by E A Price
Early morning TV was dire under the best of circumstances and Melanie was far too agitated to concentrate on anything. Dozens of pack members were out hunting or trying to trap Him. They were all putting themselves in danger because of her. If she had never come to Rose he would never have followed her, the town would be safe.
How could she face them if one of them got hurt? Or worse killed?
She harrumphed for about the fiftieth time since everyone had left. She looked over to her bodyguard, Mal. Hans had insisted that someone stay with her, ostensibly to guard her but she had heard Hans berating Mal to make sure that he didn’t let her leave the house. Already he knew her too well.
Every time she got up from the couch to go to the kitchen or even the bathroom Mal hovered over her, demanding where she was going. Ready to pounce in case she made a break for the door.
He was currently lazing on Acksel’s recliner stuffing himself with a bag of chips. Right after everyone left Mal went to the kitchen and helped himself. The boy sure could eat, Acksel would be lucky to come home to any food.
Ilse, the twins, Rosalee, Kayleigh, Terri, Liv and Carly had all rung to make sure she was okay. She ended up repeating the same story over and over. The female pack members were holed up in the Alpha’s house with the pups. Adam had insisted.
Kayleigh had offered to do a location spell on the vampire, which was a great idea except they didn’t have anything that belonged to the vampire, so unfortunately that plan was dead in the water.
Her phone chirruped. Probably Hans. He had been texting and calling her just about every ten minutes since he left, checking she was still safe. He, Adam, Alec and Jake were waiting by the holiday bungalows. Liv, against her better judgement, had given them some wolfsbane to hide their scents. It was toxic to wolves but as long as they didn’t make a habit of going near it the four of them would probably be okay this one time.
She frowned, it wasn’t Hans. It was his sister Britt. She clicked answer. “Hey Britt.”
She got off the couch and Mal made as if to follow her when she shook her head. He settled back into the recliner and resumed munching.
Melanie walked into the kitchen. “What’s up?”
“Princess...”
Melanie froze, her blood running cold.
His silky voice was dangerously low. “Princess, did you think you could whore around with that wolf and I wouldn’t find out?”
She couldn’t breathe, he chest tightened. What had happened to Britt? “How... how did you get this phone?” She spluttered.
“A pretty little wolf gave it to me...”
Melanie shook with rage. “I swear if you hurt her...”
He chuckled horribly. “I don’t want her... but if I don’t get you then she’ll have to do...”
Melanie glanced through the kitchen door. Mal’s attention was centred on the TV and his bag of chips. “What do you want?” She asked quietly.
“You Melanie. Get rid of that oaf you’re with and come outside the house... I’ll be waiting.”
She trembled. He was so close to her, the only thing stopping him from coming in was a lack of an invitation. She could refuse to go outside, call Hans and the Alpha and get them to rush over.
But then he might burn the house down around her out of spite. Or worse Mal would rush out to attack him and get killed. She couldn’t allow that, she couldn’t allow him to die, to leave Terri and his unborn baby alone.
Not to mention what he might already have done to Britt...
He interrupted her thoughts. “Don’t bother calling that wolf you’ve been fucking, the moment you do I’ll know and his sister will be dead. You don’t want her death on your conscience do you?”
She hung her head, resigned to what she had to do. “You promise Britt won’t be hurt?”
She could hear the evil smile in his voice. “Of course, I only want you Melanie. You belong to me...”
She licked her lips. “Give me a few minutes.”
“I’ll be waiting princess...”
The phone cut off. She placed her phone on the kitchen island and tried to stop her hands from shaking.
She looked around the room and settling on a heavy frying pan. She quietly walked back into the living room. Shivering at what she had to do.
Standing behind Mal she raised the pan. “Forgive me...”
Mal half turned round. “Wha...”
Melanie brought the pan down heavily on his head, thankfully shifters had very good healing abilities, he’d be out cold for a little while but there wouldn’t be any lasting damage.
