Sylvester 'Sylver' Stanton vs. Enzo Jilani

Pix: Sylver meets Enzo

Video: Eyes On You by Michael Bolton

Dedicated to WANGXIANNURSE

Cheers!

***

It was nine a.m. in Venice, Italy, but inside the opulent penthouse of the city's most exclusive luxury hotel, there was no trace of morning's light. Heavy, rich velvet drapes in deep burgundy and black blocked out the sun, keeping the room wrapped in a cocoon of shadows and intimacy. Time seemed irrelevant in this haven of indulgence, where the outside world felt distant and the night lingered, unbroken by the dawn.

The room was spacious and bathed in a dim, ambient glow from the several grand chandeliers hanging from the vaulted ceiling. Their crystal prisms scattered faint, shimmering patterns that danced across the lavish surfaces. Plush Persian rugs with intricate designs sprawled across the floor, their softness cushioning every step. In the center, a large, circular bed dominated, covered in silky, gold and crimson sheets and a number of plush pillows. The entire setting exuded an air of sensual luxury, where every detail whispered of indulgence and secrecy.

In one corner, an intimate bar was set up, boasting an impressive collection of fine wines, champagne, and rare spirits, each bottle carefully curated. Beside them, fruits and gourmet appetizers were elegantly arranged on polished silver platters, tempting with their delicate presentation. The walls were adorned with provocative art pieces—bold sculptures and sultry paintings—each contributing an artistic flair to the room's lavish décor. Soft classical music floated from hidden speakers, wrapping the space in an aura of refined sensuality. Completing the sensory experience, the gentle fragrance of jasmine and sandalwood elicited feelings of luxury, comfort, and undeniable allure.

In the luxurious room, Enzo Jilani lounged in a plush chair, his lips latched onto the neck of the stunning brunette leaning over him. Her lustful moans filled the air as a muscular hunk leisurely fucked into her from behind while she surrendered her blood to Enzo. Around them, people reclined in a variety of plush seating—sumptuous chaise lounges, deep armchairs, and oversized beanbags. Some had their mouths fastened onto the necks or wrists of others, drinking deeply, while others were entwined in the throes of passion. Some were doing both. The air hummed with a decadent blend of pleasure and lust, where desire was the only rule and indulgence knew no bounds.

Enzo Jilani was not the kind of vampire to waste human life for the sake of a feed. Draining someone completely was unnecessary—after all, a vampire didn't need to drain a person dry to feel satiated. His family owned vast blood banks worldwide, ensuring a steady supply without resorting to harm or coercion. Yet, every now and then, the heir to the Jilani empire indulged in exclusive gatherings where he could savour the thrill of feeding directly from the vein. These intimate parties were a decadent affair, with carefully chosen volunteers—feeders who were willing participants, pampered, and well-prepared for the event.

Vampires were inherently driven by heightened desires, and nothing brought them more pleasure than the intoxicating combination of sex and feeding—a perfect fusion of physical and primal ecstasy. For Enzo, the experience was even more exhilarating when feeding from someone in the throes of sexual pleasure. The surge of endorphins and hormones flooding their blood added a potent kick to the taste that he relished.

The setting was designed with care and indulgence; feeders were allowed to take breaks whenever needed, even retreating for short naps if they wished. With only ten vampires being catered to by twenty feeders, there was plenty of time and blood for everyone to indulge at their own pace, making the atmosphere one of relaxed, decadent indulgence.

Enzo was riding high on bliss, having just emptied himself into another girl's eager mouth while feeding. Pleasure and satiation coursed through him like liquid fire, leaving him utterly content. And if the satisfied moans and grunts echoing around the room were anything to go by, his friends were enjoying themselves just as much. Everything was unfolding perfectly until...

"What the fuck!"

For a brief moment, Enzo pondered who could possibly have the nerve to intrude on his private domain without a trace of fear. The peculiar scent that assaulted his senses revealed the answer—it was a werewolf. The low hisses from his companions confirmed that an enemy had boldly stepped into their midst. Maintaining his composure, Enzo delicately sealed the two small puncture wounds in the feeder's neck with a flick of his tongue and whispered softly to her...

"Get into the room to the right and slip out through that tiny door on the left. Now!" He got to his feet, his gaze snapping to the intruder. But when recognition dawned, Enzo staggered back as if he'd been punched in the gut. "You've got to be kidding me," he gasped, disbelief crashing over him.

Shock gripped Enzo. He was overwhelmed by a surge of emotion so intense it left him breathless and shook him to his core. He had to drag in a sharp inhale just to steady himself before forcing the air out in a slow, controlled exhale. Three questions raced through Enzo's mind the entire time:

What on earth is Sylver Stanton doing here?

Why is he bare-chested?

And why is he so... wet?

Fuck, that's a damn fine specimen of a male!

