Sera's POV:
I let out a sigh of relief seeing that Axel immediately recovered from his fear. He was a little zoned out, but fear was no longer emanating from him. He seemed more curious now so I decided to ask him along when I spoke to Devils Moon's Luna. Although she seems harmless, I know she is not as simple as she seems. So, a little backup won't hurt.
"Are you ready to talk?" I asked her through mind link.
"I am, but we need an excuse to go to the private rooms. It'd be strange if you went alone."
"I can handle that." I said to her before speaking out loud. "Axel, Silas, I'd like to speak with you both privately."
Axel and Silas just look back a forth between each other like a couple of idiots while father sent me a "why are you canoodling with the enemy" glare. Robert looked confused as hell when his wife let go of his arm to stand beside me. I've been waiting to hear this story for over an hour and I'm getting impatient. Their questioning glances and blank faces are annoying the hell out of me.
"Now." I snapped and started walking towards the stairs. Axel immediately got the hint that something important was happening so he followed suit, pulling Silas with him.
"Don't question anything she says for the next hour and your life will be intact when you leave." I heard Axel whisper to Silas. Vampire Luna and I giggled to that. She was walking directly beside me, shoulders still leaned back, completely relaxed. It was as if this information wasn't important at all... or she trusted me with it? If she did, she was really, and I mean really, stupid. My parents never hid their dislike towards their pack so why would she be so calm in telling me something that could destroy them?
By the time I got over my inner investigation we had arrived at the door to one of the private rooms. The butler standing beside the black door scanned a key fob and opened the door for us. I held my hand out to him while saying, "I'll take the keys to this door. We won't need any assistance." His forehead was dripping sweat and he appeared unable to form words. His mouth opened and closed a few times before he nodded and placed the key in my hand before running away.
"Are we really that intimidating?" I questioned.
"Maybe he just has problems speaking to pretty women?" Silas said. I know it was meant to be a compliment but I couldn't help but tease him.
"Do you speak from experience?" I joked as I walked into the room. There was a large leather couch right in front of the two way window that covered the entire back wall. There were two lounge chairs across from the couch with a glass coffee table in the center. From the window you could see all the people drinking, laughing, and dancing in their pretty dresses. It looked like a scene from a fairytale.
I sat on the couch and crossed my legs before saying, "Make yourself visible to my brother." In the woman's direction. This time, Silas visibly panicked. The color had completely drained from his face by the time her body's opacity turned normal.
Axel immediately stood in front of me with his guard up.
"Sera, who is this?"
"Mom, what's the meaning of this?"
Axel and Silas questioned at the same time. The woman sat down in the chair across from me before saying, "Calm down darling, she knows what I am. What else was I to do?" She said gently. Axel had already understood why his presence was necessary, so he stood in the back corner of the room; observing and listening.
"How the hell can she see you?" Silas sounded angry and scared at the same time. I didn't have to answer his question because my genius brother had already figured everything out and spoke first, "Her invisibility is a mind game. She's altering everyone's memories and vision real time. It's very impressive, but you can't trick a mind that's stronger than yours." Axel said smugly. I couldn't help but smile at the pride in his voice. He always had boasted my power more than I do.
"That's imposs..." Silas didn't get to finish his sentence once again as his mother held his hand. "My name is Asterelle Woods, I am the Luna of Devils Moon and a vampire."
None in the room were surprised by Asterelle's statement. We just let the confirmation of our thoughts set in a little before I spoke, "How have you gotten this far with this lie? Don't you need to travel to the smaller packs under you to keep peace?" I asked. It was the only thing bugging me. How the hell did they hide this for so long?
"For the packs under us, we used a decoy Luna. She's from our main pack and she travels with Robert to the small ones. Our main pack has been aware of my identity since before I was even fully mated to Robert." Asterelle said calmly.
"And they accepted you?" I asked with one brow quirked.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Silas growled and glared at me with his chest puffed. I did mention that I like picking fights, didn't I?
Asterelle smiled and ignored her sons outburst, "Not all of them. Some felt that I put them in danger. They left out of fear that people would come after our pack due to me and Roberts union." She replied. I just stared at her because I felt she had more to say. And I was right because she spoke again, "But most were very supportive because they love their alpha. Robert has always been good to his people and they respect him a lot for it. Now, they help keep me secret and keep my boys safe." She smiled at her son as she said those words.
