you.”

That only made Alex even more agitated. His hands clenched beside him. “But…he never came back home. That’s why I’m here. Because he’s not with me.”

The air in the room thickened with suffocating tension. 

Percy stepped aside, silently inviting them in. June and Nora followed Alex and they settled on the vacant couch but Alex remained standing, too restless to sit.

“If he isn’t with you, then something must’ve happened to him.” Percy said with an exhale, running a hand through his brightly-colored hair.

“We found his phone in the alleyway just a couple blocks from here, dead and shattered.” Alex said, pulling out Henry’s shattered phone from his jacket pocket and held it out for Percy to see.

“Ooff, that is definitely Haz’s phone.” Percy said, frowning. “Someone must’ve taken him then.”

June was about to ask who—but Beatrice’s quiet but firm voice cut through the silence. “And I think I know who our prime suspect might be.”

Alex turned to her sharply. “Who?”

Beatrice hesitated to speak, but she bravely met Alex’s gaze.

“Our grandmother.”

At those words, Alex felt his knees go weak and buckle beneath him. He sank onto the couch, head between his hands and dread pooling in his stomach like the coldest ice.

Chapter Text

Pain.

It was the first thing that Henry registered as he slowly drifted back to consciousness. A dull throb in his head pulsed through him from the strong blow that knocked him down, a sharp sting burned along his cheekbone and the unmistakable coppery taste of blood coated his tongue. His limbs felt like concrete and his entire body ached as if he’d been hit by a speeding train.

He slowly blinked himself awake, wincing against the harsh rays of sunlight seeping through the nearby window. He drew his attention to the ceiling, which to him was awfully familiar due to the ornate crown molding. Lowering his head, he was faced with pristine white walls adorned with paintings and the heavy velvet curtains drawn just enough to allow enough rays of light to shine through the room.

His heart pounded with fear. He knew exactly where he was, and he did not like it one bit.

He’s at his family estate. In London.

A surge of urgent worry pushed him to adjust his position on the bed and sit up—only for the harsh clink of metal to yank him back down on the mattress.

“What the fuck?” he muttered as he tried to yank his wrists again, but they remained bound.

He turned his head to the side, eyes narrowing as he took in the thick silver cuffs that bound him to the bedposts, as if he was a prisoner in his own family home.

No matter how hard he strained against them, the cuffs held as it was made from a special alloy designed to restrain even the strongest of alphas.

Defeat settled over him as he sighed in resignation, though it did nothing to smother the fury that was boiling inside him.

He knew these restraints. He knew who had them placed on him.

Only someone as wicked and ruthless—someone utterly incapable of love and warmth—as his grandmother would go so far as to shackle her own grandson.

His breath came fast as he looked down at himself, noting the change in what he was wearing. Gone were his turtleneck and jeans—replaced by a light blue hoodie and dark pajama pants. His lips parted, ready to demand some answers, when the door creaked open, instantly drawing his attention.

The man who stood in his doorway is someone he trusted.

Shaan. His personal aide and trusted confidant.

Shaan’s face was unreadable, his usual stoic demeanor in place. “Sir, it relieves me to see that you have awakened. Shall I fetch tea for you?” His tone was even, polite.

Henry wasn’t easily fooled. Something lurked behind his aide’s dark eyes—an emotion that he has never seen in Shaan even during the day he last stepped foot in London.

It was a mix of pity and…regret.

A deep growl rumbled in Henry’s chest, his alpha instincts clawing its way to the surface. His blue eyes fumed with anger and his lips curled back with the intention to fight, snap and thrash.

“Shaan, tell me!” he snarled, voice hoarse but seething with fury. “What in God’s ever loving fuck am I doing here?”

Shaan remained still and silent.

“I’m gonna ask you again, Shaan, and you better give me an answer,” Henry said loudly, baring his teeth and yanking at his restraints, metal clinking against the bedposts. “Why the fuck was I dragged back to this godforsaken place?”

Before Shaan could utter a single word, the door swung open once more.

“Would you like me to answer that for you, my dearest grandson?”

The familiar voice made Henry’s blood run cold. Every muscle in his body coiled with tension as two figures stepped inside the room, forcing Shaan to retreat a couple steps back.

His grandmother, Lady Mary Mountchristen-Windsor followed by his older brother, vampire hunter Lord Philip Fox Mountchristen-Windsor.

The sight of his grandmother and elder brother ignited a slow and burning rage within Henry. He was silently thankful for the chains binding him as he had absolutely no idea what would happen if he was free to lunge on his grandmother and brother and kill them on the very ground they stood on.

Mary’s lips curved into a sickeningly polite smile that made Henry want to throw up. “Hello, grandson. It’s wonderful to see you again.”

Henry simply responded with a low and dangerous growl. “Don’t. Come. Near. Me.”

Mary’s sly smile barely wavered. “Is that how you were taught to greet people in America? How disrespectful of you, my boy.” she tutted with a shake of her head. “Is this how you greet your dearest Gran nowadays?”

Within the chains, Henry’s fingers curled into fists, the metal biting and stinging his skin.

Mary tilted her head slightly. “You should be grateful, Henry. The only reason I kept you alive is because you’re family.”

“Fuck you, Gran.” Henry’s voice was venomous. “You really had to bring Beatrice into this mess? Have her fly across the ocean to the US to try and convince me to come back home when I clearly told you in our last phone call that I have no intention of coming back here?”

“Ahh yes, your dearest sweet sister Beatrice.” Mary crooned, but her mocking tone was void of affection. “I had little hope that she would succeed in convincing you, of course, and it was only a matter of time before I had to take matters into my own hands.”

“And by that, you mean telling Edmund and Allan to knock me out and drag me back here by sheer force?” Henry shot back, his fury burning hotter with every second.

Mary shrugged. “I do apologize on behalf of them for knocking you out, but it was the only way to ensure your return.” Mary said.

“I didn’t even agree or consent to any of this. You fucking kidnapped me.” Henry said.

“And yet here you are,” she said smoothly, walking close. “That’s all that matters.”

Upon reaching Henry’s bedside, Mary pulled a chair from the bedside table and sat on it gracefully. Her sharp eyes studied him like how a hawk would watch its next prey.

“One question for you, Henry.” she said, folding her hands atop her cane. “Did you really think I didn’t have any idea what you were actually doing in America?”

The question sent ice down Henry’s spine and his entire body went stiff.

Mary smirked, watching him closely. “Hmm, I thought so.”

Henry’s breath caught in his throat. His inner alpha roared with anger and desire to protect Alex, but he schooled his features to neutrality and forced himself to remain impassive.

However much he tried, his neutrality didn’t matter as Mary already saw the flicker of fear in his eyes.

She leaned closer, her presence suffocating. “Yes, my dear. I know you weren’t hunting vampires in America. I know you’re in a relationship with one. How utterly pathetic.” she sneered as her gaze dropped to his neck and the tip of her cane pointed to the mark on the skin.

His mating mark. Alex’s mark.

“How shameful of you, Henry,” she sneered. “You’re a Mountchristen-Windsor. You’re a descendant of a powerful line of vampire hunters, and yet you allowed yourself to be…tainted, to be marked by the very creatures our bloodline swore to destroy.”

The moment her cane made contact with his neck, Henry saw red and he tried to lunge at his grandmother, yet the cuffs restrained him. It was only a matter of time before his vision swam with dizziness and he collapsed back against the mattress, panting.

“If you even think of laying a fucking finger on Alex,” Henry spat out, breath ragged, “I swear to God, I don’t care if you’re my grandmother—I will kill you myself.”

Mary merely smiled, ever the composed woman. “Oh, no need for dramatics, my dear,” she said as she stood to walk toward the door. “Your little vampire mate…Alex is his name, correct? He’s safe. For now.”

With a rustle of her dress, she swept out of the room, Philip trailing stiffly behind her.

Shaan hesitated before bowing slightly “I shall leave you to rest, Sir. Call for me if you ever need anything.”

“Leave me the fuck alone, Shaan.” Henry growled.

Shaan obeyed without another word, stepping out and closing the door behind him with a soft click, leaving Henry inside, wrists still bound to the bed.

A roar of frustration and anger erupted from his throat as he continued to yank at the chains until his cuffs bit into his skin and the familiar scent of his own blood tinged the air.

Hopelessness gnawed at his gut. He was trapped, helpless and powerless.

And Alex is an ocean apart from him. Unprotected. Vulnerable.

I will find a way to come back home to you, omega. Stay safe, please. I love you.

The words echoed through his mind, the only comfort his inner alpha could offer before he slumped down on the bed, fatigue and worry taking him under.

Yet even as sleep overtook him, his resolve burned steady—a silent vow that no matter what or how long it takes, he would fight and find a way back home.

To Alex.

Chapter Text

New York never truly slept, because even at the ungodly hour of 2am, Downtown Brooklyn buzzed with restless energy. Storefront signs and headlights dimly glowed and sliced through the night’s darkness as cars rumbled by with their honking horns.

However, inside Percy’s modern apartment, the air was anything but bright. If anything, it was tense and stress-filled.

Alex restlessly sat on the couch, his leg bouncing repeatedly and his fingers digging into the fabric of his jeans as he stared at nothing, lost in the unbearable passage of time. Every second seemed like an endless stretch of time and each tick of the clock sliced through his fraying patience like a sharp blade.

His alpha was out there. Somewhere. Probably hurt. And he was in here—waiting.

Sitting and waiting is not going to take him anywhere near Henry.

With a sharp breath, he shot to his feet.

“Look y’all,” he snapped aloud with frustration, drawing everyone’s attention. “I know we’re just supposed to sit, but I just can’t do that anymore. I have to try and find him.”

“Alex,” June said with a soft voice and a careful tone. “I know it’s hard to sit and wait and I know that you’re panicking, but running off into the night isn’t going to help.”

He scoffed, shaking his head at her. “Bug, fucking sitting here isn’t helping either.”

June sighed, reaching out to hold her brother’s hand with a firm but gentle grip. “I know you’re worried, Alex, but look at you. You’re clearly not thinking straight. I’m sure if Henry’s here, he wouldn’t want you throwing yourself into possible danger out there.”

Alex ripped his hand away from her grasp. “But he’s not here, is he, Bug? Henry’s not here and I don’t know where he is. I just feel so helpless.” His voice cracked, but he couldn’t care less about the tone of his voice or the way he snapped at his sister.

“I know that, and if I can only take the pain away from you, I will.” she gently whispered. “But I also know that you’re exhausted. You just barely fed a few hours ago. If you go out there now, you’ll be vulnerable to God knows what danger.”

“I don’t give a flying fuck, Bug!” Alex snapped, running a hand through his hair. “I just can’t—I can’t sit here and do nothing. If I need to fly to England to find him, I will .”

Nora stepped forward, hands raised. “Alejandro, don’t talk to your sister like that. Let’s just—”

But Alex’s mind was already made up and he was no longer listening to anybody. Without another word, he yanked the door open and stepped out, the sound of June’s desperate plea ringing behind him.

“Alex, please!” June cried behind him. “Don’t go!”

But he didn’t stop his descent down the stairs.

As soon as he exited the front door, cool night air enveloped him and light raindrops showered on him as he walked down the streets, his hands clenched into fists within his pockets.

His mind was a storm of panic and his senses sharpened by adrenaline. He had no plan, no lead, nothing whatsoever—just the constant ache in his chest that repeatedly screamed out Henry’s name.

He continued to walk down the streets, shallow puddles sloshing underneath his sneakers, chilly night air biting at his cheeks. He barely registered the cold, his own blood running hot with both anger and worry. He approached the alleyway that he walked through earlier with June and Nora and his eyes immediately took in the dark and dank surroundings.

Suddenly, out of nowhere—there was a sharp sting, like that of a wasp or a bee, at the side of his neck.

Out of pure instinct, his hand shot up, fingers closing around something small and metallic. He pulled it out, his vision swimming for a moment as he stared at the object he was holding—a tiny syringe.

“What the fuck?”

Those were the last words Alex was able to mutter before dizziness slammed into him, his world tilting violently on its axis. His knees buckled and gave out from underneath him and he stumbled, one hand bracing against the brick wall in front of him.

His vision grew blurry at the edges and dark spots danced in his peripheral vision. His fingers slowly lost all sensation and the syringe slipped from his grasp and clattered onto the wet pavement.

There was only one thing that could render him weak—vampire tranquilizer.

The sudden realization punched through his haze of confusion, terror slowly slicing its way up his chest.

Whoever had shot him was clearly waiting for him. Knew exactly who he was and how to incapacitate him.

“Fucking hell,” he whispered to the cold air, the two words slurring together as his legs completely gave out. He crumpled to the ground, the cold seeping through his jacket and into his bones.

His last coherent thought was of Henry—his mate and alpha, thrashing somewhere, desperate to protect him.

And now, even Alex himself was too weak to even crawl.

Before long, shadows loomed over him, multiple dark figures stepping out of the alleyway’s darkest corners, their faces obscured by masks but their eyes gleamed with clear intention.

“We got him. She is going to be so pleased,” one of them muttered loudly enough for Alex to register while a gloved hand reached down to grip Alex’s shoulder.

He attempted to gain back strength to fight and resist, but the tranquilizer dose was so strong that his limbs simply dangled weakly beside him. His eyes fluttered, the world spinning away into total darkness as the tranquilizers evilly worked its way into his system.

The last thing Alex registered before completely falling into darkness was the chill of raindrops on his face, rough hands hauling him upright and the faint sound of a car engine roaring to life.

Chapter Text

The hours that passed after Alex left the apartment seemed to stretch endlessly and June’s sanity hung on by a thread with every second.

She had stopped crying, but now, she couldn’t sit still.

Her phone was clutched in her hand, her grip tight enough to turn her knuckles white. Her eyes darted to the door every few seconds as if Alex would suddenly appear in the doorway again.

“Something’s wrong.” she muttered, more to herself than to Nora, Percy and Beatrice. “He’s not answering any texts or taking any of my calls. He should’ve called by now—he would have called by now.”

“Let the poor one breathe, Junie. Alexander’s merely stressed and maybe he needs some space.” Percy offered, but even he wasn’t convinced by his own words.

The tension in the room suffocated the four of them, the silence only broken by the occasional hum of traffic outside the window.

June resumed her restless pacing, her shoes hitting the floor in sharp, uneven beats and her breath coming fast and shallow. One arm was wrapped so tightly around her torso that her manicured nails dug into her skin, but she barely noticed the stinging sensation.

“Babe, you need to calm yourself and breathe,” Nora said softly from the couch.

“Babe, I love you but don’t tell me to fucking calm down right now,” June snapped, whirling to face Nora, her voice trembling with frustration. “Don’t tell me to calm down when it comes to Alex. He’s my brother and I really have a feeling something happened to him and we’re just sitting here—doing absolutely fucking nothing!”

Percy sighed heavily, his elbows on his knees. “We’re not exactly doing nothing, Junie. We’re trying to think—”

“Oh, really?! Think?!” June’s voice cracked, and she let out a humorless laugh. “Yeah, right. And where the fuck has that gotten us? Huh?”

A tense silence followed her words.

Nora’s eyes darkened with sympathy for her girlfriend, but she also understood that June didn’t care for sympathy.

June wanted action—not comfort.

“He should’ve called by now!” June said again, her voice lower and shaking with unspoken fear. “He would call if nothing happened to him.”

“Maybe he—” Percy hesitated.

“If you’re gonna say that maybe nothing did happen, you won’t dare continue that fucking sentence if you know what’s best for you.” June’s head snapped toward Percy, and the raw, barely contained anger in her brown eyes made Percy visibly swallow his words. “I know my brother well enough to know that he’d call at the slightest trouble. I just know something happened to him, and I fucking hate myself for not stopping him from leaving.”

June’s fingers curled into fists. Her pulse was hammering away in her ears, drowning out all senses of reason. She felt like she was drowning in her own helplessness, in the crushing weight of every single unknown possibility.

Then, without another word, she strode toward the door.

“Junie,” Percy called to her, standing up.

June remained unfazed.

“I’m going back to the brownstone.” Her voice was clipped, her hands trembling as she grabbed her jacket. “I don't give a damn fuck if it's 30 minutes away. If there’s anything—even the smallest reason of why Alex hasn’t called yet—I’m going to find it.”

“Wait, babe!” Nora stood up quickly, shrugging on her own jacket. “At least let us help—”

Beatrice hesitated, sliding a quick glance at Percy. “But what about poor David? What if something happens and we don’t come back right away?”

Percy placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “I already called a friend from work. She’s coming over to watch him,” he gently said. “David’s going to be in good hands with her.”

But June was already descending the stairs, puffing as she went down.

Percy, Nora and Beatrice all exchanged a look before grabbing their respective belongings and scrambling after her.

It was about 4AM and the streets were eerily—and wrongly—silent.

June brisk-walked through the streets, passing each block with unwavering determination. She had one destination and one goal and at that moment, nothing but ensuring Alex’s safety mattered to her.

Percy, Beatrice and Nora were quick on her heels, but as they passed the dark alleyway of Fulton and Livingston, something made Nora stop.

“You guys go ahead, I’ll be with you.” she said to Beatrice and Percy. “Just need to check something out.”

“Okay, Nora doll. Just be quick, yeah?” Percy said before trotting alongside Beatrice to follow June.

The moment Percy and Beatrice were gone, Nora stepped into the dark alleyway where a flicker of silver caught her eye—so faint and barely noticeable.

Her fingers clenched at her sides as she narrowed her eyes to inspect where the silver shine was emanating from, but the moment she found the source, she had a gut feeling that she knew what she was looking at.

Her heart stuttered in her chest as she crouched down to look at the silver object that sparkled under the faint streetlight.

A syringe.

A spent one.

Nora’s breath caught in her throat as she picked up the syringe and tilted it under the lamp’s faint glow. There were remnants of a liquid inside.

Her stomach clenched and her breaths came in short, staccato beats.

She’d seen this kind of syringe, because she researched it before—for Alex.

Vampire tranquilizer.

Her fingers tightened around the metal object as her mind raced with possible implications of what she held in her hands.

With a quick, almost robotic movement, she placed the syringe in a plastic bag and slipped it into her purse before sprinting back out of the alleyway toward June, who was already a couple blocks ahead of her.

She will need to tell June eventually—tell all of them, just not now.

Because if her gut was right—and Alex had been stabbed with tranquilizer—then he wasn’t at the brownstone.

Someone has taken him.

That mere realization made her blood run cold.

With a breath, she took off running after June, Percy and Beatrice, with the knowledge that if they were going to find and save both Alex and Henry, they’re gonna need to do it fast or else, they’ll run out of time—and hope.

Chapter Text

Darkness pressed against the edges of Alex’s consciousness, a thick void that refused to let him fully wake up.

His body and limbs felt too heavy, as if they weren’t his own. His mind felt like he was floating in an unknown space just outside of himself, making him unable to breathe and move the way he should.

Somewhere in the haze, he was aware of himself—aware of the numbness in his fingers, the throbbing pain in his head, the unknown weight keeping him down. His vampiric instincts screamed at him to get up and fight, but everytime he tried, an unnatural—almost synthetic—force dragged him back down.

The tranquilizer.

The sudden realization slithered through his sluggish and hazy mind like a whisper from the shadows. The syringe. The sting. The instant feeling of weakness that washed over him.

He was aware of the moment the needle hit him.

His mind pushed to race with various thoughts; he was a vampire, he had speed and yet, he didn’t see this fucking syringe coming.

No amount of mental beat-ups mattered now because he was currently here—wherever here may be—trapped inside a body that refused to obey what his mind was screaming for.

His long lashes weakly fluttered against his cheeks, his vision shifting between darkness and blurriness. Shadows loomed all around him, human-shaped but unrecognizable. A dim light flickered somewhere above him, casting sharp lines across what little view he could see from where he was seated.

He inhaled a whiff of air and nearly gagged at the scent. It was cold and stale air, thick with the scent of metal and something faintly chemical.

His head lolled to the side, taking in his surroundings with the little strength he has. His vampiric metabolism and strength should’ve burned through whatever was injected in his system and healed him by now, but the tranquilizer was too strong.

Nora told him once before to avoid any type of vampire tranquilizer at all times, but sadly, this isn’t one of those times.

Through his blurry vision, he could see what looked like bars in front of him and his mind could only provide one possible answer: he was in some sort of dungeon.

That conclusion alone was enough to send waves of unease through his sluggish mind.

Where the hell am I? Where’s my alpha?

A slow, dull ache pulsed at the base of his skull. He forced his fingers to twitch, to curl, to move in any way that could remind him he still had control over his body. It was weak, barely a movement, but it was progress.

And that was something he chose to hold on to; A reminder that he was still alive.

The floor beneath his ass was solid and unyielding–concrete? The dim and buzzing light suggested that there was something going on above him, but all the details were impossible to make out through the fog that was still clouding his senses.

Eventually, he heard a sound.

Faint and distant.

Footsteps.

His sluggish brain fought to perk up in order to identify the sound and demand answers. He couldn’t make out how many footsteps there were, but they were certainly coming closer in slow and delicate movements.

Soon enough, a door creaked open and a wash of cool but stale air brushed over his skin.

Someone had entered the space.

Alex attempted to move, to turn his head toward the sound, but his body remained limp—his limbs heavy as stone.

A low hum filled the silence and he eventually heard an amused feminine voice.

“Well, well, look at you,” a voice drawled, smooth and condescending. “You’re so weak for a horrifying and disgusting vampire.”

The words sent a chill down Alex’s spine.

His breath hitched in his throat, and his fingers twitched at his sides—more noticeable, more alive.

The voice was new to him, but the accent was weirdly familiar, as if someone constantly spoke to him in that accent that the sound of it was ingrained in his mind.

That was the one thing he needed to hear in order to come to the possibility that wherever he is, it's outside of the US.

Chapter Text

The windows of the brownstone house were eerily dark when June, Nora, Percy and Beatrice arrived at the front door.

Being out of breath due to walking a long distance did not stop June from strongly knocking on the door with brutal force.

“Alex? Are you in there?” she asked loudly, her tone urgent.

No answer came from within.

“Junie, dear. Maybe he’s asleep. Can you tone down the knocking out of respect for the neighbors?” Percy attempted to reason with June.

“I don’t give a fuck about the neighbors—not when my brother is involved.” June snapped, her fist still rapping on the door. “Alex? I’m coming in!” she warned before grabbing her key and shoving the door open with so much force that it slammed against the wall.

“Alex!” June yelled upon entering the dark house, her voice sharp and desperate.

The house remained silent, perhaps too silent.

No sounds of movement, no footsteps thrumming in the distance. Something about the air felt wrong, thick with Alex’s absence.

June’s breath hitched and her pulse pounded in her ears as she rushed to open the doors of the bedroom and the bathroom in hopes of finding Alex.

She flicked on the lights, searching—hoping and praying—that Alex was somewhere inside the house.

“Little bro, if you’re in here, please come out!” she said with a shaky voice, her eyes slowly filling up with unshed tears.

But as the rooms and spaces of the house turned up empty, the panic seated inside her swelled up to the point of suffocation.

She shakily walked back to the couch, where Percy, Beatrice and Nora sat in silence. “He’s not here.” she mumbled out before collapsing on Nora’s lap and sobbing uncontrollably. “Alex’s gone.”

Nora could only caress her girlfriend’s back in an attempt to comfort June, but she also bit her lip in hesitation, knowing that she held something in her backpack—something that could give them answers.

“Nora dear, are you alright?” Beatrice’s voice broke through the tension, making June look up from her spot in Nora’s lap.

“Uhm…” Nora stuttered.

June hastily wiped her face and sat beside her girlfriend. “Babe, is there something on your mind?”

Nora swallowed, her gaze flicking to Percy and Beatrice from the opposite seats before swiveling her body to open her backpack and pull the plastic with the item she retrieved from the alleyway, handing it to June with shaking hands.

A small metallic glint caught the dim light of the house.

“What’s this?” June asked with furrowed brows.

Before Nora could respond, June’s eyes sparkled with realization.

A syringe—a used one.

June’s breath stalled in her throat as she stared at the object inside the plastic, everything inside her going terrifyingly still.

“I—I found it,” Nora explained with a shaky voice. “Back in the alleyway.”

“Which alleyway?” June asked with a low growl.

“The same alleyway where we walked by to go to Percy’s apartment…and the one that Alex would’ve passed through when he left.” Nora said, head bent down.

June’s alpha barely heard her beta girlfriend’s answer, and in that moment, she felt something dark and feral unfurl inside of her.

A low, guttural snark tore from the depths of her throat.

Her vision blurred–red hot with fury. Her chest heaved with the force of her anger, her fingers curling around the plastic she held, uncaring of the possibility that the syringe could pierce through the plastic and stab her.

Before either Nora, Percy or Beatrice could react, June stood up and moved to the dining table and immediately grabbed a chair only to fling it to the wall, sending it crashing into multiple splinters upon contact. A teapot rattled on the kitchen counter as she slammed her palm onto the hard marble, her rage vibrating across the entire house.

“No!” She roared. “Fucking shit!”

Her body shook violently, her manicured nails digging into her palms so hard that she swore she could feel them piercing through her skin.

Someone had taken her beloved younger brother.

“June, I’m—” Beatrice started, her voice cautious, but June only whirled on her with a wild, burning stare.

“You!” she hissed with a finger pointed at Beatrice. “If you didn’t come here, none of this would’ve happened! Henry is gone. Alex is gone. And I...”

Beatrice was about to respond when Nora looked at her and slightly shook her head, telling her that it’s pointless to apologize now.

June’s whole body tensed like a bowstring that’s on the verge of snapping into two.

“Babe, can you stop and sit for a second?” Nora pleaded, standing up to reach for June.

June released a sharp, ragged breath. Her pulse still beat ferociously within her, her body fighting against herself—rage, panic, worry, all tangled into one.

It wasn’t long before she felt Nora’s soft hands on her shoulders, as if to bring her back down. “No need to break anything more, babe. We’re going to find Alejandro and Henry, alright?” she whispered with a kiss to June’s temple. “And we’re not gonna stop until we do. We just need to be smart about our next moves.”

June sucked in a couple of unsteady and shallow breaths. Her chest still heaved from her outburst, but the trembles in her hands slightly lessened.

“The mission of finding Alex and Henry is gonna take more than just us. We’re gonna need a couple more people.” she rasped, pulling her phone from her purse with trembling fingers.

As she scanned her contacts, Percy and Beatrice looked at each other with quizzical expressions. “Nora doll, if we may ask, who is Junie going to call?” Percy asked.

Nora just gave them a wink. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

Once June stopped scrolling, she pressed the call button and waited for the person she was calling to pick up.

After two rings, a familiar voice spoke on the other end of the line.

“Hello, sunshine,” Ellen Claremont’s motherly voice rang through. “Wasn’t expecting you to call at this hour. Is everything alright?”

June opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out.

“Mom…” she said, the dam inside her close to breaking at the sound of her mother’s voice.

“Sunshine, are you okay?” Ellen asked with a worried tone.

That one question was all it took for the dam inside June to break and a broken sob tore out of her.

“Mom,” she choked out. “It’s Alex—he’s gone.”

“What? Where is he?” Ellen asked, her voice turned urgent.

“I don’t know, but he's been taken,” June admitted, voice breaking. “I need you and Dad. How fast can you both get here to the brownstone?”

“We’ll be there as soon as we can, sunshine. Is Nora with you? Stay with her, okay? I love you.” Ellen said before dropping the call.

Nora rose up from her seat to give June comforting caresses. “So, what did your mom say?” she gently asked June.

“She and Dad are coming.” June answered, leaning into Nora’s touch.

“Okay, until then, let’s just sit and try to rest, alright?” Nora said, holding June’s hand to lead her to the couch.

The wait for Ellen and Oscar is agonizing and time seemed to slow down, but June knew her parents are coming and for now, the thought of them coming was comforting enough for her to allow sleep to take over.

—

A few hours later, the sound of tires screeching against concrete awakened June from her nap.

“Sunshine, we’re here.” Ellen called out from outside, her voice strong and steady.

June leaped out of the couch to fling the door open and once she closed the door and looked at the faces of her parents—Ellen’s worry and Oscar’s quiet fury—she broke into tears and immediately collapsed into their embrace.

Ellen and Oscar’s arms wrapped tightly around her, the warmth of her mother and the strength of her father all melding into one tight embrace. June clung to them like a little girl, her sobs breaking free and wracking her body.

“He’s gone,” she choked out. “Alex is gone. He was just with me yesterday—and now he’s not.”

Ellen smoothed a hand over June’s unruly brown hair, her voice calm and steady in contrast to the storm raging inside of her daughter. “Shhh, sunshine, we’re here now and we’re going to help you find him and bring him back home.”

Oscar lightly gripped her shoulder, the touch grounding. “Now,” he said, his sharp Texan drawl slicing through the room. “Who would care to tell me and Ellen about the fucker who took our son?”

June forced herself to take a shaky breath and think through the chaos in her mind. She pulled back enough to face her parents, her hands still clenched on to her mother’s beige coat like a lifeline.

“We suspect it was Henry’s grandmother,” she answered, her voice laced with venom. “Mary.”

Ellen looked at her daughter with confused eyes. “Sunshine, I don’t mean to pile on more questions, but who’s Henry? And why would his grandmother take our Alex?”

“Henry is…Alex’s mate.” June said, swallowing hard.

Then, simultaneously, Ellen and Oscar’s jaws dropped at what they heard and they looked to Nora, Percy and Beatrice’s direction as if to also demand an explanation.

“My son…has a mate?” Ellen repeated, her voice measured.

It was Nora who answered. “Yes, Ma’am, and I think that it’s better to ask Alex yourselves once we find him.”

Ellen exhaled slowly, nodding. “Yes, I think we need to have that conversation as a family once this whole nightmare is done.” She turned to look at Percy and Beatrice. “Now, do any of you two strangers care to explain why you suspect the grandmother of my son’s mate is responsible for this?”

Beatrice stepped forward with a grim expression on her regal features. “Because she’s also my grandmother,” she admitted, voice steady. “And she’s the most ruthless woman you could possibly come across.” Her throat bobbed as she swallowed. “I just didn’t expect that she would go as far as to have Alex taken.”

The second the last sentence left Beatrice’s lips, June saw red again. She stood up to pace the room, her fists clenching beside her.

“She—” June’s breath came out sharp, burning in her throat. “I fucking swear to God, if she dares to lay a hand on Alex and hurt him, I’m going to fucking rip her throat apart.”

She whirled on Beatrice, eyes wild with rage. “Did you know she was capable of this?”

Beatrice flinched, guilt flashing across her face. “Yes,” she confessed, voice quiet  “And I know she’s capable of so much more.”

June scoffed, a bitter sound. “Of course, she fucking is.”

Nora stepped in between the young ladies before June could start yanking Beatrice’s hair out of her scalp. “Babe,” she gently said, gripping her girlfriend’s arm. “I know you’re angry but losing your temper is not going to help us right now.”

June shook her off. “No, babe, you don’t understand how angry I am right now!” She was trembling with rage. “This isn’t just about saving Alex and Henry! This is about us facing her —this ruthless fucking crone—who thinks that she can take away two of the people that I love like they’re nothing—” Her voice cracked, but she gritted her teeth through it. “And I am not going to just sit here and do absolutely fucking nothing!”

Ellen’s commanding voice cut through the tension. “Sunshine, calm down for a bit. We’re going to find your brother and his mate, and we’re going to take this witch Mary down.”

June turned to her mother, breathing hard, ready to snap—until she saw the deadly expression on Ellen’s face.

“We’re going to find them, okay?” Ellen said, no hints of doubt in her voice. “And when we do—”

Oscar exhaled sharply. “That witch Mary is going to regret ever taking our beloved Alex. She’s gonna need all the help she can get if she thinks she can take us all at once.”

Silence stung the air before June’s words rang through, her voice burning with rage.

“I’m going to make her fucking pay for what she’s done.” she murmured.

Ellen turned to Beatrice, her sharp gaze steady. “Dearest, if your grandmother truly has my son and his mate, do you have any idea where she could be holding them?” she asked with a gentle voice as to not spook the young lady.

Beatrice swallowed, her hands clenched at her sides as she forced herself to meet Ellen’s steady gaze. “Yes, they’ll be at our family estate. In the heart of London.”

Ellen narrowed her eyes. “Are you sure?” 

“Yes, Ma’am. I couldn’t think of nowhere else Gran could be keeping Henry and possibly, Alex. Our estate is a fortress—high walls and lots of security that it’s almost like a prison.” Beatrice answered with a grim nod.

June’s breath hitched again, her nails digging back into the dents of her palms. “Then that’s where we go.”

She looked to the side to already find Percy on his phone and Nora on her laptop, checking flight times and routes.

“I have one,” Percy said, his voice steady but urgent. “There’s a direct flight that leaves in two hours. It’s a bit pricey but it’s the fastest way there.”

“Book it!” Oscar ordered.

“Already did, sir,” Nora confirmed, not even looking up from her screen. “Pack your bags y’all! We’re flying across the fucking ocean.”

Ellen nodded. “Let’s bring our boys home.”

Without another word, the group grabbed their things and went out the door. June let out a deep exhale while Ellen’s firm hand caressed her back, grounding her.

She was ready to do whatever it takes to bring Alex and Henry home—even if it means war.

Chapter Text

The cold metal of the silver cuffs dug into Henry’s wrists as he shifted his position on the bed, his body still sluggish from lack of movement. His mind, at least, had sharpened—his concussion had faded after restless sleep, but the dull ache of captivity remained.

Still, despite the peace of the room, rage simmered beneath his skin like a burning fire that’s yet to be contained.

He was about to drift back into sleep when the door opened with a crack and Philip entered with a stern expression. Philip’s eyes were dark with contempt as he stood at the wall across from the bed and stared at Henry. The dim sunshine muffled by the curtains at the side did little to soften his older brother’s expression—it only sharpened the disgust curling at Philip’s lips.

Henry tried to follow Philip’s gaze but even without trying, he knew exactly what his brother was looking at. The mating mark on his neck, still visible, still unmistakably Alex’s.

“So, what Gran said is true. I thought she was joking or exaggerating, but you did allow yourself to be claimed by a leech of a vampire.” His voice dripped with disgust, fingers curling at his sides. “Be honest with me, Henry, what made you stoop so low to let that vampire mark you? Was it desperation? Or sheer stupidity?”

Henry’s jaw clenched with annoyance and anger at his brother’s words. He let out a deep exhale through his nose, slow and measured to prevent himself from snapping at his brother.

“You dare speak about stooping low while you, an alpha, stand idly by and watch as our grandmother tortures your own brother.” Henry angrily said, meeting Philip’s gaze with his own icy blue eyes. “I swear to you, Philip—if anything happens to Alex over in the US because of Gran, if I find out that you had a hand in her schemes—” He inhaled sharply, icy eyes locking onto Philip’s with lethal intent. “I swear on my mate’s eternal life, I will end you myself.”

Philip’s nostrils flared, his posture going rigid. “Henry, you wouldn’t dare hurt your family just because of him .”

Henry bared his teeth in a humorless smirk. “Wouldn’t I? His voice was almost amused, but his gaze was still cold. “Because if it comes down to a choice between my mate’s life or you and Gran—who has only ever hurt me, both inside and out—” His voice dropped to an icy whisper.

“Then I would take Beatrice and Mum away from here and then…I will burn you and Gran to the fucking ground, if that would mean that me, my mate, my sister, my mother and my friends will no longer suffer in your clutches.”

