CHAPTER 1

                     "I GOTTA AGREE, Uncle Max," Jefferson Duvas beamed as he lay a heavy load off the van, "This area is divine."

The place made a mockery of his vampire status. If that's what the man really means to say. Maximilian Adenhart was neither thrilled nor upset about his new home. The large two storey apartment would be considered bare and bland once compared to his old house. It is what he needs at the moment nonetheless. He could not complain. Maximilian was never the type of person who loves grandiose. Although this place doesn't spark an intimate feeling with him, he didn't wince. He knew he wouldn't be here for long anyway.

The long and narrow road ahead was clean but dusty. Compared to the city three hundred and fourty miles from where he stood, the air doesn't have the abundant car emissions that he hated since he was a youngster. It was the least consolation of moving into the town of Little Maddison. The population was below two hundred houses. That explains why most prefers bikes and brief walks.

Maximilian didn't pay attention to the ride that brought him here. He remembered most of the establishments that the place offers though. The town had a small convenient center. Two bake shops and a small cafe. Some tailoring store and a daycare center that's willing to accomodate twenty small kids at best.

Maximilian thought this Little Maddison is the most peaceful town in the world. He liked the way people smile through the heavily tinted window of Jeffrey's van. They recognize a newcomer and they are willing to befriend him.

It's a first experience for him.

"Sir, you should talk more now that you're here." Jeffrey sighed noisily. "Your point has been brought to the elders and now you have your freedom! Oh jeez, if ever you're going to appoint a regent, please— please, don't advertise my name. That will crush me."

Maximilian eyed his back. He couldn't believe that a vampire could sweat until he saw Jeffrey flinching under his stare. But then, the kid was a half mortal. It's not good to question his defective vampire characteristics. He clicked his tongue. Straightening the lapel of his suit, he drawled, "So the reason why you chose to accompany me today was for this, huh, junior? You want to plead for leniency?"

"I'm not saying that being the head of the Adenhart coven is not an honor but sir, I mean, Uncle Max, this is not for me. I'm just twenty-five, okay?" Jeffrey huffed. He still couldn't face Maximilian even when he's trying to disobey. Max thought of this funny. Jeffrey's mother had always hated his guts to turn the ancient practices to more unconventional and practical habits. Seeing her son trying to reason cowardly to his Uncle Max gives him delight.

"I took over the coven when I got sixteen, kid."

"Yeah?" The guy was amazed but also horrified. Max was confused by his expression. "Well, wow! Max, you're born for the crown. I am not. And I thought you shouldn't have concentrated that much on the coven for— like, 500 years. Look where did it get you now? No wife. No son!"

Max' tiny curve at the tips of his lips vanished in an instant. Jeffrey continues to blabber about his life before finally noticing that his uncle stood quiet all the time.

He gulped. Max showed him his perfunctory smile. He murmured, "Tell your mother that this is a matter of consequence. I know she sent you to me in private so you can plead for your release from the clan, something I can't afford to give. Let me ask you this, kid, do you really want to live as a mortal?"

Jeffrey is a good kid. Maximilian wanted to have a kid like him someday. A fun-loving, cheerful child who knows when and where to show his fangs. The only fault he could find in Jeffrey is that the man couldn't say no to his mother.

Maximilian's older sister, Janette Adenhart, was hellbent on the idea of turning herself into a mortal. So much that when laboratory testings couldn't work, she decidedly married a mortal man. She wants to have a, according to her words, 'normal' kid. Max couldn't imagine her disappointment when Jeffrey started to turn at the age of sixteen. While the kid's father was happy, Janette became silent. It took a great while before Janette finally learned to love the kid. Especially when she found out that Maximilian had a liking to the boy.

Max didn't shy away from showing his favoritism among his nieces and nephews. He's the only Adenhart left with no children to call his own. Jeffrey was a pitiful child. Even when Janette send Jeffrey to scurry on his side, Max gladly accepted each gifts with unseeing eyes.

But this last request is unforgivable.

Janette wants to free Jeffrey from her kind while the kid wanted to secure a stable position in the coven. When Max came to realize Jeffrey's internal conflicts, he didn't bat an eye and agreed to be send off by him and him alone.

"I've always thought that you have an upright man as a father, Jeffrey." Maximilian twisted his lips in a wry smile. "What happened? How did Janette manage to make him agree?"

