36

"Riri, that's seriously what's on your mind right now?"

"I do care about my big sis but she's with eldest brother so I'm not worried cuz she is safest with him." the little one replied without taking her eyes away from the television. Peter yanked his hair and sighed heavily.

"Gosh! I'm going crazy," he exclaimed.

"Big brother, isn't the mental institution out there? You can maybe... pay a visit. The staff will very much welcome you." she suggested.

"Riri, you are heartless," Peter stated.

"Says the certified wizard," Beatrix rolled her eyes. Peter harrumphed and continued pacing up and down.

"Big brother, you're being noisy." she pointed out.

"And so? You have a problem?" he asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Of course I do," she replied unhappily.

"Then put up with it. It's not like you are strong enough to stop me."

"When eldest brother returns with big sis, I will use my killer move. You're sure you can handle the consequences?" she blinked her eyes provocatively at him while wearing a knowing smile.

Peter sighed in defeat and flew out the window. He knew too well the consequences if she used that move. The last time she did so, he got posted far away to fulfil a task. He was very lucky to make it back. That's the reason he, in the name of training, wanted her to suffer a bit while keeping track of her safety.

How long had he come back from that mission? Nah, he's not doing another so soon.

So yeah, he must swallow down his pride or, as his kid sister said, he'll have to handle the aftermath. Deep inside, he's still not reconciled!

"I gotta blow off some steam. I know a suitable spot." he thought before harrumphing again and flying out through the open window. He waved his right hand and the window shut. Then he turned around and flew deeper into the forest.

Seeing that her big brother has left, Beatrix rose from the chair and walked to the window. Then she shut it properly and went back to sit on the chair.

Now that 'I'm not worried' attitude is no longer present on her face. Instead, there is apprehension.

Will her brother accept her big sis as his mate, or will he reject her? Her sworn sister is so fragile, minus her magic powers. If her brother is not really happy with the mate bond, can her big sis take it?

During all those times that she was forced to learn advanced things about witchcraft and research in the world library of magic, she never found nor heard of a Wizard/Witch being mated to a Werewolf.

Though her big sis is a tribrid with exceptional powers, two different clans of the supernatural marrying are frowned upon by many coz the result of such a union would be a hybrid.

How her big sis turned out to be a tribrid is even shocking. Maybe her parents, one of them was a hybrid who married another supernatural clan member?

Hybrids usually can't shift to either form of their parents, they just have some features of both forms. For instance, if a vampire and serpent man were mated, their child upon shifting would have a forked tongue, sharp claws, scattered scales all over their body and an exceptional thirst for blood. They could even have two different eye colors of both forms. Such children ended up with no mate accepting them and either committed suicide or turned into a nuisance to all supernatural clans and still ended badly.

But in big sis' case, she transformed into a complete mermaid when they were done with those smelly vampires days ago and she was pretty sure she transformed into a complete wolf during the training today with Uncle Rolandro.

Gosh, she's not the only one who's going crazy from thinking now.

But she and Peter are worried about different things.

"Eldest brother, if you hurt my big sis, I won't forgive you," she swore in her heart.


&&&&&&&


Meanwhile, atop a lofty mountain, thousands of miles away from the Blood star pack's territory there stood two figures.

The night's breeze was quite cool. The night sky looked more beautiful tonight.

Lavana had never seen her 3 spirits act so love-struck over a mate who hasn't even accepted them yet.

"Lavana, my big brother said you have powers. Is that correct?" Phoenix asked, breaking the silence.

"Yeah?" Lavana responds with uncertainty.

"Can... Can you show me?" Phoenix asks with sparkling eyes.

Lavana did not know why he was so enthusiastic about seeing her powers. Didn't he himself have powers? He's a wizard alright!

"Show him the ice chain,"

"No, spit out thunder!"

"No, just show him a fireball. Make sure it's a big one. I'll aid you. I've absorbed a lot of energy."

"..." she was stupefied.

"How can you guys behave like this? You're all acting crazy over a man that hasn't even accepted us yet. What if he rejects us?" she scolded her spirits through mind link.


"If he dares to do so, I'll take over and beat him the life out of him," said Oceana.

"I'll roast him for dinner," said Pamela.

