SURPRISE PART 1!!!!!!!!!!!!

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William's P.O.V

Running down the familiar paved path, I try to push myself faster but I was a small guy, plus I didn't really exercise that much - my body was doing its best.

Still, with who waited at my destination, I found the strength to go just a little faster.

The wooden front door opens before I even touch the steps and I immediately recognise the jet black hair and wide grin as Quinn's.

"He's just sitting up," he says as he steps aside, watching me bound up the stairs with a giddy smile.

"Thanks," I manage breathlessly as I move past him and basically speedwalk through the house.

I had just enough sense not to run through someone else's home.

Quinn follows closely behind me but he keeps a distance between us that allows him to not crash into me when I stop in the open doorway.

"Mekhi!"

Mekhi looks up from his crouched position at the side of his bed and a blurry row of white promise me a crooked smile.

"Hey Will," he rasps, his voice sounding strained and tired.

Two weeks had passed since Mekhi... fainted? And even though I'd worn a brave face for Damon, I was secretly growing worried that he may not wake up anytime soon or that it was all far more serious than we originally thought. 

It was hard not to think so when each visit he was in the same position just barely breathing.

Seeing him now, sitting up in his bed and smiling at me, those worries vanished and I couldn't stop myself from going as close to him as I could to see him better.

Seated at his side, Colson kept a firm hand on Mekhi's back to help him remain seated upright while I crouched down in front of him and examined him as best as I could. There wasn't much I could make out from Mekhi beyond his constantly glowing yellow eyes and slightly strained features, but the fact that his body was mostly relaxed seemed like a good sign to me.

"How are you feeling?" I ask gently, keeping my voice low like I probably should've when I first saw him.

"Good," he replies with a sigh, "really good."

"Rested?" I prompt and he nods, his smile growing wider.

"Like I've slept for a year," 

"You might as well have," Quinn mumbles as he sits down on Mekhi's free side, "but we're glad to have you back Sleeping Beauty."

Mekhi frowns while Quinn and I grin, "Damon will explain that one," I say which makes even Colson smile.

With how constantly Damon and I visited Mekhi, it was a given that we'd come to know his housemates. What we didn't expect were the relationships we'd develop with them.

Quinn - who'd been reserved to start and very unhappy to have people constantly in his house - was someone I now considered to be a friend, so much that I always stayed any extra while to catch up with him after each visit. 

Though Quinn was a bit of a bookworm who liked silence, so I could only get him to chat for a bit before he'd be ducking his head in some book.

And while we'd known Colson before, he and Damon were far closer than just acquaintances now. They were friends, good friends, something which was funny to watch with how animated Damon got when they talked about all the intricacies of their weapons while Colson was always calm and collected, his answers to the point and simple.

But knowing them as friends made it easier being here now without Damon, I had nothing to worry about when I trusted them all.

"I see I've missed a lot," Mekhi says gesturing to my shoulder.

I beam as I pass my fingers over my mark, the touch causing sparks to erupt beneath my skin.

As much as Damon adored his mark on me, - always kissing and nuzzling it - nothing put a smile on my face the way seeing his mark did. I'd taken to wearing only shirts that showed it off and while I used to hate people staring at me, I didn't mind it when they were looking at my mark.

"We'll catch you up to speed," I promise with a weak smile, "we've all missed you."

That makes Mekhi frown a little as he looks between us all "how long have I been asleep?"

"Two weeks," Colson answers plainly.

Mekhi's eyes grow wide as he sits up straighter as if to stand, but the sudden movement makes him sway to his side. Colson catches him quickly, holding his friend up without trouble while Mekhi breathed harshly.

My fingers itch to help, to console, but they sink into my skin instead.

"What do you mean two weeks?" Mekhi questions before he winces, "how could I be asleep for two weeks?"

He raises a hand to his head only to freeze when he feels the hair that had grown in a bit. 

Mekhi always kept his head in a neat buzz cut and while not much had grown in, Mekhi looked like he was going to pass out while he patted around his head.

"I'll call Katerina," I say as I stand to my feet and get my phone.

I knew that I didn't actually have to use my phone to get her places, but Katerina was always far more amicable when you didn't call out her name like she was a dog - her words not mine.

"No," Mekhi tries but he was still leaning heavily on Colson, "I'm fine."

"You're not, but even if you were, I'd want her to check on you," I state as I hold my phone right up to my face and try to find her name.

A year ago, I'd only had two numbers on my phone and now my contacts were dauntingly full. I had Damon's entire family, Blue, Francis, Katerina, Mekhi, Quinn and Colson. It always made me smile when I found myself scrolling through them.