Philip’s throat bobbed, his mask of indifference slipping just slightly.

Before Henry could say another word, the door swung open and Mary strode inside the room, her ever-perfect composure in place, though the cold amusement in her ice sent a chill down Henry’s very being. Two guards flanked her, their postures stiff and their expressions unreadable.

“Ah, my two grandsons.” she mused, her voice sickeningly sweet. “I hope I’m not interrupting what seems like a fiery discussion between the both of you.” Her sharp gaze flickered between them before landing on Philip. “Philip, dear, I had tea prepared. Please ensure that it is set in the tea room.”

Philip hesitated to move at first, his eyes still locked on Henry’s in a silent verbal battle, one neither could afford to lose.

It wasn’t until Mary cleared her throat that he turned on his heel and stalked out of the room without another word.

Henry barely had time to savor the small victory before Mary’s attention completely settled on him, her gaze turned to his wrists, red and still bound to the headboard, her lips curling in mock sympathy.

“I see you’ve finally calmed down, my dear,” she murmured. “So I guess the cuffs are no longer necessary.” she said with a snap of her fingers in the direction of the guards, a wordless command.

One of the burly men stepped forward and unlocked the cuffs, freeing Henry’s wrists. The moment they clicked open, Henry flexed his fingers to allow his blood to flow to relieve the stiffness in his joints before sitting up on the bed, while suppressing the urge to lunge at her.

“If you’re expecting a thank you for freeing me, Gran, I’m sorry but you are not getting one.” Henry said, his alpha’s anger simmering beneath the surface.

“I don’t expect a thank you from you, Henry.” Mary said smoothly, unaffected by his words. “I do, however, expect you to join me and Philip for tea.”

Henry scoffed, rubbing at the raw and peeling skin around his wrists. “I would rather starve myself than do that.”

“Now, now.” she said lightly. “I do insist, my dear.”

A slight bitterness in her tone made Henry pause and freeze. There was a dangerous undertone in the way Mary said the words, a quiet promise of consequence if he refused at even the slightest.

He gritted his teeth and his instincts screamed at him to fight and lash out, but he knew better than to raise the ire of his grandmother. He knew that if his grandmother was this calm and composed, it meant that she was in full control and that a dangerous plan would possibly be set into motion.

With a final glare, Henry pushed himself off of the bed and followed her out of the room to the dining hall, his stomach twisting with nerves and unease.

As he followed his grandmother out into the familiar hallways of the estate, his thoughts drifted to Alex and he could only hope that his dearest mate was safe and sound.

I’ll be back soon, darling. Please stay safe wherever you may be. I love you so much.

—

It was a seven-hour flight from New York to London and during the entire flight, June barely managed to sit still, constantly unlocking her phone to check the time and her knee bouncing restlessly as the pilot’s voice droned over the intercom

She couldn’t care less about the possible smoothness of their landing. Every second that ticked by was another second Alex and Henry could potentially be in danger.

“Sunshine, calm down,” Ellen said beside her, placing a steadying hand on her daughter’s knee to ground her. “We’ll be there soon, alright?”

June nodded while breathing out a shaky exhale, her eyes filling back up with tears. “I know, Mom. I just can’t help it.” She swallowed, voice tight, throat dry. “What if something already happened to Alex and Henry?”

Ellen smiled a small smile before leaning forward to kiss her daughter’s forehead. “Don’t think that way, sunshine. Your brother’s a survivor and you know it. As for Henry, I have yet to meet him but I’m sure he’s holding his own. They both are.”

“I hope you’re right, Mom.” June said before looking away and gazing out the window, watching as the sky stretched endlessly beyond the airplane’s wing.

After what seemed like a couple hours later, the plane landed on the tarmac runway of Heathrow Airport and the moment the seatbelt sign flickered off, June leaped off of her seat and immediately stood to open the overhead compartment to get her bag before pushing through the aisle of passengers. 

“Sunshine, wait—”

Ellen, Oscar, Nora, Percy and Beatrice barely had enough time to grab their respective bags before quickly walking after her.

Right after clearing immigration and walking to the arrivals area, June’s eyes scanned around the place.

“Bea, how exactly are we going to get to the estate? Via taxi?” she asked, glancing over at the regal young lady.

“No. One of my aides is picking us up and he said he’d be here so…” she trailed off to look around until her eyes landed on a sharply dressed man holding a discreet sign with the name ‘Lady Beatrice Fox’ written on it. “Ah,” she exhaled. “There he is.”

The group walked toward the man, who greeted them with a respectful bow of his head, his English accent was crisp and polished. “Lady Beatrice, the car is waiting right outside.”

“Thank you.” Beatrice said, mirroring his nod.

June barely paid any mind to the protocols. However, the tension in her shoulders eased at the thought that they are a step closer to finding Alex and Henry.

Thomas led them to a luxurious and sleek vehicle that was seemingly large enough to fit them all comfortably. Beatrice entered first, followed by Percy, June, Nora, Ellen and Oscar. The moment the door shut behind Oscar, the engine hummed to life and they pulled smoothly onto the road.

Beatrice leaned forward slightly, her voice calm yet firm. “Take us to the family estate, please.”

A curt and polite nod was the driver's only response as the car merged from the airport parking to the main road leading to the Mountchristen-Windsor estate.

The London skyline faded behind them as the city roads eventually turned into the winding English countryside. It was late afternoon so the sun was getting ready to set, bathing the fields in a warm orange glow.

However, despite the calmness of the outer atmosphere, June felt uneasy as her alpha instincts prickled beneath her skin.

She suddenly stiffened, her hand gripping the edge of her seat as she leaned over to Beatrice’s direction. “Bea,” she murmured. “Has your car always been this…scented?”

Beatrice’s brows furrowed as she took one cautious whiff of the air. “Er..no.” she responded before looking to the man in the driver seat. “Excuse me, can you kindly adjust the air freshener? It smells weird back here.”

“Of course, ma’am.” The driver responded before pressing a button that released a thin, white mist through the vents of the air conditioning system.

“What the hell—” Percy coughed, waving a hand in front of his face.

Beatrice’s eyes widened in horror. “No, Thomas, what are you—”

“Bea, I don’t think that’s—” Nora slurred before a wave of dizziness hit her.

Ellen and Oscar struggled against the thickening haze, but within moments, their movements slowed, their heads lolling forward.

Nora slumped forward in her own seat, her head lolling. Percy let out a weak curse before his body went limp, his head landing on the window. Even Beatrice’s eyelids slowly fluttered shut.

June, being the last woman standing, fought with everything she had. Her alpha instincts roared in her veins, telling her to fight, but her limbs refused to cooperate.

Eventually, her head drooped and her breaths turned shallow. Through the haze, she caught sight of the driver in the rearview mirror—only to find him smiling a devilish grin.

Shit! He’s not—.

The last sound that she heard before everything faded to black was the purr of the car smoothly rolling down the empty road, carrying them deeper into the English countryside.

Chapter Text

The stone wall where Alex slumped against was as unforgiving as the cold hard floor that was starting to burn the skin of his ass through his jeans. His body ached, his mind still groggy from the effects of the tranquilizer in his system. He was no longer sure how long he’d been locked up—Minutes? Hours? Days? The one thing he can be sure about is his hunger, which has been growing with every passing minute.

The last time he fed was when June was cradling him while he cried about Henry not coming back to him and he was sure that was no longer yesterday.

His throat burned, dry and parched, and he was about to croak out for someone—anyone—to get him something to feed on when the sound of footsteps appeared.

Alex barely had the strength to lift his head when the iron bars in front of him opened with a screech, the dim light from the corridor casting eerie shadows along the walls and floor.

Two guards walked in, their expressions stoic as ever and their movements precise as they slowly approached him. One of them reached down and grabbed his arm, yanking him upright with brute force.

Alex gritted his teeth with irritation but he ultimately couldn’t suppress the groan of pain that escaped him.

“Vampire, get up. You’ve been called.” one of them said with a gruff voice.

Under normal circumstances, Alex would’ve made a snarky remark or comment—something cutting and rebellious—but his body was too weak to put up much of a battle, even verbally.

The guards cuffed him with handcuffs before grabbing him forward. Alex tried to walk and match their stride, but his feet were barely able to keep up. As the guards pulled him down a long hallway, his vision swam, but he could see enough to realize that as they dragged him further down, the stone walls slowly gave way to more polished marble decor. The scent of polished wood, expensive cologne and burning candles eventually filled his nostrils.

Alex could only come to one conclusion—wherever they were taking him, it was not another cell. It was somewhere grand and he was about to see something or meet someone important.

That thought only made him dread being dragged out from wherever cage he slumped in earlier.

—

Henry eventually arrived in the familiar grandeur of the estate’s tea room. The room was bathed in golden light from the chandelier hanging above, but the atmosphere was anything but warm. 

Upon reaching the table, Mary, who was sitting at the head of the table, motioned for him to sit on the chair across from her and Philip. 

“Henry dear, do sit.” she told him, voice smooth and laced with something that made him shiver.

Despite his instincts telling him to fight back, he followed with the hopes of not causing anymore trouble. A servant immediately poured tea into the cup laid out in front of him, but amid craving for the drink, Henry found himself revolted by the thought of having tea right now, seated next to the two members of his family that he loathed the most.

His grip on the teacup tightened, the delicate china threatening to crack underneath his touch. To avoid suspicion, he started to inspect everything about the tea, slightly worried that there was something mixed into it. 

As he slowly lifted the teacup to his lips, his eyes rose up to look at Philip, who threw him a disgusted glance. As much as he wanted to retort, he had chosen to ignore the look.

Mary, ever the picture of control, sipped from her teacup before setting it back down on its saucer with a soft clink.

“Henry dear, tell me,” she mused, her voice deceptively gentle, “How’s your mate? Alex, is it? Is he doing well?”

Henry’s entire body went stiff at the mention of Alex’s name and he immediately lowered the teacup he was holding to avoid it being his own personal weapon.

He attempted to school his features into nonchalance and immediately dropped his hands, but he knew better than to underestimate his grandmother.

His fingers curled around his knees as he swallowed back the tea and bile that was slowly rising back up in his throat. “I’m sure he’s okay, his sister’s probably with him while I’m not around.” he answered cautiously.

“You don’t sound so sure, dear.” Mary said, her lips curling into something that almost seemed…amused.

“Gran, I’m sure you’re aware that since coming here, I haven’t been able to talk to him.” Henry said, unease crawling down his spine.

“I know, and that is why I’m now giving you the chance to ask him yourself.” Mary exhaled, feigning sympathy.

Before Henry could ask what she meant, Mary snapped her fingers to motion the guards to open up the doors.

Two more guards stepped inside the dining call.

Between them, slumped yet conscious, was Alex.

The moment Henry looked at the direction of the doors, his entire world came to a halt.

There he was— his beloved Alex—pale, shackled and weak.

Pure and unfiltered rage flooded Henry’s veins, immediately igniting his primal alpha like a wild beast inside him. The legs of his chair screeched against the polished marble floor as he shot to his feet, an alpha growl erupting from his throat.

He immediately whirled on his grandmother, who was still calmly sipping her tea. “Why did you bring him here?!” he snarled at the old woman with shaking hands.

“Why are you furious, dear? Shouldn’t you be happy to see your darling Alex?” Mary taunted him, all mock innocence.

The remark only made Henry angrier. “What have you done to him?”

At the sound of Henry’s voice, Alex lifted his head up, brown eyes hazy and searching. The moment he knew his eyes locked onto Henry’s own blue ones, he smiled a weak smile.

“Alpha.” Alex whispered into the space between them, fragile but filled with love.

Henry’s heart clenched at the sight of his mate.

“Oh Henry, I haven’t done anything.” She stood up from her seat. “Well, nothing yet, but the moment you decide to do something reckless again, I will see to the end of your mate’s life.”

Henry’s fists clenched beside him and in the blink of an eye, he turned to go towards Alex. He only made it a couple steps forward before two guards held him back.

“Let go of me!” Henry roared. “I need to be with him!”

Mary only sighed, shaking her head. “Tsk tsk, I knew it. You’ve always been so sentimental, Henry.” Then, with a wave to the guards holding Alex. “Take him back to the dungeons.”

“No!! Don’t! Please!” Henry yelled, thrashing against the guards that held him.

Alex barely had the strength to fight back against the guards holding him and dragging him back to the dungeons, but as he was slowly dragged away, he still tried to reach out toward Henry with trembling fingers.

“Alpha, I—” His voice was too weak and barely audible over the chaotic air.

“Relax, Henry,” Mary said with a sigh, as if her own grandson’s suffering was nothing more than a mild inconvenience. “I’m not gonna let them hurt your sweet vampire… yet .” She turned away with a sharp smile. “Now, be a dear and go rest up, would you? Dinner will be in a few hours. We’ll have guests by then.”

Henry could only stare helplessly at the doors, his heart pounding and his rage an uncontrollable storm raging deep in his chest. His vision blurred with sheet, unrelenting hatred as his grandmother walked out of the dining hall, leaving him with Shaan and Philip.

It only took a few seconds before Philip immediately trailed behind Mary with a stiff posture and an unreadable expression. But Henry saw through his older brother’s carefully composed mask—saw the way his brother’s fingers twitched at his sides and the way he avoided Henry’s gaze as he walked to the door.

How could you, Pip?

Henry’s lips curled with disgust as he watched Philip disappear through the threshold. He had once idolized his brother—the brother who was supposed to protect him and Beatrice. But Philip had chosen the dark side instead.

He slightly wanted to lunge after them, wanted to shake Philip until he woke up from whatever blind loyalty had poisoned his mind and made him allow their grandmother to hurt his family.

But he couldn’t. Not now.

The sound of footsteps coming closer was eventually heard and it wasn’t long before Shaan was beside him, his usual nonchalance edged with something close to sympathy.

“Sir,” Shaan said carefully, “You should return to your room and rest before dinner.”

Henry’s fists clenched at the idea of sitting through dinner with Mary and Philip, especially now that he knows Alex is hurt. “Shaan, I don’t give a damn fuck about dinner,” he snapped. “What I care about is saving Alex and getting the fuck out of this hellish place.”

Shaan’s gaze remained steady as ever. “I understand, Sir. But in your current state of mind and body, you might inflict more harm than good.”

The words felt like a tight noose around Henry’s throat. He drew his gaze toward the door where Alex had been dragged through, his heart beating twice as fast with helplessness and anger within him.

If he tried hard enough, he could still hear Alex’s ragged breaths and see the purple bruises on Alex’s handsome face.

He wanted to fight and tear this entire estate apart with his bare hands.

But right now, he had no choice but to follow orders and bide his time.

With a huff accompanied by a frustrated growl, he jerked his head toward the open door. “Fine.”

Shaan only gave him a curt nod as a response and accompanied him out of the dining hall, the heavy silence between them only constantly broken by the steady click of their shoes against the marble tiles. Every step Henry took felt like betrayal—like he was willingly walking away from Alex.

However, deep down, he knew that the battle wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

Once they arrived at the doorstep of Henry’s room, Shaan hesitated to enter, as if he wanted to say something. But Henry had no patience for whatever weak reassurances Shaan might offer.

“Shaan, leave me alone.”

With another nod and slight bow, Shaan stepped out and quietly shut the door behind him.

As soon as the lock clicked, Henry’s alpha was loose from the cage.

A guttural growl ripped from his throat as he immediately went to the dresser and slammed his fists against the cabinets. The vanity mirror above it cracked from the impact, shards splintering outward. Henry’s breath heaved, his chest rising and falling like a predator freed from captivity.

He had played by Mary’s rules for too long. Now, with Alex in her clutches, diplomacy, negotiation and patience was no longer enough.

Facing the shattered mirror, Henry stared at his own reflection—at the bloodshot fury in his icy blue eyes, at the mating mark that Mary had mocked so cruelly. His fingers traced over it, over the undeniable proof of who his heart and soul belonged to, and his resolve hardened into something unshakable.

As he continued to stare at his own face while harshly gasping for breath, another thought crept its way into his mind—June.

Henry knows June enough to know that she’s furious.

The word furious is no longer enough to describe how June probably feels like now.

In his mind’s eye, he can visualize June thrashing with fiery rage, her anger burning through like wildfire. Since the day they met, June has always been fiercely protective of Alex and as Alex’s original alpha before him, June had always sworn to stand by her brother at all costs.

If she ever knew that Alex was in Mary’s clutches, she would stop at nothing to get her brother back.

Henry had also promised her that he would always love and protect Alex, no matter what. That was the very promise that made June give him her blessing to knot and mate Alex in the first place.

And now—Alex was anything but safe and protected.

His fingers curled into the edges of the dresser, knuckles turning white.

He had broken his promise to June, shattered like the mirror in front of him.

But he vowed that the promise will not be broken for long.

With a sharp inhale, he lifted his head and met his own broken reflection. His face was exhausted, with barely restrained anger, but beneath the fire of fury, there was a light that shone stronger—determination.

He will get Alex back, even if it will mean him burning the whole fucking estate to ashes.

And when the battle’s done, he would be able to look June in the eyes and tell her that he kept his promise.

Chapter Text

A couple hours later, Shaan returned to escort Henry to dinner, to which Henry reluctantly agreed to. He had a fresh change of clothes and was now wearing a blue sweater over a light blue long-sleeved button down paired with black pants and shoes. He combed his hair to look like the princely image of perfection, but nothing about the simmering anger inside him was princely.

The clinking of silverware and the crackling of the fireplace were among the sounds that Henry heard when he was led into the grand hall. His footsteps were stiff and his spine was rigid with the rage and unease that were burning inside him.

As much as he wanted to disobey the summon to dinner—refusal would only provoke Mary into further cruelty. He couldn’t afford to push her even further, not when Alex was at her mercy.

The long mahogany dining table stretched out before him, polished to perfection under the warm glow of the chandelier swinging above. Mary sat at the head of the table, regal as ever, her gloved and bejeweled hand wrapped around a delicate teacup as if she hadn’t orchestrated what looked like Henry’s worst nightmare. Philip sat stiffly to her right, his face was impassive, but Henry could right through his brother—Philip was rigid with tension.

As Henry took a seat and eyed the dining room, his breath stopped at his throat when he saw a bottle of blood on the space beside him. Mary immediately caught his expression.

“Henry, what’s the matter?” she asked smoothly.

Henry took a few deep breaths before responding. “Why is there a bottle of blood here?”

“Oh, I should have told you. Your mate will be joining us, as well as a few others.” Mary responded.

Confusion coated Henry’s expression as he continued to look at the table. There were nine plates set on the table, but only three of them sat at it for now. With Alex possibly joining the fray, it would make four of them.

So, who else could possibly join them for dinner? The servants? Mary’s guards? People he doesn’t give a damn fuck about?

Henry dreaded the possible incoming answer.

A knock on the door interrupted his reverie.

“Yes, please come in.” Mary said.

One look was all it took for Henry’s heart to slam against his ribs as the door opened and two guards entered, dragging Alex along with him.

No! Omega!

Henry shot to his feet, ready to go to him, but before he could move, a familiar voice, raw with fury, cut through the air, followed only by a scuffle of boots and a string of curses.

“Get your filthy hands off of me, you fucking bastards! Give me back my brother!” 

And then he saw her.

June.

His fellow alpha was thrashing like a wild animal, her undeniable strength knocking the guards off their momentum. They struggled to hold her back as she kicked at them, her voice a raw and primal roar.

One of the two guards that were holding her barely dodged at a savage bite aimed at his forearm. But despite their best efforts, June fought with the refusal to be subdued, her rage an unstoppable force. Her teeth bared like fangs, a true alpha ready to tear through anyone who dared to take Alex away from her.

Henry could only gasp as more figures were shoved into the dining hall.

Nora—her naturally happy face pale with fear but her hands clenched in fists, her brown eyes darting wildly around the room as she tried to reach for June. Beatrice—sobbing uncontrollably, her delicate and princess-like frame shaking as she clung desperately to Percy. Ellen—her strong facade cracking as tears streamed freely down her face, her body trembling as she reached for Oscar—who, in turn, was red-faced with anger.

“You fucking morons! Get your hands off my daughter and bring my son back to me!” Oscar bellowed, voice thick with anger as he fought against the hands restraining him. “I swear to God and all of Texas, if you hurt any of my children, I will tear you all apart with my fucking bare hands!”

Percy, normally composed and jolly, was now livid and seething. “You all are dead! Just you wait!” he spat to the guards, voice edged with venom.

When all of them were brought in, the heavy doors of the dining hall closed behind them. June no longer thrashed but her eyes immediately darted around and when she caught sight of Mary, her fury resurfaced.

“You fucking madwoman! Let us go!” she yelled.

Mary only scoffed as she lifted her teacup to her lips, completely unfazed.

June only growled before her eyes landed on Alex, who was still held between two guards.

“Alex!” she yelled in a hoarse voice.

Alex’s head lolled up in recognition and he slightly turned to the direction of June’s voice. When they locked gazes, tears immediately streamed down his face. He looked beyond June to see his parents and he pouted before letting out a tiny whimper.

Henry barely had time to take in the sight before him—his mate, his beloved sister, his friends, Alex’s parents— before his body moved on its own accord.

He shot up from his seat and lunged forward, his alpha instincts screaming at him to run to Alex, to reach June and apologize, to reach Beatrice and tell her that everything is going to be okay. But just as his foot left the floor, a sharp force collided with his chest, halting him.

“Ah, ah, ah, grandson,” Mary tutted, lifting her cane and pressing the cool handle against Henry’s sternum. The burn of cold silver metal stung through the fabric of his sweater, and Henry let out a low growl, baring his teeth at her.

“You. Let. Them. Go,” he snarled. “Now!”

Mary only laughed, the sound soft in amusement as she moved away and gestured to the captives.

“Why are you mad, my dear? Shouldn’t you be happy that they’ve come to dinner?” She turned to face him with a wicked grin on her lips. “This is truly a whole family affair.”

Henry scoffed, his chest heaving. “You really have the fucking audacity to call this nightmare a family affair?” His voice dripped venom as his gaze swept across the table, to the plates of untouched food and the gleaming silverware. His eyes eventually found Beatrice’s own tear-filled ones before flicking to June, whose whole body trembled with anger.

“You’re sick, Gran!” Henry spat as he whirled his head to look at Mary, stepping closer to her despite the lingering sting of her cane on his chest. “You dare to sit high and mighty on this chair, acting as though this is a simple dinner, when in fact, you’ve kidnapped my mate, my friends, my sister, which need I remind you is also your granddaughter! You’ve kidnapped my pack!”

Mary simply sighed, shaking her head as if Henry’s a child with a temper tantrum. “Henry, you do realize that if you had simply done your job—what you were born to do—none of this would have been necessary.”

Henry let out a humorless laugh. “Necessary?” His voice rose, shaking with anger. “Do you really fucking think that torturing the people that I love—forcing them into your sick and twisted game—is necessary?”

Mary tilted her head, her expression maintaining its composure. “If it teaches you a lesson to do your job better, then yes.”

Henry lunged to strike, but Philip stepped forward, shoving him back with a firm grip. “Henry, that’s enough,” He warned with a hiss. “You’re making a fool of yourself.”

Henry wrenched free. “Oh, am I? Then tell me, Philip—how foolish does it make you, standing here doing nothing while your own younger siblings are suffering? His voice was sharp as a blade. “You call yourself an alpha, yet you just sit there, spineless and watch this fucking nightmare unfold like some horror movie.” His lip curled. “Is this the kind of alpha you want to be remembered as? Huh?”

Philip’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing as Henry’s words marinated through his very being.

Henry scoffed in disgust before turning back to Mary, whose smirk only widened.

“You’re such a sap, grandson. You truly disgust and disappoint me,” she crooned.

With a cruel glint in her eye, she reached forward and hooked the tip of her cane into the collar of Henry’s inner shirt, dragging it down just enough to expose the mating mark on his neck.

Silence erupted throughout the room.

Mary hummed in faux thoughtfulness as she gazed at the mark. “My dear, tell me,” she murmured, shaking her head. “How much do you really love that atrocious vampire? Do you love him so much that you allowed him to put this mark on you?”

Henry could feel every eye in the room, waiting for his answer, as if he was a contestant in a game show where he was about to answer the million-dollar question.

He could feel Alex watching him with weak yet hopeful brown eyes, waiting.

Beatrice, Percy, June, Nora, even Alex’s parents Ellen and Oscar—all of them holding their breath as they listened.

And without hesitation and without any ounce of regret in his heart, Henry lifted his head and faced Mary’s gaze with his own defiant ones.

“Yes, Gran. I love my vampire mate so much that I allowed him to mark me. And you want to know something?” Henry took a step forward, his voice steady and strong. “I love him more than I will ever love you.”

A gasp was heard from the room—maybe June, maybe Beatrice—but Henry didn’t take his eyes off of his grandmother. He held his ground, watching as Mary’s expression flickered just for a tiny second before she schooled it back to practiced amusement.

Then she let out a slight chuckle, but it sounded strange this time—as if the sound was forced and strained.

“Oh, my Henry,” she mockingly cooed. “You speak of love as if you truly understand what it means. But be honest with your dear Gran—how can you possibly call that vampire’s family your family? Hmm?”

Henry stilled, his eyes narrowing and his brain processing the question.

Mary sneered. “It’s a rather simple question, is it not? How can you call the vampire’s family your family when you barely even know them? You’ve never even met his parents until today. And yet you cling to them as if they've ever meant anything to you. As if they’re truly yours .”

The silence was deafening against Henry’s ears.

Then with a sharp exhale, he spoke with a loud voice and an unwavering tone.

“Yes,” he said without missing a beat. “Alex’s family is my family.”

Mary’s sneer faltered—for just a second.

Henry stepped even closer. “I may not have known or seen his parents until today but I stand by what I said. His family is my family, because the love and warmth that Alex, his sister June and his best friend Nora have shown me in the few weeks that I’ve known them is more than the love and warmth you or even Philip has ever shown me in my whole fucking life.”

Mary’s fingers twitched on the handle of her cane.

Henry smirked, his gaze cold as ice. “Truth hurts, doesn’t it, Gran? They’ve given me more love than you could ever give me and that is what makes them my family. I don’t care if I’m not related to them, they accept me and they love me for everything that I am, and that is something you will never understand.”

For the first time in their entire conversation, Mary gulped.

It was quick and barely there, but Henry saw it.

Mary recovered fast and she immediately plastered that same annoying fucking smirk back on her old face, but Henry knew that he had struck a cord within her. He knew his grandmother didn’t like being challenged and she certainly didn’t like that he had defied her.

“Henry, my boy, this is why you couldn’t be a great vampire hunter like I expected you to be. You’re pathetic,” she finally spat out, her voice a slow, deliberate drawl. “You’re too sentimental. Too sensitive. Too…soft. Just like your father.”

Henry’s posture turned rigid.

Mary’s lips curled into something cruel. “You think it is not obvious to me that it is the spirit of your foolish father which flows within you? That it is his heart that beats inside of you? And that is what makes you weak, Henry. Love has made you weak.”

A low growl grumbled from deep within Henry’s throat, his inner alpha threatening to escape.

With all the strength and courage that he has, he took another deliberate step forward, his eyes burning with icy fury as he stared his grandmother down.

“You’re wrong, Gran!” Henry said with a low and dangerous voice.

“Am I?” Mary arched her brow.

Henry let out a sharp exhale, his jaw clenched so tightly to the point of pain. “Yes, because love didn’t make me weak,” he hissed, “Instead, it made me stronger.”

Mary scoffed. “Oh please, spare me the—”

“If it weren’t for love,” Henry cut her off, his voice slowly rising. “I wouldn’t have found the strength to stand here and fight you right now. If it weren’t for Alex, I wouldn’t even have the guts to defy you!”

Mary’s sneer faltered again, just barely, but Henry quickly caught it.

“For years, I allowed you to control me. For years, I allowed you to take over my life and dictate my every move. I let you tell me who I would be, what I was allowed to feel.” His chest heaved as his voice cracked with the weight of every word that he said. “I allowed myself to think that pleasing you was my only purpose in life—until I met Alex.”

His gaze flickered to Alex, still slumped between the guards’ hold, his brown eyes barely staying open due to hunger and weakness. However, despite the pain and exhaustion, he was looking right at Henry, listening to his alpha’s every word.

“My sweet handsome mate taught me that loving him and being loved by him in return is my new purpose in life,” Henry continued, his voice raw with conviction. “My love for him is my greatest strength. I chose to love him and I chose to let him claim me just as I claimed him. And that is why I will never let you take him away from me.”

Mary exhaled slowly, rolling her shoulders back in an attempt to regain her composure. “You’re an utter fool,” she muttered.

Henry let out a humorless laugh. “Yes, I’m a fool because I allowed myself to listen to you. Not only that, I’m also a fool who is hopelessly in love with the most handsome and kind vampire in the world.” he said, glancing another look at Alex with a slight smile on his face.

Alex smiled a weak smile, the words ‘I love you’ forming on his lips.

Mary’s lips curled into a sneer, her gaze flicking between Henry and Alex with obvious disgust. The silence that followed Henry’s declaration felt sharp, the surrounding tension pressing against the atmosphere like a suffocating weight.

With a slow exhale, Mary straightened her posture and lifted her chin. The faux amusement in her expression melted away, leaving behind nothing but icy cruelty.

“I’ve had enough of this foolish nonsense,” she snapped, waving a hand toward the guards that held Alex and the others. “Kill the vampire. Take the rest away.”

The guards wasted no time. Heavy boots thudded against the polished floors as one of the burliest ones stepped forward to grip Alex tightly by the shoulders and held a dagger over his neck while another unsheathed a stake from a holster on his waist and positioned it right at Alex’s chest. Alex eyed the weapon and simply closed his eyes, as if he was ready for the strike.

“Get your filthy hands off my brother! I will kill you all!” June yelled as she thrashed once again.

“No! Please Gran, have mercy on him!” Henry said, his voice a mix of fury and desperation.

“I’m just doing my duty, Henry, as you should have done.” Mary said, her tone void of mercy. “Now, how does one properly kill a vampire? Slitting his throat or staking him through the heart? Or both?” she mused.

Henry, who knew that there’s no way to reason with his grandmother, immediately lunged forward to try and get the weapons away from Alex, but before he could take more than a couple of steps, a strong and commanding voice sliced through the room’s tense atmosphere.

“That’s enough!”

Chapter Text

The entire room froze, as if the voice had the ability to suspend time.

The guards halted mid-step—their grips on their respective weapons loosened and Henry’s breath caught in his throat. Even Mary—who rarely reacted to anything with genuine emotion—stiffened slightly before turning to face the doorway, where the source of the voice stood.

Lady Catherine Fox Mountchristen-Windsor.

At the mere sight of his mother, Henry forgot how to breathe.

His mother stood at the doorway, framed by the big doors of the dining hall. She wore a preppy blouse and blue trousers made for a modern-day duchess and the light from the chandelier glinted against the silver strands woven through her light hair, but it did nothing to dim the fire in her blue eyes.

Lady Catherine was not just angry—she was furious.

Mary had gone rigid at the head of the table, her grip tightening around her cane. Shock flickered across her usually composed face before she masked it behind a smirk.

“This is definitely unexpected, Catherine,” she drawled, “I thought you were still aggrieved by your husband’s death that you prefer to keep your distance from matters like this.”

But Lady Catherine ignored Mary entirely. She sauntered forward with unwavering determination, her kitten heels clicking against the polished floor. The second she reached Henry, she immediately reached up to cup her son’s cheeks and searched his face as if she was trying to re-familiarize herself with every corner of it.

“My dear sweet Henry,” she whispered, her voice breaking at the edges.

Henry’s throat tightened. It had been years since he’d see her—the last time being the day after his dad died. He hadn’t realized how much he missed her warmth, her presence and her protection. He still can’t believe that she was there, standing before him like an unshakable force of maternal energy.

His alpha pride shattered and his resolve cracked as Catherine smiled at him. His arms immediately wrapped around her, and for the first time in a long time, he allowed himself to collapse and sob in her embrace.

Sniffles were heard from across the room—most likely Beatrice, as she too hasn’t seen her mother in a long time. Philip, on the other hand, was staring at the crumpled figures of Henry and Catherine as if he saw something paranormal.

“Mum—” Henry’s voice wavered as he clung to his mother, burying his face into her collar. “Please…help me save my mate, Bea, my friends, my mate’s parents.” His entire body shook with the force of his sobs, the weight of desperation spilling over into the trembling words. “I can’t—I won’t let them suffer because of me.”

Catherine stroked her son’s golden hair as she murmured soft reassurances into his ear, her touch and caresses grounding him. “Shhh, my dearest boy,” she murmured. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t be with you and your siblings sooner. But what matters is that I’m here now, alright?”

Henry nodded in his mother’s hug and hastily wiped away his tears using the sleeve of his sweater.

Mary let out an exaggerated sigh, cutting through the emotional reunion with an air of boredom. “Oh, Catherine,” she said. “This behavior is exactly why Henry is so weak and pathetic. You coddled him, and your husband filled his head with foolish ideals of love, empathy and compassion—sentimentality that has no place in our world and in this family. Had you raised him properly—had he never inherited Arthur’s penchant for emotion—he might have been a great vampire hunter.”

Catherine gave Henry one last tight embrace before she finally pulled away. Her expression hardened as she stood to her full height and turned to directly face her mother.

“Mum, Henry may be soft-hearted in your eyes,” she said, her voice steady. “But at least he knows what it means to love—something that you were never capable of.”

Mary’s eyes narrowed, but Catherine was not finished.

“Let’s be honest here. You never saw Henry, Beatrice or even Philip as your grandchildren,” Catherine continued. “In your eyes, they are all pawns, expendable pieces in your endless game of chess. Do you know how hard it was for me to watch as you were easily able to control Philip and mold into your perfect soldier…?”Catherine trailed off.

Philip simply stared at Catherine from across the room, his mind processing every word that she said.

“I allowed that one to slide, even though it broke my heart to see my eldest son, an alpha no less, cower to you out of misplaced loyalty.” Catherine said, her eyes filling back up with tears yet her voice remained steady. “But mark my words, Mum, I will not allow you to do the same to Henry and even Beatrice.” she lifted her head in defiance.

Mary scoffed, her grip tightening on her cane. “You dare speak as if you have a choice in what I choose to do, Catherine. Henry is my grandson and I will shape him, just as I shaped Philip. Henry belongs to this family, to his duty—”

“No!” Catherine cut in sharply, her voice a blade slicing through the tense air. “Henry belongs to himself.”

Mary’s nostrils flared with irritation, but Catherine continued, unfettered. “You keep calling me and my son a fool, but you are the real fool here, Mum.”

“I beg your pardon?” Mary questioned.

“You didn’t realize it a couple years back, but when you granted Henry permission to leave for America, you did more than just send him across the ocean. You freed him.” Catherine declared.

Mary’s expression twisted. “Freed him?”

“Yes,” Catherine’s blue eyes darkened with conviction. “By letting him go to America, you allowed him to walk away from this estate that’s full of your control and manipulation. You gave him the chance to breathe without the strangling thread of your expectations. You allowed him to go, believing that you could simply pull him back when you pleased but instead, you truly lost him.”

Mary opened her mouth to retort, but Catherine was far from finished.

“In America, my Henry found love. He found a new purpose that was more than just chasing titles and duties. He found people who truly care for him—not for his duty, not for his lineage, not for his designation, but for the person that he truly is.” She briefly glanced at Henry, who sat in the chair beside her and looked up at her with tear-filled blue eyes. “And now? He knows that happiness and love is worth fighting for.”

