46 my grandma

Erox from the future POV:


My body trembled as I walked slowly into my grandmother's vast mansion. The air hung heavy with a strange tension, and the sight that greeted me made my breath catch in my throat. Almost everyone from our clan was gathered here. A wave of confusion washed over me. What was happening? Why had my father called me home?

I shook my head, trying to clear the fog of confusion, as I saw my grandmother lying in her massive bed. Most of our relatives circled around her, their faces etched with grief.

My father greeted me with a hug, his embrace tight and comforting, despite the worry etched on his face.


“What happened,” a low voice came out from my mouth. Though I can clearly see that something is happening.

“She’s dead,” one of my aunts said, her voice choking with grief.

I narrowed my eyes, my heart plunging. What? They were joking, right? Earlier at the bar, her secretary had told me she was enjoying her favorite champagne. What the hell had happened?

I glared at her secretary, demanding an explanation. “What happened? Why so sudden? Someone tell me, what happened to her?” My voice cracked with frustration.

“Relax, son,” my father said, placing a hand on my shoulder. “We’re still investigating. We checked the bar’s security footage, but the killer destroyed all the evidence.”

“Are you saying she was killed at the bar earlier?” I asked, a cold dread spreading through me. “Damn it! If I had known…” I slammed my fist against the wall, a surge of anger and regret flooding through me. “We were just meters away, earlier.”

My father glanced at me, his eyes narrowed. “What are you saying? That you saw her earlier?”

I shook my head. “No, I didn’t see her. Her secretary just told me she was drinking. I decided to let her enjoy her night.”

I cursed under my breath, a wave of guilt washing over me. Why hadn’t I spent a few moments with her? Maybe I could have saved her. Maybe I could have stopped this…

"You were at the bar?" my brother asked, raising an eyebrow, his tone laced with suspicion.

"Yes, I was with some friends," I replied, my voice strained.

"Isn't it odd that you didn't check on her? How busy were you that you couldn't spend some time with her? How important were those friends that you ignored your grandmother?"

My teeth clenched. I leaped across the short distance separating us, grabbing my brother by the collar, my voice a low growl. "What are you trying to plot in your tiny brain, motherfucker?"

He shrugged, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "You guess what?"

My teeth gritted together.

"Stop it, both of you!" my father roared, his voice filled with frustration. "Are you not ashamed to be fighting in front of your grandmother's dead body?”

I released my brother, letting him stumble back. I took a deep breath, trying to quell the rage simmering within me. “I’m sorry,” I mumbled, my voice hoarse.

I walked over to my grandmother’s body, the sight of her lifeless form causing a fresh wave of grief to wash over me. Her face was peaceful, but her neck bore a visible mark, the imprint of hands that had choked the life out of her. It was difficult to tell if it was a man or a woman who had done this, as the mark covered most of her neck.

I examined her fingernails, hoping for some trace of evidence, a bit of blood from a struggle, anything. But whoever had done this was a professional, a bastard with cold efficiency. Perhaps an assassin. Or maybe a pure psycho. There was nothing on her fingers. The killer had cleaned them, erased any trace of their presence.


“We already checked, Erox. There’s nothing there,” my father said, his voice heavy with defeat.

I sighed for the hundredth time, a wave of exhaustion washing over me.

“We have a meeting tomorrow, after we bury her. We need to discuss her position, who will take over,” my father said, his gaze meeting mine.

I raised an eyebrow, a spark of anger flickering within me. “Isn’t that a bit soon? We haven’t even had a chance to mourn properly. I won’t come.” I stared down at my grandmother’s body, my heart aching with grief.

“We both know it’s important, Erox. Whether you like it or not,” my father said, his voice firm.

I stood up abruptly, my anger simmering. “You can’t force me, father. I’m staying here with Grandma for now. I still can’t accept that she’s gone, so suddenly.”

“Let him, father. Maybe he’s feeling guilty because he could have saved her, but he chose his friends first. Which, as I found out, are human, not like us. What was her name again? Margaret?”

My brother’s words pierced through me, a barb of accusation.

“Shut up, why do you care who I’m with?” I snapped, my voice laced with anger.

How did he find out? Was he stalking me? Damn this brother of mine.

“Is it true, Erox?” my father asked, his voice tight, his eyes filled with a simmering anger.

I shook my head, my voice laced with frustration. “No, Father. Don’t mind Ace.” I reached out, taking my grandmother’s hand in mine, seeking solace in her cold, lifeless touch.

“If that’s so, why haven’t you told us about this girl? Why are you hiding her from us? Bring her here so I can meet her. Is she your mate?”

A sudden wave of nervousness washed over me. M was indeed human, and I had confirmed it countless times.

“It’s not the right time for that, Father. Can we please focus on how Grandma died before anything else?” I pleaded, my voice strained.

Just to let him forget about Margaret for a while. I needed a distraction.

Then, I suddenly remembered Margaret, probably still asleep at this moment.

Damn that woman. If it hadn't been for her, maybe I would have checked Grandma.