Chapter 47

***~The Surprise - Part 1~***

**Nerissa POV**

The night was beautiful, and everyone was having so much fun.
It feels like everyone was bonding so well as all the members of the Draconis pack were dancing, talking animatedly with one another, and of course drinking.
Ryder and Jannet got back shortly after I last saw them leave together and seems like my newly made friend Jannet is more smiling now since they got back.
I didn’t want to think of the reasons behind her happiness as all I wanted is to forget all problems and just enjoy this fun evening and thanks to Alex I could get all those events and issues for at least tonight off of my mind.
We danced to a song and soon were engaged in greeting every member of his pack as they approached us.
At first, I was hesitant about them, but more and more I got to meet them all, I relaxed and couldn’t take my smile off of my face.
My cheeks started to hurt at one point from all the smiling, but in the end, I didn’t mind. For the first time ever that I was here, I felt welcomed by them all and accepted.
Some of the members I remembered looked down on me and Emily, spoke badly to us, or even now and then would try to push us to, now looked truly sorry for their actions and words and apologized for all the bad behavior they did towards me.
Alex was tense next to me during such conversations I would have with a few of such members, and I could see how deeply it hurt him as I know he was blaming himself for all that happened during those times.
His hand never left mine and at those moments I found myself caring that much that I would squeeze his hand gently, making him look down at me as I would give him a gentle smile.
His action at first surprised me after I showed encouragement and care. He leaned down and kissed the top of my head after, whispering for my ears only to hear, “Thank you.”
Right now I was listening to an older member discussing with Alex and a few other older members about training techniques, which I tried so hard not to look around and show I was bored by.
“I agree with you Ramos, but gentlemen, please excuse us as my mate and I have to go and greet a few more members. Have a great evening.” Alex said to the older men, making me look up at him surprised as he glanced down shortly at me, winking, I said bye to the males and we walked away slowly from them towards the big bonfire.
“What was that?” I whispered to him as we walked, making him chuckle as he said, “Unless I was not mistaken, my love, but I thought you might be feeling a little bored by such a topic we were having so I wanted to save you from the boredom.”
My eyes widened as he noticed he was right in his assumptions, making a smirk show on his gorgeous face as I smacked him on the shoulder with my hand.
“Ouch. You almost made my shoulder fall out of its place. That’s one hella strong hand you have there, my love.” He rubbed his shoulder, faking hurt, making me roll my eyes at him.
“Then you are lucky it was just a shoulder and not something else,” I mumbled, making him burst out laughing as he heard my reply.
“I believe I am.” He said to me as his eyes lingered on mine, making us both stop walking for a moment as we faced each other.
His hand raised, moving a lock of hair away from my face, making my breath hitch as his eyes fell down on my lips, watching as nervously I wetted my lips with my tongue, making him follow the movement as his eyes grew darker.
Slowly, I felt his arms wrap around me, pulling me closer into his warm embrace as he slowly leaned down, making me pull my head up, knowing he wanted to kiss me and I was more than happy to kiss him back.
As our lips were an inch apart, about to press down into a sweet kiss that my heart was eager for by the beating that I was sure he could hear was coming out from my chest, an all too familiar voice interrupted us as it called for us, “Alpha, L…Nerissa.”
We pulled apart, looking over at smiling Cole who walked towards us, “I am sorry to interrupt.”
Alex exhaled but shook his head as he smiled at Cole, “Glad to see your back. I hope everything was good? Any complications?”
I was curious to hear what they were talking about as I looked over at Cole who shook his head and said, “A few were on the way but nothing to worry about.” He looked over at me as Alex said, “You can speak freely in front of her, I have nothing to hide from her.”
He nodded his head and continued, “The following lead was a dead end at first but we ran into a few Rogues that passed by a little group that was now moving down South. The woman by the name Patricia was seen to be with the little group, but…” he looked over at me and I could see his eyes were worried and sad.
 Hearing the name of my Aunt, my heart was beating fast until I saw a worrying display in his eyes as he looked over at me, making Alex gently squeeze my hand, asking him, “But?”
He took a breath and said, “The Mundarines were seen to be tracking after them.”
A gasp escaped my lips upon hearing the news. I looked at Cole wide-eyed as he looked at Alex who was silent next to me, before he said, “Can you track them?”
Cole grinned as he said, “Yes, I can.”
Alex nodded his head and continued to say, “Good, then take the team and arm up and track them up before they get to the others.”
Cole nodded his head and turned around to leave but stopped as Alex added, “Keep me informed of the situation, and also take another set of a team of warriors of your choice and have them track the group with Nerissa’s aunt.”
Cole looked at him and nodded, turning away to leave but stopping as he turned around and looked over at me, saying, “Don’t worry Nerissa, I will find your aunt before they do or stop them before they even get close to her.”
I could see he meant what he said, so I gave him a small smile as he turned away and went to follow the orders Alex had given him.
Soon as Cole left our sight, Alex held onto my shoulders and made me look up at him as he said, “Do not worry, my love, the Mundarines won’t get to your aunt.”
Silently, I gave him a small nod as he pulled me in for a warm, big hug as we continued to walk towards the bonfire.
We sat down on the wooden log, joining others who were happily greeting us the moment we walked over.
“You just came at the right moment. The story is about to start.” One of the younger males in the group said to us as everyone’s excitement could be felt in the air around us.
I looked over at them as Alex whispered into my ear, saying, “They are about to do a scary story.”
“Oh.” I said simply and truth be told I would be feeling excited about it myself, but I couldn’t take my mind off Mundarines, so I looked at Alex and added, “Is it true what they all say about Mundarines?”
Everyone around us got quiet, hearing my question as Alex answered, “I believe so.”
Before I could ask anything more, a female said, “Mundarines… notorious hybrids. It is said that they have no heart nor soul.”
A young male added, “Some believe that is the case due to them being half Vampire and half-Fae…”
Another young male said, “I heard a story about them attacking a village in the middle of the night. It was a dark hour, and all they saw was a thick fog and deafening sounds of screams of death that followed the second the fog reached the village. A young male that returned in the village the next morning saw the massacred bodies as their blood was everywhere, outside and staining the walls in the houses of the ones who were found dead inside.”
I gasped hearing the story, pressing my hand to my mouth as Alex wrapped his arms around my shoulders, pressing me closer into his muscular body.
“Don’t worry, love. Your aunt will be ok, please trust me.” Alexander whispers gently into my ear as I held him closer, pressing my head into the side of his neck, inhaling his scent that was slowly having a calming effect on me.
Everyone around us was so engrossed in the story that I couldn’t listen to anymore, but thankfully Alex pulled away from me gently, standing up as he extended his hand towards me as I looked up at him feeling confused while he gave me a reassuring, gentle smile, saying, “I want to show you something. Come on.”