The One

Theodulf to Conry

 Karol arrived at their rental house, greeted by the bustling energy of her friends. She quickly backed up and parked to make room for the luggage. As she hopped into the car, Sharon was the first to pounce on her. "Where have you been?"

With an innocent smile, she replied, "Oh, just out for a bit. Let me grab my stuff, and we can go."

"No need," Sharon rushed to reassure her. "We packed everything for you. Your luggage is already in the car."

"Thanks, Mum!"

"Then let's go!"

Both cars roared to life, racing towards the highway, and in no time, they reached Theodulf Airport at precisely 12:15 PM.

The Randale family and Jason settled into their seats on the aircraft, the anticipation of Conry City electrifying the air around them. As they touched down, both sisters couldn't wait to tackle the car rental documents, the promise of the city swirling in their minds.

At the hotel, the family split into three distinct rooms: William and Anna in one, Sharon and Jason in another, while Karol, the lone wanderer, found herself separated on a different floor. As night fell, everyone prepared for dinner at the hotel's sky lounge, a sense of excitement bubbling up within them.

The moment she plonked herself into her seat, a weary sigh escaped her lips. Sharon shot her a teasing smirk, her brows arched in playful suspicion. "Tired?!" she scoffed, causing her to narrow her eyes in response. "You need to get your mind out of the gutter; your thoughts are as filthy as a sewer," she retorted, earning an eye roll from her sister.

William interjected, grounding the atmosphere. "Let's not forget we've been on the move since dawn. A good night's sleep wouldn't go amiss," he reminded, prompting nods of agreement from the rest.

Karol, still striving to maintain her playful spirit, excused herself. "Pardon me, Mother Nature calls," she groaned, her exhaustion evident.

Sharon's gaze followed her sister as she retreated to the restroom, then turned back to their parents. "Don't you think she seems a bit off today? She looks and sounds worn out," she observed, concern lining her voice.

Jason, ever the observer, agreed. "Could be the full moon coming up on the 30th. It's just three days away. No wonder she seems so drained," he deduced thoughtfully.

"What's so special about that full moon?" Sharon asked, puzzled.

"I'll fill you in later, once we've settled Karol in her room," Jason replied, watching as her returned from the restroom.

"What were you plotting while I was away? You all look so shifty," she quipped, taking her seat just as their sumptuous dinner arrived. Her eyes widened, gulping at the mouthwatering spread, while her father swiftly changed the subject.

"Nothing much, just planning to show Jason around Conry since it's his first time here," he said smoothly.

"Sounds fun, but I'll have to skip the sightseeing. Business calls," she replied, feigning innocence as she dove into her meal, but Anna was quick on the draw.

"Are you visiting Grandpa and Grandma's house?" she asked, slicing her food into perfect, bite-sized pieces.

"Yes, it's been too long. I want to go alone tomorrow. I need this time by myself," she emphasised her tone firm yet laced with a hint of vulnerability.

"Aright, baby girl, we'll give you the space you need," their mother said gently.

"Thank you," she replied with a soft smile.

"Now, the rest of us can go sightseeing until we drop!" Sharon declared, her eyes shining with enthusiasm.

"Haha, you always think big, don't you, sis?" she laughed, rolling her eyes, which sent the entire family into fits of laughter.

Hours later, as dinner concluded, the family retreated to their respective rooms. Karol was soon buried in her emails, the weight of her company's demands pressing down on her. Unbeknownst to her, her family had gathered for a whispered discussion in Sharon and Jason's room.

"As far as I know, mates can't be separated. If they are, it can weaken them—especially if they're in love," Jason explained seriously.

"So you're saying Karol loves Christian but is too proud to admit it?" Sharon challenged, her curiosity piqued.

William nodded in agreement. "That sounds about right. Remember when Beo told us about how mates need each other under the full moon?"

"If she's feeling this tired, what does that mean for Christian?" Sharon pressed anxiously.

"Don't worry, Mum. He'll manage. He's the alpha; he's got to be strong. In the worst case, he might make a run for it from Theodulf to Conry. Hopefully, they'll have him locked up before anything happens," Jason muttered, half under his breath.

Sharon, annoyed, jabbed Jason lightly. "Just spill what you know already!"

"Okay, so we talked about how mates can't be separated, and how they need skin-to-skin contact. But with Karol and Christian, this is all new ground for both of them," Jason admitted, eagerly spilling the secrets of their kind.

"In Christian's case, hope flickered like a fragile candle; both of them needed the space to brace themselves for the truth. Christian, burdened by the weight of his lineage as the sole Alpha with a human mate, required time to share his secret with Karol. She, in turn, needed the opportunity to accept it. Unlike his ancestor, their circumstances were entirely different. There was no swift, undeniable connection between them; their paths had not intertwined from the moment they met, nor had they indulged in the intimacy of unbroken touch."

"Anything can happen, and I can't foresee what lies ahead," Jason cautioned, his concern evident. "But my advice is to remain vigilant. Watch over both Christian and Karol; we must not let them wither away unnoticed, drowning silently in their own despair."

His gaze fell upon them, and a shared understanding passed between him and the others, though the conversation drifted back to the complex relationship of Karol and Christian.