The return

I was playing with Lumiere one morning when she suddenly hissed at the door.

“Lumiere? Is there something wrong?”

The door opened and a familiar scent appeared. "Don't anyone miss me?"

Judging from the jolly voice and stingy scent of a vampire, I didn’t have to turn around to see it was Gusev.

My eyes widened, seeing him alive and well, “Gusev!”

I instantly clung my shoulders to him without hesitating, “I’m glad you’re alive.”

He held my hair, slowly stroking it, “Seems that you missed me so much, and of course, I’ll be alive.” He then broke our hug, “You…smell different.”

I blinked, “What?”

“Your blood…I mean, nothing happened to you after Druscilla had taken me, right?”

I nodded, slightly lying. A lot had happened without him, but he doesn’t have to know that.

Lumiere hissed at Gusev and Gusev jumped, closing the door and yelling, “What is that thing!”

“A tiger,” I answered, wondering why Lumiere’s hissing still. Then I remembered the reason. Alpha Magnus had gifted her to me last time to push away Gusev from me. I chuckled, petting Lumiere. Vampires had a long history with big cats, but why is Lumiere still hissing at him?

“He’s not an enemy, Lumiere.” I soothed her, trying to calm down, When she didn’t, I just tied her leash to my bed frame and went outside, closing the door behind me.

Gusev gave a look at me, “I don’t even have to ask why. I know Magnus gifted that to you…” He pouted. “He’s so harsh to me!”

I just directed him to the living room and offered tea to him. “So, how did you even get away from Druscilla?” I asked, changing the topic as he rambled on and on about Lumiere.

He scoffed, “Oh, I have my ways, but I couldn’t forgive him for trying to confuse you and attempt on copying me, did he think I was lowly like that? Hah, No one will ever be successful in copying me cause I’m born different!” He said proudly then cleared his throat, “But I’m glad you’re fine. I should have protected you, and I swear I will make him pay for that.”

His eyes then darted behind me and grinned brightly, “Hi best friend!”

Alpha Magnus’s voice thundered behind me, “So you’re here.”

Gusev pouted, “Awe, aren’t you happy that I’m finally here?”

Alpha Magnus instantly grabbed him by the throat, “No, how would we know you’re really Gusev and not Druscilla again?”

Gusev rolled his eyes, seemingly not affected by his threats, “Yeah yeah, be gentle with me, will you? I had gone through hardship! They tortured me there to spill some secrets about you but since I’m loyal, I didn't even dare!”

Alpha Magnus narrowed his eyes at him but then loosened his grip.

Gusev just stuck his tongue out at him and faced me, “Come on, I have a lot to talk to you about.”

He motioned for me to follow but I felt Alpha Magnus’s hands stopping me, “No, I need to talk to Kamilah about something.”

I raised my eyebrows at him, “You do?”

Gusev crossed his arms in front of him, “And what is that? Is that more important than my news to her?”

Alpha Magnus gave him a look, “‘Yes it is, now Kamilah, let’s go.” He grabbed my hand but I pushed it away.

“I’ll listen to what Gusev has to say first,” I answered, and he breathed deeply, seemingly irritated.

Gusev gave a teasing look at him, “See? She likes me more than you. She must have gotten sick of your attitude, best friend. You need to change that.”

Never in my life did I imagine that I’ll prefer Gusev’s company over my own mate.

As Gusev pulled me away from the house, he decided to let me walk around as he gossiped to me, “Did something happen between you and Magnus? The air is just different this time.”

I shook my head, not wanting to answer that since we’re kind of in a hot and cold type now…

“What were you going to say to me?”

He shrugged, “Nothing important. I just want to see his reaction. I miss teasing him.”

We spotted Dimitri by Alpha Magnus's office, working. His eye bags were deeper and darker than usual and we decided to stop by. So that’s why he did not come to me today….

He must have been too busy taking over the alpha’s tasks.

“Hi there, Dimitri!” Gusev yelled as soon as we opened the door.

“If you’re here to disturb me, please leave. I did not get any sleep.” Was the first thing he said, not even leaving his eyes from the piles of paperwork in front of him. Then his eyes saw Gusev and nodded at him, “Oh, Gusev you’re here.”

“Wow, seems my best friend is pushing you hard enough you became a robot,” Gusev commented, “And everyone’s reactions here are so boring. I thought you’ll miss me since I’ve been gone for a long time.”

“Dimitri scoffed, What? You want us to throw you a party?”

“Yes!”

“Nice thought, but no.” Dimitri replied, and then looked at me, “And please don’t stress out our alpha as I’m the one doing all his work now.”

“That’s not my problem anymore,” I said teasingly, and he sighed.

“What did you poison our alpha? he’s not so sweet like this.” He complained.

“Want me to call Louisa?” I threatened, and his lifeless eyes suddenly brightened up.

“That would be amazing, but I don't want her to see me tired now.”

Deciding on giving him a break, Gusev and I just left him and walked around until he raised his eyebrows playfully to me, “So he marked you.”

I blinked, wanting to ask how did he learn it but it’s a bit obvious now with the marks that Alpha Magnus made still not leaving my body.

He smirked, “You’re wondering how I even learned it aside from it being obvious? Well, it's everywhere, everyone here talking about it.”

I gritted my teeth, feeling embarrassed but I guess I have to get used to it. It’s not like I could turn back the time.

Gusev’s smirk turned into an evil smile and he leaned in and whispered in my ears, “Don’t worry, since I’m here, I’ll make him jealous. See if he cares enough.”

I cocked my eyebrows, “What are you planning now?”

“Oh, it’s a secret.”