Blood Awakening: The Strongest Hybrid and His Vampire Bride

The moment Nikolai woke up, he realised that some memories and things he'd forgotten started to surface in his mind. 'It feels like I've been sleeping for a long time...' His eyes flicked towards Risa, Nikita and then Selene, who looked at him with a soft look.

"Do you really remember?"

An awkward silence followed as Selene twiddled her fingers, a different atmosphere to her usual self, turning away from his gaze with slightly red cheeks.

At first, he didn't know how to respond—it was a sensitive subject, and her reaction told him she might not be completely ready to open up or she needed a moment to adjust her mind.

'Does that mean he remembers my lie?! That it wasn't me; he promised to marry...' Selene's mind raced. She didn't feel it was something irreparable, but that she had taken her sister's place made her feel uncomfortable.

Still, before he could say anything else, Selene faced him and asked. "Do you remember the promise, you made?"

'I don't want to know...' Selene's heart began racing, although she felt guilty for her sister; since they met, she had adored Nikolai and wanted him to herself. Yet Selene couldn't become selfish and forget about the feelings of her sister, even after she died.

Nikolai stopped moving suddenly, with a slight jolt. His eyes gazed at Selene before looking away as if he couldn't face her directly.

Her eyes wavered as she thought, 'He definitely remembers now... how would things progress from here on out? Will he push me away now and seek my sister?'

"Hmm..." The low groan startled Selene. "Although, I remember making a promise with Luna... it was something we made as children, though I guess without speaking to her, nothing will be properly solved."

Selene felt like she couldn't move under his gaze, but the sincerity reflected in his eyes made her feel a sense of peace, which she hadn't felt for so long since everything happened.

"So, we'll just have to wait for her to wake up—then you can tell me what happened," Nikolai whispered, gently grabbing onto her hands softly and giving them a gentle squeeze.

'Ah... but it's impossible for her to wake up, doesn't he remember everything?' Selene gazed at Nikita as if seeking help. Because Nikolai seemed to have remembered some details... Selene wanted to tell him more, even if it meant revealing what happened on that day.

"Nikita... we should speak about that day."

The mention of 'that day' caused Nikita's shoulders to shudder. There seemed to be something significant that Nikolai didn't quite remember; as he watched their reactions, it felt a little gloomy and off in the room.

There was tension building that he never felt before, as Nikita responded. "Do we have too, that day..."

Nikolai realised a long time ago that the ritual that kept appearing in his memories or the conversations of those around him was something he needed to know.

'This isn't the time to beat around the bush and wait... I should push for answers and try to remember what happened.'

With his mind solid and made up, there was another person who seemed to have made her choice after listening to Nikolai's thoughts. The door opened, and the purple illusion of Elizabeth entered the room, catching all their attention.

[Wait... this isn't the best place to do this, I will tell him!]

[But please, can you give me a little time, and I will tell you everything]

[Okay, Nikolai?]

Elizabeth's voice felt strained as she spoke to everyone inside the room. It looked like she had been hesitant to interrupt while hiding outside and listening to Nikolai's heart; perhaps there were things she couldn't interfere with.

Still, Selene knew it was about time, even though she felt somewhat bad about revealing Luna's and her secret. She agreed it would be best to let this issue out in the open so they could finally accept and deal with their wounds.

"L-Let's visit my house and have my mother speak too... Is that okay? Nikolai, Mother knows everything and can help explain what happened better than Selene or me." It was rare for Nikita to speak so hesitantly and with such a proper tone; she was probably worried that if she held back now. Maybe Nikolai wouldn't want to see her again.

"Sure..." Nikolai glanced at Nikita, trying to show some reassurance.

But he couldn't hide his racing heart, filled with concerns and worries about what the future might hold. He covered his face with his palm and tried to calm himself.

'She mentioned her sister being dead; what else is left to know...'

Even now, when he thought of the first moment he met Luna, who was technically Selene but with different hair and eyes, his memories were blurred, and everything about his memories began to feel strange, and he couldn't trust them fully.

"Okay, shall we get ready and drive to the Fenrir household?" Selene's voice sounded low, and her voice was of her usual vibrancy. Nikolai imagined she felt too nervous to speak out or act normally.

.

.

.

The drive to the Fenrir mansion felt stifling for the group of people. With Nikolai driving and the girls sitting together in the back seat, he could feel his mother's gentle gaze upon him the entire journey.

Yet he didn't speak, waiting to settle things for good and not wanting to rush her. But as he noticed their nervousness, he almost wanted to reassure them it would be fine...

'No matter what happens... I just need to know, then I can figure something out!'

Soon enough, the familiar eastern-style mansion appeared, with the beautiful pavilions and artistic walls. Yet the closer the vehicle got to the mansion entrance, the more Nikolai's stomach twisted, especially when he noticed Nikita and Selene actually holding hands so tight that their knuckles turned white.