It hit him with a resounding thud. He blinked a couple of times in disbelief before slowly slumping over. She checked his pulse... just in case. It was beating strongly.
Wiping her sweaty hands on the borrowed sweatpants she slowly moved towards the front door.
Chapter Thirteen
Hans fidgeted irritably. Sun up was nearly upon them, it was looking less and less likely that the bastard vampire was going to turn up.
He shivered at the early morning cold. He was naked so that he could shift to his wolf form at a moment’s notice. He was waiting in his human form so he could stay in communication with Melanie. It had wrenched him to leave her, but he had to find the damn vampire.
He ground his jaw, forcing himself to stay quiet. His wolf was roaring in his head but Hans dare not make a noise just in case it was near. Wouldn’t want to scare it off before he had a chance to rip out its heart.
He checked his phone again. He’d texted Melanie two minutes ago and she still hadn’t replied. He was trying to be patient, trying to allow for the fact that she might have gone to the toilet or might be on the phone with someone else checking up on her. He knew the women in his family had been worried about her and lord could they talk!
He was trying not to get angry, not to worry but it wasn’t easy. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle. Something was wrong. He tried calling her. The phone rang over and over again. She wasn’t talking on the phone, but she still wasn’t answering. He furiously flexed his claws.
He tried calling Mal. No answer. He tried Acksel’s land line. Still no answer. His beast was jumping around roaring at him, trying to force the change. Something was definitely wrong.
He couldn’t wait another moment, he had to get over there.
Roughly he stomped out of his hiding spot and howled. His pack mates emerged, they were already shifted to their wolves. The largest of the wolves, Adam the Alpha, snarled at him before the air shimmered around him and he became human again, shortly followed by the other two shifting as well.
“What the fuck Hans?” Roared Adam. “You just told the vampire where we were!”
Hans trembled with impatient rage. “Neither Melanie or Mal are answering their phones. I tried the house phone and still nothing. Something’s wrong.”
Alec looked toward the sunrise. “That’s not good.”
Adam nodded. “Let’s get back over there.”
The four nude men rushed to find their hidden clothes, phones and keys. Not wanting to waste any time they didn’t bother to dress before clambering into their trucks and racing toward Acksel’s house.
*
Melanie slowly turned the door knob and walked out of the house. It felt like she was walking to her death, which in a way she was.
She stepped out onto the porch and scanned the area. Everything was peaceful.
Her legs felt like lead, they didn’t want to move. In protest about what she was doing. She forced herself to walk down the porch steps, whipping her head round trying to spot him. Where was he?
She stood with her hand on her hips in Acksel’s makeshift driveway. Her heart was hammering away in her chest, sweat prickling all over her.
She just wanted it to be over, Him to come out, claim her and then for her to wake up with only flashes of vague horrific memories. It was this part she hated. The waiting, the tension, knowing he was out there watching her, waiting to pounce.
She suspected this was the part he loved the most.
Sure he drank her blood, and witches blood is more powerful than human’s, and yes he took his pleasure with her body, but what he really loved was smelling her fear.
Maybe he was lying? Maybe he’s not really here after all? Yes, yes! She wanted that to be true so badly.
She could just walk back into the house, no problem. She turned back slowly, afraid of making any sudden movements. Carefully she started climbing the porch steps.
An unexpected whoosh of air behind her startled her and she tripped on the steps, diving headlong into them.
“Unnghhh.” She bit her lip as she fell, she could taste the coppery blood seeping into her mouth. The bastard had been hiding in the trees.
She inelegantly turned over on the steps to see him smiling coldly at her, his blackened eyes boring into her. He sniffed the air and his pale face lip up.
“Delicious Melanie, you smell delicious as always...”
She spat out some blood and he leapt on her covering her mouth with his. She was trapped beneath him against the stairs as his cold mouth plundered hers. He straddled her body as his hands tightly gripped her shoulders. She could feel his erection pushing against her. She wanted to retch.