"Silas, that makes you a Lycan- Vampire hybrid, yes?" I asked with what Axel and Kitty call my "evil smile". He gulped loudly before stammering, "y-yes." My smile grew even bigger at that. I was thinking of all the time we had to fight since we're going to attend Academy together. I was sure my face was split ear to ear by now.
"C-can you stop ogling me with that creepy smile please?" Silas snapped me from my thoughts. I looked at the pretty boy who now looked like a scared kid, "I'll keep your secret. I'll even help you if you need me. I can compel anyone." I said with my eyes glittering.
"And in return?" Asterelle asked. She is indeed very smart. Of course, my help doesn't come without a price.
"Simple, Silas will spar with me whenever I ask." I announced. The room went dead silent until Axel chuckled and Asterelle giggled.
"Out of all that information, all that stuck out to you was the fact that you might have found a strong opponent." Axel said as he bent over laughing.
"You really do remind me of my Draven." Asterelle said with a smile so big it made her eyes close.
"Ah! Can I fight him too?" I asked excitedly. If I were in wolf form, my tail would definitely be sweeping back and forth.
Both Asterelle and Silas froze at my question. They slowly looked at each other, then back to me before Silas explained, "I don't think that's a good idea, but I'm perfectly willing to spar with you so long as you don't cry when you lose."
"Underestimating me will get you hurt, Silas." I tilted my head as I said his name with a smirk.
"Jesus woman, do you know how scary you can be?" Silas said with fake panic lacing his tone.
"But why would a friendly spar between me and your big brother be a bad idea?" I asked. I don't doubt that he's strong and I'm not afraid of being beaten. After all, that's the whole goal; to find someone my age that's actually a challenge.
The mother and son duo just chuckled awkwardly, refusing to give me an answer. That's when I heard Axel say, "I'd never let that happen. When you come to Academy, you'll have monthly spars against students in your bracket. It's like a gladiator situation, all students and teachers watch from the stands while two other students duke it out." He looked me in the eyes to make sure I was following before he explained further.
"They can get brutal. Obviously we have healers on standby, but that doesn't mean there haven't been close calls. Most of these close calls are due to Draven Woods. He beats his opponent until their crippled, Sera."
"Have you seen him fight?" I asked. Now I really wanted to fight him.
"Yes, I have, and did you hear anything I just said?!" He replied, completely over my bullshit. He was exasperated and I found it comical.
"What's his fight style? Any affinities? Strength or speed based attacks? Any go-to defense methods?" I asked back to back questions and I expected answers to all of them. But Axel just looked angry while Silas and Asterelle were flabbergasted. I saw from my peripheral that Axel was sending pleading looks to Silas.
"You're hurting my feelings with your interest in my brother, ya know?" Silas spoke, obviously trying to divert my attention.
"Axel," I called in a honeyed voice with a sweet smile. "You know, if you don't want to answer my questions, I could always find out on my own." My voice was steadily dropping octaves until I reached my final point. "He is here, isn't he?"
"You wouldn't."
"We both know I would." I threatened.
"I'll answer these four questions, then you'll leave the thought alone?" He was practically begging me not to mess with this Draven guy.
"Yes." I answered without hesitation. Axel said we have monthly spars at Academy. Meaning I'll have a chance to fight him eventually.
"His fight style is... brutal; animalistic even. He has a wind affinity but has never been forced to use it. His attacks are fast, strong, and precise. And I can't help you with breaking his defense because no one at Academy has ever pushed him to a defensive position." Axel said with a long sigh.
"You should drop the thought of fighting him. He tends to get a little carried away." Asterelle said while Silas bobbed his head up and down in agreement.
"One more question, do you think I'd be challenged by him?" My question was directed to Axel only, as he's the only one in the room that's seen me in action.
"From what I've seen from him, no." Axel answered. Silas gasped before shouting, "Why are you boosting her head? You're going to get her killed!?"
"Shut up and let me finish." Axel growled while Silas whined like a puppy. "Also, I'm only being honest. If he performed the same way he had at Academy against Sera, he'd lose. Very easily, actually. But, there's too many unknowns. I've never seen his affinity proficiency and I've never seen if he's trained his defense. I have a feeling that he's far stronger than what he's shown, just that no one has challenged his limits."
"I'd like to meet him at least. Introduce me, Si?" I asked with authority. Really, it was a demand.
"Si? Aww we already have pet names for each other, Serbear!" He's really just a big baby. We laughed at each other's stupidity while I questioned why it was so easy to get along with this family. It felt... natural, like we were destined to be close; connected by some string of fate.