Page 105

Enzo

The next morning, I wake up with the conversation I had with Michaela the night before still running through my head.

Climbing up from the couch, I crack my back. I really have to find another sleeping method. That couch is not the answer.

I make my way down the hall toward the bathroom I shared with Michaela. Rapping my knuckles on the back of the closed door, I wait for her to reply. When I don’t hear any noise, I push the door open. The bed is made, and Michaela is nowhere in sight. Noise from the bathroom has me heading in that direction.

The moment I make it to the door, it swings open. Fog and humidity hit me, letting me know she just got out of the shower. She has a towel wrapped around her head, and she’s wearing one of her long sleeve shirts with a pair of those tight pants she and Luna love.

“You may want to give it a few. Let the hot water build back up,” she says, stepping around me.

“Thanks for the heads up,” I say, walking into the muggy bathroom to take a leak. After taking a piss, I wash my hands and brush my teeth. When I walk out of the bathroom, Michaelais sitting on the bed, brushing out her curly hair and scrunching the ends.

I take in her appearance once again, noticing the bags under her eyes and the way her arms move slowly as she rakes through her hair. She looks exhausted. Funny, I’ve been the complete opposite the last few days. I feel as if I could lift a house by myself.

“You need to feed soon,” I say, going into the drawer and grabbing some underwear out.

“I know,” she replies. “Deer are getting scarce. There are too many predators in the area. If I hunt down the few that remain, it will decimate their numbers and will cause them not to return. I’ll take a trip to Lexington soon.”

I look back at her, leaning against the dresser. “Are you going to make it that long?”

She stops messing with her hair and gives me her full attention. “Relax, Beta. I will not snap and start feeding off your pack.” She chuckles. However, I don’t see the humor.

“That’s not why I was asking you.”

“Sure it isn’t,” she teases.

It irks me that she doubts my concern, but I guess I can’t blame her. That’s all my concern has ever been about in the past.

I don’t argue my case. Instead, I head into the bathroom to take a lukewarm shower.

When I come out of the bathroom fully dressed, Michaela walks back into the room. Her curls lay flat down her back. I’m assuming they aren’t dry yet.

“Heads up, Marley plans on cooking you a big breakfast this morning. If you plan on avoiding eating it, you better head out before she gets out of the shower. I’m too tired to think of another lie to get you out of it.”

Damn, have I really been that much of an asshole? The kid has been trying to break bread with me since the dinner atChayton’s when she made us lemonade. We both refused to take a sip. Had Miko taken the time to make something for dinner and two vampires refused to eat it, Chayton and I both would have flipped that fucking table. Yet, we did the same thing to Marley. Shame washes over me and disgust fills my belly.

Without saying a word to Michaela, I head into the kitchen. I pull some bacon out of the fridge and place it on the counter. Not long after, Marley walks in. Her excited energy is buzzing again. She stops when she notices me. Her brown eyes scanning over me.

Her shoulders immediately fall. “You’re leaving, aren’t you?”

Although I’ve noticed how young she is many times before, this is the first time I look at her as just a young girl and not a young vampire.

“Actually, I was wondering if you’d like to cook breakfast with me? We can have our first official family breakfast.”

The excitement that fills her face is worth spending my morning cooking.

“Of course we can.” She heads over to the sink and washes her hands. “I can make some scrambled eggs. Do you like eggs?”

I chuckle. “Yes, I like eggs. I like anything that has protein.” I explain.

Marley talks my ear off as she dances around me, getting her part of breakfast ready. I enjoy her energy, so I don’t complain.

I pause when I feel Michaela in my head.

“Thank you,”she says.

I look up and find her leaning against the door frame in the hallway. Even though she looks tired and like she needs to be fed, she is still absolutely stunning.