But having so many was a challenge my eyes couldn't deal with so I passed the phone to Quinn who looks for Katerina's number without me having to ask.

"Honestly, I'm fine Will," Mekhi says, trying to stand but Colson keeps him down.

"Mekhi," I say sharply as I pin him with the serious look I gave Damon when he was bullying Sassy, "it's either Katerina or a pack healer, you can choose but someone is going to have a look at you until I'm convinced you're okay. End of story."

Mekhi stares at me with widening eyes but I don't falter and stare right back.

He hadn't missed that much but with each day I spent in the pack, the more I felt like I belonged. Mekhi was part of this pack, I wasn't going to let a single one of the people I was meant to protect, suffer when I could easily stop it.

Mekhi was the type of guy to suffer in silence which was unacceptable in my books.

"Okay," he sighs as he ducks his head, his hand still patting around his head curiously.

"That was very good," Quinn says with a supportive thumbs up, "you even made my wolf straighten up."

Colson nods his head in quiet agreement and I smile, trying not to look too giddy.

It did something to me whenever I did the Luna-Alpha thing right. Though I was still having trouble picking which title I preferred hearing.

Josey told me the role of a Luna was different for every pack. For some, Lunas were strictly an alpha's female mate who listened to the pack's problems, navigated personal issues and nurtured those in need. For others, Lunas were just the name used for female alphas who took on all the roles and responsibilities as any other alpha.

But in it all, Lunas usually referred to women and the name referred to 'the divine embodiment of the Moon itself' and they were better connected to the Moon Goddess to carry out her will.

It all sounded like a lot, but there were parts of it I connected with. But it wasn't like I had to pick anytime soon, it'd be a while until I was comfortable enough to take on any such role in this pack.

Still, it felt nice to hear when I got things right.

"You've got her saved as The Witch?" Quinn asks as he gives me back my phone.

"She's got me saved as The Human, it was only right," I reply as I back out the room while pointing at Mekhi, "Don't let him do anything stupid." 

Quinn salutes me, Colson nods and Mekhi groans.

"Do you know that you are the only person who knows my number?" Katerina says in a way of a greeting when she picks up the phone. "The only one. Not even my mate knows it."

"Hey Katerina," I say with an amused smile already growing on my lips, "I'm glad to hear you're doing okay."

She laughs, "what can I help you with today, little human?"

I'd learnt to just accept the human thing. It wasn't stopping any time soon since Katerina and Aiden found it unreasonably hilarious.

"Well annoying witch, Mekhi's woken up and I'm not sure if he's okay," I explain quickly.

"Oh I knew that already, the waking up part not the him being fucked up part," she says casually, "I'm on my way, I would've been there already but Nikki's taking his time!" She shouts the last three words purposefully.

"Nikki?" I question with a frown, "Nikola?"

"My son. He's a young warlock and he still has got loads of learning to do. What better way than on the job," she explains and I could almost picture her shrug, "he won't be any trouble."

I didn't know anything about Nikola beyond him being the hybrid Hagen despised, but if Katerina said he wouldn't be any trouble then him coming didn't matter to me.

"Well, thank you for coming and checking up on him, I really do appreciate it," 

"Yes, yes," Katerina replies before she groans and shouts again, "no Nik, the snake does not need to come," She sighs, "I'll see you soon human." Katerina hangs up before I can reply and I'm left blinking in the hallway.

Did she just say snake?

I shudder and try to put the thought out of my mind as I walk back into the room, "she'll be here soon."

"Good," Colson says, pointedly ignoring Mekhi's glare.

Colson didn't show much emotion, never in his voice and very rarely through his expressions, but when it came to Mekhi and Quinn, he was wonderfully protective.

I worried a lot less about Mekhi since getting Colson and Quinn. I thought he only had Damon before but in truth, Mekhi had people who really cared about him and he deserved nothing less.

"Where's Damon?" Mekhi asks tentatively after having a little look around me. 

"He left yesterday to spend the day with Aiden," I explain quickly, trying and failing to ignore the pinch in my chest, "they're out talking and doing... wolf stuff, but he'll be back soon."

I hoped.

Aiden and Damon were supposed to be back already, but for some reason, they hadn't come back this morning like they were supposed to. They were okay though, safe.
Julian had sent a few patrol wolves to check on them and they'd come back with confirmations that they were fine, just still enjoying their time away I guess.

I'd been waiting with Peter at the house when Quinn called me about Mekhi, I'd run straight over and Peter promised to call if they got back while I was out.

My phone hadn't rung yet.

