by Sam Crescent
“I can’t help you until I talk with Darcy,” he said.
“I think the spell the witches and warlocks put on them is wearing off.” Raymond rubbed the back of his neck.
“Don’t worry. I’ll fix everything.”
Raymond nodded. “You want to go to my daughter, don’t you?”
“She’s my mate, Raymond. You can’t keep her from me.”
The other man let out a breath. “She’s been through so much. I don’t want her hurt by anyone or anything.”
Brandon growled. “I’d never hurt her. Elle’s happiness is the only thing I care about.”
Nodding, Raymond moved out of the way. “I love my family, Brandon. I’ll do everything to keep them safe.”
“Well, they’re my family as well.”
He made his way up the stairs to the bedroom at the back of the house. Opening the door, he saw her curled up in a ball underneath the sheets. He closed the door then removed his shirt and jeans. He kept his boxer briefs on for her comfort rather than his own. Brandon preferred to sleep nude than with clothing on.
Before going to bed, Brandon took the time to investigate her bedroom. The cream walls gave nothing away about his woman. The small vanity desk held a few bottles of creams and perfume but no makeup. He already knew she didn’t wear the stuff. Going to her wardrobe, he searched through her clothes. She always dressed modestly without too much skin on display.
When he was satisfied he moved to the bed. Climbing under the sheets he wrapped his arms around Elle. She muttered something in her sleep before settling down against him. Stroking her hair, Brandon stared up at the ceiling.
Why had the fates given him a human mate? He didn’t understand why he’d been given something so fragile. Holding her close, he counted his blessings at the fact he’d finally found her.
The noises outside penetrated his mind. He heard his pack enjoying the afterglow of a good run.
In a few weeks the other species would descend sending his quiet town into disarray. His pack and the humans were always anxious during those visits. The vampires unnerved the locals while the bears scared the people with how large they were. The witches and warlocks were always bickering over some battle they lost. Rubbing his eyes, Brandon tried to push the stress from his mind.
He listened to Raymond as he moved to Elle’s door. The scent of garlic came under the door. Her father had placed a bulb of garlic outside the door. What was going on with this family?
Brandon hated garlic. He hated the stuff in his food and the scent. Pulling away from Elle, he walked to the door, picked up the bulb and went down the stairs. He placed the garlic on the kitchen counter and covered the offending bulb with a cloth. Hunting through the cupboards he found a tin of scented spray. He sprayed the lavender scent all over the kitchen.
When he was satisfied with the lack of garlic scent, Brandon walked into Raymond’s study. He wasn’t used to sleeping straight away after a run. The study was filled with books of old volumes on paranormal and cult creatures.
Open on the desk was a volume dedicated to vampires with regards to the last decade. Brandon had never seen such an extensive collection of books on paranormal creatures. Everything he knew was what his father taught him. He’d met most of the species of the Otherworld. The species he hadn’t met he’d been told he never wanted to know.
Sitting down in Raymond’s chair, Brandon pulled the book into his lap. There were several pictures of vampires with sharp fangs. Blood-suckers. Holy water. Garlic. Mind control. So many words connected with vampires.
He really needed to find out everything Raymond knew about the vampires. All the sectors of the paranormal community kept information about their kind hidden from each other in order to protect themselves. Vampires were far older than many sectors and could manipulate everyone. Brandon wondered if Raymond knew more than the books told. Placing the book back on the desk he saw the book on the wolves underneath it. Curiosity got the better of him. Pulling the book out of the pile, he opened to the first page.
A loud scream rent the air. A chill settled over him.
****
Her mother had been acting strangely for the past couple of days. Elle watched as her mother looked out of window touching her neck. She’d never noticed the marks on her neck before. Two dark points were highlighted against her neck.
“Mom, are you okay?” Elle asked.
“I’m fine, dear. What’s it like being sixteen?”
“Fine. Mom, what’s going on?” She watched as her mom moved toward the back door.
“Nothing. I’ve got a little gift for you.”
Her hand went to the door knob. Elle watched the door open slowly. She knew if her mother opened that door something bad was going to happen.
“Mom, what’s going on? Please, shut the door.”
It was night, and her father had told them both to stay in at night. The city wasn’t safe no matter the time of day.
“Nothing is going to hurt us. You’ll see.”
“Mom, no,” Elle said.
The door opened, and she screamed.
The dream broke apart.
“Wake up, Elle.” Brandon stood over her.
Pulling away from him, Elle scrambled to her feet. Her parents were stood looking at her.
“What’s going on?” Elle asked.
“You screamed. You must have had a nightmare,” Brandon said.
“I’ve never had a nightmare.” She frowned as the dream seemed to vanish from her mind as if it wasn’t there. “I can’t remember,” she said.
His arms surrounded her. “Don’t worry about it.”
After her parents checked to make sure she was fine, Elle moved out of Brandon’s arms. “I’m just going to the bathroom,” she said. She moved to the door then turned back to him. “How come you’re here?”
“You’re here, Elle. I’m not leaving you.”
“I’ve never had a man in my bed before.”
“I know.”