***

Sylver heard the agitated sounds of hissing and saw bared fangs, the eyes of their owners filled with barely restrained hostility. Vampires! Amidst the chaos, his attention was swiftly drawn to one figure. It was a young man, who appeared to be in his twenties, strikingly handsome, and... familiar.

"You," Sylver breathed, the word slipping from his lips like a whisper carried on the wind.

His gaze fixed on the vampire, who he instinctively knew was his mate from the intense emotions stirring within him. He required no confirmation. With a sleek, predatory grace, Sylver began to move toward him, each stride deliberate and fluid, like a panther closing in on its prey.

In an instant, the other vampires in the room charged at Sylver, their faces twisted with aggression. But Sylver didn't seem bothered at all. Without so much as blinking, he snapped his fingers. The effect was immediate and absolute—everyone in the room, except for Enzo, froze in place as if time itself had stopped. A hint of a smile played around Enzo's lips as he surveyed his stiffened friends and feeders, a glint of pride shining in his eyes. His mate was unapologetically badass!

Enzo's attention snapped back to Sylver, who had stopped so close to him that their toes were almost touching. Enzo saw the hunger in Sylver's gaze and caught the irresistible scent of his pheromones, but what gripped him even more was the primal urgency he felt emanating from the beast within Sylver... to claim him? Shit!

The body of his werewolf-warlock mate was an exquisite display of rippling muscle and raw power. His scent teased Enzo's senses, making his mouth water with an intense need for a taste... a need that threatened to consume him. The air around them seemed to thrum with anticipation, as if the very atmosphere was holding its breath, waiting to see what would happen next. But despite the palpable lust radiating from Sylver, Enzo could sense an undercurrent of anger simmering within the werewolf—an anger Sylver was evidently struggling to contain. Yet Enzo deliberately decided not to ask the hunk standing before him why he was upset. Instead, he asked calmly...

"Why are you wet? Midnight swimming?"

"Swimming in jeans?" Sylver rasped in a deep, rumbling voice that sent a ripple of goosebumps cascading across Enzo's skin.

Enzo shrugged, projecting an air of nonchalance that was far from what he was feeling. "I wouldn't put it past you. Happy birthday."

Sylver frowned, clearly surprised that the vampire knew it was his birthday. "Water balloons. My sisters decided to use me for sport."

Enzo chuckled. "Probably Em's idea."

"You know the twins?" Sylver's eyebrow shot up curiously.

"I know of them." Enzo's words hung in the air, leaving Sylver to wonder just how much his mate really knew.

"Who are you?" he breathed, the primal urge to claim the vampire right there overwhelming.

Sylver's entire body ached with the need to possess Enzo, to make him his in every way imaginable. But even as the intensity of his emotions threatened to consume him, a single, sobering thought held him back—the knowledge that a bite from him would be deadly to his mate.

"Name's Enzo. You don't know me, and yet you decided to crash my private party?" Enzo snorted, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips. "What if I was dangerous?"

"I don't think you are," Sylver replied, his voice low and steady. "Even if you were, you couldn't possibly harm your mate, could you?" he muttered, the image of Enzo's lips on another person flashing into his mind and igniting a surge of jealousy that felt totally alien to him. "I've seen you before. Just didn't know who you were."

Enzo's brow furrowed. "Where did you see me?" Surely, it couldn't be possible.

"My dreams. Several times," Sylver breathed, watching his mate intently for any reaction.

"Interesting," Enzo murmured, unable to hide his proud smirk. "What was I doing?"

Sylver scowled. "You sure as fuck weren't draining some poor innocent girl while getting your rocks off," he growled, his eyes dropping pointedly to Enzo's opened fly.

The thought of Enzo in a sexual act was disturbing enough, but witnessing him engage in one while simultaneously feeding on someone ignited a fierce jealousy within Sylver that made his blood boil. To Sylver, such an act represented the pinnacle of intimacy, and he loathed it. Even though they didn't have any prior agreement, the idea of his mate sharing such an experience with someone else left him seething.

Enzo looked amused. "He swears now," he muttered, zipping up his pants. "Shocker. Looks like Ryan failed."

"He tried," Sylver muttered. "He shouldn't have bothered with the likes of Uncle Stan and Auntie Paige around. So... care to tell me what's going on here?"

"What does it look like?" the vampire retorted challengingly.

"Well, I see people fucking and people sucking blood... and others, like you, doing both." He knew he sounded petty but didn't care.

"There's a word for that. Orgy," Enzo murmured. "Did you tell your fathers about those peculiar dreams? Ryan?" He took a seat.

"I've told him. Even described you."

"And?" Enzo asked, gesturing for Sylver to take a seat.

Sylver flopped into the seat opposite the one Enzo had taken, his intense green eyes never leaving the vampire's face. "He said you must be someone important in my life," he responded. "And that when the time is right, I will see you."

Enzo chuckled. "Trust Ryan to say something like that. So you decided to come see me looking all wet, huh? Come to think of it, the first time you came to me, you were just as wet. Seems to be a bit of a pattern with you."