But I wasn't worried, I was just getting a little antsy.

Damon and I hadn't been apart for more than twenty-four hours in a long time, and my 'little human body' apparently couldn't cope without my werewolf fix for that long. 

I thought it was just me wanting to be close to him at first, but now I genuinely felt as if something was wrong inside of me. It was like someone had turned my brain on its sad setting and now it just kept sending signals to my heart to squeeze itself every five seconds so I remembered Damon wasn't near.

I didn't want to say that Damon was right... but I'd definitely had to cuddle up with more than three pillows and wear his clothes to fall asleep last night. 

Even then the sleep had been shit, I kept tossing and turning, nothing feeling right without my arms around Damon's warm body while he pressed his massive back against my chest.

I'd always thought the mate bond didn't have a strong effect on me, but I'd changed my mind after I spent the entire night and morning with my fingers caressing my mark. That was the only thing that dulled that piercing feeling in my chest when I thought of my Damon.

God, I had it bad. 

The second we were alone again, I planned to make up for lost time in every imaginable way.

"We have arrived!" Katerina announces, appearing directly beside me.

A scream tears from me as I jump away, my hands already searching for something to hit her with like my survival instincts demanded. 

I stop at her evil cackles and glare at her instead, the witchy bitch had done that on purpose.

"Wait until I tell Aiden about that," she says with a snort.

It had come to my attention that Aiden and Katerina were the same, two measures of sadistic and childish that went hand in hand. Aiden more so the childish part and Katerina, the sadist.

Turning her attention on Mekhi, Katerina claps her hands together and steps closer. At her side, the little boy I only just noticed, did the same, mirroring his mother's exact actions and movements.

Nikola was a small kid. He stood just above Katerina's waist in height with a head full of brown curls that ranged from light to dark in a compelling mix. His posture was perfect and he even though he looked like a kid playing doctor with how he copied Katerina, he seemed very serious about the whole thing.

"You're awake," Katerina says as she sits down on nothing. Nikola does the same.

"I'm awake," Mekhi repeats blandly.

Quinn and Colson leave Mekhi's side per Katerina's request, and stand on the other side of the empty room, observing quietly while Katerina and Nikola just watched Mekhi for a few minutes.

"What do you see?" She asks, her voice turning uncharacteristically gentle as she spoke to her son.

Nikola starts listing things I had no hope of understanding, let alone repeating, each one earning him a nod from Katerina who only interrupted to correct where needed.

The boy spoke softly but his tone was strong and confident, and even with strangers watching him, he barely seemed to notice us with no signs of nervousness or hesitancy.

"Very good," Katerina says when he finishes, running a hand over his head and tucking him into her a little closer, "that was very, very good Nik."

Turning back to Mekhi, Katerina loses the kind tone, "I'll give you some herbs to help your magic put itself back together. You should make them into a tea and drink it daily. For now, I'll heal your broken genes to speed things along, but you just need to rest."

Mekhi nods, not even questioning Katerina while my heart drops at the words, "Broken genes?" I question in place of Mekhi.

"Nothing serious, just some lingering effects from having that shit in his veins," Katerina says with a glance my way. 

Even though I couldn't see her, I got the message. She didn't want to say anything that would give Mekhi's situation away with others here.

I nod, silently thanking her for being careful and she continues, "until you're feeling one hundred per cent, just let your body recover."

"What does that mean exactly?" Mekhi asks, already sounding like he hated the idea.

"Don't do anything stupid, don't try any complicated spells, only leave the house for short walks, and spend most of your time in bed,"

"I've already slept for two weeks," he protests.

Both Katerina and Nikola makes a small noise somewhere between a wishful sigh and whimper as they shake their heads, "the way people just ignore their blessings, I-" Katerina starts and Nikola makes a soft sound of agreement. 

Huffing Katerina finishes, "Stay in bed or I'll trap you in this house."

"Damon won't be happy if something bad happens to you," I say when Mekhi opens his mouth to protest.

He immediately shuts it, his jaw growing tight and his fingers forming into fists on his thighs.

While I knew witches didn't feel the same need to please their alpha as werewolves did, Mekhi was part of this pack and Damon was more than his friend, he was his alpha and that had some sort of effect on him.

When Mekhi doesn't fight anymore, Katerina smiles gratefully at me before she claps her hands together again, "everyone out, I need a moment with this one."

Quinn and Colson glance at me and I nod. They move out quickly and I watch as Katerina gives Nikola a little push, "you too, I'll call you back after."

"But you said I was here to watch and learn," Nikola replies sounding a little annoyed.

