When we got outside, Hayden was on the ground holding her neck. Blood was all over her blouse and her hand. Her neck was bleeding. She looked like she was in shock.
I’d know that look anywhere. The look of terror. It plagued my memories. It’s the look I left on many of my victims faces.
Hayden was attacked by a vampire.
Hope ran up to Hayden and knelt down on the floor next to her. To my surprise, and Hope’s too, Hayden grabbed onto Hope and pulled her closer.
She spoke shakily and barely above a whisper. “It...it was a…a vampire.”
No one else would have been able to hear her, but I did. And so did Francesca.
Hope’s eyes went straight to Francesca. Her eyes were full of rage. “What did you do!”
“Hold on just a second. I had nothing to do with this. I was with this fool the entire time.”
Hope tried to get up, but Hayden grabbed onto her and pulled her closer to her. She let go of her wound. It was already starting to heal, but it looked pretty nasty. The vampire got her good.
Hayden wrapped her arms around Hope and held onto her tightly. “Please, don’t leave me.”
What the hell did the vampire do to her?
It was like looking at a new Hayden. She wasn’t a vulnerable person. I didn’t think she was even capable of shedding a tear, let alone showing this much emotion. Hope hugged her back and whispered in her ear that it would be okay.
I looked at Francesca. “One of your minions?”
“I don’t have any minions. I’m in town alone right now. I didn’t want my father’s vampires reporting back to him on my every move.” She looked at me seriously. “Wyatt, this was not me.”
She was telling the truth. I could tell. I knew everything about this woman, including when she was being dishonest.
I looked down at Hope and Hayden hugging each other and grimaced. If this wasn’t Francesca, then there were even more vampires in Salem Point. More vampires were coming after Hope. And I had no idea how to stop them.
Chapter 19: Hope
“She was so scared.”
Knight was sitting next to me on the couch. We were playing a game together. He was winning, again. It wasn’t really fair. He had an advantage. He grew up playing these. None of the foster homes I stayed in had video games and if they did they didn’t let me play them.
“And she hugged you?”
“Yes.”
“Honestly, that’s more surprising than a vampire attacking Hayden.”
I had to suppress a laugh. This wasn’t a laughing matter. Someone attacked Hayden and scared her half to death. They scared her to the point of hugging me, which just showed how awful it must have been.
There was so much blood. I was surprised she was even still breathing. Apparently if she wasn’t a werewolf she would have died. A human would have died for sure with that much blood loss.
“I feel terrible.”
“It wasn’t your fault Hope.”
“Vampires are in Salem Point because of me Knight.”
He paused the game and looked at me. “Hey, it’s not because of you. It’s because they’re psychopaths that want to kill you for no other reason than they don’t like who your parents are. This is not your fault Hope.”
I felt like crying. I just wanted this to be over. I wanted to feel safe again. I didn’t want to have to look over my shoulder every second of the day. I wanted the people in my life to be safe. Not to be constant targets that vampires used against me.
Knight wrapped his arms around me and hugged me to his chest. I wrapped my arms around him and leaned into his muscular body. I breathed in the smell of his cologne. His scent always made me feel breathless.
I let the tears fall down my cheeks. I was so tired of holding it in all the time. I had to just let it go. Around Knight, I felt safe enough to do just that.
We pulled apart just enough for him to look down at my face. He wiped my tears with his thumb and smiled at me. “You’re the most amazing person that I’ve ever known, Hope. You care so much about the people that you love. You could never be responsible for such a terrible thing happening. I just wished you believed that too.”
I looked at his lips. I felt like they were magnetically pulling me towards him. I pressed my lips against his and sighed in relief.
Having his lips against mine felt so right. I felt so connected to Knight. Everything about us just seemed to match up like two halves of a locket. Our lips, our personalities. The connection between us was undeniable. He was definitely my mate and I was his. But I wanted to feel even more connected to Knight.
I deepened our kiss and moved onto his lap, straddling him. His hands wrapped around my waist and rested on my ass.
I ran my hands through his hair and let him slide his tongue between my lips. I could feel his erection building beneath me and moaned at the feeling of him rubbing against me.
I needed more of him. I grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled away to pull it over his head. I slid my hand across his hard abdomen and untied his joggers.
As I made my way into his pants, there was a loud knock on the door. We both groaned as we pulled away from each other.
We caught our breath while he grabbed his shirt and slipped it back on. I tried to fix my hair as best I could and took a quick look at myself in the mirror before opening the door. It was Lexie.
I loved her, but right now she was on my shit list.
“Hey.” I was still a little breathless and she could tell.
“You okay?” she asked.
“All good. Perfect. What’s up?”
“I was going to go by to see Hayden. I know you mentioned you wanted to come with me when I went to see her.”
“Right, okay. Cool. I’ll see if Knight wants to come with.”
She suddenly smirked. “Oh, Knight’s here.” She nodded her head. “Makes sense.”
I breathed out through my nose. “Oh, shut up. I’ll go grab him.”
I never got that far with any guy before. I don’t know what would have happened if Lexie hadn’t shown up. I just knew I needed to finish what we had just started.