"I've come to see you before?" Sylver frowned. "I don't remember that."

"Well, I came to your pack some years ago." A small smile tugged at Enzo's lips as he recalled the memory. "I didn't know why I needed to be there... until you decided to escape your bath and knock me off my feet. Literally," he chuckled softly, the sound filled with genuine amusement as the memory played out in his mind.

The image of a younger Sylver, bubbly, cute, and cackling happily in his arms, filled Enzo with a comforting warmth that made him smile. It was a moment of great significance because his mate had shifted to his human self for the first time.

"How many years ago was this?" Sylver looked surprised.

"Eighteen years ago. You were only two months old. And still a..."

"Wolf," Sylver groaned. "How come no one has told me about this? Are you saying I knew even then that you were my mate?"

"Let's just say we were drawn to each other. Clearly, your beast thought I was hot," Enzo drawled with a teasing glint in his eyes.

"Fuck you!" Sylver laughed despite himself.

"Why did you come here, Sylver?" Enzo asked, suddenly looking all serious.

"I... I honestly don't know," Sylver confessed, his voice tinged with confusion. He combed his fingers through his wet hair, a bemused look settling on his face as he tried to make sense of his own actions. "I didn't plan on coming here. Hell, I don't even know where 'here' is."

"Venice, Italy," Enzo said.

"Right." He looked back at Enzo as if searching for answers in the one person who seemed to be a constant in the midst of his current confusion. "One second I was thinking of returning to my birthday get-together because it was midnight, and the next, I found myself here."

"You mean you had no control over your movement?"

"None at all," Sylver confirmed.

"And it was midnight," Enzo breathed. "You'd turned eighteen. Shit!"

"Am I missing something? Clearly, you, my parents, and probably my pack knew you were my mate," Sylver said, leaning forward with a questioning gaze. "Why wasn't I informed?"

"I think that's a conversation you need to have with your parents, Syl."

Sylver nodded, his expression serious. "I'll do that." Then, with a mix of bewilderment and curiosity colouring his tone, he added, "What's really blowing my mind right now is that you knew you had a mate, and yet..." His voice trailed off as his eyes darted around the room. He shook his head slightly and dismissed his line of thought. "Never mind," he said, his voice firming. "There's one thing I'll need you to do for me." His eyes locked onto Enzo's, conveying the seriousness of the request he was about to make.

"I can't say no to you," Enzo gave Sylver a naughty look that caused his heart to miss a beat. For a brief moment, the warlock forgot what he was about to say, his train of thought derailed by the sudden rush of desire that the simple glance from his mate had ignited. "What do you need me to do?" Enzo prompted.

"I don't want you feeding from anyone again," Sylver breathed, his heated eyes locked on Enzo's mouth. He wanted to fuck him nearly as badly as he wanted to strangle him for being intimate with another person.

The war raging inside Sylver was palpable. He wanted to pull Enzo close, to kiss him, to feel the connection that had been teasing them both for so long. But at the same time, the anger lingered, a sharp edge to his desire that made him want to make sure Enzo understood just how deeply his actions cut.

Genuine amusement flashed across Enzo's face. "But I need to feed."

"Don't you feed from blood bags?" Sylver tilted his head with a curious look.

"Yes, but once in a while, I like to take it directly from the vein."

Sylver couldn't seem to tear his gaze off Enzo's lips. "The only vein those lips will be feeding directly from, going forward, will be mine. Got it?"

Enzo got hard so quickly he felt dizzy. The power behind that instruction couldn't be denied.

"Fuck!" he breathed, staring at Sylver with dazed eyes. If only his soulmate knew how badly he needed to drink from him, Enzo thought.

"Am I clear?" Sylver's expression brooked no argument.

"Yes," the vampire whispered.

"Good." Sylver got to his feet. "I will speak to my parents in the morning and come back here so we talk."

"No need to come back here. I leave for the States in two days," Enzo said, getting to his feet too. "By air," he responded to the unspoken question in Sylver's eyes. He picked up his phone from the table next to his seat and handed it to Sylver. "Give me your number. I'll give you a call when I get home."

Sylver took the phone, saved his number, and then dialed himself. "See you when you get back."

Sylver handed the phone back to Enzo, their fingers brushing against each other's in the process. It was a fleeting touch, but it sparked a surge of electricity between them that was so intense it shook them both. Enzo managed to stifle his gasp, but Sylver was too stunned to disregard the jolt of electrifying desire that coursed through him.

"What the..." he gasped, his eyes flashing a vivid amber as he caught the unmistakable glint of desire mirrored in Enzo's eyes.

The vampire's breath came out harshly through slightly parted lips as he tried to regain his composure. Sylver felt the overwhelmingly unyielding pull of lust that enshrouded them both. Drawn as if by an invisible force, he found himself edging closer to Enzo, his gaze riveted on those inviting lips. There was an almost magnetic allure to them that left Sylver nearly spellbound, compelled by a deep, desperate need to...

