Chapter 6 – The Mark of a New Bond
Margaret stared at the door long after Dante had vanished in a flash of light. Her heart pounded in her chest like a war drum. Her fingers instinctively moved to the mark on her upper thigh — a claw-shaped burn, still warm to the touch, pulsing faintly with a strange, almost sentient energy. It throbbed in sync with her heartbeat, as though alive.
Everything felt surreal.
Monsters. Vampires. A sixteen-year-old boy who had turned into a dragon — and who had just saved her life. And now, somehow, had marked her as his mate.
It was too much to take in.
Moving as if in a dream, she closed the door slowly, the soft click echoing in the quiet room. Then she leaned against it, allowing herself to slide down to the floor until she was seated, legs bent, back pressed to the cold wood. The world outside continued as if nothing had changed — cars passed along the street, neighbors walked their dogs, someone shouted in the distance.
But for her, everything had changed forever.
"Get a grip, Margaret," she whispered to herself, forcing a deep breath into her lungs. Her voice trembled. "You're not crazy. You saw it. You felt it."
The memories flooded back with vivid clarity: the feral gleam of vampire fangs under the alley light, the burning glow of Dante's eyes as he transformed, the heat that had radiated off his body, the rush of power, the almost unbearable pleasure that had surged through her as his energy connected with hers.
She glanced again at the mark. It was real. Not a dream. Not a hallucination. She was marked. Linked to a being of myth — a dragon.
She needed time. Time to think. Time to understand. Time to choose what came next.
Dante stepped into the house, the familiar smell of garlic, olive oil, and herbs wrapping around him like a comforting blanket. His mother stood at the stove, stirring a pot of tomato sauce, the sizzle of onions echoing softly in the kitchen.
He dropped his backpack by the door and flopped into one of the kitchen chairs.
"Where's Dad?" he asked, casually glancing toward the hallway.
Sera looked up from her cooking, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "He went to pick up your sister. She'll be staying with us for a while."
She paused, turning to face him fully. "So… don't let her see your powers. She's not ready yet."
Dante smirked. "Bela's going to stay here for a while? Let the teenage drama begin," he said with a chuckle, resting his chin in his palm. Though his voice was joking, his eyes reflected the weariness of someone who sensed things were about to get complicated.
"She's your sister," Sera replied, giving him a look. "Try to understand what she's going through, okay?"
Dante nodded slowly, his mind drifting. So the teen drama begins… I remember sensing something strange a few years ago. Must've been the Coluen vampire family arriving around that time. And now Bela shows up? He sighed inwardly. Guess we're entering full-on Korean drama mode.
He leaned back, eyes scanning the ceiling.
Sera suddenly sniffed the air, her brow furrowing. "Dante, why has your scent changed?"
Her eyes narrowed, focusing on him with suspicion and curiosity.
"You felt something?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
She looked almost thrilled. "You awakened something, didn't you? Tell me, can you transform?"
Dante smiled inwardly at her excitement. "Yeah. Seems like I can transform into something if I want to."
Sera clapped her hands softly, already speculating. "And what can you transform into?" she asked, more to herself than to him. "You'll be surprised when you find out I can transform too, son…"
Dante leaned forward slightly, his voice calm. "A dragon."
There was silence. Then:
"A dragon?!" she exclaimed. "Wait… a dragon? Not a wolf?"
"Why would I turn into a wolf?" Dante replied, confused.
"Why can you turn into a dragon?!" she shrieked.
"I don't know," he said with a shrug. "I just… can."
Sera's face shifted from surprise to concern. "And you don't feel any strange urges? Like to kill or destroy anything?"
Her voice dropped in volume but rose in tension. She was afraid — not of him, exactly, but of what he might become.
Dante met her eyes and answered firmly. "No, Mom. I don't feel any of that."
Sera sighed, half-relieved, half-troubled. "A dragon… I should've known you'd be different. I had a feeling, back when you first showed signs…"
Dante stood and stretched. "Well, now that everything's explained, I'm going to my room to enjoy my few hours of peace."
"One more thing," Sera said, squinting at him. "What's that scent of a woman on you?"
Dante froze for a second, eyes wide. Of course she'd notice. He opened his mouth to respond —
—but the door opened, and Charlie walked in with Bela.
Sera's attention snapped away from Dante, her maternal instincts activating instantly as she rushed over to welcome bela
Dante let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He looked at Bela, taking in her calm yet guarded expression.
Thanks, big sis, for getting me out of that. As a thank-you, I'll help you out when you need it, he thought.
Then he stepped forward and joined the family reunion.