Chapter 7 Alexandru

I stand at the back, watching as Rick speaks to the crowd. We're currently in the French Quarter, hosting an event we put together every month. It's our way of maintaining the relationship between humans and us, an arrangement that goes as far back as 1709.

We've lived among humans undetected for centuries. There have been close calls, but between our strength and our intelligence, we always found a way around it.

Rick calls it "Community Relations." I disagree. We are the community. The wolves and the witches, we own New Orleans. But I try not to argue with him. He probably does it to maintain the façade we've so carefully built, and I respect him for that.

"To show our appreciation for your continued kindness, my family and I have decided to build and furnish a Community Library," he announces, smiling and gesturing smoothly, a master of diplomacy. "Because we know the importance and power of books."

"Eat. Be merry. Dance. Have fun."

The crowd cheers and claps. If only they knew who we truly are.

Werewolves grow old and die, we're not like the mythical vampires. But we age slowly, and thanks to our healing, we always look younger than we are. Still, we're wild beings, creatures of instinct and freedom. You can't cage us. We're the very definition of wild.

Suppressing the wolf inside us never ends well. It's like living with a split personality. The merge takes time, and the more we fight it, the harder and more painful it becomes. Despite what myths say, we don't need to kill to awaken it. It's not a curse. It's a gift.

"Hi," a voice says behind me.

I turn and find a young woman smiling at me.

"Hello," I respond with a smile.

Her eyes widen.

"Hi," she says again, then chuckles nervously. I study her with new interest as she composes herself.

"I'm Francia," she says, still smiling.

I raise a brow. "Hi, Francia. I'm Alex."

Am I flirting? Is she flirting?

"Wanna get a cup of coffee sometime?" she asks.

I frown slightly. I don't want to send the wrong message. I'm not ready for... anything.

"I just got out of a long commitment," I say carefully. "Not sure I want to dive into something serious this early."

She nods. "So did I, actually. My ex cheated on me. What did yours do?"

I lean against the wall. "She rejected me."

"You proposed and she said no? Oh my God."

I nod with a dry smile. "That's one way to put it."

"I'm so sorry," she says. "How did you propose?"

I frown. "In front of our families."

"Damn. That must've been humiliating. I'm really sorry."

I shrug, not wanting to talk about Adaline. To lighten the mood, I say, "If you want, I could find your ex and, you know... break his dick or something."

She bursts into laughter. "Oh my. Don't do that. He's not worth it."

I watch her, then glance around at the party. It's nice, talking to someone new.

"Shall I amend my earlier request?" she asks.

I nod, curious.

"Let's be friends," she says, straight-faced. "I have a feeling you'll fall in love with me, and I really don't need that right now."

I burst out laughing. "I'll gladly be your friend."

We stand in silence. I try not to let my thoughts drift to Addie. I don't even notice when Rick and Camille walk up to us.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Bruin," Francia says, snapping me out of it.

"Hello, Francia," Rick greets, then nods at me.

I glance at Camille and catch her looking at me with obvious disappointment. I grit my teeth. She shifts her gaze to Francia, then walks away, shaking her head.

Fury rises in me. How dare she?

"This event is beautiful, Mr. Bruin," Francia says.

"Thank you. And please, call me Rick," he replies with a smile. "I was waiting for you to finish up with Luc here, but I couldn't wait. I'm pleased to let you know that you got the Community Library job. It'll be fully equipped. We just need you to oversee things and let us know if you need anything. You'll report to the Mayor and me. We trust you'll do a good job."

"Yes, Rick. Thank you so much. I promise not to disappoint you. This means a lot."

"I'll have some of my brothers assist you if you need help."

"I'll be glad to assist Francia with whatever she needs for the library," I cut in.

Rick looks at me, frowns slightly, then nods. "If Francia doesn't mind. Enjoy the party."

He walks away.

"Congratulations, Francia," I say.

"Thank you," she replies.

"Excuse me, please."

I push through the crowd, smiling politely, until I find her, with Peter.

"What the hell was that?" I growl.

She glares. "I should be asking you that. What the hell are you doing with that human? Is Aurora that easy to forget, Alexandru?"

I grit my teeth and walk into a nearby room. She follows, with Peter close behind.

"What the fuck do you want me to do?" I explode. "Go to New York and drag her back here? I've tried and tried. There's nothing more I can do. How much more do I have to break myself for your daughter, Camille?"

She looks startled, briefly, then recovers.

"Oh, fuck you, Alexandru. I didn't expect you to jump into someone's pants barely weeks after she left. What is wrong with you?"

I bite my fist, trying to calm myself. Pain fills my chest.

"Don't blame me because you haven't processed your daughter leaving you," I snap. "It's not my fault you weren't enough for Adaline to stay. She left you, and you've never dealt with that. It broke my heart when she rejected me, but you'll never know what that feels like. So don't you dare judge me for trying to move on the only way I know how."

I'm breathing hard, my body trembling with anger and dulled pain.

"You don't deserve her," she hisses. "Adaline is pure and good, and you, you're an animal. Not like Rick. You're an abomination. A sin against nature. A deviant. My daughter deserves better than you."

Her words strike like daggers.

My Lycan growls inside me, demanding a fight. One bite, and she'd be dead within an hour. That's how lethal I am.

But I am Alexandru.

I take a step forward. Her face twists into something vicious, and then, pain.

Agony rips up my spine. I scream. She's muttering the old tongue, casting a spell. My blood feels like it's boiling.

"You forget your place, Alexandru. Try not to do that again," she spits.

I stare at her. I could break free. I've fought stronger witches. But I don't.

I want to feel this pain.

"Camille!" Peter grabs her arm. "You're hurting him! What the hell?!"

She flinches. The spell stops. I fall to the floor, my body burning as I force myself upright.

"I wasn't going to hurt you," she says coldly, "but you were ready to kill me."

"I am a Lycan. A deviant. You're right, Adaline deserves better." My voice is low, cracked. "But look in the mirror, Camille. You'll see I'm not the only abomination standing."

I walk out the door, and find Rick waiting.

"You could've freed yourself from her," he says quietly.

"Yes," I say. "I could have."

I know a great evil is coming. We need all the help we can get.

Aurora is a Hybrid, they will come for her, and when they try, I will be ready.