Chapter 25

Roman’s POV

I felt someone shaking me and groaned, turning onto my stomach. The only thing was I hung off the bed, causing me to jerk awake and roll back onto my back. I looked up and saw it was Tessa who had been trying to wake me up.

“Fucking tiny bed,” I muttered under my breath, looking at the one person’s mattress I laid on.

“Sorry Romie, no one ever used the guest bedroom, so I never bothered grading up the bed,” Tessa explained, taking a seat near the end of the bed. “Tallulah asked me about your whereabouts, did she come around?” Tessa then asked to which I nodded, running my fingers through my hair.

“She sure did and felt I owed it to her to forgive her and accept her apology,” I chuckled and shook my head.

“Did you?” Tessa raised a brow at me.

“It was half-assed, and I really don’t feel like talking about her, to be honest,” I shrugged and crossed my legs, leaning back against the wall, the bed didn’t have a headboard.

“Understandable… You should get ready for the meeting,” Tessa sighed and got up.

“Like I have shit to wear,” I mumbled.

“You swear a lot more now,” Tessa pointed out, which made me frown and realize she was right.

“Well there’s no one bothering me and telling me, I shouldn’t,” I smiled, referring to Natalia.

“Fair enough… Also, I picked you up some clothes from home, I think they’ll fit,” She said, pointing to the dresser on which rested a small pile of folded clothes.

“Is that your way of saying I got fat?” I joked, throwing the pillow at her.

“No, you’re just a lot buffer now.” She caught the pillow and glared at me.

“Yeah, duh.” I smiled and pointed to my arms.

“Whatever man, be ready in 10.” Tessa rolled her eyes and threw the pillow back at me.

Once Tessa was out of the room, I got up and made my back then took a quick shower. I checked the clothes she brought me and put on a pair of jeans and a maroon sweater. The sweater was a bit tighter than I remembered but it was still as comfortable as ever. I styled my hair in a bun and finally stepped out and saw Tessa was ready to.

“Come on,” She said, picking up her car keys and waited for me to follow her.

I looked at Tessa’s car, a surprised look on my face. I know being the youngest meant you’re spoiled but I never would’ve thought she’d be this spoiled.

“You like her?” Tessa raised a brow at me as she unlocked the doors.

“She sure is something, are you a street racer or something,” I responded, checking the front out before getting into the passenger seat even though I wished to be in the driver’s seat.

“Eh I always wanted this car, turns out it does have a big upkeep,” Tessa chuckled, twisting the keys. The engine roared as she did so, this was much better than what I had. I chose to first invest in my house but surely soon enough I’ll be able to afford the car of my dreams.

“Yeah it’s a bit more old school,” I responded, checking out all the details inside. I could see some shoes on the ground and in the middle, there were some random candies. This definitely was Tessa’s car.

“Still love it though, I have had it with me since my eighteenth birthday,” She mumbled, backing out of the parking space and drove to the house.

“Aren’t you a spoiled little brat?” I teased.

“I was mostly given all these gifts to get over you,” She chuckled and looked over at me, “I never stopped fighting for you.”

“I really appreciate that, Tessie,” I said sincerely, a timid smile on my lips. Someone believed me and I hadn’t let them down. It was sad only one person did, but it was the person I could depend on the most.

“Well, I do like being right so…” Tessa smirked and looked at the road again.

“Whatever, man,” I rolled my eyes playfully.

When we arrived at the house, I felt my heart beating faster, my palms were sweaty though I kept wiping it against my jeans. I was actually saddened, I was home, but it didn’t feel like home. Nowhere feels like home, even the house I stayed in at Lycan blonde pack. I guess I might just be a stray after all.

“Come on, Romie,” She said as she stepped out of her car. I nodded and took a deep breath then got out and followed her up to the door.

“I was wondering where you two were,” Theo mumbled as he opened the door.

“Well, we’re on time, right?” Tessa raised a brow at him then checked the time on her watch, according to which we were two minutes early.

“Yeah yeah, come on in,” Theo stepped aside and had his eyes focused on me as I walked in.

As I walked through the corridors, I looked at the walls we had decorated with pictures, the ones of me were a bit less than before but some had remained where they last were. I spotted my high school graduation photo and saw Skylar was in it, man no matter how much I had tried to forget her she was still in my mind. Her blonde silky hair, that bubblegum pink lipstick she always wore, and not to forget the jasmine scent. It all haunted me, reminded me of everything I lost over nothing.

“Now that everyone is here, I suppose we could start,” Luca asked, resting his hands on the table. I could tell by the bags under his eyes he still hadn’t slept, he was desperate for a cure to help his wife and it seemed like he wouldn’t stop at any cause.

“What do we have so far?” The queen asked, her amber eyes focused on me.

“I’d like to say I’m here representing the Lycan Blood pack. Alpha Vesper and I discussed things and he had sent me the digital files on the deaths from our pack, here are the hard copies,” I started out with and rested the files on the table, gently sliding them to Ayla who happened to sit next to me.

