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

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"Get me on a date with Marius.", Mona demanded with a straight face.

Mona dated a few guys over the years, but it never got serious. As much as others were on and off, Marius is always an ongoing topic for Mona.

"I can't believe that you are still set on him. How come you didn't seduce him so far? You have all the goods."

Mona sulked. "I don't know what's the problem. From the moment I laid my eyes on him, I'm smitten, yet he is avoiding me. I mean… if he doesn't like me, why did he seduce me? Is it possible that this infatuation is one-sided? Do you think it's the boobs?"

I wanted to ask her when did Marius seduce her, but then Mona grabbed her not-so-big breasts with her hands and looked at me sorrowfully. "They are tiny. Should I get implants?"

"I don't think Marius is a boob guy.", I said, even though I had no idea what I was talking about. But getting implants for one crush you don't even know if it's mutual, seemed like too much.

Her breasts are on the smaller side, but they are firm and well-shaped. Mona is an objectively attractive young woman with a spunky personality. No guy should refuse her because of the size of her breasts. I think.

"If it's not the boobs, then what is it?", Mona asked and then her eyes lit up. "You made a potion that can make me stay young. Can you make me one to grow boobs? A cup or two larger boobs will be perfect."

I stifled a laugh. How many times can she say 'boobs' within a minute? And how did she come up with the crazy idea about the boob-enlarging potion?

"Do you want me to talk to Marius and find out if he is interested in you?"

Mona's eyes widened. "You would do that?"

"I can ask him, but I can't guarantee that you will like the answer.", I said honestly.

I spoke with Marius many times, but our conversations were stiff and to the point. Marius is not a chatty person. He is Aldus's familiar, and I'm convinced that he is tolerating me only because his master is telling him to. That's why I never tried being friendly with him.

Mona bobbed her head excitedly. "Alright. That settles me, but what about you?"

"What about me?"

Mona gave me a knowing look. "How come you didn't invite Drago?"

I pressed my lips into a line. Mona is one of the few people who know that I'm dating Duke. I told her that we rekindled our flame during our high school reunion and that we saw each other a few times since then and that it's wonderful. Well, none of those is a lie, but I didn't tell her about my ability.

"It's complicated."

Mona frowned at me. "It seems that you are the one complicating things. The guy is hot as the sun, crazy about you, and you like him. What's stopping you?"

"Nothing is stopping me, but I have other things going on.", I responded vaguely, and Mona gave me the 'I-don't-believe-you' look.

"If you continue like this, you will push him away.", Mona warned me.

I shook my head helplessly. "I don't have the strength to push him away, Mona. Every cell in my body is screaming to be with him and that's why it's so difficult to pretend I'm not dying inside when he is not around. Please, don't ask more. Let's focus on this event. Our guests should be here any minute now…"

Luckily, Duke thinks that it's a disease, and he is not insisting to meet with me, but he is asking daily about my condition with the hope I will tell him that I'm cured.

I promised to myself that I will stay away from Duke until I figure out this ability and I'm doing that, but it's hard.

…

The whole villa turned noisy with newcomers.

I heard a lot about five new faces (from Zoe mostly since she is the chatty one), but this was the first time for me to meet them.

Hugo and Chiara were both blonde, and they looked like siblings.

Violet had long brown hair and pale skin that made me wonder if werewolves burn in sun or their healing ability fixes it on the spot.

Cristina was a bubbly brunette who was chattering in whispers with Zoe which told me they are close.

Emilio stood out with his darker skin that appeared even darker when he flashed his boyish grin full of white teeth.

Ash was gelling well with the boys, while Luca was his reserved self, observing, but the glimmer in his eyes told me that he was excited to be here.

What all teens had in common was the contagious positive energy that made me smile.

Mona and I welcomed them and showed them to their rooms, to leave their things.

Lazarus got his own room, while we settled four boys (Luca, Ash, Hugo, and Emilio) to share one room and four girls (Zoe, Cristina, Violet, and Chiara) to share another one.

Mona thought that this arrangement will give them privacy for boy-only and girl-only times which teenagers need, while they can mix up in common areas.

After they kept their things, I took them to the rooftop terrace, to show them the property from above.

The kids looked in awe at the garden and the forest that extended beyond it, there was a pool with comfy lounging chairs and a cabana. At the seaside, there was a private beach made out of white pebbles and sand that was naturally protected by tall rock formations on each side.

"It's past lunchtime, so there are snacks by the pool.", Mona announced. "Your task right now is to get into your swimsuits and rest by the pool or jump in. After dinner, we will head to the beach. There will be a bonfire and night swimming is optional."

The teens stormed downstairs to change clothes, leaving me, Mona, and Lazarus on the rooftop terrace.

"They seem to be excited about the pool.", Mona mused.

Lazarus shook his head. "There is nothing better to stir up teenage werewolves than to offer them food."

"Oh…", Mona let out an ambiguous sound and turned to Lazarus, extending her hand for a handshake. "We didn't introduce ourselves officially, I'm Mona."

Lazarus shook her hand and they exchanged greetings.

They spoke twice on the video call with me (related to this event), but this was the first time for Lazarus and Mona to meet in person.

"Will you come to the pool?", I asked Lazarus.

"Are you coming?", he responded with a question.

"Yes."

He grinned. "Alright. I will go and change then."

Mona cocked an eyebrow while looking after Lazarus. "I thought you are friends ONLY."

I let out an exasperated sigh. "We are."

"But…" Mona hesitated, and I knew what she was about to say. "The way he is looking at you…"

"Don't.", I interrupted her. "Let's go to the pool and mingle with others. I want to try the bikini you bought me for this occasion."

I didn't want to hear it. Yes, I knew that Lazarus's feelings won't die on their own, but as long as he doesn't act on it, I will be fine. That's what I told myself.

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Check photos of the teens in the comment.

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