“How do you know?” she asked.
“It’s too late tonight. Go to the bathroom. I’ll be waiting for you.”
Nodding, she moved to the bathroom. Splashing water onto her face she stared at her reflection. What the hell was her dream about?
Staring at her reflection she checked her neck. Two droplets of blood appeared in the mirror. Rubbing her neck, Elle looked at her fingers, but there was nothing there. Staring in the mirror she saw her neck was bare of any blood.
“I’m losing my mind.”
She wiped her face on the towel then made her way down to her bedroom. Brandon lay on the bed with his hands underneath his head.
“You shouldn’t be here,” she said, throwing the covers over and climbing inside.
“If I wasn’t here I wouldn’t be able to chase the dreams away.”
Elle tucked the blanket under her chin.
“I’m not going to attack you and have my wicked way with you,” Brandon said.
“Very funny. I’ve heard about your appetites.”
He tugged the blanket from her strong grip.
“My appetites or that of the wolves?” he asked.
“Does it matter which one? You’d deny either one.”
“I like to fuck, Elle. I’m not a young man. I’ve had my fair share of pussy.”
“You’re a disgusting pig,” she said, turning away from him.
Brandon chuckled. “This is who I am, baby.”
“Then I don’t want to get to know you.”
He stroked her arm. She tensed, but he did it again and then again. She couldn’t give in to his touch when it ignited a fire within her. No man affected her in the way Brandon did. Closing her eyes she took several deep breaths. His hand moved around her waist. She turned on him.
“Don’t touch me,” she said.
“I’m not touching your tits or cunt, Elle. I’m holding you in my arms. Don’t you feel different with me close?” he asked.
Thinking about his words, she
did feel calmer. The fear brought on by her dream was no longer at the centre of her mind.
“Admit it. You feel different.”
“Yes, what is that?”
“We’re mated, Elle. You’ll feel protected by me and safe. No matter how much you hate me or want to push me away, you won’t be able to.”
Licking her lips she took the chance to glance in his eyes. “Does this work both ways?” she asked, dropping her gaze after several seconds.
What was it about his eyes that stopped her from looking at them?
“Yes, it works both ways.”
She stroked the arm that rested against her stomach. Curiosity getting the better of her, she started to ask him questions.
“When you change, what is it like?” she asked. She’d never seen a wolf transition.
“The first change is painful. We’re born wolves, and the change is in our blood, but we’re not used to changing. Bones need to be broken and fixed back together. Our skin splits and turns to fine hairs.”
She winced at the brutal picture he displayed. “How do you survive it? Is there blood everywhere?”
He chuckled. “We survive it because it’s in our nature to be wolves. We’re supposed to turn. No blood is spilt, and after the first couple of changes we get used to it. My wolf is part of me. The more we accept the beast inside us, the easier the change will be.”
“Does it hurt you?” she asked.
“No. I accept my beast. He’s part of me, and I’d never fight the release that letting him loose gives me.”
“Do you ever wish you didn’t turn?” His arms were huge where they rested on her stomach.
“No. This is what I’ve been born to do. I love changing and love running out in the wild.”
“What colour is your wolf?” she asked.
“Black.”
She thought about the wolf she’d seen outside her bedroom window earlier. “Was that you earlier?” she asked.
“Yes. That’s enough questions for one day.” He kissed her temple. “Get some sleep.”
“Will you be here to chase the nightmares away?” she asked.
“You can count on it.”
Elle closed her eyes. It was the best night’s sleep she’d ever had.
Chapter Eight
Brandon stared at the river several days later. He’d spent every night sleeping next to his mate but not doing anything other than holding her in his arms. Darcy, Drake, and Lewis were preparing for the other creatures to come to Grace Hill. Along with the planned visit, humans had wandered into their town. They were currently staying inside the only hotel available for them. He didn’t like them being in his town or near his mate. One of them from the group was paying a lot of interest in Elle. She didn’t encourage him, but she didn’t shoot the other man down either.
With the other sectors arriving every chance he’d tried to talk with Darcy ended up being interrupted. The meeting took precedence over his human mate, and even as he thought the words they irritated him. Elle was human, but she was his mate. Lori was on his case, and he’d given her far too many warnings.
You’re being light on her because she was a regular fuck until your mate came along.
What mate? She was human.
“Why are you here alone, Brandon?” Darcy asked, moving out of the clearing. “It’s not safe for you to be alone right now.”
“Why isn’t it safe? I’m the alpha.”
“And more of a reason to pick you off, leaving the Northern Forest pack open for someone else to take over. You’re only as strong as your last enemy,” Darcy said, standing next to him.
“You’re always so serious.” Brandon sat down on the edge of the river and paddled his feet into the water.
“I need to be.” Darcy sat down next to him. “You want to talk to me?”
“Yes, I want to know everything about Elle and her family. You were the one to handle her petition.”
Darcy cursed. “Raymond Smith came to me stinking of vampire blood. I don’t know how he found me, but on one of my trips to the city he did. He approached me about this community. He’s a good collector of books and information.”