Mary’s sneer faltered just slightly, but she kept her posture collected. “Pish-posh, Catherine. Do you really think that your son’s infatuation with that monster is happiness? Let alone love?”

June let out a low growl in her throat upon hearing the word ‘monster’, which she knows is directed at Alex.

Catherine merely curled her lip. “I don’t only think, Mum. I know . Because Henry, my darling boy, is finally happy and free .”

Mary sneered, her tone icy. “And where has this freedom led him? Right back here, groveling and helpless, begging for the vampire’s life.”

Catherine’s jaw clenched, but she refused to back down. “No, Mum. He’s here because of you . You couldn’t leave him in peace.” She took a step forward, challenging her mother’s gaze. “You couldn’t stand the thought of someone escaping your clutches, so you had him taken from where he’s most happy only to make him suffer.” Another step forward. “Henry may have returned to London, but not to grovel or cower before you. He’s here because he loves his mate. He’s here because of love for him , not loyalty to you. And if you refuse to accept that, then that is your failure, not his.”

She turned her gaze to Henry, her voice filled with resolve. “And before I forget, Henry not only belongs to himself now.” She pointed to the mark on his neck. “He also belongs to his mate, and this mark is proof of that.”

Henry’s breath hitched in his throat. His heart clenched at his chest, warmth filling his veins at the way his mother defended him. He turned to her with eyes that are burning with gratitude.

“Thank you, Mum.” he gently said, tears already streaking down his face.

“You’re very welcome, my darling.” Catherine said, her hand reaching down to hold Henry’s own.

After what seemed like hours of silence, Mary finally broke the tension by letting out a sharp exhale, the weight of her conversation with Catherine finally settling deep into her bones. With a huff of resignation, she stepped forward towards Henry, her eyes glaring into him.

“If you say that you now truly belong to that vampire, then I suppose I could no longer do anything else about it. However, I do also recall the last time we spoke over the phone,” she mused, tilting her head. “Where you said that you didn’t need me to survive.”

“I remember.” Henry said without a flinch as he met her gaze with a stare of his own. “And I still stand by what I said.”

“Well then, you better keep your word.” Mary continued with a sharp voice. “You better not come crawling back to me when the world turns on you, Henry. Because mark my words, if you ever come begging for my help, the consequences will be far worse than what transpired today. Is that understood?”

Another drought of silence filled the air, thick and suffocating. The threat hung between them, but Henry only released a slow exhale, his lips forming into an expression between a smile and a smirk—paired with defiance.

“You don’t have to worry about me anymore, Gran,” he said, a softness in his voice carrying the weight of a blade that’s ready to strike. “Because I renounce you.”

Mary’s eyes darkened.

“I do admit that I should’ve killed you for what you did to Alex and my friends, and that is honestly what you deserve. But I’m choosing to be the bigger person, not because you deserve mercy, but because I refuse to become like you. Despite every vile thing that you’ve done and how much hatred I have for you, you are still my grandmother. And so, I choose to renounce you instead,” Henry repeated with a firmer tone. “And my vampire hunter duties.”

Catherine sucked in a breath, but she did not interrupt to allow her son to speak his mind.

Henry took a slow step forward, his head held high. “I will no longer hunt vampires, not with my mate being one. I will no longer bend down to your twisted expectations. I will not live under your rule a second longer, and I wish to never see or speak to you ever again.”

Mary’s nostrils flared, but Henry didn’t stop.

“Once I walk out of this estate, I will fully move to America and live there for the rest of my life. With Alex.” he said, his voice softening only slightly at the mention of his mate. “And when the right time comes, when Alex and I have pups of our own, if you so much as think of harming my pack ever again, I will not hesitate to kill you myself.”

Catherine silently gasped, her eyes widening as the weight of Henry’s words settled over the room.

Mary’s features twisted in anger, her lips pulling back as if she wanted to blurt something venomous, but instead, she released another sharp exhale and turned on her heel with a huff and a dramatic sweep of her dress.

As she headed toward the door, June let out a hiss that sliced through the air like a dagger, filled with raw loathing.

“If you ever touch my brother again, you hag, I will not wait for Henry anymore, for I will see to your end myself.” she rasped.

Beside her, Ellen and Oscar’s eyes burned with contempt, their glares searing into the old woman’s retreating form, but Mary chose to not falter and continued walking out of the dining hall without sparing them another glance.

As she stormed out of the dining hall, her footsteps echoing down the long hallway, Philip lingered for a moment longer. He stood there with tense shoulders, his gaze shifting between Henry and Beatrice, who was sitting beside Percy across the room. Henry watched his older brother, clearly expecting him to immediately follow their grandmother without any hesitation. So, he was surprised when Philip took a step toward him.

“You really mean it, don’t you?” Philip said, his voice quieter than before. “You’re done with the entire vampire hunting business.”

“I meant every word. I can’t go around hunting Alex’s kind. Not anymore.” Henry said with an exhale.

Philip studied him, his lips pressing into a thin line. “So, you’ll just leave this family behind? Turn your back on everything you were raised to become?”

“No, brother. Just everything you were raised to be,” Henry corrected. “You allowed her to manipulate you, to control you. You chose to let her do that, Pip.”

Philp’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t snap back at Henry. Instead, he let out a slow breath, looking down at his shoes for a second before glancing back down.

“You think love will save you?” he asked, voice edged with a hint of uncertainty. “That mate of yours—do you really think he’s worth all of this?”

Henry didn’t hesitate. “You tell me, Pip. You’re the one between us who’s been mated the longest.” he said, eyes filled with empathy for his older brother. “I honestly don’t understand you anymore. Martha is right there and she loves you. Isn’t her love enough for you to break out of the hold that Gran has on you?”

Philip stiffened, his lips pressing into a thin line.

“I can’t fight Gran, Henry,” Philip admitted after a long pause. “And Martha knows that.”

“But do you think she still loves the man that you’ve become? You’re an alpha, Pip, but why are you not behaving like one you’re not one?” Henry said.

“I can’t.” Philip said, his voice cracking.

Henry held his gaze. “It’s not because you can’t, Pip, it’s because you won’t.”

Philip swallowed, his expression tight. But then, his shoulders slumped, and he muttered. “I hope you know what you’re doing, Henry.”

Henry tilted his head. “I know, Pip. I’m doing something I should’ve done a long time ago and that is choosing something for myself.”

“God, you’ve always reminded me of Dad, and I’m not sure how I feel about that.” Philip said with a scoff.

Henry only let out a dry laugh.

Philip blinked the incoming tears away before stepping closer to Henry. “Well then, I guess this is goodbye.”

Henry’s lips pressed together, and for the first time, a flicker of sadness crossed his expression. “I guess it is, Pip.”

Philip hesitated for just a second longer before he gave Henry one last look—one that almost resembled something apologetic.

Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.

Chapter Text

As Philip vanished into the dark hallway, thick silence enveloped the air. The weight of everything that happened lingered in the air.

After a few more moments of silence, Catherine lifted her chin and turned toward the guards. “Release them all.”

Out of fear of Mary’s wrath, the guards hesitated for a moment, glancing at one another.

“Did I mumble? I said, release them. Now.” Catherine spoke again, her voice louder this time.

Under her icy gaze, the guards had no choice but to obey. One by one, the shackles were removed, the stake that was meant for Alex was sheathed back into the holster and as soon as everyone was free, the guards hurriedly vacated the hall.

The moment the shackles came off, Alex’s knees buckled beneath him.

“Alex!” June shrieked, running to him just in time to catch her brother before Alex could fully collapse on the floor, Nora, Ellen and Oscar right behind her as they all rushed to cradle Alex between their bodies.

Before any of them could react further, Henry was there beside them.

Henry fell to his knees beside Alex. June immediately signalled to Nora, Ellen and Oscar to hand Alex over to Henry’s arms. The moment Alex was in the cradle of Henry’s arms, Henry held him with a trembling gasp, cradling him close as though holding him together with sheer will.

“My love, my Alex—I’m here. Everything’s okay now, alright?” Henry whispered, one hand cradling the back of Alex’s head while the other was protectively wrapped around the front of Alex’s torso.

Alex’s lashes fluttered open, and though he was weak and barely clinging to consciousness, he still managed to lift his gaze to meet Henry’s eyes and mutter the one word that shattered Henry completely.

“Alpha.” he breathed out.

The sound of the word—so quiet and vulnerable—shot through Henry like a bolt of lightning. His chest tightened, and his arms instinctively tightened around Alex, pulling him flush against his chest. Amid having Alex back in his arms, relief hasn’t arrived in his system.

Henry buried his face in Alex’s dark curls, inhaling the faintest trace of his omega’s scent beneath.

“My love, stay with me, okay? I’ve got you.” he murmured against Alex’s hair. “I’m never leaving you again.”

June, Nora, Ellen and Oscar crouched beside them with panicked eyes. Across the room, Beatrice stood up and ran to Catherine, sobbing into her mother’s arms. Percy only lingered beside the sobbing Beatrice as he looked at the worried Claremont-Diaz family.

Alex’s normally warm bronze skin was pale to the bone. His breath came in shallow gasps and his lips were chapped. With the bit of strength that he had, he turned his head against Henry’s chest.

“Alpha,” he whispered again, so faintly it could’ve been imagined. “I love you.” His lips curled into the barest hint of a smile before his eyes fluttered shut and his body went utterly still.

June let out a strangled cry. “Alex?! No, please!!”

“Alejandro?!” Nora gasped.

“Sugar!” Ellen choked out.

“Son, wake up!” Oscar yelled, voice trembling with fear.

Their voices melded into one collective frantic shriek, a chorus of desperation. Beatrice tore herself from Catherine’s hug and dropped to her knees beside Henry, hands trembling as she reached out to assist the others in an attempt to gently shake Alex awake.

All of them were desperate for a response, even a breath, from Alex.

But for a few moments, there was nothing.

—

Panic speared through Henry like an arrow, leaving his heart thundering against his ribs.

“Come back to me, my love.” Henry pleaded, his hands gripping Alex as he tried to shake him awake.

For a moment, the sheer terror of losing his mate threatened to consume him. But then— a thought hit him.

Alex wasn’t dead. He was weak. And hungry. Brought by the possibility of not having been fed since getting to England.

Alex simply passed out due to hunger and overall weakness.

Henry sucked in a sharp breath, realization washing over him like a tidal wave. Relief flickered through the panic, but there was no time to dwell on it.

“Shit!” Henry swore, scanning the room in desperation. “Pez, can you get me a knife from the table?” He called to his best friend.

Percy reacted instantly, immediately bolting to grab a steak knife off of the dinner table. 

“Here, mate.” he said, running back to Henry and Alex’s side, knife in hand.

Henry carefully released Alex’s head to bring it onto his lap before grabbing the knife from Percy with a brief nod of gratitude. With a quick breath, he brings the knife to the palm of his hand and slices it open, the wound deep enough for blood to well up instantly.

There was no time to second-guess his choice. No time to think about anything else but feeding Alex.

Raising his palm just slightly above Alex’s lips, he squeezes it to let dark crimson droplets trickle down from the wound to the omega’s slightly parted lips.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then, Alex released a breath, his tongue barely flicking out to catch the first drops. He swallowed, a low hum vibrating in his throat.

“More. Please.” Alex rasped out.

Henry let out a shaky breath, his heart both breaking and swelling at the same time.

“Henry, give him more.” June gently urged, her voice bordering on frantic.

Without any hesitation, Henry lifted the sleeve of his sweater, exposing his pale forearm. He shifted closer, positioning his wrist against Alex’s lips.

“Bite me, my love.” Henry says slowly, his voice steady despite the rapid beats of his heart.

Alex blinked. “Is it okay? he asked weakly.

“Of course, it’s okay. Just look into my eyes and feed on me, yes?”

Alex didn’t respond, but Henry saw the exact moment his mate’s vampiric instincts took over. Alex’s nostrils flared upon catching the familiar and addictive scent of Henry’s blood. The primal and instinctive feeling of hunger and want to feed instantly made his fangs retract from his gums.

“It’s okay, love. Go on.’’ Henry gently said, the thumb of his other hand stroking Alex’s cheek.

“Okay…” Alex murmured and with one final look of reassurance from Henry, Alex gave in and sank his canines into Henry’s wrist.

Pain sharply flared, but Henry barely registered it. A shaky breath left his lips as Alex continued to feed on him. He cradled Alex’s head, stroking his curls lovingly as warmth pooled into his veins.

“That’s it.” Henry whispered as his own vision started to blur. “Just feed.”

Color slowly returned to Alex’s complexion as he drank but the more he did, the more Henry’s body started to sway. His eyelids drooped, his limbs felt heavy and his head spun from losing blood.

“Hen?” Beatrice’s voice reached through the haze, sharp with concern. “Are you alright?” 

Henry barely had the strength to respond and his grip on Alex loosened. Alex, ever the alert omega, looked to his alpha with worried eyes.

Before long, Henry’s body tilted sideways and the last thing that he registered was his mother’s voice followed by Beatrice and Percy—the three of them shouting his name as his own face landed on top of Alex’s luscious curls and his wrist latched between Alex’s lips.

Chapter Text

“Hen? Henry?!” Beatrice shouted as she slightly shook Henry’s shoulders awake, her voice breaking with urgency. But no matter how much she shook him, his body remained limp and his eyes didn’t open.

Alex, now having regained some of his vampiric strength, pulled his fangs away from Henry’s wrist which resulted in it falling limply beside Henry. He slowly sat up and the movement caused Henry’s head to fold forward.

“Alpha?” Alex asked as he gazed down at Henry.

No response.

Alex shook and called Henry twice more, but to no avail. He let out a soft whimper at the sight of his unconscious alpha—his mate.

“I didn’t think it would be this soon, but I guess it’s about time,” Alex said with a sniffle, fighting to keep the tears from flowing.

“What are you talking about, Alex?” Beatrice asked with alarmed blue eyes.

Alex exhaled. “It’s possible he’s starting to transition.”

Gasps echoed across the room. “What do you mean transition?” Catherine gently asked.

Alex glanced down at Henry, fingers absently brushing over the fabric of his shirt as if grounding himself. “Before Henry slept the day prior to when he left me, he went out to get some tea wearing a turtleneck. I slightly thought it was to cover up his mark, which I was also slightly correct about, but I also thought that what if he also wore it to cover himself up from sunlight?” Alex took a breath. “Y’all know what happens to us vampires when we get too close to the sun.”

“You burn.” Percy answered.

Alex nodded. “Yeah, but that’s not all. Henry has also been sleeping too much during the day and when he came back from getting tea which was supposed to keep him awake, I noticed that he could barely keep his eyes open.” Alex continued, his fingers curled into Henry’s sleeve. “He also told me that his body’s changing after I slightly scolded him. Plus, I’ve fed from him multiple times prior to today, and with every bite, my vampire venom gets into his bloodstream. I think it finally caught up to him.”

Silence echoed through the room when Alex finished explaining the possible reasons.

It was June who broke the silence, her voice soft but loud enough for Alex to hear. “Based on our experience with you, I’m guessing that the next step is to…bury him?”

Alex hesitated, his fingers clenching around the fabric of Henry’s shirt, as if letting go would mean losing him forever. “Yes,” he finally admitted. “He needs to be buried to complete the transition. Preferably after sundown.”

Beatrice’s hands curled into fists. “I beg your pardon?”

Alex flinched at her tone but nodded. “It’s the only way for him to change, Beatrice.” He said quietly. “If we don’t, he’ll stay in this state until his body shuts down on its own. But if we do, he’ll wake up. As a vampire.”

Another bout of long silence filled the room, heavy with uncertainty and fear.

Catherine stared at Henry’s limp form in Alex’s lap and reached out to touch her son’s cold face, the sparkle of tears glistening in her eyes.

“Alright.” she declared. “We can bury him in the garden in the back of the estate.”

Alex turned to look at Catherine with large brown eyes, filled with both desperation and hope.

Catherine’s slim fingers trembled slightly as she reached forward and cupped Alex’s cheek with her other hand.

“Do what you must, for my son to live.” she whispered. “And once he does, take care of him for me.”

Alex nodded, his own eyes misting over.

“Today’s events proved that my son loves you so much, Alex, and I know that you love him just as much. My Henry deserves nothing but love.” she whispered with a small bittersweet smile.

Alex closed his eyes and nodded. “I love your son so much.” he promised.

“Now, go to the back gardens and do what you must. I’ll stay here and figure out what to do with the mess my mother caused.”

With a smile, Alex nodded and with the help of June, Nora, Percy and Beatrice, they all lifted Henry’s still body and slowly carried him to the back gardens.

As they disappeared, Catherine turned to Ellen and Oscar with apologetic blue eyes.

“I truly apologize for all my mother has done to you and your children.” she said solemnly “I honestly never expected she would go this far, but I guess I was wrong.”

Oscar only gave her a comforting smile. “It’s okay, Ma’am. Let’s just hope she won’t repeat it.”

Catherine’s face hardened. “I will do everything to make sure she doesn’t do it again. Mary will answer for what she’s done to not only my children, but to yours as well.”

“I hope that whatever course of action you’ll take, you should remember that she’s still your mother and she did those things out of the want to protect the family, despite it being twisted and all.” Ellen said.

“She honestly stopped being my mother the moment she decided to choose power over family.” Catherine said with a scoff, her voice coated with coldness. “I will make her pay for what she did.”

Ellen and Oscar could only sigh beside her, knowing that nothing they say will be able to change Catherine’s mind.

The damage had already been done.

—

The last light of dusk faded into a deep navy blue as Alex, June, Nora, Percy and Beatrice reached the back garden, Henry’s limp body cradled between all of them. Shadows stretched long over the earth, and the air was thick with a creepy stillness. 

Upon reaching an empty patch, they gently laid Henry down.

“I’ll go find some shovels so we can start digging.” Percy offered.

“There might be a couple in the shed over there. You can grab those.” Beatrice said with a gentle smile.

“Alright.” Percy nodded and quickly disappeared into the darkness. Moments later, he returned with two shovels in hand. He wordlessly handed one to Alex and together, they began to dig a hole in the gardens to act as a makeshift grave for Henry.

Each plunge of their shovels to the soil was like an omen of what—or who—will come of it later. The weight of the moment settled on Alex’s shoulders.

It was only minutes into digging before June called out to Alex, her voice cutting through the silence.

“Little bro, me and Nora are just gonna head out to find bottles of blood.”

Alex raised his head in confusion. “What? Bug, I’m not that hungry yet.”

June affectionately rolled her eyes. “Not only for you, silly, but for Henry too.”

“Why?” Alex asked, eyebrows furrowed.

“He’s surely gonna be hungry once he crawls his way out of that grave. Better be prepared.” June said, already reaching out to grab Nora by the hand.

“Wait, did you also do the same to me when I turned?” Alex said.

“No.” June said, crouching back down to Alex’s level to explain. “When you crawled your ass out of the grave, you tried to feed on me and Mom. Dad barely managed to shove a stray dog at you in time.”

Alex paled, his nose scrunched in a mix of disgust and nausea. “Oh fuck, I fed from a stray dog?”

June shrugged. “You were feral. We didn’t know what else to do.”

Alex grimaced. “I’m sorry, Bug.”

She ruffled his curls. “It’s all good, little bro. We didn’t know what to do then, but at least now we do so we can be prepared.”

“Thank you, Bug.”

“Always, Alex.” she said, squeezing his shoulder before standing back up. “Just keep digging, we’ll be back before you know it.” she called before disappearing with Nora.

Alex smiled a little before resuming his business in digging and before the night fully enveloped them, he and Percy were finished digging a makeshift grave deep into the earth. A deep, yawning hole stood open before them, waiting and prepared for the process that would change Henry forever.

Alex swallowed hard as he crouched down beside Henry. He brushed his fingers against Henry’s cold cheek, leaning down to press a soft, lingering kiss to Henry’s lips.

“I love you, alpha,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “Come back home to me.”

With a deep shuddering breath, Alex nodded to Percy and together, they carefully lowered Henry into the makeshift grave. Upon getting back up, Alex clenched his fists as Percy began covering him with dirt. His vision blurred and his chest tightened unbearably as Henry disappeared beneath the soil. It only took a few more minutes before only a pile of dirt was visible.

“Alex, if you don’t mind me asking, how long are we supposed to wait for something to happen?” Beatrice gently asked.

“For as long as it takes.” Alex bluntly answered.

“Then we better go inside. There’s nothing more to do here.” Beatrice offered.

“Thank you Bea, but I like to stay here.” he said, crouching to sit beside the pile of dirt that is Henry’s grave.

Beatrice only nodded a small nod before taking Percy by the arm and leading him back toward the estate.

The time that followed Percy and Beatrice’s departure were unbearable.

Alex could barely sit still through the night, pacing around the burial site and his mind spiraling into dark places. He clutched at his arms as his eyes burned with unshed tears and he whimpered with grief, his omega yearning for the bond that felt impossibly distant now.

He knows to himself that Henry will come through with the transition, but he can’t help himself but be sad at the thought of not having his alpha beside him.

Then, soft footsteps approached.

“Bea, if you’re here to tell me to go inside, no thank you.” he said, sniffling.

“Wrong sister.” June’s familiar voice replied, but her tone held no trace of humor.

Alex whirled his head around to look at his sister approaching him and she eventually kneeled beside him, dropping a bag beside her.

“Nora and I got a few blood bags for Henry to feed on when he pulls through.” she gently said.

Alex sniffled, barely able to meet her gaze. His breath hitched and June didn’t hesitate to open her arms at the sight of Alex’s wounded expression.

At the gesture, Alex broke. He flung himself into her open arms, allowing the sobs that he held for hours wrack his entire body.

“I want him back, Bug!” he wailed, his fingers clutching desperately at her shirt. “I want my alpha back! Fate gave him to me just to rip him away again—why? Is this some sort of fucking sick game? I had him—only to lose him again!”

June only held him tight and close, running her fingers through his dark and unruly curls. She simply allowed him to dry, murmuring gentle reassurances and rocking him gently.

“Shh, Alex, it’s all going to be okay. You’ll have your alpha back in your arms before you know it,” she whispered. “He’s strong, alright? He’ll come through the transition and come back to you.”

Alex whimpered, burying his face in June’s chest and listening to his sister’s steady heartbeat. Deep inside, he clung to her words with everything he had.

He eventually took pity on the wetness of June’s shirt and stopped sobbing. His sobs were soon reduced to soft sniffles as he sat beside June while his fingers traced meaningless swirling patterns into the dirt.

The soil was about to have another pattern traced into it when a sound tore through the dark and empty gardens, a sound that Alex never heard before, but June has. It was a sort of pounding rhythm coming from deep underground, as if the world had a beating heart.

“Bug, what’s happening?” Alex asked as he clung tightly to his sister, as the ground buckled and heaved underneath the two of them.

“He’s coming, Alex. Stay back.” she said, pushing Alex behind her to shield him.

The small hill of dirt eventually rose up and at the center of it, a pale white hand crawled itself up from beneath.

“Alpha!” Alex yelled in recognition of the hand that sprouted from the ground like a plant.

He was about to run forward before June yanked him back.

“Alex, I know how much you want to pull him out, but you have to let him do this himself, just like we did when you turned.” June explained.

Alex let out a whimper while Percy, Nora and Beatrice rushed over. They all collectively stared at the hunched shape that seemed to be forcing itself out of the soil, fingers like claws sinking deep into the earth. Its bare arms were streaked black with dirt and dried blood. The figure tore itself free from the depths of the earth, crawled a few feet and collapsed onto the ground.

“Henry,” Alex whispered, slowly walking near Henry, who lay as still as if he really were dead. His blonde hair was dirty and matted with clots of dirt and his shirt was partly torn. Alex tentatively reached to touch Henry’s shoulder. “Alpha, are you—”

Henry’s body tensed underneath Alex’s touch, every muscle tightened as if his skin was metal.

“---okay?” Alex finished.

Henry turned his head, and he locked gazes with Alex. Henry’s blue eyes were blank and lifeless and before Alex could say another word, Henry let out a low, guttural growl.

Alex froze on the spot, his omega whimpering in submission. Henry’s face was twisted, unrecognizable as it loomed up at him. His lips curled back and Alex immediately saw his alpha’s own pair of sharp canines, the pearly-white fangs emerging from his gums.

“Alpha?” Alex whispered, hesitantly reaching out.

Henry growled again.

Panic flared inside Alex and he frantically turned to June, pure desperation in his tear-filled eyes. “Does he not know me anymore, Bug? Why is he acting like this?”

June remained calm as Nora gently handed her the bag filled with packs of blood that they brought with them earlier. She pulled out a couple of packs filled with O-negative and tore it open, filling the air with the tangy scent of fresh blood. 

“Vampire fledglings always emerge hungry when reborn,” she explained. “Henry just needs to feed, and fast.”

Without another moment to lose, she tossed the packets toward Henry.

Henry snatched the packets from the ground with unnaturally fast and graceful movements. He clutched it and downed the contents in seconds. When he was finished, he moved on to drink the next packet until he was satisfied.

After drinking all the packs of blood that June handed out, Henry’s blue eyes flickered—his hazy gaze clearing up, becoming more Henry.

He blinked, dazed, his lips still tinted red. “What the hell? Where am I? Where’s…”

The question stopped itself once his gaze landed on Alex, who was seated a few feet away from him with teary eyes.

“Omega.” Henry whispered, a small gentle smile forming on his lips.

The second their eyes met, the invisible leash holding Alex back snapped. He moved on pure omega instinct, his legs carrying him forward until he was practically crawling toward Henry. Tears streamed down his face as he cupped Henry’s cheeks with shaking hands.

“My love, what’s going on? Why are you crying?” Henry crooned, his eyes searching Alex’s own for an answer.

“You made it, alpha,” Alex choked out, his voice breaking. “You transitioned.”

“I—what?” Henry frowned as his brain processed what Alex said.

Alex let out a watery laugh, his thumbs brushing against Henry’s cold skin. “You’re a vampire, sweetheart. We can now be together forever,”

“Am I really?” Henry asked, still in disbelief.

“Yes, alpha.” Alex said, hands lowering down to hold Henry’s own and guiding them to touch his own set of sharp canines.

Upon touching the pointed tips of his own set of fangs, Henry breathed out. “I’m a vampire?”

“Yes, alpha. You turned.” Alex said, tears rebuilding itself in the rims of his eyes.

Henry’s eyes, while still processing the information, eventually softened. His hands soon moved on its own accord and he pulled Alex into a tight and desperate embrace. He buried his nose into Alex’s neck, inhaling the sweet and familiar scent of his beloved mate.

“No need to cry now, my love, I’m here.” he murmured into the crook of Alex’s neck. “I’m never leaving you again, I promise.”

Alex’s tears flowed freely upon hearing the words. “Please don’t.” He replied between sniffles as he let his body melt into Henry’s embrace.

Once his brain fully registered Alex’s familiar scent, Henry released a deep groan from the confines of his throat. He instinctively leaned closer to Alex’s neck, his nose inhaling more of Alex’s scent.

“My love,” he murmured, voice thick with need. “I know I just fed, but I’m still hungry.”

Alex only smiled weakly, his dark eyes glinting with tears and a hint of mischief. He tilted his head to the side without releasing Henry from the hug they shared. “Want a taste of me, alpha?”

The second the question left Alex’s lips, Henry curled his lips, revealing his sharp canines. His pupils dilated, turning blue into black and his breath hitched as hunger coursed through him.

“Are you sure, my sweet?” Henry asked, clear hesitation in his voice.

“I wouldn’t have offered it if I wasn’t sure. Go ahead, feed on me.” Alex replied with encouragement.

With a shudder and an inhale, Henry positioned his lips closer to Alex’s neck, allowing the tips of his fangs to lightly skid along Alex’s soft skin—then, with newly gained vampiric control, he sunk his fangs in and fed.

Alex gasped at the sharp sensation of the sting, his hands gripping Henry’s shoulders. The pain was fleeting, quickly replaced by pleasure and warmth that spread through his body as Henry fed on him. A quiet moan escaped him as Henry continued to feed.

Henry groaned softly against his skin, the taste of Alex’s blood intoxicating yet grounding. He only took what he needed and once he was content, he pulled away with a slow lick to close the punctures. His breath was uneven, yet his body vibrated with renewed energy and power.

Alex smirked once they released each other and allowed his finger to brush against the fresh wound on his neck. “God, I honestly already forgot the feeling of being bitten by an actual vampire, sweetheart.”

“Don’t start, my love, unless you want a repeat.” Henry said with a wink, wiping a trace of blood from the corner of his lips.

They helped each other off the ground yet they remained standing beside each other.

“I’ll have the best O-negative I can find delivered to you,” Alex murmured, amusement lacing his voice. “That way, you won’t have to go biting everyone while you’re getting used to this life.”

Henry chuckled, his lips curling upward. “That’s very sweet of you, my love. But promise me one thing—let me feed from you every once in a while.”

Alex hummed, feigning deep thought before flashing a playful grin. “Sure, sweetheart, as long as you return the favor and let me do the same from time to time.”

“I’m sure I made that promise a long time ago.” Henry said with a chuckle.

A throat-clearing noise broke their love-filled reverie and they lifted their heads to see June smirking at them, Nora, Percy and Beatrice stifling their giggles behind her.

“If you two are done making heart-eyes at each other, we need to head back inside before the sun rises.” June teased. “Unless you want to test if you’re fireproof.”

“Yes, right. Now that I’m a vampire, I can’t face the sun anymore.” Henry said, slight sadness lacing his voice.

Alex caressed Henry’s back in comfort. “I’m sure you’ll miss it, alpha. You’ll get used to it though. I’ll help you adjust.”

“More like we’ll help you adjust,” June said. “It’s good to have you back, Henry.”

Henry only gave her a weak smile as he released Alex to make his way toward Beatrice.

“Oh, Hen. I’m glad you’re back.” Beatrice crooned as she wrapped him in a hug. “A little different but you’re still my dearest brother.” 

Henry released his sister afterward to walk towards Percy, who only gave him a mighty slap on the back before wrapping his arms around his best friend.

“Mate, I don’t want to lose you again, alright? The panic you put us all through. Our apartment is rubbish now because of you.” Percy said.

“Apologies for that, Pez. But I do appreciate you helping me and Alex out of this mess.” Henry said, releasing his best friend.

“The things I do for you, Haz.” Percy said, shaking his head with a fond smile.

The six of them walked back into the estate where they found Ellen, Oscar and Catherine seated around a table in one of the ballrooms, Shaan lingering in the doorway.

Upon seeing his parents, Alex stepped away from Henry and ran to their waiting arms.

“Ma, Pa, thanks for coming to get me.” Alex said, squeezing them tightly.

“Of course, sugar,” Ellen said, pressing a kiss to his hair. “Although you do owe us a story about you and Henry once we get back to New York.”

“Yes, Ma. Henry and I will explain everything once we get back home.” Alex replied before pulling away from his parents’ embrace and running back to Henry, who had gone utterly quiet as Catherine stood before him.

As Catherine took a slow step forward, Henry stepped back by instinct with fear in his eyes—not for himself but for what his mum might see when she looked at him now.

“My darling Henry,” Catherine said with a soft smile. “There’s no need to step back.”

Henry froze on the spot he stood in.

“If you’re thinking I’m afraid or repulsed by you, I’m telling you that I’m not,” she continued, her steady voice filled with certainty. “Besides, how could I be afraid of my own son?”

Henry swallowed hard, his lips pressing into a tight line. “But Mum, I’m—”

“A vampire? I know, my darling.” Catherine finished for him. She reached out, placing a hand against his cheek. “Being one does not change the fact that you are my son. Nothing ever will.”

Henry’s breath caught in his throat, and his vision blurred as tears welled up in his eyes.

Catherine sighed, her fingers tracing his stubbled jaw with gentle motherly affection. “I’m so sorry, Henry. For not being there for you, for Philip and for Beatrice sooner. I allowed grief to consume me when your father passed and I allowed that to momentarily stop me from being a mother to the three of you.” Her voice slightly wavered, but she pushed through. “But that’s going to change now, alright? I’m here with you and for you.”

In hearing those words, Henry felt like he was a little child again, aching for the comforting presence of his mother.

“Can I just get another hug from you, Mum?” he asked, blinking rapidly.

Catherine only chuckled as she opened her arms. “Of course, my darling. Come here.”

Henry immediately occupied the space between his mother’s arms and clutched her tightly. He buried his face into her shoulder, silent tears slipping down his cheeks.

“The life ahead will be long, my dear. Please do take care of yourself and if you and Alex ever need something, feel free to give me a call and I’ll give it to the both of you however I can.” Her gaze briefly flickered to Alex’s direction before returning to Henry, who was still crying in her arms. “You and Alex stay together—no matter what.”

“I promise, Mum.” Henry whispered. “I love you very much.”

“I love you too, my sweet boy.” Catherine replied with another gentle squeeze before pulling away.

“I also promise that I’ll come back to visit you and Bea from time to time.” Henry said.

“I’m holding you to that, my dear.” Catherine replied with a warm smile.

Henry returned the smile before going toward Shaan, who only looked at him with a regretful expression.

“Sir, I apologize for not being able to do anything to protect you from your grandmother.” Shaan said. 

Henry only gave him a soft smile. “It’s alright, Shaan. You tried your best. We both know that Gran is not someone that we could easily mess with, so regardless, I still appreciate you being with me.”

Shaan returned the smile. “And I will continue to support you Sir, for as long as you will require.”

“Thank you, Shaan. I really appreciate everything you do for me.” Henry said. “Please take care of my mum and Bea while I’m away.”

“Will do, Sir.” Shaan replied. “Please take care of yourself and Mr. Claremont-Diaz.”

Henry gave his aide another soft smile before going back to Alex’s side, who immediately looked concerned at the sight of Henry sniffling and rapidly blinking tears out of his eyes.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?” Alex asked.

“I’m alright, darling. I just want to go back to our brownstone.” Henry replied, sniffling the last of his tears away. “I think I’ve had enough of London for now.”

Alex melted at Henry calling his house their brownstone. “Me too. Can’t wait to get back to New York.”

“When can we leave?” Henry asked, eager to vacate the country.

“Nora’s already searching for flights as we speak. I told her to search while you and your mom were chatting away.” Alex said, intertwining their hands together.

As if on cue, Nora’s voice cut through the air, her phone screen glowing as she tapped at it.

“I found one,” she announced. “Direct flight from London to New York. It leaves in 12 hours.”

“Guess that means we better start freshening up and packing.” June said, stretching languidly.

Beatrice stepped toward Henry. “Are you sure you’re ready to go back to the US?”

Henry nodded, though the weight of the past few days still clung to his shoulders. “I’m ready, Bea. As much as I hate to leave you and Mum here, New York is my home now. I told Shaan to take care of you and Mum though while I’m away.”

Catherine stepped forward to place a gentle hand on his cheek. “Then go home, my love.”

Henry turned into her touch, closing his eyes for a moment before pulling his mother into a hug. Catherine held him tightly.

“Take care of yourself—and Alex.” she softly whispered.

“Yes, Mum. You and Bea take care of each other. I love you both.” Henry murmured.

The moment he released Catherine, Beatrice stepped into his arms. “Promise me you’ll come back soon.” Beatrice said, voice thick with emotion.

Henry smiled as he hugged his sister’s princess-like figure. “I promise, Bea.”

