Winter's Guardian

by G. Bailey

  "I won't be long," I say, narrowing my eyes at her wagging eyebrows. I know she loves finding me hugging Wyatt, it’s like her grand scheming has finally planned out.

  I quickly shower before drying my hair and dressing in three-quarter length jeans, and Batman top. I a huge fan of the muscular, deep speaking man, I don’t care who judges me for it. I find Wyatt sitting on my sofa, typing on his phone, looking like a hot model in a photo shoot. His blonde hair is a little longer than we met now and falls down his forehead. Wyatt looks up reminding me so much of how my feelings for him are as strong as they are for Jaxson. Should I tell Wyatt I let someone else kiss me?

  His dark eyes lift taking me in, a slight lift of his lips at the Batman symbol.

  "Beautiful as always Winter, I believe I’ve seen Atti in a terrible shirt like yours." He says looking away from me as a shimmer of pain hits his handsome face.

  "What was she like?" I ask, calmly going to sit next to him. I can’t explain it but I feel like he needs to talk to me about her. To be honest, I feel like he is hiding so much of himself from me. I want him to let me in, I need him too.

  "She was a wild cat. I can’t explain her, no one could really but she didn't deserve her ending and I would do anything to change it." He drops his head as he speaks.

  "It's not your fault." I remind him, I take his hand wanting to comfort him.

  "Let’s go." Wyatt stands with his whole body tense, as he pushes my hand away.

  "Sorry, I didn't mean to," He cuts me off by saying,

  "You don't know a thing Winter." He walks out expecting me to follow. I take my time getting my stuff and locking the door, so he has time to calm down. How did she die and what was her name?

  Why do I have a bad feeling that Wyatt feels responsible for her death?

  Wyatt is sitting inside his car when I come out, and I go to the passenger side to open the door.

  Sliding into the seat, I do up my seatbelt up as he drives; his hands grip the steering wheel so hard I'm worried he will break it. The tension is strong as he drives us to the cafe. I go to get out the car and Wyatt finally says.

  "I'm sorry, I just feel guilty for the way I'm looking at you, the way I looked at Demi." He speaks her name softly. A brief glimmer of jealously ripples through me before I realise I’m getting jealous of a dead woman.

  "She wouldn't want that if she loved you," I say. I let myself out the car not waiting for him, as I walk in. Honestly, I’m not sure what I’m doing. There are too many secrets between us and I can’t be like the girl he is clearly remembering.

  "Winter, please wait," Wyatt shouts behind me and I jump when he is suddenly in front of me. A brief whoosh of wind is the only sound that I heard in my ears.

  "How did you?" I ask, backing away from him, a little worried now. I know Harris told me about other supernaturals but could I have been dating one the entire time? Is that why I feel like he is different. I look at Wyatt, seeing him in new eyes as everything comes together. I’m so stupid, of course, he is a supernatural and I know which one. It’s clear he is a vampire. The coldness of him, the fast speed and how he seems to struggle to be close to me, I imagine it’s hard to date your food source. Although I could imagine dating chocolate, yep that sounds good.

  "Shit, sorry I didn't mean to," He stops talking suddenly, and grabs my arm, pushing me behind him.

  "Your father wants to see you." A gravely dark voice says behind me. Wyatt’s whole body tenses as he looks over my shoulder. He moves around me, a quiet warning in his eyes as he looks at me once.

  "Fine, let me take," Wyatt starts talking but the gravely speaking man speaks again.

  "Let’s see the pretty food you have there." The man interrupts Wyatt.

  "You will forget that you've ever seen her," Wyatt says, his voice dripping with power. The force of his words blast against my mind, making me want to do what he says. I let out a strangled gasp as I push him out of my head. Wyatt turns to look at me, fear ripping through his expression before I shake my head and he looks away.

  "The king sent me for her and we have your blood in us. Don’t bother with your tricks little prince." The man says. I move slightly around Wyatt to have a look at the man. The man is a very tanned and huge, with a bold head that has a red crown tattooed on the side. He is wearing some kind of all black outfits that has a circle in red on the shirt pocket. I'm too far away to see what it is but it looks like a red crown, like his tattoo. His look is pure evil as he sneers at me and licks his lips.

