The air was thick with tension as Sire stood at the head of the grand meeting hall, his crimson eyes sweeping over the gathered elites.
Every important figure in his pack, his allies, his Beta, and several council members were present, standing rigid with attention.
At the far end of the room, a swirling black portal opened, flooding the space with the scent of brimstone and fire.
Out stepped a man whose very presence seemed to bend the air around him.
Scaz — the King of Hell, Sire's father.
His molten gold eyes scanned the room with lazy authority, the corners of his mouth twisting into a knowing smirk as he took a seat at the far end, his throne-like chair seeming to appear from the shadows themselves.
Sire nodded stiffly toward him.
"Father," he said with a respectful, but tense voice.
Scaz only chuckled low in his throat.
"You've done well gathering them," he said. "But you're still incomplete."
Sire frowned slightly, confused — but before he could question him, soft footsteps echoed from the grand staircase behind them.
I stood there, rubbing sleep from my eyes, dressed simply but glowing in the morning light that filtered through the tall windows.
I hadn't meant to interrupt. I had woken from a nap, feeling drawn downstairs by an invisible pull.
As my bare feet padded softly against the marble, every head turned toward me — but none more intently than Scaz.
He smiled in approval, his golden gaze glittering.
"Beautiful," he said smoothly. "As expected."
I froze, blinking uncertainly, feeling every eye on me.
Sire moved instantly, crossing the room in a breath to reach me, placing a steadying hand on my lower back.
He hadn't wanted me to meet his father yet — I could feel it in the tension of his body — but it was too late.
He gently guided me to sit at his right side at the large table, and only once I was settled did the meeting resume.
Sire stood tall, his voice cutting through the room like a blade.
"The situation is deteriorating," he said grimly.
"The bear clans have evolved far faster than we predicted. Their strength has tripled — and worse, their minds have sharpened. They can blend among humans almost perfectly now."
Low murmurs filled the room.
"They are forming alliances with other beasts. Becoming bold."
"And the foxes?" asked the Beta, eyes narrowed.
Sire's mouth twisted.
"The foxes have grown arrogant. They've begun making demands — demands that risk everything we've kept hidden."
Scaz leaned forward slightly, his fingers steepled together.
"And what are these… demands, son?" he asked, voice like silk over steel.
Sire's eyes darkened.
"They wish to reveal themselves to the humans."
Gasps echoed.
"And worse — they demand the right to crossbreed."
At the word, my brows furrowed, and I tugged gently at Sire's sleeve.
"What's crossbreeding?" I asked softly.
The room went silent.
Sire hesitated — visibly uncomfortable.
"It's when… a creature like us," he said carefully, "and a human… create a child together."
I swallowed thickly, feeling his unspoken fear brush against me like a cold wind.
I'm human.
Before either of us could say more, Scaz's deep chuckle filled the room.
"You still think blood matters so much, my boy," Scaz said, his golden eyes gleaming.
"Not all humans are as human as they appear. Some souls are older, deeper, and far more dangerous than even your kind."
Sire stiffened, his crimson gaze snapping toward his father, questions burning behind his gaze.
"What are you saying?" he demanded.
Scaz only smiled that infuriating, knowing smile and said in a riddle-like tone,
"Some flowers bloom late. Some roots run deeper than the oldest forest. What looks human may simply be… waiting."
It made no sense, yet it rang inside me like a bell.
Before Sire could push further, Scaz leaned back lazily and added, almost as an afterthought,
"And your mother… she misses you."
The whole room fell still.
Sire went rigid, the blood draining from his face.
"My mother… is dead," he rasped.
He sounded like a boy again — lost, grieving.
Scaz only smiled.
"Dead to this world. Alive where it matters most."
And then, in a ripple of shadows, the King of Hell vanished.
The meeting eventually dissolved as sire got more information and feedback from the others,once he was done, the others were murmuring to themselves about treaties and threats, but Sire was locked in thought, his hand still gently resting against my back as he led me away to the quieter sitting room of the castle.
There, he finally spoke.
"My mother," he said in a low, haunted voice, "was the last true fairy hybrid. She was powerful beyond measure — every element bent to her will, every living thing grew at her touch."
He stared into the fire crackling in the hearth, memories flickering in his eyes.
"She was hunted by many, feared even by her own kind… but no one could kill her. Not unless…"
He swallowed hard.
"Not unless she transferred or lost her powers."
The room felt colder somehow.
I hugged my knees to my chest on the couch, listening closely.
"How did she…?" I whispered.
Sire's gaze was distant.
"There was a war. A descendant of a man she once trusted — a man whose clan we are now in a fragile treaty with — led the attack. They ambushed her.
Even as spells rained down on her, she fought. She fought until her body couldn't anymore."
I saw it in his face — he had loved her deeply.
"But rumors say… before she fell… she gave her power to someone else," he said bitterly. "And that's why she grew weak. Why she died."
Tears stung my eyes.
As he spoke, I noticed something strange — the vase of roses on the table near me began to stir.
The stems twined and grew toward me, their buds blooming wildly, their leaves brushing against my arm almost… lovingly.
Sire's eyes widened slightly — just for a moment.
The flowers had only ever reacted that way to his mother.
He shook it off quickly, chalking it up to a sign from her — that she was still watching, as his father said.
But a shadow of doubt crossed his face.
"Valine," he said softly, shifting closer. "Your parents… what do you know about them?"
I hesitated, the memories hard and heavy.
"My mother, Venus… died giving birth to me," I said quietly. "I don't remember her. I don't even know if she had powers.
And even if she did… my own powers were supposed to awaken by the time I turned seven. But nothing ever happened."
I looked away, hugging myself.
"My father… hated me for it. For being useless. I grew up… broken. Unwanted.
My sister, Clervae, she became everything he wanted — perfect, powerful. And I was… nothing."
Sire's jaw clenched, crimson eyes burning.
But before he could speak, a sharp knock sounded at the door.
His Beta stepped inside with a respectful bow.
"It's time, Alpha," he said. "Training session awaits."
Sire stood, his body tensing as he forced himself back into the role of leader.
He looked back at me one last time — something unreadable in his gaze — before turning and disappearing down the hall toward the training grounds.
I sat there alone for a moment longer, the roses still curling protectively around my wrist, and a quiet voice inside me whispered:
You are more than you know.