“Shaan, please escort them to the vacant guest rooms down the hall for them to rest prior to their flight.” Catherine said.

“Will do, Ma’am.” Shaan said with a polite bow toward Catherine before addressing them. “Please follow me.”

With their final goodbyes exchanged and promises to visit lingering in the air, Shaan quietly led the group into a couple of vacant rooms to freshen up and pack before taking his leave.

“We leave here in a few hours so get as much rest as you can and we’ll see you then.” Nora said before she motioned for June and Percy to follow her into a room, the door immediately shutting behind them.

Ellen and Oscar occupied the next room, while Alex and Henry were left with what seemed to be one of the biggest guest rooms in the hall.

The exhaustion of the past couple of days—facing Mary, Henry’s transition, and all the emotions that followed—had settled heavily over them, and neither of them had the energy to do much more than just simply be with each other.

The moment their shirts and pants were discarded to the side, Henry had tugged Alex toward the bed without a word, collapsing onto the mattress and pulling Alex down with him. They curled into each other, limbs tangled in the most natural way, as if their bodies were puzzle pieces molded to fit each other.

“How do you feel, my sweet?” Henry asked in a low voice, breaking the silence.

“A little uneasy from being shackled and a bit drained from your bite, but other than that, I’m fine.” Alex answered.

“You’re fine,” Henry repeats. “You’re not light-headed or anything? Not tired? Because you look like you haven’t slept, my love.”

“I mean, yeah, but I don’t feel the need to sleep now ‘coz it’s nighttime but yes, I’m feeling as good as it gets.” Alex replies.

“That’s good to hear,” Henry says before grabbing Alex’s waist tight, making the omega release a tiny whimper. “Because I want to show you just how much I missed you.”

Alex was barely given the time to respond as Henry moved with vampiric speed and before Alex could even bat another eyelash, Henry’s lips collided with his.

Alex’s brain catches up with the memo and he throws his arms around Henry’s neck, pulling his alpha closer and pouring his entire soul into the kiss. Henry’s kissing him fiercely, as if he’s the oxygen that Henry needs, and to Alex, that is everything.

Their lips collide in a rapid rhythm without any traces of finesse or seduction. It’s all hunger and pure want and longing for each other.

The kiss was fucking perfect, unrestrained and greedy.

“Mmmm, I missed you, my love.” Henry murmured, continuously licking and kissing at Alex’s lips.

He soon moves to nip and bite at Alex’s earlobe, causing Alex to writhe beneath the contact.

“Hen, please,” Alex rasped out.

“Yes, my love? Need anything?” Henry asked, lips moving down from the earlobe to Alex’s neck, just an inch above his mating mark.

Alex was about to rasp out another response but he wasn’t given the chance to because Henry’s nose and mouth eventually hits the mating mark and kisses it without warning. He gasps at the sudden rush of heat that flared low in his stomach when Henry’s lips touch the sensitive mark on his neck and his alpha’s tongue flicking at the spot.

“Ahh, the mark I gave you. The mark that makes you mine .” Henry said with a low voice before travelling back up to return to crush his and Alex’s lips together.

Alex continued to moan underneath Henry before slowly pulling away to breathe, leaving a confused Henry to plop down beside him.

“My love, is something wrong?” Henry asked with furrowed eyebrows.

“Nothing wrong, alpha.” Alex answered sheepishly. “I just…don’t really feel comfortable making out with you in a place that is sort of like our prison, you know? I would rather make out with you back home in New York, in our nest.”

Henry grumbled. “I want to touch you now, omega.”

“I know, and I want to be touched and fucked and kissed by you more than anything else but I’m not comfortable here. I prefer our nest in New York.” Alex said. “Can you at least hold on until we get home?”

“Hmmm, fine, my sweet. But don’t think for a second that I’m not going to fuck you the moment we get home.”

Alex lets out a little chuckle and plants a soft kiss on Henry’s cheek. “I’m counting on it.”

“Fine, I’ll wait until we get home. But can I hold you tonight?”

“When did you become so clingy?” Alex chuckled, but shifted closer to Henry until there was no inch of space between them on the bed. Henry immediately wrapped his arms around Alex’s torso.

“I’m not clingy,” Henry said teasingly. “I just want to make up for the days I didn’t get to hold you.”

Alex let a soft purr escape his lips as he nestled deeper into Henry’s embrace, his nose revelling in Henry’s familiar scent of fresh linen, now mixed with the undertones of blood and earth.

“You really should clean yourself up before we leave.” Alex mumbled. “Unless you want to smell like dead earth on the way back home.”

“I beg your pardon? Are you telling me you don’t like the way I smell?” Henry said, but there was no bite to his voice.

Alex giggled. “Relax, Hen. I personally don’t mind it, but the other passengers on the plane might complain so it’s better to be cleaned up.”

A blended sound of a groan and grumble tore from the depths of Henry’s throat and he could only sigh in resignation. “Fine. I’ll clean myself up in a bit but for now, let me hold you.”

Alex purred in contentment, but Henry’s tight hold on him was not enough to shut him up. “Alpha?”

“Yes, my sweet? Anything else you want to tell me?”

“When we get back home, I’ll properly introduce you to my parents. We also need to explain everything to them— from the beginning.” Alex said, tilting his head to look up at Henry with wide brown eyes. “Is that alright?”

Henry planted a kiss on Alex’s temple. “Of course, my love. It’s the first thing that we’re gonna do when we get home.”

“Huh? I thought you fucking me was the first thing on the to-do list?”

“Make that the second thing to do. I should properly meet your parents before I have you all to myself.”

“Okay.” Alex responded before he snuggled deeper into Henry’s chest.

A couple of hours later, the two of them got out of bed to freshen up before the flight. Henry went to the bathroom to relieve himself and clean up. He took a long shower, washing his hair and body free of dried blood and soil. While Henry showered, Alex packed some of Henry’s packets of blood into bottles to sneak into Henry’s carry-on bag.

Once Henry emerged from the bathroom in a fresh set of clothes, Alex inhaled Henry’s clean scent and preened at it. He also gave Henry a cheeky kiss before heading out to clean himself up.

Alex had just come out of the bathroom when he saw Nora standing outside their bedroom door.

“Nora, hi. Good morning.” He softly called to her, rubbing a towel through his damp curls.

“Hi Alejandro,” Nora turned her head in his direction and smiled. “Didn’t know you were in the bathroom. I was just about to knock on your door to tell you and Henry that we’ll leave in 15.”

“Okay, cool.” Alex replied. “I’ll just fetch Henry and grab our stuff. We can meet y’all at the front door.”

“Alrighty.” Nora said before turning on her heel to go to the room that she shared with June and Percy.

As soon as Nora left, Alex proceeded to open the door to his room where he saw Henry seated at the edge of the bed, sipping on a bottle of blood.

“Hey, alpha. Nora said we’re leaving in 15 minutes. I told her that we’ll meet everyone by the front door.” he said, plopping down beside his alpha, his damp curls sticking to his forehead. “Are you ready?”

“Yes, my love.” Henry said, closing the lid of his bottle. “Thank you for this, by the way.”

“It’s a pretty long flight, Hen, so I packed some in case you needed to feed.” Alex said, giving Henry a chaste kiss on the lips.

“I love you so much, darling.” Henry crooned.

“I love you too, alpha.” Alex replied, pure love in his eyes. “Let’s go home.” he said as he stood with one hand outstretched.

With a smile, Henry took Alex’s hand and together, they grabbed their bags and headed out, ready to fly back home.

When they got to the front door, Nora, June, Percy, Ellen and Oscar were already there.

“So, how do we get to the airport from here?” Henry asked.

“Your sister told one of her aides to take us there,” Percy answered. “The car should be arriving at any minute now.”

Almost on cue, a sleek black vehicle pulled up in front of them and a sharply dressed man hopped out of the driver’s seat.

“Hello everyone,” the man greeted. “My name is Matthew and I’ll be your chauffeur for this morning, under the orders of Lady Beatrice Fox.”

June stepped closer to Henry. “Hey, can we trust this person? Because the one who brought us here was also dressed like this but turned out to be a fucking lunatic.”

Henry only gave her a reassuring smile. “No need to worry, June. I know Matthew, he’s as loyal to Beatrice the same way Shaan is loyal to me. We’re in good hands.”

“Okay, but if something goes wrong, I’m blaming you.” June teasingly said before walking beside Nora.

The chauffeur, Matthew, assisted them in loading their bags in the trunk, before hopping back into the driver seat and waiting for the group to step inside the vehicle. The moment the door shut, the vehicle drove away from the estate and into the winding roads leading to the airport.

As Matthew drove on, the country roads eventually shifted to city skylines outside. Inside, soft music playing from the radio filled through the atmosphere. Alex’s head landed on Henry’s shoulder and their hands remained entangled throughout the entire drive, neither of them wanting to let the other go.

An hour later, they arrived at Heatthrow International Airport. Matthew hopped out of the driver seat once again to aid them in stepping out of the car before assisting them in grabbing their bags out of the trunk.

“I hope you all have a safe flight ahead of you.” Matthew said with a slight bow.

“Thank you, Matthew.” Henry replied.

“You’re very welcome, Sir.” Matthew said. “I’ll be leaving now.” he added as he stepped back into the car and drove away.

Once they checked that they had all their bags with them, the group proceeded inside the airport just in time to board their flight.

It was a long flight from London to New York and Alex remained by Henry’s side the entire time. They watched a couple of movies together and Henry grabbed his bottle of blood from his carry-on and drank from it, completely ignoring the few passengers that gave him funny looks.

By the time the credits of their third movie rolled through, the captain’s voice buzzed through the intercom with an announcement that they had landed in New York.

“We’re home, alpha.” Alex said, giving Henry’s hand a tight squeeze.

Henry turned to Alex, their fingers still intertwined, and let out a slow yet shaky breath.

Home.

The word settled deep in his chest, warm and grounded. He lightly squeezed Alex’s hand in return before bringing it up to his lips for a soft kiss.

“Yes, my dear. Home.” he echoed, his voice filled with love and relief.

Around them, the other passengers started to stir and stand to gather their belongings from the overhead cabins. Most of them stretched out the stiffness brought by the long flight. Alex stood to check on his parents, June, Nora and Percy, who were seated across the aisle and he found them taking turns standing to grab their things.

As they stood to grab their own bags, Henry reached for his carry-on, careful to safely secure the remaining bottles of blood that he brought with him to avoid spilling. They shuffled forward as the plane doors finally opened and slowly stepped back into New York as flight attendants greeted them on their way out.

The familiar rush of New York didn’t hit them until they were outside the terminal—the chatter of travelers heading in and out the airport blended with the distant honks of taxis waiting for passengers. The hum of life in New York never quite settled. Henry inhaled the air, his newly reborn body adjusting to the familiar American energy.

Nora pulled out her phone and, with a few clicks, booked an Uber to take them all back to the brownstone.

“Alright, ride’s four minutes away,” she announced while stuffing her phone back into her pocket.

As they waited for their ride in quiet anticipation underneath a waiting shed, everything that occurred during the past week pressed on them now that they were back on American soil.

Henry let out another slow exhale, letting the summer air settle into his lungs. Amid not needing to breathe the same way anymore, it was a habit that he found hard to shake. In the few years he had stayed in New York, its scent was now ingrained into his brain—the smell of gasoline, street foods, the faintest hint of lingering rain.

The city was downright chaotic, but it was bursting with life.

Alex nudged him gently. “Alpha, you alright?”

Henry glanced at him and nodded. “Yes, darling. Simply readjusting.”

After a few more moments of Henry soaking in the familiar noise of New York, a car pulled up to the curb and without much chatter, they all piled inside. Nora took the shotgun seat while the others squeezed into the back. The ride was mostly silent and the city lights flickered by as they drove deeper into the heart of Brooklyn.

Alex rested his head against Henry’s shoulder, their fingers intertwined between them. None of them said any words, but a common thought lingered in both their minds.

They survived. They’re together. They’re safe. They’re home.

When the car finally pulled up to the front of the brownstone, Alex immediately perked up and let out a small sigh of relief.

“Home sweet home.”

Henry smiled softly.

Nora paid the driver and after they all unloaded their belongings and stepped out onto the pavement, the car sped back into the city, leaving them standing in front of the familiar exterior of the brownstone.

“Well,” June muttered, rubbing her arms. “Let’s head inside before I start getting emotional on the street like a fucking fool.”

Alex chuckled as he led them up the couple of steps. He fished his key necklace from his pocket and unlocked the door.

“Alright y’all, head inside.” he announced as the door opened.

As they stepped into the warm embrace of the house, Henry finally allowed himself to believe one thing.

He was home with Alex and his friends, and no one would ever take them away from him ever again.

Chapter Text

Once they all entered and the door clicked shut behind them, the scent of a peaceful home enveloped them. Everything was exactly as they left it—except for the splinters of a chair in the corner of the kitchen, broken beyond repair.

Alex eyed the wreckage immediately and raised an eyebrow. “Uh…anyone care to explain to me why one of my dining room chairs is splintered to death?”

June, who stood beside Nora, stepped forward and winced, guilt written all over her face. “Okay, that’s my fault. I might have had a little…outburst.”

Alex narrowed his eyes on her. “What? When?”

She sighed. “The minute I suspected that you were taken. I couldn’t help myself, Alex. I was raging furious, okay? Ask Nora and Percy, they were my witnesses.” she explained, flinging an arm at Nora and Percy’s direction.

“So you decided to unleash your anger on a chair?” Alex asked with a smirk.

“Yeah.” June said. “Are you mad? ‘Coz I promise that I’ll buy you that exact same chair to replace it if the broken one has sentimental value to you.”

Alex only chuckled. “No, Bug. How can I be mad at you? You’re only acting off of your love for me.” he stepped near to his sister to pull her into a tight hug. “I appreciate your love more than anything.”

June sighed in her brother’s embrace. “So, you love me more than Henry?”

Alex widened his eyes and immediately recoiled. “Okay, I take back what I said.”

“Hey! I’m just teasing! Calm yourself.” June said with a laugh.

“I know you’re teasing and you don’t have to buy another chair—unless you want to, considering it’s technically yours.” Alex said teasingly.

“Wait? How do you know it’s my chair?” June said, puzzled.

Alex scoffed. “Please, you basically sit your ass on that chair everytime you come here. You basically claimed it as your throne.”

June blushed. “Oh, if that’s the case, I’ll buy myself a new chair then.” she said before heading to the couch to sit beside Nora.

With June settled, Ellen and Oscar stepped forward, clearly itching for a long overdue conversation with Alex.

“Sugar,” Ellen said, nodding towards the dining table. “Now that we’re home, it’s time to tell me and your father everything about you and Henry.”

“Of course, Ma. I’ll just get him and then we can talk.” Alex said before turning to take Henry by the hand and leading him to the dining table.

Once the four of them were complete, they all settled down around the dining table and Alex’s fingers immediately laced through Henry’s before fully facing his parents.

Alex only took one deep breath before telling his parents everything—starting from how he and Henry met.

“So Ma, Pa, first of all, I would like to formally introduce to you, my alpha and my mate, Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor.” he said with a loving glance at Henry.

“Well, it’s only Henry Fox now. It’s a pleasure to finally and properly meet you.” Henry said with a smile and a slight bow. “I only wished it were under better circumstances.”

“No, please. There’s no need for formalities. Casual is best.” Oscar said. “We just want to know how you and our son met.”

Henry glanced at Alex. “Wanna take this one, love?”

“Sure.” Alex said.

With another deep inhale, Alex proceeded to tell his parents everything.

“Henry and I met, believe it or not, in a dark alleyway during the first day of my heat a few months ago. He was hunting for my kind and I was basically hunting for dinner. He wanted to kill me at first…”Alex trailed off.

“What?” Ellen asked, incredulous.

“Yes, and I do apologize for that.” Henry said sheepishly.

“Relax, Ma. I’m here, aren’t I? Which means that Henry didn’t go with the kill because…he caught my scent and was probably addicted to it from then.” Alex chuckled at the memory. “We almost had a moment in that alleyway until I decided to bring him here. Once we got here, we sprawled on the couch and sort of made out there.”

Ellen and Oscar’s eyes went wide.

“But Henry had to go back home to the apartment he shared with Percy. But like I said, I was in the middle of my heat and so I was briefly left alone in hellish pain. I called June to assist me, which she did, before Henry came shortly after and eased me up, and it was history from there.” Alex continued, taking exhales in between.

“Not exactly, love.” Henry said.

“What do you mean?” Ellen said, her gaze drilling into Henry.

“It was still quite a rough road because apparently helping Alex with his heat kickstarted my rut a week early…” Henry trailed off.

“Oh.” Oscar replied.

“During my rut, I wanted nothing but to get my hands on your son, but I refused to give in. But Alex here also refused to leave me alone, no matter how many times I snapped and yelled at him.” Henry explained.

Beside him, Alex slightly winced at the memory of Henry yelling and growling at him.

“I also apologize to you both for that. I really didn’t mean to snap at your son.”

“Oh, believe me, ruts are hard to go through, especially when you know you could hurt people that you love.” Ellen said, her gaze softening.

“Yes, but I had Alex promise that he would let me know if I was hurting him and he never complained so I’m sure he wasn’t hurt by any means.” Henry said.

“And naturally, I helped Henry with his rut and eventually had him knot and mate me.” Alex said, throwing another loving gaze at Henry’s direction.

“And based on the mark on your neck, Henry, you had Alex mark you in return?” Ellen asked.

“Yes. I told my grandmother once before that I wanted to be a different kind of alpha, and if I have to be the first alpha with the mark of an omega, so be it.” Henry declared.

“And you probably know the rest. Henry and I being taken, June’s outburst, the London battle and Henry’s transition.” Alex finished. “So there you go.”

By the time Alex and Henry finished telling the story, Ellen and Oscar leaned back in their chairs, as if they’re exhausted just from hearing everything.

Ellen sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “God, Alex.”

“Yeah, I know. It’s not a common Disney fairy tale story where Henry’s a prince and I’m his knight in shining armor.” Alex said with a light chuckle.

She shook her head but reached out across the table to take both their hands in hers. “You two have been through more than most people will in an entire lifetime, and I applaud you both for being such survivors.” she said with a warm tone. “Please just promise us—me and Oscar—that you’ll always take care of each other. You two will have a very long life and challenges will come your way, but please, always be there for each other.”

“Always,” Henry said without blinking an eye. “I would never leave Alex alone again.”

Ellen’s gaze softened even more and without another word, she stood up and opened her arms to pull them both into a motherly hug. Oscar eventually joined in, his embrace strong and reassuring.

“We love you both,” he murmured.

Henry had to admit that deep inside, he melted upon feeling Oscar’s embrace, as he lowkey missed the tight and reassuring hug of his own father. 

When they finally pulled back from the embrace, Ellen wiped at her eyes and cleared her throat to address the entire living room. “Alright, kids, Oscar and I will have to head back to D.C. before Zahra or any of our staff notices that we’ve been gone for too long and start breathing fire.”

“Okay, Mom. You and Dad have a safe flight to D.C.” June said, standing up from her spot on the couch to hug her parents.

After one last round of hugs and goodbyes, Ellen and Oscar left without another word.

For the next couple of days, June, Nora and Percy hovered around the house, making sure that Alex and Henry were coping and truly okay. Henry, for the most part, was adjusting well to his new life as a vampire, thanks to Alex’s guidance and June filling up their fridge with many bottles of O-Negative.

Once the routine has been established, June, Nora and Percy decide it was time to give Alex and Henry some space.

“Okay, y’all, we better give you some space now as I’m sure you two are itching to touch and taste each other.” June said teasingly to Alex and Henry. 

“Babe, did you have to say it that way? Bleh!” Nora said beside her, mocking a gag in disgust.

“If I know Haz, he’s probably twitching in anticipation to touch Alex again.” Percy joked.

June stepped forward to Alex and Henry, taking both their hands in hers. “You two take care, okay? Feel free to call me if you ever need anything, and I mean anything. ” she said before pulling them both into a hug. “I love you both so much.”

She quickly released them and turned to go back to Nora’s side but before she could move, Henry caught her by the wrist.

“Henry, what is it? Do you need something?” June asked with a gentle voice.

“I just want to apologize again, June, for the mess and stress that my grandmother caused to you, your parents and Nora.” Henry said with apologetic eyes.

“No need to apologize too much, Henry.” June said. “I mean, I was mad at you for leaving Alex alone but I’m even more mad at your fucking crone of a grandmother and brother for hurting the two of you. If I’m being honest, I was ready to rip their throats out.”

Henry chuckled. “Guess we were lucky my mum came.”

“I guess we were. However, keep your promise to me and always take care of Alex or else…” she said with a smirk.

“Yes, I know. Your infamous threat. That is duly noted.”

“Good to know.” she said, pulling him in for another brief hug.

Once June pulled back to go beside Nora and with one last goodbye, she, Nora and Percy headed out the door, the three of them promising to visit soon.

And just like that, Henry and Alex were left alone in their home.

—

The moment the door shuts completely, Henry laces an arm around Alex’s waist.

“My love, now that we have no company and we’ve talked to your parents…maybe it’s time to do task number two.” Henry said, gripping Alex’s waist tighter and pulling his omega closer.

“Task number two?” Alex said, letting himself be pulled until his clothed torso was attached to Henry’s own.

Henry sighed, feigning annoyance. “You already forgot the to-do list that we agreed on?”

Alex has so many mental lists that he had to avoid Henry’s gaze to remember the list his alpha was talking about and once he did, his gaze shot up and his eyes grew with realization.

“Oh, yes alpha. I remember that list now, and task number two is…” Alex trailed off.

Henry gripped his waist tighter, eliciting a tiny whimper from Alex. “We agreed that once we have spoken to your parents, you’ll allow me to have you all to myself and that means that I get to kiss you, fuck you, taste you and possibly bite you if I desired. Wasn’t that what we agreed on?”

Alex swallowed. “Yes, alpha. We did agree on that.” He allowed his eyes to search Henry’s face only to find his alpha’s eyes already darkening with lust and hunger.

Not for blood. For him .

“Well Hen, when do you want to do it?”

“Now.” Henry said, a growl fighting its way out of his throat.

Before Alex could even bat an eyelash or mutter a reply, Henry released him from the hold only to grip his wrist and haul him to the bedroom and once the door clicked shut, Henry slightly shoved his omega to the nest. Alex was only given enough seconds to position himself in the middle of the bed before Henry was already crawling above him, dark pupils eclipsing blue irises.

“Alpha, wait,” Alex rasped out, already slightly breathless under Henry’s hungry gaze.

“Omega, I’m done waiting. I’m coming for what I want!” Henry growled before crashing his lips onto Alex’s own.

Alex’s common sense and vocabulary flies out of the window the moment Henry’s lips touch his and by pure instinct and equal desire, he throws his arms around Henry’s neck to pull his alpha closer.

“Mmm, I’ve missed this. I’ve missed you, ” Henry murmured, tongue grazing Alex’s lips and begging for entry.

“Missed you too.” Alex mumbled back, opening his mouth and allowing Henry’s tongue to enter.

Henry releases a little groan as Alex wraps his clothed legs around his alpha’s waist.

“Omega, clothes off now!” Henry breathlessly said, hesitantly pulling away.

Alex nods, sitting up to pull at the hems of his shirt and pulling it over his head. 

The more inches of bronze skin that Alex shows, the more Henry salivates with hunger and pure want to devour his omega.

Once Alex’s shirt is off, his fingers go to the button of his jeans and he quickly unbuttons it.

“You’re taking too long, darling.” Henry groaned. “I’m getting impatient here.”

“It’s skinny jeans, alpha. It’s really hard to get off when I’m already kind of leaking underneath.” Alex said, wiggling his hips and legs to shrug off his jeans.

“Then let me help you so I can still take my time feasting on you.” Henry said before tugging at the edges of Alex’s pant legs and swiftly pulling them off of his omega, leaving Alex in white boxers with a dark green waistband.

Alex was about to take off his boxers before Henry partially crawled over him again, fingers teasing the hem of Alex’s waistband.

“My darling, how many more of these fancy boxers do you have there in your wardrobe?” he said with a groan.

Alex raised an eyebrow, slightly confused despite the arousal pooling in his gut. “About three boxes, why?”

“Oh, so you wouldn’t mind it if I rip these ones off of you? Henry said, balancing himself on one hand as his fingers continue to skim Alex’s waistband. “Even though I kind of don’t want to since it’s Lacoste and I know how expensive they can be.”

Alex’s brain got the memo and an unwarranted moan escaped his lips. “No, alpha! Take it off! I don’t give a fuck about the damn price of it!”

Henry grinned before using his newly gained vampiric strength to rip the boxers off of Alex’s body, leaving the omega bare beneath him.

“Ahh, finally. You’re free of your clothes.” Henry said with a devilish tone. “I can now prepare to devour you.”

At the sound of the words, Alex’s cock started to leak pre-cum and his hole started to leak slick, arousal and pure want simmering in his gut.

“Before you have me, alpha, mind taking off your clothes too?” Alex said, his own pupils blown with desire.

“Don’t even need you to tell me twice, my love.” Henry said as he pulled back to remove his own shirt over his head, followed by his jeans and underwear, his cock jutting out instantly.

“My vampire alpha, come here.” Alex breathed out, making grabby hand motions.

“Coming.” Henry said and without preamble, he jumped back over Alex and crushed their lips together again.

Heat and need rush through Alex, bringing every nerve ending in his body back to life.

Henry winds his hands through Alex’s curls and tugs his omega’s head backward gently, only breaking the kiss and setting his lips to Alex’s throat. Every touch of Henry’s lips sends a jolt of pleasure down Alex’s spine and they quickly gather into an aching bundle of fuck me please right between his thighs.

With his newly enhanced senses, Henry could easily identify every underlying scent that emanates from Alex’s skin.

“Ughh, my sweet,” Henry groaned with a moan. “You smell so good. Like blood, like cinnamon, like…” he trailed off.

“Like what, alpha?” The question died on Alex’s tongue when he heard a low growl rumble through his ears.

“Mine.” Henry groaned. “Fucking mine .”

Alex moans as he arches his back with a whimper, craving for more and Henry couldn’t not deliver what Alex was clearly asking for.

“Your skin is intoxicating, darling,” Henry whispers, working his way from Alex’s neck to his collarbone. “So smooth. So soft. So bloody kissable.”

Alex could feel his non-existent heartbeat jumpstart back to life at the words and his hands immediately drift to Henry’s shoulders, touching every inch of Henry’s alabaster skin that he could reach.

Henry eventually abandons Alex’s hair and brings his hands down to caress and pinch Alex’s erect nipples and Alex could only suck in a breath as Henry lowers his mouth to one erect nub and then uses his tongue and teeth to nip and worship it.

“Holy fucking shit!” Alex moaned with a gasp, his body positively reacting to the touch.

“Not too loud, my love.” Henry whispers with a playful smile as he moves on to the other nipple. “Don’t want any nosy neighbors to hear how loud you moan for me.”

“Then, don’t fucking tease me, Hen.”

“I’m just getting started.” Henry said, lowering his head and ghosting his lips over Alex’s own. “I waited days for this and now, I’m going to fuck you as many times as I please and if you’re up for it, I might even try something new tonight.”

“What do you want to do?” Alex asked with a shaky voice, nervous yet excited about what Henry had in mind.

“My favorite thing in the world— tasting you and fucking you. Also, now that I’m a vampire and we are somewhat equal in terms of speed and strength, I also want to see how fast I can make you finish.” Henry said with a smirk on his lips.

Alex found out that he was very amenable to that offer and he braces his hands beside him and he smiles when Henry’s eyes darken at the sight of him. “Yes. Let’s do that.”

A slow smile curves Henry’s mouth and he lowers himself until his face is right in Alex’s hole, eyes darkening more, tongue flicking out to lick his lips, ready to feast. “That’s the only answer I’ll ever accept.”

Alex let out a small laugh which quickly transformed into a moan when Henry set his mouth within him.

“Fuck!” Alex screamed.

Henry wastes no time to tease or play as he expertly swirls his tongue around Alex’s hole, licking up every drop of slick as he sinks not one, but two fingers inside Alex. “Fuck, I missed the taste of your slick, my love. I could drink an entire bottle of this.” he groaned.

“Henry!” Pleasure jolts through Alex’s system like a bolt of lightning coursing through his veins and landing in his gut. He hastily grabs a pillow to slam over his mouth to muffle his next moan as Henry starts to move his fingers, his tongue working alongside it in a steady rhythm of pleasure.

Alex reaches to grab one Henry’s other hand and press a hard kiss to the palm, feeling his hips move to rock against Henry’s face and other hand, chasing the high of his imminent release that is coming nearer and nearer with every thrust and flick from Henry.

“Hen, use your strength and speed! Make me come untouched!” Alex rasped out, challenge and desire blending in his eyes.

Aiming to please, Henry curls his fingers around the delicate spot within Alex and he flicks his tongue against Alex’s hole, and within seconds, Alex jumps off the cliff of pleasure, cock completely untouched.

His climax comes hard and fast, and he lets out another scream as simultaneous waves of pleasure hit him twice more, robbing him of breath as they sped through.

Henry coaxes the aftershocks from Alex relentlessly, working his omega’s body until the last of Alex’s release shudders through.

“Whoo! You finished fast. How are you feeling, my sweet?” Henry whispers, pulling his fingers out from the depths of Alex’s existence and sitting back on his heels.

“Like you threw me into the throes of the universe.” Alex rasped breathlessly.

“Good to hear.” Henry said, crawling over Alex once again. “I need you, my love.”

“I’m right here, alpha.” Alex murmured as he lifted his knees to bracket Henry’s hips and reach in the space between them to bring the head of his alpha’s cock to his hole.

Upon contact, Henry’s eyes flare with desire. “I love you so much, Alex.”

“I love you too, Henry,” Alex replied as he cradled Henry’s cheeks with his hands. “Now, get inside me. You want to make up for lost time, right?”

Henry chuckles, keeping his gaze locked on Alex’s brown eyes, then with a quick shift of his hand on Alex’s hip, he gives into Alex with one long thrust, sliding in inch by inch until his entire length, knot and all, is settled inside Alex.

Alex’s eyes roll back up in pleasure. The stretch, the pressure, the feel of having his alpha inside him again is perfection.

“Am I hurting you, darling?” Henry asked with wide eyes and a matching jerk of his hips.

“Not in the slightest.” Alex said as he wrapped his legs around Henry’s waist. “Fucking hell, I missed this.”

“Me too, my love.” Henry drops his forehead to Alex’s and rolls his hips, sinking deeper and locking their bodies together.

Alex reaches up to pull Henry’s lips to his and breathe through the pleasure that’s rebuilding itself inside him, burning hotter than before. “Remember our mating vows, Hen?”

Henry squeezes his eyes shut to remember the words, hips moving in a slow and steady rhythm. “It’s always you and me—”

“It’s always you and me. I’m here, Hen.” Alex repeats. “Now, make good on our agreement and fuck me the way you want.”

Henry’s inner alpha releases itself from the mental cage and the slow and steady rhythm quickly becomes a torturous beat. Alex could only mewl and moan underneath Henry before he could feel himself ready for a second topple over the cliff of ecstasy.

“Hen, need…come…again.” Alex rasped.

“Me too, omega. Might even pop a knot in you.” Henry said without slowing down.

“Let’s go together.” Alex said, locking his gaze with his beloved alpha.

With one last frantic thrust, Henry felt his knot pop inside Alex, filling up his omega and seconds later, Alex went over with him for the second time.

As the aftershocks subside, Henry waited for a few moments in order for his knot to deflate before pulling out of Alex, who instantly limped on the bed gracelessly beside him.

They laid beside each other for an hour before Alex stands up from the nest to grab a rag from the bathroom to clean himself up and after wiping remnants of his cum off, he runs back to the bathroom and rinses the rag before going beside Henry to wipe his alpha clean.

Once he deems himself and Henry clean enough, he runs back to the bathroom only to throw the rag into the sink before heading back to the nest and lying down beside his alpha, who was groaning under the covers.

Alex immediately sat up. “Hen, are you okay?” he asked with a worried tone.

“I’m hungry, my love.” Henry groaned. “Who knew that sex could easily make a vampire hungry?”

Alex merely chuckled. “Now you get why I need to feed after every time I have sex with you.” he said, extending his wrist out. “Want another bite?”

“Are you sure? You have to be careful of what you offer me now.” Henry’s voice was thick with hesitation, sitting up and letting his blue eyes flicker between Alex’s face and his wrist. “You’ve already allowed me to feed from you back in London. I don’t want to drain you dry.”

Alex only gave him a teasing eye roll, shifting closer so his wrist was practically pressed against Henry’s lips. “You won’t drain me dry, Hen.” His voice softened. “I trust that you won’t.”

Henry let out a small, needy sigh. “If you insist,” he said as he allowed the tip of his nose to brush against Alex’s wrist, his sharp fangs extending upon inhaling the tangy yet sweet scent of Alex’s blood. He gently took Alex’s wrist in his hands and pressed a soft kiss to the skin before ultimately sinking his fangs in.

Alex gasped, not from pain—never from pain—as he melted into the sensation, his body arching forward from the pleasure and warmth brought by the bite itself. There was something intimate, electric even, now that he was letting Henry feed from him. It was like a tether of love and trust between them, glowing stronger than ever before.

A groan escaped Henry’s lips as he drank, his grip on Alex’s wrist slightly tightening before he forced himself to slow down. He only took what he needed before pulling away, his fangs retracting back into his gums, and running his tongue over the puncture wounds to lick them shut.

Alex smirked, breathless but teasing as he leaned in. “Satisfied, sweetheart?”

Henry hummed, already pulling Alex against him. “Very satisfied, my love. Thank you.”

Despite the soft buzz of lightheadedness tapping on his brain, Alex felt nothing but content. He was about to drift off in Henry’s arm when his alpha’s voice rang softly in his ear.

“Darling,” Henry murmured, pressing a kiss to Alex’s curls. “Do you also need to feed?”

Alex hummed sleepily. “No,” he muttered, snuggling deeper against Henry’s chest. “You just fed from me. I’m fine.”

Henry didn’t buy Alex’s words at all. He immediately tilted Alex’s chin up so their gazes met. Even in the dim light emanating from the lamp, Henry could clearly see the signs of hunger in Alex’s usually warm brown eyes—a slight dullness, the way Alex’s pupils dilated a little too much.

Henry has only been a vampire for less than a week, but he already knew the signs.

“Darling,” he said gently but firmly. “There’s no need to lie to me. I can clearly tell that you’re hungry.”

Alex huffed a little, clearly reluctant. “It’s okay. I’ll just sleep this off,” he insisted. “You just had blood. I don’t want to take what I just gave.”

Henry looked at him flatly. “And I fed from you because you offered and I needed it. And now, I’m offering because I can see that you need it.” He slightly shifted his position, baring his neck, the vein steady beneath his skin. “So take the offer. Feed.”

Alex whined like a child with a tantrum, already shaking his head. “Sweetheart, you’re being unreasonable—”

“Absolutely not. You’re the unreasonable one here,” Henry rebutted. “I know you’re hungry and I won’t have my omega sleeping off his hunger in the name of being fucking stubborn.”

Alex’s lips parted, his breath slightly hitching at Henry’s words. His fingers twitched against Henry’s chest, his defiance slipping away.

Henry then softened his tone, brushing his thumb along Alex’s cheek. “Please, my love,” he whispered. “You’ve done a lot for me these past few days. Let me take care of you the way you deserve to be taken care of.”