Finally he pulled away from her mouth, groaning in satisfaction and licking his lips. “You should never waste your blood Melanie, it’s too precious.”
Her lips quivered and her stomach churned. She wanted to spit out the taste he left in her mouth. The taste of a dead man. But she daren’t, if she did he would probably just kiss her again.
“Where’s Britt? What have you done to her?” She asked curtly.
He started rubbing her cheek with one of his thumbs. “Hmmmm? The little blonde wolf? I’ve no idea. I just borrowed her phone earlier this evening. She’s probably in hiding with the rest of the pack females at the Alpha’s house.”
Melanie wanted to kick and scream. Of course, it was a stupid trick and she, like the idiot she was, had fallen for it.
“Interesting that they didn’t ask you to join them isn’t it? But then you’ll never actually be a member of the pack will you? That wolf you’ve been whoring yourself to would never actually bond with someone like you... knowing where you’d been.”
He noted the hurt in her eyes, serving only to spur him on. “You are just a fuck toy to him, to be used when he feels like it...”
“Like I am to you too.” She said bitterly.
He lifted her chin up so she was looking into his cold eyes. “No, you belong to me, and you will do... forever.”
“Why me?” She asked suddenly. He cocked his head on one side regarding her closely. “Why pick me at the bar three years ago? Practically any other woman would have gone with you willingly so why me?”
He laughed heartily. “You know I never get tired of telling you this, you ask me every time and I always make you forget just so I can tell you again.” He watched her, a peaceful look on his cruelly handsome face. “You’re my mate.”
She shook her head. “No, that can’t be true... if it were I’d feel it... I’d love you not hate you.”
He smirked at her, tangling his fingers in her hair. “It’s true, whether you like it or not. You’re my mate, it’s why your blood tastes better to me, why I find you so attractive. You were made for me.”
No, no way. It wasn’t right. True mates didn’t behave this way. He was wrong. And crazy.
He sighed and looked at her thoughtfully. “As much as I’ve enjoyed chasing you I think it’s time to stop...”
A little hope bloomed in her. Was he going to leave her alone?
“It’s time we bonded...”
Oh no! Hell no! No way did she want to be tied to this dead maniac forever!
“Please don’t...”
“Sssshhhhh, it’s inevitable that we will bond princess, it might as well be now.” He said it so matter of fact like, as if her being with him was a foregone conclusion.
She started struggling beneath him. “I don’t want this...”
Her squirming did nothing, he still had his body clamped over her. He didn’t even move to acknowledge that she was having any effect.
“You’ll feel differently once I turn you.”
“What?!” She stopped, chilled by what he had said. Was he going to turn her into a vampire?
“Not at first, I still want to enjoy your warm body for a few more years. For now we’ll just bond. But eventually I will have to change you, we can’t have you getting old and dying can we princess?” He chuckled and pinched her chin.
Leaning down he swept his tongue over her lips, lapping up the remaining blood. “Hmmmm divine.”
“Get away from her!” An angry voice roared behind them.
Melanie spun her head to see a slightly bloody and disorientated Mal making his way to them. He was unsteady, but the look of fury on his face was unmistakeable. His fangs had descended and his claws were lengthening.
Melanie cringed at the blood flowing from the head wound she had inflicted. “Mal go back in the house, don’t worry about me.” She pleaded, no way did she want him getting hurt because of her.
The vampire laughed at him. Smoothly he stood up pulling Melanie with him. He pulled her back to him and locked his arms round her.
Mal shuffled along the porch, wincing at the pain it cost him.
“Please Mal just go back inside...” Sniffled Melanie.
He ignored her and growled at the vampire. Stubborn wolf.
“Come one step closer young wolf and I’ll snap her neck.” He caressed her neck with one hand for emphasis.
A series of ferocious growls sounded behind them. “You do and it will be the last thing you ever do!” Roared Hans.