"Don't," Enzo whispered shakily. His mate looked as if he wanted to devour his mouth.

The intoxicating scent of his mate's desire seemed to thicken the air around them, growing more irresistible with each passing second. The one thing he craved more than anything in that moment was a kiss from Sylver. The mere thought of it made his nonexistent pulse race, and he knew that if Sylver initiated it, he wouldn't be able to resist. His current state of arousal had stripped him of the self-control he prided himself on, leaving him teetering on the edge of surrender. If they started kissing, Enzo knew he wouldn't be able to stop himself; it would lead to more.

"And stop looking at me like that," Enzo groaned.

He knew that he had to be the responsible one... the adult in the situation. Sylver needed to have a conversation with his parents first. Enzo didn't want to piss Jeremy off or disrespect Ryan, whom he'd grown to adore. Yet, with every moment that passed, he felt his resolve weakening, unsure of how much longer he could hold out. He needed the boy gone.

"You are gorgeous," Sylver breathed, his voice soft and full of admiration.

Enzo's breath hitched in his throat, the words striking him with unexpected intensity. He took a hurried step back, trying to put some distance between them, though it did little to curb the hunger within him. He was nearly two centuries old, significantly older than Sylver, yet somehow, his mate had the uncanny ability to make him feel flustered like an inexperienced kid. Despite all his years of wisdom and control, Enzo found himself thrown off balance.

"You're quite a sight yourself," he whispered, his voice barely audible as his gaze lingered on Sylver for a moment longer, thinking... If Magnificent were a human being, that would be you. The pull between them was undeniable, but Enzo knew he had to resist it—for now. "See you later."

Sylver raised a hand in farewell, a slight, almost wistful smile playing on his lips as he shimmered out of sight. The moment he vanished, the room erupted into chaos as his exit broke the freezing spell that had everyone frozen in place. Vampires leaped into the air with furious hisses, their predatory instincts ignited as they prepared to strike at the perceived threat in their midst. Meanwhile, the human beings scrambled away in terror.

"Stop!" Enzo bellowed, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade.

The command echoed off the walls, immediately drawing the attention of everyone in the room. The vampires halted, their menacing snarls fading into uneasy silence, while the humans paused in their frantic retreat, eyes wide with fear and confusion.

"Where is the wolf?" Alfredo, one of the vampires, snarled.

"Gone," Enzo responded. "And the party is over," he declared, his tone firm and unyielding, leaving no room for argument. "I apologize for the abrupt ending, but I need to prepare for my trip."

His gaze swept over them, a mixture of authority and urgency in his expression, making it clear that this was not a request but a command. The tension in the room lingered, but under Enzo's steady gaze, the energy began to dissipate as one by one, the guests started to get ready to leave.

But for Enzo, the pressure only intensified as his mind swirled with longing and frustration, driven by the intensity of his encounter with Sylver. The weight of his unresolved desire crashed over him like a tidal wave. He collapsed back into his seat, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps. And even before the people left the room, he reached down to unzip his pants, the need for urgent relief overpowering any remaining restraint.

***

On the morning of his birthday, Sylver had the most intense argument he'd ever had with his parents. Not even the beautiful house they gifted him in town to make his movements easier could quell his fury. Ryan exchanged a helpless glance with his mate, the weight of the moment heavy between them. They, along with the pack's executives, had known this day would come—the day they'd be forced to reveal the truth they'd kept hidden from Sylver all his life. But none of them had expected it to arrive so soon.

After a long, heated argument, Ryan finally managed to calm down both his mate and his son. He let out a deep, weary exhale, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly, before turning to face his still-fuming son. His voice was steady but firm as he spoke.

"Alright, now that we've all cooled down, let's talk this through without setting the room on fire. Just imagine—you, with that infamous temper of yours, suddenly materializing in a nest of vampires." Ryan rubbed his temples as if he could already see the disaster unfolding. "They'd have gone straight into attack mode the second they sensed you, knowing full well how deadly your bite could be. How do you think you'd have reacted? I mean, come on, Syl—you burned Alpha Mason's steak to ash when you were just a baby, just because he used the word freak. And that was just over a word!"

"Oh, have you forgotten he turned someone into a donkey just for using the word?" Jeremy growled. "And he was inside the fucking womb!"

"Jeremy..." Ryan groaned, throwing his mate an exasperated glare. Then, to his son, he asked, "So, can you imagine what you'd have done if you'd seen all those vampires as a real threat?"

"Burnt them to ash with just a blink," Jeremy scoffed. "They wouldn't have even had time to flinch before they were nothing but dust in the wind."

"And just imagine the war we would've had on our hands," Ryan added with a raised brow. "At least now you're mature enough to know there are smarter ways to handle a situation like that. Back then? You'd have gone full inferno without a second thought."

