3 Preparations for awakening the beast

Author's note: This is from Seraphina's point of view

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I was pleasantly surprised by the speed with which Zoe and Luca picked up their roles as my personal assistants. They are responsible, loyal, enthusiastic, and they work together well as a cohesive unit.

There are a few more areas they need to sink their fangs in, but we will get there after the oath which will happen during the next full moon.

According to Sergio (aka the werewolf Shaman in charge), that will be the best time to make oaths.

Sergio still didn't tell me what he wants in exchange for overseeing the oath, but based on his expression, I have a guess that he knows what he will ask for, but he is uncomfortable saying it.

Other than Luca and Zoe, Ash will also join in the ceremony, and the three of them will pledge loyalty to me and Duke (aka my future husband who is yet to propose marriage to me).

I didn't want to go that far where Zoe, Luca, and Ash would become oath-bound subordinates to me and Duke as a couple, but the teens insisted.

When Ash heard that Luca and Zoe will take the oath, he requested to join in. The silly boy probably thought how he will be left out, but he is now working closely with Duke, and it was not mine to dissuade him. Besides, Duke has his own set of secrets, and it will be good that he has trustworthy people by his side.

It's not that we don't trust Zoe, Luca, and Ash, but the oath will prevent them from leaking any secrets about us.

Both Duke and I have things that would put us in grave danger if found out, and as my father always said, 'trust no one', is the best policy if you want to protect yourself.

After the oath, I will tell Luca and Zoe about my alchemy, rune mastery, and underground market of pills and potions, and I won't freak out if they find out about my abilities. As for Duke, he will tell them about his true identity.

I wonder how the teens will react when they find out that my Duke, aka Drago Orsini, is actually Mateo Testa, the missing son of Damiano Testa, the Supreme Alpha, the king of werewolves.

I was touched to see how determined are my three fosterlings to prove that they will never harm me or Duke, with an oath that will last until the end of our lives.

Sergio approved. This oath will officially signify that Ash will take Sergio's position as Duke's assistant and bodyguard. Sergio will still obey Duke, but he will have other duties, mostly in the area of our new home, which is nearly completed.

If there are no delays, work on must-have areas will be done in two weeks and that will mark the time when we can start hiring the staff. Exciting!

Back to the present…

I looked at the empty glass in my hand that still had smidges of blood in it. I tilted it, draining the last lingering drop while wishing that there is more of it.

Control yourself, Serina!

It's nearly three months since that disastrous event when Aldus sealed my power to release vitality, which came with an unfortunate side-effect of me craving for blood.

I was hoping that this craving will fade over time, but that's not the case. Maybe it's too soon? From the perspective of an immortal, three months is nothing.

I'm trying to look at this from the positive side. Since I accidentally siphoned about one (or two) hundred hears from a she-wolf named Ari, I didn't drain anyone of his vitality involuntarily, and my condition is not getting worse.

Seeing that the glass is empty, Luca took it away. He always paid attention to details.

Zoe and Luca didn't think much about me drinking blood. I guess they saw so many things in their nearly eighteen years that nothing surprises them anymore.

Duke was a different story.

I clearly remember the day when I told Duke that I drink blood. I didn't want to tell him, fearing that he will be grossed out, but he could smell it on me, and he didn't buy the story of how my gums were bleeding.

Well, considering that I heal a bone-deep cut within seconds without a scar, having bleeding gums was a lame story, but I didn't have anything better to explain the stench of blood in my mouth.

Duke looked at me incredulously with his endlessly blue eyes, I would willingly drown in, and started raining questions, "You drink blood? Like a vampire? Are you a vampire?"

"No, I'm not a vampire.", I responded.

I was a little put off by his excitement. There is nothing good about my craving for blood.

"But you suck blood?"

"Not exactly suck. I drink it. I don't have fangs. I can drain vitality out of living creatures if I touch them or get close enough, but I'm not good at controlling it and I don't want to kill someone accidentally, so I stick to drinking blood."

"But you still suck, right?"

I was exasperated. Didn't he hear that I DRINK blood? "Why are you stuck on sucking?"

He gave me a wicked half-smile. "You can suck me anytime, baby."

I groaned when I realized what he was talking about.

Duke has the talent of catching me off-guard with his ability to turn any situation, and I mean ANY situation into a naughty one.

Well, at least he didn't call me a freak or a leech.

I have a feeling that no matter what I do, Duke will always accept me unconditionally.

That's my Duke.

