by Ezra Dawn
He stops in front of a huge house in the center of a circular compound of houses. I park the truck in the circular driveway in front of the main house. I climb out slowly and walk up to the porch. He shifts and says “Follow me.” I follow him inside and he leads me down a hallway to a set of polished wooden double doors. “Wait here.” He knocks then enters the office. The door closes and I wait. A few minutes later, he walks out and says “The Alpha will see you. Go on in.”
I nod and slowly walk inside. The man sitting behind the desk looks younger than my dad but just as intimidating if that’s even possible. He leans back in his chair and says “Have a seat.” I sit down in a leather armchair across from him. “You’re a long way from home.”
I nod and say “Yes sir.”
He leans forward on his elbows and says “So, what brings you here?”
I look him in the eye and say “I have a proposition for you.”
He raises an eyebrow and says “I’m listening.”
“I’m sure my father has already called you about the trespassers and has most likely arranged another sit down to discuss another fragile truce.”
“Yes he has. Continue.”
I stand up and start pacing because I can’t do this sitting down “So, my dad is stepping down in two months. I’ll become Alpha at that time but according to pack law I have to take a mate before that can happen. Since I haven’t found my fated mate and it’s likely that I never will. I have to take a bond mate instead. So, I propose a marriage truce. If I take someone from your family line as a bond mate it will unite our packs through marriage and be the ultimate peace treaty.”
I look over at him to make sure he’s still paying attention before continuing “Also, territory lines wouldn’t really matter because we could all live like separate packs but still hunt and run as one across both territories. Therefore, your wolves would no longer be trespassers and the only wolves that would need to be dealt with would be rogues should any pop up. However, I will sever the bond if they cheat on me at any point after we’ve bonded. Same for them if I ever cheat while we are bonded. They have the right to sever the bond from me as well. The truce will still be in effect of course should that happen. This truce will only happen if you agree to it, the person from your family line agrees to it and I become Alpha. If I’m not Alpha when this takes place my dad could decide not to go through with the terms of the truce itself and we’ll end up in a pack war.”
“Are you done?”
I stop pacing and look over at him “Yes sir, I think I am.”
He nods. “Good. I’ll go over your terms with my family this evening and I’ll let you know our decision. Leave your phone number with Ian. He’s the enforcer who brought you in.”
I nod and say “Thank you for your time sir.” I walk out the office and find Ian standing outside the door. “I’m supposed to leave my phone number with you.” He already has a pen and paper ready so I recite my number to him.
“I’ll give this to the Alpha. Just go back out the way you came and take no detours got it?” I nod and head towards the front door.
Once I’m safely back in Asphalt Bay territory I can finally breathe easily. My phone beeps and I look down at it to find a text message. I read it in short glances while I drive.
Unknown: We accept your proposal. We’ll discuss details at a later date.
I park my truck in the driveway at my house and walk inside to find my dad and mother both sitting at the kitchen table while dinner is cooking on the stove. My younger sister is sitting on the couch watching TV.
I look at them and say “Am I in the wrong house?”
My father looks up at me and says “No you’re in the right house. We just wanted to have dinner with you that’s all.”
I sit at the table and say “Ugh huh, what’s going on?”
My father looks at me and says “I got an interesting phone call about an hour ago from Bastille the Alpha of the Coal Springs pack. He said he was looking forward to becoming in-laws. So tell me son, what did you do?”
I scratch my head and say “Well, umm I may have gone to Coal Springs today and made Bastille an offer he couldn’t refuse concerning a peace treaty.”
My dad jumps out of his chair “So you sacrificed yourself? When I said you had to take a mate this was not what I meant!”
I smiled and said “Dad, it’s fine. As you said, I will most likely never find my fated mate so if taking a bond mate from Bastille’s family line means that we can form a permanent truce with their pack and avoid another pack war then that’s what I’ll do. I’m fine with it. There’s nothing to worry about. I’ve already laid out my terms with Bastille so there’s no point in arguing. Now, let’s have dinner and just enjoy the fact that you’re going to be gaining a new family member soon.”
Chapter Four
Lykos
The new case Valik gave me sent me to Bumfuck, Indiana where I was told to investigate allegations of a rogue vampire coven in the area. If it turned out to be true my orders were to handle the situation with the use of deadly force. As usual. The Vampire Council had caught and dealt with some of them originally but the ones that got away dropped off their radar. They haven’t been able to track them down since. I’ve already figured out that there are rogues here. Wasn’t hard with all the sudden deaths by exsanguination.
Once I discover where they have their hideout I’ll blow the place sky high. After, I surround the place with sunlamps of course, don’t want anyone escaping. It won’t kill them but it’ll weaken them just enough to throw them back inside. Vampires are virtually impossible to kill but they do have a few weaknesses. Prolonged exposure to sunlight makes them sick and eventually leads to death. Beheading works if you want a quick but true death. Fire also works but it takes longer.
