Roman’s POV
Rafe and Raven came out soon after, both freshly changed into similar clothes, a T-shirt and pants.
"We’re buddies today," Rafe said, ruffling Raven’s hair. "Did you like it?"
Raven nodded as he looked at his own and then Rafe’s dark T-shirt with Vampire theme.
The bond between them was different. Easy. Natural. Like they had known each other for years. And it was clear Raven enjoyed being around him.
The pizzas and cold drinks had already arrived. Instead of sitting at the dining table, they settled on the sofa, placing everything on the center table.
The TV was on, playing something casual in the background.
This was Rafe’s plan, carefully designed, but made to look effortless and random.
"Want to join us?" Rafe asked Jason.
"I’m fine," Jason replied, heading toward the kitchen.
"A health-conscious doctor might break his oath if he eats junk once in a while," Rafe commented, then glanced at Kael who was pacing around to cradle Kaya. "Won’t even ask you. You’re just as annoying as Lucian and Jason."
Then his gaze shifted to me.
I had already taken a seat beside Raven. "I don’t mind junk," I said, picking up a slice.
Rafe handed a cold drink to Raven, who accepted it eagerly. "Pizza isn’t complete without the this cold drink, right?"
Raven nodded and took a sip.
"You like being with Daddy Rafe, don’t you?" I asked casually. "It’s fun with him, right?"
Raven nodded again, his eyes lighting up.
"Maybe it’s because he’s a vampire," I added lightly. "He knows how to have fun unlike us werewolves. A good vampire, though. Half vampire, to be exact."
Raven nodded, absorbing it.
"Hey, Rave," Rafe said, shortening his name, "your teacher is teaching you about werewolves. But has he told you anything about vampires yet?"
Raven shook his head.
"Oh, then how will you ever understand your daddy Rafe?" I said lightly. "Don’t you want to know about him too?"
Raven nodded immediately.
Good.
Everything was going smoothly. We had been worried he might react the same way as before when vampires were mentioned. But Rafe had handled it well, easing him into it with play and comfort first.
"Then let’s learn about vampires," I said, picking up the TV remote. "I’ll show you how your daddy Rafe looked when he was a baby... and later, when he became an annoying teenager that I wished to beat a shit out of him."
Raven’s eyes lit up with excitement.
A picture appeared on the screen.
"This was when I was about Kaya’s age," Rafe said. "Maybe a month old... then this one, around six months... and this one, about a year."
The next image didn’t appear.
Rafe paused for a moment. "There aren’t many pictures after that. The house I lived in was burned down. Most of them were lost."
Raven looked at him, sadness flickering in his eyes.
"But don’t worry," I said gently. "I can tell you how your daddy Rafe must have looked as he grew up. And he’ll explain how vampires change with time."
More images appeared on the screen.
Rafe continued, his tone calm. "These are vampire babies. They’re just like werewolves and humans at first. And this one is a five-year-old vampire. Until that age, they depend on their family for blood. You do know blood is important food for vampires."
Roman nodded.
He leaned back slightly, recalling. "My mother used to give me stored blood pouches. Only one a day. She made sure I didn’t get greedy and learned control."
Raven looked at him again.
Rafe noticed and gently patted his head. "My mother isn’t around anymore. There was an accident." A small pause. "She passed away."
Raven’s expression softened with quiet sadness.
But Rafe gave a faint smile. "Now, let’s continue."
I knew that subject hurt him the most. His mother had been the one who shaped him, who taught him control as she was a pureblood werewolf, dominant over a vampire.
Rafe went on, "When vampire children turn six, they begin to change. Their instincts start showing. They feel the urge to hunt, to attack for blood. It’s the same for both boys and girls."
We both glanced at Raven.
He was calm, watching the screen carefully.
Rafe gave me a small signal to continue.
"Until they are about ten, it’s still manageable," I added. "But after that, they enter adolescence. That’s when things become difficult from the age ten to sixteen."
Rafe nodded slightly before saying, "And it’s the most dangerous phase. They can lose control. Their craving for blood becomes intense..."
Raven shivered.


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