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chapter Three

Michaela

“ And this is your bathroom.” Liz says, showing me the bathroom attached to the main bedroom.

I’ve always loved Liz’s bubbly personality. Her ability to see the good in any situation. She’s showing me this cabin as if I’m on some vacation admiring my Airbnb. Meanwhile, her stepson has not moved from between us and keeps giving me the side eye.

“This works great. Let your mate know that we are very thankful.”

“Hey, I’m just glad I have my own room. I thought we were going to be sleeping in a tent with a bunch of other smelly wolves.”

Miko growls at Marley’s comment. I shake my head.

“Oh, sorry, Liz. I forgot you’re mated to a wolf.”

“How about you go and check out your new room,” I tell Marley.

She smiles before rushing off to her borrowed room. I turn back to Liz.

“Go ahead,” I say with a grin. “I know you’re dying to ask me questions.”

Her energy has been buzzing as bad as Marley’s since we’ve been together.

She grins as she leans against the dresser in my room. “How did you hide being a vampire from me for so long?”

I chuckle. No one brings out my lighter side more than Liz. My years spent with her and her mother are the happiest years of my long life. They taught me how to be normal and what it felt like to be part of a family.

“It was easy. Yes, I’m a vampire, but it’s only part of who I am.”

She looks thoughtful for a moment before asking her next question.

“Are you more of a Bram Stoker vampire or a Twilight one?”

I grimace. “Neither.”

She tosses her head back and laughs. “Okay, how old are you really? Because me and mama always said you had an old soul.”

Pain cuts through me as I think of Ms. Cheryl. The closest thing I ever had to a mother.

“I’m about halfway through my fourth century. Give or take a few years. You tend to lose count after a while.”

“You’re 450 years old?” Liz’s eyes nearly pop out of her head.

I laugh. “Yes.”

She shakes her head as she places her hands on her hips. “That explains so much.”

“Anyway,” I say, changing the subject. “It’s been a long trip. We need to get some rest, and you should head back.”

In no way did I want her pack to think I was holding her hostage here with me.

“Okay,” she says. “But one more question. What’s your real name? I know you couldn’t have been born a Michaela.”

“Michaela is the only name I go by.”

She seems to take this information in before tucking her chin.

“Alright, we’re getting out of your hair. But tomorrow, you and I are going to catch up.”

She heads for the front door with Miko, and I follow her.

“Absolutely,” I say. “And Liz,”

She stops in the hallway outside of my bedroom and turns to look at me.

“You know I love you. So don’t take this wrong when I say it’s time to take the braids out, friend.”

Liz tosses her head back and laughs. “Shut up, Michaela. I was going to.”

We both laugh as we continue to make our way to the front of the cabin. She stops when she gets to the door. She goes to hug me, but Miko shoves me away with his small body.

“Miko,” Liz scolds him. “That is not okay. This is mommy’s friend.”

The wolf drops his ears and tucks his tail.

“It’s okay. He’s protective of you. That’s a good thing.”

She shakes her head. “I’m sorry. They just need more time to get to know you.”

“Of course,” I lie.

I watch my friend and her little bodyguard walk out of my borrowed home. The moment I closed the door, I let out a deep breath, dropping the facade.

I had to take the long route to get here in order to throw Markis off my trail. Not to mention, that battle took a lot of energy out of me. Energy I haven’t yet recouped. I haven’t slept in a week, and I need some rest.

“Well, that was fun?” Marley says coming out of her room plopping down on the couch.

Pushing away from the door, I walk over to the living room with her. The cabin they put us in is nice. From the front door, you can see the living room and the kitchen. It’s an open space concept. The cabinets in the kitchen are dark oak and the marble on the countertops and built in island is white and black. A small dinette table is off to the side of the kitchen. There are two bedrooms and two baths. It’s perfect for Marley and me.

Flopping down on the couch beside my sister, I turn to face her.

“How are you feeling? I know there are a lot of emotions going on.”

“I’m fine, Mizani.”

“Marley, you can’t call me that here. Not even behind closed doors. Werewolves have impeccable hearing.”

