Chapter 9

School's over and we're on our way to the mall.

"Lilah, Bella do you guys want anything at the mall?" I ask turning the corner on the road, with Antares and the twins in their cars following behind me. "I'll answer that when we get there ," Bella says. "Agreed." Lilah nods.

"Knowing you Lilah you have a price limit of less than $2,000" I state parking my car.

"My spending is not that bad," she protests looking at me wide eyed as she sits upright, crossing her arms. "Are we really going there?" I ask, locking the car door, looking through the window at her. She nods, challenging me as she is unbuckling her seatbelt. "Ok, remember 3 weeks ago in summer when we were at the beach and you made me spend hundreds of dollars on shellfish and drinks?" I opened the door so that they can go in before me. "Ohhh damn, yeah, point taken," she giggles her eyes squinting as her smile reach to them.

"This place is amazing!" Bella gawking at the sight around us. "You've never been to this place?" I walked in after Bella. "No, I'm not allowed out much," Bella says gazing up at the ceiling. "Why not?" I asked walking towards the Apple store. "I'm a fledgling compared to the other vampires." She frowns at her statement. "Well, do you like staying with the other vampires?" I asked. "Honestly no, the older vamps think that human life is meaningless and that it makes no sense to be nice or gentle with them because they're all gonna die eventually and only serve to food," she answers.

That is just cold exactly like their body temperature.

"What do you think about it?" Alex asked staring at the ceiling, waiting for her answer. "I hate it. I hate hurting people, it's against everything I was raised to believe when I was human." Her voice broke as she spoke.

As soon as she finished, the twins and Antares comes in arguing. "Shut up you irrelevant creeps," Antares growled, stomping inside. "We are celestial creatures, compared to is us, you're a freaking bug." Austin snarls, storming in behind her. "Well, Nate asked ME to teach Alex how to control his magic so when it comes down to it, you don't need to be here, so if you want, you can fly back to wherever you came from," Antares smiles, too calmly for the words that just left her mouth.

"So, I leave you three for a couple minutes and you start World War 3 with each other," I asked glared at them.

"They started it," she said, pointing at them with her thumb. "What? No we didn't." They tried to avoid looking me in the eyes. Not fast enough boys. Their eyes told me different. "You guys started it. I know because your eyes don't lie, unlike you," I sigh, dragging my hand down my face. "You need to learn how to get along or everyone else is going to be miserable," I stated walking towards the Apple store. "Yes, please, because I'm over a hundred years old but being around you is giving me stress wrinkles and a huge rash," Bella said rubbing her face dramatically.

I chuckle at her joke because she's dead and frozen in time she literally can't get wrinkles.

"Alex choose a phone and anything else you need," I said, pointing At the options in front of him. "Umm, which one is least expensive?" He asked shyly. "Remember what I said. You don't have to settle for less anymore," I said holding his hand. "That one" he pointed to the iPhone XR. "Good choice." I picked it up.

"Anything else" I asked and he shakes his head. The look on his face told me he wants something else but just doesn't want to ask. "Alexander." I warned. "Fine, I need a laptop," he drags in frustration."And?" I raised an eyebrow at him. "AirPods," he mumbled, playing with his fingers. "Wasn't so hard was it? Pick 'em up" I said. "Anyone else want everything?" I asked.

"I need a phone too and if it's not too much trouble, can I have AirPods as well?" Bella asked rubbing her arm. "I want AirPods!" Lilah jumps, clapping her hands in excitement. "And do you guys want anything?" I turned to the twins and Antares. "An iPad please?" Antares asked. "Apple watches," the twins said.

"Pick them up, my hands are full. I'm buying all of us AirPods 'cause why the hell not" I said going to check out. "Hello, how can I help you" she looking up from her computer. "I would like to purchase these please" I said pointing at the devices . "That would be about $3,438 sir" she said checking them. I pulled my card from my wallet.

