(Jay POV)
Jay lay in his bed with his newly claimed bride safe and warm in his arms. A feeling of relief washed over him now that he had claimed her. His mind went back to earlier that day to when all the males had gathered to hunt as they always do on the first night of the red moon.
“You nervous teme?” Logan rolled his eyes at his best friend. “Come on, you can’t tell me you aren’t the least bit scared of hurting her or something!” Logan’s eyes flashed red.
“I would never hurt her, dobe.”
“Calm down, geez. It’s just, Erika-chan looks so...fragile, she’s human, you’re a strong vampire. I mean, I’m terrified of hurting Synthai tonight...” Logan put his hand on Jay’s shoulder.
“You’re not gonna hurt her, I know you won’t .” Logan gave him a reassuring smirk. Jay smiled brightly at his best friend. He looked around to see all the males gathering for the hunt. This is when all the men went out to get sustenance for them and their females for the week. Tonight was Jay and Logan’s first time at this gathering. It all felt so nostalgic to see everyone gathered. Dustin joined Logan and Jay a little after he arrived.
“Yo.”
“Oh, hey Dustin, teme and I were just talking.” Logan gave him a nod greeting.
“That’s right, this is your first red moon hunt. It’s nothing special, we just go out to hunt for large animals. A few of us will go for humans, but Vanessa will kill me if I bring that back for her.”
“Huh? Why? You guys are like...vampires.” Jay gave a confused look.
“She hates killing humans, she’ll only drink human blood if it’s out of a blood bag.”
“Oh. Speaking of Vanessa, where’s the blushing bride huh? Excited about gettin’ lucky Dustin?” Jay wiggled his eyebrows nudging Dustin on the side.
“Shut up, you’re so immature,” Dustin ignored his friend as he lit a cigarette.
“Jay.” Michale was coming his way with a serious look on his face.
“Yo Michale, you alright?” Jay went to his side
“It’s about Synthai...” Jay’s frame tensed.
“What about her?” Fox demons like vampires are very territorial over their women. Having another male worry over Synthai didn’t sit so well with Jay.
“Easy, I have my own bride. But I think it’s important you know where she...comes from.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Michale looked at Jay square in the eye.
“First, swear to me Jay that she is yours. Swear that your demon has recognized her as your mate.” Jay’s eyes turned red. Michale saw this as well, but he didn’t back down.
“Why the hell would I ever joke about something like that...especially when it took me so long to find her...you know very well what I went through.” Logan saw the rage begin to build in his best friend. Jay had gone through a lot searching for his fated bride. Seeing other members of his family so happy with their mates made him yearn for his own. If Michale was trying to push Jay’s buttons, it was working.
“Oi Hyuga, spit it out already.” Michale hesitated, but went up to Jay and stood right in front of him.
“Your mate’s full name is Synthai Hyuga...she is a member of the Hyuga clan.” Jay’s eyes went wide and looked at his friend as if he was insane.
“No..that can’t be, the Hyuga clan is made up of vampires, Synthai-chan is human...” His mate couldn’t have been a vampire, his instinct would’ve sensed it.
“She’s half human.” Michale closed his eyes, his fists clenching. “Synthai is the first-born daughter of Hiashi Hyuga, my uncle, and current clan leader. She is Lady Synthai Hyuga, our princess and...my cousin.” Jay let the information sink in. His fists were clenched tight.
"I-I don’t understand...if she’s your princess then how come I found her as a slave,” his anger was growing, “why did I find her about to be auctioned off like something worthless?!“He grabbed Michale by the collar of his shirt.
“We thought our princess had died, Jay.”
“What?” Jay loosened his grip.
“When she was born, she was born a human. It wasn’t surprising since her mother had been human, but it’s a very rare phenomenon for a turned vampire to give birth to a non-vampire. Lady Synthai was supposed to awaken her vampire half later on. Lady Synthai was always guarded and protected everywhere she went. When I met her, she was a small child at the age of three, who always wore pale blue kimonos. I was brought in for the sole purpose of guarding her, and we became close because of it.”
Jay looked at his friend. He could tell he was pained as he spoke.
“One day, Lady Synthai went off on her own while on my watch. She had been gone for a while. It took hours before anyone found a single trace of her. When we did, it was a piece of her blue kimono stained with blood.” Michale looked down at the ground, boring his glare at it.“Everyone searched and searched for her but it was as if the damned Earth had swallowed her whole. She was thought dead. My uncle and his wife suffered a great loss, as did I. She was my princess, and one of the few people who meant something. I blamed myself for her disappearance.”
Jay looked at Michale. He had lost a precious member of his family, but in the end, he also blamed himself for that loss.
“And then I met your bride Jay. She held the same eyes and she gave me the same exact smile. When you told us her name, I
knew it couldn’t be a coincidence. I immediately went to inform my uncle and his family.” Michale turned to Logan and gave a small smile. “I don’t know how she wound up as a slave to your family, but I am grateful.”
“Aa” Logan gave him a curt nod.
“All I ask of you Jay is for you to take care of her. When you claim her tonight, don’t hurt her. According to Lord Hiashi, her vampire half will wake soon. When it does, bring her to the Hyuga estate.” He put his hand on Jay’s shoulder. “Love her and take care of her Jay. Promise me you will.” Jay gave a huge grin
“Heh, you don’t have to worry about that Michale. Synthai-chan is my life now, just like Jessica is to you. I’ll love Synthai and protect her with my life, believe it.“Jay held Synthai in his arms as she slumbered peacefully.