“Sorry.” She shrugs.

Despite being born into a royal family, Marley was very sheltered. She has no real idea of our world. She doesn’t even truly know who I am or what I’m capable of. Like most vampires, she has heard rumors of me, but they don’t know the truth.

“It’s alright. We just have to be careful. I need time to figure out my next move. So, we need to be on our best behavior here.”

She sighs and leans back on the sofa. “They really hate us, don’t they? Was it always like this?”

“No, there was a time when vampires and wolves worked alongside each other. They were partners and friends.”

“What happened?”

Folding my arms across my chest, I let out a deep breath. “The fey started to die off. With their slow demise came an opening for a new ruler. The Vampires felt as if they were the most qualified. The werewolves felt that was utter bullshit, and the witches wanted all of them to die. A war broke out. For fifty years, vampires fought against werewolves.

“The war claimed many lives. Friendships were destroyed and mate bonds were no longer a thing. The fey eventually stepped in and called it a truce. But the damage was done. The shifter population was cut in half. The royal vampire families went from thirty to only fifteen. There were major losses on both sides. When it was all said and done, the vampires blamed the shifters, and the shifters blamed us.”

“What do you think?”

I smile at my sister’s question. She always wants my opinion on things. It’s like nothing else matters but what I think. She’s always been that way.

“I think they all were at fault. And the ones that started the war are all dead and gone now and we should all move on.”

She pats my thigh. “I like your stance.”

All my life, I was taught to never care about anything outside of me. Being who I am requires I have no ties that could be used against me. It’s the first lesson they taught at the academy. However, the moment I held Zidora, she stole my heart. I didn’t think I could love anything at that time. But looking down at that bright-eyed baby proved me wrong.

Proof shows that the first lesson was pertinent because my father definitely used Marley against me. However, I wouldn’t trade her for the world. Yes, my biggest weakness is an emotional teenager.

“Now that the history lesson is out of the way, let's talk rules.”

Marley rolls her eyes and groans. I ignore her protest.

“Most important rule, you do not go anywhere without me.”

“I know.”

“Also, no mention of our lineage. For all I care, they can think we are human-turned.”

Marley makes a face at that. No pure blood ever wants to be mistaken for a human turned.

“And just because we aren’t back home doesn’t mean we get to slack on lessons. We rest tonight, but tomorrow we are back at it.”

“I’m never going to be as good of a fighter as you. I don’t know why you’re training me.” She crosses her arms over her chest and sulks.

Lifting her chin with my finger, I turn her head to look at me.

“You’re not training to be me. You are training because one day I won’t be here to protect you, and I need to know you can protect yourself.”

Her gaze narrows. “What do you mean, you won’t be here? You’ll always be here.”

Her youth and innocence are what I love about her the most. If I could have it my way, she would always be this na?ve girl untouched by the cruelty of the world. I know it won’t stay that way forever, but at least I can keep her sheltered for now.

“You’re right, I’ll be here. But I might not be available.”

My answer seems to relax her.

“You also need to keep that block up at all times when we are outside of these four walls.”

She nods her head in understanding. Suddenly, her face falls and a serious expression takes over.

“Do you really think we will be safe here from…”

I cut my eyes at her in warning. She cannot say that name out loud here.

I seriously doubt these wolves would know of my ex, but I don’t want them to start asking questions.

She rolls her eyes. “My fiancé ,” she says, using air quotes.

“For now, we are safe from him. He has no idea where we are. Which gives me time to come up with a plan. All I need is time.”

If I tell myself that enough, I may start to believe it. In reality, I have no clue what I’m going to do. I just know that I can’t allow Markis to get his hands on the information I have. If he shows up here, these wolves will be no match for him. However, I pray it doesn’t come to that.

“What will we do about food?”

Chayton didn’t make it easy for us when he said we can’t feed off the townspeople. But those are his rules, and we have to follow them.

“I’ll haunt when I get a chance, but until then you have to supplement with deer.”

Marley grimaces. I don’t blame her. Feeding off animals is like eating nothing but vegetables. It will get the job done, but you need protein to survive.

