"Would you rather never eat steak ever again or never eat cabbage ever again?" Pablo asks from the back seat of our jeep.

He so thinks he has me there! Joke's on him though. I like butter lettuce, not cabbage. The morron still can't tell the two of them apart!

"Cabbage," I respond with a smirk.

"Cabbage," says my dad, not taking his eyes off the road.

"Would you rather be able to shift at will but it's still as painful as the first time," I ask when it's my turn, "or shift every night till the rest of your life and it's completely painless?"

We've started a game of 'Would you rather' a few minutes ago and so far it hasn't gotten boring.

"If I'm able to shift at will," my dad starts, "I might as well never do, so it wouldn't matter how painful it is."

"Yeah, I'm with dad on this one." My brother nods.

"And you won't miss our Moon Runs at all?" I shift my gaze between the two of them.

My dad bites his lip in thought... "Nah! Well... maybe a little!"

I gasp horrified. When the moon is full, is my favourite time of the month! I can't imagine what my life would be like if I wasn't able to turn into my wolf form! In fact, I would even have it happen more often than just once a month! But unfortunately, we can't choose when and how to shift. It has been predestined by Ilargi, the Moon Goddess, that we only do so during Full Moon.

"I won't miss it at all," Pablo says, nervously tapping with his foot. "It just hurts so fucking much!" He whines.

"You boys are insane," I state, turning towards the window.

The trees are clothed in red and yellow, the sun peeking under their branches as if winking at me. I spot a small body of water, probably a lake, but it is gone as fast as it appeared in front of my sight.

"Enzo? What about you?" My twin asks.

"Oh, definitely shift every night," I mumble.

"And never go to a bar or..." Pablo starts as if the human night life offers so many options when in fact there aren't that many.

"Going clubbing is your thing. Not mine."

"True..." My brother trails off. "I just can't imagine my life without dancing, meeting sweaty horny humans..."

I scoff.

"That last part maybe didn't sound as appealing, ya?" Pablo continues.

"When you find your mate you won't even think about clubbing or making out with half-responsive human women," I remind him. "And you can dance during the day, too."

"At some old people's dance studio?" Now it's his turn to scoff. "Where they teach waltz and shit?"

I roll my eyes but keep my mouth shut. It's not like I know much about anything even remotely related to dancing. The only time I went clubbing with my brother I didn't even attempt at making some passable moves.

"Would you rather..." My dad starts. "Dance or... be forced to sing along to every song you hear?"

"Dance!" Pablo cheers right away.

"Sing. It's not my problem if I don't get the tune right!" I smirk, thinking of all the poor souls that would have to hear me sing. But dancing would be more inconvenient. Just imagine taking a shit when the phone of the person next to you starts ringing. And what? I would jump with my pants down and start wiggling my ass?

I snort and voice my thoughts aloud, 'cause it is funny. My brother thinks so, too, trying, and failing, to suppress a laugh. Even my dad smiles at the imagery I just painted for them.

"Yeah, definitely sing," my dad says.

"Would you rather... be born as an ordinary human or a dhampir?" Pablo asks.

"Ew!" Both me and my dad exclaim in unison.

"What made you say that?!" Our dad shrieks in disgust.

Dhampirs are children of a mortal woman and a newly created vampire. They have all the perks of being a vampire, minus the cons. Not as sensitive to sunlight, but have the strength, the agility, sometimes even the capability to influence a mortal human's actions and thoughts. But they're also extremely rare, since vampires are capable to recreate only for a few months after they've been turned. Afterwards, they turn completely sterile. Not even the blood of a virgin fairy can wake their little monster again.

My brother really got us there. Being somehow even remotely related to a vampire was disgusting. But I disliked humans even more so... "Dhampir," I stated, only after a second of thought.

"Ew! No! Definitely human!" Our dad declares. "Being ordinary ain't that bad!"

"You say this only because our mother was human," I say before I can stop myself. I shouldn't have mentioned her but it's too late to backtrack now. The smile on my dad's lips fades, his eyes turn dark, observing the road ahead of us, without even sparing me a second glance.

"Fuck, I need a smoke!" My twin hollers and this time I'm actually grateful about his addiction. Leave it to Pablo to save the day.

"You know the rules..." Our dad says.

"No smoking in the car," I finish instead of him.

"Then pull over somewhere, will ya?" My poor brother lifts his hands in the air as if expecting a miracle.

Our dad stops the jeep, nearly scratching the paint on some branches, but half of it is still blocking the road. Not impossible to pass but... the road is quite narrow this high up into the mountain.

Pablo dashes outside, trying to pull out a cigarette and light it at the same time.

I laugh, moving to stretch my legs as well.

"I'll pick dhampir by the way. Vampires are cool." I hear my twin mutter after the first puff of smoke but I'm sure he said it just to scandalise me. No self-respecting werewolf would be caught anywhere near a vampire. Or a dhampir for that matter. Or even a vampire's pet. No way in Hell!

