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

- - -

​​

I couldn't believe Sergio said I should leave Duke! And he did that with a straight face!

Unfamiliar rage swelled inside me and I took a deep breath to calm my emotions. Arguing with a werewolf won't accomplish anything.

Sergio already dislikes me, and I was hoping we can start fixing that but if I allow this anger to take over, I will definitely fail.

"Why do you think I will harm him?"

Sergio looked at me like I asked something silly. "Drago is obsessed with you to the point of not caring about himself and your father is dangerous. Just being with you is putting him in danger he is unable to comprehend."

Sergio's answer told me that he is concerned about Duke's safety. As much as that was sweet of him, I was vexed that he saw me as a threat.

"For your information, I have no intention of hurting Drago. I have feelings for him and nothing you do or say will change that. As for my father, he is dangerous only when facing his enemies. Are you his enemy, Sergio?"

Sergio pressed his lips into a line and looked at me with a complex expression.

Seeing that he is silent, I decided to say something else, "You are a werewolf. I know that Drago's father gave you a task to protect him."

Sergio's eyes flashed and I knew I hit a nerve.

"How much do you know?", Sergio asked stiffly.

I shrugged. "Drago told me that his family met some trouble and that you came with him from Italy. It doesn't take a genius to connect the dots how his father assigned you to be his guardian."

I omitted several details Duke told me because Sergio looked on the verge of blowing a fuse.

Before he could get defensive, I continued, "How is my presence in Drago's life putting him in more danger than you are? You are with him for more than a decade and he seems to be doing fine. Or let me ask you another thing. Imagine that I turn my back to him, do you think that Drago to stop pursuing me? He waited many years for us to reunite. Compared to other women out there, at least I know that his past is sensitive and that it shouldn't be brought up. His secret is safe with me."

Sergio's expression changed, telling me that his resistance was crumbling.

As my final argument, I asked, "Why don't we protect him together?"

"What do you want?", Sergio squeezed through his teeth.

I ignored his hostile attitude. I believed that he is like that only because he fears Aldus.

"From you, I don't want anything. Don't meddle in my relationship with Drago and everything will be fine."

"You are not human. He was safe so far because I kept my distance when the creatures came nearby."

Sergio's words surprised me. Everyone says that I look (and smell) like a human. Does he know something others don't?

I stepped closer to him. "Are you sure I'm not human? Smell me."

To my surprise, Sergio inched closer and sniffed the air around me a few times.

When he returned to his original position, I saw that he relaxed which told me he sensed what everyone else does, a human.

Part of me was disappointed, as I hoped that he would be able to tell what I am. But it seems that he made assumptions I'm not human only because of my connection to Aldus.

Sergio's expression was changing as if he was having an internal battle and I thought about the possibility… "Does your wolf want to talk to me?"

Sergio's eyes widened. "How do you know?"

I was glad I got it right.

So far, all werewolves had a certain reaction to me, and I believe that's because they have sharper senses, and my pheromones are always slightly elevated. That would be a reasonable explanation for why most of the male wolves like me (in some way).

I reminded myself to focus on lowering my pheromones as I took two steps away from Sergio. The last thing I wanted was another Lazarus.

Sergio was obviously concerned that the man he is supposed to protect (aka Duke) might be involved with a vampire (or some other creature). With him confirming that I'm human, he should ease up a bit.

I thought that maybe I can use his wolf's behavior toward me as a way to win him over.

"If your wolf wants to come out and play, I'm available. We can arrange a spot where you can shift."

Sergio frowned while his eyes stirred with confusion, and I confirmed that all werewolves are stubbornly difficult to get along with.

While reading about werewolves, I assumed that their wolf is giving them a boost beyond strength, speed, and sharp senses. I imagined their wolf to be something like a second consciousness that will make them mentally stronger and wiser, yet the reality showed me that all werewolves are in a constant battle where the human and wolf sides are bickering and trying to suppress the other. And this is extra-prominent with the strong males. I found this macho attitude exasperating.

Well, I didn't come here to make friends with Sergio. I only wanted him to ease up on the hostility.

Sergio is close to Duke, and no matter how unpleasant Sergio is, the fact is that he was watching over Duke for more than a decade and that his intention is to protect him.

Duke already lost his whole family, and I didn't want to put him in a position where he would alienate himself from Sergio. Not because of me.

"I don't expect you to welcome me as your family, Sergio. I only want you not to meddle in my relationship with Drago. He likes me and I like him, it's that simple. As long as you don't try to harm me, you won't even notice my father or his men because they will stay away. My father's men are around to protect me and if Drago is in danger, they will protect him as well. Shouldn't you welcome extra creatures that will protect Drago from the shadows? As for what I said about meeting your wolf, that offer stands."

After a few exceedingly long seconds, Sergio nodded stiffly, and I saw that as a small victory.

I will probably get along better with a ferocious fluffy animal than with this guy.

I wondered if we will ever be close enough for Sergio to tell me his side of the story that's related to what Drago went through. Sergio probably has insights into what happened to Drago's family in Italy, while he was Mateo. But that would be a story for some other time, when our relationship improves. Some day, hopefully.

"Great!", I exclaimed. "Now, if you would be so kind, can you escort me to Drago's office? Can you make it so that he doesn't know I'm there? Or if he is in his office, let me in without announcement? I want to surprise him. He doesn't know I'm in London…"

---

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.