THE LATCH wasn't closed when Dolly attempted to open the door. It creaked loudly in the empty hallway. Dolly didn't like the foreboding fear in her guts. Max was still waiting for her, and it was her decision to talk to Fin alone.

His aggressive mode can last the whole night but after it, he miraculously calms for the day. Dolly can only hope that this time is one of those fortunate days she had.

Fin's crouching body greeted Dolly when she took a step inside. The man was silently massaging his own temples while seated on their threadbare two person sofa.

Dolly felt weird. There were days when she considers this place a home. Those times she had utterly accepted her fate as his nanny. Although she doesn't want to sound ungrateful after he saved her, Dolly doesn't really like to be kept in this small space forever.

Dolly gathered her courage and opened her mouth. "Fin, can we talk?"

Fin's shoulders tensed. A large bulging vein pulsed distinctly on his forehead. He smiled, but his face only pulled a nasty expression. "So you remember coming home to me?"

"You're not yet claimed, I see." He laughed. "What? Did you change your mind and you decided to pick me?"

"I'm not choosing anyone!" Dolly shouted, "You were never really an option for me right from the start, Fin."

"… what?"

Her teeth rattled. Rage started to pour from her heart. She unleashed on him the pain of being burdened all these months that they had been together. "You made it hard for me to live! Everyday! It was not the life that I wanted! I don't care if you don't work— I don't care if you have no family left! But Fin, I wanted you to respect me."

"… to not shout at me at every little problems and ask me whenever I feel uncomfortable or not. I'm just like you— I want mutual understanding. Something you won't be able to give."

Dolly was never allowed to voice out her opinions. She was supposed to listen in everything he wanted just because he saved her life once.

She realized it's stupid. He saved her but he continues to abuse her every minute that they were together. It was messing up her brain.

And now it's messing with her possible mated life. 'Why do I allow this?'

Dolly doesn't even like Fin. Not one bit.

Before, she can picture forcing herself to accept him but now with Max... she can't stomach imagining herself with him. It was like depriving herself with something that can change her life for good.

"Dolly, do I look okay to you?" Fin stood and walked to the other side of the room. "I'm sick. I can't control it myself. It's not something I can get ahold of. I... don't want to hurt you but it's tearing me mad."

"I need someone to help me. Only you can do that. Let me claim you. Only a bite, Dolly. I saved you once, why can't you do this for me? After just one bite, I won't bother you and that vampire ever again. I just wanted to be normal."

Dolly stepped back. "I'm not a fool, Fin. A bite from you means I won't be able to see him again! I'll be stuck with you forever! See, I can help you with another way. We'll find your mate! Your fated mate!"

Red light flashed from Fin's eyes. A dark mist covered his silhouette. It was a bright morning but the apartment was dark and cold. "Fated mate?"

His voice became unrecognisable. It's brute and harsh. Dolly wondered what happened with this throat.

"Fated mate? Oh, I don't have one. I will never have one."

Dolly turned her back to run. Fin didn't move but his eyes followed her. "Dolly, if I ever meet that person, I will kill them myself."

'He had gone mad.' Dolly was scared and horrified with Fin. There's no cure for his sickness. She had no idea what plagued him but Dolly wished that it was a terminal disease.

It's not out of her selfishness, but Dolly sincerely wishing to free himself.

A loud howl made Dolly jump. She breathed heavily. 'Max!'

She will need his help. They need to get Fin out of this town soon or their existence will be shown to public.

"WELL, JEFFERSON told me. There's no other people involved but your favourite nephew— which is a wimp, by the way." Laura Miller closed the distance between them and kissed his cheek. "This is the first time I've seen you naked. And I see nothing good."

"Next time, learn to fucking knock, okay?" Max patted his cheeks. He winced at the sticky feeling on his face. "Didn't I tell you not to randomly kiss a man?"

"But you're not 'anyone', yeah? You're my future husband!"

Max snorted. He sat on the counter table and picked a grape out of the fruit stand. "Quit pushing it. We're now both at our prime, searching for the right man shouldn't be that hard for you."

"If you are as elegant and gorgeous like me, it sure is hard to find someone on my level." Laura sniffed the air and raise a mocking brow. "A rabbit, really?"

"What?" Max didn't pay her any attention and thought about Dolly and Fin. He reached for a new set of clothes to change himself into.

"The reason why you're naked this early."