“I know it’s not ideal, but it will have to do.”

Before she could say anything, a knock comes to our door. I swing my head in the direction, wondering who the hell would be at my door.

“Who is…” I hold up a hand to cut Marley off.

Shutting my eyes, I listen for the sounds and smells around me. Opening my eyes, I get to my feet. Walking over to the door, I open the barrier for the White Wolf.

He looks back at me quietly.

“Marley, go to your room,” I say without turning to look at her. I listen for her soft footfalls and then the sound of her bedroom door closing. Stepping aside, I allow Alarick to come into my cabin. He glances around the space before turning to face me. I shut the door behind me, leaning my back against the barrier.

“What do you need?” I knew the moment he vouched for me at that meeting hall he was going to be at my door.

Alarick’s jaw tightens, showcasing his annoyance.

“I’m in trouble,” he growls.

I remain silent, refusing to play fifty questions with him.

His jaw ticks once again. “I stuck my neck out for you.”

“I left you alive that day when I could have killed you, so we’re even.” This is not my first run in with the infamous White Wolf. The last time he faced off with me, he almost lost his life. That battle was a tough one, and I only got the upper hand by the skin of my teeth.

I go to turn and open the door for him.

“Please.” That simple word leaving his lips has me stopping in my tracks. I turn back to face him. “I’m on the run. Chayton allowed me to stay with them and agreed to protect me. But it won’t be enough. When the ones after me find me, they will kill me.”

“What do you want from me, Alarick?” I wasn’t going to play these games. I’m used to people playing nicely because they needed something. This is not new.

“I know you’re not here because of a marriage proposal.”

At this I freeze. How much of the truth did he know?

“We both know if someone had hit your sister, he wouldn’t be alive to tell the story. You are running from something. And if it has the great Huntress running, it must be bad.”

I flinch when he calls me by my nickname.

“My question still remains, White Wolf.” I would not tell him who was after me. If he knew what was coming, he’d take his witch mate and leave here.

He nods, acknowledging the fact he knows he’s right. “When the time comes, protect my mate and fight with me.”

I chuckle. “You think your wolf friends are going to let me hang around long enough to keep you safe? They are already plotting ways to get rid of me.”

I wasn’t stupid. I know Chayton is banking on me messing up. Which is why he put those parameters on my feeding. But he doesn’t know me. My need to stay will outweigh my need to break his rule.

“Leave them to me. They have no idea who they have in their pack.”

“And they don’t need to know.”

He dips his chin, agreeing. “I’ll work on the pack. Will you stay and help me?”

I had my own shit going on. I didn’t need any more problems. However, he did stick his neck out for me. And despite how we last parted, I respected the White Wolf. Which is why he’s alive today.

“Fine,” I agree. “As long as I’m around, your mate and you have my support.”

His shoulders relax and the tension in his cheeks go away. I step aside and open the door for him. He walks past me but stops at the threshold, turning back to face me.

“About an hour west of here is a blood bank. They’re pretty well stocked. And thirty minutes in the opposite direction is a town called Lexington. Not as big as Jonesville, but big enough to feed two vampires.”

“Thank you,” I say.

He nods before walking back down my stairs. I watch him as he heads back in the direction of town. When he is fully out of my sight, I let out a deep breath before turning to go back in the house.

A noise toward the trees catches my attention. Stepping back out onto the porch, I look in the direction of the sound. Coming out of the tree line is the big Beta. His eyes land on me, a frown immediately appears on his face.

“Are you here to spy on me?” I ask.

His growl carries even from this distance. “We’re neighbors now.” He smirks.

I look at the empty cabin across from mine. Shaking my head, I should have known this was going to happen.

“How nice,” I grit out. “Good night.” I go to walk back in my house when his words stop me.

“You’re not welcome here, leech. The moment I can show my Luna the vile creature that you are, I’ll kill you. You are on borrowed time.”

I swallow my retort and the irk I get from being threatened. Instead of responding to the Beta, I walk into my borrowed home and shut the door.