“And here are all of the other cases, it’s not too much but I fear it will get worse in the future,” Tali said, doing the same as me. Ayla checked through the files then looked up at us.

“Oh, it will. If what I’m seeing is correct, they keep going at it, with each variant it keeps getting worse,” Ayla mumbled, running her fingers through her hair as she focused on the files in front of her.

“We have to come up with a cure as soon as possible,” Luca said, worriedly.

“Could we form a group with the best salutaris,” Tessa suggested, looking at Tallulah.

“I already made a list, Roman, these are the ones we want from you. Theo these are the ones from the Silver moon we need for the team,” The queen replied, sliding both Theo and me a piece of paper. The names of the best of our packs are written on there.

“My name is on there,” Ayla was confused, she hadn’t exactly gotten her Ph.D. yet.

“You clearly seem to know a lot,” I pointed out and folded the paper, putting it in my pocket.

“Well, yeah, but I’m just surprised,” She mumbled, a slight smile on her lips.

“Are there any new findings?” Theo wondered, changing the subject.

“I read in some reports that the scent of jasmine was slightly present,” Ayla mentioned.

“How could that even be?” Luca asked and just then I realized something.

“Wait. I think I might know something, but I’ll have to confirm with my people first,” I informed them.

“You have a cure no? Why can’t we use that on Natalia?” Luca asked, turning to Ayla then back at me.

“It’s more like a vaccine-ish,” I corrected him, “It boasts our vitamins,” I shrugged and got up.

“So you won’t give it to us?” Theo jumped to conclusions.

“We can send it over along with the formula,” I shrugged, taking my jacket from the chair.

“Great, then we can try on making it better so we can heal Aunt Natalia,” Tali concluded, we both stared at each other for a moment before I came back to my senses.

“Sure but that’s not too important to me right now, I have to go,” I cleared my throat, with the first step taken, Theo opened his mouth, “You’re a real dick, you know.”

“Do you expect me to deliver the half cure to mom personally?” I raised a brow at him, before he could answer I said, “She’ll have to wait till the shipment comes in.”

“You’re punishing her for rightfully handling your situation,” Theo accused, the chair slid back as he stood up.

“Sure, rightfully alright,” I scoffed and shook my head.

“Here we go again, the whole 'I’m the innocent' song,” He rolled his eyes.

“He is,” Tallulah spoke up, everyone’s attention now on her.

“What?” Luca frowned, probably wondering why she changed her mind.

“Roman is innocent,” She said again. Tessa looked over at me with a brow raised.

“Tallulah—” I warned, it was now too late to clear up the air.

“Skylar had drugged him, taking him to bed but they never slept together. The pregnancy test belonged to Erin,” The queen explained to them. Their eyes now showing regret and pity, none of which I needed from them.

“I have to go, excuse me. I’ll see you at home,” I cleared my throat and notified Tessa who just nodded.

“Roman—” Tallulah called out, but I already started walking.

“I need to go call our medics and arrange for the vitamins to come here,” I mumbled, walking through the door.

“Roman, come,” Luca wanted to say but the door was already shut. I took a deep breath and rubbed my temple. I walked to the little diner at the corner of my old school’s street. The apple pie there was sure something else and I could definitely use a slice of that. I began to call Vesper, to let him know of everything that needed to be done. We both wanted this over with as well as a cure as soon as possible in case of matters worsened.

Pietro’s POV

It’s been three years since my mother’s passing. The only reason she was now six feet underground was because she had to travel on the human ground, I had no idea what she went out to do but I know for sure she didn’t deserve to be murdered violently by a human. When I stopped at the police station all they had to say was the man who murdered her just felt like doing so, a moment of anger got the best of him. None of this would’ve happened had we have our own ground, big enough to sustain us.

Now it would be over for them, first, we go after the wolves then the humans. I never had much faith in grandpa’s plans, but I now wanted to go through with them, now more than ever. We will get what we deserve, and all of this seems difficult to do.

Though grandpa got a glimpse of the future through a witch we still needed more assurance and more power, so we resorted to black magic, there weren’t many witches left but when your grandfather has lived for over the past 400 years he knew exactly where to find a view of them. Black magic came with an unknown precious price, but we were all willing to pay it, /I/ was willing to pay for it. This had been going on for long enough.

We didn’t have the right virus yet but with each variation, we created the symptoms got worse for the wolves, in less than a month we should have the right version to wipe them all off the face of the earth.

“Dear? Are you here?” My mate asked, stepping into the room. I looked over at her, a slight smirk on my lips and I opened my arms to her.

“Hello love, are you feeling any better?” I asked, pulling her onto my lap and wrapping my arms around her.

“I am now, I missed you,” She answered, hiding her face in my neck. I smiled and kissed her cheek, raking my fingers through her hair.

None of this would’ve been possible if I hadn’t met her, my hope, my faith, my way to get exactly what I want.