Those were the words that made Alex’s omega instincts kick in. With a sharp exhale, he felt his own sharp canines descend, and with one last hesitant glance at Henry, he finally gave in.

He pressed a kiss to Henry’s throat, his lips landing on a spot just an inch above Henry’s mark and with another exhale, he sank his fangs into the flesh.

Henry let out a breathy sigh, his fingers threading into Alex’s curls, holding him close as his omega fed. Similar to when he fed from Alex, the sensation was pure warmth and pleasure.

Alex purred in satisfaction as he drank, one of his hands clutching the side of Henry’s muscular torso. He fed with controlled precision, careful in how much he wanted to take from Henry.

After a few moments, he pulled away, allowing his fangs to retract and give way for his tongue to flick out and lick the wound close.

Henry let out a soft, pleased hum. “How are you feeling now?”

Alex sighed, curling up against him. “A lot better. Thank you, alpha. I love you.”

Henry chuckled, wrapping both arms around his dearest omega. “I love you too, my darling.”

As Alex nestled into Henry’s comforting embrace, the warmth of their permanent bond settled deep within him. The steady rise and fall of Henry’s chest despite no longer having any heartbeat, the lingering taste of his mate on his tongue—it was enough to lull him into a contented sleep.

The world outside their brownstone house faded, the sounds of Brooklyn muffled by the weight of general exhaustion and satisfaction. Wrapped in each other’s arms, neither of them stirred in sleep as the night quietly slipped away.

Chapter Text

When Alex stirred awake, golden sunlight dimmed by the dark bedroom curtains was already filtering through, giving the room a soft glow. His body felt warm and comfortable in the nest and he doesn’t have the slightest inkling to vacate it anytime soon.

He groggily blinked and slightly stretched to ease the sleep from his muscles, careful as to not wake Henry, who was still sleeping soundly beside him. With a sleepy groan, Alex reached for his phone on the nightstand to check the time. One glance at his phone told him that it was a little bit past 2pm.

He and Henry truly slept through the night due to satisfaction from feeding and their general exhaustion from the events of the past week.

Now, despite the comfort of Henry’s embrace, a deep craving gnawed at him—something soothing, something calming.

A hot bath.

Carefully, he untangled himself from Henry’s arms, moving with practice ease to avoid waking his mate up. Henry barely stirred, his face relaxed in sleep, and Alex couldn’t help but pause for a second to admire the ethereal beauty of his mate—Henry’s sharp features softened in sleep, light eyelashes brushing against his cheeks—before completely slipping out of the nest.

Padding across the dimly lit room, Alex grabbed a fresh pair of boxers and joggers before making his way to the bathroom, shutting the door just enough to mute any outside sound but not fully enclose himself inside.

He turned the faucet on, letting warm water fill the tub halfway before adding a few drops of his lavender essential oil. The soft floral scent filled the air and it instantly soothed Alex’s senses.

Once the tub was slightly full, he turned off the faucet to avoid any possibility of water overflowing and he stepped into the bath, sinking down with a satisfied sigh as the warmth of the water seeped into his muscles. He allowed his head to fall back against the edge, breathing deeply.

Alex had to admit that the scent of lavender was lovely and comforting—but it was nothing compared to Henry’s scent of fresh grass and linen.

Back in the bedroom, Henry stirred, his hand instinctively reaching out for Alex in his sleep, his arm searching for the feeling of Alex’s skin. But instead of the familiar smoothness of his mate’s body, his hand only met cool and empty sheets.

His eyes snapped open, his inner alpha instantly on edge, alert as ever.

“Omega?” His voice was hoarse from sleep as he slowly sat up, blue eyes immediately scanning the room. “Alex?”

He was only met with silence.

Panic flared inside Henry’s chest as he swung his legs over the side of the bed, hastily pulling on a pair of loose joggers. His newly enhanced senses strained for any sign of his beloved omega’s presence, but Alex’s absence from the nest sent his instincts spiraling.

Once he opened the bedroom door, his ears registered a faint sound—water.

His head snapped to the direction of the slightly opened bathroom door, and relief washed over him as he caught the scent of lavender mixed with something even sweeter—Alex.

Letting out a slow exhale, he walked toward the bathroom. He hesitated only for a moment before pushing the door open wider, revealing Alex lounging in the tub, eyes half-lidded and completely relaxed.

Alex cracked one eye open, a sleepy smile curling his lips. “Hi, Hen.”

Henry exhaled a quiet chuckle, stepping forward. “You scared me, darling. I thought you were gone again.”

“Sorry. I just wanted a bath,” Alex murmured, his torso sinking lower into the water. “Forgive me?”

Henry huffed and crossed his arms, but he was far from annoyed. “You’re lucky I love you.” He hesitated for a moment, eyes sweeping over Alex’s relaxed form. “Mind if I join in?”

Alex lifted a lazy hand, beckoning his alpha closer. “You don’t have to ask permission, sweetheart.”

Henry only grinned before stripping off his joggers and slipping into the water behind Alex. He pulled Alex back against his chest, nuzzling into the crook of his neck, breathing him in.

“You really scared me, omega.” Henry admitted.

Alex slightly turned his head, pressing a soft kiss followed by a playful nip to Henry’s jaw. “I’m right here, alpha.”

Henry sighed, his arms’ grip around Alex’s waist slightly tightening. “Yes, you are.” He tugged Alex closer so that his cock was at the rim of Alex’s entrance. The slight feeling of it elicited a soft whimper of Alex. “Yes, omega? Something wrong?” Henry crooned behind him, lowering his head to trail kisses all over Alex’s nape and shoulders.

Alex was going more and more breathless with every kiss from Henry. “Alpha, your cock—in my…”

Henry stopped his kisses and looked down into the blurry water as if he had x-ray vision that could see beneath the bubbles to what Alex was talking about, but words were no longer needed because he knew exactly what Alex was referring to.

“Oh, don’t you want me in you, my sweet?” He crooned, voice sweet like honey.

“I do, but not here.” Alex said, shutting his eyes as if to wane off the wave of arousal that slowly bloomed in his gut.

Henry thought about it for a moment. “Okay then, but before we take our business back to the nest, mind if I do something first?”

Alex could only barely release a stutter before Henry uses his strength to lift his omega off his chest and place him onto the edge of the tub, arousal quickly replacing the relaxed mode he was in just mere minutes before Henry stepped into the bathroom.

No immediate reply was heard from Henry, as he took his time taking in the sight of Alex sitting on the edge of the tub, curls dripping wet, droplets sparkling off the omega’s skin like glitter.

“Look at yourself, my love.” Henry said, his voice straining to maintain control and he rubs his hands like he needs to do something with them that isn’t tearing up every brick in the bathroom just to get his hands on Alex. “All that hard muscle under smooth skin, those long fluffy curls sticking to your forehead.” Henry allowed his eyes to trail over Alex, from his face down to his torso.

Henry’s dilated blue eyes flare with desire when they land between Alex’s legs. “And look at your delightful cock, already leaking and begging to be touched. Is your hole leaking that sweet slick of yours as well?”

“Alpha, don’t tease anymore!” Alex whimpered, heat rushing through his limbs at Henry’s words. They are words that are filthy yet adoration at the same time. So full of reverence and possession.

Henry crawls toward Alex, one hand wraps around Alex’s calf while the other raises to hold Alex’s hand that sprawled beside him.

“No more teasing, my love. I’m just going to dive in.” Henry said.

“Yes.” Alex breathes, head tilted down, eyes fixed on the alpha submerged between his legs.

“And you’re not going to stop me.”

Without warning, Henry drops his mouth on Alex and begins sucking the life out of his omega, occasional hums leaving his mouth like he loves the taste.

“Henry! Fuck!” Alex bites out as pleasure explodes inside of him and straight down his inner thighs. One of his hands shoots up to tug at Henry’s hair as his alpha hollows out his cheeks even further to take more of Alex in. “Alpha!” He yelled, kicking at the water as if it could help relieve him, making the liquid slosh and splatter at every corner.

Once Henry was satisfied, he pulled back only to trail his fingers up Alex’s spine, pulling his omega close until their chests were only inches apart. “You are so fucking amazing.”

“You’re unbelievable. Incorrigible.” Alex replies, still catching his own breath.

“How about we continue this in the bedroom to avoid further spillage, hmm? Since we’re also going to be the ones who’ll clean it.” Henry suggests cheekily, but his pupils haven't returned to their normal size.

“Yes, that’s a better idea.” Alex said before bending down slightly to pull the plug of the drain in order for the water to go down.

When the tub was fully drained, Alex only had a second to turn before Henry scooped him off the tub and bridal-carried him back to the bedroom, their clothes completely forgotten on the damp bathroom floor.

—

Once they were back in the bedroom, Henry gently plops Alex down in the middle of the nest and the moment Alex gets into a comfortable position, Henry crawls over him and immediately locks their gazes together, as if there’s any chance that either of them would deny the desperate need for each other.

“How do you want the rest of the afternoon to go, my sweet?” Henry asks as he ghosts his lips over Alex’s.

“You choose, alpha. Make me feel good. Make me come undone. Make love to me.” Alex said, listing every possible option. “I just want you.”

Henry’s gaze darkens. “Are you not in heat yet?”

Alex shakes his head. “My heat is not going to come for at least a few more weeks. Why? Is your rut here already?”

It was Henry’s turn to shake his head. “I was just being sure, but even though my rut hasn’t arrived, you know how rough I can get with you, and I don’t want to hurt you, my love.”

“You won’t, Hen.” Alex skims his fingertips down Henry’s back, relishing in the feel of having his alpha with him.

“Promise to tell me if I hurt you?” Henry said, leaning in closer.

Alex nods, running his thumb down Henry’s jawline. “I promise.”

Henry’s jaw ticks against Alex’s fingers and within a second, he crashes their lips together.

No more teasing and no more second thoughts. Just pure passion, want and love ignite like wildfire between the both of them.

Henry’s tongue sweeps past Alex’s lips with power and possession, making Alex moan as he slides his fingers into Henry’s hair to hold his alpha close. Henry takes Alex’s mouth over and over in deep and intoxicating kisses that have Alex arching closer for more, the omega nipping at the alpha’s lower lip when Henry doesn’t give in fast enough.

The mattress of the nest presses against Alex’s back as Henry rolls his hips, but all Alex could feel was searing pleasure burning right through him as Henry hits the sweet spot.

“Alpha, more.” Alex begs and whimpers into Henry’s lips when the alpha delivers his request.

Henry’s hand glides under Alex’s thigh and he uses the other hand to skim two of his knuckles along the rim of Alex’s hole.

“I’m assuming this is your fucking delicious slick.” Henry growled when he felt wetness beneath his knuckles.

The feather-light touch rouses a burst of arousal that only adds to the simmering heat gathering low in Alex’s gut.

“Pretty much.” Alex smirks as he attempts to rock against Henry’s fingers, and kisses his alpha as if he’s scared to lose Henry again. 

Henry huffs a chuckle against Alex’s lips.

“You are mine, alpha.” Alex whispers, tracing the edges of Henry’s abs with his fingers. “I kept waiting for it to wear off, but I guess it’s here to stay,” he mutters as Henry grabs hold of his lower back and tugs Alex closer.

“Darling, what are you saying?” Henry asks, eyes showing slight confusion.

“The complete awe that I feel when I remember that you’re here.” Alex says as he strokes his hands over Henry’s shoulders and down his chest. “That by some fucking miracle, fate allowed me to meet you. That I get to be your mate. That I get to touch you like this.”

“I can’t believe it either and for the record, it hasn’t worn off of me too, and I think it never will, my love.” Henry’s hungry gaze drifts over Alex’s unruly curls and body. “The whole time I was away from you, I never stopped thinking about you.”

“Me too.” Alex’s inner omega declared as he started to lower himself, more than ready to have his alpha inside him.

Henry lets out a hiss through gritted teeth when the head of his cock slides between Alex’s thighs and Alex does the same when Henry rubs against his hole, sending flickers of sparks to spread along every single corner of his being.

“Not yet, my sweet. Don’t want to hurt you.” Henry says through gritted teeth.

Alex, ever the stubborn one, only digs his fingers into Henry’s shoulders. “Hen, I might actually die for real if you make me wait—”

“I won’t let you die on me, my love, and who said anything about waiting?” Henry lifts one of Alex’s knees to the top of his shoulders, then the other, before staring up at his omega with a wicked smirk as his hands slide to the cheeks of Alex’s ass.

“You might want to hold onto something.”

“Where?!” Alex asked, his fingers scrambling at the fabric of the bedsheets. “Alpha, what are you—”

“I’m simply going to be worshipping you.” Henry lifts Alex’s ass and brings the omega’s hips straight to his mouth.

A loud, purely omega cry leaves Alex’s throat at the first sweep of Henry’s tongue, and it’s only Henry’s hands that keep him from fully collapsing into mush on the nest. White-hot and blinding desire speeds through Alex like lightning and the simmering heat in his gut rises to a boil.

“I will never get enough of you.” Henry licks and lashes and sucks as if Alex was his entire dinner for the night, driving his omega to the brink of insanity.

“Henry,” Alex moans. “Please, don’t stop.” Hot pleasure spirals within him and Alex goes right over the edge a few seconds after his thighs start to shake.

Instead of stopping, Henry only slides two fingers inside Alex and moves it in the rhythm of his tongue, and the orgasm that should’ve been over kicks into a second wave that seemed to burn brighter.

“Your slick is absolutely delicious. You’re so wet for me, darling. It’ll be easy for me to slide in.” Henry says as Alex starts to descend from the high, falling limply onto the nest, his arms trembling in the afterglow.

“You’re everything I’ve ever dreamed of, my love.” Henry’s lips brush the shell of Alex’s ear, sending goosebumps on Alex’s skin. “Kiss me.”

Alex leans forward and Henry curls over him, their mouths crashing against each other, the kiss hard and deep.

Henry slides his cock into position, then lifts his mouth from Alex, eliciting a whine from the omega. “Are you sure about this, darling?”

“Yes, Hen.” Alex looks into Henry’s eyes. “Fuck me, taste me, make love to me. Bite me. I don’t care what you do, just get inside me. Have me. I need you.” he said, desperation clear in his voice.

“You can always say—” Henry starts, and Alex reaches up to silence him with a kiss. Henry groans before taking Alex by the hips and slowly pulls his omega downward into the long and rolling thrust that takes Alex inch by inch. “Bloody hell, darling. You feel like fucking home.”

An alpha growl and an omega cry blended into a symphony in the atmosphere when Henry pushes all the way inside, knot and all. The pressure, the stretch, the depth, it was everything. Alex gripped the sheets beside him so he could rock into Henry’s next thrust.

Henry starts a deep, pounding rhythm that’s lethal yet beautiful and every single thrust is more stunning than the last. Alex’s moans descend into desperate gasps and cries as Henry continues his pace, panting against Alex’s lips. One of Henry’s hands tangles in Alex’s curls while the other pulls the omega into every snap of his hips.

“Hen,” Alex whispers. “I need…come…please.”

“I’ve got you, darling,” Henry promises with a hoarse voice. “I’ll hold you.” He slips a hand down Alex’s stomach and lightly strokes the omega’s hypersensitive and very much leaking cock. “Come for me.”

At the words, Alex completely shatters, his own hips bucking as release hurls from his body, drowning him into a cascading waterfall of bliss.

Henry only growls before he himself feels the need to release. Alex, despite being exhausted, catches Henry’s voice.

“Alpha, let go of me for a bit. Let’s just switch into a better position.” Alex said.

Henry only nods before slowly pulling out despite him not wanting to separate from his omega, his knot swollen and his cock positively leaking.

“Sit up for me.” Alex instructs and once Henry does so, Alex positions both his thighs on either side of Henry’s own so that he’s straddling the alpha.

Without warning, Alex sinks back down onto his alpha and Henry’s eyes slide shut. Alex soon wraps his arms around Henry’s neck. “Alpha—”

“Need…to…” Henry rasps through gritted teeth as sweat coats his eyebrows and his abs are so engaged that they’re rock solid against Alex’s own core.

“Let go, Hen. It’s okay.” Alex gently orders, rising up on his knees and sinking back down, riding Henry at a pace that Alex knows could make Henry topple easily.

“Holy fuck!” Henry throws his head back, making his neck muscles strain. “Alex, my love, please—”

“Go ahead, sweetheart. I’m here.” Alex moves his hands to the sides of Henry’s neck, thumb skimming the mating mark on the skin as he drops his forehead to Henry, the bridge of his nose slotting perfectly into Henry’s like a matching puzzle piece. “You can let go.”

“Shit!” Henry’s arms tense and his hips snap once, twice and on the third, Alex feels a pressure within him, a sense of fullness as Henry comes inside of him, the alpha’s knot locking their bodies together.

Henry drops his head to Alex’s shoulder and groans into the mating mark on Alex’s neck as the aftershocks of his release tremble through him. “I love you.”

Alex sags against Henry, happily limp with satisfaction as they bask in the afterglow.

“Are you okay, darling?” Henry asks, lifting his hands.

“I’m more than okay, Hen.” Alex replies.

“Did I not hurt you one bit?” Henry tenses beneath Alex.

“No. Not one bit of pain.” Alex looks into his alpha’s eyes and smiles. “You felt so good.”

“That’s nice.” Henry wraps his arms around Alex and plucks his omega off his cock and onto the nest, which results in Alex leaving slick trails all around the sheets. “I’ll be back, my love. Stay here.” he said, hopping off the bed.

“Where are you going?” Alex asks.

“Getting a rag.” Henry says with a smile. “We need to clean up.”

Alex only shook his head with a giggle. “Fine.”

Chapter Text

A couple of weeks had passed since Alex and Henry returned from England—weeks that were filled with moments of just them existing in peace and harmony under the comforts of their nest, rekindling the flame that always sparked between them.

Henry has also been further adjusting to his new nature as a vampire, constantly feeding from both the blood bottles that June had thoughtfully stocked up in their fridge and, more often than he’d like to admit, Alex. Not that Alex minded—if anything, he welcomed the intimate exchange, occasionally returning the bite to Henry in turn.

It was after another round of making out that their topic of conversation reverted back to one that they have started but never finished—having pups.

“My love,” Henry hesitantly said, fingers tracing patterns on Alex’s back as the omega snuggled deep in his arms. “Do you remember our talk about pups? All before the chaos ensued?”

Alex blinked, his body slightly stiffening under Henry’s touch. “Yes, sweetheart. Of course I remember.” He truly hadn’t forgotten the conversation—it had just been buried under the weight of the past chaos, but it still lingered in the back of his mind. “I mean, to be honest, it never left my brain.”

“I know it didn’t, darling, but I just want to ask that now that we’re back here,” Henry said, sliding his hand up to cup Alex’s jaw. “Do you think we can continue that conversation and actually have a pup?”

Alex let out a slow breath, his fingers absentmindedly tracing the curve of Henry’s bicep. “I mean we could, but Hen, we both have been through so much. Having a pup is a big move so I don’t want to rush into this.”

“I understand,” Henry murmured. “And I also don’t want to rush anything, especially if you’re not ready yet.”

Alex’s brown eyes searched Henry’s face, looking for any sign of doubt, but all he found was sureness and sincerity, mixed with a quiet certainty that Henry’s eyes always glinted with when he truly believed in something.

“I mean, I’m okay with having that conversation now, Hen. I’m ready if you are.” Alex said with a gentle smile.

Henry’s lips curled into a small smile, and he pressed a kiss to Alex’s forehead. “If you’re ready, then I’m ready too.”

“Okay then.” Alex agreed.

With the feeling that they’re both ready, another question arose between them. “How do you want to do this, my love?” Henry asked softly.

Alex bit his lip, mulling it over. “Well, as much as I want to be bred and carry a child myself, being a vampire takes that option off the table, so that leaves us with two options—surrogacy or adoption.”

Henry nodded with understanding. “I’m not really familiar with the procedures here in America so I’ll trust your judgment on what’s best for us.”

Alex exhaled. “If you were to ask me, I think adoption might be the best choice.”

“Care to explain your preference, darling?” Henry asked.

“I mean, it’s not that I have anything against surrogacy, but adoption just feels…right.” Alex said with a shrug. “Think about it, Hen, almost our whole lives, we already know what it’s like to be different. You said it yourself, my family is your family—you found a home in a place you never expected to. I just mean, there are so many kids out there who need parents, and I’d rather give a child a home than go through the whole process of asking some random stranger to be a surrogate parent.”

Henry’s smile grew wider, love and understanding shining in his pale blue eyes. “That actually makes a lot of sense. Let’s go with adoption.”

“Are you fucking drunk, Hen? Why are you agreeing with me so quickly?” Alex said with a smirk.

Henry rolled his eyes. “Can you not ruin the moment, my love?” His expression softened again. “Do you have a preference on the sex of our pup?”

“I remember asking you that last time. Why are you throwing my questions back at me?” Alex said, his tone anything but accusatory.

“Because I trust your judgement, darling” Henry said simply. “And like I said before, I don’t mind having either a son or a daughter. As long as we have a pup to love and care for, that’s perfect for me.” Henry caressed Alex’s cheek.

Alex went quiet, allowing his mind to process Henry’s words. Fragments of his last dream came back like shards of glass—his dream of a little girl with blue eyes, brown hair wearing a bright yellow dress, one who called him Papi and looked at Henry like he hung up the moon.

Maybe it hadn’t just been a dream. Maybe it had been something more. A glimpse of what their future could be.

He swallowed. “A girl. I don’t know why but I’ve always pictured us with a daughter— specifically one who’s got your blue eyes and my brown hair.” Alex said, a wistful look on his face.

Henry brushed a strand of hair from Alex’s forehead, chuckling. “That’s a specific description, my love. But she sounds like the perfect blend of the both of us.”

“Yeah, she is.” Alex’s chest tightened with emotion as he laced his and Henry’s fingers together. “And it’s only going to be a matter of time before we find her.”

“Lucky for us,” Henry whispered, squeezing Alex’s hand. “We have all the time in the world.”

“Yeah, we do.” Alex crooned before leaning over to plant a kiss on Henry’s lips. “And I can’t wait to do this with you.”

—

The day before they were to officially start working on the adoption process, Henry called Percy to bring in all his clothes and things from the apartment into the brownstone. 

“Aww, mate, I’m gonna miss having you around.” Percy complained with a dramatic sigh, Henry’s suitcases scattered around his feet. “It’s not going to be fun living alone.”

“Well, you’re not exactly alone. David’s there,” Henry said, only to internally take his statement back. “That is until such time that I’ll call to inform you that I’ll be taking him in with me.”

Percy groaned. “See? At the end of the day, I’ll always live alone.”

Henry only chuckled. “You could always move in with June and Nora. I’m sure they have a spare room that could accommodate you.”

Percy pretended to think. “Now that you suggest that, I might ponder upon it.”

Henry only gave his best friend a chuckle and a manly hug. “Thank you for bringing all my stuff, by the way.”

“Anything for you, Haz.” Percy said, reciprocating Henry’s hug. “You and your darling Alex take care of each other, yes?”

“Will do. Pez. Thank you. You take care of yourself too.” Henry said, pulling away from the hug and with a playful flourish, Percy left.

Henry brought all his suitcases into the house and it wasn’t long before Alex appeared in the hallway.

“Alpha, what is all that?” Alex asked, eyebrows raised. “Are you moving out?”

“More like moving in, my love.” Henry said. “I had Pez bring all my stuff from our apartment, considering that I would be living with you full-time now. You do realize that all I have with me are the clothes that I have in a backpack that I brought with me weeks ago.”

“Oh, I remember.” Alex said, stepping closer to Henry. “How did Percy react to you moving out?”

Henry shrugged. “He was a bit dramatic about it, but he understands. He did mention something about possibly thinking about living with your sister and Nora.”

Alex’s eyebrows raised back up. “Oh, I guess that’s alright, unless Bug has one of her meltdowns again and he’d probably regret it.”

“I’m sure she doesn’t have any meltdowns unless something happens to you.” Henry said, wrapping his arms around Alex’s waist.

Alex sheepishly smiled. “Oh, right. I was the reason she melted down last time.”

“More like we were the reason.” Henry said with a chuckle.

“Well, I hope she doesn’t have another one, stress is not good for her.” Alex said.

“She won’t, my love,” Henry reassured him. “Because I will make sure nothing happens to you ever again.”

Alex smiles and then leans up to kiss Henry before helping his alpha unpack all his belongings in the spare drawers of their bedroom wardrobe.

Chapter Text

Over the course of the next few weeks, Alex and Henry immersed themselves with the adoption process, which was both thrilling and exhausting. With the help of June and Nora, they thoroughly researched the process, the goal of getting it right set in both their minds.

They also set several meetings with parents and counselors who have gone through the process to share and discuss their respective experiences.

“The procedures to get to it are surely hard, but all that will be worth it once you have a child in your hands. Despite him or her not being yours to begin with, what matters is that you have a kid to love and care for.” one mom shared in one Zoom meeting.

Alex took those words to heart. He has never been so meticulous about something in his life—as he reads every document thrice over, making sure that every page is filled out and signed. Henry handled the logistical side and ensured that they were going to every scheduled meeting, and being vampires, he made sure to try and schedule meetings during overcast days, since the sun was their greatest enemy. 

In between all of the paperwork and meetings, they took the time to transform a spare room into a room that’s fit for a young girl.

They had chosen and bought wallpaper with a pastel yellow motif and decorated with tiny flowers. Alex personally chose the yellow color to match the color of the dress that the little girl in his dream was wearing and once ensuring that everything was set to be pasted, they got to work.

“My love, can you explain to me why you chose yellow as the wallpaper color?” Henry asked while in the middle of pasting the wallpaper to the wall of the room.

“It’s just the color of the dress the little girl in my dream was wearing,” Alex said with a wistful tone. “I just figured that buying yellow wallpaper could be part of manifesting that we do find her.”

“It’s rather beautiful, my darling. You made a good choice and about our little pup, we will find her, alright?” Henry said, stepping away from the wall and closer to Alex.

Alex gave Henry a small smile. “I know, we will.” He then continued to assist Henry with setting up the wallpaper by pressing down on the edges to ensure a smooth finish. Slowly but surely, the room was turning into the perfect bedroom for a young girl.

By the time they were finished covering all the walls with wallpaper, Henry was sweating up a storm in his blue sweater.

“Hen, why the fuck have you chosen to wear a sweater when you know that we’re going to be setting up this room today?” Alex whimpered in exasperation. “Of all the clothes you have there, why would you choose a sweater? Fall isn’t in a couple of weeks.”

“It’s comfortable, my love. Plus, these are some of the best options I could have back home.” Henry said. “The weather over there is not the same as the weather over here. Besides, I can’t dress like you all the time.” He gestured at Alex who was wearing a tight black t-shirt and joggers that swung low on his hips that the waistband of his boxers were exposed.

Alex looked down to his own clothes and when he looked back up, his expression was playful. “Why, alpha? Want me to take my clothes off or do you want to rip them off of me?” He asked in a teasing voice.

God, I would love nothing more, Henry’s inner alpha growled within him before he shook his head to file the idea for later.

“My love, as lovely as that would sound, I couldn’t have us doing something unsanitary in the room that we’re fixing for the pup.” Henry said, taking Alex’s hands in his own. “Since we’re about to become parents, we might as well practice the art of saving our cravings for each other until the times that we’re in our nest.”

“Hmmpphh, fine.” Alex huffed with a pout. “At least take off your sweater, please. I don’t want my pup’s dad to burn before she even meets him.”

Henry only gives him a smile before grabbing the hem of his sweater and lifting it off his head in one graceful motion, leaving him wearing his white undershirt and joggers.

“Much better, right?” Alex said.

Henry only shook his head with a smile. “Much better, my love.” He plants a kiss on Alex’s lips. “Shall we get back to work?”

Alex could only nod.

The next couple of days bustled with activity. They had a four-poster bed with a wooden frame delivered and it immediately became the centerpiece of the bedroom. Henry also picked out yellow cotton sheets to go over the mattress and he tucked them in neatly, making the bed have a smooth finish. Alex then added white blankets and fluffed up the pillows, which were encased in pillowcases adorned with pastel patterns and tassels.

Once the bed was placed and all set up, Henry took a step back and admired the setting. “It looks amazing, my love.” He crooned to Alex. “What do you think?”

Alex smiled, satisfaction and happiness roaming in his brown eyes. “It’s perfect, Hen.” He said, sliding one arm around Henry’s waist, pulling his alpha closer. “I can already picture our pup cozying up within the fluffy pillows, reading a book or snuggling with a stuffed animal while one of us reads her a bedtime story.”

“That sounds like a perfect evening, my love.” Henry said.

“Also, I think I figured out why she had a bright yellow dress on in my dream and why I wanted most of the things here to be yellow.” Alex said beside him.

“Really? Why so?” Henry asked, curiosity playing in his eyes.

“I just figured that now we’re both vampires now and we won’t be able to face the sun anymore, our little pup is going to be our sun.” Alex explained. “The sunshine that we could bask in and be with everyday, without any worries.”

Henry sniffled, his eyes filling with tears. “That’s so sweet, my love.” His voice wavered. “ She’s going to be our little sunshine.”

Alex met Henry’s gaze. “Yes, she is.”

—

The day that they were supposed to go to an adoption agency to meet with potential kids was fast approaching, yet Henry and Alex couldn’t shake the feeling that their house needed some more…adjustments.

The sun was shining brightly outside and they still had to get a few more things, like stuffed animals and books for the little girl and perhaps most importantly…human food.

“Hen, you do know we cannot have our pup walk in here wanting a glass of milk only to see an entire fridge stocked with blood, right?” Alex worriedly pointed out as he and Henry stared at the contents of their refrigerator.

“Yes, unless, of course, we want to scare her easily and have her wailing to go back to the adoption agency.” Henry sighed, rubbing his temple.

“I haven’t eaten human food in years, so I don’t even know what to buy.” Alex said. “Do you?”

Henry shook his head. “All my things were provided for me and I rarely set foot in an American grocery store.”

Alex was on the verge of whimpering when he suddenly brightened up with an idea. “What the fuck? We don’t need to do all this alone.” He said, grabbing his phone from the dining table. “I know just who to call for help.”

An hour later, June and Nora were at their doorstep and when the two ladies stepped into the house, amusement colored their faces.

“So, let me get this straight, not that any of us are, in fact, straight,” June addressed the room at large before directing her attention to Alex and Henry. “You two obtuse fools didn’t think about the minor fact that you’d soon have a human child, my future niece or nephew at that, in this house, until this very moment?”

Alex rolled his eyes. “We thought about it, Bug, and you’re going to have a future niece. We were just—preoccupied.”

“With what? Fucking and biting each other?” Nora deadpanned, waggling her eyebrows.

Henry coughed and looked down, drawing his entire attention to the tiles of the floor as if they’re suddenly fascinating.

“Okay, can we focus, please?” Alex cut in before Nora could tease them further. “We need your guys’ help to get groceries, toys, books and clothes for our pup.”

June and Nora exchanged glances, the former smirking while the latter clapped her hands in excitement.. “Oh, this is going to be a fun shopping trip.” June declared. “I can’t wait to shop for my niece.”

The two ladies gave Alex and Henry time to change clothes before they all stepped out of the house and piled into Nora’s car, which was equipped with window shades for the sake of Alex and Henry’s protection, to which they are very thankful for. Once they were all settled in, they drove to the nearest complex that was complete with a clothing store, a grocery store, a toy store and a bookstore.

They first make their way to the grocery store and upon entering the doors, they are enveloped with the smell of warm bread and fresh vegetables, mixed with the chatter of people going in and out. Grabbing a cart and walking through the brightly lit aisles felt oddly weird, as Henry hadn’t needed to grocery shop in years and Alex fell out of the habit after he turned.

“Fuck, I don’t even know what to pick anymore.” Alex muttered, eyeing a shelf of cereal boxes. “What flavor cereal do kids even eat these days?”

June snorted beside him. “Why are you speaking like you’re already a hundred years old, Alex?” she teased. “She probably likes normal stuff—like macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets, juice, that kind of thing.”

Henry, determined to provide the best of their pup, began grabbing boxes one by one and carefully examining ingredients. “We should get as many organic options as possible.”

“I’m sure she won’t care if it’s organic or not, as long as it’s sweet and it tastes good.” Nora chirped, tossing a couple of boxes of Lucky Charms and Cinnamon Toast Crunch into the cart.

They soon arrived at the aisle filled with shelves of assorted beverages, Henry immediately went to a shelf and scrutinized a carton of apple juice and Alex could let out a dramatic sigh as he watched his alpha read the box.

“Hen, I love you, but I’m sure that our pup wouldn’t give that much of a fuck if her apple juice was made from the freshest apples of Washington and cold-pressed into a box.” Alex said, resting his weight against the cart.

Henry shot him an offended glare before placing a couple of cartons of juice into the cart anyway. “My love, I just want our pup to have the best drinks.”

June rolled her eyes playfully. “Henry, you have to relax. She’s a kid and I’m sure she’ll probably be more excited about the fact that she even has juice to drink rather than where the ingredients came from.”

“I agree, and we need to make a move on if we want to make sure that the fridge doesn’t look like a horror show by the time you both are due to meet her.” Nora reminded them.

With that, they loaded up on fruits, vegetables, snacks, cartons of milk and juice as well as a variety of easy meals that they could cook for their pup before checking out and heading to the next stop—the clothing store.

The moment they stepped inside the store, Alex was immediately overwhelmed by the sheer amount of clothes in all shapes and sizes that surrounded them. Racks and shelves stretched in every direction, bursting with dresses with ruffles and frills, pastel colored shirts with fairies on the front, miniature sneakers and sandals.

“Oh my fucking God,” Alex whispered, running to a shelf and grabbing a yellow dress with a gingham pattern. “Hen, look at this.”

Henry turned and took one glance at the dress Alex was holding.

“It’s exactly like the dress she was wearing in my dream.” Alex muttered, his eyes filling with tears just from looking at the dress.

“Then she needs to have it.” Henry said with a nod of approval.

Nora and June sifted through the other racks and when they caught sight of Alex and Henry losing their minds over a dress, they simply swooned. “You guys are such dads already.” June crooned.

The four of them picked out an assortment of clothes—comfy pajamas, playful overalls, a few cute dresses, and plenty of t-shirts and bottoms that would let their pup run freely in comfort. Henry also insisted on getting a warm coat, while Alex found a pair of tiny Reebok sneakers that made him almost tear up again.

“You could never go wrong with white sneakers.” Alex said with a grin. “She’s gonna look so fucking cool.”

“Let’s just hope she likes what you two picked out,” Nora joked as they moved toward the checkout counter.

The toy store was next and before they headed inside, Nora told them that she would place some of their things in the car and Henry, Alex and June go ahead. June insisted on helping Nora load some of their purchases in the car, and as the two ladies strutted back to the parking lot, Alex and Henry waited for them under the shade of the complex’s canopy, and the moment June and Nora returned, they all headed inside the toy store.

When their eyes roamed the shelves filled with toys, they had to push down the urge to buy everything in sight.

Alex practically ran to the aisle of stuffed animals, and he grabbed various plushies.

“Hen, what should we get? The bear or the bunny? This dragon also looks cute.” Alex rattled on before he set his sights on a dog plushie. “Oh, how about this?”

Henry could barely formulate an answer before Alex decided to dump all the plushies into the cart. The next aisle was the doll aisle and Henry immediately bolted to a shelf and began studying different options.

