AUTHOR'S POV
"Your mother may have seen your blood in your veins as green as money, but for me... all I saw is hope. A chance for me to finally live a human life once again.", Calvin draw near, and took Diana's hand despite her adamant refusal. He trailed the veins on her arm, as if they were his favorite part of her. Diana clenched her fist so hard, until her fingernails dug into her palm. Unsure if she's driven out of the hurtful lies that Calvin spats out, or the perpetual fear that she has for him, she wriggled her hand from his grip with her eyes full of disdain.
Money has never been an issue to Alva, or between them at least. Their lives has been in clover with the stealth wealth there is. She blinked her eyes hard, refusing to hear more. Her mother can be many things, but there's only one thing that her mother would always be - she surpassed her rivals, built a social prestige, and persevered to get them where they are now. "That's not true", she mumbled, lowering her gaze.
"Hmm?", Calvin tilted his head, as he open Diana's hand. He caressed the nail marks that have injured her palm with his finger, and clasped her hand gently pulling her closer. Her incessant frown gave him a hint of her distrust in his words, making him chuckle dryly. "It's not old money that you're spending, Diana. Ah! Alva used you all along. Too bad you cannot see it".
Diana withdrew her hand from Calvin, along with the trust that she had given him for so long. His deceptive stories only had nefarious intentions to ruin the image of her mother, and their relationship with each other. "Are you done?".
Calvin is halfway done.
He looked at Diana's narrow eyes, staring at him coldly. A sense of frustration run all over him, building in his hunched shoulders. She never looked at him in such way before. It has always been full of warmth and softness, as if Diana is his only ray of sunshine in his joyless, empty existence. And now, seeing her this way make his cold heart hurt. "I never lied to you. Though, I did kept my dark secret, for it was a grotesque part of me that I can no longer change, and surely, I'm afraid it will scare you away... But Alva?", he scoffed lightly, thinking that he won't take the villain card alone. "She's not what she seem to be".
"Let's say my mother did used me... She isn't much more different from you. You used my blood too, Cal", Diana sprang up from the stool, making a sharp screeching sound.
Calvin grabbed Diana's wrist, as he hear the hurt in her voice. "That's true.", he admitted, looking intently in her eyes. "Your unique blood gave me life. For a long time that I've been undead, I suddenly felt my chest thump which I thought would never beat again in a hundred years. I used you, D. But who would've thought that my thirst for life would flourish to something more meaningful?", he placed Diana's palm on his chest leaving her stupefied as she feel the soft thump on the dead man's heart.
"For how long does it work?", Diana asked, taking her hand back.
"Just for a few days..", he exhaled sharply and swept his hair back. "A drop of your blood can make any vampire turn to human. No scents, no powers, no fear of the sun, and no cravings for blood. Your mother would just whisk her own magic using your blood. After all, imagine an entire nation that she's been supplying", he said, as he heave his chair closer to Diana, only for her to step back. Diana felt reposed a little. The fact that Calvin took her blood makes him human at this time. She wouldn't end up ravaged with vampire fangs sinking in her skin tonight.
"Then, why not my mother's? We share the same bloodline. And you two seem to quite get well along", Diana wondered how wolves like her and her mother would get by just fine with vampires like Calvin and many others. Something didn't fit, like keys in wrong keyholes.
Perplexed about how clueless Diana with everything, he sneered gazing at her penetrating stares. "You can ask your mother that. She have more interesting explanations, I suppose. Such a very supportive woman", Calvin made himself comfortable, as he place his elbow on the table. "You know, I want to give vampires a new breath of life, Alva made it come true. But not all wanted what I envision.. ".
"Oh.. I haven't forgotten how I was attacked by vampires.", Diana made side glances, getting anxious if there are vampires lurking around in the lab.
"Well, you cannot please everybody. Some vampires, the makers? They thought, your existence is a threat to us. The goddamn wolves can easily vanquish the vampire clan in a sweep when we're intoxicated with your blood. Either way, progenies like me still choose to live a normal life...", Calvin suddenly jumped out of his seat, and jolted forward grabbing Diana's hands. Gasping, Diana flinched... and yet, her slow reflexes didn't escape Calvin's grasp. He run her hands on his chest, to his neck and up to his cheeks. Feeling her quivering hands on his skin. He closed his eyes, snuggling her warmth.. luxuriating in her presence. "...and unexpectedly find love along the way.", Calvin placed her fingers in his mouth, savoring the her taste and softness.
"No! Please, don't!", Diana jolted back, pushing Calvin away as his weight trap her against the table. She winced in pain, moving his face away from hers.
"Diana!! I will never hurt you, or put your life in danger.. not even a strand of your hair", his brimming hazel eyes reflected his desperation, as he tug her close. "I will love you the best way I can! A chance to be human is a chance to love one. And there's no one out there for me, but you Diana. Come with me, let's leave this place. Let's leave your mother!", his manic eyes intensely burned at her, locking her in with his hands on her back and waist. His greed immensely poured in his firm hold, without any intentions to let her free.
