"Hmmm, I think I remember seeing this place. Are we near your new house in the woods?", Alex asked Cal as they continued their search for the missing nighthunter who ran away from them.
"If, in this dimension, it's still my house, then yes. But I think we should head back, I can't recognize Nik his scent here instead... Oh..."
"What is it, Cal?"
"It's weird. I... I... I smell... Me? But...", before Cal could complete his sentence a figure appeared behind the bushes. A very familiar figure which they haven't met before.
"Cal, that's your doppelganger??!!"
The Cal with Alex and the other one shockingly staring at each other and not believing their own eyes. At first, they silently stare at each other and then try to identify the other being by their scent by sniffing each other before getting wary.
"Who are you, and why do you have my scent?" the other Cal asked, glaring at him; then his eyes met Alex, which increased his anger even more, and he took a few steps backward.
"Uhhh, why don't we ignore each other and go our own ways? Let's..."
"Huntress, how dare you show yourself in my territory?!! Leave, or else I'll shred you in tiny pieces", he hissed at Alex.
"Me?? Why would you do that? And did you just call me a huntress?"
"Don't act dumb, huntress, I warned you to never show yourself to me, but you still did. And this time, you tried to lure me out with a fake copy of mine? What kind of spell is that even?"
"Back off, this is not the way you speak to her. Respect her." Cal protectively stepped in front of Alex to shield her from the other Cal.
"Why should I respect the woman who played with my feelings? Who acted like she cared about my well-being but in real didn't."
"I would never..."
"You're a liar, huntress. You ruined everything. Because of you, my Alpha died, and so did my little brother."
"What???!!!! No. Noooo!!!! No, it can't be. Say that you're lying!! Say it!!!" Cal freaked out, shouted, and began to shake his doppelganger by gripping his shoulders as tears began to roll down his cheeks.
"It's the truth. Why would I lie and even think about this? It's sadly true. That day when Elijah and that girl entered Kristof's cabin to get some hunter's sage. Of course, he didn't give it to them. Instead, I offered them mine, but only if they helped me to find Donny. We three ended up in Club Persephone, Elijah refused to go inside and got furious. It took me a lot of time to convince him. It was hard to find Donny, but when we did... It was too late."
"Nooooo... Donny, my bro..."
"Oh Cal...", Alex rested her hand on his shoulder to comfort him.
"Hey, no need to pity. It's too late anyway, little lady. If you would have cared, you would've tried harder when we were in Persephone. Convincing the old hunter more. Leave before I...", the other Cal moved closer to threaten Alex, but her Cal immediately pulled her behind to protect her.
"Don't you dare to touch her, man!! Where's the respect and your manners?"
"Already dead, along with Donny. I lost my brother, I lost everything. What is she to you anyway? A Wolf Bride?", he dangerously snarled at them and began to shift into his werewolf form. Ready for attack.
"Don't you dare, nasty fur ball!!" a familiar voice shouted angrily at the Cal from this dimension. Immediately, Nik Ryder jumped between and shot a holy light arrow in the attacker's direction to blind him.
"Nik, you're here!!"
"Rook, Wolfman, he's not in a good mood. Let's just get outta here.", the blonde hunter ordered and the three of them began to run. Escaping the angry werewolf, Cal's doppelganger.
"Where are we running?"
"Somewhere safe. Just away from danger. I was near and heard trouble, so I came."
"Just in time, Nik. Thanks."
"Yup, thanks bro."
"You're welcome, Cal.", he coldly thanked Cal only and ignored Alex.
"Nik, you're still mad at me. I'm sorry, but believe me what happened before was... I thought the guy I kissed was you. I'm..."
"Less talkin', more runnin'.", Nik answered back to her girlfriend who disappointed her.
"Nik, Alex, can you two please... Hurry!!! He's following us.", Cal noticed his doppelganger chasing the three of them in it's werewolf form.
Nik desperately ran while turning around several times to fire some holy light arrows in the pursuer's direction. But the werewolf is still close, evading every blow until Nik realizes that he has no arrows left anymore. Empty.
"Damn it... Rook, use your magic."
"No, I'll hurt him. He's somehow still Cal and the Fate said..."
"He'll shred us apart!!", he argued.
