Fangless: The Alpha's Vampire Mate
Chapter 102: Tropical Makeover

Chapter 102: Tropical Makeover

The farther they journeyed from the Kingdom of Eira, the less snow they encountered. Over the course of their journey, Riona gradually shed her layers of clothing until only her inner dress remained.

At one point, the snow disappeared entirely, and the weather grew warm. The heat was so intense that even her flimsy dress felt like it was trying to strangle her, but she had no choice but to keep it on.

She wasn’t about to make her grand debut to the werewolves as a nude vampire.

The unbearable heat caused Riona to perspire more in those few days than she had throughout her entire life before Wintertooth. To make matters worse, she had to shield herself from the relentless sun to avoid burning.

The nights were her only salvation, offering a blissful break from the daytime inferno, though the constant temperature whiplash was starting to wear her patience thin.

As they descended from the snow-capped mountains—the vampire’s ultimate safe haven with its frigid temperatures and shade galore—they entered a land that seemed to have been designed by someone who clearly hated vampires.

The Wintertooth pack lived in a rainforest because clearly, tropical jungles were the ideal backdrop for a pack of werewolves. It was just a short walk from the nearest beach.

The area was surrounded by a jungle, complete with a waterfall, making it a prime hunting ground.

It was a world away from the frozen kingdom she had known.

The sun had yet to set when they arrived in the rainforest, but the thick trees surrounding the area provided Riona with comforting shade.

Though she still covered herself with Thorin’s coat, she found that she could move more freely by draping it over her head.

In the distance, Riona could hear thunderous laughter. The boisterous sounds reached her before she could even see the werewolves, which was a pretty good hint at just how lively these creatures were.

She was anxious, although she tried not to show it. Riona had never been a social person, never cared much about getting along with others, and a little tension was usually enough to make her shrug and walk away.

But here she was, in a land where even the trees seemed to be laughing at her, feeling surprisingly on edge.

The closer she got to the source of the noise, the more desperate she became. She racked her brain, searching for someone she could mimic.

Who was the most diplomatic person she knew, someone who could befriend just about anyone?

Lisbeth.

The vampire princess was widely accepted by the citizens of the Kingdom of Eira. She was practically the royal escort service for important guests, and they were always satisfied with her company.

If they hadn’t been sworn enemies, Riona might have learned a thing or two about friendship from Lisbeth.

"Feeling nervous?" Thorin asked, pulling Riona from her self-pity party.

She instinctively snapped, "No!"

It was a lie, of course. The question caught her off guard, and her pride was having none of it

Instead of taking offense or believing her response, Thorin chuckled. He knew better. "Right," he muttered.

Placing his large palm gently on Riona’s back, he nudged her forward and whispered in her ear, "Don’t worry, werewolves don’t have a biting habit—unless you’re a meatier animal, of course. We’re more into the whole ’eating’ thing than ’nibbling.’"

He was referring to werewolves’ dietary habits, but Riona was too nervous to catch the joke.

Thorin was confident that Riona would be embraced by the pack as warmly as a long-lost relative.

After all, she was a halfling who had a few werewolf-esque qualities—like being strong enough to handle the rough and tumble of pack life and harboring a mutual disdain for the snooty vampire aristocracy.

In his mind, she was basically a werewolf with a fancier wardrobe.

What Thorin didn’t realize—or perhaps refused to admit—was that his acceptance of Riona was driven more by his feelings for her than by who she truly was.

His confidence would soon be put to the test.

"Am I interrupting something?" Thorin announced his presence with a light-hearted joke.

The group of werewolves erupted in shouts of joy. Some threw themselves at him, embracing him and patting his back in a warm welcome. He basked in the glory, clearly savoring his hero’s welcome.

Meanwhile, Riona, who was awkwardly trailing behind, felt the collective attention shift from Thorin to her.

Their cheerful laughter died down instantly, sending shivers down Riona’s spine.

Thorin, oblivious to the dismay he’d just created, assumed the pack was just momentarily taken aback by the presence of a new, slightly bewildered stranger.

He stepped aside to give them a clear view of Riona and introduced her, "This is Riona. She’s my fiancee, um," he hesitated, then turned to Riona and asked, "Are we still going through with the arrangement?"

"I guess not. I’m already here, aren’t I?" Riona replied.

There was no need for a contract marriage now that she had escaped the royal palace.

"She’s my almost-bride," Thorin continued. "I expect you to treat her well—though I probably don’t even need to say that. Once you see her powers, you’ll be all over her—"

"Is she a vampire?" one of the pack members cut the Alpha’s rambling off.

Noticing the hint of disgust in the member’s voice, Thorin’s face hardened. "Yeah, she’s a vampire. What about it?" he snapped as if daring anyone to make a fuss about it.

Puck took a step forward. He might have voiced concerns about Riona moving to Wintertooth, but the soft-hearted werewolf had grown fond of her. He felt an urge to smack that particular pack member and teach him some manners.

Before Puck could act, however, a gorgeous, tanned girl stepped forward and approached the member. "Come on, Vesper. Thorin has just returned. We should be celebrating, not arguing. This is a joyful occasion!"

Her words effectively dispersed the tension, and she began directing the crowd to prepare for a feast in Thorin’s honor. Once everyone was busy with the preparations, she approached Thorin.

"Glad to have you back," she said warmly.

While Thorin, Puck, and Zane were away from Wintertooth, Charna took charge of overseeing the pack.

Typically, the Howl or the elder would manage the pack in the Alpha’s absence. However, both had accompanied Thorin to the Kingdom of Eira.

In the absence of the Alpha and his men, a Luna would usually step in, but since Thorin had yet to find his mate, Charna volunteered for the role, despite the heavy responsibilities it entailed.

She ensured that the pack members had enough food and were protected from any threats.

"How’s everything been going around here?" Thorin asked apologetically. His tone was kind and gentle. "Sorry for dumping all the responsibility on you, Charna. Must’ve been a real chore."

"Oh, it’s no trouble at all," Charna replied. Her usual voice was quite low for a girl, but suddenly, she spoke in a higher tone.

Batting her long lashes, she added, "I’m sure you had it tougher. Having been in your shoes once, I understand your past decisions now. It takes more than just strength to lead a pack."

What’s with this weird atmosphere?

Riona raised an eyebrow in suspicion. The way they looked at each other—something was definitely off between them.

Moreover, Charna’s words made it seem like she was positioning herself to be the future Luna.

Was it a mistake to come here?