Katerina only grins, rubbing his head before giving him another shove, "and you will, but privacy still exists. You can hang out with Will for a bit, you don't know any humans do you?" 

I flip Katerina off behind Nikola's back while he shakes his head. She just laughs her wicked laugh, "well get to know one, Will's nice."

Nikola turns and examines me, I offer him a smile. 

Apparently sold, Nikola walks up to me and waits. With a final glance at Mekhi, I leave the room and Nikola follows me out, his eyes glued to my face with each step we took. 

With no sign of Quinn and Colson in the house, I follow their example and lead Nikola to the front steps, hoping this was far enough to keep Nikola from hearing too.

I sit down and Nikola sits next to me, his eyes still glued to my face.

Kids stared, I knew that, but Nikola stared.
He looked at me like I was something alien and he was trying to figure out each difference that existed between us.

"So," I start, looking at him, "I think proper introductions are in order, I'm Will."

"Hi Will," Nikola replies plainly, he blinks twice, "I'm Nikola."

"Hi Nikola," I say repeating him. His eyes narrow a little, "so I'm the first human you've met?"

"No, I've met other humans, I just never got this close to one," he explains carefully, "the ones in the pack avoid me."

I didn't say it but I was pretty sure it had something to do with the staring. 

"Why's that?" I ask, resting a hand under my chin.

He shrugs, "I've been told that I am offputting."

"Offputting is a strong word," I say and he tilts his head before he nods a little.

"I agree," he says, his words carrying no emotion, "I understand weird or slightly frightening, but offputting is a little misplaced to me."

I nod and silence falls over us for a moment. 

Nikola keeps staring at me and I let him. The kid was probably scanning me with his magic and Katerina did bring him here to learn so there was no harm in it.

"Don't you want to talk to me about Hagen?" Nikola asks suddenly, I turn to him with a frown, "you told Hagen you'd talk to me for him when you first came to the pack."

My eyebrows pull closer together, "how do you know that?"

For the first time, Nikola looks away.

Caught red-handed, it's my turn to stare at him as I try to put together the little's guys actions.

 Nikola wasn't quite what I'd expected when Hagen had kept describing him as 'terrifying, 'annoying' and 'sick'. He was clearly a smart kid, who chose his words carefully and was painfully self-aware.

He must've known reminding me would get him some sort of lecture, and he'd done it anyway. Maybe he liked the prospect of trouble, or maybe he was just bored. But Nikola didn't seem like the type to encourage conversation. 

Nikola didn't seem like he enjoyed interacting with others.

The longer I looked at him, the more I got the impression that I was being tested.

Nikola's averted eyes didn't match the confidence he'd been carrying from him the moment I saw him. Everything he did and said had purpose so far, as if he thought through each word before he said it.

Blurting out something that would lead to him getting in some sort of trouble just didn't make sense.

"Why are you testing me?" I ask carefully after a few minutes. His grey eyes shoot up to mine, "are you curious about what I'd say or are you just bored?"

Nikola keeps staring at me, unblinking and quiet.

"Maybe a bit of both," I prompt with a raised brow, "did you want to see what a human could say differently?"

To my pleasure, he nods. At least the kid was honest.

"Well, based on what Hagen told me, I was going to try and see if I could get you to back off," I say honestly. If he was being open with me, the least I could do was be honest with him too. "But actually talking to you has changed my thoughts on you a bit."

"What do you think now?" He asks, the interest showing now as his monotone voice retreats a little.

"You're clearly a smart kid, you must know your actions upset Hagen, but even though you like him, you still do it," I say while I study him, "which tells me that there must be a reason why. Unless you simply take pleasure in upsetting him."

Nikola shakes his head to that before he freezes, thinks on it, and then shakes his head again.

"So then, what is the reason?" 

"I am a hybrid," Nikola says simply. "I am both a warlock and a werewolf. Both species are possessive of their other halves and I'm both. He's my mate and my linker, I want him always."

Talking to Nikola felt as if I was talking to someone closer to my age group, not a prepubescent kid who should've been annoying rather than interesting.

But Nikola truly was interesting to me. He was like a younger, warlock version of Colson who showed his emotions in flickers.

"Mates apart miss their other half and want to be with them," he says and I nod my understanding, "when I'm apart from Hagen, I want to be with him, know where he is, what he's doing, how he's feeling and what he's thinking."

"How do you know you're mates?" I ask, "Don't you have to be 18?"

"For werewolves, yes," Nikola allows, "for Linkers, we know at any age."

That gets me frowning deeply, "does Hagen know that?"