Chapter 20: Hope
Lexie kept smirking at me and Knight the entire way to Hayden’s house. It was immature if you asked me. So she caught us in the midst of a very hot makeout session that had a very high potential of going all the way. No big deal.
Except it was a huge deal. Not only because it would have been my first time, but because losing my virginity would mean turning into a full fledged werewolf.
Since Hayden and I didn’t act like sisters or friends I hadn’t had a chance to ask her what it was like yet. But Lexie told me some of the things she described and it sounded excruciatingly painful. There were bones breaking and skin tearing. It didn’t sound at all pleasant. In fact, being a werewolf sounded more like a curse. The only plus side would be having a bite capable of killing any vampire that came after me.
I wasn’t looking forward to my first transformation. But the only way to avoid it was to never have sex, and I don’t think that was on the table. Especially with the feelings I’d been having around Knight and Christian. And Wyatt unfortunately.
One day I was going to turn into a hairy beast. I just wasn’t sure if it would be sooner or later.
When we got to Hayden’s, Caleb answered the door and let us in.
“Hayden’s up in her room,” he said. “Thanks for coming by guys. I know it will cheer her up to see her friends.”
I wasn’t so sure Hayden would categorize me in the friend department. I was only here to make sure she was okay.
After the other night I couldn’t get her off my mind. I’d never seen her look so distant before. And the way she clung to me. Hayden Wilson hugged me. It was unfathomable.
That’s how I knew that whatever vampire attacked her really traumatized her. She wasn’t the nicest person, but she didn’t deserve that. No one did.
“How’s she doing?” Knight asked.
“She’s not talking very much. I know all of you already know that this was a vampire. I want you guys to know I’m doing everything in my power to keep every one of you safe. I’m not going to let this happen to Hayden or anyone else again.”
What did that mean? I was afraid to ask. I was still friends with vampires. Obviously not the vampires that did this, but from what Knight told me, Caleb didn’t see much of a difference. All vampires couldn’t be trusted according to Caleb and his pack. My pack.
I understood why he thought that. He was taught that they were the enemy. But I didn’t grow up being taught that and I didn’t think it was true. Christian and Elizabeth weren’t the monsters that they thought they were. Even Wyatt wasn’t. He had his evil moments, but he wasn’t a monster. No matter how much he tried to pretend to be.
“I wouldn’t worry,” Knight said. “We’ll all be on the lookout for vampires now that we know it’s such a huge problem.”
I gave Knight a quick look. I knew where he stood on the vampire issue. His views were pretty close to Caleb’s, even if he wasn’t as vocal about it. The only reason he put up with the Hale’s was because of me.
“You guys can head on up.”
“Thanks Mr. Wilson,” Lexie said.
I smiled at Caleb before following Lexie and Knight up the steps. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“There’s a vampire out there, Hope,” Knight said. “You were probably the intended target. I think it’s good that the packs and the council are getting involved. Maybe they’ll think twice about coming after you again.”
“Can you guys keep it down,” Hayden said after she opened her bedroom door. “My dad has super hearing. He can eavesdrop if he wants to.” She looked at me and rolled her eyes before mouthing ‘our dad’.
“What are you guys doing here?”
“We came to see how you’re doing,” Lexie said.
“You could have just texted. I’m fine. Trying to get some sleep.” She walked back into her room and sat down on her queen sized bed. She looked at her phone while we filed into her room and closed the door behind us.
Hayden was back to being her bitchy self. No surprise there. It was probably just the fear that made her cling to me. She was vulnerable at the time. I’d probably act the same way if a vampire had just made me their snack.
“Do you remember who attacked you?” Knight asked. He spoke gently, so he wasn’t trying to be a dick or anything by bringing it up. He just wanted to make sure the vampire didn’t get a second chance to hurt me or anyone else I cared about.
“Nope. But I know he was a guy. He attacked me from behind. Like I said the thousand other times I’ve been asked.”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “We just want to get the guy that did this.”
“You think I don’t? I’m the one he juiceboxed.”
“That’s not what he’s saying,” I said. I suddenly felt the need to defend Knight. “He’s just trying to help.”
She rolled her eyes and looked at her phone again.
There was a gentle knock on the door. Hayden yelled permission to come in and Caleb poked his head through the door crack. “Hey, I just had an idea if you’re up for it?”
Hayden eyed me before smiling at Caleb. “What Dad?”
“How about I fund a little trip for this weekend. You and your friends can spend some time at the cabin this weekend. What do you think?”
She shrugged. “Sounds fine.”
He didn’t get the reaction he seemed to be hoping for, but he smiled anyway. I had the feeling that Hayden’s attitude with Caleb had more to do with me than it had to do with her attack. She was angry with him for cheating on her mother and conceiving me. I can’t say I blamed her. I’d be pissed too. I don’t know how she managed to bite her tongue for so long.
“How about you guys? Sounds fine too?”
Lexie nodded unsurely. “Sure. Yeah, that could be fun.”
“Great. I’ll set it up.”
