Author's note: this is from Seraphina's point of view

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I saw Duke inching closer and my heart skipped a beat as I hoped for a steamy kissing session and much more, right among these bushes, but Duke only pecked my lips and stood up, tugging me to get up with him.

"Let's go. We are nearly at our next destination."

I exhaled dejectedly and followed without voicing my complaints. I knew that this was hard for him also. He was holding back because of my "sickness".

The worry in Duke's eyes was eating me from the inside, and I wanted to tell him that I'm immortal and not sick, but then I would need to explain so much more and I was not ready for it.

When would be the right time? I didn't have an answer to this, but I knew that the longer I delay, the harder it will be.

I thought about it more than once.

Something like, "I don't age, I heal fast, I have the ability to make men fall for me…" Wait! I should probably skip mentioning this one and focus on the important bits like, "I can manipulate air and if I get overwhelmed with emotions (or is it arousal?) I end up passing out because the vitality leaves my body and invigorates all living beings around me and that's why you can't sleep after my orgasm, but I am fine after sleeping it off. Oh, and my father is a vampire, and…" Or should I start with the vampire part? At what point should I bring up the ghouls, witches, dragons, and werewolves? Or maybe I should just stab myself and demonstrate the healing part?

Ah! No matter how I start, I can't see it ending well.

Aldus told me to wait with this reveal until I confirm that our feelings are solid, but I don't think it gets more solid than this even though we are not dating for a long time. Everything Duke does is right, and it only makes me love him more while his absence is nearly pushing me into insanity.

I decided to talk about this with Aldus when I get home. I need to have a timeline and maybe a set of conditions that should be met before I can start revealing the truth to Duke.

"Ah! No!", a girly shriek reached my ears. "Quit it! Please… Stop!"

It came from our right.

My heart jolted as I imagined hooded guys making a mess. Are they kidnapping someone? How did they go past security? Aldus assured me that no one can come uninvited!

Duke's body reacted before mine and he started running in the direction from where the noise came. He was still holding onto my hand, and I followed after him swiftly while focusing on the ground in order not to trip on something.

I expected many things but what I didn't expect was to see Ash and Luca on the ground, beating each other fiercely with Zoe and Cristina standing nearby. The girls were panicked, but obviously didn't know how to split them up and the boys were acting like they are mortal enemies.

This was not just two teens in a tussle. They were using the strength of their wolves to deliver vicious punches and I could see their eyes flickering golden.

"Stop!", I shouted and the boys froze.

Luca was on top of Ash with his fist lifted, ready to punch him in the face.

Duke stepped in and separated them easily, holding them to stand by the collars of their t-shirts, one in each hand, like they were chickens.

"What is going on here?", I asked only to be met with silence.

There was a rustling from behind and Chiara and Emilio made their appearances. They were breathy which told me that they were rushing.

Even in the scarce light, I could see that Luca's and Ash's faces were shaded either by the dirt or bruises.

Cristina was frozen and staring at Duke with eyes open wide while Zoe was flustered.

Zoe is always confident and on top of things. The fact that she was shrinking told me that she felt guilty about what's going on.

"Serina asked you something.", Duke said in a dangerously low voice that made both boys lower their heads and shudder.

I was angry, but I didn't want to embarrass them in front of outsiders.

"That's fine.", I said. "Let's talk in the villa. The scavenger hunt for you is over. Zoe, Cristina, please come with us." I wanted to suggest that the girls can continue, but I guessed that Zoe wouldn't agree to play the game while Luca and Ash are being punished.

What's the punishment? I was drawing blanks and I hoped that something will come to me by the time I find out why they were fighting. Maybe Lazarus can suggest something werewolf-appropriate.

Ash and Luca are best friends, and I had no idea what could trigger this, but I was disappointed that they resorted to fists instead of talking it out.

I thought about Zoe, Luca, and Ash as a tight unit, three musketeers, yet what I saw right now shattered that image.

I was worried that these extra kids will cause issues, yet my own ended up fighting.

I turned to Chiara and Emilio. "The two of you continue the game. We will deal with this."

…

In the study, Lazarus was sitting behind the desk with a laptop in front of him and a phone in his hand.

He kept his phone down and frowned when he saw me enter with Ash, Luca, Zoe, Cristina, and Duke.

"You are already back?"

"Sorry for the interruption, Laz. I caught these two boys fighting.", I said. "I hope that the walk here gave them time to think about what they are going to say next because I am on the verge of sending them home right now."

I didn't want to send Ash and Luca home. Luca is the birthday boy, and Mona prepared activities for another full day here. But if they don't have a good explanation, I really didn't know how to handle this.

Leaving them without consequences didn't seem like an acceptable outcome.

The boys lowered their heads and I realized that they will not talk.

Cristina was nervously glancing around while Zoe stared at the carpet like it's the most interesting thing in the world.

I tried a different approach. "Duke, Laz, Cristina, can you please step outside? I would like to talk to Ash, Luca, and Zoe in private."

Once I was left with my three teens, I observed that all three of them looked disheveled.

When I arrived at the scene, Luca and Ash were fighting while Zoe was standing on the side with Cristina. How did Zoe end up with grass in her hair?

"Will you tell me what happened, or am I to assume the worst?"

What could 'the worst' be? I had no idea, but I hoped that what actually happened is not that bad.

I looked at Zoe, Luca, and Ash who stood without moving with their eyes glued to the floor.

What the heck? Are they really not going to talk?

I was exasperated and dark thoughts filled my mind.

What was I thinking when I decided to take them in? I have no idea about raising kids and even less about werewolves.

It's all nice when we are getting along, but now that I'm facing a rough patch I have no idea how to deal with this.

They are not little kids to ask them to kiss and make up or to distract them with candy, yet I can't treat them as grownups either.

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