1 The Sparrow

Cheung Qi, still trembling from the overwhelming force of his elder cousin's pheromones, managed to find a moment of calm.

He coughed weakly, the sound echoing around the room, before lifting his gaze. His face, drained of color, reflected lingering shock and confusion.

"A spy sent by the vampire leader?" His voice, dry and strained, carried disbelief and uncertainty.

Hei Bao, unable to conceal the weight of his guilt upon seeing his condition, nodded and wiped the sweat from his brow with a red handkerchief, his movements slow and deliberate.

"Yes," he confirmed, his voice steady, focused on wiping away the sweat that clung to Cheung Qi's pale skin. Each gentle swipe of the handkerchief was a silent apology for the pain he had caused.

His Cheung Qi might be overwhelmed too much occasionally, but Hei Bao knows deep down that's just who he is. Despite all those imperfections, he couldn't help but feel a deep affection for him, like a little brother he never had.

After all, he's the one who raised him at the age of 15 ever since this bold rascal's parents died, and that bond runs deep. He could never bring to hate this child.

Hei Bao's brows furrowed in displeasure, a flicker of frustration crossing his face as he retorted,

"I wouldn't have hurt you like this if you hadn't triggered Leo," He mumbled, his voice tinged with irritation as he referred to his inner wolf.

With a sigh, he gently helped Cheung Qi to his feet. He guided him to one of the couches, the concern in his eyes evident as he handed him a handkerchief to wipe away the remaining sweat, hoping to ease the pain he had unintentionally caused.

"That wouldn't be me," Cheung Qi looked up with a weak smile, trying to mask his discomfort and lighten the mood despite the pain.

Hei Bao's eyes softened, his frustration giving way to a more understanding expression.

"Right, it wouldn't be normal for us," he replied, his voice carrying warmth and camaraderie.

A minute of reconciling silence burst into the room until the atmosphere grew sober.

"How did you know she's a spy sent by Rong Qiqiang?" Cheung Qi's voice broke the silence, filled with concern and curiosity.

Hei Bao sat beside him, his expression darkening as he recalled the memory.

"Last night," he began.

"When we... were intimate, I noticed a tattoo behind her ear. It struck me suddenly, and I remembered the report you gave me a few weeks ago."

Cheung Qi's face showed deep confusion, his brow furrowing as he tried to remember.

"Report? What report?" His mind raced, but the specific details of the report eluded him.

"The report about the killing in C City," Hei Bao gives a railway, his tone heavy with bitterness and concern.

Cheung Qi's eyes widened as he realized the connection, shock washing over him.

"The one related to an exiled group of vampires?" His voice trembled under the weight of revelation.

"Yes," Hei Bao confirmed.

"Do you remember the victims bitten by those vampires?" he asked.

"Yes, they had tattoos on their backs, arms, and legs." Cheung Qi answered.

"Em, Fei Nian has the same one, and because of it, I suspected she might be connected to the killings and possibly under someone else's control." The pack leader explains further.

"Why do you think so? Does her tattoo have those red spots?" Cheung Qi asked.

"It does, and you know very well what it represents," Hei Bao replied.

"It means the one who marked her is the leader of the Vampire and was truly under a manipulation spell,"

Among all vampires, only the leader has a unique mark on their prey. This mark instantly transforms into the shape of a blood half-moon, making it easily recognizable. All races are well aware of this distinctive feature.

"So that is why you knew she was a spy. Wait! Does that mean those exiled vampires are likely under Rong Qiqiang's control!" Cheung Qi's eyes filled with dread.

Hei Bao nodded.

A heavy silence settled between them as Cheung Qi's mind reeled.

"But, why send a spy? What does he want with you? Is he trying to disregard the peace agreement?" His voice was anxious.

"Are they trying to disrupt the peace between the three races?" He looked at his elder second cousin, his eyes searching desperately for answers.

"I'm not sure; everything seems too easy to figure out right now. I feel like something isn't right," Hei Bao said, his voice tinged with uncertainty. He glanced toward Cheung Qi and saw him biting his right thumb, a habit he always had when deep in thought and worried.

"Stop biting and overthinking things. The higher-ups already know about this and have scheduled a meeting with all the leaders this Friday. I will handle what happens next, so you don't have to worry. Just trust me and stay calm,"

"How could I stay calm? The vampire leader sent a spy, and I didn't even detect it." Those were the words Cheung Qi wanted to say out loud, but he refrained and instead just nodded, obeying his elder cousin's command, although his face still showed concern.