"I still think y'all should have told me, Dad," Sylver growled. "It's my life we're talking about, after all."

Jeremy cleared his throat and leaned forward, his gaze steady and unwavering. "Answer me this honestly, son," he said, his voice firm but calm. "At what age do you think we should've told you?"

"I don't know. Maybe fifteen!" Sylver snapped, his frustration spilling over. "By fifteen, I'd have had my first shift, right? Old enough to start learning the truth about myself."

Werewolves typically experienced their first shift, known as the premier shift, at the age of fifteen. Jeremy had stunned everyone by shifting at twelve, a rare feat in itself. However, his son, Sylver, had defied all odds by being born in his wolf form—a phenomenon unprecedented in the Were kingdom's history. From Sylver's perspective, he should have been informed about having a mate when he turned fifteen, as that was when, under normal circumstances, he would've been able to sense and recognize his mate, provided they weren't still a pup.

"What would you have done if you'd known you had a mate?" Jeremy asked quietly, his voice laced with a mix of curiosity and exasperation.

"Spend time with him, of course. What else..." Sylver's words faded as the sharp buzz of the intercom cut through the room. He frowned, his irritation giving way to suspicion. "Are y'all expecting someone?"

"Maybe it's your grandmother," Ryan murmured, exchanging a quick, pointed glance with his mate—one that didn't go unnoticed by Sylver.

"So, y'all are calling Grams to fight your battles now?" Sylver smirked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Fine, I'll get it." With a sigh, he headed for the door, mentally preparing himself for another round of tense family dynamics. But as he swung the door open, his smirk vanished, replaced by wide-eyed surprise.

It wasn't just his grandmother standing there. The entire entryway was crowded with familiar faces—Philip, Stan, Paige, Deloris, Joel, and Gloria—all of them looking back at him with varying degrees of concern and determination.

"What is this? An intervention or a rescue mission?" Sylver muttered, half in disbelief as he tried to process the unexpected gathering.

"Who told you you're allowed to be angry on your birthday, boy?" Stan bellowed as they entered.

"Put yourself in my shoes, Uncle Stan," Sylver murmured, his voice tinged with frustration as he leaned into his grandmother's warm embrace. Her familiar scent and comforting hold did little to ease the storm brewing inside him, but it was a small solace in the midst of the tension.

"Calm down, honeybuns," Gloria whispered gently as she stroked Sylver's back. "Remember, any decision your parents make is always in your best interest. Don't let your emotions eat you up. Try to understand where they're coming from, okay?" Her voice was soothing, filled with a wisdom that only years of experience could offer.

"I'm so angry, Grams," Sylver groaned as he buried his face in the familiar comfort of Gloria's hair, the scent of lavender and the warmth of her embrace offering some solace.

"I understand," Gloria responded, her voice gentle yet firm. "But try not to hold on to that anger. Promise me you'll keep an open mind and truly listen to what we have to say." Her eyes searched his, silently pleading for a sign of willingness, even as she held him close, offering the unconditional love only a grandmother could give. "Can you do that for me?"

"I promise," Sylver murmured, his grip tightening on his grandmother as if holding on to her could somehow anchor him amidst the chaos swirling in his mind.

"I need a drink," Stan muttered as he made his way to the bar, followed by Paige. Ryan had already informed them that breakfast was being set up in the dining room.

"Dad, should I bring you some coffee?" Paige called out.

"Please. Thank you," Joel responded as he took a seat.

As they settled, Paige brought her father a steaming cup of coffee and passed a cup of tea to Gloria. She did not need to ask what Gloria preferred since she already knew her preferences. As for Deloris, there was no need to offer; everyone knew she barely consumed anything in the mornings.

"So... what's all this about, Sylver?" Philip asked, his tone calm and his gaze steady as he tried to read the young man's expression. "Tell us everything that's on your mind. We're here to listen." The room fell silent, all eyes on Sylver, waiting for him to unload the burden he'd been carrying.

"All of you knew I had a mate but kept it from me," Sylver accused, his voice sharp with betrayal as he looked around the room. "You didn't have the right to keep that from me." His gaze moved from one familiar face to another, searching for some explanation or justification.

"What I don't get is why the damn spell broke at eighteen," Stan drawled, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. "Didn't Jeremy say something about thirty being the appropriate age?"

"For fuck's sake," Ryan muttered under his breath when Sylver's eyes went wide in shock. "No, Stan. Jeremy was only joking with that," Ryan groaned.

"Was I?" Jeremy snorted. "Isn't eighteen still too young?"

"Oh my god, it was you," Sylver whispered, staring at his father with wide, incredulous eyes. "You didn't want me to be with my mate until I turned thirty? But why?" His voice wavered, the raw vulnerability in his words revealing just how lost he felt. "I just don't get it."