  "She isn't going anywhere," Wyatt says, his words dripping with a silent warning and crippling power.

  The man laughs at Wyatt’s dark words and before I know what's happening Wyatt has left me to punch the massive guy in the head. The force makes him slam back into a nearby car, sounding the alarm. The other man, who I now can see, is a smaller white guy with greasy black hair. His beady eyes lock onto me and with a speed, I've not seen before, rushes at me. I hold in a very girly squeal as just before he grabs me, he is pulled from behind and thrown in the same direction as the other guy by Wyatt.

  "Winter trust me alright?" Wyatt says, as he throws me over his shoulder and everything goes blurry. I must have blacked out because the next thing I'm aware of is a soft hand stroking my hair and loud voices.

  "How on earth are we going to explain all of this to her? She will think we are all crazy." Alex says as I become aware it's her who is stroking my hair.

  "I can't stay away from her, I want to but I can't now. He will send someone else and I will have to take her to him. He must think I’ve found my mate or I’m going to turn her." Wyatt says from not far away.

  "Great," Alex says in a tense voice.

  "Who will?" I ask, opening my eyes and sitting up on my bed. Alex is sat next to me and Wyatt is standing by the door.

  My eyes lock with his as he says,

  "My father, he will know you mean something to me now, and we will want to know about you."

  "Why would he hurt me?" I ask pulling my arm away from Alex, when she tries to hold me back from getting off the bed.

  "Because you’re human and humans are literal chew toys for him, sweetheart." He says with a cold gaze. I feel like I’m under some kind of test as he watches me.

  "And what are you?" I ask, wanting him to tell me. I know the answer and I’m sure he knows I do.

  "A vampire." He answers bluntly and crosses his arms. He has a look like he expects me to start screaming and I raise my eyebrows at him.

  "Hell, you don't even sparkle," I mutter and Alex snorts in laughter behind me. I even see a small smile on Wyatt’s face.

  "No, I don't." He says with a slightly confused look at me.

  "Can you keep me safe?" I ask him. We watch each other for a while before he answers. I repeat all the warnings Harris gave me about vampires being dangerous but I know Wyatt. I know he is dangerous, only a fool wouldn’t pick up on that but not to me. I don’t think he is evil and that’s all that matters. I might have to avoid the family dinners at his house though.

  "You should be asking if you’re safe from me." He finally replies with a small dare on his lips.

  "I know I am," I say firmly. I trust him even if that makes me a fool. Then I am a big fool.

  Wyatt tilts his head to the side before nodding at me. I stay still as he moves closer, his cold hand winding into my hair and he pulls us together until our lips meet. We both sigh at the close contact before he moves away, stopping the kiss.

  "You are." He whispers, the words go through me, with the promise his voice holds.

  "It makes a lot of sense." I laugh to myself.

  "Sorry, why aren't you freaking out? I freaked out when Drake told me. You just believe him?" Alex questions me, standing off the bed to face me.

  "He's not the first supernatural I've met." I wink at her and she frowns.

  "Who?" she asks but I think she is lying. I don’t know how I know that but it’s a sister thing. I know Alex better than I know myself.

/>   "Yes Winter who? Or what?" Wyatt asks a protective quality to his tone.

  "Would they be safe from you, if I told you?" I ask him.

  "I can't promise you that." He replies, a grim look on his face as he realises I won’t tell him.

  "Then I'm not saying a word, why was I passed out by the way?" I quickly change the subject as his eyes darken.

  "Who Winter?” he asks again, ignoring my question.

  "No," I say holding my chin up high as his eyes start glowing in a similar way that Jaxson does but there so dark instead, almost black like the night. Jaxson’s glows like the earth, so bright that you wish you walk into them. Wyatt’s are dark and almost like you could lose yourself in them if you attempted to get close.

  Wyatt moves so quickly, like a bullet, until he standing right in front of me again. I take a deep breath to calm myself as his smell surrounds me. I get angry that he is pushing this out of me as his stubborn gaze meets mine.

