He claps me on the shoulder. “Thanks brother. Don’t waste your whole night. I know you’ll need to feed.”
As soon as he says “feed” my eyes immediately shift to Lily. I’d give anything to sink my fangs into her neck, but for now I only fantasize about it while I drink the blood of deer, bears, or any other animal I can find. It may not be as sweet as I know she’d be, but it keeps me satisfied.
Although I’d prefer human blood, it’s such a pain in the ass because I then have to hypnotize them so they forget that a vampire just fed from them. “Do you want me to wake you when I get back, give you a report?”
Merick shakes his head. “No, that’s okay, but if you could come before sunrise. Olivia and I spend our early mornings together so Taryn can get some rest.”
I nod. “Right. I’ll be back.” I pause one last time getting another feel of Lily and her beauty before I leave reluctantly.
Once I’m outside I walk toward the tree line, disappearing from sight. I’m unbelievably fast, but as I reach the cabin, I slow my pace. With each step my anger builds, knowing that that inside is someone that has threatened the lives of those I love.
When Merick told me that sweet Taryn had been hiding in the closet with their daughter clutched to her chest I knew I’d stop at nothing to protect them. I’ll get this fucker to talk.
Finally entering the cabin, I find a couple of the younger wolves from Merick’s pack standing guard. “Give me a couple hours.”
“Are you sure you want us to leave?” I believe it’s Cole that asks.
I nod. “Yes. I’ll be fine.”
The younger shifter changes into wolf form, taking off into the opposite direction of the cabin toward the open land that leads to the mountains.
The moment I enter the room that he is held the smell hits me and my fangs elongate. Our prisoner is bound by ropes and chains. Blood seeps from wounds that cover most of his body. Amelia’s coven casted a spell that would keep our prisoner from crying for help or from healing himself.
I wordlessly grab the tray of torture tools and set them on a little table next to the chair. My fangs pop out as I look at the blood covering the tools. I grab what looks like an ice pick. “Why were you outside Merick’s home?”
As usual he says nothing, only staring straight ahead. I take the ice pick and jab it into his chest, piercing his lung, but avoiding his heart. He hisses, but stays silent. I give it a twist and pull it out. The prisoner’s body shudders, but he makes no sound.
In front of him I squat down and his red eyes stare at me with pure hatred. “Did you really think we were going to let you get near that baby or her mother? You do know that you’ll be dead soon, so tell me what I want to know.”
As always, he gives away nothing. I can’t glamour him to talk, although I’ve tried. I grab his hand, jerking it back until it snaps and then flops down at an unnatural angle. I stand to my full height and look over the tools when I hear a noise outside the door.
I move fast, flinging the door open, grabbing the person on the other side. I pin them to the wall and that is when I realize it’s Lily. Her face is pale and she’s shaking. “What are you doing out here?” I whisper quietly. Doing my best to control the rage that only moments ago was racing through me.
“I-I followed you.” Her gaze is focused on my fangs before looking over my shoulder toward the prisoner. “W-What did you do to him?”
She moves toward him but I pull her back. “Do not get close to him.”
“W-Why? Why are you hurting him? Why are you torturing this man, you monster?” Lily stares up at me with wide disbelieving eyes.
“Call me what you want Lily. But you should know we found him outside of Merick’s, scaring Taryn enough to hide with Olivia in her closet. He and his people want nothing more than to kill your best friend and to take that sweet little baby away from all of us.” Her brown eyes glisten with unshed tears. “We’ll stop at nothing to prevent that, and this piece of shit is only the scout. Others will come when he doesn’t report in. They all intend to hurt Taryn, and even Olivia.”
Lily doesn’t say anything she only looks between me and the prisoner. She scoots around me with speed I didn’t know she had. Before I can stop her, she grabs a serrated knife and presses it tightly to the neck of the prisoner. I watch as she presses it, and a slow twinkle of blood begins to pool from the new wound she’s inflicted. “What are you doing here?” The words echo through the cabin. “Talk asshole!” she screams in his face and before I can stop her, Lily stabs him in the chest.
Our prisoner gives a little gurgle, smiles, and then disintegrates right before my eyes. Lily jumps back, drops the knife, and then turns to me, looking like she’s ready to pass out.
“Lily, what did you do?” I ask right before her eyes roll back and she passes out. “Well shit.” How in the hell am I going to explain this to Merick?
The end, for now...
Author C.A. Harms
An avid romance and mystery reader. She's always had a love for books, getting lost in writing and storytelling even as a young girl. She enjoys happy endings and HEA love stories.
She lives in Illinois and enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. She holds an addiction for Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha's and KitKat when she should really be focusing on water and maybe a fruit
