Author's note: this is from Seraphina's point of view

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Zoe, Luca, and Ash spoke about their day with a hint of excitement and that told me they were not mistreated.

Luca didn't say much, but his eyes lit up at the mentioning of food. Zoe was impressed with the laundry room and Ash couldn't stop talking about the garage and cars.

The first day was good, however, I was reserved because everyone here knew that Aldus and I are around, so maybe kids got an extra-nice treatment. Only time will show if this environment works for the three teenagers, and that is why I wanted them to have cell phones.

I feel responsible for them and I want to know what is going on, especially if after a month or two things suddenly turn worse.

Is it fine to leave them here? I didn't have an answer to that question, and I hoped that Zoe, Luca, and Ash will tell me, but Fynn, Otto, and Bert were persistent to entertain me, and I was glad that I accepted Lazarus's shawl because I could see Fynn frowning while glancing at the soft fabric that I wrapped around myself.

"How about a drink?", Fynn offered while gesturing toward the bar in the common area. "The kids can mingle with others, and you can observe from the side."

I knew that he was trying to separate me from my three protectors, but he actually had a point.

With my encouragement, Zoe, Luca, and Ash reluctantly went to sit on the sofa, and Tessa, Bia, and Martine started suggesting games to play while Nila was starting a movie on a big flat TV screen that was hanging on the wall.

"So, what is your relationship with Lazarus?", Fynn asked while pouring me a drink.

Fynn sat behind the bar counter, while Otto and Bert flanked my right and left respectively. I liked that there was some space between us and they didn't crowd me. Maybe they were considerate or maybe the shawl was working its magic.

"We are friends.", I responded.

"Friends?" Otto looked at me like I said something silly.

"Is that strange?"

Otto shrugged. "I didn't know that Lazarus can have friends."

"Well, now you know.", I responded with a smile while ignoring their confused expressions as well as the glare from a she-wolf they call Ari who was sitting on the other side of the bar. What is her problem?

Aldus already told me the names of all mated wolves (so that I don't offend someone accidentally), and Fynn, Otto, and Bert were not on that list. Besides, if they have mates, they wouldn't try to get my attention. Yes, I noticed it from the first minute, but as long as they don't do or say anything inappropriate, I will pretend that I'm oblivious.

I focused on the purplish liquid in my glass. Fynn poured the same in three other glasses, for himself, Otto, and Bert.

"What is this?"

"It's Blueberry Flame. We make it here.", Bert responded to my question proudly.

I felt my eyebrow twitching. "A homemade poison?"

Fynn stifled a laugh and gestured to me to drink.

I took a careful sniff of the beverage and was surprised by the gentle scent of blueberries that was mixed with some herbs. Lavender and mint, maybe?

Carefully, I took a sip. That small sip provided a touch of rich sweetness on my tongue, and then I understood the 'Flame' part in the name because my throat was on fire.

I coughed violently as my body protested the smoldering sensation that spread through my insides. Lavender and mint my ass! This burns like it was made with ghost peppers!

"What the hell is this?"

Fynn snickered. "You are not good at handling homemade poisons?"

After I caught my breath, I tilted my head and observed Fynn's smug expression. Bert and Otto were shaking in suppressed laughter.

"I can handle myself just fine.", I responded confidently, slightly irritated by their behavior. "I never tasted anything this strong. It caught me off guard."

I'm not much of a drinker, but on a few occasions where I drank, everyone would collapse other than me. The alcohol never impacted me. Well, one exception is the night when I died, but that doesn't count because it was drugs and not alcohol that got me.

Fynn nodded in acknowledgment of my words. "Human drinks don't work on us. This is stronger, and it has herbs mixed in that affect us."

"You want to get drunk?"

Fynn shrugged. "A little buzz can't hurt. It uplifts the mood and sometimes it's the only thing we have that can help us forget. Even if it's just temporarily, it's still a relief."

Sadness veiled Fynn's face, but it was only for a second before he broke into a grin and lifted his glass while gesturing for me to accept a toast.

I remembered that until eight years ago, this small group was a part of a massive society. They survived a war that took away their friends and family, and their leader they were devoted to.

I clinked my glass with Fynn's, Otto's, and then with Bert's.

To be honest, I had no idea what they went through, but I knew that I had no right to judge them for their behavior as they were coping with the immense loss they braved through.

