Tamed By The Lycan Prince

THE CALL

CHAPTER FIVE - 8

-SEVERA-

I heard a gentle knock on my bedroom door in the afternoon.

"Come in." I called.

My parents entered, their faces filled with worry. In my mom's arms, Ariston slept peacefully. "Severa, I have received a call from Trisha," my dad began, his voice filled with a gravity that made my heart sink.

I eyed them warily, a gnawing unease creeping up in the pit of my stomach. "About what?" I asked, trying to keep my tone steady.

"Her, Boris, and your grandfather wish for us to visit the Gravemaw Mansion," my dad's voice was heavy with concern, "and they want you to join us."

An involuntary shiver ran down my spine at the mention of Boris. Why were they calling for us? Did they find out that mom helped Mina, I thought.

"Did they... mention why?" I queried.

"They said it was urgent and they'd explain upon our arrival," my dad replied with a furrowed brow, "but you know as well as I do that Boris never calls unless he wants something."

I felt an icy shiver of apprehension envelop me at his words. My mind raced with possibilities. Last week, while I was at the park with Wilhelmina, Boris expressed his wish to marry me. He wouldn't try marrying me too, would he, I thought.

My mom, sensing my unease, asked, "What are you thinking about?"

I blinked at her, hesitating. But I knew I had to share my fears. I looked down at my hands, clenched in my lap. "It's Boris," I admitted, lifting my gaze to meet theirs. "He-he mentioned taking a second wife to me last week."

The room fell into a shocked silence. My dad's jaw tightened, his expression morphing into one of guarded concern. He was the first one to break it, "Second wife!" he exclaimed. "By the Goddess, that boy! He's already wed to Wilhelmina, isn't he satisfied?"

My mom carefully placed Ariston down on the bed before meeting my dad's gaze. "We cannot allow this to happen, Matus," she said, her tone firm.

"I agree," my father nodded his agreement grimly, turning to me. "Severa, we shall go to the mansion and confront Boris about this." As the words left my father's mouth, I could see him steeling himself for the confrontation.

My parents left our home, heading to the Gravemaw Mansion, leaving me in charge of Ariston. Bellatrix and Rae were out with their friends, while Zenesha was off doing her own thing. The time crept by painfully slow as I tended to Ariston. His innocent, carefree laughter was a sharp contrast to the dread gnawing at my insides. I prayed silently to the Goddess that Boris' intentions were not as I feared and that my parents would return unscathed. To my dismay, that was just wishful thinking. An hour after saying goodbye to my parents, my phone began to ring. It was my grandfather calling.

"Hello," I answered.

"Hey, Severa." I froze as my blood ran cold. It was Boris.

"I didn't expect to hear from you, Boris." I managed to get the words out, my voice trembling despite my best effort to sound composed.

"If I remember correctly my mother told your parents that you were to come to the mansion as well," he said, a note of amusement lacing his voice. "But I am failing to see you here, so telling your Alpha where you are?"

"I... I am with Ariston. My parents said they would handle this," I stuttered, running a shaky hand through my hair. I was trembling, for Boris' tone was not one of jest alone; there was a hint of malice beneath his supposed amusement.

"Ariston is more important than me?" Boris' tone was playful, but there was a dangerous undercurrent running beneath his words.

"He is just a little boy, only five years old and struggling with severe vision impairment. We can't just abandon him on his own." I protested.

"Yes, I'm well aware of what Ariston is dealing with," Boris replied, his voice growing colder. "However, this doesn't change the fact that you and your parents disobeyed an order from the Luna Mother."

"We didn't mean to," My voice was almost a whisper. I gripped my phone tighter, my palms becoming sweaty. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. "Boris, you have to understand..."

"Understand?" His voice was sharp and chilling like the harsh wind of a winter night. "No Severa, it is you who fails to comprehend the gravity of your actions. Your parents will pay for their disobedience, but I am willing to overlook this transgression if you come to the Gravemaw Mansion right away."

My breath hitched in my throat as his last sentence echoed in my ears. I felt the cold tendrils of fear grip my heart, squeezing it painfully. But instantly, protectiveness for Ariston surged within me, stronger than the fear.

"I... I'll be there," I finally managed to say.

"I'm glad to hear you've come to your senses, Severa." His voice was a velvety purr, resonating with a satisfied sneer before the line went dead.

The call ended abruptly, yanking me back to reality. My heart pounded in my chest like a drum, its rhythm echoing in the room's silence. I looked at Ariston, who was blissfully unaware of the storm brewing, his thick glasses perched precariously on his tiny nose as he played with a well-worn plush bear. I knelt before him, my hands coming up to gently adjust his glasses.

"Ariston," I started, my voice barely above a whisper. He looked up from his teddy bear, his eyes wide and innocent. He relied on his hearing and touch more than his sight.

"We need to go on a little trip," I said.

"A-are we going to see mommy and daddy?" His voice was shaky, his tiny hands clutching at his bear as he looked up at me, fear evident in his cloudy eyes.

"Yes, sweetheart," I sighed. "They need our help with something."

"But I don't want to leave Mr. Huggles behind," he said, hugging the plush bear.

I forced a smile to my lips, trying to reassure him. "We won't leave Mr. Huggles behind, Ariston. He's going to come with us."

He sniffled and nodded, his tiny fingers clutching Mr. Huggles tighter. "O-okay."

I pulled him into my arms, hugging him tightly against me, promising to keep him safe. He buried his face in the crook of my neck, the warmth of his tiny body a comforting presence.

"Alright then, let's go." I said, rising to my feet, Ariston secured in my arms.