DANCE IN THE MOONLIGHT

The End of Silence

"Do you think Elara will be okay?" Lucian asked, sounding a bit sad and worried. She had said she wanted to be alone for a while after the conversation.

"Of course, we just need to give her some time. I haven't even been able to accept this situation myself yet." Valeria was walking a step ahead of Lucian. After the scolding they got from the principal, keeping this distance was the most sensible option until things settled down.

"And Irene?"

"She will surely be back by evening." When Valeria stopped, Lucian stopped as well.

"Lucian, you know I'm not stupid, right?"

Lucian knew this wasn't really a question and knew exactly where she was going with this. Valeria turned toward him. "Everything Fenrik told Elara about the bonding... you have it too." Valeria took a step toward him, and Lucian swallowed audibly. "Are you bonded to me too?"

Should Valeria know this?

"You told me Fenrik was exiled because he bonded with Elara."

Valeria really wasn't stupid. Lucian put a smile on his face, approached the woman, and leaned toward her face. They were so close that their noses almost touched.

"My duty is to complete your transformation. That's why I have to be with you. If I don't succeed, my end won't be good. That's why I must make you love me because I don't want to die or be exiled."

Lucian felt as if a dagger had been thrust into his chest. He knew this dagger was also piercing Valeria's heart. Lucian was looking into her eyes, but Valeria was good at hiding her pain.

"I won't transform, Lucian. Be exiled or die. I don't care."

Valeria quickly turned her back and started walking. Lucian knew he couldn't stay away from her. As she suffered, he would suffer too. Even though he wanted to go after her, he didn't. He knew he deserved this pain, but Valeria certainly didn't.

"What am I going to do, Fenrik?" He knew Fenrik had been watching them since Elara left.

Fenrik came out of his hiding place and started walking toward Lucian. "Why did you lie to her?"

"She'll be in danger because of me. You know the Alpha can enter her thoughts. I can't put her in danger."

"The Alpha can also learn about your love for her," Fenrik said seriously.

"He already knows."

Fenrik put his hand on Lucian's shoulder. "You're the strongest wolf in the pack, my friend. He can never exile you. But you can be sure he'll try to kill you because he might not want to fight you head-on."

Lucian looked at him. "You give great comfort, thanks."

Fenrik smiled. "Anytime, friend."

***

"The time I gave you is up, Lucas, I'm sorry," Irene said while trying to open the car door.

"I still have 30 seconds."

"It's already over while you were saying that." As Irene tried to open the door again, Lucas stopped her.

"I'll allow it, Irene."

Irene gave him a confused look. "What?"

"To ask questions. I will answer. I might not be able to explain, but I can answer your questions."

Irene was somewhat pleased with this. At least she could get rid of him after getting answers. When she looked at the man, he was looking at her with furrowed brows.

"You'll answer all my questions, right?" Lucas nodded. "If you don't give a proper answer to even one question, I'm leaving, do you understand me?" Lucas nodded again. "Alright. I'm starting. How did you find me that night?"

"I was already following you," Lucas answered instantly, and his answers were giving birth to new questions.

"Why?"

"Because Fenrik is my enemy. I saw you while I was looking for his weakness." Lucas answered without taking his eyes off the woman.

Irene was starting to understand better now. "That's why you were so angry today. But why are you enemies?"

"You won't believe me when you hear it."

"Try me."

Lucas took a deep breath. "Because he's a wolf."

Irene looked at Lucas for a while. she expected him to laugh and say he was joking at any moment, but he seemed extremely serious. "You're making fun of me."

"I told you that you wouldn't believe me."

Irene laughed. "Then what are you? A hunter who hunts wolves?"

"I'm a vampire."

Irene's laugh turned into a roar of laughter. "Did you think long for these answers, Lucas?"

"Will you believe me if I prove it?"

Irene spoke through her laughter. "Uh-huh, of course." But her laughter slowly began to fade because Lucas's eye color was changing. As his eyes took on a dark red color, his nails began to grow before her eyes.

Irene's eyes widened. This couldn't be a kind of illusion because Lucas hadn't moved an inch while doing this. When Lucas smiled, Irene saw his canine teeth, which had grown long and sharp.

"What's wrong, my flower? Cat got your tongue?"

Irene shook her head side to side.

"I usually feed on animals, not humans. Since you are my little flower, I can have a taste, can't I?" Lucas spoke as he approached Irene's neck. Although Irene tried to pull back, Lucas was holding her with his ice-cold hands.

"I sent those bastards who tried to touch you to my friends for a feast. I was wearing gloves when I was with you so you wouldn't feel the coldness of my body." He spoke slowly against the woman's neck. "But you are so curious, Irene."

Irene's heart was beating with fear. She couldn't speak, she couldn't move.

"Aren't you going to ask me your other questions?" Lucas spoke while still lingering at her neck.

"Wh-why did you co-co-come to me at ni-night?" Irene couldn't speak properly out of fear, and this situation quite pleased Lucas.

"Because you only stop asking questions when you're asleep."

Lucas pulled back a bit and began to look at Irene's face. "You don't ask questions, but you talk. And I like that very much."

"I want to go," Irene said in one breath. Now she wanted to go to school and tell everything that happened.

Lucas pulled back completely. "Of course, I'm sure your friends have things to tell you too."

Irene looked at him in shock. How did he know... her intention?

When Lucas's eye color and hands returned to normal, Irene felt slightly relieved. When Lucas started driving the car, she sat very close to the door. Neither of them spoke throughout the journey. When Irene saw the school, she wanted to get out of the car as soon as possible, but when Lucas stopped slowly, he caught the woman who was about to get out and turned her toward himself. "I know you're afraid of me, but I will never hurt you, do you understand me, Irene?"

Irene nodded quickly. When Lucas let go of her, she got out of the car with great speed and started running toward the building. She was climbing the stairs three or five at a time. When she entered the room, she saw the two of them looking silently out the window.

"Girls!"

Valeria looked at her with concern. As Irene reached them, she was trying to steady her breath. There was no one else in the dormitory; everyone was in class. They themselves had been punished with not attending classes for the day.

"Did that man do something to you, Irene?" Valeria asked worriedly.

Irene shook her head no. "But..."

"But what?" Valeria became impatient.

"You're never going to believe me!"

"Give it a try," Elara said quietly. That energy in her voice was gone.

"Lucas... he's a vampire..." Her green eyes were wide open, but there was also concern mixed with fear. She slowly turned to Elara. "He also said Fenrik is a wolf..." Her eyes turned to Valeria this time. "And apparently, you have things to tell me too."

"Lucian is a wolf too, Irene," Elara said softly. "In fact..." She slowly turned to Valeria.

Irene didn't know how many shocks she was experiencing today. "What? What else is there?"

Valeria pulled her collar down as much as the stiff fabric of the school dress allowed and showed the faint symbol on her left chest.

"Lucian says I'm a wolf too. He has this symbol as well, but more clearly. He says the symbol will become more distinct when my transformation is complete."

Irene looked at the symbol with her mouth open and her eyes wide. She couldn't say anything.

"Why did you go with that man, Irene? Why didn't you come with us?"

"I went to get some answers."

Valeria looked at her without saying anything. It was clear she had learned enough from her state.

"What are we going to do?" Slowly taking her place by the window, she began to look at the same view as the girls.

"I don't know," Valeria said, her voice barely more than a whisper.