Blood Awakening: The Strongest Hybrid and His Vampire Bride

Chapter 369 369: The One You Least Expect

Imagine the surprise when standing face to face with the greatest traitor to your clan and alliance.

Yet the person who stands before you was the one you suspected the least.

Shock. Amusement. Bitterness.

Several words could explain the burning pain and twisting ache in his stomach right now, but the man across was someone his father and grandfather completely trusted.

And that made it worse.

Nikolai didnʼt speak.

He watched the man, with narrowed eyes, drowning in the rain, cold droplets sliding down his cheeks and dripping to the ground. His coat clung to his frame, soaked through, cold, heavy — but none of that reached him.

The man before him had aged, but not poorly. White streaks now lined his dark hair, and he wore a tailored black field coat buttoned up to the neck. Military posture. Calm. Distant.

But not apologetic.

”I didnʼt expect you to come in person,” the man said.

”I didnʼt expect to find you,” Nikolai replied.

No accusations.

Not yet.

They stood ten feet apart, boots sinking into the wet mud. The forest behind them breathed slow and shallow, like it too was watching.

”I gave your father this land,” the man said, almost idly. ”When the city tried to seize it after the zoning collapse.”

Nikolaiʼs jaw tensed. ”And he never once forgot it.”

”No,” the man said. ”Thatʼs the problem.”

Lunaria didnʼt move, but she shifted her stance. Amphitrite placed a hand lightly on one of her thigh blades, but Nikolai raised a hand to stop them.

”Why?” he asked.

That was all.

No title. No anger.

Just the question.

The man looked at him. The eyes hadnʼt changed. Still calm. Still sharp.

”I was loyal to your grandfather,” he said. ”Not to this... alliance.”

In that moment, something clicked, Nikolai realised that this wasnʼt a betrayal, this man just wished to save his grandfather, even if it meant betraying him and the alliance.

Nikolai stared at the man.

Not just an ally.

Not just a council seat.

Alaric Drago — the Third Seat of the Moonlight Alliance.

ʼCan you save him… no,ʼ Nikolai thought, jaw tightening. ʼWhat do you need to do, to save him?ʼ

That was the real question.

He didnʼt blink when he asked it.

”What do you need to do,” he said, voice low, ”to save my grandfather?”

Alaricʼs eyes narrowed slightly.

So he figured it out.

The rain between them grew louder. Louder than the breath in Nikolaiʼs chest. Louder than the questions that still wanted to rise.

”I tried to stop them from taking him,” Alaric said. ”But I didnʼt have the votes. And your uncle refused to move. The alliance wasnʼt going to act.”

”And you?”

”I made a deal. My seat… in exchange for his life.”

”Donʼt lie to me... or do you mean to be their slave for live?”

Nikolai felt the weight shift inside him. He didnʼt move. Didnʼt raise a weapon. He just stood there.

Alaric spoke again, voice even.

”They wanted him alive. The Nosferatu donʼt kill without reason. They want to understand him. Use him.”

”You let them have him,” Nikolai said.

”I delayed them. Bought time.”

”Thatʼs not what it looks like.”

”I donʼt care what it looks like.”

Lunaria shifted beside him, but stayed silent. Amphitriteʼs hand was still near her blade.

Nikolai raised his hand again. Not yet.

”I gave them old patrol routes,” Alaric said. ”Dead zones. Areas no one would look for months. I fed them pieces, just to buy weeks.”

”And when they find out?”

”Theyʼll kill me,” Alaric said. ”But if I can move him again before that, it wonʼt matter.”

His eyes locked on Nikolaiʼs.

”You want to hate me, do it. You want to call me traitor, do it. But Iʼm the reason your grandfather is still alive.”

The pain in Nikolaiʼs chest wasnʼt rage.

It was clarity.

He stepped forward once, eyes narrowing.

”Where is he?”

Alaric didnʼt answer.

Instead, he turned his head slightly toward the tree line behind him.

And spoke just loud enough for them to hear.

”You followed the wrong trail.”

Nikolai could feel that Alaric wanted to leave, but he couldnʼt stop it here, be it betraying the alliance or saving his grandfather. The roots of Nikolai in the Werewolf world were too shallow, finally meeting a family he had never known.

He wouldnʼt choose the alliance over his family.

”Wait, Alaric!”

The older man paused. His body tensed for a moment, but he didnʼt turn around.

The rain picked up again. Fat droplets streaked down Nikolaiʼs coat, soaking through his boots. No one else moved. Lunaria watched with unblinking eyes. Amphitriteʼs grip on her weapon eased, but only slightly.

