Under the vampire Lord's protection-Chapter 601: Familiar

"Mother?" Arabella’s head tilted to the side.

Allegra’s body visibly froze as she leaped back from Silas, face red as a beet.

Arabella looked between all of them and aside from Allegra who seemed mortified, Silas and Grace only cleared their throats and refused to meet each other’s gazes.

Around the third time of her trying to study their faces one after the other, she finally got the hint.

In simple terms, something had happened between her and Cynric. That was the only available that was also the most plausible explanation.

"Yes! Father said she was going to be my mother from now on," Remus let go of Arabella’s hand only to run over towards Allegra, "And she was not sad and did not cry like you did before," he looked straight at Arabella at those words.

To that, the young woman could not help but laugh. Supposedly, as a wolf, anyone that would be a mate to one of his parents counted as a parent too which explained his behavior and words, but still...

The scene was one of the funniest she had gotten the chance to witness and live through for a good while.

"And she’s not squishy like you so, I do not have to be too careful," he squeezed at Allegra’s leg harder.

The vampiress walked forward and wrapped Arabella in for a warm hug, "You... Really are too good for your own sake,"

"So I was told," the young woman just smiled sweetly, studying the still burning facial features of Allegra, "Are we to expect a formal invitation for a union?"

"I suppose so, but Cynric and I have decided to take some time before alerting the entire world of our business. You know, it’s quite delicate with me having to adjust to the caverns and his people needing to get comfortable with my presence around them,"

"Yes, I am sure there is much that needs to be discussed," Arabella nodded. Looking at Silas and then at Grace, she continued, "If you wish to have a moment together, I will go back to Arthur. He seems...," her eyes darted towards her brother who stood inert near the flower beds, "A bit lost,"

"Oh dear!" Grace clasped a hand over her mouth, "I am sorry! I ran here and I didn’t even-"

"That’s alright," Arabella chuckled, "Will you come with me?" she extended a hand towards Remus.

The boy first looked up at Allegra with big round eyes as though seeking her approval to which she nodded enthusiastically.

As soon as that happened, he took off and clung to Arabella.

But turning around to walk off, both halted in place at the sight of Katherine who froze, eyes wide open and strictly on Allegra.

A fairly strong gust of wind had blown against Arabella’s back seconds prior to that and as it turned out, it was created by none other than Katherine upon speedy arrival.

There wasn’t much left for her to say, so Arabella walked past her, but not before squeezing at Katherine’s shoulder once.

Remus ducked a little behind the young woman at the sight of Katherine and watched her with unblinking eyes.

"She will not hurt mother, will she?" he asked as he followed Arabella.

"She would never," the young woman smiled at him, "So, tell me, do you like your new mother?"

"Well," his head tilted a tad to the side, "She is not you, but she is just as sweet and kind as you are. Oh!" his eyes lit up, "And she’s not squishy! I can hug her and play fight with her without hurting her! She ran with us at night and was the fastest! She even beat father!" he leaped along while marching.

"Yes, she is quite strong and kind, but how are you feeling about it all?"

He looked ahead at first, a curious little expression on, then pursed his lips for a second, "She took me hunting last night. She said she had never gone hunting before, but she was so good at it and taught me how to focus my senses when at night and under the moon. She said I was stronger under the moon and it was very true even if father usually does the hunting under the sun and always yelled at me whenever I made a mistake, but she didn’t and it was much easier to follow her!" he spoke fast as if on a timer.

For supposed natural enemies, vampires and wolf folk sure had so much in common. To wonder where their deep seeded hatred for each other had stemmed would have been a waste of time though. Although perhaps it could have made for a good read in the library.

"And...," his little voice brought her back into reality, "I am glad she won’t leave us,"

"Do you think she is happy to stay with you?"

The boy paused and looked up pensively, "I didn’t smell any sadness on her but when we came back from the hunt, father kicked me out of his cavern, so I had to spend the night in Cherreka’s cavern. Ayyura on the other hand, is very sad which is different to her usual,"

"Well," Arabella’s smile struggled to prevail at those words, "You know that your mother now is very vulnerable during the day and she has to be tucked away from sunlight, right?"

"Yes!" he chirped, "There is always someone that needs to keep an eye on her during day hours,"

Arthur remained near the flower beds where Grace had left him. His head did not hang low per se, but his eyes sure did not leave those purple little petals.

"Remus," she gestured towards her brother, "This man is my brother, Arthur,"

"He does smell like you," the boy nodded.

Those words hit her harder than they should have. He still smelled like her? Even after all those years apart? What did that smell like?

"How so?" the young woman struggled to keep her voice steady.

"I have not yet learned how to describe or explain it," he shrugged, "But he does smell familiar,"