Chapter 62: Chapter 62

[Tyler’s POV]

It was an open arena, just within the estate. I paced around in full-blown panic. I didn’t mean to, but somehow, I was afraid. The vampire had been the first person to ever win me in a fight, and till date, I could never forget about how he had mercilessly tortured me and had only let me go because of Nivera.

A whiff of her scent caught my nose, and I turned around. Malia was standing right behind me, wearing a flowing red dress, with a worried look written on her face.

“Greetings, Alpha Tyler,” she said, with a small bow.

“What do you want?” I retorted in a low growl.

“I just… I just wanted to wish you good luck,” she said.

“You’ve done that now. You may go,” I told her.

She didn’t leave, but just kept staring at me. “Must you engage in this fight? It’s been several years and we just started having peace. Can’t you just not fight the vampire?” she asked.

I knew it came from a place of concern, but I was infuriated by her words. “Why? Do you also think that I won’t be able to win the vampire in a fight?” I barked.

Her voice was calm. “I never said that.”

“Then, what were you insinuating? You know what? You don’t need to answer that. Just get the hell out of my sight and make sure all the people gather around and see their Alpha destroy that lunatic called the vampire today,” I instructed.

She gave a small bow once again. “Yes, Alpha Tyler,” she said, and with a droop of her shoulders, she turned around and walked away.

I felt bad and wanted to call her back, but then, Jocelyn walked towards me from the opposite direction and gave me a small smile.

“Why? Do you feel bad now?” she asked, looking from me to Malia who was walking away, dejectedly.

“Kind of. I mean, she’s my Luna after all,” I replied.

Jocelyn gave a half-smile. “Not for too long,” she stated.

“What do you mean? Is Malia going to die?” I asked.

“No, why would she? But then again, she was never meant to be the Luna. The Omega was,” she explained.

“Yes, but she’s dead,” I reminded her.

To my surprise, Jocelyn burst into a fit of laughter. “Dead? OMG, Tyler! Just brace yourself. A lot of things are going to happen today. My witches are already working on it,” she said, amidst her laughter.

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t have time for all these today. Tell me something, do you really think I can win against the vampire?” I inquired.

“You can, and you will,” she assured me.

Still, I was unsure. “How sure are you of that?” I inquired.

“100% sure. You see that ring he wears? The one on his ring finger on his left hand? That’s what you should target,” she said.

I became perplexed. “Why should I target a ring?” I asked.

“Because that’s the easiest way to defeat him. It’s a daylight ring. Without it, he would melt in the sun and die a miserable death,” she explained.

“I see,” I said, nodding my head in understanding.

She didn’t say anything, but her eyes began to twitch and she walked a few paces ahead of me as a strong wind blew in our direction. She made a roundabout turn and whispered some incantations, then grabbed my chest with both hands. I wanted to complain, but I felt instant relief and the panicking stopped.

“I’ve helped clear your head and your mind. Whatever happens, you must not be distracted. Just concentrate fully on the fight. Your calm tactics would outweigh Lucien’s pride and recklessness. Just put your absolute faith in me,” Jocelyn instructed.

“I understand, but if this goes sour…”

“It won’t. Now, prepare yourself. It is time,” she said.

Normally, I would have been quite worried, but thanks to whatever spell Jocelyn put on me, I just had a feeling that it would go on smoothly.

“Tyler! Tyler!” I heard the deep voice of the vampire growl loudly, as heavy footsteps belonging to him drew closer.

The sun had already set and the members of my Pack began to emerge slowly from the various places they had been in. The word had been spread that the vampire I had sought to kill five years ago was going to appear today and I needed everyone to see how I would single-handedly defeat him.

“Lucien! Lucien!” I answered him, also walking towards the sound of his voice, with the intention of meeting him in the middle.

Finally, we were in front of each other. As expected, the first thing he did was grab my neck with both of his hands and attempt to strangle me. There was fire burning in his eyes and I could perceive the anger written all over him.

“How dare you! It wasn’t enough that you almost killed her when you burnt down her cottage; you also had to take away the one thing she loves the most – her youth,” he accused.

I guffawed, making him even more angrier and the grip he had on my neck tightened.

“If you don’t let me go, you won’t get the herbs you came here for,” I threatened, eyeing him with a look of distaste.

“And how do I know you indeed have the herbs?”he asked.

“Because they’re here,” Jocelyn responded, holding up the few herbs she had gathered from the Oregon Coast in her hands.

