9. The Folklore

A deep growl exited Christian's throat, the air around vibrating with its frequency as his claws extracted, his legs tightening and the colour of his eyes changing to a deep shade of blazing red while Immery stood up, frightened from the sudden change in Christian's outlook.

Nicholas rushed to Immery's side as he already knew what Christian was apparently doing. He gave her an assured look, before placing his hand carefully around her back, making her look towards him and then where his hand touched her back, she looked down before looking up to concentrate on Christian.

Christian closed his eyes for a moment before opening them, focusing on the direction from which the source of the sound came before pouncing off towards the right, a loud squeal of a feminine shrill voice coming right after it.

"Gotcha, Hi Riley," Christian said with a smirky smile as he waved and then extended his hand to Riley, who struggled on the ground, huffing with an unamused face, Christian sitting on her, as his claws went back to normal while his red eyes shined.

"You scared me, Chris," she said, a relief in her voice as she ruffled his hair while Christian got off from her, pulling her off the ground and helping her stand.

"Just marking my presence Riley, you know the usual Alpha things," he answered while turning sideways to look at Immery for a moment, she stood there looking frightened and surely scared of what this bunch of supernaturals considered a little banter.

"You have grown quite a lot of these Mr Wolf," Riley teased as she touched his biceps, Christian did focus and attend to building his body up a lot as he touched his third-century mark for he did go on a lot of wars, to expand his Pack and to mainly search for his mate. He searched for Immery in every place possible, never believing when Damien told and warned them to not search for their mate and claimed that she does not exist.

"You left so I had nothing much to do rather than consoling a sad and hungry blood sucker," Christian replied looking towards Nicholas, who rolled his eye while Riley absorbed Christian's words. Riley's mind raced with thoughts, Nicholas had killed every little hope that she had by announcing about his possible mate in the palace, but he did care for her in the past, only if she did not leave. Immery wondered too about what those words could mean, but her mind was more clouded about how Christian looked just a few moments ago.

"Riiightt," Riley gave out a little chuckle to bury down the pain that the thought was causing her before she tilted her face to look at the girl who was their mate, she almost ran from the palace just after Nicholas left, to see her. To get a look at the person who would, by all means, be loved and cherished by Nicholas.

There she stood, beside Nicholas almost wrapped into his protection, her hair was mercury-red and it tumbled over her shoulders, reaching her tapered waist. She was petite and almost a foot and a half shorter than Riley, reaching only up till Nicholas's chest.

Riley took a step towards her, making direct contact with her eyes, Riley felt the warmth and innocence in Immery's eyes. Nicholas on instinct tightened his hold on her which caught Riley's, a small smile appearing on her face.

"So formally introducing to you, I am Riley. What's your name ?" Riley asked, standing directly in front of her, as she extended her hand out to shake with  Immery, who felt little resistance as she saw Riley's confidant form.

"Immery.." she whispered as she reluctantly extended her hand out as Riley enthusiastically shook it.

"So...now that hello, hi's are over, can we get to the business ?" Nicholas spoke sticking his hand out in the air while Riley nodded, leaving Immery's hand.

"Yeah..but before that, Riley how did you come here? You wouldn't be allowed to enter my city knowing that you are a vampire," Christian asked while sitting down on the log which was lying just beside where Nicholas and Immery were standing.

"The bracelet.." Riley spoke with a wide smile as she forwarded her hand towards Christian, a shining green bracelet on her wrist. Both Christian and Nicholas were shocked by this, they did not think that Riley would keep it with her for so long.

"You still have it. Wow !" Christian exclaimed with a warm smile while Nicholas replicated the emotion, making Immery wonder about whatever was happening.

"I haven't given up on this or any other memory that we have made together," Riley answered, giving a quick glance at Nicholas who looked down at that before shaking off the sad smile off her face.

Christian had given both Nicholas and Riley these bracelets which provided them hassle-free entrance to the Silver Moon Pack. While the werewolves did hate letting them in, not following the Alpha's command would mean worse.

