Chapter 2

The night runners find themselves somewhere in Europe, this wasn’t a werewolf pack, the beings of the night runner clan are what humans call vampires.

Pietro Steinburg, a wonder baby. No other female vampire had been able to birth a child, but Ilene Steinburg managed to get impregnated by another vampire twenty years ago. Ilene was the child of the elder of their pack, Pietro being his first ever grandchild made him swear to do better for his clan. For many years the vampires keep getting pushed back into a corner, little by little they hold less land, and the werewolves and humans only gain more. Not anymore. Niklaus would make sure his grandchild and all the other clans get back what is rightfully theirs, enough vampires have gone extinct already. The only problem was Ilene was starting to get impatient, it was no surprise to them when they kept losing more and more ground.

“Papa, we have to talk,” Ilene walked through the red oak doors.

“What’s wrong, dearest?” Niklaus asked, turning away from the ceiling-length window.

“I think I made a mistake by not turning Pietro human and sending him to live with humans,” She said quietly, knowing what a betrayal it was for a vampire to convert to a human.

“Ilene, are you insane?” Her father asked, setting down his stick.

“He seems to have no future here, not one of us do,” She sighed, closing her eyes.

“I told you to be patient, no?” Niklaus walked to sit down at the table.

“How much longer, papa?” Ilene wondered, she had been hearing this since she was a little girl and that was over 300 years ago.

“A decade perhaps?” Niklaus guessed.

“A whole decade? Why do you think this prophecy is even real? It could just be a rumor,” Ilene just wanted to protect her child.

“Ilene, I had to kill Katja, offer my blood and dagger to the witch so she could tell me the future,” Niklaus confessed, the look on his daughter's face changed. “Pietro will be our savior, we just have to be patient,” He explained.

“Katja’s death was an accident,” She mumbled, frowning.

“It wasn’t… She had plans to leave for human ground, she was going to betray us. She’d end up dead in the human world anyways, so I did it before she’d land there,” He answered, shrugging. As if it was nothing.

“How could you?!” Ilene’s heart started beating faster, all of this was based on the words of a single woman. “How are you ever sure this is real? Witches have been dead for centuries now.”

“She was one of the few still alive, almost as old as I am actually. I did what was necessary for our people,” Niklaus argued back and got up.

“Your blood and dagger… They own you now,” Ilene reminded him, everyone was smart enough to never make a deal with the witches, but this man was desperate for a way out.

“That’s a price I’m willing to pay for salvation...”

The day after Roman’s birthday...

Roman was up early and had decided to go on a quick run. He placed his clothes on the ground by one of the trees and shifted into his wolf and began to run. The morning mist made him shiver a bit. He had quite a few things on his mind.

For starters Tallulah Snyder, she was meant to be his mate, but it felt so weird. In a way, they grew up together but all they ever did was fight, he knew his parents loved Tali. What if he hurts her in the end or if something just doesn’t work out as it should?

He had to give up the alpha training, for now, he heard of mates feeling certain sparks around their mate and he wasn’t sure if he’d be experiencing it again like he did before, but he didn’t want that yet. He knew he had to wait and now it would cost him the training.

Roman finished up his run and circled back to his tree, changing back into his human form. He picked up the clothes he laid by the tree and put them on quickly then walked to the house. The moment he stepped foot through the door he could smell the waffles.

“Good Morning, Roman,” Natalia said, crossing her arms as she looked at her son. He surpassed her in height but when she’d narrow her eyes on him he’d immediately sit down.

“Morning, Ma, everyone,” Roman greeted, smiling at the others then turned to his mother and raised a brow at her, a little confused. Did he do something?

“I heard from your father you don’t want to take the alpha training?” His mother said, leading the way to the living room so they could talk without the little ones interrupting.

“Yes, I hope that’s okay,” Roman mumbled, looking over his mother’s shoulder and saw Theo and Tessa jumping around Luca.

“Mm-hmm. It’s just that you were excited about it,” Natalia replied, fixing a strand of his blonde hair and tucking it behind his ear. He still kept his hair long after so many years, she wondered if he’d ever cut it short.

“I know, I just realized I’m far from becoming an alpha. I should probably enjoy my time before taking up so much training,” Roman explained, partly lying but it was also partly the truth. Now he’d get to go to college a little earlier as he wouldn’t train to be an alpha just yet.

“And college?” Natalia asked, hoping her son would indeed pick a college, she found that education was important especially if you plan on running a pack. The finances alone can be a bit confusing how to make it all and where to spend it.

“Yep, I finally chose one, it’s in the human world but it’s a good one,” Roman answered, smiling.

“Understandable, will you ever be alpha?” She then asked curiously. Just as Roman was about to answer her Tessa stormed into the room, “Don’t worry mama, I’ll be a Luna!” She hugged her, looking up at her mother who smiled.

“Well it appears I’ll have competition, but I sure hope in the future,” Roman chuckled and ruffled Tessa’s hair.

“You take any longer and Theo and I might finish up these waffles by ourselves,” Luca shouted to them, taking a seat at the table with their youngest on, both of them already had a stack on their plates.

“Come on,” Roman took the ladies by their hands and led the way to the kitchen.