Without noticing, the three of them reached a familiar place, the cemetery. The very same place where Nik Ryder once rescued Alex from a bloodwraith the very first time. The angry werewolf was hot on their trail.
"Oh no, what do we do now?", Alex panicked and now hoped that the bloodwraith wouldn't appear again.
"Hey, werewolf!!! Leave these innocent humans alone!!!!", an energetic and light voice echoed around them. A very familar voice.
"Uhh, Alex? Was that you?"
"No Cal, I didn't say anything... I... Woah!!", Alex lost her words after she found out who that voice belonged too. The mysterious figure appeared from the shadows revealing herself as...
"Yeah, she looks wild. Gorgeous. And that scent. Alex, that's your doppelganger!! The Alex from this dimension.", Cal confirmed.
"Uhhh... Guys, why are the two of you staring my doppelganger like this? I don't even know if I should feel honored or feel jealous."
Yes, the mysterious figure, a slim lady with wavy silvery hair which was fluttering in the wind. And the very same chocolate-brown eyes was indeed Alexis Clarissa Fontaine. The Alex from this dimension. But she looked a little diffrent than the "original". A light shirt. Black, ripped pants. Heeled boots. Wearing everything in leather, including the familar cherry-red leather jacket which she once received from Nik. Her hunting outfit.
"Heyyy, werewolf!!! Let them goo!!!", she yelled at the creature which turned it's attention to her and began to snarl. When everyone thought that he's about to attack her, the werewolf shifted back into his human form.
"So, you're here. Hunteress.", he hissed.
"Cal, let these innocent... Wait, what??!!! There are two of us??!!!" she was shocked at the sight of two Cal Lowells standing in front of her and another Alex.
"Oooohh, finally I get to meet my doppelganger in this dimension. Hello other Alex, I love your fashion sense. Where did you bought these heeled..."
"Rook, shut up!"
"Nik, you shut up!!"
"Uhhh, could the two of you please...", Cal tried to calm them down.
"Shapeshifters, aren't you?!!", the hunteress asked at the three and quickly drawed two daggers from her pockets. Ready to attack Alex and Cal. But Nik Ryder protectively stood infront of them.
"Step back, they are no shapeshifters. Or else you have to deal with me first, little chick.", he winked at her, trying to make his Alex jealous. Then aimed his crossbow at her to defend his group.
"Wait, where did you get that crossbow? Who are you??!!" her eyes widened at the sight of Nik's weapon, and she began to glare at the blonde man.
"Nik. Nik Ryder. Also a nighthunter."
"It... It can't be... Impossible."
"Wait hunteress, they're no usual shapeshifters. The girl has your scent and so does my doppelganger has mine.", the werewolf finally spoke.
"Really, Cal?" her eyes met his, and for a single moment, the werewolf's gaze softened for her. He silently admired the beautiful huntress standing in front of her.
"Really, Alex." the werewolf, Cal's doppelganger, confirmed, finally calling the huntress by her name and then smiling a little.
While the two were distracted from each other, Nik lightly signaled his friends, Cal and Alex, to leave before they got more in trouble. Silently walking backward till they managed to sneak away.
"Nik, bro..."
"What is it, Cal?" he asked him while the three of them were wandering around the woods. Alex was a small distance behind, sunken in her own thoughts.
"Thank you. Thank you for everything. Because of you... No, because of you and Alex, Donny is still alive in our world. All thanks to you two my little brother is alive."
"It's nothing, Cal.", Nik watched the ground while they were marching down their way without looking up, as if he looked bothered.
"No, Nik, if it wasn't for you and your brilliant plan, we would have never found Donny. Or at least not that quick. You broke the spell to track down Donny, got us inside Persephone without any trouble, and tracked him down just in time before it was too late. Even though you don't like Club Persephone, you still risked it. You're more clever and cunning than Elijah. You have a heart."
"My dad's the best and not me, Cal."
"No Nik, it was you who..."
"My dad would have done the same."
"But Nik, he failed. Haven't you heard what the other Cal just said? Elijah couldn't save Donny, but you..."
"I know, but I don't want to talk about it. Elijah is my hero, that's it! I don't want to hear anything about this now.", he requested while trying to hide his disappointment. For Nik Ryder, Elijah Ryder is not only his father but his hero, his role model. Hearing about his father's failure in Donny's rescue just shocked him a little.
