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The townspeople were right; the family was drained of blood. Only human-turned and psychopaths would feed until they drained someone. Most vampires wouldn’t dare indulge that much. It’s like overeating. You’d feel sluggish and delirious for hours.

Human-turned vampires, those not bonded to their makers, tend to have unquenchable thirsts. They are often the reason vampires get such bad names. Not the only reason, though.

I make my way back through the woods toward our borrowed cabin. The dinner I picked up from the diner in my hands. After Marley’s close call yesterday, I wasn’t in a rush to have her around the wolves in the cafeteria any time soon.

I come out of the trees and pause. Standing on my porch are about six wolves, including Torak. They are painting my porch and front door.

“Make sure you get that spot beside the door,” the Beta says. He stands at the bottom step, his large arms over his chest, glaring at the wolves.

“Michaela is back,” Marley says.

The Beta turns to me, his gaze raking over me from head to toe. I’m not sure what he’s looking for, but he doesn’t seem to find it because his gaze goes back to the porch.

Marley walks over to the side of the railing to talk to me. “Do you see it? They replaced the wood that was soaked in the blood and they’re painting. The smell is gone.”

“Yeah, I see it.”

“This is so good. I didn’t think I could stand that smell any longer.”

Even though Marley is still talking, I keep my eyes on the Beta as I walk over toward him.

“Thank you,” I say.

He looks over at me, his arms still folded over his chest. “I can’t make any promises you won’t find a dead squirrel on the door again, but I told everyone not to toss any blood out.”

Not exactly a truce, but I’d take the dead animal over old blood any day.

“How generous of you all. In turn, I will promise not to kidnap any of your young and carry them off into the night.”

He turns to look at me.

“Yeah, I’ve heard the rumors.”

A grin spreads over his face. I take in his features. His almond-shaped golden eyes. Those thick dark brows with their natural arch that make him look so serious. His straight nose fit his face perfectly. And that thick full beard causes his full lips to stand out.

It has never skipped my attention that the wolf is attractive. He just had a shitty personality.

“We appreciate you sparing our youth,” he jokes as he turns back to the porch.

We both watch as Marley flitters around the working wolves, giving her two cents here and there.

“Do you think I should paint my bedroom?” she stops and ask Torak as if we hired him and he isn’t being forced. “The white is fine, but I’m more of a pastel girl.”

“Is she always this bubbly?” the Beta asks.

“Unfortunately. It’s a side effect of her ability. I always thought the gods sat down one day and thought how best topunish a family of heartless, emotionless assholes. She was their answer.”

“So, the gods know you’re a pain in the ass, too?”

I look over to find him smirking at me. I roll my eyes.

“Only to people that deserve it, wolf,” I say, but without animosity.

He chuckles. “If you say so, vamp.”

I leave the Beta there. Grabbing Marley out of their hair, I take her into the house. It takes the wolves another hour to finish the porch. However, the kind gesture stays with me all night.

chapter Fourteen