As it turned out, these experimental werewolves of Lillian were full of mysteries and surprises. One of the mysteries was the presence of poison on the claws. And Thea became a kind of guinea pig, on which they experimentally noticed that the poison from the claws of the bliar acts as deadly as the poison from the fangs.

Raphael initiated the werewolves into the knowledge he himself possessed. He told about the laboratory discovered by his people under the castle of Marro, as well as about who is behind all these experiments.

Although Lillian had no interest in werewolves when she created bliars, she still wanted to destroy vampires fiercely.

That was her ambition. Destroy Raphael. This is why experiments were conducted to create a deadly bliar that would surpass all werewolves in its skills and qualities.

Many werewolves were belligerent and urged to go to Marro Castle, but Raphael stopped them, because he was waiting for the go-ahead from Rick. It was as if he was washing the ground under Lillian’s feet and at one moment she would simply fall from her seat, disoriented, when everyone she used would turn against her. That was his plan.

It wasn’t enough for him to just kill Lillian, because another one would come instead of her, just as the magicians would be even more angry. His plans included reshaping the whole world, changing this whole rotten system and breaking stereotypes.

He wanted to give people the opportunity to live in better conditions than those that were provided to them now. This did not concern the elite, because these people were completely worthless nonentities in his eyes.

- Even if everything is as you say... - one of the werewolves began during the meeting. - we will never fight shoulder to shoulder with vampires. We will do everything ourselves, without your help.

His words were harsh and straightforward, but Raphael was only amused by such self-confidence.

- I would look at you when you find yourself alone surrounded by several bliars. - one corner of his lips lifted slightly.

- Even so, I will fight to the end, bravely and with honor, but I will not stand under the vampire banner. - the man spat out.

- Well, great, then why not put you in an assault group, and the vampires will go behind your back? – Rafael smiled and noticed the flashing eyes of the werewolf man.

- Enough ranting! - Marcel slammed his fist on the table loudly, calling for calm.

Many werewolves gathered at the meeting were not happy that their Alpha was so open to dialogue with a vampire, but did not dare to say it to his face, preferring to whisper behind his back.

- Marcel, do you have to explain to us all what you’re not telling us? – said Jake, who was Marcel’s right-hand man and had more courage than the others.

- Calm down and sit down, Jake. There are things that I can’t voice in front of everyone, because I haven’t made a final decision myself yet.

A wave of indignation ran through the hall. Previously, there was no such thing as their Alpha hiding something from them, but now he is in some kind of conspiracy with a vampire and keeps his people in the dark. Distrust of the leader began to grow inside the pack and Marcel felt it, but he expected support from his pack, because he only had to wait for Thea to wake up to be able to clarify the future that was predicted for her.

He couldn’t afford to be blindly guided by his instincts, because everything around him gave the impression of an impending storm. One event after another attracted problems into the life of the werewolves, which they still managed to successfully deal with, but what if there were more bliars?

Marcel was smart and wise and could immediately assess that they would not be able to cope with the bliars if there were more of them. The Pack has already lost a lot of people in these senseless battles.

Therefore, when Raphael offered his help, he did not immediately refuse, but also did not agree, because he knew that in return he would have to pay something. He had to weigh the pros and cons, because if he took sides, it would threaten victims in any case. It was necessary to choose the right side.

- We will wait until the witch comes to her senses and then I will let you know my decision. In the meantime, everyone will have to accept the presence of a vampire here. - He squinted his narrowed eyes in the direction of Raphael, sending him direct signals that he was behaving well.

But it was Raphael and it would be foolish to believe that he would not provoke someone. Fortunately for the others, he spent most of his time by the sleeping girl’s bed, as if he couldn’t get enough of her.

But no one had any idea that Raphael was just waiting for the moment when her disguise would fall off, because he was so annoyed by this face and this rusty hair color. And it happened one day when he came again to give her water.

