Author's note: This is from Duke's point of view

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Serina and I kept the chat light during the meal.

I was immersed in the delicious food that just kept coming.

Serina told me that she is planning to get Zoe and Luca to be her assistants. They verbally agreed and will move in to live with her within the next few days.

"I love that they are werewolves because their enhanced senses could save lives. I already gave them some material related to the pharmaceutical industry. I will start introducing them to Notte Pharmaceuticals and managing my correspondence. We will need to meet with Sergio and discuss the blood oath because Luca and Zoe can't know more than that without me ensuring that they won't talk…"

I thought that's a good idea. Actually, ever since Sergio told me that he made an oath with my father to protect me, and that's why he can't leave me alone, I was playing with this idea of having a circle of loyal people around me and Serina.

"Why not Ash also?"

Serina paused. "What do you mean?"

"It's obvious that Sergio is not meant for finances. Actually, if Ash takes over his role at the Eclipse, Sergio will be delighted, and I will be glad to have an assistant who is actually interested in what we are doing at the Eclipse. Serge protected me well since I came to London, and after I found out the truth, I don't feel it's right to force him to continue further what he is doing. I was thinking to offer him the option to move into his old home. Sergio can fix it up and take care of his garden and at the same time keep an eye on Pio and his gang while Ash helps with the company. He will be a trustworthy werewolf at home, while Ash, Zoe, and Luca can help us with our other external affairs."

I shared with Serina my thoughts and she agreed.

"With Sergio gone, Ash can continue being your ears and eyes in London", Serina said. "In order to get a full grasp on the situation, he will need to learn about your background and collaborate with Zoe and Luca."

My father was betrayed by the people who were close to him. I don't know if I will ever find out the truth about how that played out exactly, but I was determined to prevent history from repeating.

Supreme Alpha or not, no one will get close to me unless I'm absolutely confident that they can't harm me or Serina.

After the meal, Serina led the way to the study and shared with me what she found out about my shooting.

I saw photos, videos, and it all came together with the final piece of me revealing that Magda was the culprit.

Before we started with the meal, Serina contacted someone to gather information about Magda's whereabouts, and the initial report told us that she is somewhere in Africa, married.

Serina and I had matching confused expressions.

This definitely didn't add up, unless… "John made her do it."

Serina agreed. "The only thing we need to confirm is if he forced her into that marriage as a punishment because she escaped the school in Sweden, or because she shot you."

"Or maybe to hide her.", I added another option and Serina nodded thoughtfully.

I looked at the file of Magda's husband. Enitan Keita. A businessman who has his hands in construction projects in Western and Central Africa, polygamist, and a woman beater.

Normally, I would loathe those people, but considering that this is Magda, she deserved it.

I flipped through his files, and something caught my eye. "It says that he is more than sixty years old, but look at his photo. Is this recent?"

"The photo should be recent. It came from last year's magazine.", Serina said, and her eyes flashed when she understood my point. "He looks no older than forty. Maybe late forties for a man who takes care of himself, but there is no way he is sixty."

"Is there a possibility that he is not human?"

Serina's expression told me that she didn't like that idea. "I will have someone look into this."

She pinched the roof of her nose and closed her eyes.

"Hey…", I called while rubbing her shoulder. "It will be OK. We will find out about Magda's circumstances and come up with a way to punish her. It was a mistake to think that she will listen to John and learn her lesson, but it will not happen again. Luckily, she didn't make irreparable damage."

Serina looked at me with a painful expression that told me I was wrong.

When I woke up, I was feeling fine. Our lovemaking loosened up my stiff muscles, the scrumptious meal filled my belly, and I was like new. But seeing the pain in her eyes, told me I was missing something.

"What are you not telling me, Serina?"

Serina let out a long breath. "Let's talk about that later, OK?"

I didn't want to push it. I could see that it was weighing on her. She must have suffered for the last week, waiting for me to wake up, and then she found out that Magda was the one who shot me.

"Tell me, how did you bring me back.", I changed the topic.

"Soul Echo.", Serina said. "At least, I think that's what it was. You were sleeping and I laid next to you and established a connection. At first, you were a child. But that's not the strange thing…"

She told me about a big black wolf that was sleeping in the depths of my consciousness, and I felt how that's another proof that my wolf is somewhere inside me, waiting to be awakened.

To say that I was excited was an understatement.

"Alright. When will we do those tests?", I asked. "I took two weeks off for this, and I already wasted one." And that brought me to my next point. "Where is your father?"

I didn't ask so far, because I wanted to be close to Serina, and whenever Aldus is around, Serina keeps her distance. I know she is doing that out of respect for the guy, but in his presence, our intimacy gets reduced to hand-holding and occasional kiss on the cheek, and that's not enough. I need much more from Serina.

"My father can't be here.", Serina said ambiguously. "I will do the tests instead of him. Whenever you are ready, I can start by taking some samples. Once I confirm that your condition is stable, we can proceed per instructions my father left behind."

I understood that Aldus is not here. Probably some vampire-related business, and if he left her instructions on the procedure, it means that he will be absent for some time.

I didn't want to probe further into this, knowing that this is Aldus's business, and Serina will tell me how much I'm allowed to know.

"I know you are eager to go to the lab, but before that, I want you to meet someone.", Serina said. "He is the guy who is currently staying here, and I was hoping that we can take him to our new house as a gardener. He is good with plants and animals."

She told me that the guy's name is Zeiroi and that he is an elf. I imagined a dainty creature with a bow and arrow, and maybe with a bird on his shoulder. I was intrigued.

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