Author's note: this chapter is from Aldus's point of view

--- ​​

I looked at Lazarus whose eyes were still glued to the empty doorframe of the dining room through which Serina left and I could not believe that he is not willing to give up.

During dinner, Lazarus didn't talk much but he was staring at Serina. What is his problem? Is he tired of living?

Lazarus's persistence irritates me. Why can't he give up?

I was surprised to feel anger swelling inside me. It seems that my protectiveness of that girl is more than I anticipated.

Earlier that afternoon, in the garden, I thought about the possibility that maybe they are mates. Most of the mates are found within their species, but there are rare occasions when shapeshifters find mates among others. With that thought, I asked myself: Who am I to interfere? No one can get between mates; they will ignore rules and dangers to be together and keeping Serina away from her lover by force will only make her hate me, and I couldn't allow that to happen.

However, after my talk with Serina, I confirmed that she does not have romantic feelings toward Lazarus, and that makes Lazarus's behavior unacceptable. Serina is not the same kind as Lazarus, and the concept of mates does not apply to her in the same way, but there should be at least some attraction, and Serina showed none. I saw only fear and disapproval when she spoke of him.

In order for Serina to willingly participate in tests and allow me to observe her, I need her to trust me and to do it willingly. Lazarus forcing himself into the picture will only make her unstable.

On the other side, I hoped that Lazarus will back off after my first warning, but again, I underestimated his dedication to getting his way.

I wondered if Lazarus really has deep feelings toward Serina, or if he is just stubborn.

"Why are you acting like you are smitten?"

Lazarus frowned and met my gaze. "I told you that I am interested in her."

"You told me that she smells nice. There is a difference. She is not your mate."

"What do you know?"

I could sense that Lazarus's anger was swelling. He never liked when others tell him what to do and usually, I would not bother with him but now his eyes are set on Serina and I won't allow him to come up with any funny ideas… not after I confirmed that Serina is not interested in him.

"Maybe you should talk to Caleb and ask him the difference between finding a temporary fascination and a mate."

Lazarus snorted. It was obvious that he had no intention of talking to Caleb whose mate was killed about one hundred years ago by a group of creature-hunters. Since then, Caleb is irrational, mostly violent.

The old testaments are telling us that their kind has only one mate for life and that when one of the mates perishes, the other one experiences indescribable agony.

That explains how playful Caleb (then called Constantine) became the most caring creature who would do anything for his mate, and after the unfortunate accident, he turned into something vicious and unfathomable that lived only for the purpose of hunting down creature-hunters and anyone who resembles them.

I pity Caleb, but there is nothing I can do for him. Of course, I could end his miserable existence, but creatures killing each other is taboo and individuals with a status like mine have a role of maintaining order and balance, and not using power to inflict their own justice. Unless I make it look like an accident. I could definitely do that.

I will not deny that I would love to have Caleb as a specimen in my lab. His enhanced senses and shapeshifting are areas that could be researched further, but his disappearance could attract attention to me, and I enjoy the fact that everyone is leaving me alone.

"What do you know about mates?", Lazarus asked me with displeasure apparent in his voice.

"I know that if Serina is your mate, you would see her as the most precious creature, becoming submissive without a thought of harming her. What I saw in the garden didn't fit the description.", I said and observed Lazarus's blank expression. It was obvious that he didn't like my words, but I was not done. "There are also descriptions of strange tingling, similar to euphoria when you touch or are nearby one another. Mates are akin to two halves of the same soul and finding each other is blissful. Is that what you are feeling?"

Lazarus lowered his gaze, silently answering my question. Lazarus confirming that he is aware of how his infatuation is not the real thing, gave me peace. At least he should not pester Serina. Or so I thought.

After a few seconds, Lazarus's determined eyes met mine. "Are you saying that because I didn't meet my mate, I should lock myself until she appears? Maybe she is not born yet. How long should I wait? You know that my lifespan is much longer than human's, but I am not immortal. My clock is ticking. I will treat your daughter well, until…"

"Until you find your mate and discard her?", I interrupted him angrily.

"No. I wanted to say until her lifespan ends.", Lazarus grumbled.

"And what if you meet your mate next week, Lazarus? Or next year? And what if Serina's lifespan does not have an expiration date?"

Lazarus's eyes widened as my words sank in through his thick skull. "She is an immortal?"

"Did you really think that I would acknowledge a normal human as my daughter?"

Lazarus's expression shifted a few times at my words, and I was not sure if that was a good thing or not. I expected him to back off, but it does not seem that is happening. I need a more direct approach.

"Lazarus, I know you for a long time and I saw you go through more than one relationship. I don't care what you do, but Serina is off-limits."

Lazarus frowned. "You said that I can pursue as long as I don't force it."

I was frustrated that the dog-brain used my own words against me, but I said that before I understood the situation.

"That is true, Lazarus. I said that. However, it comes with a condition that you come clean with Serina. She is not like you, and she is not your mate. If you plan to pursue Serina, I want you to explain to her the concept of a mate and what will happen to her when you find yours. Because you and I both know that no matter how much you are in love with Serina, once you meet your mate, every other person will become insignificant. The two of you could spend a long time together and have children, but none of that will matter to you when your blood boils from the primal urge to be with your mate. Even if you force yourself to stay with Serina, the beast within you will refuse. Do you expect Serina at that point to accept that your heart was never hers and to move on as nothing happened? Because for you, she will be nothing compared to your mate."

"You are sentencing me to a failure.", Lazarus said angrily.

I thought that I have my emotions under control, but the fact that Lazarus paled while gripping the table in order not to fall off his chair, told me otherwise. But I couldn't care less if I hurt him with my anger.

"I am saving you from dying the moment you find your mate, Lazarus. What you are thinking of doing will inevitably break Serina's heart and when that happens, I will end you. Trust me when I say, no one will prevent that from happening."

Lazarus didn't respond, but I could see that he didn't like my words. Well, he never cared about others or the impact of his actions, and that is similar to how I am, but with Serina is different.

I accepted Serina as mine and I told him that she is my daughter. Lazarus harming her in any way means going against me and I will not have any of that.

Also, Serina is at a fragile stage. I see her opening up, maybe even trusting me gradually. She is smart and I look forward to the day when she is ready to hear all my answers and maybe even provide me with some answers I am looking for.

I won't allow Lazarus to pull her into a relationship that will end as a disaster. Of course, there is a strong chance that Serina will reject Lazarus herself, but that only means that she will be subjected to his unwanted advances. Emphasis on 'unwanted'.

---

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.