THE GUEST
"Even though you got your power back, your body is still adjusting after a long slumber" Paige said. "How long have been in slumber?"
"Fifteen years" Payne simply answered.
"Fifteen?" Paige frowned, "I thought you'll wake up when the seal is broken" Payne glance at her then back to the papers again. "When you seal my memories, you also seal half of your power to my body and that's why the memories of the pack of Alpha Angelo were altered. But it was suppress by my wolf protecting it from the others" Paige was in deep thought.
When her wolf was trying to protect the power of her brother inside her, that was the time when the pack of Alpha Angelo begun mistreating her. But then again why would her brother need to seal half of his power inside her when they can live on their own away from Prius. Then everything dawn to her.
She looked straight to her brother, "You were taken, aren't you?" she asked.
Payne just stared at her.
"Answer me" she trying to calm herself; "You were taken, aren't you?"
Payne sighed. Her sister is smart; he knew sooner or later he needs to tell it to her. "Yes, I was taken."
"Then how..." her eyes roam around thinking how her brother escape from 'him'.
"You must understand Paige" Payne said looking at his sister softly, "We were too young. We were both seven years old when we undergo the inheritance rituals. We both don't know how to control it. Our parents didn't teach us how to use it."
"Because of the pain of losing our parents and he almost got you, I unconscious release all the power mother gave to me." Payne paused, "my body couldn't keep up to the sudden release of power. That's why when we were fleeing I can feel my body weakening. I can't protect you if my body is weak. I took a risk knowing his rouges were following us."
"You sacrifice yourself to protect me." Paige said finishing his sentence.
Payne nodded, "I let myself to be taken knowing he can't complete the ritual without you and half of my power. I hid you so well, but I guess my power is not that strong and lasting."
As if the pieces were stating to fit to each other, "and you escape because of her, am I right?" Paige said. "She is also the reason why you wake up early without waiting for the seal to be broken."
Payne didn't response.
"I can smell his blood flowing in her body" Paige continued.
"Like what the fate said, we were destined to be with the people that cause our parents demise."
There's a soft knock in the door and it opens making them to turn their head to look who it is.
Alena looked back and forth to the twins and notice they were wearing serious faces. "Oh sorry to interrupt your conversation"
"it's okay, My light" Payne said smiling at Alena, "We're already done talking"
Paige glances at her twin brother, "I can see why you keep calling her light" Payne glance at her, "Alena means Light"
"It is not just because of that" Payne said, "She is my light when I was trap in the darkness of slumber."
Paige rolled her eyes knowing her brother is a smooth talker.
"Oh I forgot to tell you" Payne stood up and went to Alena while Paige watching him waiting for him to speak. "We have a guest today"
"Guest?" Paige frowned thinking who it is.
"Oh you know him very well" Payne grinned.
As if it is a cue, Raim appeared entering the office. He bow to the twins and said, "He is here"
"He?" Paige stood up and turns to look at the door.
A pale white skin man entered in the office and smile displaying his pearl white teeth, "Where's my hug?" the man said as he spread his arms wide.
+++
Solomon was standing near the glass window staring at the forest while he was in deep thought. He was still thinking about what Alena said in the kitchen. He wanted to ask more but the pack members entered the kitchen to eat their breakfast and Alena was busy giving them their breakfast.
He wanted to talk to Alena alone but he couldn't find a perfect time to do it. Alena was always busy in the kitchen helping the other pack members in their chores.
He hasn't seen Paige. He knows Paige and her brother need to spend their time alone together. He didn't want to disturb the twins.
He went to their room and stay there resting for their next training later. He calls his father asking how the pack and his siblings. The Sage pack and also the Wolfsbane pack are also preparing and training for the surprise attack now that the truth about the annihilation of Crescent pack was heard.
He was snapped from his thought when he heard a car. He looked down and saw a car stopped right in the front door. He heard from the other pack members that someone was coming – a guest but when he ask who it is they all just shrugged their shoulder but he can feel that they all knew who it is.
He was watching the car and curiously stared at the man who hops out from the car. He couldn't see the face because the man was wearing a black hat. He was with other two men who were wearing black suits.
He frowns when he sniffs catching their scent.
+++
Paige's mouth agape as she looked at the guest. "Uncle Padruig!" she ran towards him. Padruig hug Paige while laughing.
Padruig put his hands in both side of Paige's arms, "Look at you!" Padruig look at her from head to toe, "You've grown beautifully like your mother" Paige smiled happily at him as a replied. Padruig turn to Payne, "You too" he lightly pat Payne's shoulder.
"It's good to see you too, Uncle Padruig" Payne said.
"Here, here take a seat" Paige pull Padruig to seat in the sofa. "I know you're tired from your long trip"
Padruig softly smiled at Paige. It seems like yesterday when he first meets Vigo's twins. They were so little back then but now they grew up like their parents.
"How did you know that we are here?" Paige asked.
"News spread fast like a wild fire young one" Padruig said.
"You still calling me that" Paige rolled her eyes.
Padruig laughed, "I was in my prime when your ancestors were born. So in my eyes you're still young" Padruig turn to Payne and took a quick glance to Alena. "Anyways, who is this young woman? I can smell his scent coming from her."
Padruig was one of the oldest. He is a living ancient; one of the born vampire from the noble ancestry. No one knows how old he is. He is the vampire king, a close friend of Vigo Patriarcha Crescent, the Alpha of the Crescent Pack. Unfortunately he hasn't met his Lifemate. The twins are very fond of him as he teaches them the wonders of the world.
Payne went to the sofa across Padruig with Alena. "This is Alena, she is my Lifemate Uncle Padruig" Payne put his arms around Alena
Padruig stared for a while to Payne and Alena before he turns back to Paige, "How about you? Where's your Lifemate?" he asked after smelling another scent mixing in Paige's scent.
It was a perfect timing; Solomon entered the office calling Paige. Paige waves her hand gesturing Solomon to come beside her. "This is Solomon. He is my Lifemate." Paige smiled lovingly to Solomon.
Solomon looked at the man as Paige introduces him to that man. He saw how the man took a quick glance to his scar.
"Solomon?" Padruig asked, "You are Solomon Sage, Son of Alpha Shiloh and Luna Rina?"
"Yes" Solomon answered.
"Oh for the love of fate!" Padruig said as he look back and forth to the twins, "Kismet is right" then he speak in other language that no one in the room can understand only Padruig.
The twins just gave Padruig a tight smile knowing what he meant. "I'm sorry...–" Padruig apologize.
"It's okay uncle Padruig" Payne said knowing Padruig was dealing his own problem.
"How's the coven?" Paige asked.
"Everything is fine." Padruig sighed, "but there are still other who wouldn't abide the new laws." Padruig smile to them, "anyway, it is just a small problem."
"Excuse me sir?" Solomon said gaining their attention. "Have we met before?" his curiosity was eating him; having this feeling that he knows this man. The name was familiar in his ears.
Padruig looked at the Solomon, "I attended Luna Rina's funeral"
Then Solomon remembers who this man is, "You are Padruig of Edom Coven?"
"That's correct young man" Padruig smiled.
Solomon frowned, "what is the king of Vampires doing here?"