[1 month later]

One month had passed since my battle with Danzo and the Nyx pack, and in that time I had worked on building my pack.

There were roughly 200 members in total. 80 of the werewolves were from the Nyx pack, while another 40 were originally from the Lycann pack. I had Selthia and Floki conquer all the skinwalker tribes in the area, bringing their total number to 80. So in total I had 120 werewolves and 80 skinwalkers in my pack.

In truth that was a lot of people to take care of. That was why I was working on expanding my territory. The land itself was vast, but what I really needed was manpower, the kind I didn't have yet.

KNOCK KNOCK

Just then I heard a knock on the door. Currently I was sitting in a room that resembled an office space. It used to belong to Derrick.

"Come in," I ordered, and immediately as I said that, the two persons I had summoned earlier entered the room.

"You asked to see us?"

Of course these two persons were none other than my twin sister, Liora, and older brother, Roran.

"Yes, I have an important task for both of you," I said.

The two shifted uncomfortably and looked at each other awkwardly. Maybe it was because Isabella was sitting in my lap sucking my blood as if her life depended on it.

I had grown used to this sort of thing, so much so that I didn't notice it anymore, but Liora and Derrick looked a bit uncomfortable by it. But there was nothing I could do about it, so I just continued on.

"What do you need from us?" Derrick asked while Liora looked a bit flushed.

Seeing Derrick's interest, I slipped a piece of paper across my wooden desk towards them. Derrick acted instantly and picked up the paper. His brow furrowed as he tried to read it, which prompted Liora to grab it from his hand.

She scanned through the paper and then looked at me questioningly.

"What is this?"

"Those are a list of people we need. If we're going to build a thriving settlement, then we're going to need people with certain expertise."

This was what I crucially lacked. The people I have here can't even build a strong enough wall to keep the monsters out.

"Yes, but how are we going to find these people? I figure at least half the world population is already gone."

"There are bound to be survivors." I countered. "I need the two of you to go look for some. And not just any survivor, but people with something to contribute. I can't build a powerful pack if I tolerate dead weight. I'll make use of whatever talents they have to offer, but those listed on the list are who I'm really after. The two of you are the only ones fit for the job."

"I understand." Liora nodded. "We're going to need help if we're going to build something good here. We're already struggling to secure food for everyone."

"Don't worry, I'll have that sorted out," I said.

Hunting for food was never a good idea in the first place. We need livestock and farms. But since most people in my pack lived a hunt-and-gather lifestyle, none of them knew anything about farming.

"But even if we do find people, how do we get them to come here?" Derrick asked.

"That's actually the easy part." I responded, "We offer them protection."

The outside world is teeming with monsters and all sorts of dangerous threats. If we can offer them a place safe from these dangers, then there would be no issues getting them to come here. Your job will be mainly as recruiters."

"Oh, I see. Makes sense." Derrick nodded along.

"I don't know how long the two of you will be gone, but be safe out there."

The two of them smiled and nodded.

"We will!"

After Liora and Derrick left, Isabella finally took a break from sucking my blood. She paused for a second as if listening for something, and then a frown appeared on her face.

"That thing is coming," she mumbled, and her eyes began glowing orange.

She looked like a wolf guarding her cub from a dangerous predator lurking by. I gently began stroking her head to calm her down a bit, and it worked like a charm as she suddenly went docile.

"Let's continue this later."

"Hmph! Fine."

She clicked her tongue and got up from my lap. And without uttering another word, she walked towards the door and opened it to leave, but just then she stopped as if she couldn't bring herself to leave.

She spun on her heels and glared at me, arms folded.

"We still haven't practiced the thing you promised. Don't you… want to do it anymore? Y-You said we would practice." She asked, looking at me sharply as if I had spat in her coffee.

'So that's why she was in such a foul mood.'

Hearing her question, a teasing smile appeared on my face.

"You mean kissing?"

Immediately as I said the word "kissing," her entire face turned red with embarrassment.

"Just! Never mind!" She screamed and slammed the door as she stormed out.

The room fell quiet after she left.

*Sigh*

I was actually waiting on her to make the first move, but seeing how embarrassed she gets from just mentioning the word, it seemed that it would never happen. She didn't have the same boldness as Selthia.

I found it kind of cute.

Not long after, I heard a familiar voice calling me.

"Darling! I've brought a gift."

Soon after, Kumo stormed in, followed by one of her arachni, a giant spider with orange glowing eyes. They had changed appearance ever since I turned her. On the back of the giant spider was something wrapped in web.

"What is it?" I asked, feeling a bit curious.

"It's one of those pesky people I told you I saw lurking around our territory. There were three of them in total, but I killed them all. I had my babies devour two of them, but I made sure to save one to show you."

Saying that, she began unwrapping the web that was covering the thing lying on the giant spider's back.

Of course it was a corpse belonging to a young male with pale skin.

I got up from where I sat to take a look at the body. There were two sets of fangs in its mouth, and I opened his eyelids to see red-colored irises. There were also burn marks on its skin.

One thing was for sure, the corpse didn't belong to a human.

"Where did you find it?" I asked.

"They were hiding out in a cave. I was able to trap them there and slaughter them just for you, darling."

Kumo looked at me with needy eyes as if she was expecting something.

"I see. There are burn marks on his skin; how did that happen?"

"Oh, that happened when he tried to run and leave the cave."

"I see."

It was just as I thought. The fangs and the eyes confirmed it; they were vampires. He got burnt by the sun when he tried to escape from Kumo, which tells me they weren't noble vampires, at least.

The Veylmont clan is finally catching up to me. Though it looks as if they were just probing. They probably don't have definite proof as to where I was yet.

I need to take care of this before it escalates. I'll have to go see the chief caregiver after this. Maybe that old woman can help.

"Thank you, Kumo; you did great," I said, giving her a pat on the head. She looked at me possessively, and her entire face turned red, and just as usual, she began glitching out.

"Darling!"

After I was done spending time with Kumo, I saw her off and then left the office.

I needed to speak with the chief caregiver, but just as I left the lodge, Selthia rushed towards me with a massive bite mark on her cheek.

"Darling!"

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