“My love, should we get the one with the brown hair like you said she has in the dream? Or would she like something different?”

“Get both,” June said, tossing a Barbie doll into their cart. “And also grab a tea set as well as a kitchen set. So y’all could play house and host tea parties.”

By the time they left the toy store, their cart was overflowing with stuffed animals, dolls, board games and even a small painting set that Alex had insisted they purchase.

“You’ll never know she might be into arts.” Alex had said with determination. “We gotta nurture that if ever.”

Henry only smiled and placed the art set into the cart without further arguments.

The sun had started to set when they reached the bookstore, which was their final stop. It was quieter than the other stores, the scent of paper and ink wrapped around them as they entered the doors.

Alex’s expression softened as he ran his fingers along the spines of children’s books, remembering the books that he used to read as a child. “We definitely need these.” he murmured, grabbing copies of some picture books.

Beside him, Henry flipped through an illustrated fairy tale book. “Do you think she’ll like these classic fairy tales?”

“I’m sure she will, as long as it has a happy ever after,” Alex said with a playful smirk. “No depressing ones.”

Henry chuckled. “Duly noted, my love.”

They gathered a mix of bedtime stories, adventure books and even a few beginner chapter books.

“God, I can’t wait for either of us to read this to her,” Alex said softly, hugging the books to his chest.

Henry placed a hand on the small of Alex’s back and pressed a light kiss to his mate’s temple. “Me neither, my love.”

June and Nora stood nearby, watching them with fond smiles.

“As much as your love makes me want to fucking puke, I’m sure that you guys are going to be amazing parents.” June said.

Alex and Henry exchanged a look at June’s remark, warmth pressing between them before they turned back to their growing pile of books.

“We could only hope so, Bug,” Alex said, leaning his head on Henry’s shoulder.

With their final purchases in hand, they headed to the checkout and before long, they made their way to the car, ready to head back home and finish preparing it for their little sunshine.

—

As they pulled up to the driveway of the brownstone, Alex fished out his key and unlocked the door before running back to help everyone unload the car. Groceries, clothes, toys, books—every last back was carried inside, piling up in the entryway.

The moment everything was inside the house, Alex let out an exhale and cracked his neck.

“Well, today was a fucking productive day,” he said, shutting the door. “Now we just have to fully unpack all of this.”

Henry arched a brow as he surveyed the mountain of bags. “Are we sure that we didn’t overdo it?”

“To be fair, we absolutely overdid it,” Nora said, grabbing a pack of groceries and walking to the kitchen with it. “But hey, it’s your first pup so the hundreds of dollars that we spent today will be worth it.”

For the next hour, they settled into an easy rhythm, dividing and conquering the unpacking. Groceries went to the kitchen—Henry immediately took charge in putting away the boxes of cereal and food into the shelves while Alex got all the beverages and stored them into the fridge, colorful juice boxes and white milk cartons instantly replacing the bottles of blood. 

Clothes were gathered into an empty hamper. June took the hamper of clothes and gently ripped off the tags one by one. She also put the boxes of shoes inside a wardrobe that was situated beside the newly-assembled bookshelf. Nora took liberty in arranging the stuffed animals on the bed while the dolls sat beside the books on a small shelf in the corner of the bedroom.

As soon as June emerged from the bedroom, she gestured toward a box that she placed on the dining table. “Alright, little bro, I got something for you and Henry.” she called out to Alex, who was still busy arranging the contents of the fridge.

“You what?” Alex said, moving away from the fridge and into the dining room, where he eyed the box suspiciously. “It better not be something dangerous, Bug.”

June snorted. “Relax yourself. This is for you and Henry, alright?” she said, stepping closer to the box and opening the flaps. “Think of it as a gift.” She fully unboxed the item, which was revealed to be a sleek, compact mini fridge.

Alex blinked. “You got us a mini fridge?”

“Yes, I did.” June said, playfully nudging him with her elbow. “This way, you can keep your bottles of blood nice and cool and not traumatize my future niece with a fridge full of probable Red Cross donations.”

Henry hummed in amusement as he stepped into the dining room. “That’s a rather thoughtful gift.”

June grinned. “Right? Unless, of course, the two of you won’t be needing it, considering how much you like the taste of each other’s blood so much that you feed off each other directly.” she teased.

Alex let out a loud groan and buried his face in his hands while Henry only chuckled beside him. “Oh my fucking God, Bug, Can you not say that, please?!”

June cackled. “What? Am I wrong?” She maintained the playful tone of her voice but a hint of warmth coated it. “Anyway, it’s yours to keep. You’re very welcome.”

A low grumble was heard from Alex before he grabbed his sister for a quick side hug. “Thanks Bug. You’re a menace, but you’re the best menace I know.”

June nuzzled herself into Alex’s side and slightly poked him in the ribs, which elicited a tiny yelp from him. “Yes, I know. I’m a menace but I’m also going to be the best alpha auntie ever.” she teased.

Alex only rolled his eyes at her before pulling away, only for June to giddily clap her hands. “Oh! I almost forgot. I have one more thing.” she happily skipped to the box placed in the door to unbox it.

“Not another gift!” Alex grumbled, but his frown turned upside down when he saw what June unboxed. “You did not get the same exact chair that you broke?” he said as he went near the chair to run his hand along the backrest.

“Well, figured I should replace the broken one,” June said sheepishly, shifting on her feet.

Alex swallowed past the lump in his throat before turning to hug his sister, properly this time. “I really appreciate it, Bug. Thank you.”

June patted his back. “I know you do, Alex. You’re very welcome.”

By the time they were done setting everything up—the mini fridge plugged and hidden in a discreet corner, the new chair placed neatly at the dining table, and the books and toys organized on the shelf—the darkness of night fell over Brooklyn. The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silver glow outside their window.

June and Nora grabbed their coats and made their way to the door. “Alright y’all, guess our work here is done,” Nora announced cheerfully. “We’ll let you guys fully settle in before the whirlwind of parenthood starts in a couple of days.”

“Please do call if you ever need anything, and we’ll come here faster than the speed of light.” June added.

“Well, not literally, but you know what she means.” Nora quipped.

“Yes, we’re very much aware. Thank you both,” Henry said sincerely, tugging June and Nora in for a hug and pulling away just as quickly.

Alex opened the door, allowing the cool night air to seep into the warmth of the house and he watched by the doorstep as his sister and bestfriend stepped out into the night.

“We’ll come by again soon to visit our niece.” June promised.

“You better, unless you want me to give the title of “Best Alpha Aunt” to someone else,” Alex teased with a small smile.

June gasped dramatically. “Then I better make good on my promise, then.” She said with a wink and with a final wave, the two ladies disappeared into the night, leaving Alex and Henry standing in the doorway.

As the taillights of Nora’s car disappeared down the street, Alex let out a slow breath and turned to Henry.

“I should get these clothes washed before our pup comes home,” Alex murmured, running to grab the hamper of newly bought clothes. “I wanna make sure that her clothes are clean when she gets here.”

“Or,” Henry said lightly, “we could just buy a washer and dryer tomorrow and do the laundry ourselves instead of spending a couple of dollars to have it washed somewhere else.”

Alex snorted. “I mean I would love that, but Hen, it’s nighttime, all the stores are closed and I really want to get this washed now.”

Henry sighed in resignation. “Fine, darling, but I’m coming with you.”

“Hen, you don’t have to—”

“Yes, I do, my love.” Henry interrupted with a gentle but firm tone. He stepped closer to Alex, reaching out to lay a hand on his omega’s forearm. “Remember what happened the last time I left you alone? We were separated for days, and I—” Henry stopped speaking, shaking his head as if to get rid of the horrible memory creeping back into his brain. “I won’t risk losing you again.”

Alex swallowed, shuddering slightly at the reminder of the days that he was apart from his alpha, whining and whimpering endlessly. He had been desperate to crawl back to Henry’s arms. Even now that they were safe at home, the memory of what he had endured in the clutches of Henry’s grandmother sent an uncomfortable chill running down his spine.

“Okay, Hen.” Alex softly conceded, knowing that Henry will not stop prodding. “You can come.”

Henry smiled, relief written all over his face. “Good.”

With their agreement in mind, Alex grabbed his key, and together, they stepped out into the night, closing the door softly behind them.

The streets were quieter at night, only a handful of people walking here and there. The faint glow of streetlights cast soft halos against the pavement as they made their way down the block toward the nearest laundromat, the only sound between them is the jingle of Alex’s keys in his pocket plus the rhythmic click of their sneakers against the concrete pavement of the sidewalk.

Once they were a block away from the laundromat, Henry reached over and took the hamper from Alex’s arms. “My dear, let me carry that for you.” he mused.

Alex rolled his eyes playfully but he gave Henry the hamper. “Alpha instincts kicking in?”

Henry smirked. “Maybe, or perhaps it’s just me helping you out. I don’t like my omega to be tired.”

Alex huffed, but his lips twitched into a small smile.

After a few more minutes of walking, the laundromat finally came into view—bright fluorescent lights glowed through the large windows, the dull hum of washing machines audible even from outside. Ever the gentleman, Henry pushed the door open for Alex, and the scent of detergent and warm fabric filled the atmosphere.

They found a row of empty washers, and Alex immediately set to work sorting the clothes, separating the whites and the colored ones. Henry leaned against the machine, washing his omega with amused eyes. “My love, you do realize,” he said, “that once our pup is home, our laundry pile is going to triple overnight?”

Alex groaned. “Please don’t remind me.” He tossed a handful of small socks into the washer. “We really need to get a laundry machine soon.”

“We need to!” Henry said with a chuckle. “I’m ordering one tomorrow morning. That way, we can have a proper washer and dryer in our house before our little girl arrives.”

Alex snorted, shaking his head as he finished loading the clothes and is now adding detergent and starting up the machine. “I’m counting on that, Hen. A washer better be in our home tomorrow.” he teased.

Henry answered him with a smirk. “I always make good on my promises, darling.”

Alex grinned before standing up and pressing a kiss to Henry’s cheek.

As they stood together in the hum of the laundromat, the whir of the washing machine in front of them filling the space, Alex felt a strange sense of peace settle over him. They were here, doing one of the last needed tasks before their pup arrived.

It only took an hour before the washer turned off and Henry unloaded the clothes off the washer and into the dryer, where it spun for another hour. After another hour of waiting, Henry and Alex finally removed the clothes from the dryer and into their hamper. Alex did one last sweep of the dryer to make sure no dress or sock was left inside and once making sure every single piece of clothing was in the hamper, they exited the laundromat and walked back home.

When they arrived home, Henry and Alex both folded the clothes and placed them in the wardrobe in their pup’s bedroom before heading to their own bedroom to rest up for the night.

—

Slivers of morning light filtered through the curtains as Alex stretched lazily in bed, still slightly groggy from sleep. He turned his head slightly to check on Henry, only to see the alpha already sitting up with his head leaned against the headboard of the bed, scrolling through his phone with a focused expression.

“Good morning, alpha,” Alex said, voice thick with sleep. “What are you doing?”

“Keeping my promise.” Henry replied without blinking twice. “Ordering a washer and dryer.”

Alex blinked. “You already did.”

“I wasn’t joking yesterday, darling.” He tapped his phone a few more times before setting it down on the nightstand. “I ordered from the nearest appliance store and apparently, they do same-day delivery.”

“Wait the fuck up.” Alex sat up fully, the blankets crinkled around his waist. “Same day?”

“Yes, love. That’s what I just said.” Henry said with a smirk. “Besides, I refuse to keep spending a couple dollars in that laundromat, no matter how charming you look loading tiny dresses into the washer.”

Alex snorted and he playfully shoved Henry before getting out of bed. As they went through their morning routines and occasionally sipping from their bottles of blood, Henry received a confirmation call from the appliance store to notify about the delivery of his order. By late afternoon, a delivery truck pulled up in front of their brownstone, and two workers began unloading their new washer and dryer.

Luckily for them, there was a vacant room next to their kitchen and since the day Alex moved in, he had found no use for it, which left it gathering dust for a few years, but now, it found purpose. With a bit of cleaning and minor rearranging, it became the perfect laundry room.

Alex crossed his arms as he watched the workers finish setting everything up. “Well, that was fast.”

“Told you, it’d be fast.” Henry hummed.

Alex glanced at him with a smirk. “Are you proud that you kept your promise?”

“Immensely proud.”

Once the installment was done, Alex and Henry thanked the delivery men as they left and once they were alone again, they took a step back to admire their new laundry room.

Henry clapped his hands. “Well, that saves us a lot more money. No more midnight laundromat runs.”

Alex sighed in relief. “We can finally do our laundry in our own time.” He glanced around the empty room.

Henry turned to him with a teasing smile. “Although, I do admit, that there was something rather endearing about watching you load clothes into the washer last night.”

“Alpha, I swear, if you don’t stop teasing me about my laundry skills,” Alex said, rolling his eyes affectionately. “I’ll make you do all the laundry for the next month.”

Henry chuckled and pulled Alex into a warm and loving embrace, pressing a kiss to his temple. “You’ve got yourself a deal, my love.”

With everything finally falling into place, all that was left to do was prepare for the biggest step yet—finding their pup and bringing her home.

Chapter Text

The day they had been preparing for had finally arrived.

Alex could barely contain his excitement, his chest filling with hope that he could finally find the little girl in his dreams. He continuously paced around the kitchen, while waiting for Henry to finish getting dressed.

My love, if I may ask,” Henry called out as he emerged from the bedroom. “How are we going to get to the adoption center? We can’t exactly walk under the burning sun. We can Uber but there’s no guarantee that their windows would be shaded. How about Nora? We can—”

“Already ahead of you, sweetheart,” Alex replied, clutching his phone in hand. “I’m already calling her as we speak.”

The phone rang twice before Nora’s voice rang through. “Hey Alejandro? What’s up? Need anything?”

“Listen, Nora,” He said as he ran a hand through his hair and sneaked a glance at Henry. “Can we borrow your car for the day? The adoption center’s like 30 minutes away—”

“What’s wrong with Uber?” Nora cut in.

“We don’t want to risk an Uber with unshaded windows and windshields.” Alex replied with a sigh. “We don’t want to burn before seeing our pup.”

Nora chirped a thoughtful noise on the other end of the line. “Hmm. My precious car is in the hands of two overexcited vampires who are also soon to be parents? Risky.”

Alex groaned. “Nora, come on.”

A snicker was heard from the end. “I’m just messing with you, Alejandro. Of course, you can borrow it. I’ll drop it by the house in a few.” Nora said. “Just promise me that you’ll bring it back the way I left it, or else, Alex—”

“Relax, Nora.” Alex grinned. “There’ll be no scratches, no weird vampire things—”

“I was going to say bloodstains, but sure whatever.” Nora quipped.

Alex heard the faint jingle of keys in the receiver, knowing that Nora is already getting ready to leave. Henry, who had been slightly eavesdropping on the conversation with an amused expression, stepped closer and wrapped an arm around Alex’s waist, his fingers teasingly slipping past the hem of Alex’s jeans and into the waistband of his boxers, which elicited a slight gasp from Alex.

“Tell Nora that I’ll keep you in check and make sure that you don’t total the car.” He murmured against Alex’s ear, as his fingers continued their slow movements, moving lower beneath the waistband until the pad of his index finger landed on the slit of Alex’s cock, rubbing it teasingly.

Alex bit his lower lip and slightly sagged against Henry. He then managed to regain his composure and exhaled sharply before relaying the message to Nora, who was thankfully unaware of the situation on the other end of the line.

The beta dramatically sighed. “Fine, I trust Henry to keep you in check.” A faint sound of a door closing was heard from the other end. “I’m on my way. Be there in 10.”

Alex rolled his eyes. “Thanks Nora, You’re the best.”

“I know.” Nora said. “See you in a bit.”

As soon as the call ended, Alex turned to Henry, swatting at his alpha’s chest, making the alpha withdraw his fingers from the depths of Alex’s jeans.

“Alpha, did you really have to do that?” Alex huffed. “I could’ve moaned while talking to Nora.”

Henry simply smirked. “Can’t help myself. I felt the need to touch you.”

Alex gave him a playful scowl. “Prick. Menace.”

“Yes, but you love me anyway.” Henry said with a chuckle, pressing a kiss to Alex’s temple before pulling away.

10 minutes later, a beeping sound of a horn honked outside their house. Henry gave Alex’s neck one last loving lick before standing up to gather his bearings and once they’re both okay, they went outside the house to meet Nora.

“Hey you two.” Nora said with a cheery voice, handing over the keys. “As promised, here’s my car. Just take care of it, alright?”

“Thanks again, Nora.” Alex said, accepting the keys and giving his best friend a hug. “Give Bug our love.”

“Sure.” Nora said before pulling away. “Go, get your pup.”

With a smile, Alex opened the driver’s door and slid into it, gripping the steering wheel tightly. Henry settled into the passenger seat beside him, reaching over to clasp Alex’s hand in his own.

“Let’s go find her, love.” Henry said softly. “Are you ready?”

Alex met his gaze, his chest tightening with emotions. “I’m more than ready.”

With that, he started the engine and together, they drove toward the adoption center—the hope of finding their pup and their budding future as a pack just within arms’ reach.

—

30 minutes later, they finally reached the adoption center, which was a tall building with a brick exterior that exuded a warm aura. The warm tones of the exterior, paired with the gentle shade of nearby trees, gave the place an air of comfort and possibility.

The moment he put the car in park and released his grip from the steering wheel, Alex’s hands immediately went to his lap and started fidgeting rapidly. Henry, ever the alert alpha, reached out to hold Alex’s cold hands.

“My love, are you okay?” Henry gently asked.

Alex nodded and swallowed. “I’m okay.” He blinked away tears from his eyes. “My brain, it just can’t help but come up with so many questions.” He sniffled. “What if we don’t find her here?”

Henry cupped Alex’s cheeks, his thumbs brushing away the dampness at the corner of Alex’s eyes. “Don’t think that way, my love. We’re going to find her. If we don’t find her here, I’m sure there’s a lot more centers that we’ll be able to search through until we find her.”

Alex nodded in understanding and took a few deep breaths. “Okay, alpha.” He weakly smiled. “Let’s go.”

Henry lifted Alex’s hand to his lips, pressing a reassuring kiss on his mate’s knuckles. “Let’s go, my love.”

Upon making sure that the car was in park, Alex took the keys out of the ignition and they both stepped out of their car and walked under the shade of trees leading to the entryway of the center. 

When they entered the door, the warm atmosphere of the center immediately greeted them. Colorful murals and drawings made by crayons adorned the brightly-colored walls. Some of the drawings were abstract scribblings, some depicting family scenes, animals and dreams only a child could conjure up. 

They were eventually approached by a petite woman who looked to be in her early thirties with a cascade of blonde hair and a warm motherly smile on her face. She wore a floral printed blouse with a name tag pinned on it that read Ms. Ashley.

“Good afternoon, gentlemen.” Ms. Ashley chirped with a warm voice, instantly putting Alex’s nerves at ease. “You must be Mr. Claremont-Diaz and Mr. Fox. My name is Ashley and I’m the coordinator of this adoption center. It’s so lovely to finally meet you face-to-face after multiple virtual meetings.”

Alex and Henry both returned the greeting. “Yes, we are also excited to be here. Thank you for accommodating us.” Alex said, hoping that his somewhat confident tone would shield the nerves that he was desperately trying to shake off.

Henry only held Alex’s hand tighter to attempt to relax his mate.

Ms. Ashley only gave them a warm smile before leading them further inside the center, her demeanor as friendly and engaging as her greeting. “Please come in. The children are just finishing up their activities for the afternoon.”

They soon found themselves in a bright space filled with soft chatter and laughter. The children come from mixed races, some are white while some are dark-skinned, there are also some who are olive-skinned. A couple of Asian children as well as a couple of Hispanic children played around. All the children engaged in different activities—some played with blocks, others read books quietly in a corner, a few sitting together in groups, talking animatedly.

Alex’s gaze swept across the room as he surveyed the children. He tried not to let the weight of the moment settle too heavily, but his hands trembled slightly as he took everything in.

And then his eyes landed on her.

Sitting cross-legged on the floor with a book open on her lap was a little girl who looked no older than five. Her olive-toned skin seemed to glow in the soft afternoon light, and her dark hair fell in gentle waves past her shoulders, a pastel pink headband preventing her bangs from falling to her face. As she briefly glanced up, the sunlight caught in her eyes—ocean blue, deep and familiar. Then, just as quickly, she returned to her book with a quiet focus, completely absorbed in the story, the skirt of her yellow dress flowing around her.

Alex’s breath hitched.

She looked exactly like the child he had seen in his dreams.

Chapter Text

Alex’s chest tightened with something he couldn’t quite name—something overwhelming and certain all at once.

Immediately noticing the behavior of his omega, Henry reached out and caressed Alex’s back in soothing circular motions with the attempt to ground him. “My love, breathe. I’m here.” he murmured softly.

Alex nodded, his brain barely registering Henry’s words. His brown eyes still locked on the little girl, refusing to let her out of his sight as if she’ll disappear if he does. He leaned slightly toward Henry. “Hen, that’s her.” he whispered. “She’s the little girl in my dreams. Brown hair, blue eyes, yellow dress.” His voice was laced with quiet awe, as if saying it slightly aloud would make the moment real.

Henry followed Alex’s gaze, his own expression softening as he took in the sight of the little girl. She was beautiful, completely immersed in her book, her small fingers tracing the words and pictures on the page as she read. She also looked like the perfect mix of the both of them that it was almost alarming.

“Ma’am, would you mind if we ask the name of that little girl in the yellow dress?” Henry turned to ask Ms. Ashley.

Ms. Ashley followed his gaze with a smile. “Ah,” she said warmly. “That’s Daphne Camila.”

Upon hearing the name, Alex felt it settle in his heart like it had always meant to be there.

Daphne Camila.

“Come. I’ll be happy to introduce you both to her.” Ms. Ashley said as she gave them an encouraging nod before gently ushering them forward, toward Daphne.

Alex stood rooted to his spot, eyes laser focused on Daphne. His legs felt like there was cement on them, but he forced himself to walk, Henry right beside him. He breathed deeply as they walked across the room.

Feeling people step closer, Daphne turned the page of her book before glancing up, her blue eyes meeting Alex’s brown ones. She blinked at them with an unreadable expression, but there was a quiet curiosity in her eyes.

Ms. Ashley knelt beside her, voice kind and gentle. “Daphne, dearest, there are people who wanted to meet you today.”

Daphne’s eyes flickered between Alex and Henry, her small brows furrowing slightly as she clutched her book a little tighter. “Okay.” she said, her voice cautious and shy.

Alex knelt down to level his eyes with her, his smile warm and reassuring. “Hi, Daphne. I’m Alex, and this is Henry.” Beside him, Henry lifted a hand in a friendly wave. “Is it okay if we chat with you for a bit?” 

“Okay.” Daphne said, still clutching her book, nervous energy emanating from her.

“I’ll leave you three to get acquainted.” Ms. Ashley said. “Feel free to let me know if any of you need anything.” she said before going back to her desk to give the three of them space.

“So, I noticed you’re into reading.” Henry said to Daphne, with a calm and gentle voice. “Is it okay if you share the story with us?”

“It’s about a pretty princess who got separated from her parents when she was a child.” Daphne said, looking down at her book.

“Oh, is that so?” Alex said. “What happened to the princess? Did she find her parents?”

“At the end, she does.” Daphne said, a smile creeping up her lips. “I wish I could be like her.”

Henry furrowed his brows in curiosity. “Why is that?”

“Because I want to find parents,” Daphne said with a sniffle. “Even if they aren’t my own.”

Alex and Henry exchanged a glance, an unspoken language passing between them. Henry gave the smallest nod, and Alex turned back to Daphne.

“Daphne,” Alex said, voice soft and steady. “Do you believe in the magic of dreams?”

“Yes, because fairy tales tell me that dreams can come true if you wish hard enough.” Daphne said, fingers gripping her book.

“Hmm, well,” Alex said with a gentle exhale. “What if I told you that I dreamt about you?”

Daphne’s eyes widened slightly. “Really?” she asked hesitantly.

Alex nodded. “Yes. I once dreamt about this little girl with brown hair and blue eyes running around wearing a yellow dress.”

Daphne glanced down to look at her outfit. “Wait? I’m wearing a yellow dress, and I have brown hair and blue eyes.”

“Exactly.” Alex said, scooting a little closer. “I like to think that it was you in that dream and now, I’m looking at you. Isn’t that crazy?”

Daphne giggled. “A little bit, yes.”

“Now, that was Alex’s dream come true and so, I want to ask you,” Henry said, also scooting closer. “Do you want to make your dream of having parents come true?”

Tears filled the rim of Daphne’s eyes. “Yes, I would love that.”

“And we would also love to grant your wish by asking you if you would like to be our daughter.” Alex said. “Would you like that?”

Daphne’s breath caught. She stared at them in disbelief “Me?” 

Henry smiled gently. “Yes, my sweet dear. You.”

She looked between the both of them, uncertainty flickering across her face. “But…I wouldn’t have a mom.”

Alex immediately reached for her small hand, holding it between both of his own calloused ones. “That may be true. But you’d have two dads who would love you just as much. And,” he added with a grin. “You’d also have a couple of aunties, an uncle, and grandparents who would absolutely spoil you and get you everything you want.”

Daphne blinked at him, her little lips pressing together in thought and imagination. “Really?”

Henry chuckled beside Alex. “Absolutely. They’ve been waiting for a little child to spoil.”

Daphne’s brows furrowed as she mulled the thought over, her fingers loosening around her book. After what seemed like forever, she finally nodded. “I would love that.”

Alex nearly jumped for joy. “Yeah?” he whispered, almost in disbelief.

Daphne nodded again, this time with a shy smile. “Yes.”

A breathless laugh escaped Alex before he gently pulled Daphne into a careful but warm hug. Daphne stiffened at first, but she soon released all hesitation and melted into the embrace, wrapping her small arms around Alex’s neck. Henry joined in, holding them both close, cherishing the feeling of his small pack beneath him.

Once they pulled away, Alex couldn’t resist pressing a soft kiss to the top of Daphne’s head. “We’ll be back for you, okay?”

Daphne looked up at them, her eyes brimming with hope. “You promise?”

“We promise, princess.” Henry said, giving her a playful wink.

Daphne nodded with a smile and as Alex and Henry stood up to leave, she watched them.

As they stepped away from her, Alex took Henry’s hand and gave it a tight squeeze.

“We found her, sweetheart.” Alex whispered.

Henry pressed a soft kiss to Alex’s temple. “Yes, my love. We did.”

The two of them approached Ms. Ashley’s desk and one glance at them was all it took for the coordinator to smile. “Everything went well with Daphne, gentlemen?” she quipped.

“It went more than well,” Alex said, “We want to adopt her.”

Ms. Ashley smiled even more. “Oh, that is wonderful. I’ll get started on the paperwork and I’ll give you a call once Daphne is ready to be picked up and taken home.”

“That’ll be great. Thank you, Ms. Ashley.” Henry said and with one tug at Alex’s hand and one last glance at Daphne, they headed out the door.

—

The couple of weeks that followed their visit to the adoption center felt agonizingly slow for both Alex and Henry. Every sunrise felt like a lifetime, every night an eternity. They only went about their daily routines, clinging to each other in quiet moments, exchanging heated kisses and love bites in between, but nothing could distract them from the aching anticipation of bringing Daphne home and holding her again. 

One day, while they were lounging together in the living room, Alex’s phone rang with a call from Ms. Ashley—the call that they were both waiting for.

It was on the second ring when Alex answered. “Hello.” he said, trying to keep his voice as steady as possible.

“Hello, Mr. Claremont-Diaz.” Ms. Ashley’s warm voice filled the other end of the line. “I just like to tell you and Mr. Fox that the paperwork is complete. Daphne is officially ready to go home with the both of you. You may come over to the center anytime to pick her up.”

Alex stifled a yell from his throat. “That’s good to hear, Ms. Ashley. Henry and I will come over in a bit to pick her up,” he said.

“Absolutely. Congratulations and I’ll see you both soon.” Ms. Ashley said before dropping the call.

Once the call was dropped, Alex jumped into Henry’s arms. “Alpha, she’s coming home!” he said as he wrapped his arms around Henry’s neck, his legs around Henry’s waist.

Henry caught him easily, tilting his head up to kiss Alex. “Dream come true, my love.”

“Yes.” Alex said, nuzzling the tip of his nose to the bridge of Henry’s own. “Let’s go pick her up and bring her home.”

Upon letting go, Alex wasted no time and burned through some of his vampiric speed to change his clothes, Henry following shortly after. After changing clothes, Alex called Nora again.

The moment Nora picked up, Alex gave her no time to say hello.

“Hi, Nora.” Alex said. “Can we borrow your car again?”

A pause ensued on the other end of the line. “Alex, by dear God, you’re about to be an omega dad.” Nora said with a dramatic sigh. “I think it’s about time to get your own damn fucking car.”

“I know, Nora.” Alex groaned. “I’ll invest in one soon, I swear. I just need to pick my pup up today.”

“Why didn’t you just lead with that?” Nora huffed. “Fine, I’ll let you borrow it again for the sake of my niece but the next time you borrow it, I’m making you sign an official custody agreement. You got me?”

Alex snorted. “Loud and clear,” he said before dropping the call.

A little over 10 minutes, Nora pulled up to the brownstone’s driveway where Alex and Henry waited. She rolled her window down with a smirk.

“Alright, dads, only doing this for my niece. Remember, no scratches or stains on my baby, alright?” Nora warned as she stepped out of the sleek SUV.

Alex rolled his eyes but grinned nonetheless. With a quick wave to Nora, he and Henry hopped into the car and drove to the adoption center.

Similar to when they first drove to the center, the 30-minute drive felt simultaneously too long and too short. Alex’s hands gripped the wheel and his left knee bounced endlessly. Henry reached over to place a calming hand on his thigh. “My love. You better breathe or else we’ll crash before we even take Daphne home.”

“I am breathing,” Alex muttered, though the bouncing of his leg ceased. “Sorry alpha, just excited.”

“I know you are excited.” Henry gently reminded. “And so am I, but let’s make sure we get to her first, okay?”

“Okay.” Alex said and the rest of the drive went by smoothly.

By the time they arrived at the adoption center, Alex and Henry felt their non-existent heartbeats jump back to life at the sight of her.

Their pup.

Daphne stood at the front door of the center, holding hands with Ms. Ashley, her small pink suitcase beside her. The moment the little girl’s eyes landed on them, her face lit up with pure joy.

With a speed that matched Alex and Henry’s own, she bolted toward them.

Alex barely had time to react and Henry just barely reached his side before Daphne launched herself straight into his and Henry’s arms, wrapping her little limbs tightly around them. Henry lifted her effortlessly, holding her close as she buried her face between their necks, her body trembling with happy tears.

“You came back,” she whispered.

Alex cupped the back of her head and gently caressed it. “Of course, mija . We had to keep our promise to you.”

Henry tilted his own head to his the crown of Daphne’s head, his voice just as soft and filled with love. “Let’s get you home, princess.”

Daphne sniffled, pulling back from the hug just enough to look at the both of them, her blue eyes shining with unshed tears. “My dream came true. I have a home now.”

Alex swallowed hard, his voice thick with emotion. “No, mija . Our dreams came true.” He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

Ms. Ashley smiled warmly at the scene, clearing her throat. “I think she’s been ready to go home with you since the moment she met you both.”

Henry nodded. “The feeling is quite mutual, Ms. Ashley.”

“She’s all yours to love and care for.” The coordinator handed them the final set of documents and Daphne’s suitcase.

Daphne beamed, her arms still clinging to Henry as Alex released her to grab her things and load them into the trunk of Nora’s car. After saying final words of gratitude to Ms. Ashley, Alex, Henry turned toward the car, ready to take Daphne home with them.

As Alex slid into the driver’s seat, Henry decided to sit in the backseat with Daphne, who was still clinging onto him like a koala on a eucalyptus tree.

“How should I call you both?” Daphne shyly asked.

“You can call me Papi,” Alex said with a glance at her through the rearview mirror.

“And you can call me Daddy.” Henry said, playfully pinching Daphne’s cheeks which earned a laugh from the little girl.

“ Papi , Daddy, take me home.” was Daphne’s only reply, her head nuzzled in Henry’s neck.

And without further preamble, Alex revved the engine on and they started the drive back home.

Chapter Text

Once the car pulled up to the driveway of the brownstone, Daphne’s eyes widened in wonder. She gazed out of the tinted car window, taking in the home that she was now going to be living in.

She turned to face Henry. “Daddy, is this our house?” Her voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes, princess.” Henry said, voice filled with love and warmth. “You’re home now.”

With a smile, Daphne turned back to the window to admire the brick exterior of their brownstone house and once she heard Alex turn off the engine, she quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and scrambled out of the car, her small feet pattering excitedly against the pavement.

“Mija! Be careful.” Alex called out with slight exasperation as he went to the trunk to unload her suitcase.

Henry chuckled as he stepped out of the car, watching their adoptive pup take everything in.

“Papi! Daddy! Make it quick!” Daphne exclaimed, bouncing on her heels. “I wanna go inside now!”

“Patience, princess.” Henry mused to her as Alex walked up to the door, keys in hand and ready to open the door of the house.

With a click, the door of the brownstone opened and before either of them could say a word, Daphne rushed between them and eagerly entered the house, her eyes roaming across the living room and the kitchen.

“Where’s my room?” She said, turning to her dads, a playful glint in her eyes.

“It’s right over here, mija.” Alex smirked and ruffled her hair while leading her to the door of her bedroom.

Daphne giddily clapped her hands as they walked towards her bedroom door but as the door opened, she immediately gasped when she saw what her room looked like—yellow floral wallpaper adorned the walls, a bookshelf filled with books and toys, a wardrobe filled with dresses and shoes, and a bed topped with fluffy pillows and stuffed animals that are ready to be hugged.

“You’re quiet, princess.” Henry gently said. “Do you not like it?”

Daphne faced her adoptive dads, the rims of her eyes filling with tears. Alex and Henry exchanged a worried glance, but before any of them could say another word, Daphne launched herself into their arms, wrapping them in a tight hug.

“Thank you, Papi! Thank you, Daddy!” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Alex and Henry breathed out a shared sigh of relief at Daphne’s words and before long, she let go of them and immediately gravitated toward the bookshelf, running her fingers across the spines of the books as if deciding which one to read first.

“Seems to me, we have taken in a little bookish princess.” Henry said, tugging Alex close to him.

Alex smirked in reply and leaned in. “Just like you, sweetheart.” 

Henry rolled his eyes affectionately but he didn’t deny Alex’s remark.

Their next few days were filled with laughter and love, their home transforming into a kingdom ruled by a tiny, energetic queen.

Pretend tea parties became a household staple—Daphne sitting at the head of the dining table, her stuffed animals arranged in perfect order, each with their own designated teacup. She took the role of host very seriously, adjusting crowns made from colored paper, which she had crafted for herself and her dads. 

Henry, despite being uncomfortable with the topic of reigning monarchs, still gladly played along with Alex and Daphne.

Daphne giggled as she set a cup in front of a stuffed wolf.

“Daddy, Mr. Wolfie would like to be a guest at our party. Is that okay?” Daphne asked, her dark hair bouncing around her shoulders as she looked at Henry, her wide blue eyes an uncanny mirror of his own.