"I've just taken a bath. That's the explanation." Max blinked. "Anyway, I should go now. I have something important to do—"

"Max, I've not even reached five minutes sitting here and you already had somewhere else to go? Being your fiancee sucks."

"Then stop. Cut the engagement off." Max sighed. "I found myself a mate already. A fated mate. So you can now resign."

Laura became silent. Max raised his eyes in her direction. It was like she wasn't even breathing. He grinned. "Surprised, cousin?"

"Should I not be?" Laura nodded. "Still, you're not claimed yet. What's with the stupid 'waiting' all about? Technically, I'm still your fiancee. Your girlfriend. When can I meet your fated mate?"

The door opened. Maximilian readied his smile. He was excited to see Dolly again. "Hi, sweetheart!"

Dolly didn't look at him and stared deeply instead at Laura. The latter raised a brow slightly before smirking. "Ah, so this is your 'Dolly?'"

"Who are—"

"Not in any way interesting nor exceptionally gorgeous."

Laura picked up her bag and squinted. "Should've remove that lip print on your cheeks, hubby. Or do you like it that much?"

Maximilian can hear violent waves clashing with rocks. He can almost vividly hear his first impression on Dolly cracking apart.

"Laura!" Max tried to explain but Laura cut off his words with a smug grin.

"You signed the papers. Our engagement is valid, Max. There's no point in arguing with me."

Max couldn't do anything as she walked herself out. Dolly stood unmoving in front of Max. He fixed himself up and walked to her side. "Dolly, let me explain."

Tears started to pour out of Dolly's eyes. Max didn't want to see pain in her face. She looked distraught and emotionally unstable. Her tears held more pain than Laura's word.

"What happened?"

"Fin has gone mad. You need to throw him out of this place." Dolly wiped her tears and let Max face her back. "I thought you said, you have no girlfriend? Was that a lie? So you can get me to do what you want?"

Max swallowed his irritation for Laura. "She's my cousin. I won't ever consider marrying her. I signed the papers to show my sincerity."

His family had a feud with Laura's father. When Max's parents died, along with Laura's mother, he made a promise to take care of their daughter, Laura. And the only thing to do that is by marriage. Laura's mom ripped her name off the family registrar. So technically, she's erased from the Adenhart clan. That's why Laura's father thought of the engagement as a way to welcome her back in the coven. Her father's a mortal— but a powerful mortal at that. He's a politician and a known businessman. At that time, Maximillian had no mate or a girlfriend with him... that's why he agreed. It was all for show.

Janette said that someday, that decision will come back and bite him on the ass. It looks like this was the day of his judgement.

JEFFERSON WAS aghast when he saw the piled papers on top of his desk. He was not used to working in an office but he knew that these much is insane! Jeffrey was thoroughly convinced that his boss is doing this on purpose.

Cedric Mallory never treated him right since the first day he stepped inside the office.

Jeffrey’s pretty sure the man even ran to the comfort room just to puke his guts out. Maybe Jeffrey’s scent disgusted him a lot. That initial impression hurt Jeff’s ego a lot. He’s used to people playing friendly with him because he’s Max’s nephew.

This is very... unfamiliar with him. This neglect and poor treatment. Even if Cedric looks down on him, he shouldn’t be that condescending when he’s with his subordinates.

The itch to stomp his feet and roar like a maniac perceived in his bones but his uncle's words echoed in his mind. 'You are my relative. Biologically, you have a quarter of my excellence. Don't waste it— and don't ever humiliate me.'

'Yes,' Jeffrey tried to fool himself, 'I am half a vampire. I am not just a mortal guy, but a hybrid. These papers are just... tissues I needed to sort then everything's going to be fine. Perfect even.'

He started to reach for the first paper and decided to read it. It was good, written well and had no mistake in it.

Except, he doesn't understand Math. He put the file down and clasped his hands together.

‘Am I stupid? Or this paper is not intended here?’

'Why am I assigned to these documents? Shouldn't this be directly sent to the financial team?' He murmured with great malice, 'Is he really testing my patience?'

He’s quite certain that Cedric must be the one behind this. Well, he has a strong negative opinion about the man hence his reasoning is prejudiced at best.

Jeffrey debated between calling his Uncle Max or confront Cedric about this. His uncle could be busy with his mating life— not when he had just given his other aunt, Laura, his new address.

Aunt Laura has been hidden from the public's eye for too long but Jeffrey was not ignorant about her straightforward nature. She can be playful too. Yet oftentimes that naughtiness gets misinterpreted as her, being mean.