"Rong Qiqiang truly deserves to be the leader. He manages everything related to their clan very well," he said, his voice reflecting apprehension.

"You mean chaotically," Hei Bao interjects, making him laugh and lose some tension.

"My chaotic personality had finally come in handy." The pack leader added, leaning back on the couch and closing his eyes, saying.

"It certainly has. Thanks to it, you can now relieve some of the stress from those higher-ups who bug us about this every day," Cheung Qi replied.

"Their pestering is understandable. They're just trying to ensure the safety of their people while involving us. Apart from us lycans and vampires, they're just humans who lack strength but rely on the law and their right to safeguard their lives," Hei Bao said.

"But, enough about that. How are you feeling now?"

Cheung Qi sighs a small smile of relief on his face.

"Good. Could you look into Fei Nian's relations and connections? The sooner, the better," Hei Bao said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Suddenly, his stomach growled loudly, a clear sign of his hunger. Cheung Qi's eyes widened in surprise, and he couldn't help but laugh.

"Shut up, or I'll put you in pain again," Hei Bao warns, shooting a sharp glare at his cousin, who immediately shuts his mouth.

"I spent so much time talking to you that I even forgot to have breakfast," he complained, his irritation mixed with self-reproach.

"Let's go eat outside. Order anything you want," Hei Bao added, trying to mask his discomfort with a gesture of generosity. He hurriedly walked out the door, eager to escape the awkwardness.

Cheung Qi stood up, his amusement fading as he followed him in silence, his thoughts lingering on their previous conversations until they reached the garage.

"You drive," Hei Bao said with a weary sigh, opening the passenger door and collapsing into the seat.

"I'm so hungry that I don't have the strength to lift a finger."

Cheung Qi's eyes widened in disbelief as he watched his dramatic entrance.

"You managed to open the car door and still say that? Unbelievable," he said, a mix of exasperation in his voice.

"Come on, let's go!" Hei Bao urged, his impatience evident in the sharpness of his tone. Cheung Qi immediately got inside the black Mercedes-Benz and drove off.

"How's that? Do I sound like your second elder cousin just now?" the pack leader asked suddenly, a hint of challenge in his voice as he caught his cousin off guard.

"You-" Cheung Qi glanced at him, confusion mingling on his face. Then, as if realizing something, he said,

"Look, I didn't mean-"

"Jeez, don't try to turn my questions into some emotional melo drama; just answer my damn questions!" Hei Bao snapped, his tone sharp and impatient.

Cheung Qi sighed and shook his head while his eyes focused on the road.

"Not even close," he replied, his voice tinged with tiredness.

Hei Bao's eyes immediately widened in disbelief, 

"WHAT?" irritation flashed across his face. He wanted to retort and say something to argue, but upon seeing the worn-out features of Cheung Qi, he just stayed quiet and said, 

"Well, I am still your second elder cousin, and I can assure you of that, so wipe away that nonsense worry and just focus on driving."

As he said this, Cheung Qi did focus on driving and did not utter any words, but he did not refrain from smiling.

Instead of bringing him to one of the luxurious restaurants in B City, Cheung Qi took him to a simple and greener place.

"What the heck? Why bring me to a place like this?" Hei Bao was stunned as his cousin parked the car.

Cheung Qi just smiled and looked at him as he unfastened his seatbelt.

"Chu Yan brought me here once, and I met two of her friends who work here," he said.

He didn't wait for his Elder cousin's response, knowing he would likely refuse or make excuses, and went ahead first, leaving Hei Bao no chance to say another word.

Left with no choice, the pack leader sighed deeply, his frustration palpable as he followed obediently behind. He couldn't bear wasting the precious gas used to get them here.

As they approached, an unexpected scent of strawberries suddenly filled the air. The aroma was pleasant; it carried a sensation that excited the heart.

It was intoxicating, causing him to quicken his pace as if it were pulling him toward something he couldn't understand.

Somehow, it awakened Leo, leaving him utterly shocked. He walked past Cheung Qi without noticing and pushed open the glass door. The chimes of the bells rang out, and the sweet aroma quickly embraced him, compelling him to step further inside in a hurry.

"Welcome," a deep yet gentle voice said, causing him to snap to attention and turn toward the cashier counter, where a young man greeted him with a warm smile. 

They say that when you meet your mate, you'll think they are the most beautiful person you've ever encountered. However, the pack leader wasn't so sure about that.

Instead of encountering someone who fit that description, he found himself face-to-face with a muscular and handsome young man, which left him baffled. 

"Mate..." he mumbled, as if spellbound. 

To be continued.