“Of course, my princess. Go ahead and serve Mr. Wolfie some tea.” Henry replied with a warm smile, leaning forward to adjust the tiny teacup on its saucer. “Though I believe that he would prefer a little bit of honey on that tea.”

“Alright, Daddy.” Daphne said with a serious nod as he proceeded to pour pretend tea from her plastic teapot. Alex only watched the exchange with a soft smile, his hand reaching sideways to find Henry’s own hand.

“In my whole life, I never thought I would be playing tea party with a kid. Is this what it means to be parents to a little girl?” Alex said, his tone light and affectionate.

Henry chuckled. “Neither did I, my love, but you know, there’s a first time for everything.” he murmured, leaning in to press a kiss to Alex’s temple.

Alex let out a sigh of satisfaction, leaning into the touch. “God, she’s perfect.” he said softly while watching Daphne chatter away to her stuffed animals.

“She is,” Henry agreed. “Though I do wonder where she gets her endless energy from because it’s definitely not from me.”

Alex smirked and slightly poked Henry in the ribs. “Excuse me, sweetheart? You forget that I’ve seen what you’re capable of when you’re properly motivated.”

Henry laughed, the sound rich and full of life.

“Papi, Daddy!” Daphne looked up at them, her face scrunching in mock indignation. “Why are you talking during the tea party? We have guests.” she gestured towards the plush animals that were seated as if they’d been personally offended.

Alex lowered his head in a playful and dramatic bow. “I’m sorry, mija. Your daddy and I will behave now.”

“Good, because Mr. Wolfie might scratch one of you if you don’t.” Daphne posed a playful threat before returning to the tea party at hand.

Henry bit back a laugh as Daphne returned to her tea service, him and Alex beaming at her with adoration and love from their own seats.

Chapter Text

The next afternoon, Alex’s phone rang with a call from June.

“Hi Bug,” he greeted as he answered. “What’s up?”

“Hey, little bro.” June’s cheerful tone chirped through. “I just called to ask if Nora and I could come over for dinner tonight at around 6pm. We also wanna meet our little niece and spend time with her. Is that cool?”

“It’s absolutely cool. We would also love for Daphne to finally meet her aunties.” Alex said, his mind already anticipating the chaos that would come with June and Nora’s visit.

“Daphne, huh? That’s a pretty name.” June crooned over the phone. “We’ll see you then. Love you, little bro.” she said before hanging up the phone.

After putting his phone down, Alex turned to find Daphne curled up on the couch beside Henry, her small fingers tracing the spine of one of her new books. She looked so content and at peace in Henry’s arms, that it almost hurt how much love Alex felt for his pup.

“Hey, mija,” Alex called, walking to take a seat beside her.

Daphne lifted her head from where it rested on Henry’s shoulder, bright blue eyes peeking up at him. “Yes, Papi?”

Alex smiled as he sat on the couch and leaned forward to brush a stray curl from his pup’s forehead. “So we’re going to have visitors tonight for dinner at 6pm.”

Daphne’s eyes widened. “Who’s coming, Papi?”

“Your Auntie June and Auntie Nora.” Alex said. “They really want to meet you.”

Daphne’s nose scrunched lightly, her small hands releasing the book only to fidget on the hems of her shirt, the thought of meeting new people activating her shyness. “Are they nice?”

Henry chuckled, reaching out to give his pup’s hand a gentle squeeze. “They are two of the nicest ladies, my princess,” he reassured. “Auntie June is your Papi’s sister and Auntie Nora is his best friend. Both of them have been with us through some of the hardest times in our lives.” He pointed at the shirt she was wearing. “In fact, I remember it was Auntie June who picked this shirt out for you.”

“She did?” Daphne asked to confirm the accuracy of Henry’s statement.

“Yes, mija.” Alex said with a smile. “Auntie June and Auntie Nora picked out some of the dresses in your closet.”

Daphne hesitated for another moment, biting her lip in thought. She looked between them in consideration for what they said before finally nodding. “Okay, I want to meet them.”

Henry grinned. “That’s my brave princess.”

The three of them quickly cleaned the house in order to prepare for June and Nora’s arrival and by the time 6pm struck, the doorbell rang.

Daphne, still shy about meeting new people, stood half-hidden behind Henry’s leg, gripping a fistful of the fabric of Henry’s sweater.

Alex opened the door to find June and Nora standing there, each holding multiple shopping bags in their arms.

“Hey, Alejandro. Where’s my niece, hmm?” Nora teased, stepping inside like she was the boss of the house.

Alex chuckled before moving out of the way to approach June to give her a hug. “Hi, Bug,” he whispered.

“Hi, little bro.” June said and upon releasing herself from the hug, her expression immediately softened when she spotted the little girl hiding behind Henry. She crouched down. “You must be Daphne. I’m your Auntie June, your Papi’s big sister.” she said with a gentle voice.

Daphne peeked up at her through long and thick lashes. “Hi,” she murmured before quickly tucking herself further behind Henry, her shyness getting the better of her.

Alex was about to reassure her when June lifted one of the shopping bags that she carried earlier and held it out toward Daphne. “I bought something for you. Would you like to see it?”

Curiosity sparked in Daphne’s eyes. “What is it?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

June grinned, setting the bag down and pulling out an intricately-wrapped box. “Open it and see.”

With a glance at her dads—who both nodded encouragingly—Daphne took a small step forward, took the box and carefully peeled away the wrapping paper. The moment the box was uncovered, her eyes widened in delight at the contents.

Inside the box were a set of plush dolls, each one dressed in a different elaborate sparkling princess gown.

“Your Papi mentioned to me that you like fairy tales and princesses.” June said, giving Alex a smile.

Daphne’s hesitation instantly melted away. She beamed, clutching the dolls to her chest before bolting forward and throwing her arms around June in an unexpected hug. “Thank you Auntie June!”

June’s eyes widened in pleasant surprise before she chuckled and hugged her niece back. “You’re very welcome, sunshine.”

As Daphne released June, she turned her attention to Nora. “Hi, Auntie Nora.” she said with a little wave of her hands.

“Hi, sweetie.” Nora said, crouching down and handing her another box. “This is a gift from me. Open it carefully or else it’ll break.”

Alex let out a playful groan. “Please don’t tell me you got her a whole computer set.”

“Relax yourself, Alejandro. I got her no such thing.” Nora playfully shot back.

On the ground, Daphne tore the package open with much enthusiasm of a five-year-old, revealing a delicate snow globe with a tiny wolf pack inside. When she shook it, glittering snow swirled around the figures.

“It’s so pretty!” Daphne whispered in awe as her eyes trailed the snowflakes falling inside the crystal ball.

“As pretty as you.” Nora said, ruffling her hair.

“And,” June said, handing over another box. “This is to make you even prettier.”

Daphne carefully dropped the snow globe onto the floor before opening another box June handed to her, only to find a set of colorful beaded necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings. Her eyes sparkled with delight as she immediately started grabbing some and putting them on.

June squealed in delight. “Daphne, you’re so pretty.”

Daphne smiled as she rushed to show her new accessories to Alex and Henry. “ Papi! Daddy! Look at me!”

“You’re so beautiful, my princess.” Henry said. “Go play with Auntie June and Auntie Nora, your Papi and I will cook dinner.” He and Alex turned to head to the kitchen as Daphne ran back to June and Nora.

As Alex and Henry moved toward the kitchen, the sound of Daphne’s laughter filled the air, blending in seamlessly with the playful chatter and banter of June and Nora. Alex couldn’t help but smile as he glanced back to see Daphne twirling like a ballerina.

“Fucking hell, she’s getting spoiled.” he murmured, nudging Henry with his hip as he grabbed a cutting board.

Henry chuckled, rolling up his sleeves. “You did tell me that June made a promise to spoil our pup.”

Alex huffed a laugh, pulling out vegetables from the fridge. “Yes, and she made good on it.”

From the living room, they could both hear a dramatic gasp from June.

“God, someone’s going to beat me in the fashionable department.” June mused, taking her phone out of her purse. “Pose for me, Daphne.” she said as she started snapping photos.

“Auntie June, you’re turning me into a model!” Daphne said as she playfully struck some poses.

“I don’t need to because you’re already one.” June replied as she continued to take photos, Nora clapping beside her.

Alex shook his head with a smirk. “God above help us if she eventually demands a personal stylist.”

Henry snorted, seasoning the chicken that he was preparing. “Says the more fashionable one between us,” he said. “Need I remind you darling that even your boxers are designer?”

Alex gasped. “What the fuck are you talking about?” he said in a hushed voice as to not let Daphne hear his cussing. “My boxers are not designer.”

“Yeah, they are.” Henry said, eyes still focused on the chicken in front of him and trying so hard not to be distracted by the topic of their conversation. “Don’t you think I’m familiar with the brand of your boxers? Lacoste? Please. You could be an underwear model for them for all I care.”

Alex leaned closer, a playful smirk in his lips. “Would you like me to model them for you?” he said, wiggling his eyebrows playfully.

Henry exhaled sharply, recentering himself as to not get a hard-on with the thoughts of Alex sauntering around the house wearing only boxer briefs swarming in his head. “Can you just chop up the vegetables before we talk further about your underwear and our pup complains due to hunger?”

“Yes, Captain.” Alex said with a mock salute before resuming to cut the vegetables.

The kitchen soon filled with the comforting sounds of sizzling food, chopping vegetables and the occasional clinking of plates. Every so often, a giggle or squeal of delight would erupt from the other room, making Alex pause from his task and grin.

Eventually, when dinner was ready, Alex wiped his hands on a dish rag and called out, “Alright  ladies, time for dinner—come eat before the food gets cold.”

Daphne appeared first, running into the kitchen area with her arms still decorated in beaded bracelets and rings. “ Papi , Daddy, I’m hungry.”

Henry bent down and kissed the top of her head. “Then take a seat, my princess. We made your favorite.”

Daphne’s blue eyes brightened as she climbed into her seat, watching as her dads set the food on the table. June and Nora strolled in shortly after, still gushing over the countless photos that they took of Daphne.

As everyone settled in, Henry casually grabbed two wine glasses on one of their shelves and subtly took out a bottle of blood from his and Alex’s mini fridge and poured it into the glasses. The blood swirled richly inside the glasses as he approached Alex and placed the glass in his mate’s hand.

“Thank you, alpha.” Alex whispered, sipping with practiced ease and subtlety.

Mid-bite, Daphne tilted her head at her adoptive fathers. “ Papi, Daddy, why aren’t you both eating?”

Both vampires froze for a moment before Alex shrugged. “We’re not that hungry, mija.”

“But you played with me all day and you cooked.” Daphne said with concern. “Are you sure?”

June, sensing Alex and Henry’s tense postures, immediately jumped in. “Your dads just don’t want to eat all this delicious food that they made for you, sweetie. This is all for you.”

Daphne gave Alex and Henry one more concerned look before her curiosity faded as quickly as it came. “Okay!” she said, easily accepting the explanation before returning to her own plate of food.

Alex exhaled softly and shot June a grateful look. She smirked, winking at him before taking a sip of her own glass of wine.

The rest of the dinner carried on in warmth and laughter. As they ate, Daphne animatedly told June and Nora her favorite stories in between bites, Henry occasionally grabbing a napkin to wipe a stray smudge of gravy from her cheek, Alex just drank from his glass and smiled at the sight before him, basking in the precious moments.

By the time plates were cleared, night settled into a comfortable lull.

As June and Nora prepared to leave, Daphne tugged on June’s sleeve. “Auntie June, when will I see you and Auntie Nora again?”

June smiled softly, brushing a strand of Daphne’s hair out of her face. “Very soon, sweetie. We’ll be back before you even have time to miss us.”

“Besides,” Nora added, scooping Daphne up in her arms. “You can play with your dads while we’re not around. I’m sure they’ll be happy to do that.”

Daphne glanced over at Henry and Alex, who stood behind her. “I know.”

June and Nora each crouched down to squeeze Daphne into a hug before stepping out of the door.

“Be good, okay,” Nora teased with one last playful ruffle to Daphne’s hair.

Daphne giggled. “I will, Auntie Nora.”

“We’ll visit again soon, sweetie. I promise.” June said, squeezing her niece’s little hands.

With one last goodbye wave, June and Nora stepped out of the door and disappeared into the night.

Henry closed the door while Alex began tidying up the living room and the kitchen but before either of them could relax and chill, Daphne turned to Henry, her hands once again gripping the hem of her shirt.

“Daddy? Can I ask you something?” she asked with a soft voice.

Henry turned to her with a gentle voice. “Of course, my princess. What’s your question?”

Daphne rocked on her heels, as if unsure she should proceed in asking her question. “So, I met Auntie June and Auntie Nora already, but they’re mostly Papi’s family. I was just wondering…” She trailed off.

Henry urged her with a gentle nod.

Daphne proceeded with hesitation. “I was wondering…when do I get to meet your family, Daddy?”

The room’s atmosphere instantly shifted.

Henry froze on the spot, his mind immediately flashing back to what he and Alex had to endure in his grandmother's clutches just a few months ago. The idea of introducing Daphne to Mary and even, Philip, made his gut churn with unease.

Alex, as if sensing Henry’s tension, immediately dropped the kitchen rag and stepped in. “ Mija, you’ll get to meet some of your Daddy’s family soon,” he assured. “Your Auntie Beatrice, Uncle Percy, and even your Nana Catherine, who is your Daddy’s mom.”

Henry relaxed slightly. “Yes,” he agreed. “I’m sure Bea and Mum would love to meet you.”

“And,” Alex said casually. “You’ll also meet my parents—your Nana Ellen and Grandpa Oscar soon.”

Daphne thought about it for a second, then gave a small shrug. “Okay,” she said, then flashed them a bright childish smile. “I can meet them soon. For now, I’m happy with knowing Auntie June and Auntie Nora.”

Henry let out a soft breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, exchanging a quick glance with Alex, who gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.

“That’s all that matters, my princess,” Henry murmured, brushing a kiss to the top of her head.

Daphne yawned, clearly tired from the fun events of the day. “ Papi, Daddy? Can you tuck me in and stay with me until I fall asleep?”

Alex chuckled. “Of course, mija .” He held out his hand for her, which she immediately took. “Come on, let’s get you to bed.”

The three of them headed to Daphne’s bedroom to tuck her in for the night and within seconds, the young girl was fast asleep under the blankets, the warm hands of her dads caressing her clothed legs as she slept.

Once they ensured she was asleep, Alex and Henry quietly slipped out of the bedroom to retreat to their own bedroom to rest up for the night.

The moment they stepped into the comforts of their nest, Alex looked at Henry, a mischievous smirk tugging at his lips.

“So, alpha,” Alex began, playfully nudging Henry with his elbow. “What do you think Daphne’s designation will be? Alpha, beta or omega?”

Henry quirked an eyebrow, his lips curving into a faint smile as he felt Alex nestle beside him. “I think she’s still too young to present, my love, but when she does, does it matter to us if she’s any of the three designations?”

“Of course, it matters,” Alex replied with mock indignation. “I mean, you’re an alpha, I’m an omega. The odds are, she’s gonna be one of the two. Unless she does something hilarious and pulls a wildcard and ends up becoming a beta.”

Henry chuckled. “And what, pray tell, exactly is hilarious about the idea of our pup being a beta, my darling?”

Alex grinned. “Just imagine it, sweetheart. She grows up mostly with us, an alpha and an omega, occasionally being visited by betas. So the possibility of her being either an alpha or an omega is higher than that of her being a beta, but it’s also cool with me if she’ll be chilling in the middle ground.”

Henry tilted his head, considering the thought. “Maybe, my love, but if I were to venture a guess, I’d say she’ll be an alpha. She’s already showing signs of leadership every now and again, don’t you think?”

“Is leadership what you call the day she made us wear crowns made out of paper?’ Alex countered, trying to stifle a laugh.

“Exactly, yes,” Henry said. “She commanded us with authority and without snapping. Hence, she has an alpha trait.”

Alex rolled his eyes. “Or,” he said dramatically, “she’s an omega like me, and she’s just so charming and needy that you won’t be able to resist.”

Henry looked at him. “She is charming. But have you even considered the slightest chance that she’s just naturally clever and strategic, like an alpha?”

Alex snorted. “Alright, alpha. Let’s say she is like you. How are you going to feel when she’s the one bossing you around as a teenager?”

Henry let out a sigh in defeat. “I suppose I have no choice but to follow her wishes.” He then schooled his features to something playful. “Alright then. What if she presents as an omega? How will you handle her neediness?”

Alex shrugged with a smile. “I’ll just train her. I’ll know how to do it—because I invented the techniques to handle such things.”

Henry groaned, covering his face with one hand. “God fucking help us if she’s an omega. I might not be able to handle the two of you.”

“Admit it,” Alex teased, wrapping his arms around Henry’s waist. “You’d still give us what we need because you love us.”

Henry dropped his hand, a soft smile on his face as he looked at Alex. “You’re right, of course,” he said, turning his head to press a kiss to Alex’s temple. “Whatever she presents as in the future—alpha, beta or omega—it doesn’t matter to me. Because she’s our beloved pup, and she’s perfect just the way she is.”

Alex grinned, pulling himself closer to this alpha. “Exactly. Now let’s stop arguing and get some sleep before Daphne bursts out of her room and calls us to cook her eggs and bacon.”

Henry only chuckled before tugging Alex closer and allowing sleep to claim the both of them.

Chapter Text

The next morning, while Alex and Daphne were busy browsing the new books, Henry sat at the kitchen table, a glass of blood in one hand and his phone in the other, one of his fingers lingering above Percy’s name on the contact list.

With another exhale, he pressed the name and after three rings, Percy’s familiar voice rang through.

“Hazza, my mate.” Percy’s voice rang through. “Is there anything you and Alexander need that you called dear Auntie Pezza for assistance?”

Henry laughed at his friend’s teasing. “Nothing much, Pez.” he hesitated. “I was just wondering if you could bring David over. Permanently, I mean.”

A bit of silence echoed through the line before Percy spoke again with a knowing lilt in his tone. “Oh? So you finally decided to reunite with your beloved beagle, eh? I was starting to think that after not seeing him for a while, you forgot about him. May I ask what made you want to have your darling David there with you?”

Henry glanced toward the living room, where Alex and Daphne were seated on the rug, deeply immersed in a book. “As you probably know, Alex and I have a pup now,” he said softly. “And I think she’d like to have David around to play with. Besides, he’s always been more of my dog than yours, Pez.”

“Alright, Haz.” Percy said with a chuckle. “I’ll bring your beloved rascal of a beagle over. I’ll be there in half an hour. Might as well also meet this pup of yours while I’m there.”

Henry scoffed. “Thanks a lot, Pez.” he said before hanging up the phone and drinking the remaining blood in the glass beside him.

True to his word, Percy did pull up to the brownstone exactly 30 minutes later, David’s head popping out of the backseat window, his barks echoing through the atmosphere.

At the sound of the sudden barking, Daphne, who was peacefully reading on the couch, startled and instinctively leapt into Alex’s arms, curling around her dad.

Henry quickly stepped forward to reassure Daphne with a gentle voice. “It’s alright, my princess. It’s just my pet dog David. I told your Uncle Percy to bring him over to live with us.”

Daphne peeked from her spot in Alex’s arms, wide blue eyes watching as Henry opened the door to greet his best friend. The moment Percy stepped out to open the car door, David leapt out and bolted towards Henry, his tail wagging furiously at the sight of his master.

“Hi, Davie,” Henry crooned at the beagle, who licked at him viciously. “I missed you too, buddy.”

While Henry was busy with David, Percy approached Alex and Daphne.

“Ahh, you must be Daphne.” Percy cooed. “I’m your Uncle Percy, it’s lovely to meet you, beautiful.”

“Hi, Uncle Percy.” Daphne whispered before nuzzling further into Alex’s arms.

Alex offered Percy a smile. “She’s a little shy around strangers. But she’ll warm up eventually.”

“My princess,” Henry called. “Would you like to meet David?”

Daphne hesitated, then turned her gaze to Alex, who gave her an encouraging nod. Slowly, Alex set her down while keeping a protective hand on her back as they slowly approached Henry, who was seated on the ground, David right beside him.

“Come say hello, my princess.” Henry said, reaching out a hand for Daphne.

Daphne hesitantly took his hand, still eyeing the beagle with wide eyes.

“David, come say hello.” Henry gently commanded the beagle.

The beagle’s tail continued to wag as he trotted up to Daphne, giving her a quick sniff before promptly licking her cheek, covering her in slobber.

Daphne gasped at the wetness before breaking into a delighted giggle. “I think David likes me!”

Alex smirked, ruffling her hair. “Of course, he does. It’s hard not to like you, mija .”

David let out a playful bark, an invitation to play and in a blink of an eye, Daphne ran around the driveway with the beagle hot on her heels. Her laughter rang through the atmosphere, filling the space with warmth.

Percy, who had been watching the whole interaction with crossed arms, leaned toward Henry. “God, Hazza, I never thought I would ever see the day that you would be an alpha dad to such a sweet pup like Daphne.” he teased. “You’ve gone the domestic route now.”

Henry rolled his eyes, but there was no denying the fondness in his voice. “And? What do you think?”

“It suits you, Haz.” Percy smirked. “It’s like, you were meant for this life. Quiet, peaceful, happy.”

Henry’s gaze softened as he watched Daphne and David run around Alex, her laughter echoing into the early afternoon. “Yeah,” he murmured. “I am meant for this life.”

—

As the afternoon melted into the evening and Percy took his leave, Daphne and David, exhausted from their endless running around the driveway, had finally settled down. Now, nestled comfortably between Henry and Alex on the couch, Daphne yawned and rubbed at her sleepy eyes. 

“Mija,” Alex said, holding up his phone. “Do you want to meet some of your Daddy’s family?”

Daphne blinked at him. “Now? But I’m not dressed yet.” Her brows crinkled with worry, glancing down at her pajamas. “When are they coming?”

Henry chuckled, pulling his own phone out. “They’re not coming, my princess. My family lives quite far from here and so they couldn’t come, but I still want you to meet them.”

“How, Daddy?” Daphne asked, intrigued.

“We’re gonna call them through this app called FaceTime.” Henry said, pulling up the video call.

After a few seconds, the screen lit up, revealing the smiling faces of Beatrice and Catherine. Beatrice leaned in excitedly while Catherine, ever the regal woman, offered a gentle smile.

“Hen, hi!” Beatrice grinned, before her gaze shifted to the little girl tucked between Alex and Henry. “Well hello beautiful, you must be Daphne.”

“Oh, she’s such a darling,” Catherine murmured, eyes filled with love. “Hello, dearest. I offer sincere apologies your Aunt Beatrice and I couldn’t be there in person to meet you properly.”

Daphne offered a shy wave. “Hello Auntie Beatrice, Hello Nana Catherine.”

“We would have come sooner, but things here have been…tough,” Beatrice said with a sigh.

“It’s okay,” Daphne said, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. “I hope to see you soon.”

“Absolutely, dearest.” Beatrice reassured her. “And when we go over there, we’ll have a proper tea party.”

Daphne immediately brightened up. “Really? Yehey! I cannot wait!”

Beatrice clapped her hands together. “Neither can we. Well, it was lovely to see you all. We bid you goodbye for now. We love you all so much.” she said.

“Uh, dearest Henry, is it alright if we talk to you and Alex about something without your sweet girl in the room?” Catherine said before Beatrice had the chance to hang up.

“Sure, Mum.” Henry answered before swiveling his head to turn to Daphne. “Princess, why don’t you head into your room for a moment? Papi and Daddy will just talk to your Nana Catherine about something?”

“Okay, Daddy.” Daphne said before jumping off of the couch to head to her room as instructed.

Upon making sure that Daphne was out of earshot, Henry and Alex turned back to virtually face Catherine and Beatrice.

Catherine’s expression shifted from jolly to one of seriousness. She exhaled, clasping her hands together in front of her. 

“Now that it’s just us, I can give you both an update on Mary.” Catherine said with a brief glance at Beatrice, who nodded in silent agreement.

Alex instinctively squeezed Henry’s hand, sensing the tension creeping back into his alpha’s shoulders. “Okay.” Henry said, his voice steady but cautious.

Catherine hesitated just a beat before speaking. “I have decided that both Mary and Philip will be placed under house arrest for kidnapping.”

“For how long?” Henry asked.

“Indefinitely.”

Henry and Alex exchanged a glance, absorbing the sheer weight of what she had just said. It wasn’t lost on either of them that Catherine had just sentenced her own mother and eldest son to a lifetime of confinement.

“I know that may make me sound heartless,” Catherine continued, “but considering what they put you both through—what they put our entire family through—this is the most just punishment I could bestow upon them.”

Alex’s jaw tightened, but he simply nodded, not allowing the horrors of what he had to endure resurface in his mind.

Catherine took a brief pause. “With regards to the press, I am working with some of our contacts within the media to ensure that this does not escalate into an uncontrollable scandal.”

“The last thing we want is for Daphne to be dragged into a media frenzy as part of the repercussions of Mary’s actions.” Beatrice said, her voice soft but no less firm.

Catherine nodded beside her. “We are working to provide a statement that acknowledges Mary and Philip’s missteps but does not sensationalize the situation.”

Henry exhaled, running the hand that’s not holding Alex’s through his hair. “But Mum, you know how powerful Gran is. What’s going to stop her from trying something again?”

Catherine’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Lifetime house arrest is only the beginning. Mary and Philip will be guarded closely. If she so much as breathes in a way that attempts to threaten any of you, especially Daphne, I will make sure that she faces consequences far beyond lifetime imprisonment.”

Henry exhaled shakily. He needed to believe his mother.

Alex, ever attuned to his alpha, simply nodded. “Alright, but if anything happens, we’re not waiting for any statement. We’re going to deal with her ourselves, especially now that we have Daphne to protect.”

Catherine met their gazes. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from the both of you.” Her expression then softened. “Now, do get some rest and I will let you know if there’s any updates from our end. Give Daphne our love.”

Henry nodded, his shoulders feeling a little lighter. “Thank you Mum. Thank you Bea, we love you both.”

“We love you too, Hen, Alex. Take care.” Beatrice chirped before hanging up.

As Beatrice hung up the call, Alex allowed Henry a moment to breathe before walking toward Daphne’s room to call her.

“Mija?” Alex called as he peeked inside. “Come back out. We have another call to make.”

“Are you finished talking with Nana Catherine and Auntie Beatrice?” Daphne said as she walked towards him.

“Yes, mija. Now we have to introduce you to your Nana Ellen and Grandpa Oscar.” Alex said, holding Daphne by the hand and leading her back to the couch.

Once they were all settled in, they switched to another call, this time on Alex’s phone with Ellen and Oscar in D.C.

“Hello, sugar.” Ellen chirped through the screen, Oscar visibly beside her.

“Hi Ma, Pa,” Alex said. “I want to introduce y’all to Daphne.” He tilted the screen to show Daphne’s face.

“Aww, sugar, she’s so pretty.” Ellen said. “Hi there, Daphne.”

“Hi, Nana Ellen. Hi, Grandpa Oscar.” Daphne softly said with a smile and a wave.

“I finally got to see my granddaughter—even through a screen.” Oscar beamed. “We’re sorry that we couldn’t be there with you. Work is brutal here in D.C. but we’re making plans to visit as soon as we can.”

“That’s okay, Grandpa Oscar.” Daphne said, swinging her legs. “Papi did say you were busy. I do want to go get ice cream with you when you visit. Is that okay?”

Oscar laughed. “No need to ask, mija. I’ll get you all the ice cream you want.”

“Yehey!” Daphne cheered so energetically that Alex’s phone almost got knocked out of his hand.

The call continued with promises of visits and hugs, and eventually, Daphne yawned which gave way for Alex to say goodbye.

“Alright, Ma, Pa, we’ll talk again soon. Love you both.” Alex said with a smile at the screen.

With final goodnights, the call ended, and Henry scooped Daphne up into his arms. “Come, my princess.” he murmured, pressing a kiss to her curls. “Time for bed.”

Daphne sleepily nuzzled into his chest as he carried her to her bedroom, tucking her in with gentle care. Within seconds, Daphne closed her eyes, her breathing evening out as she drifted into sleep.

Chapter Text

The next evening, after dinner, the three of them lounged on the couch, the English dubbed episodes of French animated TV show Belfort and Lupin playing softly in the background while Daphne cuddled David in her lap. She absently scratched behind the beagle’s ears while watching the animated characters—a blue eyed dog and a brown eyed wolf—run around the bright Versailles backdrop.

“Oh!” she suddenly exclaimed, turning excitedly toward Alex and Henry. “ Papi! Daddy! Look! They look like the two of you.”

Henry exchanged a glance with Alex before shaking his head. “I beg your pardon, my princess?”

Daphne stifled a giggle. “Daddy, you look like Belfort—the palace dog who’s all proper and a bit dramatic.”

Alex snorted beside him. “Haha, sounds about right.” He side-eyed Henry, who gave him a glare in return.

Daphne continued with a glance at Alex, completely oblivious to the silent exchange between her parents. “And then Papi, you look like Lupin—the wild yet kind wolf.”

Henry leaned back, eyes flaring with curiosity. “My princess, do tell us more about why me and your Papi are like these characters?”

“So,” Daphne said, slightly nudging David aside to stand near the TV and pointing one hand to the screen as if she was a teacher who’s about to school her parents about the animated show while the other pointed to Henry. “Belfort looks like you, Daddy—blue eyes, palace dog, softie on the inside, strong on the outside.” She paused to take a breath before pointing at Alex. “And you, my Papi, are totally like Lupin! Brown eyes, smart and loving, a little chaotic and loves to tease Daddy.”

Alex gasped, placing a dramatic hand over his chest. “Sorry mija? Me? Chaotic?”

Daphne giggled sheepishly, twirling her skirt side to side. “Yes.”

Henry merely smirked. “Well, I must say, I’m impressed by your explanation. But I’m still not sure how I feel about being compared to a palace dog.”

Daphne simply scrunched her nose playfully. “Daddy, Belfort’s the best! He always helps everyone. And Lupin may look scary but he’s a sweet wolf and he loves to tease—just like Papi.”

Alex groaned. “Oh great, so you’re saying I scare you, mija?” he said in a teasing voice.

Daphne let out another sheepish giggle but before she could fully explain herself, both Alex and Henry let out exaggerated yet teasing growls, making her squeal as they lunged at her.

“No! Papi! Daddy!” Daphne shrieked in laughter as Alex scooped her up from where she stood and Henry grabbed her sides, tickling her mercilessly.

“Am I scaring you, mija? Hmm? Is Papi scary now? Are you scared?” Alex said playfully, pressing raspberries against her cheek.

“Yes, I’m scared now! Daddy, help me!” she giggled as she kicked her feet at Alex.

“No no, you got yourself into this trouble, my princess. Learn to save yourself from us.” Henry said, joining in and wiggling his fingers against the young girl’s ribs.

After a few more minutes of playful torture, they finally relented, allowing Daphne to catch her breath as she grinned up at them.

“Okay,” she panted, her laughter subsiding. “You guys are kind of like Belfort and Lupin, but way better and I love you both more than I love them.”

“Now, that’s the compliment we’ll gladly accept.” Henry chuckled.

As the night stretched on, Alex and Henry led their daughter into the bedroom to tuck her into bed. She hopped into the bed and immediately nestled beneath the yellow blankets, David curling up in the empty space beside her.

“Goodnight, mija,” Alex whispered, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

Henry followed suit. “Sweet dreams, my princess. Sleep well.”

Daphne smiled sleepily, reaching out and pulling them both in for one last hug. “Love you, Papi! Love you Daddy.”

“We love you too, princess.” Henry whispered.

As they pulled away, Daphne immediately snuggled deeper into her pillows, her breathing evening out, eyes fluttering shut. Alex exhaled softly, watching her settle in, until he felt it — a glimmer of warmth, a flicker of need, a faint spark of something hot and restless. His arm shot out, fingers immediately wrapping around Henry’s wrist. Henry turned, his free hand immediately covering Alex’s. Henry immediately stiffened at Alex’s grip, eyes wide as realization dawned on him.

Shit.

After making sure she was asleep, Henry helped Alex off the floor and they quietly retreated to their own bedroom.

Chapter Text

As Alex and Henry finally retreated to the sanctuary of their bedroom with the warmth of Daphne’s goodnight still lingering in their chests, the need that Alex felt in his gut earlier flared up—a simmering wave of need and desire, slowly streaming through his veins. His breath came shallow, his entire body buzzed with restless nocturnal energy, a desperate sensation clawing within him.

His skin prickled, suddenly too hot and hypersensitive and before he could even think twice, he locked the door and desperately reached for the hem of his shirt and yanked it over his head, tossing it aside before working to unbutton his jeans, the fabric suddenly feeling like tiny spindles pricking his legs. His hands moved in frantic motions as if he needed to be bare naked within the next second.

Henry, who was in the process of unbuttoning his own shirt, paused. His gaze swept over Alex, who was still struggling with his jeans, and observing the way his omega’s back rose rapidly and the way Alex was fidgeting like mad.

He was about to stand up from where he was seated when the scent hit his nose.

A rush of saccharine sweetness, addictive and intoxicating, flooded his senses, wrapping around him like a drug. It wasn't Alex’s everyday scent—it was something deeper, sweeter, richer, laced with a primal need that sent a jolt straight through Henry’s spine.

Omega smells delicious. So sweet. Need to scent. Need to taste.

Before he even realized it, he was crossing the room to where Alex stood, his alpha instincts guiding his every move. When Alex was in close proximity, Henry reached his arms forward to slip it around Alex’s bare torso, pulling the omega flush to his chest, and he buried his face into the crook of his omega’s neck.

He inhaled, slow and deliberate, the addictive scent making his fingers tighten ever so slightly against Alex’s hypersensitive skin.

“My love,” Henry said, his voice dipping into something softer, “Are you alright?”

Alex shuddered, his entire body trembling with need in Henry’s hold. Then, with a shaky breath, he sagged against the alpha, his head slightly tilting to the side in silent surrender.

“I knew it would come soon, but not this soon.” Alex let out a frustrated, needy sigh and he sagged further against Henry’s chest.

Henry only needed confirmation but he immediately knew what Alex meant from the very first whiff of sweetness.

Alex is in heat.

He loosened his grip just enough for Alex to turn and once they were face to face with each other, Henry immediately saw the raw need in Alex’s eyes, the dark pupils almost fully eclipsing Alex’s whiskey-brown irises. A thin sheen of sweat glistened at Alex’s temples, and his body—tense yet trembling—seemed caught between maintaining restraint and a desperate need for relief.

Alex walked a couple steps closer until his chest was flushed together with Henry, as if there was a magnetic force pulling them together. His heat was never easy—it made him raw and overwhelmed, aching for touch in ways that sometimes he was too embarrassed to admit.

His fingers clawed to Henry’s open shirt as he murmured, “Alpha, I—I don’t want to be too much for you. What if I whimper too much or get too needy?” His voice was small and vulnerable.

Henry huffed a soft laugh, tilting Alex’s chin up so their gazes met. His lips curled into a slow, teasing smirk.

“Nothing we’ve never done before, my love,” he murmured, the deep timbre of his voice sending a shiver down Alex’s spine. “Isn’t the time that I first helped you with your heat also the time we first got together?”

A breathless whimper left Alex’s lips at the memory and he couldn’t help but curl into Henry. “I know,” he muttered. “I guess fate decided to make us go back full circle to the days that we met.”