His mother is the same. 'I guess it runs in the blood.'

'Better not call Uncle Max then.' He leaned back at the swivel chair and mumbled, 'Yeah, I should not call him for... a month.'

Uncle Max' rage can last up to a year. His mother had experienced it first-hand.

‘Being an Adenhart sucks sometimes.’

'Should I ask mom?' Jeffrey recalled his last conversation with her and decided to go firmly against it. By this time, she could still be brooding about how he chose to side with Uncle Max.

"The royal member of this office should not frown like that, okay?" A cheerful voice greeted Jeffrey, "What got you all problematic, prince?"

'There she goes...' Yeon-hee had a bright pink lipstick on that shines whenever she moves. Jeffrey was once captivated with her lovely nature when he first got here. He thought with great optimism that she will be his inspiration in this new journey. Sadly, his boss broke all of his expectations.

"Well, I'm facing math exams here. I... don't know. Did they get lost? Why are these papers with us? They should go with the financial audit department."

Yeon-hee bent down to read the front page. Jeffrey was able to caught a whiff of her expensive perfume. Once again, he lamented about how perfect was it if he could ask her on a date.

'She's friendly! And she doesn't treat me like a stranger—she doesn't care that I'm a direct clan member of the Adenhart!'

"That's strange..." she quipped, "I've never had these laid on my table before. Who sent them here? You should ask boss about this. He might have an idea if this papers were really meant for us."

"Ah..." Jeffrey scratched his nape and deliberately asked, "do you know where Ria is?"

Jeffrey thought he's going to be Cedric's lackey for two months. He had been preparing himself. He doesn't want to be picked on because he heard about how vicious this man could go.

In the end, he studied for nothing. Because Cedric hired a personal assistant for himself the very next day that Jeffrey appeared.

He was so thankful about that.

"She's right downstairs with the receptionist. Probably getting the boss' mails for this day. They can get a lot by the way." Yeon-hee moved away and shrug. "You can just knock and go inside. The boss wasn't really keen on that. Actually, Ria's appointment as his assistant confuses me a little. This is the first time that Cedric personally contacted one."

'Well, I can partly guess why... not that I would tell you though.' Jeffrey said his thanks and proceeded to Cedric's office.

Jeffrey had initially thought that his workplace would look unconventional and even nondescript. But in all honesty, it's not really different than any other offices of the coven. Although they worked in the field, inside their sacred place, no one forgets about wearing their formal suits.

Actually, when they first got introduced to each other at work, the man was wearing a custom tailored suit and a pair of shiny Italian leather shoes. Jeffrey didn't know how to react about that— he was focused on the man's eyes.

It was rich and captivating.

'Probably the only reason how he got laid.' There's no other good qualities about the man aside from that.

Jeffrey knocked on Cedric's door before pulling it open. He met his defensive eyes upon looking at him. Jeffrey fought the innate feeling to sigh and praise the man's eyes again in his head. 'That is inappropriate!'

"What do you want?" Cedric's voice sounds cold and distant. Jeffrey was accustomed to it by now. He felt nothing in his blatant dislike in him but the next words made him itch for violence. "Don't just barge in next time. Wait for me to say 'come in' or it would be much better if you'll wait for Ria and tell her your complains. This is not how you should communicate with me."

'Oh, god. He's a jerk to me.' Jeffrey's lips pursed as the urge to snarl at his boss reach its peak on his chest. 'God, lend me your strength to deal with this horrible of a boss.'

It was clear that Cedric doesn't like him. He hates that Jeffrey is an 'Adenhart'. He doesn't want to be acquainted with him. Or even be with him in a room.

‘It was like I’m a disease or something.

’

Cedric was one of those people who thought that he's not deserving of his title as the next heir.

‘If they only knew that Uncle Max found his mate already, they would change their face so fast.’

"But your assistant is not here and this matter is urgent. Do I need to distract her from... whatever errands she might be doing now?"

This is not a huge company. This is a team of ten people who works on the field to gather intel for the coven! Why does this man acts like they're selling real estate?

Cedric stopped from writing. His hand clenched tightly on his pen. "Are you defying me? I'm just teaching you how to be professional, Mr. Adenhart."