“Great,” Hayden said, not looking up from her phone.
Caleb excused himself and left us to stand around in awkward silence while Hayden continued looking at her phone.
Lexie finally cleared her throat. “We’ll let you get some rest.”
“Nice of you to stop by. We should do this again sometime.”
Knight shook his head as he and Lexie headed for her door. I hung back a moment. “If you need anything, let me know.”
Hayden stopped scrolling, but didn’t look up at me. I sighed and followed my friends.
When I got to the door, Hayden spoke. “Thank you, Hope.”
I smiled to myself. “You’re welcome, Hayden.”
Maybe there was hope there after all.
Chapter 21: Christian
I was going with Hope and the others to Black Bear Mountain. Elizabeth was tagging along too. Wyatt claimed he wasn’t going to be there, but I think he was lying. There was no way he’d let Hope leave town for an entire weekend without him being closeby.
Snow wasn’t really my thing. I certainly didn’t know how to ski and I wasn’t going to be making an attempt at trying.
I was going on this trip for one reason and one reason only. Hope.
Knight was going too unfortunately. I wasn’t sure how I was going to get through an entire weekend living in the same house as him. I guess we were about to find out.
When I got to Hope’s house to pick her up, Gemma answered the door and let me in. “Excited for the trip?” she asked me.
I nodded. “Of course.”
She laughed. “You’re not a very good liar are you Christian?”
I smiled sheepishly. “Am I that obvious?”
“That or I’m just very perceptive.”
I followed her into the kitchen. She was working on making herself a cup of coffee. She looked at me and asked if I wanted a cup.
“No thanks. I’m not a big coffee drinker.”
“So the opposite of Hope.”
“Pretty much.”
That girl was worse than a caffeine addict. It amazed me how much coffee she drank.
I didn’t have a lot in common with Hope. We grew up in different eras. We were practically from different worlds.
For all intents and purposes, we were wrong for each other. She definitely had more in common with Knight. But I couldn’t bow out. I might not have been Hope’s mate, but that didn’t negate the connection that I felt with her. I felt drawn to her. I needed to be around her. Even if it ended up not being in a romantic type of way.
“I think it’s good that you guys are getting out of town for the weekend. She doesn’t get to do enough normal things. I’m also glad you’re going with her. I already know you will, but please, look after her.”
“I will. You have my word. And Knight will be there as well. Plus the witches. I think we’ve got Hope covered.”
She smiled. “I’m glad she has friends that care about her so much. It makes my job a little bit easier.”
I could tell how much Gemma cared about Hope. It was a shame that they hadn’t found each other sooner. Hope’s childhood would have been so much better.
Hope came into the kitchen, her bag over her shoulder. She smiled at me before giving me a hug and making her way to the coffee mug already prepared on the counter. “Thank you Aunt Gemma.”
“Of course. Christian here don't like coffee.”
Hope made a look of distaste. “Ugh, I know. He’s such a freak.”
I laughed. “I’m a freak because I don’t guzzle coffee like it’s water?”
“Yeah,” Gemma agreed nonchalantly.
After Hope finished her coffee she turned to me. “Ready to go?”
“Yes.”
She said her goodbyes to Gemma and made her way out of the kitchen.
“You
guys have fun,” Gemma said. “And if you need anything, please call me or text me. And keep in touch.”
“Will do. Bye Aunt Gemma.”
Hope and I were riding together with Elizabeth, Jade, and Knight. The others were riding with Hayden. But when we got outside, Francesca was standing beside Jade.
“What are you doing here?” Hope asked.
She raised an eyebrow. “Do you really think I’d allow you to leave town without me there to watch you? I’m no idiot.”
No she was not, unfortunately.
“Fabulous,” Hope said. She was smiling a fake smile. I knew it was just for Jade’s expense. She was an amazing friend. It’s one of the things that I admired about her. She cared wholeheartedly about the people in her life.
“We should hit the road,” I said. I grabbed Hope’s bag and loaded it into the back with the rest of the luggage.
“This is going to be so much fun,” Jade said excitedly.
Francesca really did a number on her. She was a whole new, annoying Jade. She was way too perky for my liking. I think even Jade would hate herself if she wasn’t under compulsion.
This trip was going to be everything, but fun.
Chapter 22: Hope
The ride to the cabin was horrendous. Francesca kept on compelling Jade and it took everything in me not to blow up on her.
What she was doing to Jade was so wrong. She was making her look like a fool. Jade wasn’t some puppet that Francesca could use for her bidding. She was a person. A human being with feelings.
Francesca was the worst of the worst. I couldn’t see how Christian or Wyatt could ever see any good in her. I was convinced there wasn’t a sliver of goodness in her.
When we got to the cabin, I stormed out of the car. I couldn’t stand being in such close proximity to the she-devil.
The others were already here. We walked into the cabin to join them. Christian and Knight were grabbing everyone’s bags. I don’t want to even get started on how awkward it was to be in a car with those two. Talk about toxic male masculinity.
Saving Hope: A Reverse Harem Paranormal Romance (Bloodmoon Series Book 2) Page 7