"Hey, no one kept you from Enzo because they wanted to hurt you," Stan interjected, his tone gruff but laced with reason. "You were just a baby, Sylver. Ever heard of a baby having a mate? Hell, even I didn't have a mate at the time." He took a sip of his drink. "You were too young to understand what that bond really meant. We were just trying to protect you until you were ready."

"I think Enzo being a vampire had a lot to do with this secrecy," Sylver said quietly, his voice low but edged with accusation as he locked eyes with Jeremy. "You probably hoped the spell would never break." The challenge in his gaze was unmistakable, daring his father to deny what he already suspected. The room grew tense as Sylver's words hung in the air.

"Initially, yes," Jeremy admitted, meeting his son's gaze without flinching. "He's a vampire." He shrugged as if the fact alone justified everything. "A completely different species, Sylver. Something so far outside the norms of our world."

"Grandma Del mated with a werewolf. You mated with a warlock. Uncle Will is a friggin' witch. Need I go on?" Sylver growled, his frustration boiling over. "You've all crossed species boundaries, and no one batted an eye. But when it's my mate, it's suddenly a problem?" His eyes flashed with anger as he glared at his father. "The hypocrisy is astounding."

"Wait a minute," Stan cut in, raising his hand with a mock scowl. "The witch is Amber—the same one who had the audacity to kick me in the gonads when I..."

"Not now, Stanley," Paige groaned as the others tried to suppress their chuckles, lightening the tension in the room, if only for a moment.

"You can't compare the others to vampires, Sylvester," Jeremy addressed his son, his tone firm but not unkind. "Werewolves and vampires have been archrivals since time immemorial. You know that. It's in our history, our blood. So yes, it was only natural for me to have my reservations. But then I got to know Enzo, really know him. I saw the kind of person he is; the kind of soul he has. And despite everything I feared, I realized he was good. He's not the monster our instincts want us to believe."

"Really?" Stan frowned. "Do dead people have souls?"

"Shut up, Stanley," Joel groaned, though he couldn't help but chuckle in amusement. Turning to Sylver, his expression softened. "Listen, kid, I know it doesn't feel that way right now, but your parents had your well-being in mind. We were all worried at first—until we saw for ourselves what a decent guy your mate actually was." His tone was gentle but firm.

"I understand, Grandpa," Sylver said softly, his tone laced with a mix of resignation and acceptance. Though the frustration hadn't entirely left his eyes, there was a flicker of understanding. He sighed, feeling the tension in his chest ease just a bit as he met Joel's gaze with a small, appreciative nod. "That was one hell of a spell, Grandma Del," Sylver raised an eyebrow in Deloris' direction.

"You kept teleporting to Enzo while he was here with his family, darling." Deloris laughed softly. "That spell had to be tight. We couldn't risk you popping up in the midst of vampires."

"Dad explained all that, Grandma Del. And I get it. But I still feel like I should have been told when I got older. I didn't have to go all this time not knowing I had a mate out there. If the dangers had been clearly spelt out for me, I doubt I'd go rushing off to teleport after Enzo."

"Sure about that?" Paige snorted. "Have you met you?"

"Do you know the most intense thing about being a mate?" Stan asked Sylver.

"The unbreakable bond?" Sylva asked.

"The intense sexual attraction that's impossible to resist," Stan said quietly. "You know how sexual our species is. We love to fuck." He shrugged.

"Yes, I know." Sylver nodded.

"Vampires are worse, buddy," Stan continued. "Those motherfuckers are certified 'hoes. So picture this: a young, hot-blooded werewolf spending time with a lascivious vampire who also happens to be his mate. What do you think would have happened?"

Sylver had the grace to blush. "Well, if we're mated, I don't see why..."

"Don't let your size fool you," Jeremy growled. "You were a kid. You still are."

"I think fifteen was old enough," Sylver growled right back. "I started being sexually active years ago, and y'all know this. Wouldn't it have been better if it had been with my mate?"

"He has a point," Stan chipped in, but Jeremy ignored him.

"You were sexually active because you looked older than your age, so those girls thought you were of age," Jeremy snapped. "And you were all the way over at Harvard, so it was difficult to monitor you."

"Not telling those girls you were not yet their age was naughty, by the way," Paige said with a sly grin. "We should probably have cast a spell or something to prevent you from fucking over there," she added with a mock scowl.

Stan snorted. "Spell? Ever met a determined girl? No spell can stop a girl creaming her panties over a hot guy," he added with a straight face amidst the groans from the others.

"But how come my wolf allowed me to be intimate with others?" Sylver asked with a frown. Most wolves wouldn't normally allow their humans to be intimate with anyone besides their mates once they found them.

"It's your wolf that mates, honey," Deloris responded. "So he was the one we blocked with the spell. It couldn't have stopped you from being intimate with others because it didn't know it had a mate," she explained.

'Motherfuckers! All of them,' Sylver heard his wolf growl within, but he ignored it.