"You know how hardheaded mom can get sometimes, sir." Jeffrey deviated from his overly casual voice and turned to a respectful tone. "I'd… being a regent is a tad too burdensome for a person who scarcely had the experience. You thrived on the status for five hundred years. There's no way I can copy you for even a day."

Maximilian leaned on the van. He looked to the side and saw his own pale reflection at the side mirror. He can only see his face in the morning. Maximilian doesn't know why and what happens but their reflections fade every night. Half dead and half alive. He blinked slowly. "You're not arrogant to think you're worthy enough. That's good."

"No… I don't plan to. I want to be respected and be trusted by our kind because of my own capability."

Max frowned. "You can start being an apprentice. I don't trust anyone at the coven but Cedric Mallory is a nice lad. Why don't you work under him for a month or two?"

"Make that three, sir." Jeffrey stopped worrying over the boxes and positioned at Max' side. "Wait, is he… is that Cedric specialized in paperwork?"

'Picky…' Max rolled his eyes. He struggled to think of the guy's line of work. "What's there if he's in line with the papers? That's a harmless job."

"Then make it a month only." Jeffrey didn't answer him and said, "Make it less than a week if that's possible."

'Oh,' Maximilian jeered in his mind, 'he thought he can handle Mr. Mallory's strict rules?'

"Cedric Mallory specified in field work. He gathers intel, do major and minor hunt for the clan. You think you can handle that?"

"Of course! Make it... five months, then!"

Max grinned at his nephew's enthusiasm. He looked back at the house. "Expect your appointment next day, kid."

"Oh, God!" he whined belatedly, "Mom will kill me for this."

Max scoffed. "Let her come after me. Tell her I forced you or something."

Jeffrey shook his head with a boot-licking grin. "You're the best uncle even if the mortals often says we look like best cousins."

Max only raised a brow. 'Who told you that?'

"Sir, how long do you plan to stay here?" The guy attempted to distract Max from his statement before. He only shrugged then seriously considered his question. 

In the end, he simply said, "It depends."

                         DOLLY CESARO's morning wasn't as bad as yesterday's. She woke up with no headache and chest pains. As much as she would like to shift and heal her internal injuries, she wouldn't risk arising Fin's need to hunt again at let herself lose a limb or two. Her rabbit shifter side couldn't appreciate Fin's wolf instincts. She always felt like an animal on the verge of running in a split whenever he is around. That's the reason why she persevered in applying almost every part time job 'til she's sick and bone-tired. 

She needs an excuse to get away from him.

Fin had a problematic wolf soul. He gets violent on small issues and tends to break in a shift when he's threatened. Dolly asked him not to get out of their shared apartment. She works for the both of them.

Dolly still doesn't understand why her family joined forces to drive her away in her twenty-fifth birthday. She was contented on doing late night shifts and give them all her salary every Sunday just to help the men in the house provide food for everyone.

Dolly was the third among the ten sons and daughters. All of her siblings had married when they turned to sixteen. Only her three lovely siblings, age five to ten, are with her parents.

She'd hardworking, a dutiful daughter and a kind sister. Dolly wants to make them happy despite their dismay on her 'mate-less' life since she reached the age of twenty. Dolly thought no one liked her, and it's okay. She's fine living alone. A decision that her family never understood and doesn't accept.

When Fin came to their neighborhood, Dolly's father had given the guy permission to date her. The two never worked it out since Fin was behaving abnormally. He kept on twitching and grimacing. They couldn't talk properly.

It was a shock for Dolly when her father ordered five rogue wolves to chase her down. Luckily, she met Fin on the way and escaped with him.

Since then,  she lived in Little Maddison with Fin inside a small apartment with two rooms. It was quiet and serene, yet Dolly hated not being able to see her family.

She missed her younger brothers and sisters.

"Dolly!" A middle-aged woman landed a calloused hand on her shoulder. Dolly stretched her lips in a sunny bright smile and greeted, "Good morning, Pam!'

"Oh, you're full of sugar this morning, ain't you, darling?" Pam smacked her lips. The big loop of earrings in her ear moved as she turns her head to the side to whisper, "there's a new man in the curb, baby girl."

Dolly laughed. She squinted her eye and teases the woman, "Is he handsome? Do you like him?"

"Intense! The man was Poseidon in black, Dolly. He's wearing a custom-made suit under this hot weather." She applauded. "Lean, stark and unbelievably pale!"

'Lean and… unbelievably pale?' Dolly kept her mouth but thought, 'Wearing a suit in the middle of May. Was there even a man like that?'

She couldn't help but laugh.