So I don't dignify his comment with an answer.

At Amber University there's a whole wing designated to vampires precisely so we wouldn't have to cross paths with these stinky creatures!

A car horn pierces my ears.

They didn't have to do that. I've heard the car approaching before it even came to view. But couldn't they just go around us? Sure the road was narrow but not THAT narrow! There was enough room for one car passing us.

I scrutinise the black limousine that could've easily been on its way already if the driver could actually fucking drive.

Another horn and I struggle the urge to let my canines free and bite a chunk out of this guy's tires. I settle for glaring at the driver instead. It appears to be a woman with long black hair and a leather jacket. Although as 'she' leaves the limo 'her' jacket reveals a very bare manly chest with abs tight as steel. A trail of dried blood starts from his neck and is smeared somewhere around his left nipple. Great! A vampire snack! Just what we needed! And I bet it's his 'master' that he's driving inside the limo.

The guy is rather tall, handsome too. But they always pick them handsome. Skinny leather pants hug his long strong legs, a pair of leather boots to add to the whole Goth look vampires like to dress their pets into. But apart from the usual stench of death, I catch something else, too. Something sweet and tangy. Like an orange but not quite. It makes me want to take a step closer and have a proper sniff. And I do. And I regret it right as I do so.

Mate!

I meet his sapphire blue eyes and I freeze.

I note his skin as white as snow, probably from loosing too much blood, but I don't dwell on that. His lips are thin and pale, with a piercing right under his bottom lip.

Does he feel the pull? Do humans feel it?

Some don't.

Do I want him to know he's my mate?

"You're blocking the road, bro," he states with hands on his hips, the dried blood on his upper chest annoying the Hell out of me.

I finally find my mate and he's a vampire's pet? A fucking snack for the undead? He lets that vampire in the car, whoever it is, to drink from him! Draining my precious mate like he's merely an exquisite dish to be eaten and discarded at their disposal!

"No!" I utter.

"No?" The guy with hair as black as ebony tilts his head in amusement. His expression is stoic though, almost non-existent. But I can tell he finds me entertaining.

Ok... I can work with that!

"Uh, sorry, chico," I say, blinking to check if I'm seeing right. Yep, still there. He's here alright! I have a mate! Sure, he's vampire chow. And a human. But he's so fucking unbelievably gorgeous! And his eyes... Oh, Ilargi, I love his eyes! They glow like sapphires, they pull me in like the depths of the sea, they invite me to just... fucking mark him already!

"Chico?"

What's with him and repeating every word I say?

"Sorry, boy. We'll move the car right away," my dad says. Wait, since when was he here? Oh, right! He's driving me to uni.

"That's my mate!" I blurt out and point at the guy like some kind of lunatic.

"Liam!" I hear a male voice from inside the car. "If it takes you any longer the sun will set and I'll come out to handle them myself!"

Right, his vampire master. He has a master.

But would I let that stop me? No!

I take one more step towards him and take him in my arms, inhaling the scent of oranges and dried blood and death and fucking cigarette smoke! But of course my mate would be a smoker! I'll make him quit though. I might have not succeeded with my brother but no way in Hell would I let my mate smoking and ruining his precious lungs! Or giving his blood so freely to some low-life vampire scum! He's mine!

"Mine!" I smile at him, leaning for a kiss.

The guy, Liam, pushes me away. Not strong enough to make me let go of my pray but enough to make me pause in my actions. Was it too soon? But of course, it's too soon! Enzo, you just met the guy! Rail yourself down for fuck's sake!

"Uh, s-sorry," I stumble. "But you and I... we're meant to be together!" I can't wipe the smile off my face.

I gaze at my mate's sapphire blue eyes, his silky black hair, the sky bathed in hues of red and orange, giving him somewhat of a halo over that perfect face of his.

What do I do now? I have never even considered having a human mate before. How do I explain the bond to him? But he works for a vampire. He might know a thing or two about werewolves, right?

"Bro, get the fuck off me," he grumbles, his voice vibrating through my body, making me shiver with lust.

"I love you!" I blurt out, still grinning like a lunatic and still gripping his waist to prevent him from running off on me. Not that I wouldn't catch him if he tries. He's mine!

When his fist collides with my cheek, I don't see it in time to dodge, too mesmerised by his bright blue eyes. Eyes that are annoyed with me. Eyes that would have me anywhere else but here.

"Ouch! That hurt!" I take a step back, cradling my cheek as if that would ease the searing pain. "What kind of vampire chow wears silver rings!?"

He swings at me again but I grab him by the wrist, thankful that he didn't think of getting silver bracelets as well. That would've been a bit much!

He tries to hit me with his other hand but I grab onto that one as well, leaving him with not much else to do than spit on my face.

Did he just spit on me?!

"Feisty!" I hear Pablo's snicker in the background.

