Chapter 35: Chapter 35

Since that day, I no longer saw Aelfric.

My parents were unharmed, as Tyrelle had promised, while the majority of the doctors were injured in some way. According to my parents' story, someone locked my parents up in the ER when the attack happened. They, along with the rest of the people in the room, were perplexed and shaken the moment they got out.

In the meantime, the rest of the hospital staff had to undergo therapy sessions for what happened - my parents included.

Days went by, and soon I had to meet up with Tyrelle’s father again. But this time, fortunately, they no longer have to kidnap me because I am going with Tyrelle.

“Are you sure it’s alright if I do not change? I’m wearing casual clothes.” I’m not willing to wear something fancy, I simply asked for the courtesy of the host - which is the Alpha of the Gridon Pack.

“You’re fine. Besides, it will just be the three of us eating at home. Look, even I am wearing casual attire.” He gestures towards his custom-tailored jeans and white polo shirt. If you think about his outfit, there is no doubt that it’s just plain attire. But looking at how this boy carried his wardrobe was something else. Don’t get me started on his expensive cologne, but how his hair seemed to have this permanently perfect hairstyle. His auburn hair was brushed back neatly to confidently display his silver eyes.

Yeah, his clothes don’t look expensive, alright, but when he is the one wearing the attire, it looks luxurious. It’s not fair.

My outfit somehow matches him because of his request - a white polo shirt and jeans. I was somehow getting the vibe that Tyrelle wanted us to have matching outfits to convince his father further that we were a couple.

“Let’s go?” Tyrelle was holding the door of his car open for me in the parking lot after school had ended. “What’s wrong? Did you forget something?”

“N-No.” There’s no way that I could tell him that people were looking at us at this point because I am pretty sure that he would just tell me to ignore them. I pushed back my thoughts and went inside his car.

Tyrelle went for the driver’s seat, and we were soon on our way to the Gridon pack. I kept looking out through the window. My gaze would dart from student to student as we passed by.Unconsciously, I feel like I was looking for someone.

I was looking for Al.

When I became aware of my actions, I gasped and shook my head. It’s true that he hasn’t shown up in a while. Maybe I've grown so accustomed to his unannounced visits that I'm missing him.

Hold on. What the hell am I thinking!? That can’t possibly be it. There’s no way that I am-

“Gabriella, are you alright?”

“Y-Yes?” I turned to Tyrelle with a flushed face. By the looks on his face as he drove, it seems like he’s been calling me for a while now. “Sorry, what did you say a while ago?”

Tyrelle looked at me with worry before focusing his attention to the road. “I was asking if you’re still worried about meeting my father.”

“What makes you say that?”

“You were staring out at the window with your brows drawn together. Are you worried about dinner or something else? If it’s about homework, I can-”

“You’re right, I am a little nervous about dinner.” It was a lie. But I can’t exactly tell him that I was concerned about Aelfric. He’ll just think that I’m out of my mind or I was siding with him.

Tyrelle smiled a bit. “Don’t worry too much. I’ll be there. If my father tries to ask you personal questions, I will stop him.”

Even if that wasn’t my main concern, the fact that he managed to put me at ease was something that I appreciate. “Thanks, Tyrelle.”

***

When you are dreading something, time usually runs out fast. In my case, Tyrelle and I had just arrived at their place, and it was already buzzing with people.

I turned to Tyrelle nervously when the car came to a halt. “I thought you said-”

“It will be the three of us having dinner. These guys are just members of our pack who are curious to see who you are.”

Now that Tyrelle mentions it, the people seem to be stealing glances in our direction.

Tyrelle sighed. “Stay here.” He told me and got out of the car. When the people saw Tyrelle heading towards them, they all stiffened up, especially when Tyrelle started yelling at them. “Stop gawking here and go back to your posts!” He yelled at them. People scrambled to their feet and hurriedly hid like they were trying to steer clear of Tyrelle’s gaze.

As soon as they were gone, Tyrelle headed to my side and opened the door for me. “Sorry about that. They’re just being nosey.”

“I’m fine.” I grumbled. As we entered the mansion, I got out of the car and began following Tyrelle. I was kidnapped by the Alpha the last time I came here, so I wasn't able to fully appreciate my surroundings at the time. But now that I'd come to take a closer look, I realized just how big the place was. The design is a mix of modern and classic elements. It gave me the impression that the building was old, but thanks to numerous renovations, it was still standing after all this time.

Tyrelle finally led us to the dining area, where I saw his father waiting. Tyrelle and I paused at the entrance as we stared at the Alpha, dumbfounded.

I leaned close to Tyrelle. “I thought you said that this was a casual dinner!” I whispered.

“So did I.” Tyrelle muttered in embarrassment before looking back to his father, who was wearing a tailored suit with jewels for buttons. Even his simple accessory necktie seemed to beam with a massive ruby gem at the knot. “Dad, we’re here,” Tyrelle announced our arrival.

The Alpha, Torian Gridon as I remember him, acted surprised. “Oh my. I did not expect that you two would arrive so soon.” He chuckled. “Now I feel embarrassed for not preparing myself. I’m so sorry about the mess in the house.”

“What mess?” I could not help but say it in a dead tone. The place was spotless, so whatever bullshit he was saying made no sense to me at all.

“I’m so sorry,” TTyrelle uttered a brief apology when he buried his face in his hand in embarrassment. When he removed his hand, I could see his internal conflict of not wanting to smack his father on the head.