"Apparently, your warlock side was keeping tabs," Philip scoffed, looking very amused.

"How do you mean?" Sylver turned his attention to the alpha.

"Your warlock side triggered all those dreams you had about Enzo," Ryan revealed.

"And there was that time you shocked us all by appearing right in front of him at an event..." Philip chuckled. "Which one was it?" he asked, turning to the others.

"Kate's introduction party," Paige chuckled. "You were fast asleep but subconsciously sensed his presence and appeared right in front of him."

"What?" Sylver gasped.

"I've never seen a vampire turn so pale." Stan laughed. "That was when we decided to stop Enzo from attending events at the pack house. Too risky."

"Why? Did I do something bad to him?" Sylver asked, his eyes widening in alarm.

"No, honey," Ryan responded. "You just kissed him on the cheek. Then I took you back to bed. You were in a trance, so you weren't aware of what you were doing."

"Wait, wait... You've known the guy for less than a day, and you're already worried about whether you did something bad to him when you were a kid?" Stan's expression morphed into one of incredulous amusement as if he were being fed the juiciest bullshit. "Shiiiiiiiiiiittt!" he drew out the word in a low, mocking drawl which made the others laugh.

"Uncle Stan..." Sylver groaned, flushing.

"The spell was meant to break when you were ready to be with your mate," Jeremy stated. "It's broken now—sooner than I'd have preferred, but hey, you're an adult, so who am I to argue? I don't see why you're making such a big deal out of this." He scowled.

"Daddy, come on!" Sylver groaned in frustration. "You're totally missing my point. Yes, the spell has broken, but don't I have the right to express my displeasure about having such crucial information kept from me?"

"You do, baby," Ryan said softly.

"I saw Enzo, and my first instinct was to claim him, Dad," Sylver said quietly, locking eyes with Ryan. "Can you imagine the chaos we'd be facing if I'd actually given in to that urge and bitten him?"

"Fuck!" Philip swore.

"You've been trained well enough to know what to do and what not to do, sweetie," Gloria reassured him. "That's why you didn't bite him."

"But what if the spell had broken when I was twelve or fifteen?" Sylver groaned, his voice trembling with raw emotion and barely contained fear. "After all, I was big enough. Back then, I didn't have the knowledge or control I have now. Imagine if I'd been yanked to him like it happened at midnight—I could've bitten him and killed my mate. I'm sorry, but I can't figure out if you all took a brave, calculated risk or if this was just sheer negligence on your part." His words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of unspoken blame and the terrifying realization of what could have been.

"Well, thank Luna that damn spell stayed active till now, then," Stan drawled. "The spell was more about maturity than physical growth, though. So it sure as hell didn't care how big and hot you were," Stan said with a wry grin. "It was focused on making sure you were ready up here," he added, tapping his temple. "Also, 'what ifs' rob us of inner peace. Focus on the present... which in your case is better anyway."

"Wise words, Stanley," Joel muttered with a hint of a smile.

"I know, Uncle Jo." Stan grinned cockily, eliciting snorts from the others.

Sylver noticed the scowl on Jeremy's face and softened his tone. "You always taught us to speak up instead of keeping things bottled in, and that's what I'm doing now, Daddy. Or should I have just kept my thoughts about this to myself?"

"No, you're doing the right thing, son," Philip spoke up. "We wanted to hear what you had to say that's why we're all here. You do have a point. We should have trusted in your strength enough to tell you. And as the alpha of this pack, I take the full blame," he said with a straight face which elicited a snort from Sylver and chuckles from the others. "Back then, we felt it was best to just let the spell run its course."

"We figured whenever it broke, we'd tell you about your mate, you two would meet, exchange polite handshakes, yada, yada, yada..." Paige commented. "We sure as fuck didn't see this coming." Her expression was one of amused incredulity.

"Yeah, you teleporting straight to Italy the moment that damn spell broke," Stan muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. "Who would've ever seen that coming?"

"It's Sylver, isn't it?" Paige chuckled, a knowing smirk tugging at her lips. "If anyone's going to pull off something that crazy, it's him."

"There's something you need to know, Sylver," Deloris said, her expression grave. "I know Enzo is your mate and would never hurt you, but you need to stay cautious. Not all vampires around him will be as accepting of your presence. Centuries of distrust and hostility between vampires and werewolves linger, and this is why you were kept unaware until strong enough to protect yourself."

"Thank you, Del," Jeremy uttered quietly, his tone heavy with worry. "Deloris is absolutely right, son. Mine your surroundings."

Sylver nodded slowly. "I'll keep that in mind. But thirty? Daddy!" he groaned.

Everyone burst into laughter just as the buzzer went off, signaling that there was someone at the door.

"Right on cue," Stan drawled. "I'll get it." He went to open the door and said grandly, "Enter, Madam."