"Whatever, Nik. We may haven't gotten along well at the beginning, but getting to know you better made me realize that you're a good man. A man with a heart of gold. You're a friend. You, Alex, Katherine, and Vera are not only friends... You're like a family to me who accept me the way I am. I don't have to prove anything to you like I always had to among the werewolves. You guys are my own pack. Nik, you're like a brother to me."
"You're actually not bad either, bro. I think. Cal...", Nik hestitated.
"Yeah?"
"Don't get me wrong, but after seeing your doppelganger today. The way he watched at the huntress, it makes me wonder..."
"Wonder what? Is everything alright, Nik?", he smiled and gave him a reassuring pat on his shoulder.
"Do you still have feelings for Alex?" he whispered with worry to make sure Alex wouldn't hear their conversation from behind.
"Woahh, Nik... I..."
"We just considered each other's as brothers, and would you ever hide something from a brother, Cal?" he asked without losing eye contact from his werewolf companion. Cal took a deep breath before answering.
"Nik, the truth is... Alex is perfect. She's perfection.", he confessed which made Nik's face falter.
"So you do have feelings for her?"
"Listen, I was in love with her for a long time. Since I met her, Nik. I still like her and if something would happen to her, I... Well, it doesn't matter now. She chose to be with you, Nik, and I'm happy for both of you. Really. You're a nice guy, even though at first I couldn't understand what she saw in you. But I understand now... You have a big heart, but you don't like to reveal it. Guess maybe that's what she saw in you, Nik. She really loves you. You didn't see her sadness, worry, and love when you were in New York. She suffered alone."
For a minute there was total silence between them. Total silence. After a few thoughts in his mind, Nik finally spoke.
"Thanks for telling me this, Cal. I mean... bro. But seeing Alex kissing and making out with someone else, I... It hurts. It damn hurts.", he softly sniffed.
"I'm here for you, Nik. I'm right here, brother.", Cal wrapped his strong arm around the young hunter to comfort him.
"We're almost there. I can smell Vera's perfume. Katherine and Vera must be somewhere here and very close.", Cal informed as they were strolling together through the woods.
"And we're near my dad's house", Nik smirked.
"Hey Alex, we... Alex??!!", Cal turned around and realized that Alex wasn't with them anymore. The whole time, both guys hadn't realized the girl's absence, even when they were privately talking with each other about her, and now... Both got worried, turned back, and were headed from where they came from to search for their missing Alex.
"Damn it, where did she go now??!" Nik's speed increased, and he was looking in all directions. Cal was close behind.
"Don't worry, we'll find her. I can still smell her. She must be close."
‘Cal Lowell from Nightbound is the best werewolf we have. So gentle and kind. Especially the way he respects the MC. Bastian from WolfBride would never top him. About the new Alpha book I'm not sure either. My hopes are not very much high, we'll see...’
POST/CONFESSIONS DO NOT REFLECT THE MOD’S PERSONAL OPINIONS!
Soft asks as you wish. Question for Kate Williams:
Opinion on Vera Reimonenq
Opinion on Nik Ryder
Opinion on Katherine
Opinion on Cal Lowell
Let's gossip 🤭😂
Opinion on Vera:
Initially, Vera was a mystery to Kate. She certainly was different from the guys and girls Kate used to date, and was immediately drawn to know more about her, to relate to her, share the same feelings. But later, after knowing more about her, she admired Vera's resilience and her strength to stick to what is right.
Opinion on Nik:
At first, Nik was the annoying bodyguard that Kate was so reluctantly with because she had no other way of finding answers to protect herself. But later on, as she spent more time with him, she learnt more about him and that annoyance turned into admiration and respect for him. She accepts him as a really good friend, and was really hurt when Nik said they had to part as his job of protecting her was over.
Opinion on Katherine:
She is definitely more fun and open to showing Kate new things than keep a barrier around her, and Kate was able to feel more thrill when around Katherine. Kate was able to push herself out of her comfort zone, and not be afraid of the unknown.
Opinion on Cal:
He is a good friend, a gentle and caring person. He sort of reminds Kate of the feeling of having a warm cup of cocoa. As Kate never had any siblings of her own, she found a close bond when being around Cal.