I swiped my card and then I took up my purchase. "Oh and you don't won't have any of your SIM cards so I have to get that sorted out. You three, I need your phone numbers" I gave each purchase to the person who wanted it. We took each other's number except Bella and Alex. "I'll get you guys the same contract that I have," I stated looking at Bella and Alex.

"Alright since I'm not buying anything else. Let's go to my place," I said opening the door for everyone to leave. "Antares. I have an underground gym so you can train there while everyone else stays upstairs and I will get food" I explained before going to my car. "Only thing I heard was food," Lilah licked her lips. "Of course you did, you're the equivalent of a blackhole" I said laughing. "That's so true!" Bella giggled. "Don't judge, I need food to stay sane," she whined.

"Of course you do" Bella giggled. As I was driving, Alex grabbed my left hand. "You ok?" I asked glancing at him. "Yes, I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me" he gave me a small smile. "You don't have to thank me, your smile is enough. I would do the same for the two idiots in the back seat" I said looking through the mirror at them. "Aww! Thank you, Nate." Bella said. "I appreciate it Nate but did you just call me an idiot?" Lilah asked crossing her arms.

"Hmm for a werewolf you have really bad hearing," I said smiling. Alex and Bella throws their head back laughing. "I don't like you," Lilah said, glaring at me. "Babe, you know you love me," I winked at her. Her eyes flickered and she growled at me. "Down girl," I laughed.

We got to my house.

"Should I cook or do you want to order something" I asked parking my car in my huge garage. "Hmm, I kinda want lasagna" Lilah said. "I could eat anything...literally," Bella said licking her lips. "What about you Alex" I asked opening the door for him. "Umm, I don't mind lasagna" he said. Two more cars parked beside mine.

I waited for everyone to get inside. "Ok, your house is bigger than ours" Justin said looking at my mansion. "Are you going to text your parents that you're here?" I asked. "They won't mind-in fact, they said that we need to ‘get out more often’," Austin quotes, rolling his eyes. "Mine would care if they were, you know, alive," Antares comments, laughing to herself. "Why is that funny?" Alex asked wide eyed.

"Oh don't worry my parents were horrible people," she explained dismissively. "How so?" The twins asked. "Well, they convinced me that I'm a mistake, an abomination that should not have happened which is in fact their own fault because I didn't tell them to have sex, now did I?" She ranted with annoyance in her tone.

"I never though someone could make something so sad sound so funny. I don't know if I should laugh or not," Bella looked really conflicted. "You can laugh," Antares giggled. With that Lilah bursted out laughing. "Oh my gosh, that should not be so funny," she cackled, wiping under her eye with the knuckle of her index fingernails."I didn't know having friends could be so fun" Alex giggled behind oh palm, blocking her teeth.

"Follow me to the clothing room," I said, cocking my head in a direction. "Why" Alex asked. "You can't train in jeans, now can you?" I pointed out. "Oh, I get it" Alex said. I mumbled a small, "Mmm hmm." "What's a clothing room?" Antares asked. "We were wondering that, too," Justin said. "You'll see," Bella comments looking at them smiling. "You are going to love it" Lilah grins, with a quick raise if her brows.

"Why are there so many stairs?" Austin groaned after walking up yet another flight of stairs. "A lot of rooms," I answered.. They nodded I opened the door for them. Their jaws dropped. "We know," Bella said putting her arms around each twins shoulder. "The both of you go change into something to train in" I said. "Can I change alone?" Antares asked. "Sure,” I shrugged carelessly.

"Text me when you're done so that I can show you the gym," I said to Antares, she nodded and I walked back downstairs. "Ok you guys can do whatever you want but don't break anything," I said going into the kitchen. Alex walked into the kitchen, propped himself up and sat on the counter.

I'm glad he's getting comfortable. "So, is your mother ever home or does she live at work" he asked swinging his feet back and forth. "She should be home in a few hours" I said opening the refrigerator. He looked nervous and something whispered in my mind.

"What if she doesn't like me" Alex's voice echoed in the back of my mind.