I’m currently standing in a bar the rogues frequent looking every bit the badass twink that I’m not, with tight ripped jeans, the tightest mesh tank top I could find, black boots, eyeliner, purple nail polish and lip gloss. I’ve been nursing some fruity cocktail for the past half hour while scanning the room. It tastes like shit but it’s part of the cover. I need it to draw a rogue vampire’s attention.
If I get one to take me home with him, I’ll get the details on their hideout and get laid at the same time. It’s a win win situation. Valik would probably frown upon sleeping with the enemy but I don’t give a shit. I haven’t had sex in over eight months and I need to get laid. If by filling that need with a target I get information I need then I don’t see it as a conflict of interest.
I look down at my half-drunk cocktail and try to decide whether or not I want another of these nasty ass things or if I want something else. I go to motion for the bartender when someone comes up behind me and says into my ear “My, aren’t you a pretty little wolf.”
I smile to myself. Jackpot. I slowly turn around and say “I might be a wolf and I might be pretty but, I am most certainly not little.”
Another man walks over and puts his hand on the first one’s shoulder. “What are you doing all the way over here Ben? The girls are waiting.”
The one named Ben says low enough that only the three of us can hear. “I found something far more interesting than a human woman.”
The other one looks at me, takes a discreet sniff and smiles. “So you have.”
Ben says “Isn’t he a pretty wolf Max?”
Max nods and says “A very pretty wolf.”
They both move closer to me and Ben touches my cheek. “Why don’t you come with us?” I almost want to laugh. A twofer hot damn. I throw some money down on the bar for the bartender, grab the two vamps by their ties and start walking toward the exit. On my way there I’m stopped by two very busty women. One blond and one brunette “Where are you taking our dates?”
I laugh and say “Anywhere but here. We have business to attend to.”
The blond one says “You fucking faggot how dare you try to steal our dates!”
I roll my eyes.
&n
bsp; Ben says “Caroline, that’s not very polite. Max and I are both bisexual and often share dates. Just because we found this young man to be better suiting of our tastes doesn’t mean you have to be so rude.”
Caroline’s mouth gapes open like a fish while the other one says “So what if you’re bisexual. That doesn’t mean that he can come in here dressed like a slut and act like a slut by taking our dates.”
I let out a growl and both men glance down at me. I step forward right into the brunette’s face and say “Insult me one more time little girl and I will drop you so hard you won’t even remember your fucking name when you wake up.” I added a cold knife like edge to the sound of my voice so she would know that I meant it. She let out this little squeak then dragged her friend away leaving behind the acrid scent of fear.
As soon as we were out of the building Ben busts out laughing. “Where’d you learn to sound so cold and threatening little wolf?”
I laugh and say “It’s not hard to master. I may not look it but I’m kind of old.”
Ben and Max look at each other and say “How old?”
I laugh and say “I’m not telling you that.” They turn down a side street and I walk with them. I act like I’m not paying attention to where we’re going but I’m actually following every move, every street sign, every turn, etcetera. When we end up in an empty lot I know shit is about to go down. Ben walks up to me and says “I’m sorry about this little wolf.” Then he kicks the back of my legs so I fall to my knees.
Max makes some kind of whistling noise and more vamps come out through the trees. I count eight plus Max and Ben make ten. Shit this is going to be a pain in the ass to get out of. This is what I get for thinking about sex instead of business. Stupid ass individual.
They all stop in a circle around me. “Ooh a wolf, you brought us a good one this time. Where’s his pack?”
Ben says “From what we could tell, he came alone. There are no packs in the area.”
Ben has a grip on my wrists binding them together. I close my eyes and breathe deep, fuck this is going to hurt. I wiggle slowly so that I’m crouching on my tip toes with my feet under me instead of my knees.
The other vamp says “Oh goodie, well then let’s eat boys.” I take that as my cue and launch myself in a backflip putting my arms in front of me instead of behind my back. It hurt like a bitch to do but I succeeded as I am now on top of Ben’s shoulders with my legs around his throat. I use some lightning and zap his hands so he lets go of my arms.
“Ouch! What the hell was that?!”
I look around the circle to gauge the threat level. Most of the vamps here are still in shock over what has happened so far but none are moving any closer. Except for Max. He’s slowly moving forward with his hands raised in a friendly gesture. “Stop there Max.”
He stops and says “Calm down little wolf, no one is going to hurt you. Let Ben go.”
I laugh and say “Like fuck you aren’t, I’m not some naïve child like you seem to think I am. All of you want to feed from me and with ten of you and one of me you’ll drain me dry. I’m not stupid. I told you I was old Max. Didn’t you believe me?”
Max shakes his head and says “Of course not. You wouldn’t say how old you were. You played it off like a joke. Only a young person does that when they want to appear like they’re older. On top of that you talk like a younger person and you dress like a twink. So, I just assumed you were in your hundreds.”
I stare at him blankly before laughing harder than I have in a long time. “Oh wow, that was good. You got me there. You’re totally right I’m in my hundreds.”
He raises an eyebrow at me and says “I am?”
I glare at him. “Of course not you fucking idiot. I’m half a millennia over 3000 years old. You do the math while I kill all your friends.”