"We've arrived, girls..." His voice was low but lacked volume. While they pulled into the guest parking space, he saw Nagisa standing on the porch, holding her lovely daughter and gazing at him with her sharp eyes.

'Hmm?'

It was like the moment their gazes intertwined. Nagisa's face showed a bitter smile as if she understood, handing the child to the maid beside her and stepping towards the large M9 Excelsior.

Nagisa wore a black kimono with golden fixtures, her black hair tied into a loose bun that framed her face well.

"You seem to have a lot of questions and things to say, Nikolai—come inside—the servants have prepared too much lunch for me. Afterward, we shall move to my chambers, where we can talk privately..." Her movements were glamorous and filled with confidence, as her tattoo peaked from the shoulder of her kimono top.

As he stepped down from the vehicle and followed the girls to greet Nagisa, they noticed her lips twitching upward, but it only lasted for a brief second. "Oh... there is also someone I need to introduce you to, Nikolai. She will be important in the future."

'There's something about Mother Nagisa... she always understands and seems to know what's wrong, before I say anything.' Her smirk and the way she winked at him before entering the mansion made him feel less tense and stressed.

After leaving their shoes in the entrance area, they went to eat in one of the open gardens under the afternoon sun, allowing him to enjoy delicious meals such as tempura prawns, hot udon with vegetables, rice cakes with beans, sashimi, and many more delicacies.

They sat around the traditional Japanese-style garden table on mats, with Nagisa sitting opposite him while Nikita sat on one side and Elizabeth on his other side, with Selene and Nikita at his sides.

Meanwhile, Risa and a lovely blonde girl with fox ears sat opposite her, closer to Nagisa.

Yet even when the meal finished, they waited a little longer before walking to Nagisa's chamber, which looked stunning and bright. As expected of Nagisa, it was clear the servants tended to her room daily, as there was no hint of dust or dirt.

In contrast, Nagisa's bedchamber was pristine and tidy; it was clear that it wasn't merely used for sleep but for enjoyment. It contained plenty of cushions and an open space leading to another balcony. Although, when he peered out, there seemed to be a private onsen connected to the room.

When they finally reached a small room with tatami mats and cushioned seats where everyone took their seats, a servant came up, passing them tea cups and various items for the tea ceremony, and then Nagisa began making their eastern tea personally with her own hands.

At this moment, after waiting so long for him to say anything, Nikolai stayed silent while drinking the tea, and he became mesmerised by how elegant her every movement was.

"I am glad you no longer avoid me, Nikolai." Nagisa leaned on the table with her elbows, breaking etiquette with her chin on both palms. "Did you finally deal with your issues?"

Nagisa's words caught Selene and Nikita off guard. They glanced at each other awkwardly, seemingly trying to avoid eye contact with anyone in the room.

"Maybe..." His response was evasive, as if he didn't know how to answer. Still, his eyes turned to Selene before he gave a brief nod. "—no, I am ready to face them now. I have to be."

"That is good—now, let's begin, why are you here?" Nagisa asked with an eerie stillness that made Nikolai shiver.

'What is most important...'

Although he desired to learn about that day and things that lingered vaguely in his mind, there was something he must do first. He swore to do so, and if he didn't do it now, then it would make him a liar.

Nikolai slowly moved towards Nagisa. He gazed at the woman he had admired for over fifteen years... maybe longer if his memories were correct, and as her clan would do, he lowered his posture, kneeling before her and bowing.

'I will apologise to my future mother-in-law... and we will start from there.

"Mother-in-law, please forgive me for being such a stupid and irredeemable son-in-law!" A loud, clear voice, his head hitting the ground with a thud, causing the girls in the room to freeze and gaze at him.

Even Elizabeth watched with a faint smile.

However, Nagisa was the most affected—her face looked a little surprised, but her lips trembled before forming a wide smile, one of pure delight as if something heavy had vanished from her shoulders...

Much like Nikolai when he confessed to Selene and Nikita.

"Do you mean that... I thought you hated me..."

'What?!' Nikolai's eyes, facing the mat, opened wide, with such a soft yet fragile tone, and Nagisa's breaking voice made his body tremble... his skin covered in goosebumps.

[This stupid woman loves cute things, Nikolai. She has always adored you. I see she didn't change and acted harsh and cold because of her upbringing, making you misunderstand...]

[Nikolai, Nagisa was the one who begged the Djinn royal family to create this pendant for me as I was dying and gave up hope...]

[Thank you for putting her heart at ease first... My lovely son~]

"I never thought I would hear you say this... forgive my strange reaction." Nagisa covered her mouth, hiding the huge smile, while Nikita glared at her mother, a feeling of jealousy that had started many years ago.

"I forgive will you, Nikolai... there was never an issue. But I would love to know, your feelings and thoughts too... if you don't mind?" A charming wolf's sneaky request, Nikolai felt indebted to her and thus didn't refuse.

"I would love to... ask whatever you want."