“Can we please play outside, Romie?” Tessa asked, giving her pouty look as she looked up at her brother who sat next to her.

“Yeah, can we? Can we please?” Theo asked, his mouth was a little full with the strawberries that topped the waffles. Roman looked over at Theo and thought for a moment.

“I suppose we can yeah. Did you two do your homework?” He shrugged, rolling up his pancakes, and took a bite from it, the chocolate sauce dripping onto the plate.

“I did!” Tessa grinned, proud of herself.

“Me too!” Theo chimed in, taking another bite of his food.

“Then we can go play after breakfast,” Roman replied, it’s not like he had any plans for the day.

“Yay!” Tessa hugged her older brother tightly. Roman just chuckled and ruffled her hair.

“You two have to be at the office huh?” Roman asked, looking at his parents. Being Alpha and Luna sounded cool, but it came with so many responsibilities. Of course, his parents were and are there for him and his siblings he still felt like they couldn’t exactly take the day off when they pleased.

“Running a pack doesn’t exactly grant you a free day,” Luca sighed, wiping the corners of his lips.

“Aww okay,” Theo pouted.

“You know you don’t have to babysit them right?” Natalia said, looking at her eldest who frowned at first then shrugged.

“I know I can drop them off at grandpa, but I enjoy spending time with them,” Roman smiled, looking over at the two.

Once the Santoro’s finished up breakfast the parents went ahead and got ready for work whilst Roman and Theo washed and put away the dishes and Tessa wiped down the table. You’d be surprised how much maple syrup, chocolate sauce, and powdered sugar are on the table.

The kids said their goodbyes to their parents then immediately rushed to the backyard. Roman didn’t fit on the swings anymore so they decided to make use of the trampoline instead. They jumped for a good few minutes till Theo got bored, he got bored very easily. It was a surprise he and Ayla always found something to do, perhaps the fact that she too gets bored easily is why those two get along so easily but also causes them to plan harmless little pranks on others.

After going back and forth they had decided to kick the ball around, it would be soccer, but Tessa would accidentally hold the ball with her hand… Regardless, the three ended up having a fun time outside...

Two weeks later

Tali’s POV

I adjusted the towel around my body and walked to my closet, sliding the mirrored door to the right. I wasn’t sure what to wear, it was Skylar’s birthday. I didn’t even know her that well, just saw her at some of the Santoro’s parties sometimes. I spotted a teal flared skirt. It was high-waisted and ended above my knees. I closed the door and slid the other side open to search for a top and saw my favorite black cropped halter top and picked that out. I wore the chosen outfit and adjusted the straps, they were crisscross. Once I was finished with my outfit I heard a knock on the door and opened up, my parents walked in and sat down.

“You look beautiful, darling,” dad said, leaning back against the headboard.

“Thank you, Dad,” I said, looking at my parents through the mirror for a moment then looked back at my reflection and styled my curls how I wanted them.

“Are you excited to go?” Mom asked, curiously.

“I mean there will be cake so sure,” I shrugged, clipping in two hair clips.

“Are you acting this way because Roman will be there?” She then asked, getting up and walking to me, fixing the clip that wasn’t put in well for me.

“Yes, he’s so annoying,” I groaned, throwing my head back and looking at her.

“Funny, he says the same thing about you,” Dad teased, getting up and joining mom’s side.

“I don’t get why you two fight so much,” Mom mumbled, walking to the door, dad taking my hand and leading the way.

“I don’t get why we hang with those people so much,” I let out without thinking though it was something that constantly bothered me.

“They did a lot for your mother and me. I for one will never be able to repay them,” Dad replied in a serious tone, I looked up at him and just nodded.

“Guess I’ll just have to deal with that asshole,” I sighed dramatically, the word just slipping out.

“Language missy,” Mom warned me, narrowing her eyes on me, making me nod like dad would do when she gave us that look.

“Sorry…” I mumbled, putting on my shoes and followed them to the car, on the way I’d greet the guards I was familiar with.

“You know, you’re lucky he pulled back from the alpha training,” Mom added, getting into the car after my father opened the door for her.

“He did? Why?” I asked, remembering how teased me before he’d be taking it on.

“Something about wanting to enjoy his time a little more, it’s not like he’ll be taking over soon,” Dad explained, a little unsure.

“Good. I’d hate to see him around here,” I smiled, flashing my teeth to them.

“Well—” my mom started and shook her head, her lips in a slightly awkward smile.

“No, no, what’s that face you’re making?” I asked, I knew that face too well.

“He’s the chosen one for hand and hand combat lessons,” Mom informed me, biting down on her lower lip.

“Why him?!” I groaned, throwing my head back.

“He’s the best of all the candidates,” Dad explained, starting the car.

“Are you sure this isn’t nepotism?” I asked, leaning between them.

“Guess you’ll find out when you’ll go up against him,” Dad smirked.

“Great, I can legally kick his ass,” I smirked back at him, leaning back into the seat.

“I don’t understand this,” Dad mumbled.

“What?” Mom asked.

“Why are shorter women so much more violent?” He mumbled, looking at my mother.

“We have to make up for the lack of height somehow,” She shrugged, punching him playfully.

~~~