“I know this. Why was he covered in vamp blood?” Brandon asked.
“His wife was seduced by a vampire. Raymond didn’t know what his wife had that was important to the vampire. By the time I got to her she was almost dead. I gave her my blood to help heal her, and I called on Crazy Lizzy to deal with the spell that wiped their memory.”
Crazy Lizzy was one of the oldest witches. She’d been tortured by warlocks when she was young, which had sent her a little bit loopy. Brandon liked her. She ranted a bit about nothing, but she was strong.
“What happened to Elle?” he asked.
“None of us know. She was bitten but not enough to kill. Raymond killed the vamp before anything else happened. When I spoke to him about it, the vamp was chanting something to her. She was staring into her eyes. Nothing else came from it.”
“They’re here under our protection?” Brandon asked.
“Raymond killed the vamp, but he had symbols along his arms similar to ours.” Darcy pointed at his back then arms. All the men possessed the Northern Forest pack symbols. “He believes they were part of a tribe or something.”
“That’s why he has all those books?”
“Yes. I’ve spoken to him recently, and he can’t find anything of any value. This meeting has him riled.”
“I think this meeting has the whole pack riled,” Brandon said, loosening his shoulders.
“You know your scent will disappear if you don’t claim her soon,” Darcy said after several seconds passed.
“I know.”
They stood and left the forest. Brandon made his way toward the diner. The summer heat was bearing down on the town. He followed the scent of his mate through to the diner, Darcy’s words ringing in his head. For as much as he wanted to take her to his home and claim her, he couldn’t bring himself to do it with the Otherworld species coming. There was so much on his plate right that now adding a human mate to the mix wasn’t in his list.
He walked into the diner and saw the human males sitting in the corner both. Layla was serving Lewis and Drake. Elle was in the corner with the human males. She was writing down their orders. Elle didn’t turn to him or acknowledge his presence in any way. His whole world was focused on her, and yet he got nothing for his trouble. Pulling out the chair so the legs scraped along the floor, gaining her attention and that of everyone else in the diner, Brandon sat down.
With his excellent hearing he listened on the conversation one of the boys was having. He refused to call the humans men.
“Wow, he’s a little childish,” one of the guys said.
“Is that all?” Elle asked.
Brandon watched as she pointed down at the list of meals she’d written down.
“It sure is, baby.”
She nodded, walking away. He saw the one who’d been talking to her check out her ass.
“Dude, what are you doing?” one of his friends asked.
“If we’re here for a while I want to get laid.”
“We’re not staying here.” Another growled.
The guy’s friends clearly knew they weren’t wanted here. It was a shame Asshole didn’t get the same kind of vibe as his friends.
“She’s a little big, but I’d fuck her.”
That was enough. Brandon snatched her arm pulling her against him as she made to move past. She squealed. Her gaze went to his before turning away instantly. He was really starting to get pissed off with her lack of attention. Brandon wanted her eyes on him at all times.
“I’m working, Brandon,” she said.
“You’re not working that table. Get someone else to do it.”
“This is my job. I’m working the table.” She pulled away from him. Her hands smoothed down her skirt as she walked on by.
“She’s a feisty one,” Lewis said.
“If those boys keep
trying to touch her or talk filth about her, they’re fucking dead.”
****
Elle slammed the order down on the counter next to Daisy. The older woman stood flipping burgers. “I smell attitude,” Daisy said.
“Brandon is acting all possessive,” Elle said. Layla smiled at her before taking the order she was carrying back outside.
“Sweetheart, the alpha is not acting. He is possessive. All the wolves are possessive. It’s in our blood. You’re just going to have to deal with it.” Daisy grabbed the order, glanced through it, then started assembling the burgers
“I don’t think I can handle his possessive streak. I’m human. I’m not coded to accept the kind of attitude he’s giving me. It’s not who I am.”
“Sounds to me like you’re doing a lot of moaning, Elle. Men don’t like women who moan.”
“What exactly do men like?”
Elle jumped up on the counter. She needed to rest her feet. Daisy gave her a pointed look. Climbing off the counter, Elle fixed the drinks ready to go with the order.
“Do you mean human men or wolf men?” Daisy asked.
Elle paused, thinking about the question. “Wolf men,” she said, whispering.
The older woman smirked. “You can’t fool me. You’re the Alpha’s woman.”
“I’m not his anything. I don’t even know him.”
“So?” Daisy had her arms folded under her impressive chest.
“I’ve never been with a man. I don’t know what a human man wants, let alone what a wolf man wants.”
“Elle, stop over-thinking everything. Brandon is a good man. He’s not a wolf all the time. I’m sure he’ll be happy to be trained as your little puppy dog.”
Elle laughed at the image of Brandon being a puppy. There was no way that big hunk of man could ever be compared to a puppy.
“Besides, everything is a little different for mates,” Daisy said, going back to work.
“What’s different?” Elle picked up her chocolate milkshake and took a sip.
“Well, for one, your mind is not your own. When you mate completely and accept each other, a connection opens up. I know where my mate is at all times, and he knows where I am. We can even communicate through our thoughts.”