“Always best to know your roots, my love.” Henry said with a grin. “Now, tell me how I can help ease you?”

Alex looked down at his jeans, which were already hanging mid-thigh. “Maybe you could help me pull these off first and then carry me to the nest?”

As always, Henry could never say no to Alex.

Henry chuckled before he scooted his fingers lower, tracing over the heated skin of Alex’s torso and then landing on the waistband of Alex’s partially-wet boxers. “You know, my love, you could really model these Lacoste boxers of yours,” he mused, snapping the waistband of Alex’s boxers against the omega’s hip, earning a tiny yelp as a response. “I bet they’d sell out in seconds.”

Alex let out a breathy laugh, half-lidded brown eyes glinting with need and amusement. “Alpha, can you shut up about my boxers? Just get them off me before I completely soak it with my slick.” he muttered, but there was no bite to his words.

Henry chuckled softly, the deep, affectionate sound rumbling through his chest as he continued to strip the clothes off of Alex. “God, I almost forgot how needy and whiny you can be during your heat.”

Once the last piece of fabric was gone, Alex shivered at the sudden exposure, his body flushed with warmth and need, but he didn’t pull away from Henry’s touch.

Their teasing faded into something gentler as Henry effortlessly scooped Alex into his arms and carried his omega toward the nest, where Alex immediately cocooned himself in comfort.

Once Alex was settled, Henry pulled away to remove the remainder of his own clothes before settling in beside his omega. Before long, Alex was curling into him, needy and desperate for his alpha’s touch. Heat and desire emanated off him in waves, his breaths coming in shallow and yearning gasps.

Without a second thought, Alex turned to nuzzle his face against Henry’s neck, burying himself in Henry’s comforting scent— a mix of earthy grass, fresh linen and something distinctly Henry. His body shuddered in pleasure with every inhale of the scent that soothed and claimed him. His omega demanded more, his gut swirling with want for—everything.

“Alpha, you smell so good. Need you.” Alex whined, the tip of his nose still attached to Henry’s neck.

With a sharp ache, his fangs descended from his gums, the sudden hunger for Henry’s tasty blood intertwining with the burning need inside of him. A soft whimper escaped his lips as he pressed closer, dragging the tips of his canines teasingly along Henry’s neck.

“My love,” Henry said, slightly moaning at the teasing glide of Alex’s fangs on his skin. “Do you want a bite?”

“Alpha…” he whispered, voice thick and pleading. “I need—” He swallowed hard. “Bite, please.”

Henry let out a soft chuckle, brushing his fingers through Alex’s dark curls. “No need to beg, my love.” he murmured, tilting his head to the side in offering. “Here.”

The temptation was unbearable—the scent of Henry’s blood called to him like a teasing siren song. His fingers dug into Henry’s skin as he sniffed and licked at his alpha’s neck, purring with delight and desire. 

“Mmm, yummy neck.” Alex hummed with one last lick before he finally gave in, sinking his fangs into the skin just above Henry’s mating mark—his mark—with a desperate and needy moan.

Henry gasped at the sensation, his fingers tightening around Alex’s bronze skin as the sharp sting melted into a pleasant feeling. Shivers ran down Henry’s spine as Alex fed, their bond pulsing with raw emotion and love.

Upon satisfaction, Alex pulled away and licked the punctures shut, his lips tinted with red. His hunger for blood was gone, but his need for Henry hadn't vanished. In fact, he felt even more desperate for Henry.

“Alpha,” he whined, voice barely above a whisper. “Want more. Need your knot. Need you.”

Henry only smirked, pressing a kiss to Alex’s temple. “Don’t worry, my sweet omega. I’ve got you.” he said before crawling above Alex to crush their lips together.

They kiss and latch onto each other like their lives depended on it, Alex’s arms curling around Henry’s neck while Henry allows his own hands to roam Alex’s body. Their kiss was desperate, full of warmth and longing for each other.

“No rush.” Henry cooed, cupping the back of Alex’s head, the omega’s soft curls beneath his hand. “We have all night. Let me take my time with you.” He murmured before slowly taking Alex’s lips again, swallowing the omega’s sweet baritone moans.

“Want you now, alpha.” Alex rasps in between kisses.

“How do you want me, darling?” Henry said, and before he could fully pull back, Alex shifted positions, turning so that his torso was hovering above the mattress, elbows planted down, back arched gracefully, hips up to expose the entirety of his ass, as if he’s in a yoga class doing the puppy posture.

Henry pulled back slightly to stare at his omega. “Fucking hell, my love, look at yourself. Presenting beautifully just for me.”

“Don’t want to look.” Alex muffled. “Want you.”

Henry groans and reaches around, wrapping his arms around Alex’s torso and running his thumb over the head of Alex’s cock, feeling it twitch at the slightest sensation. He smirks before reaching back to the rim, only to feel wetness.

“You’re fucking soaked, omega. Is all that sticky sweet slick for me?”

“Yes.” Alex answered meekly, sounding almost embarrassed at how much slick he produces during his heat.

“Don’t be shy, my love. I love it when you leak so much of that fucking delicious slick. It’s like an endless fountain of goodness.” Henry growls, dropping to one knee and slowly tugging his omega slightly down to the edge of the nest.

“All this gorgeous presentation, all this sweet slick, just for me.” Henry caresses the wet rim of Alex’s hole again, feeling Alex’s leg twitch as the omega’s head flips to one side to breathe. “What a fucking delight.”

Alex tried to press his free leg close, and Henry continued to leave teasing caresses in the rim. “I told you to not be shy. It’s just us in here.”

Henry slides one of his hands up the back of Alex’s thigh, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake and once Alex opens his legs up wider, Henry lowers his head and presses a trail of kisses on the inside of the omega’s knee, the right ass cheek up to the small of his back, just a bit above his tailbone. Upon the contact of Henry’s lips to his hypersensitive skin, Alex’s hips buck on instinct. “Get in me, alpha.” Alex whined.

“On my way, darling.” Henry said with a grin, stopping the soothing caresses on Alex’s rim to plunge one finger into his omega’s wet hole, hissing when Alex clenches upon the intrusion, and then adds another one. “Face the mattress and muffle your screams. I don’t want our little pup to come bursting in here due to hearing how loud you scream for me.”

Alex breathes out a ‘yes’ before hastily turning his head until his face is flush with the mattress. Once Henry ensures that Alex’s mouth is all covered, he holds Alex’s legs for stability, drops his head and gets to work.

Even when faced with the mattress, Alex could feel his eyes roll to the back of his skull, and he swears that he could see the entire Milky Way galaxy if he tried hard enough, as Henry started feasting on him, licking up every droplet of his slick like water. Both of Henry’s hands hold him down, strongly gripping the skin at the back of his calves and Alex could feel Henry gripping him hard that crescent-shaped bruises will be found on them the next morning.

Henry’s licking him ferociously like a man starved, and Alex could do nothing but squirm and writhe under him, the mattress muffling every moan his lips released. He eventually turns his head to take a breath. “Henry!” Alex cries out.

“Yes, omega? Do you want something? Tell me.” Henry said, pulling back. “I’ll give you anything you ask.”

Alex pushes up onto his elbows and looks over his shoulder at his alpha, whose lips are glimmering with the shine of his slick and eyes are still fixed on his hole. “I want you inside me. Give me your knot. Kiss me. Give me everything.”

“So needy. Who am I to refuse?” Henry said with a grin, tilting his head to the side to meet Alex’s own eyes while gently caressing the omega’s legs, making Alex blush.

Alex balances himself on one arm and slides his other hand down his torso to try and massage his stomach, heat and need bubbling up inside into a steady simmer. He slowly tilts his legs inward, but Henry’s palm gives one leg a little push open before it could totally fall. “I’m not done yet, omega.” Henry growled as he positioned himself in between Alex’s legs.

Swiveling his head to the side to inspect, Alex gets a glorious view of Henry’s cock, erect, huge and leaking with droplets of pre-cum. “You want me in you, darling?”

“Yes,” Alex breathes out, desperate for more.

Henry’s hair has slightly grown longer and his blonde locks have flopped over his face, looking absolutely messy and delicious.

“Inside me.” Alex blurts out as he keeps his gaze on Henry as the alpha advances on him.

Alex could eventually feel Henry clutching the sides of his torso and before he knew it, Henry turned him so that his back was now the one flushed with the mattress. His gaze never left Henry as the alpha slowly makes his way up, a trail of kisses following his every move.

“Muscular abs.” One kiss to the stomach. “Unbeating but loving heart.” One kiss to Alex’s left pec. “Delicious neck.” One kiss and lick to Alex’s neck and mating mark.

When Henry finally hovers above him, Alex reaches in the space between them to lightly grip his alpha’s thick cock. “So hard, so thick, so warm, so good,” he murmured.

“How much do you want me, my love?” Henry said with a smirk. “Because with the way you’re touching me right now, I could pound into you so hard and have you finish so fast that you’re going to be walking sore and bow-legged tomorrow.”

Alex doesn’t reply, but instead he swipes the head of Henry’s cock against his own hole, lightly grinding on his tip, watching the alpha’s eyes flutter shut.

With a groan to somehow recalibrate, Henry leans down and kisses Alex, a searing kiss that has Alex curling his toes and his hips arching up. And then, within a few blinks, Henry’s pushing into him—slow, steady and delicious—filling Alex up and giving his omega time to adjust.

“Need you.” Alex said, raising a leg and slithering it around Henry’s back, pulling his alpha nearer.

“Fuck, omega.” Henry growls. “You feel so good. This hole, it’s my home. You’re my home.”

Alex only breathes in response as he allows his dull nails to cascade down Henry’s back.

When Henry bottoms out, nestling in the cradle of Alex’s hips, he groans. “Are you okay? Only asking because I might not be so gentle anymore after this.”

Alex playfully nips at his alpha’s chin. “Don’t be gentle, Hen.” he croons. “Besides, you’ve already ruined me for everyone else.”

Henry rears up above him, deadly serious and painfully handsome. “Be careful of what you tell me, my love.”

He pulls out all the way before shoving himself back in. Alex’s body trembles and shakes and his head tips back against the pillows. Henry sets a slow but powerful rhythm, fucking Alex hard, watching his omega’s every movement, absorbing every moan.

“Cover your mouth for me, omega.” Henry whispers in warning as he registers Alex’s moans coming at a higher pitch. “Don’t want Daphne to hear.”

Alex grabs a pillow and slams it over his mouth with one hand as Henry pushes his body taut, but the alpha eventually pulls out only to drop to his knees again and devours Alex for the second time of the night.

The sudden change in pressure, the entire shift in momentum, left Alex’s brain reeling to catch up. Sweat glistens in his pecs as Henry licks and fucks him with his tongue like he’s the best thing he’s ever tasted.

“Henry,” Alex gasps from beneath the pillow, completely blissed out and lost to the sensation of Henry playing his body like a pianist mastering the most difficult of sheet music that has ever been written.

“Yes, my love? What do you want?” Henry stands tall, gripping Alex’s ankles as he goes, folding the omega into the way that he wants, which is Alex’s feet up near his shoulders while Henry looms over him like a master of the universe.

Then, Henry’s lining himself up, sliding into Alex again. Going so deep. Filling Alex up with every inch.

“Your knot? You? I don’t know anymore.” Alex pants, brown hazy eyes lingering on the way Henry’s skin glistened with sweat.

“Try again, my love.” Henry thrusts back into Alex, setting a more punishing flow. His head tips back in pleasure and Alex could see the bump of his alpha’s Adam’s apple. With every thrust and stroke, Alex’s moans grow louder despite the muffling of the pillow—just like Henry’s movements. “Remove the pillow and tell me what you want. I will not stop asking until you say so.”

Right when Alex removed the pillow from his mouth, his nerve endings repeatedly coiled inside him, aching for a touch on the sweet spot inside him that he wanted Henry to hit so badly, the alpha pulls out and drops to the floor. Leaving him empty, breathless and needy.

“I want to hear it loud and clear, darling.” Henry’s fingers slowly trace the rim of Alex’s ass, which is steadily leaking. He pumps two fingers in, the sound of how wet Alex is enough to make the omega blush a rosy shade of pink.

“I want you, Henry Fox.” Alex pants.

“You’ve got me, Alexander Gabriel Claremont-Diaz.” Henry coos before pulling his fingers out and crawling up to face Alex again. “You and me, remember?” 

“Yes, you and me.” was Alex’s only reply before Henry leans down and kisses him in an all-consuming kiss.

No more words were exchanged between them as Henry kept their bodies close as he continued kissing Alex as the night dragged on, licking and kissing until Alex was a squirming, whimpering mess beneath him. 

Upon pulling away, Henry hovered over Alex, elbows dropping to the bed beside Alex’s head and brown eyes met blue ones as they stared at each other.

The pad of Henry’s thumb swipes across the wisps of hair on Alex’s temple, brushing a couple of locks from the omega’s cheek. The blunt end of his cock as well as his knot nudges Alex’s thigh as they bask in the moment.

“I think I never loved anyone the way I love you, Henry.” Alex confessed.

Henry’s thumb continued to stroke at his temple with tender gentleness as he slid himself into Alex. A united sigh is heard in the air between them and then Henry says, “Me too, my love. Me too.”

They kiss, they touch, Henry rocks into Alex, Henry fucks Alex and gives his omega his knot until Alex shake and tremble beneath him. They spend the entire night proving to each other just how much they love each other, pulling each other apart at every seam, Henry watching Alex crumble for him repeatedly.

When the two of them are both boneless and exhausted from simultaneous waves of orgasms, Alex’s first wave of heat has temporarily settled, leaving a warm scent of sex and satisfaction lingering in the air of the room. He nuzzled against Henry’s chest, their legs and arms entangled together, Alex’s own breath coming in slow, steady pants. Henry stroked gentle circles against his omega’s damp skin, his lips lowering to brush against Alex’s temple, which earned him a contented purr from his mate.

But beneath the contentment of the intimacy that they shared, another bout of need stirred within Henry—one that gnawed at him with an intensity that increased with every passing second.

Hunger.

It started as a throbbing dull ache within him, then it suddenly sharpened into something undeniable. His fangs pressed against his gums, threatening to extend—and claim. Henry clenched his jaw in an attempt to will the hunger away, but Alex’s scent—heady, rich, sweet and intoxicating in a way that no vampire should smell like, made him dizzy.

Alex, despite being blissed out, is still somewhat attentive and he hummed as if he could sense Henry’s hunger. His fingers, lazy and limp but knowing, traced the edge of Henry’s sharp jawline.

“Alpha,” he murmured. “You’re hungry.”

Henry stiffened and shook his head, his throat tightening. “I’m okay, darling. I can wait.”

Alex huffed with a frown. “No, you can’t.” He slightly sat up on the nest and tilted his head, exposing the soft and vulnerable curve of his neck, Henry’s mating mark still lingering on the bronze skin. “Take it, alpha. Feed on me.”

Henry’s grip on Alex’s waist faltered. He let out a shaky exhale, trying to focus on anything else other than his hunger and the steady rise and fall of Alex’s chest. “Darling, I don’t want to—”

“You won’t hurt me.” Alex cut him off with a slow and knowing smile while brushing his thumb against Henry’s lower lip, where the edge of his canines peeked out. “You never do.”

“Will it make you feel better if I bite you?” Henry’s restraint wavered, his resolve hanging by a thread.

“Yes.” Alex whispered, voice breathy and slightly desperate.

The sweet, rich aroma that Alex emanates during the height of his heat—a tangy scent laced with desire and something uniquely Alex—is so intoxicating that Henry found himself leaning forward without a second thought.

One more whiff of the scent was all it took for Henry’s resolve to completely shatter.

With a groan, he pressed his lips against Alex’s neck, at the spot above his mating mark where Alex smelled the sweetest, his tongue tracing the flesh in a slow and savoring glide, fangs jutting out, begging for a taste. Alex’s breath hitched, his hands fisting in Henry’s hair in quiet encouragement.

“Smells so sweet. Tastes so good.” Another exhale was all it took before Henry finally sank his fangs in.

Alex gasped, his body arching against Henry’s as pain and pleasure entwined into something dizzying. A whimper and a moan fell from his lips simultaneously, his fingers tightening in Henry’s hair, pulling his alpha closer.

Henry moaned softly, the first gulp of blood setting his nerves alight. The taste was pure goodness, heady and addicting—Alex’s very essence woven into every scarlet drop. 

It was a heavenly aphrodisiac, a scrumptious ambrosia.

It was truly home, truly who he belongs to.

Alex released another whimper as Henry’s grip on his skin tightened, as his alpha’s feeding became more languid and indulgent. “Alpha,” he breathed, eyes framed by long eyelashes fluttering shut.

Henry hummed in response, his hand smoothing over Alex’s skin in reassurance as the gnawing hunger in his gut was finally soothed by the very man he loved the most. 

When he was content with what he took, he withdrew with a few licks over the fresh punctures, sealing them with a tenderness that made Alex sigh, boneless and breathless. He pulled back and pressed their foreheads together, their breaths in sync.

Henry brushed a thumb over Alex’s lips, tracing the shape of them to commit them to his memory. “Thank you, my love.” he rasped out. “Are you alright?”

Alex, still hazy, flashed him a lazy but loving smile. “I’m fine. Need a hug from you.”

Henry chuckled, kissing his omega softly before tucking him closer into his omega’s requested hug. 

Alex purred in contentment as he nuzzled deeper into Henry’s embrace, his body sinking into the comfort of their nest. Henry’s arms, the steady rise and fall of his alpha’s chest, the comforting scent that surrounded him—it was everything he needed to relax and bask in the afterglow of everything.

But before he could doze off, a thought stirred in his mind.

“Alpha?” Alex murmured, voice slurred with exhaustion.

“Yes, my love? Do you need anything else?” Henry ran his fingers through Alex’s soft and fluffy curls.

Alex shifted just enough to meet Henry’s gaze, his brown eyes soft yet searching. “Is your rut about to come?”

The soothing motions of Henry’s fingers halted for a second before resuming their comforting strokes. “Why do you ask, darling?”

“I mean, last time you eased me through my heat, your rut came a little early.” Alex looked at Henry with a curious yet teasing expression. “Just wanna make sure you’re okay.”

Henry visibly relaxed, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. “I do appreciate the concern, my love, but I’ll assure you that my alpha hasn’t decided to make a mess of things yet.” he said, pressing another loving kiss to Alex’s forehead.

Alex gave him a sleepy, knowing smile. “Promise to let me know when it comes?”

“I promise, my love.” he murmured, a gentle vow. “You rest now.”

As Alex’s body melted, soft contented purrs escaped his lips. Henry tucked his omega closer, stroking soothing patterns down his omega’s back and planting soft kisses on his head. As Alex finally drifted off to a peaceful slumber in his arms, Henry truly relaxed, feeling blissful and loved in every way that mattered.

Chapter Text

10 years later…

The living room floor was a chaotic yet cozy mess—wrapping paper strewn across the floor, discarded ribbons draped over furniture, and presents stacked in lopsided towers. The sweet aroma of chocolate frosting and vanilla cake wafted from the kitchen, while colorful streamers hung lazily from the ceiling, remnants of the night’s festivities.

At the stroke of midnight on the 9th of May, Daphne turned fifteen. To celebrate, Alex and Henry had decided to throw her a quinceañera—an extravagant, joy-filled affair where she had twirled beneath the warm glow of fairy lights in a stunning blue ball gown. Her laughter had echoed through the halls, bright and unrestrained, as the people she loved the most and friends from school surrounded her. June, Nora and Percy had outdone themselves in preparing a plethora of food, a feast that blended English and Mexican cuisine. Beatrice and Catherine had flown in from England, while Ellen and Oscar had made the trip from D.C., all gathering to celebrate the young woman Daphne was becoming.

The night had been filled with laughter, music, food and more karaoke than anyone had anticipated, but as the dark stretched into late morning, the energy in the house also shifted. The feeling of the party started to evaporate, leaving behind a strangely different energy.

Daphne sat on the living room couch, thumbs tapping rhythmically against her phone screen, typing something on her phone, the clicking of her manicured nails over the screen being the only sound bouncing off of the walls. To her left, Alex was sprawled in an armchair, reading a thick book and Henry cuddled with David on another chair to her right.

“Papi, Daddy,” Daphne finally spoke. “Can I ask you both something?” She pressed her lips together as if to debate whether or not to proceed with whatever she has to say.

“Of course, my princess.” Henry said with a tilt of his head. “You know you can ask us anything.”

Daphne hesitated, then took a deep breath. “Why don’t you and Papi seem to grow older?”

Silence echoed throughout the living room.

Alex dropped his book and exchanged a glance with Henry, barely concealing their shock at their daughter’s question.

Daphne pressed on, undeterred. “Don’t look so shocked. I’m observant and I have been noticing things for a while now. Like how you both still look the same as you did when you first met me, and that was like, a decade ago. I mean, Papi grew a beard but he still looks ridiculously young. The two of you also never eat food, even during family dinners and my party yesterday. And when it’s too sunny outside, both of you hardly get out of the house, not even for a tan.” She exhaled, eyes flickering with curiosity. “I asked Auntie June about this once, but she told me that it was something I needed to hear from the both of you.”

Alex sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Of course she did,”

Henry cleared his throat and carefully nudged David to the side before walking to sit beside Daphne. “Well, you see, my princess, there’s a reason for all of that.” he leaned forward. “Your Papi and I, we’re not exactly normal people. We’re vampires.”

Daphne blinked, her lips parting slightly. “Come again, Daddy? You and Papi are vampires? Since when?”

“Yes, mija.” Alex confirmed, stepping forward to sit beside Henry. “We both became vampires since before we adopted you.”

Daphne frowned, the gears in her head clearly turning to process the information. “So, do you like…drink blood?”

Henry nodded. “Yes, we do. That’s the red liquid we put in our glasses every time we have dinners or even at your party yesterday. But it’s all ethically sourced from the blood bank and we put it in bottles that’s stored in a mini fridge right over there.” He gestured toward the sleek, silver mini fridge nestled against the kitchen wall. “We don’t exactly feed on animals or humans or anything like that.”

“But sometimes, we kind of feed on each other too.” Alex mumbled.

Henry shot him a sharp look before smacking his leg. “Not the time, my love.”

“Wait, wait,” Daphne said, holding up her hands. “So you guys also have sharp teeth? Like fangs?” She gestured to her own teeth.

Henry and Alex only nodded in response.

“Can I see?” Daphne said, scooting closer.

Henry sighed but obliged. With a subtle shift, he let his fangs slide down from his gums, Alex following suit. Daphne’s eyes widened as she took in the sharp points glinting under the living room’s light. She slightly jumped back but didn’t run. Instead, after a few moments, she leaned in again, studying them with fascination.

“Okay, you can put them away now.” she exhaled with a wave of her hands. “I also want to know if you guys can turn into bats? Or hypnotize people to make them do what you want?”

Henry chuckled, shaking his head. “No, my princess. No bats, no hypnosis. No garlic. And before you ask, no, we also don’t wear capes or sleep in coffins like Count Dracula or the vampires you normally read about in books or watch in movies.”

“So what do you have other than the craving for blood and the fangs?” Daphne asked.

“We do have heightened senses and strength.” Henry added.

“And the whole “immortal” thing,” Alex added. “Which is why we never get old.”

Daphne sat back against the couch, her brows knitting together as she processed the revelation. “So you’ll never die, then?”

Alex reached forward to take her hand. “Yes, mija, and it means that we get to be with you for as long as you need us. Even if it means forever.”

Henry’s voice softened. “We’re sorry we didn’t tell you any of this sooner, my princess. Your Papi and I are just worried that you might freak out and be upset, but the truth of it all is that despite us being vampires, nothing about how we feel about you has changed.” He cupped her cheek. “You’re our darling Daphne and you always will be.”

Daphne just stared at them with wide blue eyes and an unreadable expression. Alex and Henry both stiffened in their seats, fearing that she might scream and run away from them. But instead, she leaned forward and threw her arms around both their necks in a tight hug.

“You guys are so weird,” she said. “But there’s no need to be weird around me anymore.”

Alex laughed, wrapping around his daughter’s waist. “Wait, what?”

Henry chuckled, holding her just as tightly. “Does that mean you’re not freaked out or scared by us?”

“I have to admit that I did have my suspicions so I was a little freaked out, sure, but scared, absolutely not.” Daphne said with a shrug, pulling back to look at them. “You’re my Papi Alex and Daddy Henry and I love you both so much, human or vampire. Because at the end of the day, you guys being my adoptive dads is all that matters to me.” She leaned in for another hug.

The three of them stayed wrapped up in each others’ arms until Daphne pulled back. She just landed back on her spot on the couch before her brain buzzed with another question that she immediately needed answers to.

“So, can I ask you both another question?” Daphne said, slightly shifting on her seat.

Alex smiled. “You’re on a roll today, mija. Sure, what is it?”

“Well Papi,” she said with a cautious but curious tone. “I heard you call Daddy ‘alpha’ one time.” She turned to Henry, who was seated beside her. “And it sounded like…different. I thought it was just like a pet name you guys call each other, but the way Papi sounded when he said it, it was like important. What does it mean?”

“Oh, that is a whole different story.” Henry said with a glance at Alex.

“I’m willing to listen and learn.” Daphne said with a smile.

“Okay, so to keep it simple—I call your Daddy ‘alpha’ sometimes because it’s who he is to me. It’s like a sort of dynamic between the two of us.” Alex answered, trying to condense somewhat complicated information into simple explanations. “You know how in werewolf movies, they have someone called an ‘alpha’, who’s kind of like their leader—?”

“Yeah.” Daphne mumbled.

“Well, your Daddy has those traits, mija,” Alex said, reaching out a hand to lay it on Henry’s kneecap. “He has this instinct to always make sure that his pack—which is you and me—is safe and happy.”

“And you, Papi? Are you an alpha too?” Daphne said with curious eyes.

“No, mija.” Alex said, leaning forward. “I am what people call an omega. I’m the more emotional and sensitive person. I can be needy at times too.”

Daphne nodded in understanding. “So what’s harder? Being an alpha or being an omega?”

Henry chuckled. “I don’t know what being an omega is like but based on what I’ve seen with your Papi, both roles—or dynamics—have their ups and downs. It’s kind of complicated, my princess, but we’re here to explain it to you if ever you want to know more, but for now, that’s as simple as we can put it.”

“Okay, Daddy.” The girl stood up from her seat and went to give her dads another hug. “Thank you for explaining. I’ll definitely search more on this later but I kind of get it, thanks to that werewolf comparison.”

Alex chuckled. “Of course you’ll search about it.”

“You know I always will, Papi.” Daphne chuckled before pulling away and heading back in her seat only to whip out her phone and typing furiously.

“Feel free to ask us if you ever feel like the information on the internet is not true.” Henry said, staring at his daughter’s fingers fly on the gadget. “We’ll be happy to explain more to you.”

Daphne turned to him with a smile and gave him a nod before turning her eyes back to the phone on her hand.

—

The following morning after Alex and Henry explained the truth about their vampirism and dynamics to Daphne, she hit them with another question over breakfast, a question that nearly knocked the wind out of them.

“Papi? Daddy? I know I have been asking questions since yesterday but is it okay for me to ask another one?” She looked at them with wide blue eyes over her glass of orange juice.

Henry was the first to respond. “You know we would never tire of answering your questions, my princess. What’s on that pretty and brilliant mind of yours?”

Daphne drops her glass to the table and looks down at her hands, as if her manicured nails suddenly peaked her interest. “Er…how would you both react if one day in the future, I will ask either of you to—” she hesitated.

“To what?” Henry gently urged.

“To turn me?” she said, still not meeting their eyes.

Alex nearly spewed out the blood he was drinking back out into the glass upon hearing the question. “Come again, mija?”

Daphne simply shrugged her shoulders. “I mean, it’s only a hypothetical question. I just want to know how you guys would feel and react if I ever asked you to do that.” 

Henry and Alex exchange a glance, clearly thinking of a proper answer to their daughter’s question.

“My sweet princess, look at me.” Henry said, a gentle command.

Daphne looked up at him, their blue eyes meeting, her bottom lip caught quivering between her teeth, a clear tell of her nerves due to overthinking about Henry’s possible answer.

“May I first ask you how this question popped into your mind?” Henry said with gentle eyes.

“It just popped in there before I went to bed yesterday,’ Daphne explained. “And like you explained to me, you guys are vampires and as far as books go and your own words, vampires are immortal.”

“Yes, mija, those are true but what does this have to do with the possibility of you asking either your Daddy or me to turn you into one?” Alex’s brain scrambled to catch up with the conversation at hand.

“I just mean, Papi, that you and Daddy both get to live forever with each other since you’re immortal and since I’m human, I’ll grow old and eventually….” Daphne’s voice wavered, her lips trembling as if she’s about to burst into tears at any second. “I don’t know, I guess I just thought of that to see if it could be my chance to be with you forever. I won’t make that choice now, but I might eventually, you know.”

Henry’s gaze softened at his daughter’s sincere answer. “Oh, my sweet princess, come here,” he said, opening his arms.

Daphne hopped off her seat and rushed to occupy Henry’s open arms. The moment she felt her dad’s arms wrapped around her like a cocoon, she allowed the dam inside her to burst and her tears flowed down her cheeks, leaving wet splotches on the fabric of Henry’s sweater.

“I’m sorry for asking that, Daddy.” she sniffled. “I just love you and Papi so much that I think I don’t ever want to see you both sad when…it’s time for me to leave you both.”

Alex stood up from his seat to go beside Henry and immediately joined in the hug. “Oh, mija.” he gently said, raising one hand to caress his daughter’s hair.

They eventually pulled away and Daphne wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her sweater. “You didn’t answer my question. How would I react if I eventually ask either of you to turn me into a vampire?”

Henry grabbed his napkin from the table and used the tip of it to wipe Daphne’s tears off her cheeks. “Well, of course, your Papi Alex and I would be so shocked if you were to actually request that, my princess, like how we were just mere moments ago, but also—” He took her hands gently. “You gave us a valid reason why you want either me or your Papi to turn you. But at the end of the day, it will still be your choice.” Henry explained.

“Being a vampire is not an easy life, mija.” Alex said. “You observed us and so you know what we do. You’ll only drink blood, you won’t be able to go out and enjoy the sunshine and since you’ll be immortal, you could watch the ones you love die before you and that could lead to a very lonely and grief-filled life. Sometimes, it could be so lonely that you would want to wish death upon yourself, and that is something your dad and I don’t want for you.”

“Papi, I know about the no sun and only blood rule, but I don’t want you and Daddy to be alone forever.”

Alex was about to interject but Daphne gave him no chance to.

“I mean, how would you feel if Auntie June or Auntie Nora or Auntie Beatrice are gone? Nana Ellen? Nana Catherine? Me?” she asked, her questioning tone taking a somber turn.

“My princess, that’s why your Papi and I have each other.” Henry said, holding Alex’s hand in his.

Daphne took a deep breath. “That’s exactly my point, Daddy. I know you both have each other as company forever but even then, you will still need other people to check in on you. Call me selfish if you want to, but if ever the time comes that Nana Ellen or Auntie June or Auntie Beatrice is gone, I still want to be there for the both of you. I mean, wouldn’t it be nice if you would also be with me for a lifetime?”

“First of all, my princess, we would never call you selfish for wanting to be with us. Of course, we would love to have you with us forever, but we would not force you to do that if you don’t want to. The choice is still yours.” Henry said with a soft smile and a caress to his daughter’s hand.

“Then I’ll leave that choice to future me. For now—” she said, hooking her arms around Henry’s neck. “I’ll happily be your human daughter. Who knows, if future me makes the choice to turn, I’ll be your vampire daughter then. I’ll drink blood like you two which will be an interesting thing, ‘coz I’ve always wondered what blood tastes like.”

Alex and Henry slightly grimaced at the idea of their daughter drinking blood but they also smiled at the alternate idea of getting to be with Daphne for life, but they set the thought aside for the future and refocused their thoughts on the present.

“Mija, whatever choice your future self will make, we’re just happy and thankful that you chose us to be your dads despite the fact that, you know, us being vampires and all that.” Alex said, tugging Daphne closer to give her a hug.

Daphne nestled into Alex’s embrace, her nose nuzzled into the crook of her dad’s neck. “Papi , choosing you and Daddy to be my adoptive parents is the best decision I’ve ever made in my entire life. The knowledge of you two being vampires is just a bonus.” she said. “I love you both so much and I wouldn’t trade the two of you for any other adoptive parents.”

“We love you too, mija.” Alex crooned, pulling Henry in for a family hug. “We’re sorry that you don’t have a mom, though.”

Daphne chuckled. “It’s fine because I have Auntie June, Auntie Nora and Auntie Beatrice. Plus Nana Ellen and Nana Catherine. They’re amazing mother figures to me that I don’t really mind not having a mom.” Alex and Henry just smiled at their daughter.

She soon pulled back to look at her adoptive dads with adoring blue eyes. “Also, isn’t that the coolest thing ever? I get to have two queer vampires as dads.” Daphne cheekily declared. “Ha! Take that, fantasy book authors! You’ll never be as cool as me, because I’m living the life y'all are simply imagining in your heads.”

Alex chuckled. “Ayy Dios Mio.”

“Now now, my princess, keep the tone and attitude down or else my future self might refuse to turn you so that we won’t have to spend our entire lifetime being annoyed by you.” Henry said, but his voice was anything but scolding.

“No, Daddy. You won’t do that.” She teased.

“Oh?” Henry said with an equally teasing smirk, Alex smiling beside him. “How sure are you that I won’t?”

“Simple. You love me so much that you’ll never be annoyed by me.” She crooned, dramatically batting her eyelashes at him.

Henry sighed, resigned to his fate. “Yes, I do, my sweet princess. I love you and your Papi so much that I could never say no to the both of you, especially when you both flutter your ridiculously long eyelashes at me like butterfly wings.” He pouted. “Seriously, where did you both get those obscene eyelashes? I’m so jealous of them.”

“We could always put fake ones on you if you want, Daddy.” Daphne said, continuing to flutter her lashes at Henry, who simply chuckled.

“No need, my princess. I’m quite happy with my natural eyelashes, even though they’re not as long as yours and your Papi’s.” he said, tugging both Alex and Daphne in his arms for another family hug.

Daphne pulled back slightly only to plant kisses on both her fathers’ cheeks. “I love you Papi.” One kiss to Alex. “I love you Daddy.” One kiss to Henry.

Henry and Alex both leaned forward and placed a kiss on both her cheeks. “We love you too, Daphne Camila Claremont-Diaz Fox.”

The morning stretched into the afternoon in a whirlwind of activity and by the time dinner was over, Daphne pulled the both of them to the couch for a movie marathon and they simply lounged there for the entirety of the night, David lazily snoozing in his dog bed behind the couch.

Their pack is truly unconventional—a vampire hunter turned vampire alpha, a human turned vampire omega, a cheeky human girl and a snoozing beagle—but it was theirs.

They had to get through a lot of challenges, heats and ruts to get to this moment—some more painful than the others, but even then, Alex and Henry were thankful for the tough and hellish road that led to this happy, peaceful and heavenly moment.

Now that Daphne knows about what they truly are, the possibilities of what could happen next are endless, but they chose to simply face it headfirst when the time comes.

For now, they chose to seize the precious moments of the night—the moment that they all get to live in a peaceful home as a happy pack underneath the shadows of the night, the streets outside only illuminated by the scarlet shade of a crimson moonlight.