Alpha Ian's The One and Only

Prologue

While science has proven that the stars are just giant masses of gas, some cultures believe that the stars are the eyes of the dead people, whereas some say they are the spirits unwilling to be born. To me, they are like mesmerizing sparkling diamonds making me forget all my worries. Here I am miles away from city lights and noise, gazing at the vast expense of the sky filled with twinkling stars like it holds the answers for everything, my problems, my worries, the restlessness growing inside me. I cannot shake the feeling that something is going to happen. Something big. I have had this feeling since that one email. I have not heard from him in ten years. TEN steady, balanced years disrupted by one email. Wayward thoughts, memories, fights, and faces swamp my mind after that one email. The life I had left behind, the life which changed after one accident I wish had not happened, the life...

"You shouldn't be out here alone; it is not safe." A deep familiar drawl with the hint of the west said from behind me, startling me out of my thoughts.

"I knew you were coming, and I wasn't here for that long," I said, tearing my eyes from the beautiful night sky and turning around to meet the owner of the voice I had not heard in the past ten years.

He hasn't changed. Standing tall with broad shoulders, he still radiates dominance. His dark brown hair is short but falls over his forehead, sharp cheekbones with a prominent jaw which only emphasises his handsomeness with forest green eyes looking deep inside a soul like it can read all your secrets.

"You look old, Natasha", he said smiling, revealing white, even teeth and a set of fangs.

"And here I thought you were the charming one out of all your brothers, Slade", I said, rolling my eyes, smiling slightly, and walking towards him.

"Oh, I am very charming, you should ask Jane. You know better than any human to stand here alone is risky; what if someone or something else showed up instead of me? You should be more careful." He lifted his head, and stillness surrounded him as if he was a predator scenting danger, and when he glanced down, his green eyes became more prominent, surrounded by a red ring.

"You have the file with you?" he asked, quickly pulling me towards the passenger side of the car. As soon as I was inside, he appeared on the other side in a blur of movement.

"Expecting trouble?" my voice was calm, but I could feel a heavy lead settling in my stomach. We sped past the grassland area, leaving the cliff behind covered in a blanket of stars. "Yes, but they are still behind, so we can lose them". This situation is all too familiar, but I trust Slade; we have had each other's back one-too-many times. Looking out of the window, I recall the first time I met Slade.

It was my first visit to Doctors without Borders, and our camp was in a small town in Brazil near Amazon Forest. At that time, I had finished my PhD in Genetic Engineering. One day two nurses and I were called by one of the leaders of a tribe or a pack; to treat their children who were suddenly falling unconscious and comatose.

Let's just say I soon realised that werewolves and vampires have been living among us for centuries. I still did not understand why they needed my help when they had Slade, a brilliant vampire scientist with centuries of knowledge and experience than me. Nonetheless, together we found the cure and saved those children. I developed a strong bond with the pack. But I left that life behind, left those memories locked in a box and buried deep in my mind.

Until today.

Slade pulled up into a short-hidden path leading to my home. How did he know this was here? And how did we reach here so fast? "You know where I live," I meant it as a question, but it sounded more like a statement.

"Yes, Natasha, I know where you live. I have been keeping tabs on you to make sure you are alright. I never planned to intervene until necessary."

Which reminds me, I take my bag from the backseat and reach into it to grab a few files and a USB flash drive and hand it over to him when he stops on my driveway.

"Here, these files have all the analysis reports and my notes, and the USB flash drive has the raw data of the DNA analysis. I think you are looking for a mutation or absence of a DNA sequence which leads to imbalanced protein metabolism. I concluded that from a broad study of the werewolf's genome sequence we had mapped all those years ago, but since I did not have the DNA of the near kin of the patient, I cannot be sure until we match both the sequence."

"Thank you, Nat, this will be very useful, and I will work on comparing the sequences. Now go inside because I can sense them getting restless," he chuckled, referring to my family.

"It was nice seeing you, Slade, despite the circumstances, I am glad you have found your mate, and you are happy," I say, smiling slightly. I am happy for my best friend.

"It was nice seeing you too, Nat. I will get in touch with you regarding the results. And if you don't mind, I will secure the parameters and set a few security measures around your house, only to be sure" he stares at me, daring me to say no.

"Sure, knock yourself out. I know better than to argue with you; keep the monitors or whatever you need me to keep with myself in the basket outside the back door." I get out of the car and meet him at the front of my car. He has parked my car with its front facing the garage door blocking the view from the windows.

"Take care, Slade. I hope you find the answers you are looking for and that our paths don't cross again. No offence, but I don't wish to get involved and risk their lives. Good night, Slade" I step forward to hug him. I have missed this sense of comfort and familiarity.

"Good night, half-pint, and you too take care. Call me even if it is a hunch, okay?"

I stepped back and looked at his face, the seriousness in his eyes confirming my gnawing fear. Our meeting and the 'trouble' he sensed earlier might not have been a coincidence. I gave him a nod and made my way toward the front door. Before unlocking the door, I turn back to see him, but he is no longer there. I scan the surrounding area only to find it empty, it's like he was fickle of my imagination, but I know better. I quickly unlock the door and go inside, engaging the locks back in place.