I let him go to wipe at my face and he kicks me in the balls. Two more guys leave the limo but I'm too blinded by pain to take note of them. I barely register that one of them is a short redhead while the other is a black dude with a broader build, one that would pose a challenge in a fight. I'm vaguely aware that my dad has stood in front of me while I ride the pain off.

"Ok, chill, boys." I hear my dad say. "No need for anyone to get hurt. Or you think that vampire master of yours would be able to help you while the sun is still out?"

"Keep that mutt away from me!" My mate spits out and I straighten my spine in time to meet his heated gaze. His eyes bare too much fire for the deep blue he's blessed with.

"What did I do?" I ask stupefied.

"I told you to let me go," Liam states with a calmer tone. "Consent, bro!"

"Please, excuse my dumb brother." Pablo comes forward with a smile. "He's been raised by wolves."

No one even scoffs at his stupid attempt at a joke.

"Amigo, you're my mate!" I try to reason with the gorgeous man in front of me. "Your master should've told you a thing or two about werewolves, right? You know how the mate bond works?"

"Not interested." The guy flips his straight black hair, his pale thin lips twisted in a scowl, sapphire blue eyes burning with pure hate. "Move. The. Car." He pronounces each word clearly as if he's talking to an intellectually disabled person and for the first time in forever I have absolutely no idea what to say. How do you explain to your human mate that you're just meant to be together? That he is your other half, your soulmate, your life force, the essence of your power? How do I tell him that I can't live without him when it's clear just by the look in his stern blue eyes that he couldn't care less what happens to me?

"Hey, amigos, we clearly started on the wrong foot here." Pablo speaks up. "Let us try again! I'm Pablo. This dumb blue-eyed devil here is my brother, Enzo." He gestures in my direction. "And that's my father, Beta Gael Basurto." He accentuates on our dad's status in the pack as if trying to impress the boys, his eyes trained on the dark-skinned dude who is now flanking my mate's side. The red-haired boy is nervously trailing behind but still ready to jump on us if needed. "We come from a quaint little village not far from here, and I presume we're all heading to the same place, no?" Well, yes, this road only leads to the campus grounds. Of course, they're heading in our direction!

"Probably," the bulky dude responds, most likely feeling sorry for my brother blabbing so much on his own.

"Are you going to Amber University?" The redhead squeaks, gnawing on his nails.

"Boys, hurry up! I'm dying here!" The vampire inside the limo shouts impatiently. "For the second time!"

"Uhm, sorry for..." I'm about to apologise to my mate for jumping his bones when he swirls around, prompted by his master's voice, and gets back onto the driver's seat.

"Wait!" I try to run after him but I barely make a step before I'm stopped by his bulky companion.

"Bro, he doesn't like you. Let it go," he tells me in a gentle sympathetic tone.

"James! Noah!" The vampire yells again and the redhead hurries inside the limo.

The dark-skinned dude lets me go and turns to join his master when Pablo frantically grabs his arm.

"Wait! I didn't catch your name, beautiful! Are you James or Noah?" He flashes him one of his flirty smiles.

"Uhm, Noah," the man provides, his russet brown eyes blinking in mild surprise.

"See you around, Noah!" My twin winks at him.

"Uh, see you. Pablo."

Yes, of course we'll see them again! We're going to the same fucking uni for fuck's sake! I still have a chance!

Noah runs his hand over his close-shaved black hair, probably trying to determine if my brother is really flirting with him or not. A various assortment of big multicoloured rings glimmer under the setting sun. Thankfully, none of them appear to be silver. I still can't get over the fact that a vampire's pet was sporting silver rings!

Noah smiles at my twin and enters the limo with a gleam in his eyes. My mate blares the fucking horn again, losing all patience with us. The road is not that fucking narrow! They can pass!

My dad sighs and turns towards our jeep. "Come on, boys! Fucking vampires!" He grumbles under his breath.

Pablo follows suit with a spring in his step and I blink. Once. Twice. My mate hates me. My mate wants nothing to do with me. He'll reject me! I start to panic on the inside while trying to maintain a firm front.

Another car horn gets me out of my stupor and I hurry to join my family.

"He hates me!" I blurt out once I close the door of the passenger seat.

My dad starts the jeep and gets us back on the road.

"Probably not the right time but... I've found my mate!" Pablo squeaks like an overzealous high-school girl.

I swish my head towards him, not believing my ears. "We have the same mate?"

"No, not him, silly! Noah! This ain't some smutty Wattpad story!"

"Well, congratulations, I guess." My dad says. "I guess our family line will die with you two."

And then it dawns on me that our mates are both male. Not very likely to create an offspring like that. And not only that but both of them serve the same stinky vampire AND mine actually hates my guts! Ilargi must hate us! What did we ever do to anger the Moon Goddess?

And how do I win my mate's trust?

~°•♡•°~

A/N: I was planning to go through the whole book without ever naming Enzo's father. Usually, I build my characters before I even start writing but Gael didn't have a name until now. I'm not even sure if he'll appear much in this book.