The Supreme Alpha

Author's note: This is from Serina's point of view

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I was getting restless as the day of our big procedure of awakening Duke's wolf was approaching.

Two more days to go.

Fynn will arrive tomorrow, Sergio was preparing for the ceremony that will strengthen one's will to resist Alpha command, and I still didn't hear a word from Lazarus.

Duke was his usual self when we were together, but I could sense that he was uneasy.

Part of me wished that we can be done with it already because the anticipation was killing me. But another part wished that we can postpone it until forever.

I knew that the procedure will change Duke, but I had no way of predicting to what extent.

Even if the procedure fails, Duke will change because he will lose hope of regaining what he lost as a child and becoming stronger.

Duke was spending more time in the office, video conferencing with Ash and making sure that Ash can handle work for the foreseeable future, and that only made me more nervous. Why did it sound like Duke was handing him over the company? Duke will be back to lead it in no time!

I was going over Duke's procedure over and over again, and in order not to lose my mind, I spent more time with Treva and tried to analyze her predicament.

Treva was telling me what Mivian and Lumiona (aka Archousa and Manteio) did to seal her powers and how she was treated after that.

I didn't know how much singing and chanting contributed to restricting Treva's magic, but what I knew was that they fed her forcefully some potion, and I needed to figure out how to reverse whatever that potion did.

Unfortunately, I didn't have blood samples from Treva before the unfortunate incident or a sample from a healthy harpy, so I was not sure what I was looking for while doing Treva's blood analysis.

Books I had spoke vaguely about harpies with no details on how their magic works. I even checked information on elements, hoping to find what could control air or use the power of the stars. I found nothing useful.

While examining Treva, I was documenting everything, creating a harpy book of my own. I was confident that my father will appreciate it when he wakes up, but this did nothing to help Treva's condition.

After hitting several dead ends, I ran out of ideas. I realized that I can't solve this on my own and there was one person who knew about magic and potions… Vesper.

"After this thing with Mateo is done, I will take you to see a witch.", I told Treva, and her eyes sparkled from excitement.

"A witch?", she repeated, obviously wanting to know more.

"Don't get your hopes up.", I advised her. "I don't know if she can help us, but she definitely knows more about magic and she was around for much longer than I was."

I decided to tell her later that Vesper shouldn't be trusted because Vesper might want to take some parts of Treva to brew potions. I hoped that Vesper won't dare to do anything openly, not with my father having her as his slave, so the key was to keep Aldus's condition a secret.

While at it, I was thinking about how I can poke Vesper's brain for ideas related to adding vitality to a vampire. Maybe she has a potion or a spell that can work. The problem was that I needed to ask specific questions without being too obvious about it because if Vesper suspects that something is off with Aldus, she might come to end him or do something to me. How troublesome.

'Trust no one', that's what my father told me. He was quite specific with warnings that Vesper is capable of poisoning a person with an innocent smile on her face. 'She didn't get to live for centuries by being nice to people'.

I still remember vividly the experiences of Vesper looking into my emotions and the eerie feeling of being exposed.

I was jittery at the thought that I will need to meet Vesper, but at the same time grateful that it distracted me from thinking about the upcoming Duke's procedure, no matter how temporary that distraction was.

Outside my stress-infused bubble, Zeiroi was doing his own thing and Treva would spend a portion of her day lingering in the garden. I didn't see them talk much, but they were coexisting in the same space without conflicts, so I took that as a good thing.

Ash was busy in London with the Eclipse, and Zoe and Luca enjoyed their vacation in Greece. Ash didn't ask about them, but he knew they were away.

Zoe and Luca didn't call or text to say how they are doing, but the staff told me that the food is disappearing and that occasionally there are bedsheets and towels for wash, so I knew Zoe and Luca were alive.

Those kids went through so much and they deserved their patch of happiness.

Ash, Zoe, and Luca wanted to be here when we do the procedure to awaken Duke's wolf, but I refused. I didn't want them to disturb their things because of a procedure they would need to sit out.

If any of them is here, they would just become a liability because I doubt that they would be able to resist the command of the Supreme Alpha.

Ash had his tasks at the Eclipse, and for Zoe and Luca, I told them that if they wanted to be useful, and they find time, they could investigate Kosta. Treva was staying with him for some time after coming out of the realm of harpies, and she met him in his olive orchard that is not far away from the mansion where Zoe and Luca are.

But I didn't have high hopes that Zoe and Luca will investigate Kosta; I was sure that they were busy with each other.

I will look into Kosta once this thing with Duke's wolf settles. I am curious to find out how Bolek's hunters knew where Treva was going. I mean, the guy was confident that she is a harpy, but without her magic, Treva looks like a pale human. My guess is that either Kosta or someone close to Kosta ratted her out and I want to get to the bottom of it.

With Treva's issues pushed for later, I was back to thinking about the upcoming Duke's procedure.

My biggest fear was that Duke will affect Fynn or Sergio and force them to do something against their will, like setting him free, and him escaping who-knows-where while controlling Duke's body.

I really had no idea what to expect.

I was bummed that I still didn't hear back from Lazarus. Well, I can't force him to help, and I was not willing to give him what he wanted… me.

…

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...

I paused when I found myself in front of the door that leads to the study. How did I find myself here?

It seems that I was spacing out and my legs carried me where I really want to be.

I pushed the door open and saw Duke sitting behind the desk. He was looking at the monitor, with a pen in his hand and several papers waiting for him to write on them.

His serious expression cracked into a smile when his eyes moved to me.

"Did you miss me?"

"Always.", I responded with the best smile I could muster which wasn't much because of my previous unsettling thoughts.

Duke's handsome brows came together as he observed me intently for a few long seconds and then he stood up and stalked toward me.

Duke lifted me up and carried me into the hallway. I didn't ask where he was taking me. I leaned on him and enjoyed his proximity while taking deep breaths that filled my system with his scent of the pine trees and a dash of the ocean.

And that's how Duke and I found ourselves in our bedroom.

Duke placed me on the bed gently and laid next to me.

He cradled me in his arms and ran his hand through my hair in slow, deliberate movements.

"Tell me, love… what's bothering you?", he asked.

"The same.", I responded.

Duke let out a long breath and his endlessly blue eyes bore into mine as he spoke, "I'm sorry to worry you, Serina. But I need to do this."

"I know. I am just concerned… what if things go wrong? I lost my father. What if I lose you?" There. I said it.

Yes, I grew up on my own, but in the last few years, I found a man who became the father I never had. Aldus taught me things, encouraged me to be better, and he gave me unconditional support.

After reuniting with Duke, I've got to experience how wonderful love can be.

I don't know if it's my fault that Aldus fell into eternal sleep, but I was blaming myself for it.

What if I mess up and I lose Duke as well? I will be all alone.

I am not qualified to be the only grownup in the room, to make decisions and do responsible things. Not on my own.

"I wish that you don't think about the procedure as losing me.", Duke said. "Think of it as getting another person who will cherish you. I know that my wolf will adore you."

I let out a shaky breath while thinking how this was ridiculous. It's Duke who will take the risk and probably suffer through the process, yet here he was, comforting me.

"Kiss me, Duke.", I said. "Make love to me until I'm unable to think about anything else other than us entangled with each other."

His lips lifted into a wicked smile that told me he was up for the challenge. And he was.

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