His eyes brightened as he set his eyes on them and the grip he had on my neck unconsciously lessened. I took advantage of that and wriggled out of his grasp, then landed a solid blow on his hip.

He groaned mildly, but ignored me and walked towards Jocelyn and with one swing of his hands, attempted to take hold of the herbs. Jocelyn, however, was swifter than him as she hurriedly whispered some magic words, making the herbs disappear into thin air.

“What did you just do? Give me the herbs!” Lucien demanded, with immense fury, and for a moment, I could see a spark of fear in Jocelyn’s eyes.

“Not so fast, Lucien. For centuries, you’ve gone against the witches and helped a traitor. We both know it’s against the will of the creator for anyone to cheat destiny and the theory of balance, and that’s why vampires and greedy people like Celeste who want to live on earth for longer than their designated lifespan are greatly hated. If I do give you the herbs, I’d also be a traitor, so you need to show me that you’re worth being a traitor for,” Jocelyn stated.

“Are you out of your crazy mind? I could kill you, you know,” he threatened.

“Yes, you could. But if you do, how would you save your beloved Celeste? You love her more than anything, don’t you?” Jocelyn asked.

I couldn’t understand why she was asking that question, but she nodded her head at me, making me understand that she knew exactly what she was doing.

“You must be sick. Hand over the herbs and stop playing games with me,” Lucien ordered her.

Jocelyn scoffed. “I will, as soon as you tell me just how much you love Celeste. Is it more than the love you have for your wife?”

“What are you trying to achieve here? What would you gain from asking something as silly as this?” Lucien asked.

“That’s not your business, Lucien. How badly do you want the herbs? Bad enough to admit that you love Celeste even more than the Omega, or is it the Hybrid now? Answer me! Do you care about Celeste more than Nivera? There’s only one right answer, and only then would I decide whether to give you the herbs or not,” she stated.

Time was ticking and Lucien knew it, too. “Fine. Yes, I love Celeste even more than Nivera. I’ve known her for more than four hundred centuries, and I can’t afford to lose her. Did you get your answer? Now, give me the herbs,” he stated, gazing into Jocelyn’s eyes fiercely.

A sly smile appeared on Jocelyn’s lips. “Yes, I got my answer. How about you, Nivera? Was that the answer you were hoping for?”

The question struck me like lightning, and it was glaring that it had the same effect on everyone that was gathered around as we all spun around in that moment, and to our surprise, Nivera was standing right there in flesh and blood, with her hair which was even longer now being blown by the cool evening breeze.

“She’s alive, or is it her ghost?” That was the question my Pack members whispered to each other as they drew backwards slowly, suddenly remembering the havoc she had wreaked upon us the last time we had seen her.

“What are you doing here?” Lucien asked, going to meet her.

He seemed surprised that she was there, but he didn’t look shocked to see that she was alive, hale and hearty.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked at him, saddened by the obvious betrayal his words had caused.

“You know I didn’t mean that, right? I just need to save Celeste, you know that,” Lucien explained.

“So much so that you knowingly walked into a trap ignoring the fact that you might die and leave her and her son behind? Why? Or is it that you don’t care because you know that she can never be your Eloise, and also the fact that he isn’t really your son, but the son of your greatest enemy? Tell me, Lucien. Have you even ever considered that boy as your son?” Jocelyn asked, playing the instigator.

“Shut up! You’re making things worse!” Lucien thundered.

“Wait a second. Nivera, you’re alive, and… and you have a son? Also, by saying the vampire has a greatest enemy, are you talking about me? Jocelyn, is this what you’ve been trying to tell me by saying you’d give me a son? Did Nivera survive back then and have my child?” I asked, trying to put two and two together.

“Precisely,” Jocelyn stated.

“You had my son?” I asked Nivera, unsure of how to feel.

“Shut up!” Lucien roared once more, then heading towards me, he grabbed me by the neck, then used his full body to hit me so greatly that I fell backwards and sustained a minor injury.

I tried standing to my feet, but again and again, he kicked me hard. “He’s my son! Mine!” Lucien repeated, dealing me with several blows so that I couldn’t get back up.

Despite the blood that oozed from different parts of my skin, I felt no pain. All I could feel was satisfaction… satisfaction at the thought that my world was complete. I had a son. All along, I had an heir to my throne, and as the tears from Nivera’s eyes multiplied watching Lucien go crazy and fight me like he wanted to actually kill me, I smiled at her, reminding her why I should have always been her number one choice.