Page 11

chapter ten

Enzo

H er laughter rings out, causing me to frown. It’s been over a week since the rat incident. Her and her sister have yet to come back to the cafeteria.

The vampire says something that makes Luna snort with laughter. A growl slips from my lips.

“She does not deserve Luna’s laughter,” I say in my head.

I wait for my wolf to agree. For some reason he’s silent. Yet, his attention is on the vamp.

“Are you going to grab that log or are you waiting for it to grow feet and come to me?” Zyion says behind me, getting my attention.

We were helping with the logging company today. Which is why Elizabeth was here. She often came out to watch Chayton work. It was surprising to see her walk through the trees with the two vampires. It immediately changed the environment. However, none of us would dare voice our dislike, not with Luna here.

“That creature rubs me wrong,” I snarl as I finally pull my attention away from the oldest leech.

“She’s so temperamental. I tried to apologize about the rat thing, and she was being all bitchy about it.”

Zyion shrugs as he slips his gloves off. “That’s their nature. Vampires are problematic.”

“Exactly,” I say, turning back to glare at her. She leans forward and whispers something to Luna, causing her to toss her head back and laugh out loud.

“She’s sneaky,” I say to Zyion, still watching her. “And mean.”

“Hostile,” he adds.

“Yes.” I quickly glance at him before turning back to the vamp. “Uptight and sensitive.”

“Probably not a good friend,” he admits.

I continue to study her. As if she can feel my gaze on her face, she turns those light brown eyes to me. Her gaze is so sharp it’s as if she can hear my conversation. Those full lips dip down subtly. I imagine others wouldn’t have noticed it.

However, I’ve been studying her lately and I notice even the slightest of movements. Her eyes darken when she’s angry. They turn from a golden brown to a deep amber color. Her button nose wrinkles sometimes when she’s out late at night staring up at the sky—something she does often. Her high cheekbones and angular face make her look as if she should sit on an ancient throne somewhere.

“Definitely beautiful.”

“Wait, what?” Zyion says breaking the spell of our staring contest. I turn to face him.

“What?”

A slow smile spreads over Zyion’s face. “You said she was beautiful.”

I move my head back as if he nudged it. “No, you said it first, and I just agreed.”

He chuckles. “No, I didn’t.”

“He didn’t,” my wolf says.

“Oh, now you want to talk? Where was your conversation a few minutes ago?” I scold him.

I can almost feel his shrug inside me.

“Don’t get me wrong,” Zyion says, getting my attention back. He’s looking at the vamp now. A grin on his face. “I agree. She is gorgeous.”

My wolf growls inside me.

“What the hell are you growling at?”

“I don’t know,” he admits confused.

Shaking my head, I put my attention back on Zyion. “Attractive or not, she’s bad news, and I want her gone.”

Suddenly, Hirim, a scout charged with patrolling the perimeters of our land, rushes up to Chayton. I make my way over to them.

“We have a problem,” Hirim says.

Chayton turns to Elizabeth. “Go back to the cabin and wait for me. Zyion, see that my mate gets home safely.”

“Make sure that vampire doesn’t try anything,” he says silently through our private link.

I turn and nod to Zyion. Telling him silently to keep a close eye on the leech. Elizabeth and the vampires go to walk off with Miko trailing behind them, along with Zyion and two other members of the pack.

Chayton and I follow Hirim through the trees. We stop at the mutilated ruins of a deer.

“What the hell?” Chayton says what I’m thinking.

“You think the vamps did this?” Hirim asks.

Squatting down, I take in the poor animal at my feet. The thing looks as if it lost a game of chicken to a train.

Using my wolf, I try to scent the vamps on the creature.

“No,” I say, standing up straight. “This wasn’t them. There’s shifter scent all over this.”

Chayton turns to me with a raised brow. “The only thing that would do that to an animal is a feral. You’re telling me I have a fucking feral wolf around my pack?”

This isn’t good news. wolves are wolves that were once rogues. If a rogue goes without a pack for too long, it becomes feral. Or what we call a mindless killing machine. It loses the ability to shift back to human form and lacks the compassion or control natural wolves have.

“Alright, we’re going to need some around the clock patrolling,” I say to Hirim.

“I need you to recruit at least ten more wolves to help with patrol,” Chayton tells him. “Even if that means taking some guys off of logging duty.”

Hirim dips his chin. “I got it, Alpha.”

“If you come across a feral, don’t try to deal with it yourself,” I explain. “You send out a call through the link.”

“Got it.”

Chayton and I head back through the woods. He sends out a call through the pack link requiring everyone to meet in the town hall. With a feral on the loose, we need to take precautions.

“This isn’t good,” I say to him as we make our way back to town.

“We got the White Wolf and his runaway witch, two leeches, and now a feral. Did we roll the dice on a Jumanji game?”

Chayton shakes his head. “Look, I don’t know what the goddess has going on for us, but something is coming. We went from a small unknown pack to a refuge for troubled beings, and now ferals. I don’t need any more surprises. I have a pregnant human mate, for goddess’ sakes.”

I stop walking and face him. Chayton stops and runs a hand down his face.