Jeffrey breathed evenly. He nodded and with a swish of his hand, he turned his back and said, "The papers got messed up this morning. We have some files intended for the financial team. I'm going to send them now. Yeon-hee said I got to let you know. And lastly, it's Duvas. Jefferson Duvas."

It was no point trying to argue with Cedric. The man won't see his point. He's trying to act so formal when no one really works in the office everyday except for him.

The others normally gets assigned from places to places while he stays in his cubicle to rot and count papers like a douchebag. He rarely get a chance to see Yeon-hee three times a week.

He hates it.

"Why does it seems like you listen more to Yeon-hee than me. Who's your boss?"

Jeffrey halted his feet and stiffly replied, "She's my senior, so I have to consider her advices. For my future concerns, I'll let Ms. Ria know about it. Thanks for the two minutes, boss! By the way, his excellency wants the Sarthis pack to be checked by the shifter council within this week."

He closed the door without looking at his face one more time. Jeffrey wasn't sure if he would be able to contain his annoyance towards him.

"Damn it."

Jeffrey grimaced but he didn't bother opening up and ask his boss what's got him cursing. Cedric can deal with it in his own. He doesn't need him for anything.

Clearly, his personal assistant can do everything for him.

Fishing his phone out of his drawer, he hurriedly typed a text for his friend.

'Wanna hang out for tonight?'

The reply came fast. 'Rough day, man?'

Jeffrey didn't hold back and typed, 'My boss was being a prick again. It's been weeks since we last drink.'

'Alright. I'll invite the girls so we can have double the fun.'

Satisfied, Jeffrey thanked him and offered to pay for the night. His mother still ignores him and his uncle is unavailable for the week. His workspace doesn't give him enough time to adjust and he's not in good terms with his boss. Lastly, he just found out that his new crush, Yeon-hee, is not single anymore.

This calls for a drink. A lot of it.

'I SHOULDN'T be that worried.' Max played with the orange in his hand. His engagement with Laura was only a farce to fool those who wanted to wipe out the remaining 'Miller' in the city. Laura's father had once lost his glory and all his enemies came back to take a piece out of him. Their revenge included wiping out the whole 'Miller' family. And the only thing that can save them, according to her own father's words, is to form a concrete and public relationship with the Adenhart.

He knew that reason is still not enough for Dolly. She would never understand why it has to happen. That was an urgent matter— something that had happened so suddenly. Max never really cared about anything before and so he agreed to sign the papers so easily.

Vampires doesn't care about 'incest'. They knew that consuming their relationship beyond papers is almost impossible. Even then, it's not illegal for them to do this. When their kind became extinct and they had no other choice but to pass their assets to their closest relatives, or to their chosen family members, they have to form another contract of agreement/relations that will resolve the family feud over properties.

When a dying vampire doesn't want their money to go with the coven, they needed to divide it properly in their family or they can proceed to that contract and choose a person that will inherit their worldly possessions.

Although the practice was no longer used when their numbers recovered and reproduction finally became stable, there were no rules made to limit this.

Laura's father gave her to Max as someone he can have. It sounds heartless, but in reality, it was clearly an escape plan for her. Those who doesn't know about the true nature of their complex relationship will think that Maximilian protected the young maiden of the Millers. His actions will be seen as romantic. While Janette would only roll her eyes and murmur, 'so unnecessary' under her breath.

Dolly is clearly different from him. She never experienced having a formal fluffle and she doesn't understand the basics on performing in a strict community.

"Cedric?" Max asked without a greeting, "Can you reach Jeffrey's phone? Did the damn kid turn it off or was I blocked?"

"Ah... now I'm certain that he turned off his cell. I've been trying to call him for the past ten minutes. Did you put any tracking device on him? Can I know where is he right now?"

Max grumbled. "Hah. He was so scared that I'd shower him with my complains, hmn? He completely shut us both— wait a moment."

Max thought his ears went faulty for a moment and misheard something.

He reiterated. "Did I hear you clearly? 'Tracking device?' Do you expect me to say yes and give you his location?"

Cedric went silent for a second before he answered arrogantly, "Yes. This is about an important matter. It's about work."

"Work..." Max spared the clock a glance before he sighed deeply. He doesn't need to ask in order to know that Cedric is looking at the time as of the moment. "Care to explain yourself?"

"Ah... well, I'm not asking him to turn in some papers. It's eleven in the evening. Of course I won't do that. I was just... trying to get a hold of him. Since we'll be having our first field work tomorrow. I need him to be quick on his feet, that's all."

