the blood of hades

Chapter 2: Cairo

The next morning, I found myself sitting on the counter of the kitchen in the pack house, biting into a crisp apple. My mind was a whirl of thoughts as I absentmindedly swirled a blue flame on the tip of my fingertip with my free hand. The events of the previous night still lingered in my mind—the cheers, the congratulations, the challenge with Lucas, and the overwhelming sense of belonging.

The blue flame flickered and danced, a reminder of the power coursing through my veins. A mix of divine heritage and earthly struggles. What would come next? My thoughts drifted to the mate tour, the upcoming responsibilities as Beta, and the constant search for answers about my father.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice Ryan until he cleared his throat. "Morning, Beta," he said with a smirk, leaning against the doorway.

I looked up and grinned. "Morning, Alpha. Sleep well?"

"Like a rock," he replied, grabbing an apple for himself. "How about you?"

"Surprisingly well," I admitted. "Still processing everything, though."

Ryan nodded, taking a bite of his apple. "It was a big night. You did great, Cairo. I'm proud of you."

"Thanks," I said, feeling a warmth that had nothing to do with the flame on my fingertip. "So, what's the plan for today?"

"Well," Ryan began, "we've got a few things on the agenda. First, we need to go over the pack's security details. There have been some rogue sightings near our borders. And then there's the matter of your mate tour."

I groaned, rolling my eyes. "Do we really have to talk about that?"

Ryan chuckled. "Yes, we do. It's tradition, Cairo. I know you have your reservations, but it's important for the pack to see you fulfilling all your duties."

" you're stronger with a mate, everyone is" a new voice had joined the conversation, I glanced towards the doorway and watched as Lucas walked in causing me to extinguish the flame on the tip of my fingers with a flick of my wrist. had he seen the flame? if he had he would definitely question whether or not I was just a vampire werewolf hybrid. I bit my lip nervously.

" you stayed the night? I thought you'd be back at the palace already" I said hopping off of the counter to make myself look more composed.

I straightened my posture, trying to appear more composed in front of Lucas. His presence always seemed to command attention, and I didn't want to appear too flustered in front of the King's Beta.

Lucas gave me a warm smile. "I decided to stick around for a bit longer. There's still some business to attend to in the area, and I thought I'd take the opportunity to congratulate you properly on your promotion."

I felt a rush of gratitude towards him. Despite his imposing stature, Lucas had always been kind and supportive towards me. "Thank you, Beta Lucas. Your presence means a lot."

He nodded, his gaze briefly flickering to the spot where the blue flame had been moments ago. My heart skipped a beat, wondering if he had noticed. But if he did, he didn't show any sign of suspicion.

"Anyway," Lucas continued, smoothly changing the subject, "I heard you were discussing the mate tour. It's an important tradition, Cairo. Finding a mate is a significant step for any wolf."

I sighed, knowing that Lucas was right. "I know, but it's just...complicated."

Lucas gave me a sympathetic look. "I understand. But sometimes, the best things in life come from taking risks and embracing the unknown."

"Did the king have to go on a mate tour?" I asked with a bit of attitude to my voice, that earned me an elbow to the ribs from Ryan as he glared at me, I was blatantly disrespecting the Kings beta. that could get someone killed.