He noticed that her appearance had returned to the previous one. A radiant blonde, light soft skin with a slight blush on her cheeks, juicy sweet lips that he loved so much in her and fluffy eyelashes, thick and long. Her doll face was something he couldn’t take his eyes off, smiling like a silly boy in love. His face clearly expressed his inner attitude at this moment – joy, awe and tenderness.

One would think that he was incapable of such feelings, but Thea was the one who pulled these feelings out of him with forceps.

He gently touched her forehead with his hand, removing a strand of hair that had shifted and fallen on her face. As if enchanted, he bent over her, hovering over her, and very lightly touched his lips to her lips, feeling her warmth and softness. Just a short touch and he pulled away, feeling her eyelashes flutter, twitching, opening and closing her eyes.

Their gazes crossed and it was as if they were captured from which it was impossible to get out. He kept that look on himself, thinking that she missed him as much as he missed her. And she couldn’t believe her eyes and continued to resist her mind, thinking that she was still asleep, because he shouldn’t be here.

But when Raphael touched her cheek again, it was like an electric shock and she immediately jumped up, sitting up and literally pressing into the headboard. Fear was reflected in her eyes, and her heart was pounding like mad, no matter how much she breathed deeply to calm him down.

- Baby... - his hand was still hanging in the air where her soft cheek had just been.

But instead of saying something, she made sure that she was wearing a nightgown under the blanket and tumbled over the obstacle in the form of Raphael, escaping from his supervision.

He looked dumbfounded at the empty bed and immediately noticed the slammed door, behind which the frightened girl disappeared. This caused him to frown heavily.

Could she have lost her mind and not recognize him, or did she recognize him, but remembered how he wounded her.

He cursed under his breath, clicked his tongue, hit the soft bed with his fist and immediately ran after her. Her bare feet left echoing slaps, but soon she stopped and when he went down to the living room, he noticed that she was hiding behind Marcel, who brought them fresh groceries every morning and at the moment looked very confused.

Needless to say, he didn’t expect to see another girl in his house. But when Raphael ran down to them, he realized that this was exactly the disguise she was talking about in passing.

He looked over his shoulder and noticed that the girl behind him didn’t look scared, but rather very angry. Her fluffy eyebrows furrowed, and her lips compressed into a thin, tight line, reflecting angry features on her face, which, by the way, did not spoil her beauty.

She was really beautiful, divinely charming, anyway. It was nothing compared to the simple disguise she used. Indeed, she looked like a princess right now, even though she was only wearing a nightgown. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

A strange chill was felt on his back and rare goosebumps ran over his skin and when he lowered his gaze, he noticed that the girl’s hands were glowing, creating the rudiments of ice magic on his fingertips. Exactly the same magic that he had seen there in the forest near the lake.

Her sharp gaze met the scarlet eyes, which reflected concern and... regret? No, she couldn’t be so wrong. He is not capable of pity and regret. Therefore, discarding all her false thoughts, she threw a snow ball at him, which immediately landed on his head like a snow cap, showering small snowflakes on his shoulders.

- Well, I can say that it is very refreshing. - Rafael declared, not a bit offended by her maneuver, shaking a pile of snow from the top of his head.

His hair was slightly soaked with moisture and lost its volume, hanging on his face, covering his eyes.

- Maybe we can talk before we arrange fist fights? Come on, baby, let’s talk. - he took a step in her direction and immediately another snowball flew into his face, which made him stop.

- I’m not your "baby". - she hissed. – Why did you leave your beloved wife alone?

- Is it just me or do I feel a note of jealousy in your words? - He urged her on.

- It seems to you. - She replied indifferently and grinned. - I don’t care about you any more than I care about her.

- And yet I feel how angry you are with me, we should clarify this situation. Don’t you think so? - he winked at her with his eyebrows.

Marcel tried to step aside unnoticed, but Thea immediately grabbed his shirt from behind with one hand, stopping his movements.

- I don’t think I can stop him. – he said softly to her and she finally let him go.

Marcel didn’t want to be the center of a loving couple’s showdown, but it was obvious that they needed time to solve their own issues that they had accumulated. Therefore, he hurried to leave the house, and at the same time to warn the others that no one should enter there yet.