"No! Cal, Please!", Diana plead as she melt in Calvin's arms, squirming against his body as he push himself to her, laying her on the table.
"That Scott is no good for you. Do you even know he's a wolf?? They imprint on wolves, so you won't be taken seriously by that dog.", Calvin nestled his face in her neck, ripping clothes as he rain wet kisses on her skin. Diana fought hard. Pulling Calvin's hair, and scratching his face and neck with her nails. Then hitting his face with hard knock, Calvin flinched as he close his eyes tightly giving Diana a time to jump down the table and flee. However, Calvin caught up to her. Grabbed a lock of her hair, pulled it, and slammed her head on the table. Diana hit her forehead hard enough to make her vision spin. A small cut on her eyebrow bled, dripping on her dazed eye as she roll out on the table.
"Diana, I am losing my f*cking patience!", he placed his both hands on her ears, digging his fingers in her head, as he shouted right on her face. His temper have risen up to the ceiling, raging with his fatal desires for Diana. "I'll kill that Scott with my bare hands, and you will be all mine", he grunted, as he carry her over his shoulder. As he was about to go for his way out, someone hammered the door aggressively, along with the loud screams to open them. Calvin backed away slowly, figuring out where to leave the room with Diana.
Suddenly, the door bursted open as a man storm in. "Put her down, or else, I will tear your body apart", Cory accosted with a stern voice, with his gaze on Diana who's half awake hanging over Calvin's shoulders like a sack of potatoes. He'd be gone for a moment, and the vampires go rushing to their Luna. If he arrived late, he knew his head would be on a pike placed by their Alpha. "Don't make me repeat myself!", he narrowed their gap with a hostile intent.
"Co-ry..", Diana weakly called, while Calvin backs away at every step Cory makes.
Cory's wolf blood run hot under his collar, clenching his fists into a ball. With a rigid neck and heaving breaths, he locked his gaze at the man carrying Diana. Given the situation, Calvin knew he had no match with any one. He cannot win a fight with Diana's blood seizing his vampirism, even if he force himself. Slowly, he laid Diana down on the floor, showing a tight face etched with defeat. It was then Cory clearly noticed the tear on Diana's shirt, the marks on her neck, and her bloody forehead. Those were enough to lunge on a warpath towards Calvin. Gnashing his teeth, Cory pummeled Calvin straight right into his jaw decking him down the floor. He was too worked up, that he never gave a chance for Calvin to fight back. Grunting heavily at each blow, he made sure Calvin's face won't ever be recognized.
"Co..ry, that's enough", Diana faintly called, sitting up against the leg of the table. "That's enough."
LATER IN THE EVENING AT THE DEVLIN MANSION
"IT'S JUST A SMALL PARTY", Reina scoffed at her brother, who's scolding her about the number of people she invited tonight. In her bedroom, she flopped on the couch heavily, with her arms folded as Scott gives her an earful.
Scott made clear plans tonight with his Luna in his favorite private spot within the vicinity of the Devlin's mansion... only to arrive at their lavishly decorated home for over 300 guests invited for his birthday. The party hasn't even started yet, but as he move his eyes around, he could already hear the stirring music from the tower speakers set up in every corner of their ballroom. Bottles of different liquors for a top-notched expert mixology of cocktails and drinks are being loaded in the bespoke mobile bar area sophisticatedly elevated on one of their accent walls. It will be a long night of splurging alcohol, he thought. Black ceiling drapes and dramatic lights blended well making the hall sparkle, like a beautiful starry night sky indoor.
"300 guests Reina?! Where did you even get all those people?", Scott scowled, raising his voice at her. He knows how extravagant Reina could be, but he never expected overdoing a ball party with as big as three hundred guests.
"Those are just friends and family... Everyone's looking forward for your birthday! Imagine, I just invited them yesterday, and VOILA! They all cleared their evening for you. You're that special!", she said excitingly as she lean forward with delighted eyes.
"Me? Please.", he furrowed his brows with the thought of him being special to other people being an overbearing brother, a domineering boss, a diplomatic Alpha and a tactless friend. He never cared of what others think of him, and not even today he would care if anyone of those 300 invited persons would come. With all honesty, he just wanted to be more than special not to anyone else but only to his Luna. Staring at Reina incredulously, he shook his head blinking rapidly opposing against her grandiose birthday preparations.
"Yes!", Reina widened her eyes standing up from the couch. Fixing the tie of her robe, she laid her hands on his brother and pushed him to door. "Okay! I'm going to finish doing my make up, and you can go down and check your 7-layer birthday cake!! I asked the baker put a lot of fresh strawberries inside", she opened the door and let his steaming brother out. "So, see you later brother!! Enjoy the night and happy birthday!", Reina shut the door gently, avoiding further interrogation from his brother. Besides, it's too late to cancel the party now, she have placed so much effort for Scott's party anyway.