  "I can't make you tell me but I wish you would trust me. I need you to trust me because your mine." He strokes the side of my cheek.

  "I'm not yours Wyatt." I whisper.

  "Not yet but you won’t just belong to me, will you sweetheart?" He whispers back. I have no idea what he is talking about but he just smiles down at me.

  "They are gone, they will be back. I don’t think they got Winter’s scent if they did, we would know. If your dad wants to meet her, you can’t fight him on this alone." Drake says as he comes in the room, stopping close to Alex but speaking to directly to Wyatt.

  "Thanks, Drake," Wyatt says finally looking away. I move back next to Alex, who is looking at me with wide eyes.

  "So your boyfriend is a vampire." I try to joke and she laughs.

  "Actually, her mate is." Drake corrects, coming over to kiss her forehead.

  "You’re mated? Like married?" I ask, a little shocked.

  "Yes, I want to tell you but how could I explain it." She says, looking guilty.

  "I understand." I grab her hand, holding it tight. I do understand there would have been no way to explain this all to me unless I had seen it. I’m sad that I didn’t get to celebrate with her but I can’t change the past.

  "How does that work? I mean you’re not a vampire, are you?" I ask Alex. I mean I would have to be a fool not to notice some of her changes. She has always been beautiful but now Alex looks unreal. Everything about her looks shinier and her eyes are brighter. All the supernatural’s I’ve met look different, better looking than normal humans. Even the two guys that tried to just attack me still had those unique qualities. I end up thinking about Dab and Atti. They never looked human but I ignored it, they must be vampires too. It makes sense if they are friends of Wyatt.

  "Alex shares my abilities and lifespan but is still human in some ways. She has to drink blood from me to survive but only needs a little." Drake tells me as Alex leans onto his side.

  “But you all eat human food. I’ve seen you eat normal food,” I inquire to Wyatt, who smiles.

  “We can eat both, but we would die without a few bags of blood a week.” He tells me.

  "So you'll live a long time," I say looking back at Alex, feeling a little sad that she will outlive me.

  "You might too." She whispers to me as she pulls me into a tight hug. I shake my head next to hers.

  "Too tight." I choke out as she squeezes me.

  “That’s what he said,” Wyatt says, I’m so shocked at his joke that I can’t laugh but everyone else does.

  "Shoot sorry." Alex lets go, blushing slightly.

  “You’ve been spending way too much time with Atti, if you’re coming out with that kind of jokes prince,” Drake says, I can hear the smile in his voice.

  "So, do you drink blood from people?" I ask. I remember Harris saying something about a war and if they are against each other then what am I doing in the middle. The big fact is, that they are all fighting and I am human. Shit, this isn't good, I should really stay away from Jaxson, if I just tell him I can't be around him. Hopefully, then he will leave me alone and then no one has to get hurt. Well except me, when I think of not seeing Jaxson again and I feel like being sick.

  "Yes," Wyatt answers staring at me while trying to pick my thoughts apart.

  "Do you kill people?" I ask and Wyatt goes tense.

  "Not to feed, there are blood banks these days but all my kind doesn’t have the same morals.” He tells me. A shiver flutters through me as I remember that guy that attacked me, I remember him calling me food.

  "Do you kill shifters?" I ask and Wyatt moves into my face again.

  “I'm not a good person Winter, not since Demi but I’m not a monster. I don’t kill unless I have too and the shifter war isn’t my war, it’s my fathers." He tells me, I wrap my arms around his waist and press my head into his chest.

  "There's a war, I get it. Please don't kill anyone else that doesn’t deserve it. That is the only thing I can’t forgive you for." I tell him. I can’t blame him for his past but I would blame him for anything else that happens now.

  "I won’t unless I have to Winter.” He tells me, his lips brush against mine softly.

  "Thank you," I say against his cheek as I move so my head is on his chest.

  "Who are you scared I'm going to kill?" He asks running his hands up and down my back, in a soothing motion.

  "My friends," I tell him.

  "They would try to kill me first if they are supernaturals. I imagine the prince of vampires would be good bait for my father." He tells me. I can't help the chuckles that come out.