"So..why are you really her? And what were you talking about helping us ?" Nicholas asked, in an attempt to shift the topic.

"Are you both sure that Immery is your mate ?" Riley asked, while the brothers looked at Immery in unison who rather stared ahead. Her heart racing at the thought and consequences of that. She did not know what that term meant but she did understand that it had something to do with togetherness.

Christian moved his hand upward, slowly enough to let Immery be aware of it, he touched her arm which caused a little jolt like before to happen, that similar strange warmth flowing through Immery's body like the first time.

"This answers that question right ?" Christian asked while Riley nodded, she knew what that meant. When she touched her hand she did get the vibes o how difficult this journey was going to before her, and for the brothers.

"Immery do you know what that mean ? These dumbasses have surely not explained you the situation" Riley told her who stood there flabbergasted. Immery gulped down the saliva stuck in her throat as she contemplated what to answer. Nothing she could think about was making her feel less embarrassed about the situation. She never heard it knew if a relationship between three people was possible or even moral. 

Immery nodded her head sideways while Riley sighed.

"Yeah..I guessed so," Riley replied, before pulling up a rock and sitting down on it in front of Immery.

"So to summarise it for you, Immery, you are Nicholas and Christian',s destined mate. The mate who's chosen by the eternal power. You three share a mate bond which will get activated gradually, as you three get to know each other, fall in love and eventually mate," Riley explained while all the three of them stared at her like students, Immery feeling the awkwardness

"How do you know so much ?" Christian asked, while Riley smirked at him.

"You remember right that I am a blood keeper Vampire and not just some regular ones ?" Riley answered while Christian nodded, he knew that Riley had left the city of Wonderhood to train herself as a blood keeper.

"And...what all can you do now ?" Nicholas asked,  unsure if he was going to like the answer.

"Well for the starting control every vampire mentally and therefore physically, heal anyone and everyone and my favourite know everything about the Book of Blood. Actually why don't I show one of them to you guys ?" Riley answered excitedly before looking at Immery. She looked at the few bruises and wounds that Immery still had on her body.

Immery looked at Riley nervously as she took her hand and put it over Immery's shoulder before closing her eyes, as she opened her eyes all the little bruises and marks as well as the one on her neck disappeared as if they were never present. Immery looked down at her arms, shocked to see the marks go.

"Nice, the rotten blood did some good to you," Nicholas said with a little clap while Riley did a little bow to him.

"How do you feel Immery ?" Christian asked her who smiled at him, just like the scars and bruises, the pain had vanished too. Not just the recent ones but she even felt the scars on her back, caused by the abuse back in her house disappear. It felt like a phase of her life being taken away and erased.

"Surprisingly good. Thank you," she answered with a smile. Nicholas felt a little smile tug at his lips too seeing the girl before him smile.

"Nick, we have to return back to the palace soon. As much as I would like to stay here you know the consequences," Riley said as she looked at Christian who nodded.

"What's wrong ?" Immery asked, first time taking the initiative to speak. She did hesitate a bit, thinking if they would mind if she talked out of place.

"Well, the old family drama ya know. My father, well half father Lord Damien Wonderhood hates me and also hates when Nicholas stays with me for too long," Christian explained to her disinterested which further confused Immery.

"Well, I and Chris share the same mother, Eliza, she was just like you mated to the Wonderhood brothers, Damien and Daniel. Mother and my half-father Daniel died in an accident when we were just born and now Lord Damien despises Chris and all werewolves," Nicholas explained it further, while Christian nodded. The memories of being hated by his own father coming back to him, those painful childhood memories and Nicholas still protecting him like a big brother.

"But how can a vampire..and a werewolf be brothers ?" Immery asked, the question struck her like a lightning. She was so occupied being scared and confused about the entire thing that this question skipped her thoughts.

"Eliza, their mother was a hybrid and you are also a hybrid, Immery."