Book 1 – The Lycan’s Curse Vampire Embrace and the Green-eyed monster

Alastair’s cellphone rang, and he quickly answered it.

“Alastair, there’s a party at my house tonight at seven! You better come, or I’ll be upset with you!” came the voice from the other end.

“Party?” he replied.

“Yes, it’s my birthday today!” Michele exclaimed before the call ended. He glanced over at Aliyah.

“First, I need to change my dress!” Aliyah chirped, and as if by magic, her dress transformed before his eyes into something extravagant. Alastair couldn’t help but purse his lips in admiration.

“You’ve got to teach me how to do that!” Alastair exclaimed, his eyes wide with awe.

“Okay! Ready? One… two… three… 𝑽𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒊 𝒎𝒖𝒕𝒆𝒕𝒖𝒓!” Aliyah chanted a spell aimed at Alastair. Instantly, his casual attire morphed from a simple t-shirt, shorts, and slippers into a sharp tuxedo, fitted slacks, and polished black shoes.

“Wow,” Alastair breathed, taken aback by the transformation.

———-

“I didn’t know you three were neighbors with Michele and Rio, Aliyah,” Alastair said, shaking his head.

“Sorry, but you didn’t ask,” Aliyah replied sarcastically. At that moment, her thoughts surged, wanting to push into her mind like a tidal wave. She activated her vision and felt a blush creeping up her cheeks. The crush she had been harboring for ages, Michele’s brother Giuseppe, would also be at the party. Both were undeniably handsome, thanks to their Italian heritage, but Giuseppe stood out even more when it came to looks. A smile crept across Aliyah’s face as she spotted Giuseppe, dressed in a golden corset vest that clung to his athletic build, catching the glimmer of the party lights.

“Hey!” Aliyah jumped as Rio tapped her shoulder.

“What? You startled me!” Aliyah snapped, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

“What? You didn’t see it coming? Let me guess, it’s Giuseppe again,” Rio said, a bitter edge to his tone as he mentioned the name.

“Ooh, love triangle!” Kai teased, nudging Rio and Aliyah. Rio shot him a glare, and just like that, Aliyah vanished from sight, her heart racing. Rio was about to follow her when Alastair stopped him.

“I wouldn’t do that,” Alastair said, sighing deeply as Rio’s frustration was palpable.

Upon arriving, they were immediately greeted by Michele, whom they wished a happy birthday. He led them to an empty table, but Alastair couldn’t shake the feeling that something ominous lurked in the air around him.

“Alastair,” Rio called meaningfully. Instantly, Alastair knew what he wanted. Rio activated their psychic link.

“I sense something bad is going to happen tonight,” Rio thought, the gravity of his words pressing on them.

“I feel it too,” Alastair agreed, exchanging glances with Anthony and Kai.

“I really need to pee!” Anthony suddenly exclaimed in their minds. Without another word, he darted off in search of a bathroom, only to crash into a waiter and send the drinks flying across the room. Gasps erupted from the crowd.

“God, you are so reckless!” Alastair exclaimed, frustration evident in his voice.

“I didn’t mean to!” Anthony protested, his eyes wide.

“Then you need to be more careful,” Alastair scolded.

Meanwhile, Aliyah sat alone at a table far from where Alastair and the others were gathered. She couldn’t help but gaze at Giuseppe again. He only returned to Lunarville once in a blue moon, filling her with a sense of joy as she admired him from a distance.

“Moon goddess, hear my plea,
Giuseppe will talk to me,
So mote it be.” She whispered fervently, her heart racing. Moments later, he glanced her way and smiled. As he approached, her heart raced even faster, feeling like it might leap from her chest.

“Hi, Aliyah! It’s nice to see you here!” Giuseppe greeted her warmly.

“I miss you—”

“What?” he asked, brow furrowed in confusion.

“I mean, it’s a pleasure to see you again,” she said, forcing a smile, her nerves getting the best of her. “Almost slipped there,” she whispered to herself.

“What?” he asked again.

“Nothing.”

“Do you want something?” he asked, a playful smile on his lips.

“Yes, you,” she whispered, biting her lower lip in a flurry of nervousness.

“Huh?” he replied, tilting his head.

“I mean, I just want to talk to you,” she managed to say, trying to regain her composure.

“Then let’s talk somewhere else,” he said, taking her hand and pulling her away from the throng of people.

Meanwhile, Rio couldn’t bear what he saw and decided to leave. Kai quickly followed him.

“Hey, I—” Kai started, pausing as he gauged Rio’s mood. “I hope you’re okay.”

“Do I look like I’m okay? Leave me alone,” Rio replied in a near whisper.

“I know you like her,” Kai pressed, but Rio averted his gaze, unable to meet his friend’s eyes. “But you’re not even 17 yet. You don’t know who your mate is,” Kai continued, crossing his arms defensively.

“But I love her,” Rio finally confessed, a flicker of pain visible in his eyes.

“Does she know?” Kai asked, and Rio nodded silently.

“She knows because she saw in her vision that I was going to confess my feelings! But she doesn’t feel the same way because she’s in love with Giuseppe!” he yelled, his frustration boiling over as he punched the wall. The impact left a crack like a spider web spreading across the surface.

—————–

“I really thought you weren’t going to come back anymore,” Aliyah muttered, and Giuseppe pursed his lips in response.

“Well, I’m here now,” Giuseppe retorted, taking her to a secluded spot. A sense of unease washed over Aliyah, and she tried to access her vision, but nothing happened.

“When are you coming back to Sicily?” Aliyah asked, attempting to ease the tension that hung in the air.

“Not for a while. I’ve decided to stay here for a bit longer. Why? Don’t you want to see me?” Giuseppe said, winking as he glanced at her. He noticed the fear in Aliyah’s eyes.

“Are you okay?” Giuseppe asked, a look of concern crossing his face.

“We should go back,” she urged, seeing the colors in his eyes shift. Aliyah tried to run, but Giuseppe held her wrist tightly.

In a moment of desperation, Aliyah attempted to cast a spell to inflict pain on him, but he didn’t flinch at all.

“Aliyah, I didn’t mean to scare you. Trust me, I didn’t want this. I just wanted to tell you because I know you’re the only one I can trust,” Giuseppe muttered, his voice cold. He released her wrist.

“How did you—” Aliyah started to ask.

“I’m immune to all psychic powers, I can nullify any effects whenever they’re around me,” he explained. “Now let’s go back.” Aliyah nodded.

“So you can block all psychic powers?” Aliyah asked, her curiosity piqued.

“Yes. Does that bother you?” Giuseppe chuckled, a teasing glint in his eye.

“Not really, but when did you become a vampire?” she asked, intrigued.

“Two years ago, a random woman bit me and turned me into a vampire. She compelled me and used me as one of her toys. One day, I woke up in an unfamiliar bedroom. That crazy nympho tried to manipulate me again, forcing me to do things she liked because she thought I was still under her compulsion. But it didn’t work anymore. Thank God, I finally killed that crazy woman and escaped from the horror I had been through,” Giuseppe recounted.

“You’re so unfair!” Aliyah exclaimed.

“Yes, but I don’t know how to disable this!” Giuseppe insisted.

“So you were just messing with me earlier,” Aliyah said, crossing her arms and pouting.

“Yeah, I heard you loud and clear. And not to brag about your childhood crush, but why still me after all these years?” he asked, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks. Giuseppe chuckled and kissed her temple. Aliyah nearly melted from the rush of emotions in that moment.