~ London ~

After dealing with things at the company, I was heading with Luca and Zoe to meet with Duke in a restaurant. It's a business lunch with Sebastian Hoffman, and we will discuss our plans for the Giantshade Industries.

Duke and I have a plan, and we will see if Sebastian is willing to join in.

Sebastian is young and ambitious, and other than his flirty nature, he is a good candidate for a business partner.

Sebastian showed good observation skills when he noticed the chemistry between me and Duke, and I admire that he didn't try to use it against us. It showed that he is smart and not hasty, and that's exactly what we need for our little stunt. I only hope that he will agree to cooperate.

I told Luca and Zoe that they can take the afternoon off, but they were interested in this restaurant because it's one of the best rated in London.

The two of them were too young when the werewolf war broke, and they spent their childhood stuck in a forest. The last three years they were under my care, staying with Fynn (aka ex-general of the Bluemoon pack) and his group of werewolves, where their living conditions improved, but it didn't change the fact that they were isolated (in a forest).

Zoe and Luca are eager to see what the world has to offer and I am delighted that I can provide them with such opportunities.

How can I not indulge my two adorable assistants?

I booked them a private booth so that half-siblings can dine in style, and Zoe hopes that Ash (aka my third fosterling, and her boyfriend), who is currently working as Duke's assistant-in-training, will join as well.

I let out a long breath while thinking about how I will face Duke. Our situation is challenging because we need to restrain our urges, but let me start from the beginning…

After identifying Duke as Mateo Testa, aka the son of the Supreme Alpha who doesn't have his wolf, my father did a series of tests and we firmly believe that Duke has a wolf who is dormant because Duke was poisoned as a child.

While Duke was in a coma after Magda put a bullet in his chest, I accessed Duke's subconsciousness, and I saw a massive black wolf sleeping. That confirmed our theory that Duke's wolf is not gone. He is inside sleeping, waiting, and silently boosting Duke's healing, speed, strength, and other senses.

In order to awaken Duke's wolf, both my father and I performed numerous tests and Duke is now in the final stages in preparation for the procedure.

His body is ready, and so are all the ingredients for the potion that should awaken his wolf, but Duke needs to steel his will because his wolf is an Alpha, and not just any Alpha, but the Supreme Alpha.

Duke's wolf will be domineering and will try to take full control from Duke.

The idea of a wild beast suppressing Duke's mind and overtaking his body is scary as hell, but Duke believes that he will come on top and that things will be fine. I always admired his confidence. Well, he is an Alpha, with or without his wolf.

Regardless of my fears, I have no right to deny Duke the power he was given at birth, and that's why I'm guiding him through a series of mental exercises that will help him overpower his wolf. Hopefully.

Unfortunately for me and Duke, this exercise impacts us personally because he needs to deny himself what he craves the most.

I read the instructions my father came up with, and it went like this…

I instructed Duke, "Close your eyes and relax. Tell me, what you love the most."

"You.", he responded without missing a beat.

I giggled. "Can you listen first? It can be anything. A place, food, smell. Something that you crave for, need daily, and you can never have enough…"

"Your pussy.", Duke responded, rendering me speechless.

I will never get used to his naughty way of talking.

"Can you be serious?"

"I am serious. I love you the most. The place I love the most is deep inside you. Food? I love to eat you. Smell? The scent of your arousal is addictive. I can never have enough of you, and I could stay inside you forever."

I was exasperated. "Is that your final answer?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?", I asked again.

"Yes. A thousand times, yes."

"OK. Starting today. For one month. You will not get to touch, see, or eat my..."

"WHAT!? NO!", Duke shouted and jumped to his feet. "I want to change my answer! It's broccoli!"

His panicked expression made me burst into laughter, but it didn't last long because I realized that this will be a punishment for me also.

His answer is the reason why both of us need to suffer through one month of celibacy.

It's pure torture.

I always craved for Duke's touch, but only now when it's not allowed, I realized how wanton I am.

My dreams are filled with X-rated images that include me and Duke. I can feel everything; his touch, his scent, his heat... only to awake with nothing but a painful need in my core.

I was a decent woman before Duke. It's his fault! He made me lusty!

The good thing is that we are three weeks in, so only one week is left, or to be precise six more days. We are counting hours and every day is agonizing.

I want to be with Duke because I love him and we are unable to say apart for long, but whenever we are together, my body is reacting, and Duke can smell my arousal which intensifies his suffering.

It's accurate to say that both of us are going through the mental exercise of steeling our will.

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