A breathtaking young woman, appearing to be in her mid-twenties, glided into the living room, her every step radiating poised confidence and refined elegance, as if she had walked straight off a page of Vogue.

"Where is the birthday boy?" she called out.

Sylver didn't miss the smiles and grins that appeared on the faces of the people gathered in his parent's living room. Clearly, everyone knew the beauty except him. He got to his feet, eyes locked on the approaching stunner. One thing was unmistakably clear... she was a vampire.

She was clad in a coffee brown pleated A-line leather mini skirt that beautifully cinched at her slender waist, paired with a chic black fitted crop top that cheekily flaunted a glimmering diamond belly button ring. Her outfit was impeccably matched with tasteful black knee-high boots, the six-inch heels elongating her stature gracefully. Her lush, dark hair cascaded down her back like a silken waterfall, flowing rhythmically with her movements. Although her high cheekbones and intense dark eyes exuded sophistication, her naturally long lashes lent a soft, innocent charm. Her flawless makeup only enhanced her beauty even more. Truly, she was a vision of stunning allure!

"Hey, handsome," she purred, pausing to open her stylish designer bag. She pulled out a key adorned with a little red bow and casually flipped it toward Sylver, who caught it mid-air with effortless grace. "That's the key to a Neiman Marcus Limited Edition Fighter. It's parked downstairs."

"Fuck me!" Stan bellowed, his eyes widening in shock.

"Gaia," Jeremy groaned, recognizing the name instantly. He knew exactly how expensive that motorbike was.

"Gaia?" Sylver asked, his gaze shifting to Stan with a spark of curiosity. "As in the Gaia who was in Ghana with you and Uncle Will?" His tone was laden with intrigue—he'd heard the stories, and they were nothing short of legendary.

"The one and only," Stan drawled, watching the stunning vampire with a self-satisfied smirk playing on his lips.

"But that's the most expensive motorbike in the fucking world!" Sylver gasped. As someone who preferred motorbikes to cars, he knew the value of that motorbike too. "Lady, this is the first time I'm seeing you, but I love you already." He grinned.

"Well, nothing but the best for my brother-in-law," the beauty purred, her eyes sparkling with naughty satisfaction. "Happy birthday, darling. I believe you've met my brother." She smiled warmly, opening her arms to Sylver.

"You're his sister," Sylver breathed, his eyes widening in delight. "Yes, I have," he affirmed, moving into Gaia's open arms to give her a warm hug. "Thank you for your present. But you shouldn't have."

"That's for all the presents I wasn't allowed to bring over the years, darling." Gaia chuckled as she went to hug Gloria.

"They stopped you from giving me birthday presents?" Sylver gasped, turning to look at his parents. "Oh, y'all are enemies of progress," he said, his shock quickly turning into mischievous excitement. "Can't wait to tell the twins about this."

"Please don't," Ryan groaned, but his protest only fueled the others' laughter. Everyone knew the kind of earful Ryan and Jeremy would get if the twins found out their parents had blocked something good from coming their way.

"Well, this time around, no one could stop me," Gaia said with a satisfied grin. "Oh, and you can put all the blame on these people for the whole spell thingy," she drawled with a smirk. "My brother wasn't on board with it."

Gasps, groans, and chuckles echoed through the room, the expressions on the faces of those gathered a mix of betrayal and amused disbelief.

"Really, Gaia?" Jeremy smirked, raising an eyebrow. "And that's an eleven-million-dollar motorbike, for fuck's sake. Did you have to?"

"Well, it's Gaia," Stan chuckled with a shrug as if that was reason enough.

Gaia's presence effectively diffused the lingering tension in the room. As they all made their way to the dining room for breakfast, she casually linked her arm through Sylver's and murmured...

"How about a ride on your new baby?" she suggested, shooting Stan a sharp glare when he teasingly pointed at the food spread out in the dining area, fully aware she wouldn't eat. Looking up at Sylver, she asked, "Hungry?"

"Nope," Sylver shook his head with a grin.

"And I hope you don't have to go save lives or anything like that this morning," she murmured with a teasing look.

"Not today," Sylver chuckled. "The only thing on my agenda today is a shooting range appointment with Uncle Will this evening. Oh, and I need to make an appearance in Australia afterward for a birthday dinner with Mimi, my partner-in-crime. Until then, I'm all yours. Let's go!"

"Shooting range?" Gaia raised an eyebrow.

"My birthday gift from Uncle Will," Sylver explained with a shrug. "It's a long story."

Gaia's laughter rang out, light and carefree. "I'll hold you to that story later," she teased, giving Sylver a gentle nudge. "See you guys later," she called out to the others as she steered Sylver towards the door.

"Where have you been all my life?" Sylver laughed as they headed out together.

"Here, there, everywhere, amore mio," the vampire giggled, her voice filled with playful affection. "Ready for the ride of your life?"

"Hell yeah," Sylver responded, buzzing with excitement.

And what a ride it was!

***

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