The vampire spun round, still clamped onto Melanie. Hans glowered at him advancing slowly, naked. Melanie felt relief, happiness, worry for his safety and, in spite of herself, a distinct thrill at seeing him naked.
He was flanked by Adam, Alec and Jake already in their wolf forms. They were snarling at the vampire and slowly walking towards him, trying to surround him.
The vampire laughed at them, she could feel the vibrations through his body.
“Let her go!” Ordered Hans roughly.
“She belongs to me.” He said silkily. “I had her long before you did, she’s mine.”
Hans flexed his claws. “If you hurt her...”
“Hurt her? I’m not really going to hurt her, she’s my mate.”
Hans’ wolf howled in fury, trying to force the change. Trying to get to the vampire. “She’s not your mate!” Bellowed Hans.
“I was her first and I’ll be her last wolf.”
Hans howled at him. The vampire sneered. “How does that make you feel wolf?” He taunted. “Knowing that I took her innocence...”
Melanie looked at Hans with sad eyes. “Hans I’m sorry... I love you.”
Hearing her declare her feelings for him only incensed him and his wolf more. No way would he let this corpse take his mate from him.
“Let her go!” Roared Hans running towards them.
He shifted into his giant grey wolf, distinctive by the scar running down his snapping muzzle.
The vampire pushed Melanie to the ground readying himself for Hans’ attack. The gleeful look on his face as his fangs and claws lengthened was chilling.
He was going to slice Hans open. Shifters of any kind were no match for vampires.
No! The creature had taken so much from her already, no way was she going to allow him to take Hans from her. No way, no how.
“No!” Screamed Melanie. She called on all the magic she had and thrusting her hands out toward the vampire she sent a zap of power toward him.
The vampire was immobilized for a few seconds before he was able to break the spell, but by then it was too late. Hans the wolf was already upon him, closely followed by Adam, Alec and Jake.
They brought the vampire down as a pack. The creature screamed and struggled, but Hans h
ad him by the jugular whilst Adam and Alec each snapped their jaws around an arm, keeping the creature’s wicked claws out of harms way.
Melanie scrambled away from them and went over to support Mal, who was trying to shuck his clothes off in order to shift and help his pack mates but was wobbling dangerously. She helped him to a porch chair and gently stopped him from undressing. He scowled at her but she just shook her head.
They watched as the fight between vampire and wolves died down. The vampire’s movements were slowing.
By the time he was barely moving Hans shifted back to human, staring at the creature with contempt. Wordlessly Hans’ claws extended and he thrust his hand into the creatures chest, ripping out it’s heart.
Hans watched with satisfaction as the life drained away from it. Yes, his mate was safe. She was free to be his. Forever.
He stood up dropping the useless heart to the ground. He threw back his head and howled victoriously into the sky, as his wolf howled in his mind. His pack mates joined in, even Mal tried even though his head was throbbing unbearably.
Hans turned to see his mate running towards him. She flung herself into his arms uncaring of the blood he was covered in. He gladly caught her and held her tightly.
“Thank you.” She whispered.
“Any time sugar.” He said his voice choked with emotions. He really wasn’t good at this sort of thing.
She pulled back to look at him. Her cheeks were wet with tears but there was a half-smile on her face. “Okay, but let’s not make this a habit hmmm?”
Chapter Fourteen
7th November
Melanie had been gone for three days.
Hans stared at the shelves of the stock room. He’d been in there for ages ostensibly doing a stock take but in reality he had needed to get away from... well everyone. Back here it was cool and sound proofed, and still smelled like Melanie.
Following on from the death of the vampire Melanie and Hans had been together non-stop. Hans had barely let her out of his sight. He had practically followed her round like a puppy dog, smothering her with attention. Furiously telling her she was never to put herself in danger again. He was still angry with her for almost getting killed and could not seem to allow himself to soften towards her. He and his wolf were too on edge.