"You guys are too kind. I'll give him a choice to re-accept us but if he's still adamant, what do you think I'll do?"

"Force him to accept us back?" Pamela answered in doubt.

"Wrong! I'll castrate him!" Thora thundered.

"Eh?" Lavana said out loud. She really shouldn't use Thora's cute face and height to judge her again. This was a Millennium-old dragon spirit. Her words just now were just so shocking!

"If we can't be together, then he should just remain single," Thora added.

"So, what will you do with his detached shaft?" Oceana asked.

"Cook it and force him to eat it. If he refuses..."

Thora got interrupted.

"Wait, wait, wait! Stop there, third sis. I don't mean to interrupt but are you sure you can castrate him after seeing his nudity? He's a fine specimen alright!" Pamela asked the dragon spirit.

"Er... " Thora was speechless.

"Guys, please go into slumber. I have vital business to discuss with our mate. Can you guys have some decency for once?" Lavana had to scold again. These unreliable spirits!

Especially Thora who'd been saying what she had no courage to do.

"You talk about decency here? Who was the one about to drool after seeing Phoenix?" Thora questioned.

"Go to sleep or I'll just spurn him." Lavana threatened.

"What!" the trio exclaimed in unison.

This Lavana wanted to reject this hottie? What nonsense!

"Lavana, you mean you'll spin him?" Oceana asked in a rather meek voice.

"You’ve got ear problems, Oceana? If you guys don't sleep, then I'll reject him."

"Do you have the courage?" Thora questioned.

"You!" Lavana got speechless.


"Look, girl. You must help us find out his capability in bed. If he's a virgin as you are, then that's okay. But if he's not and bad in bed, then beat him up. I trust you'll make us proud. Sisters, let's go into slumber." Thora said.

Soon, Lavana finally had quiet in her head and sighed. She looked at Phoenix, who was watching her while eating a snack.

"I guess you have more than one spirit and the other isn't a wolf spirit, Lavana. Or am I wrong?" he asked.

"..." she bit her lip, unsure whether to say yes or no.

"It's okay. I understand your difficulties."

The ring on his right index finger lit up and an exquisite golden chair appeared out of thin air. Lavana opened her mouth in shock.

This is the power of a wizard? So awesome!

"Dear, come sit here," he beckoned.

She did as he said and sat on the chair. It was cushy and made of quality material!

"Phoenix, you wizards keep things in your rings?" she asked in fascination.

"Well, I'm able to link my power with any object of my choice, so when I need it, my index ring will just glow and ta-dah! It appears!" he answered.

"So, this is one of your belongings?"

"None of the chairs I owned is as majestic as this one. My mate must get the best."

"So this chair isn't yours?"

"I didn't rob. I just borrowed it for a while. I'll return it."

"Who owns this chair?"

"Um, The wiz king?"

"Wiz king?" Lavana asked in bafflement.

"The king of wizards. I borrowed his chair." he casually replied.

"You borrowed a king's chair? So I'm basically sitting on a throne?" her eyes widened in disbelief. How daring was her mate! He had the guts to 'borrow' a king's throne and call it a 'chair'!

"Don't worry, he won't be mad at me. It’s just one of his chairs," he reassured.

"What if he was sitting on it?"

"Like he dared. He knows I’ve linked my power to it and could borrow it anytime." he rolled his eyes.

"What's your relationship with him?” she couldn’t help asking.

"We're family."

"You're a prince?” her eyes widened.

"Beatrix and Peter are royalty," he replied.

"I didn't ask you about them."

"If they are then I can be considered royalty but I don't see myself as a prince."

"What do you see yourself as then?"

"What you see me as is what I see myself as," he replied with a grin.

"Oh, what do you suppose I see you as?"

"A handsome man, perfect everywhere."

"You are indeed handsome but the latter part is incorrect."

"Eh? Why do you say so?” he asked in perplexity.

"None of us in this world are really flawless. There are one or two flaws either pronounced or concealed. But the reality stands. No one's perfect, Phoenix. Not even me and neither you."

He sighed and nodded.

"Okay, let's forget I said I'm perfect. I'm wrong, I accept that. But I need to tell you something."

"What is it? Shoot!"