  "Prince of vampires, I like that, it's funny," I say.

  “I agree, it sounds like something out of a porno. The prince of the Vampires and the sexy human, Part one,” Alex says with a laugh and I laugh with her.

  "You’re seriously crazy." Wyatt grins down at me.

  "Maybe but you like me." I shrug.

  "Your right I do, I have to go and talk to my father. I might be able to persuade him to leave you alone." He tells me.

  "What would he ask from you to do that?" I ask worrying about what Wyatt would do to keep me safe.

  "I don't know." He says, pulling away from me.

  "Please stay in today, the place is guarded against my kind. I need to take Drake with me and Alex should come too. I'll have to call him at home and he will want to ask them about you." Wyatt tells me. I hold in the chuckle at the idea of the king of vampires answering the phone.

  "I will stay here and wait for you to come back." I smile at him.

  "Promise me?" He asks, watching me closely. I don’t know why he asking me, he looks so serious.

  "I don’t have anywhere to go," I say, having the feeling I shouldn’t promise him anything. Wyatt’s eyes glow before he walks out. I hear Alex follows with Drake not far behind them. They shout bye to me as the door slams shut.

  My phone rings again as I groan, falling to the sofa, what the hell have I gotten myself into.

  There are two loud knocks on my door, which instantly makes me tense up, expecting the door to be slammed open. I remember Wyatt’s words about the place being protected and take a deep breath, the men from earlier can’t get in here. I probably don't want to know about how it's protected.

  "It's Katy and Harris. I'm not going to hurt you. I’m not like some crazy ass bitch we know!" She shouts through the door and I pray my neighbours didn't hear the teen shout that.

  I swing open the door, to two worried faces before I get a face full of brown hair as Katy hugs me.

  "I heard what that skank did to you. Don't worry, Jaxson will deal with her. There’s no way he would let her get away with trying to kill you." She says into my ear.

  "Are you ok?" Harris asks from behind her.

  "Yeah, come in." I nod, looking away from him. Should I tell them to stay away as well? I don’t think I can choose between Wyatt and the wolves who all feel like family to me now. Katy lets me go to walk into my kitchen, and straight to the fridge.

  "Ohh, yo
u have the good stuff. Our mother is on a silly diet and our dads just agree to everything she says." She pulls out Alex's chocolate milkshake and some lemon drizzle cake, I made earlier this week.

  "Katy, you can't just walk into people’s houses and eat their food." Harris starts shaking his head as he sits on my sofa.

  "It's alright," I smirk at Katy.

  "She isn't anyone, she is pack," Katy says, with a mouth full of cake.

  "Katy. At least try to be a girl for once. You have cake on your dress." Harris groans.

  "What are you hear for? Not that I mind seeing you." I change the subject as Katy glares at Harris.

  "You weren't in class and I was worried.” He takes my hand and gently squeezes it.

  “This one hid in my back seat, hiding her scent. That’s an annoying trick she has." Harris mutters.

  “It’s cool and you know it. I’m the master at hide and seek in the pack since I got my powers last year.” Katy laughs.

  “How did you know I was coming? I didn’t tell anyone.” He asks Katy.

  "Well, I overheard you were going to see Winter when you was shouting at Jaxson." Katy admits.

  "Why were you shouting?" I ask and Harris blushes a little.

  "I felt he should have protected you better, we all see how he looks at you and you at him." He tells me. I go to correct him but he shakes his head.

  "It's obvious you guys want to be doing the horizontal dance." Katy winks at me, as she hangs her legs over the side of my chair in the lounge.

  "Katy, God you shouldn't even know about this stuff." Harris groans at her.

  "I'm fifteen, not ten." Katy rolls her eyes at his horrified face.

  “Still, just no.” Harris shakes his head.

  “I’m the only teenage girl in our pack; there are five teenage boys my age. What do you think they talk to me about?” Katy laughs as she winds her brother up.

  “I'll tell our dads, they will help me sort that problem out,” Harris says.

  “Fine, whatever.” Katy waves a hand at him, a faint blush on her cheeks.

  “Do you have different dads then?” I ask.