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“They aren’t the only ones who like to have fun and get the blood up.” She leaned in closer. “If you like that kind offun. Not everyone does. Some like to be tame and wait for their mate.”

Even vampires could mate and marry, but they weren’t supposed to mix with wolves. If that had been the rule forever, then why hadn’t the wolves bred out the bad vampire genes? For a half a second, she regretted choosing the dead over genetics. She could’ve solved the werewolf/vampire problem. Though no lab would give her funding, and no one wanted the government getting their hands on that kind of research.

“I’m not waiting.” She’d dated a few humans while at college to see what it was like to be human, since she no longer had to worry about upholding the wolf lineage. Vampires could date humans, as long as they never revealed the secret. But she’d stopped after the pulse in her boyfriend’s neck became far too tempting. A hickey was one thing, a bite was something else. “I didn’t realize that we ran too.”

Talia smiled. “Of course we do. Why should they have all the fun?”

* * *

By duskthe wolves were already out in the forest, and running on four feet, when the vampires gathered out the front of the meals hut. As expected, it was only the younger vampires. Some of the older ones were on patrol, others were catching up with friends both wolf and vampire. Discussing important things that effected the safety of all, and what rules needed reviewing. There would be several meetings that all adults were expected to attend over the three weeks, that covered things like moves, matings, and disputes. The politics of keeping everyone happy and safe.

As she’d learned today, some of that responsibility fell on her shoulders. In the not so distant past she’d have been little more than an expendable foot soldier fighting for her betters. Not that much had changed. Vampires still looked out for their pack’s best interest, killing those who got too close and dispensing punishment where required.

She didn’t want any of that. She just wanted to be part of a pack, like she’d always been until her eighteenth birthday when she’d had to face up to the reality that she’d never be a wolf.

Tonight’s run was a poor approximation of what she should’ve had. But that didn’t stop the anticipation from thrumming in her veins and quickening her heartbeat. Around her the air vibrated with excitement, and the heartbeats of the gathered vampires. This was the experience she’d been craving since last gathering. She was getting it, though not in the way she’d once hoped.

“Two rules for our runs. No messing with the wolves, no crossing the boundary. The ones on patrol will knock you on your ass and you will be banned from running again. If you see a human on pack land, you need to say something. Even if we aren’t on patrol, we’re still guarding our pack.” Ajax said from out the front. “If this is your first time, enjoy but don’t let anyone force you to do anything. If I hear any reports of misbehavior, there will be hell to pay.” He pointed to an eight-foot post to the side. “That isn’t for tying up horses. While we heal fast, a wolf taking blood payment for injury done to their vampire will be painful. I know you’ve heard it before, yet I can guarantee by the end of the gathering one of you will have gotten too hot and out of control and end up tied to the post getting scratched up. Stop. Breathe. Walk. Most importantly think—we aren’t animals.”

A few people laughed at the jibe.

Macey’s brain scrambled to process what Ajax was saying.

Talia elbowed her. “I’ll look out for you. Keep the idiots away.” She grinned; her fangs visible.

Macey smiled. Not sure if she was excited, or nervous, or if she wanted to be sick.

“You can let your fangs out.” Talia’s eyes glittered in the starlight.

Yes, she could. It took a couple of breaths before she had the control to let her partial shift happen. None of this was natural to her. She was so used to trying to act human. It had seemed better to be human if she couldn’t be wolf. Now though, she wasn’t sure.

The pulse of every vampire around her became the drumbeat of the night. It became a rhythm that called to her. She could run and be free, just not in the way she’d once hoped for. Is this what the patrols were really for, to escape and be away from the wolves?

She swept that thought aside as they started moving, heading into the forest. There must be twenty vampires, but there’d be far more wolves in the woods. Owen would be out there hyped up from the run and ready to let go.

Five years ago he’d have been a real catch. He might have even checked out her pack and lineage and thought the same. Not now though. She’d be lucky if he ever made eye contact again.

She glanced at the men in the group. Would they become more attractive as the night went on? When her blood was up would she be happy to pass the night with anyone? She hoped so. She’d scrub away the old hopes and crushes.

She wasn’t that person anymore. She wasn’t sure who she was.

The walk became a jog before they hit the tree line.

“Stay close,” Talia said.

Then they were into the trees. Some people leaped up into the canopy to run from branch to branch. Macey tried not to look amazed at the aerial feat. She didn’t think she could manage that. Others seemed to bounce from trunk to trunk, using their feet to launch off, laughing as they missed and stumbled.

For all the talk of not misusing their power this afternoon, tonight was exactly that. Or maybe it was a testing of limits. Talia ran at a tree and pushed off toward the next one. Macey had to follow. Had to at least try. And if she failed? No one seemed to care. People experimented with their abilities.

She ran, put her foot on the trunk and for a few moments sailed through the air, but she missed the tree she’d been aiming for and landed in something close to a roll.

Talia helped her up. “Try again. It’s like playing snooker, you’ve got to line up the shot.”

That was not helpful at all. But she managed to put two jumps together. The feeling of flying was exhilarating. Her skin could barely contain her. But they had fallen to the back of the run and Talia wouldn’t want to miss out on the fun…or what happened when the running ended, and the real fun began. “We should catch up.”

Talia nodded, and they sprinted between trees. Somewhere to her right she was aware of wolves. They weren’t close, but she could feel them moving through the forest, close to the ground and moving swiftly, though they couldn’t outrun the vampires.

“We need to go up, so we don’t cross their path.”