110. Caleb - My brother

Being a slave for the Cosaci Vampires reduced me to a shell of my former self. I lost count of how many times I begged all the gods and goddesses out there to let me die. The only reply I’ve ever received is silence. Even the Moon Goddess deserted me as if I wasn’t worthy of her help. 

In the vampire castle, I was alone in my suffering. Most of the other slaves loved to taunt me, especially the Omegas, because it granted them favors with Sinn or his monster of a mother, Queen Lamia. 

Not all slaves wanted to be in Sinn’s good grace. Katherine was the only one who risked her life to take mine and set me free. 

Not all vampires took great pleasure in tormenting me. Daphne, despite being Sinn’s sister, was nothing like her brother or mother. She was more like her brother. 

Like Tristan. 

He has been my light in my darkest moments, my friend when I needed one, the brother I always wanted. 

When my adoptive father sold me to the vampires, Tristan was the only one who never tried to drink my blood. Not even when I insisted he do it because Queen Lamia forbade him to feed for several days as punishment when he wouldn’t hit me in front of everyone, he refused. He preferred to drink from rats, even if doing so is considered a sin, since said creatures are the most unclean animals in the eyes of vampires and their goddess, Nyx. 

Despite being Queen Lamia’s son, Tristan was a constant reminder of her infidelity to her mate, the late King Iosif. Because of that, he was never loved by his family. Even his father pushed him to the side, the memory of Tristan being a constant reminder of siring a child with his best friend’s mate. 

Cheating is something that happens often at the vampire court, but having a child with someone who is not your mate is not acceptable. This is why slaves are usually sterilized, so ‘accidents’ won’t happen. There are other birth control methods used that are not permanent since vampires have a low birth rate.

If there had been doubts about Tristan’s paternity before his birth, I don’t know, but his resemblance to General Iuliu made it clear who his father was. Especially the birthmark on his left hip, which resembles the northern star. Only those from General Iuliu’s bloodline have one. 

As retribution, King Iosif had Daphne with Queen Lamia’s sister a year later. Queen Lamia blamed Tristan for this. When King Iosif was found dead in his room, stabbed in the heart by an ashwood dagger, Tristan was the principal suspect, even if he was only ten years at that time. She even blamed Tristan for existing. As if he asked to be brought into this world.  

Maybe this pushed Tristan and me—the hate our families had for us—to see each other as brothers. After all, blood doesn’t always equal family. 

The only good thing General Iuliu did for Tristan was training him to become a Vampire Knight. Tristan had real talent in the art of sword fighting, as he called it. Everyone in the castle talked about it. It made Sinn jealous since he wanted all the attention on him. It didn’t take long for General Iuliu to take Sinn under his wing. He even became a better fighter than Tristan, not because he had more talent but because he wasn’t being starved regularly. 

The day Katherine did me the favor of ending my misery was not long after Sinn killed Tristan. Sinn cut open Tristan’s neck with a sword. I saw him bleed to death. 

Or so I thought. 

I let go of Tristan and take one step back. Eight fucking years since I last saw him. 

Raven howls with happiness. He loves Tristan just as much as I do. 

“There hadn’t been one day when my heart didn’t mourn your death,” I say before hugging him again.

My fucking brother. The only vampire who can touch me without making me want to rip him to pieces.  

“If not for Daphne, I wouldn’t be standing here. We thought you were dead, too. At least, that’s what Katherine thought, that she killed you.” 

I chuckle. “She did. I would be dead if not for my amazing soulmate.” I look around for Red. She is behind me. It’s wrong. She should be by my side, shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart, soul to soul, as my soulmate, as my Queen, as my everything. I take her hand in mine and guide her in front of me so that everyone will know that she is the most important person present. “Tristan, this is my soulmate, Rain. And the one clinging to you is my daughter, Sky, but I have a feeling you already know this.”

Tristan looks at Sky, who glances up at him with silver eyes, similar to mine. “How could I not know when she carries part of your scent? Daphne told me everything. I see Sky as my flesh and blood, but I made sure she knew who her real parents were.” 

This is why Sky said she wanted me as her dad the moment we met because she suspected who I was to her? 

‘How could she not know when she looks like you? Except for the hair color. That's the one she got from Daphne.’

 Now, that Raven mentioned it, Sky does look like me. 

I don’t think I can ever repay Tristan for raising Sky as his own. 

Tristan winks at Red. “We’ve already met. The night you went missing.” 

It feels like I have missed out on so many things while I was in the Nether Realm. But ultimately, it led me to discover who I truly am. It had never occurred to me until now, but maybe everything that happened to me was to prepare me for this moment. 

Members of the pack I worked so hard to create stand behind Tristan. Joy fills their eyes as they see me for the first time in months. It makes me feel like a failure of an Alpha because I put my needs before theirs. Yet, false memories still linger in my mind, and all the thoughts about my pack are still hazy. What stands out the most in my head is how hard I fought to convince the Elders to give me a chance to prove myself.  

Despite all the hardship, all I could think about earlier was that the pack would be better off without me, that Conrad is a better Alpha than I’ll ever be. 

Seeing Conon, Jimmy, and others makes me question my decision. Maybe, in a few days, after my head is more clear, I’ll rethink everything. 

Tristan keeps talking. “If only I had been there a few minutes earlier, I could have prevented this entire mess from happening.” 

“What had to happen happened,” I say, knowing that the past can’t be changed. Tatiana nods, agreeing with me, but Red squeezes my hand hard. I can’t even fathom how much she has suffered because I couldn’t get my act together. But I intend to keep all the promises I made to her. Before her, all I wanted was to disappear so the past wouldn’t haunt me anymore. Now, I want to dedicate all my life to making Red happy. She is the only one who really understands my pain. 

**‘Don’t forget about Safia. Her sacrifice is what brought us back to life,’** Raven reminds me. 

*‘How could I ever forget? She is part of me just as Red is.’*

“The past is best remembered so that the same things won’t be repeated,” Tatiana’s tone is a warning to all of us. 

I know why she says this. 

It’s because of *her.*

The Enemy of the Old. Queen of Monsters and Nightmares. Her name was forbidden, forgotten eventually. Saying it will only make her more powerful. 

After getting everyone inside the palace, hugging the members of my pack, and exchanging a few words with Katherine, who came here with Tristan and Tatiana, I say, “The past shouldn’t be forgotten, but tonight is about our future.” I take the hands of Red and Sky into mine and add, “I wish there was more time to better organize things with the coronation but the Diamond Realm has waited a long time.” Looking at Conon, I ask, “Do you still want to be my Beta?” 

Conon seems to be conflicted by my question. Does he want to be Conrad’s Beta? It will pain me, but I want Conon to do what’s best for him. He reaches out for Katherine, who looks a bit flustered. “I do. There will also be a Beta female since Kitty Kat is my mate.”

Conon and Katherine are mates? They are basically opposite personalities. This is what makes them perfect for each other.

I don’t remember the last time I saw Conon so happy, so proud of someone or something. Just by looking at them, I can see they love each other.

**‘Kitty Kat? Conon is bold to call her that,’** Raven chuckles. 

*‘I’m surprised she didn’t kick his ass by now.’*

**‘Maybe she will.’** 

“You have my condolences,” I say.