Nikolai stepped forward again, slow, deliberate.

”I wonʼt ask again,” he said. ”Where is my grandfather?”

Alaric looked back over his shoulder. His face wasnʼt defiant. Just tired.

”Not far,” he said. ”Theyʼve moved him twice in the last month. Next time might be the last.”

Nikolaiʼs jaw tensed. His thoughts shifted, locking into place. Alliance, loyalty, trust—none of those words held meaning here. Not when it came to family.

He took a breath.

Then offered the one thing no one else would.

”Then make a deal with me.”

Alaric blinked.

”You already have the allianceʼs trust,” Nikolai said. ”Now youʼll have mine. But I donʼt want your loyalty.”

He stepped closer, voice low.

”I want your survival.”

Alaric didnʼt respond. So Nikolai continued.

”Youʼll become my double. Youʼll continue feeding them scraps. Misdirection. Lies. Youʼll play along. And in exchange, Iʼll help you save him.”

Alaric frowned. ”And when they find out?”

Nikolai stared him down. ”They wonʼt. Not if you stay alive.”

The silence stretched between them.

Then Nikolai added, voice sharp—

”You cannot die. Or sacrifice yourself. Thatʼs the deal.”

Alaricʼs gaze narrowed.

Nikolai didnʼt blink.

”I wonʼt lose both of you.”

His words hung in the air like a blade, point down. Not a plea. A condition.

”Youʼre asking me to betray the Nosferatu.”

”Iʼm asking you to finish what you started. And if you help me, truly help me—when this is over... you and your clan will never have to kneel to anyone again. Not to the humans. Not to the vampires. Not even to me.”

Alaric looked away for the first time.

Then slowly, finally, he nodded.

”Alright.”

Nikolaiʼs shoulders loosened.

”Good,” he said.

”Because it starts tonight.”

Nikolai wiped the rain from his brow, exhaling slowly as Alaric stepped back into position.

”Are you sure about this?” Amphitrite asked, her voice low and tense.

Lunaria didnʼt ask, because she already understood how Nosferatu worked and also from watching Nikolai and his actions knew he wouldnʼt give up on his grandfather.

Nikolai turned his head slightly.

”He has to bring them something. And I have to make it believable.”

”Theyʼll think youʼre weak,” she said.

He gave a half-smile. ”Good.”

Alaric cracked his neck.

”When I hit you, I wonʼt hold back. If theyʼre watching, theyʼll expect pain. Blood. Fury.”

Nikolai rolled his shoulders. ”Then donʼt disappoint.”

Amphitrite hesitated. ”You want us to stand down?”

”Just long enough,” Nikolai said. ”Then act like I forced you to retreat.”

She clicked her tongue, but nodded.

Lunaria shifted her stance. ”Letʼs make it quick.”

Alaric moved first. No warning.

His fist shot forward and slammed into Nikolaiʼs ribs, forcing the air from his lungs. Another came, heavy and deliberate, striking his jaw. The manʼs skin was like iron — his Draconic Resilience was fully active. Every blow landed like a warhammer.

Nikolai didnʼt block.

He let the hits come.

A gash split open above his eyebrow. His vision blurred, and blood poured freely.

That was what they wanted.

Another blow to his shoulder sent him stumbling back, boots skidding in the mud.

He caught himself, barely. His hand reached for his side, not to strike, but to tear open a deeper wound with his own fingers.

Blood soaked through his shirt, running down his side.

”Thatʼs enough,” he rasped.

Alaric stood tall. Not gloating. Just breathing heavy, arms loose at his side.

”Theyʼre watching from the ridge,” he said quietly. ”Nosferatu agents. At least two. That should be enough for now.”

Nikolai spat blood into the dirt. ”What now?”

”Theyʼll want proof youʼre out of control. That I canʼt be trusted. That Iʼm moving your grandfather to a more secure site, under their eyes.”

Nikolai pulled a small silver vial from inside his jacket. The kind designed to hold aura-laced blood. He pressed a finger into the torn skin on his ribs, let it fill slow and heavy.

Then he sealed it, handed it over.

Alaric took it without a word.

”Iʼll leak the location once Iʼm in place,” he said. ”Theyʼll come. But only after youʼve been publicly cornered.”

Nikolai nodded.

”They want to meet me,” he muttered. ”Force me to bow. Take control before I solidify mine.”

Alaricʼs face didnʼt change.

”Theyʼll make you bleed before they offer the leash.”

”Well... Then theyʼd better be ready to bleed twice as much.”