"What are we drinking for?", Otto asked.

"To forget.", I responded.

There were definitely parts of my past I wished to forget.

I was oblivious to who I was when I woke up in Aldus's lab in Venice, and many memories that I have now are less than pleasant.

I was happier not knowing that I grew up as an outcast, without friends, without a loving family, and without knowing what I was. I died and my roommates who set me up left while my parents didn't look for me. Yes, there are many things I wish I could forget.

Will this brew impact me? There was only one way to find out.

I had a strong feeling that even if I get intoxicated, I will be safe.

Aldus's words about how they are still hoping that their young master will return echoed in my mind as I downed the fiery liquid. These people have a goal, something they are looking forward to. Maybe I should find a goal for myself… tomorrow. Tonight, I will drink.

"Again!", I said as I slammed the glass on the counter.

Three guys in front of me nodded in approval and Fynn refilled our glasses.

The next glass burned much less, and after the fifth one, there was no burning sensation at all.

Fynn, Otto, and Bert looked at me with admiration, and then their gazes turned hazy.

Two and a half hours later…

"You can hold your liquor…", Tessa said with a complex expression while looking at me and then at Fynn, Bert, and Otto who were passed out.

Fynn was sprawled on the counter and hugging a bottle, Bert was dangling on his chair, and Otto was lying on the ground, curled up around the legs of the barstool he was sitting on. And me? I was just fine.

"Uhm… They drank much more than I did." I came up with an excuse quickly.

"Don't try to sell us malarkey…", Vitto said with a knowing smirk. "We were watching you."

I puffed my cheeks while exhaling slowly. "If they ask, tell them that I passed out and you carried me to my room. OK?"

Before Vitto and Tessa could ask more questions, I scurried toward Ash, Luca, and Zoe whose eyes were glued to me and I waved at them to get going. It was time to go to our rooms.

It seems that this werewolf-brew is not working on me, other than filling my bladder. I needed to use the restroom.

In the hallway, I asked Ash and Luca to join us in Zoe's room. I wanted to discuss with them a few things without others overhearing us.

Ash and Luca sat on the edge of Zoe's bed, with Zoe in between them.

I sat on my bed and observed their curious expressions. I could almost see the invisible question marks above their heads.

"Before I give you a chance to ask questions, I want to clarify your current situation.", I started. "I don't want you to feel trapped here. I believe that this environment will be beneficial for you since your biggest challenge is to learn to effectively communicate with your wolf and there are many werewolves in this place who can provide you with guidance. However, I don't want to force you to stay here. The duration of your stay will be impacted by two things. The first criterion is if this place is beneficial for you, and the second one is your willingness to be here. This can be an arrangement that will last for a week, a month, a year, or forever. It will depend on you."

"What will happen if we don't like it here?", Zoe asked.

"I don't know.", I responded honestly. "But in that case, I will do my best to find you a place that works better."

"What if we want to stay with you?", Zoe continued probing.

"You can stay with me, but whenever I go out, you will be left behind because if you can't control your shifting, you are a liability."

"It will take us years to be one with our wolf.", Ash said.

"It will take much longer if you don't have proper guidance.", I stated a fact. "I hope you will do your best to make this work because this is probably the only place where you will not be forced to join a pack or do someone's bidding. However, if you want to join a specific pack, give me a name and I will see if my father can do something about it. He is quite well connected."

Zoe declined immediately. "We want to follow you."

Ash and Luca nodded in agreement with Zoe. Their enthusiasm was cute, and I wondered if they will say the same once they grow up. There was no point in talking more about it, so I decided to give them a chance to satisfy their curiosity.

"Alright. Any questions before we split for the night?"

Zoe's eyes lit up and I could see that she had many questions.

"What is Aldus?", Zoe asked quickly.

Ash spoke before I could answer, "He used some magic to turn Gil into a dried corpse. I never saw anything like that!"

"Aldus is a vampire.", I said, and I saw three pairs of eyes widening in shock. It seems they never saw a vampire before. "As for the magic he used, that is his ability and I don't have the right to talk about it. With time and practice, your connection to your wolf will become stronger, and maybe you will discover that you have some ability as well. Whatever your ability is, don't talk about it lightly. Keeping it a secret can be your advantage, and maybe even save your life…"

I was imparting them bits of knowledge that Aldus taught me, and I was glad that three teenagers listened attentively.

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