A heart of the vampire

Chapter 31

The meeting was set to take place in an abandoned chapel at the old forest's edge—a place that, under the pale moonlight, served as their makeshift council hall. Cold air drifted in through broken windows, carrying the scent of moss and damp stone. Serena stood beside Lucian, wrapped in warm coat, watching the gathering of wolves, who regarded her with a mix of respect and wary admiration.

The werewolves had invited them here to discuss the future—specifically, to decide who would lead the pack. Their former leader had died during the battle, and now, free from the vampire's tyranny, they had to choose someone to guide them through the uncertain times ahead.

An elder wolf stepped forward from the group, his face marked with scars and his hair streaked with gray. He looked Serena and Lucian up and down, sizing them up before raising an eyebrow and murmuring,"Well, well—the vampire and his fortune-teller. Glad you arrived."

Lucian smirked, meeting the elder's gaze with equal sharpness. "Fate's one thing. We came just because you said that if we didn't do it, you'd all come visit us and we should prepare the fridge.""

The old wolf huffed, somewhat amused but refusing to let down his guard. "Unlike you, we are hospitable."

Serena met the wolf's gaze, calm and unruffled. "We didn't come here to interfere. You asked us to be here, and here we are. Whatever you decide, we'll respect it."

The werewolves exchanged glances; a few nodded while others cast Serena cautious looks, but the atmosphere in the chapel began to ease. One of the younger wolves, known for his sharp tongue, eyed Lucian with a grin."Don't take this the wrong way, bloodsucker, but I'd be happier if you'd just sit back and let us handle this our way. Think you can handle that?"

Lucian snorted, giving the younger wolf a mock-critical look. "I can handle—if your 'way' doesn't end up in a bloodbath. Just one question: can you go five minutes without biting each other's throats?"

The wolfy gave him an amused glance. "Long as it's necessary, vampire. But with our lot, who knows?"

At that, Serena leaned over and whispered to Lucian, with a hint of mischief. "Seems like this might not be the place for your grand advice, huh?"

Lucian half-smiled back at her. "You know, sometimes you don't need to say a thing. Just watching the wolves play their parts is enough. I'll keep quiet, but only because I'm curious if their 'wisdom' matches even half their sarcasm."

Hearing their exchange, several of the wolves chuckled quietly, and the atmosphere in the chapel lightened further. The elder wolf clapped Lucian on the shoulder and said with appreciation,"All right, Lucian. Since that hunt for Vlad, we know we're dealing with someone who can hold his own. Now let's see how we forge our new future—without tyrants or their poison. You're both welcome here, but the decisions are ours to make."

Serena nodded, signaling that she understood and accepted their stance. She knew this night was a turning point, a moment where the wolves were reclaiming their destiny. As the werewolves continued debating their future, Lucian and Serena remained in the shadows, listening to words filled with hope and loyalty, aware that while they had a place in the pack's story, this was a path that belonged to the wolves alone.

As the council dragged on, Serena found herself wondering more and more why the werewolves had needed her and Lucian there at all. The din of voices echoed through the chapel's stone walls, amplified by the forceful arguments and occasional shouts that rang out across the room. Wooden benches, worn and cracked with age, scraped noisily against the uneven stone floor as the wolves moved around, restless and agitated. The heated debate had turned into a near-chaotic tangle of opinions, the flickering light casting sharp shadows across intense, focused faces.