Phoenix went on one knee before her and took her hands. Then he looked at her and said in a firm tone:

"You are a hybrid. A perfect hybrid."

"What's a perfect hybrid?" Lavana asked in confusion. She'd never heard this term before.

"Someone who can assume two complete forms separately," he replied.

Lavana nodded at his explanation. So what was she then? A perfect tribrid?

"Phoenix, how do you know I can assume two separate forms?"

"A hybrid has just one spirit unified with him or her during the first shift. That spirit has imperfect hybrid features which the person assumes any time he shifts. Only a perfect hybrid has two, Lavana. That’s why you assume two different forms.” he explained.

She opened her mouth in disbelief. So by admitting that she had more than one spirit, one of which wasn't a wolf spirit, he thought she was a perfect hybrid. But she wasn't a hybrid in the first place but could she tell him? At least, he knew she had over one spirit unified with her. She internally sighed.

"You know, your case is very rare. In records, there were only two persons and that's in the early 12th and late 15th century," he added.

"So if I'm not a perfect hybrid, would you act like this?"

"Dear, I've rejected 6 mates before I met you because they were not the one for me. But dear, from the moment I saw you, I fell for you."

"But you didn't even stagger, say less of falling back at Blood star."

"Lavana, don't play dumb with me."

"You said you rejected 6 mates before me." she pointed out.

"I..."

"Why did you reject them? Were they not pretty enough?"

"Dear, those girls were indeed pretty."

"Then, why did you reject them?"

"They were pampered nobles. They also had a bad attitude. Besides, 5 out of the 6 initiated the rejection, saying I'm not their type."

"So, which one did you reject without her suggesting it then?"

"The 6th."

"And that one agreed?"

"Hahaha! She was even thanking me with tears of joy." he chuckled. It made her heart flutter but she didn't let it show on her face.

"She was happy? Don't you guys feel pain when being rejected or rejecting?"

"We do but if there is no love between two people, why force it? Those girls already have someone they like, probably."

"So you had to eat the rejection pain 6 times?"

"Yeah. The duration of the pain increases by some percentage or maybe days depending on the ranking of the person."

"All of them were witches?"

"Yeah. "

"Isn't it forbidden for two different clans to marry?"

"Hehe, that's the people's problem, not mine. You know I somehow wished for a perfect hybrid and you fulfil that criteria."

"You've confirmed it." she immediately rose from the throne.

"Eh? What did I confirm?" he looked confused.

"That you love me just because I'm a perfect hybrid." Lavana was frowning at this moment.

"No, mate! You got it all wrong! I love you no matter what you are."

"So even if I were not a hybrid but just a normal Omega wolf, you would still accept me?" she asked with a raised eyebrow and folded arms.

"You are not pampered like the others. I feel you are someone who's gone through a lot and you aren't broken despite everything. I admire your ability to endure. You are alive and I can see you tonight all because of that quality. Lavana..." Phoenix was on both knees with his palms pressed together.

"My beautiful mate, if I said something to upset you, I didn't mean it. I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

Even like this, he looked so good-looking. Yes, they are mates and it seems like he's intent on accepting her and her spirits. But she just knew him today. Playing hard to get for a few days to test him. If he's really into her that much, he must prove it. For her part, she likes him already.

After he satisfies her, she'll accept him. She has to give this relationship a try.

"Get up, Phoenix. I'm not angry at you."

"Really?"

She nodded her head and he rose.

"Mate, thank you." he smiled and took her hands in his. Then he looked at the sky with a resolute face.

"I, Phoenix Sullivan Atlantes, am satisfied with the moon goddess' arrangements. I hereby accept you, Lavana, as my soulmate. I swear not to betray your love and trust till my last breath. I'll be your stronghold and cherish you. In my heart, you'll remain the only one, no matter what happens. May the moon goddess bear me witness!" he declared.

Immediately, she felt this inexplicably good magical feeling course all over her body. She felt so rejuvenated and was about to smile when she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her belly.

She clutched it and beads of sweat started appearing on her forehead.

"What's happening to me?" she thought in fear.

Her face became pale.

Phoenix noticed this change in her expression, from shock to smiling and then... that of pain? Wasn't accepting his mate supposed to make her happy at the refreshing feeling? Why was she in pain instead?