Nikola nods with a little sigh, "Hagen is in denial it seems."

Nikola's description of what he wanted from Hagen sounded unhealthy and every bit as stalkerish as Hagen suggested, but Nikola didn't sound like he did it on purpose or like he even enjoyed it. 

In fact, the more he spoke, the more the kid sounded a little pained.

"So the way you treat Hagen, the things you do, its instincts in a way?" I hazard and he nods, "instincts can be hard to fight," he nods again.

While I had no clue what it was like being a werewolf, Damon had told me about how hard it'd been being around me when we first met. How he'd have to force himself to give me space, to not just touch me when we were close and allow me to set the pace of our relationship.

Damon said it was what built the control he had now. If it'd been hard for Damon as a grown alpha, I couldn't imagine what it was like for Nikola; a kid and a hybrid. 

"You should talk to my mate," I start but I stop when Nikola's expression crumples with displeasure.

Even blind, I could tell he was not a fan of Damon.

"I don't want to," he says with the most displeasure he'd shown yet.

"Damon's not scary," I start, knowing the reputation he had with his pack, but Nikola shakes his head before I can continue.

 "I am not afraid of him."

"Then what is it?" I ask curiously.

Usually, it took Damon showing his nicer side for people to relax their previous fears surrounding him. And if they saw Damon and Blaze, well that was an easy sell.

"Your mate upsets me," Nikola explains simply.

I laugh, snorting as I try to imagine how Damon would react to that and what he'd done to upset Nikola.

"And why is that?"

"He's upsetting," Nikola says blankly, "besides, he won't be able to do anything we haven't tried already."

Leaving the upsetting case alone for now, I try another angle, "maybe, maybe not," I shrug, "when I met Damon, I was very reserved and cautious. I didn't want to form any sort of relationship with anyone, even a friendship. Damon was patient, he listened to me, he respected my boundaries and now," I gesture around us, "I'm living in a werewolf pack because he makes me happy and I'd do anything for him."

Nikola's eyes glow a vibrant purple as he looks up at me, the words clearly appealing to him in some manner but he doesn't say anything.

The kid was definitely interesting.

"But I won't try and convince you to do anything you don't want to," I say with a gentle smile, "just know that if you want to talk to someone who might understand, I'll get Damon to listen." 

Nikola looks away, "he finds me equally upsetting."

Laughing again, it takes effort for me not to ruffles the kid's hair like Katerina did. Instead, I nudge his foot with the sole of my shoe, it wasn't skin to skin but it was something, a big something but it felt so minimal doing it here. 

"I'll work on that and in the meantime, we can talk when you want." I offer but Nikola shakes his head to that too.

"No thank you," Nikola replies and I try not to take offence at the quick response. 

But he didn't even think about it, he just said no. 

"It's nothing personal, I just don't like talking to people too much," he explains after a moment.

"Okay, well that's fine, but the offer still stands that you can talk to me when you want." I reply with a smile, "I promise to not come looking for you."

Nikola nods to that, not saying a word.

"Do you want to stop talking now?"

Nikola looks at me, clearly thinking about it, "what do you want to talk about?"

I shrug, "That depends on you. I'm a good listener so if you want to talk bout something, I'll listen." 

He watches me suspiciously, "you are weird."

"That gives us something in common," 

To my surprise, Nikola smiles a little, his lips lifting up just a touch before the smile drops and he looks away. 

We don't end up talking anymore after that, but I keep smiling, excited at having done a little good here.

I'd have to work on Damon but I'd get these two to talk, somehow.

There wasn't a doubt in my mind that Damon would be able to help Nikola. They weren't alike, not even close, but people clearly thought one thing of Nikola without understanding him and that would resonate with Damon.

Even if he really did find Nikola 'equally upsetting', he wouldn't want Nikola to go through what he had.

I just had to get them to talk...

───────────────────

LUNA WILL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thoughts?????????

Mekhi's awake!!!!! I've missed his little comments and gum. Ughhhhhhh

Today marks the prologue of the Nikola-Damon mentor relationship! I can not WAIT to explore it more in Control, but you guys will definitely see it start before Delicate ends.

This was the original chapter I wrote that I hated and didn't publish last week, but I edited it and edited it and then wrote other things and now we are here and I like it again looool.

It's a dip from the last chapter and that was what I was having trouble with but I am very very happy with this chapter.

Please make sure to comment and vote if you enjoyed this chapter!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the first part of your surprise, you'll get the second in a few hours.

So comment! Comment! Comment!!!!

Until next time,
B

yeeeeeeeeeeee Humansssssssssssss