I started with Ben. I gripped his head with my legs, flipped backwards, and twisted, decapitating him in a complicated maneuver most people couldn’t have pulled off. I dropped to the ground and started shooting lightning from my fingertips at the rest setting them aflame before they even knew what hit them. The ones I don’t get with lightning I behead and add to the flames, finishing Max off last. Once the bodies are burned I use my power over the sea to draw water from a nearby pool and put out the flames before it spreads.
I look up at the stars and sigh. That so did not go as planned. Better call Valik because I know I’m going to get my ass chewed. I pull out my phone and dial. “Do you have any idea what time it is?”
“Time for you to yell and scream at me about how stupid I am then send someone to pick me up before I get arrested for arson?”
He shouts “What?! What happened? What did you do?! You weren’t around humans were you?!”
I sigh. “I tried to lure out a couple of the rogues so that they would lead me to their hideout but they led me to a vacant lot and eight other rogues instead. They planned to drain me dry. I killed them all and burned the bodies in said vacant lot. It isn’t far from a human neighborhood so I’m sure someone saw it. I put the fire out of course but I have no way back to my hotel. It’s too late for a taxi and I took one to get to the club instead of driving my SUV. So, I need a pick up.”
He sighs and says “Sometimes, I don’t know what to do with you. I’ll send someone to your location. If you hear sirens hide before they get to you and update me on your location.”
He hangs up without giving me an ETA on the pick up so I know I pissed him off a little bit. I walk to the edge of the lot and sit on the sidewalk to wait. It takes a full hour for my pick up to arrive and by then I’m pretty sure I could have walked back to the hotel or teleported. I don’t teleport very often only when I really need to. I usually only teleport to my home island when I don’t feel like taking the boat and also to Olympus when I want to visit my uncle and father. It takes a lot of energy out of me to do it.
By the time I get back to my hotel room I’m exhausted. I strip out of my clothes and drop myself into a scalding hot bath to relax for a while. If I fall asleep and drown then so be it. Not like I’d die from it anyways. I’d just wake up in a pool of water like it was no big thing. Sometimes it’s a pain in the ass being immortal and invulnerable at the same time. It’s not the good kind of pain either. God, I need someone of my own. I really can’t stand being alone anymore.
Pretty soon I’ll be picking up men when I should be working instead to ease the loneliness and that’ll be bad for business. If things take a turn down that road I’ll end up getting my ass kicked by Valik or worse his brother. Krealik. He even scares me and that’s saying something. That man could make even the coldest and hardest of men run scared with a single look. He’s one scary badass motherfucker. I would hate to be the one who ended up tied to him. With his evil glares and long sullen silences. It’s like he may not be talking but you just know he’s plotting a million ways to kill or maim your ass just by the look in his eye. Fucking scary.
I try to stay far away from him. Very, very far away. As far away as physically possible and then some. Man, I seriously need a vacation but for now, I think I’ll just soak in this bathtub and imagine I’m on a beach somewhere with a bottle of tequila and two cabana boys that are there to wait on me and take care of my every need. Mmm yeah, that sounds so nice. I close my eyes, lie back in the tub, and say to myself “Hellooo, cabana boys. Mrowr.” If you speak of my cat like noises to anyone I will deny it ever happened.
Chapter Five
Declan
I have a meeting today with Bastille to go over the details of the mating ceremony. He’ll be bringing a couple people from his family line that I can choose from so, on the bright side I’m not going to be permanently saddled with someone I’m going to hate. Which is a good thing, I’d really hate to be stuck with someone I despise for the rest of my life.
My father is coming to the meeting with me so that he and Bastille can go over the terms of the truce that I laid out. It’s just a formality in case my father decides he wants t
o change some of the terms before allowing me to go through with it. I think he’s still in shock over the whole thing. I know I seem like an irresponsible prick but I do think of what’s best for the pack. I mean after all, I’m supposed to be the next Alpha and without this truce we’ll have another pack war on our hands.
We don’t need another pack war. The last one resulted in a lot of deaths according to my father and it’s taken a long time to come back from that. Another one could wipe us out completely. By sacrificing myself it saves a lot of lives. I don’t consider it a sacrifice though even if my father does. I would rather do this and save a lot of people on both sides than not do it and end up in a pack war later on down the line. It’s the most practical option.
I check the time and sigh. Time to get this over with. We’re meeting Bastille and his family in a restaurant on the outskirts of town. It’s neutral ground right between both territory lines. I hear it’s owned by a couple of vampires but they’re only around at night. I walk out of the house and climb into the truck with my dad. He’s already behind the wheel waiting for me. He pulls out onto the street and says “Are you ready for this son?”
I sigh and say “As I’ll ever be.”
He looks over at me and says “You know, you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”
I look at him and say “Yeah, I do.” I turn back to look out the window and notice a black SUV following us. At first I don’t think anything of it, lots of cars go the same direction to get to the highway but after my dad takes three more turns and it’s still there, I glance at my dad and say “We’re being followed.”
He glances into the mirror and says “I know. Don’t worry about it. We’re almost there anyways.”