I followed Tyrelle when he started to guide me to one of the chairs, making sure that I sat beside him and away from his father. It was clear from the Alpha’s eyes that he was disappointed that Tyrelle had arranged us in such a way. On the other hand, I was glad that I wasn’t seated beside him.

“S-So…, son.” The Alpha coughed into his fist like he was trying to recover from his previous embarrassment. “You and Gabriella are finally in a relationship?”

“Yes,” Tyrelle answered his father while placing his hand over mine. I had to fight the urge to pull away, as I was unfamiliar with the gesture. Tyrelle raised his hand and showed his father our intertwined hands.

Alpha Torian fought the urge to smile and simply busied himself by gesturing for the servants to bring us our food. After that, he folded his hands before him and gazed at us. “So,” And here comes the start of every conversation. “I hear that you two and quite a couple in the school campus.” The Alpha chuckled. “And it only seems like yesterday when I had you kidnapped to have you date my son. Tell me, my boy. How did you manage to recover from that bad first family impression?”

If Tyrelle could scream, I can already imagine that he would have. “Gabriella is not the type of person who holds a grudge against someone who isn’t at fault.”

Tyrelle's words were clearly intended to imply something to his father, but judging by Alpha Torian's bright smile, he didn't get it. Instead, he vigorously nods at Tyrelle's story before looking expectantly at me. I realize it was a hint that he wanted to hear my side of the story.

“Tyrelle saved me a lot of times. He’s a good and caring guy.” I responded. “He’s…my type of guy. Handsome.” I added robotically when the Alpha bats his lashes like he was waiting for more. I just wish that whatever info we provided, it was enough to convince the Alpha.

Thankfully, our food arrived just in time as I was running out of things to say. Or maybe it was good that I didn’t say anything anymore because it would only arouse suspicions as I was starting to sound a little defensive.

Bowls of soup and plates of steak were set before us. “Excellent. Why don’t we enjoy our meals first before we carry on with the story?” Alpha Torian suggests, to which Tyrelle and I did not oppose.

After dinner, we talked a bit more, but this time, the topic diverted on my identity as a witch. The subject was brought up by Tyrelle because he wants to ask permission from his father if he can borrow Doctor Kusher to be my guide.

“A witch with raw magic you say?” Alpha Torian wondered and cast a look in my direction. It seemed like he was studying me before finally coming to a decision. “If she learns how to use magic, she can help us, right?”

“Dad.” Tyrelle hardened his voice like he was striking a warning to his father. “That’s not what is important. Gabriella wants to learn magic to protect herself and to get rid of her killer smile.”

“The killer smile is why our pack wants her in the first place. It’s the reason why no one opposes that you’ll have a human mate.” Compared to the jolly and happy-go-lucky guy that we were talking to before, this Alpha clearly means business right now.

“We’re not going to use her!”

“Son, we are at war with another unknown pack and the hybrid is going around killing our pack.”

“We don’t even know if the hybrid is doing it all! That guy is clearly infatuated with Gabriella, so I doubt that he would do anything to upset her. In fact, according to Gabriella’s parents, the hybrid was the one who locked them up in the ER in the first place. Whether it was to save them or not, we still don’t know.” I was so stunned that I had to turn to Tyrelle. Forget about the Alpha speaking like he wants me to work for them. I can’t believe that Tyrelle sounded like he was siding with Aelfric.

But is it true that he was the one who locked up my parents? I haven’t asked that question to my folks because I was afraid that it might remind them of some trauma. I am hoping that I can speak with Aelfric, assuming that he shows himself to me again.

“Son, are you defending the hybrid?” The Alpha asked suspiciously.

“I am defending Gabriella. I don’t want you to have any excuse to use her and her abilities.” Tyrelle stood up and offered his hand to me. “If you don’t have any more decent things to say, I’ll be taking my girlfriend home. Let’s go, Gabriella.”

I reached out and took Tyrelle's hand because, as much as I enjoyed the meal, I couldn't shake the feeling that the conversation was making me uncomfortable. Tyrelle led me out of the room after declaring the end of our meal.

I could feel the Alpha's eyes on the back of my head as we were leaving, which is why I couldn't hold back my relief when the door closed behind us.

I just hope that this is the last that the Alpha would invite us to dinner.

***Meanwhile***

Aelfric woke up in the woods. He doesn’t know how many days he’s been asleep in the shed that he found to recuperate in. Without a proper meal, his vampire’s healing abilities were weak. His wolf wasn’t much help either, because it had just recently awoken. He remembered that he was attacked and was surrounded. He nearly got captured in the end, but the thought of separating himself from Gabriella infuriated his wolf enough to make him shift into a wolf.

A wolf. He never expected that he could turn into one after a few hundred years. He guesses that finding his mate awakened his werewolf gene. He missed it, and yet it still hurts. The shifting process reminds him of his first time changing. Over the years, a werewolf gets used to the feeling. But for him, who has not shifted in hundreds of years, it felt like the first time.

And it was brutal.

He hates it, but at least THEY weren’t successful in capturing him. What worries him now is Gabriella. He just hopes that no one from THAT pack figures out that she’s the witch that he’s been looking for.

“Tyrelle, you mutt,” Aelfric grunts when he pushed himself up. The action nauseated him that it made him pause and lean against a wall. “You better keep my Gabbie poo…safe.” He gasped. His body was still not completely healed. In the end, Aelfric dropped to the floor and lost consciousness once more.