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

- - -

​​

"You don't remember.", I said to Duke and reached into my purse to get a paper. "You were a kid when your father brought you to see Aldus Mezzanotte for an examination."

Duke took the paper from my hands and looked at the page that had Duke's photo as a child and the name 'Mateo Testa'. It also had basic information on height, weight, and some general notes that Aldus took at that time.

I let out a slow breath. This is it. There is no going back now.

"It says that there is not enough information to determine my state.", Duke said when he finished reading what was on the paper I gave him.

"You were too young for further tests and your father said that he will bring you later when you grow up a bit."

Duke pressed his lips into a line. "My parents never told me I'm sick."

"Not sick. My father suspects that you were poisoned. Aldus never told this to your father, because he didn't have any evidence, and he feared what your father would do."

Duke's confused expression was expected.

"Your father was a prominent figure beyond the business world. He wielded a lot of power and some people wanted to harm him."

"So, they poisoned me." Duke understood where I was going with that. "But I didn't die."

"Part of you did. Think of it like sealing part of your powers."

"What?"

I swallowed hard. Here we go. "Your strength, speed, and enhanced senses are not random or coincidental. Your father was a werewolf. A powerful one."

Duke blinked. "A werewolf?"

Aaaaand… there it was. Disbelief.

Before he could call me crazy or run away from me like I'm contagious, I took the spreading knife and jabbed it into my arm.

Crap! These dull knives hurt like hell!

"Serina!", Duke shouted in panic. "Are you out of your mind!?"

"You need to believe me, Duke. Your father was a werewolf, and your mother was human. Don't think that I'm talking nonsense or that I will leave you because I'm not a human either."

I pulled the knife out and Duke's eyes widened when he saw my wound healing.

He took a napkin and wiped the blood robotically.

Duke touched the unblemished skin where the wound was, and then he looked up at my face in slow motion.

"What are you?", Duke asked under his breath.

His shocked expression caused me heartache, but it was better than him running away and telling me not to call him anymore.

"The people who raised me were not my real parents. I don't know who my biological parents were or why they abandoned me when I was a child, so I don't know what I am. But I know WHO I am. I am Seraphina Mezzanotte. Daughter of Aldus Mezzanotte, a vampire who took me in when everyone else discarded me."

I looked at Duke's endlessly blue eyes which stared at me with million emotions that couldn't be put in words, and I took in a shaky breath before saying in a small voice, "I am also your girlfriend. If you still want me."

Duke touched my face with the tips of his fingers. "I am sorry Serina…"

My heart cracked as my sight blurred due to the tears that collected within a second. He is leaving me, isn't he?

"I am so sorry for not being there when you needed me."

What? What did he say?

"I never discarded you. I thought that what I was doing was right for the both of us, and by the time I realized that staying apart from you was the biggest mistake of my life, it was too late… I am sorry. You suffered so much, and I was not there for you. Will you ever forgive me?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but the words failed me.

Duke found out that his father was a werewolf, he was poisoned as a child, his parents hid the truth from him, I'm not human, and my father is a vampire, yet he was worried if I will forgive him that he was not with me because he thought how in that way he is ensuring I will get my education. Silly man.

I didn't know what to say, so I didn't say anything. Not with words at least.

I lunged forward, falling on Duke, lips first.

I kissed him with everything I've got, and he kissed me back with equal fervor.

It was not gentle or passionate. The kisses were sloppy and all over the place. We were both desperate for confirmation that we are in this together, regardless of what we are, and our kisses reflected it.

With my every kiss I told him that I love him and that I will be with him no matter what, and he did the same. It was our way to comfort and reassure each other.

After an unknown measure of time, we slowed down to a stop.

We were both breathing heavily while gazing into each other's eyes and I giggled foolishly because Duke was still my Duke.

"Haa…", Duke exhaled loudly. "So, my father was a werewolf?"

I understood that this was my cue to start giving additional information and if this was going to work, I needed to be truthful and specific. No more lies.

"Damiano Testa was known as the Supreme Alpha. That's something like the king of werewolves."

Duke made a face. "That makes me a prince."

"Uhm… your father passed, and you are his only child, so… you are the uncrowned king."

"I see. I assume that my father's identity is the reason why I had to leave for London."

I confirmed. "There was a war among werewolves. Your father protected you by sending you away."

"Who is the king now?", Duke asked. "Since they took out my father, someone has his position. Is it my evil uncle or the twin I never met?"

His sarcasm released the last bits of tension.

"It's nothing like that. Let me start from the beginning…" I told him how werewolves are ranked based on strength, and that Alpha is something one can't become just with muscles and speed, but it's something that it's inherited. "It's like a power to command other werewolves. They are forced to submit. Your father is gone, but no one was able to fill in his shoes…" I didn't know much about the war, but I told him about the current disarray among werewolves, leaders who are Alphas only in title but not in power, 'The Main Route' and their purpose. "They are trying to maintain order which brings us back to your original question. There is no king since your father's passing."

"Sergio…", Duke said. "Is he a werewolf?"

I nodded. "Ash also. And so are the other teens from Luca's birthday party."

Duke pressed his lips into a line and I felt guilt swell within me.

"Duke, I'm sorry for not telling you earlier but… There is a rule to conceal the existence of creatures from humans. Your father asked Sergio to keep this a secret from you unless your wolf wakes up. I wanted to tell you, but I didn't know how."

Duke shook his head. "I don't blame you, Serina. It was not yours to tell."

He let out a long exhale and laid backward on the picnic blanket with his hands under his head, the blue in the sky amplified the blue in his eyes.

"What are you thinking?", I asked while lying sideways, next to Duke, so that I can see his expression.

"I'm thinking how for fourteen years I lived with my family, and then another eleven with Sergio, and no one thought of telling me the truth."

"They were trying to protect you."

"With lies?"

His pain was tangible and my heart ached.

I put my palm on his cheek, forcing him to look at me.

"I don't want you to think about the past. We can't change it, and there is no point in trying to fix the wrongs that are not ours. Think about now and about the future. In both of those, the two of us are together. I promise you that from now, there will be no lies. Can you do the same for me?"

Duke smiled a little and responded with a nod.

---

If you are not reading this at 'W e b n o v e l . c o m', then the content you're reading is stolen! Please support the author by reading this novel from the original source.