I looked at him but lips aren't moving. "Of course she would like you." I said taking out the ingredients and seasoning. He didn't say anything, so I assume he's still caught up in his thoughts. "I think I can trust the vampire. She seems really nice," Alex's voice echoes again. "Why would you think you can't trust Bella?" I asked not looking at him.

"How did you hear that?" Alex asked, his eyebrows slowly pinching together. "Didn't you say it?" I gulped an entire bottle of water. "No, I thought it," he said. My actions froze and I almost choked on the water. 'Did he just say that he thought it?' I questioned myself. " You... thought it?" I asked looking at him. He nodded. "Wow, I have nothing to say about that. Literally, what do I even say to that? 'Cool I can read minds now, too? What's next, flying?' This is all just very overwhelming." I sighed, leaning against the counter, rubbing my forehead.

"If he can read minds what else can he do?" Alex's voice questioned. "I really don't know." I whispered.

I got a text from Antares. I turned to Alex. "It's your turn to get changed," I mumbled, placing my phone down,. He slides off the counter and followed me to the clothing room.

"Are you ok?"

He asked look at me with his gorgeous purple eyes twinkling with concern. "I'm just thinking why is this all starting now and a better question, why me?" I respond. He held my hand and said, "Well you have us to help you figure it out. A shadow of a smile settled on my lips and I gently caressed the back of his hand.

"Thank you" I said. I walked up the stairs. "Ok let me show you the gym while Alex gets changed." I said. Her hair is in a high ponytail with a couple lose strands here and there. Her jewellery is all removed. She is wearing a black sports bra with two white stripes on the side with matching leggings. Her shoes are black sneakers with white laces. You can tell she works out a lot because her body is very toned and not to mention her packs. She's not defined but you can still see that she is built and spends a lot of time on her fitness.

Or maybe it’s a genetic thing that comes with being a werewolf?

Yeah, I feel bad for the guy-or girl, who breaks her heart, if she even grants them the pleasure of having it in the first place.

"So..." Antares said trying to avoid the awkward silence. "If your parents are dead and you live in a wolf pack, how did you learn magic?" I asked. "Since I spend a lot of my time alone, I read a lot of grimoires and stuff," she answered while playing with the ends of her hair.

A confused noise comes from my throat.

"Why would a werewolf pack have grimoires?" I opened the door that is underneath the staircase. "Oh, they don't. It's an app I had on my old iPad, that broke because some dumb she wolves thought it would be funny to break my stuff." She scoffed at the memory.

"And what did you do about that?" I raised an eyebrow while walking down the stairs that leads underground. "I, umm, haha... I summoned a lightning storm and let's just say those bitches got LIT," she giggled to herself. I shouldn't have laughed the way I did.

"That's why you need a new iPad." I concluded. She nodded. "Why is there a magical book on AppStore, for anyone to see? Isn't that dangerous?" I furrowed my brows and squinted my eyes in confusion.

"It would be if they could use it. A human can't access them because of the riddle that only witches or warlocks know and it's the twenty first century not everyone has a dusty, musty, crusty old book just laying around that happens to have powerful spells in it."She shrugged as if the answer was obvious and I was stupid for asking. "Makes sense."

I opened the gym door.

It looked like a normal gym with a big speaker for music. It also has a drink bar that gives you any drink or you can just make it. On the other side is a boxing gym with a cage for sparing and anything else that would be in a boxing gym, for example punching bags and boxing gloves.

"So you guys will be training in the boxing cage to avoid hurting yourself with weights or anything else on that side," I said, pointing to the right corner. She nodded. "If you don't mind me asking, how do they treat you in the pack?" I asked."They mostly ignore me but some just tell me things I already know. Such as, my life is completely meaningless and it would be better if I stepped into oncoming traffic." Why did she say that like it was the most casual thing ever?

"Do you like it there?". That was a stupid question Nate! I yelled at myself internally for asking that.

She just shook her head.

"Then come live here."

Her eyes widen,”What?”