Max pursed his lips. He felt like he had punched a cotton ball. He expected Cedric to be mad, or even denial about everything. When he dialled his number, he kind of expected the man to hung up. ‘What’s with him?’

"Oh, you're giving him a heads up? That's good. He's a neophyte, so cut him some slack. Did you send the men like I asked Yeon-hee to do?"

"Yes. Yeon-hee will be there tomorrow."

"You're sending out the newly mated woman frequently this month. Did she make you upset or something?" Max watched the window as the night deepened. "I heard that you rarely move out of your chair and that you often scold Jeffrey every minute of his working hours."

He raised a sardonic brow and continued, "You can never escape your fate, Cedric. If ever you want to accept my offer, I'll welcome you any time of the month."

‘It’s no use pretending as though nothing happened. Something did happen, and it was neither what we both imagined it to be.’ The world indeed works in a mysterious way.

"It's really nothing important." Cedric huffed mightily. "You're on the phone in the middle of the night when you just met your fated mate? Who's the one that's lacking between the two of us? Clearly, it's not me."

Max hung up the phone without looking at it. He stood quiet for a second before he finally could not endure it anymore. "That hybrid dares to joke with me." He slammed the phone on the table before fixing his suit. "Of course I'm awake. What respected vampire would be asleep at this time of the night? Cheap trash."

"What are you murmuring about?" Laura entered the room with ease. Her face crumpled. "Stop trying to guilt-trip me. I surrender myself willingly. Let's find your mate before you decide to snap my head off."

Max stopped for a moment. He smiled a little. "Cousin, what made you think I will kill you? We're related. Oh, please. I'm not heartless."

"Liar." Laura deadpanned. "Want me to check on Cedric and ask him if you sent an enforcer behind my back? Have a bet with me."

Max rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine. I sent one. Just one. And it's not about killing you. I just want to know the reason why must you run away from the city to find me here. What do you want?"

He walked to the front door. She blinked slowly and click her tongue in apprehension. "There was a case in the office. An employee of mine— oh, scrub that. A close friend of mine was seen dead on the back of an alley behind a certain bar you frequently visit."

"Ah..." Max nodded. "And that requires my attention because?"

Laura frowned. "In her autopsy report, it was evident that she's feeding one certain vampire for at least a month before she died. The nature of her death is simple, a slash on the neck. She bled through the night and just as I expected, no one saw the incident happened."

"It's not me. You know that. I stopped feeding from humans... for a long time now."

"I know." Laura closed her eyes and sighed deeply. "Before her sudden death, I noticed a few changes in her. She lost weight, she became paranoid and easily rattled. It was clear that she didn't sleep enough. There were signs of... obsession. You know how does that works, right? When a human gets involved with a vampire for so long they get—"

"I still don't understand why did you need to go such lengths to find me for that instance. You disturb my vacation. You made my mate second guess my sincerity towards her and now you're saying that you need my opinion." Max purses his lips. "I... don't understand, Laura. Why?"

Laura's pale complexion became tinged with blue. It was an indication of her anxiety. The guilt on her face could not be hidden behind her cough. "I'm sorry. I didn't know that... you still feel burdened by what had happened before. I—I only wanted to mess with you a little. I thought maybe we can reconnect again as cousins. I thought you needed someone to talk to now that you're alone in this sudden trip. I..."

Max recognized her troubled state. He stepped closer to her and wrap an arm around Laura. "Don't speak with me again if it's about what happened to your friend. I'll say this once and for all— I don't have any valuable information that I can give you. All you have to know, from me, is that I didn't do anything wrong."

Only those five hundred year old vampires can make that happen. Max knew that Laura would automatically think of him. There aren't a lot of five hundred year old vampires in the area and even those people in the coven aren't as old as him. They seemed old in appearance, because they hadn't reached the final stage of enlightenment. As the leader of the coven, the first requirement should be this.

"I'm sorry. How do I contact your mate? I want to personally apologize to her, Max. She must be upset."

Max squinted. "It's fine. I'll talk to her. First, you need to help me eliminate her ex."

Laura pushed him a little. "I didn't know you were the jealous type."

"I'm not. Really!" Max smiled. "My Dolly asked this from me herself. Are you in it?"

She bent her knees a little and bowed. "Need not ask. I'm always at your service, your excellency."

'If only you're this obedient all of the time.' Max gritted his teeth. 'Silly child.'