I knew Vampires weremonsters. I had seen enough, but this seemed insane and sounnecessary. An act of simple destruction. And why? What purposecould setting fire to the Pack’s Keep have? Surely, they would haveknown that it would only piss the Werewolves off. Causeretaliation? Was that what they had wanted? Or had they hoped tokill all the members? I just couldn’t understand the reason behindthis.
“This is what yourkind have done t’our Alpha’s home.” Graham unclipped his belt.“This house has stood for generations—”
“This had nothing t’dowith me,” Nathan replied, straightening in his seat. “I didn’tlight the match.”
“Regardless, you won’tbe welcome here.” The handle of the door clicked, and the doctorslid out of my car, empty McDonalds bags in hand, then closed thedoor behind him.
“I’m not sure youshould come in.” I glanced at Nathan.
His jaw was tense. Hislips pressed in a line, but his focus remained dead ahead. “I’m notscared of them.”
“I never said youwere.” A sigh escaped me, and I flopped back in my seat. “I don’tknow how many Werewolves will be in there or how pissed they allare.”
His brow was furrowedas he looked at me. “I didn’t do this.”
“I know that.”
“I had no involvementin this.” He jutted his left hand toward the building. “No say. Novote.”
“Hey.” I placed myhand on his right and gently squeezed. “I know, but thisisn’t like some turf war. These people will not hesitate t’killyou.” My eyes widened as I stared at him. “Like, really killyou.”
“Then I need t’givethem a reason not to.” He slid his hand from beneath mine, openedthe door, and slid out.
“Like what?” I staredafter him.
Christ, this wasn’tgoing to go well.
I jumped out of thecar and followed quickly. Gravel crunched beneath my boots, and Itightened my jacket around me. It was freezing and windy, and eachsmall gust that rushed past me brought the faint scent of smoke.This fire had happened a week ago, and yet, the scent of thedestruction lingered to the bones of the site.
A shiver ran up myspine as I looked up and saw that part of the house had caved in.The structure was broken, and we were about to step inside. Adouble death trap, great.
We followed Graham whohad walked down the left side of the building. My feet met firmconcrete as we strolled along a patio. A hint of flowers teased mynose, and I could just about make out a low hedge and flowers to myleft. Moving round the back of the building, I saw that Graham hadkindly waited for us. Regardless, my gaze darted around the area.The only noise was the shudder of leaves as the wind wanderedthrough the treetops. Even in the darkness, I could see that theback garden was huge and ended where the forest began. Fields linedeither side, both separated with what looked like fences. Did thePack own all this land?
“Things are a mess inhere, so be careful you don’t trip,” Graham explained as we stoppedbefore him.
“Didn’t know youcared,” Nathan replied.
“I was talking t’her,”came his reply as he held his phone out before him, allowing thewhite light to fill the blackened room.
“Is it safe with thebuilding being in such a mess?” I glanced into what appeared to bethe kitchen.
“The fire marshal gavethe okay the other day. We’re allowed t’enter and start collectinganything that hasn’t been destroyed.”
He stepped through thedoorway and took a few steps, turning and pointing the light on theopen doorway to his left.
I grabbed Nathan’swrist. “Stay behind me.”
“Elle—”
“Seriously, I don’tthink they will hurt me, but I don’t know what their reaction willbe when they see you.” I slipped my phone from my pocket andswitched the torch on. “Graham and the others could have killed youon the spot. Luckily, the fact they could smell Brendan on yourT-shirt caused them to pause. I don’t know what’s going tohappen—”
“I get it.” He cuppedmy chin. I was surprised to see him smirking. “You care about me.It’s sweet.”
“Can you go backt’being pissed off, please?” I batted his hand away. “It’s so mucheasier t’deal with.”
“It will be okay.” Thesmirk remained.
“Christ.” My chestclenched. God, I hoped it would be. I wasn’t going to admit it, butyeah, I cared if he got slaughtered in front of me.
“I’ve got yourback.”
I stepped across thethreshold, rotated my wrist allowing the light to sweep across thespace. My gaze following, making note of the blackened walls andbroken furniture. A charred door lay on top of the large breakfastcounter. The door I could only presume should be attached to thesplintered frame that Graham had just ducked under. The crack ofglass met my ears, and I looked down to find shards beneath myboot.
“The stairs aresteep.”
I glanced up to seeGraham disappear through an opening to our left. A quick perusal ofthe space showed broken jars, discarded cans, singed packets, andthe odd mounds of ash. It was a pantry, and a decent-sized one. Iglanced at the large panel of dark, solid wood that stood unscathedbefore us. No handle.
Letting go of Nathan’shand, I reached out and curled my fingers around the edge, pulling.It was heavy, but with another tug, it moved enough to revealshelving on the other side.
“Werewolves must likesecret doors leading t’super kitted-out basements, too,” Nathanremarked.
Pushing the door backso it stayed wide open, I stepped over the threshold of the secretdoorway. The torch of my phone seemed brighter in the narrowstairwell. Long stone stairs stretched out before us.
“Watch your step,” Itold Nathan before descending. With each step, the air seemed tochange. Something rancid and regrettably familiar met my nose.
“Ugh, what t’hell?”Nathan retched behind me.
“Vampire blood,” Ireplied as my feet hit the basement floor.
“So that’s what itis.” Recognition coated his tone. “Makes sense now. I could smellhints of it at the facility and at the Nest.”
“You get used toit.”
“I don’t think youshould. It’s freakin’ vile.”
That was anunderstatement. “You want t’try being smothered in it.”
“I will take a raincheck.”
Graham stood by alarge iron door which was ajar. The