“We got you. Your pack has your back. You focus on Luna. We will deal with the vamp and this feral. That’s what we do.”

“I need you to keep that promise, Enzo. If Liz is worried about her best friend being mistreated, she’s adding extra stress.” He looks away. “As much as I dislike their friendship, right now it’s making my mate happy. The vampire has done nothing wrong. Maybe—”

“Don’t do that,” I stop him. “We know who they are. Never let your guard down around them.”

He takes in my words. His gaze locked in on mine. “You’re right.” He finally admits. “But until she proves us wrong, keep the peace.”

We go back to walking.

“Quiet down,” Chayton says to the room full of our pack members.

I keep my eyes on the two vamps. They are standing at the back of the meeting hall against the wall leading to the door. For the first time, I take in the sister's appearance. She’s usually chipper and smiling. However, I noticed it earlier but now it stands out much more. She doesn’t look the same. Her brown skin is dull. Her eyes aren’t as bright as usual and there are bags underneath. She’s even leaning up against the oldest vamp as if she can barely stand.

I’m not the only one to notice this. Alarick is staring at them, too. When he looks at me, our eyes connect.

“What’s wrong with her?” I ask through our link.

“Looks like she needs to feed,” he says with a frown.

“If that’s the case, why isn’t the oldest vamp looking the same?”

“Good question.”

“Are we sure it isn’t the creatures among us that aren’t killing the animals?” someone in the crowd shouts, pulling my attention back to the room.

I glance at the vamps just in time to see the oldest roll her eyes.

Chayton raises a hand beside me. “It is a feral. Enzo and I both checked.”

Scared murmurs go around the room.

“How do we know the vampire didn’t bring the ferals?” Rue asks. Which isn’t a bad question. I don’t think vampires hang with ferals, but they could have drawn them here. Their scent might have lured their interest.

Chayton looks at me for clarity. I shrug.

He turns back to the crowd. “Either way, they are here now,” he says in answer to Rue’s question. “We need to make sure we move together. I don’t want anyone out in those woods alone. Women, children, and the elderly do not go out at all after nightfall. During the day, you need to stick closer to town. Hopefully, we can hunt this feral down and get rid of it soon. Until then, those are my rules. You’re dismissed.”

The pack grumbles their displeasure at the new rules, but they all know it’s for the best. The room files out. I quickly make my way over to the vamps that have moved away from the door and everyone else. Before I could reach them, Nadia steps in front of me.

“I’m worried,” she says.

I glance over her head at the vamps. They are still in the same spot. I don’t want to rush Nadia, but I didn’t have time to talk.

“It will be okay. Just follow Alpha’s rules until we track this feral down.”

“I’m at home with my grandparents and little brother. I’m terrified. What if that feral comes to our cabin?”

I could point out to her she lived in one of the cabins closest to town. She is the safest from the feral. If anyone is in danger, it would be the vamps.

“You will be alright,” I say again, trying to walk around her.

“Can I stay with you tonight?”

I stop and look down into her green eyes. As much as I don’t want company, I can’t find it in my heart to say no.

“Sure,” I say.

Nadia smiles.

“I’ll come get you later. Head back to your cabin with your family for now.” She nods and walks away. I make my way over to the vampires.

“It’s getting harder,” I hear the youngest one say.

“Just keep it together a little longer,” the oldest says, before she lifts her head and spots me. She quickly steps in front of her sister, keeping the girl behind her.

“That warning goes for you two as well,” I say.

“Yes, I understood that when he said women and children. Or have you not noticed that I am, in fact, a woman?”

My brows pinch together as I glare at her.

“Definitely not forgot,” my wolf grumbles in my head.

I ignore him.

“Of course I haven’t forgotten,” I snarl.

She folds her arms over her chest, lifting her handful of bosoms. “I thought maybe you weren’t sure since you only call me vamp or vampire. We do have genders.”

I take a step toward her. Her brow lifts, but she doesn’t step back.

“Just stay indoors,” I growl. “No more late-night scrolls through the forest.”

Her eyes widen. I take pride in knowing I shocked her. It requires a lot to get a reaction from the vamp.

“Are you stalking me, beast?”

I scoff. “I’m protecting my pack.”

“By following me around like a homesick puppy.”

The growl that slips from my lips quiets the room. I eat the little space between us. I’m so close, her chin brushes against my chest. Yet still, she does not back away.

“I am no puppy, leech. You will respect me on my land.”

“Earn it,” she snarls. “I don’t deserve to be followed. It’s called privacy.”

“Not when you’re on my pack land.”

“Stay out of my business, wolf.”

“Not until you leave my land, vamp.”

“Michaela, please,” the whimper of the youngest one cause her to back down. She immediately turns to her sister.

“I’m sorry, baby,” she coos, wrapping her arms around the youngest one. She then guides her around me and out of the building. I watch them until they are out of sight. Without turning around, I can tell Zyion is behind me.

“She is insufferable,” I say, still watching the door she left out of.

Zyion’s chuckle garners my attention to him. “Yes, you look like you’re suffering.” He pats my shoulder before walking out.

Ignoring his comment, my attention goes back to the youngest vamp. Something was seriously wrong with her.