Page 25 of Property of Blade (Kings of Anarchy MC: Alaska #1)

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Vex

T he walk from the clubhouse to the shack where we’re keeping Tessa feels endless. Each step seems to drag more than the last. What the hell do I even say to her? ‘Hey, we’re all monsters, but we’re nice monsters’ doesn’t exactly feel like it’s gonna win me any points.

Rooster’s voice breaks through my thoughts as I stop in front of the door.

He’s grinning—he’s an idiot. “Good luck,” he says, his smirk wide and knowing.

I don’t even think about it. My hand shoots out, grabbing him by the collar and lifting him off the ground with barely any effort. He’s dead weight in my grip, a struggling sack of bones.

“I could end you right now,” I growl, the words low and dangerous, letting the threat hang between us.

Rooster lets out a breathy chuckle, the bastard. “Yeah? That’ll be the day hell freezes over.” He shrugs, unfazed, then flashes a shit-eating grin. “Can’t you take a joke?”

I throw him across the compound with a force that makes the earth shake beneath us. He stumbles, but somehow, the idiot lands on his feet like a damn cat. His eyes glint with amusement, but he’s wary.

“Not today,” I mutter, my eyes fixed on the door ahead.

It’s not just the door to a shack. It’s a reminder of everything we’ve done, everything I’ve done. I roll my neck, trying to shake off the tension gnawing at me.

Rooster is still watching me, half-grinning. “Don’t get soft on me, Vex. I know you’re not that guy.”

My focus is now locked on the door. “I’m not,” I say, my voice hard, but there’s doubt creeping in the back of my head. I hate that it’s there.

Ignoring Rooster, I knock, the sound echoing through the still air, loud and final. There’s a long pause, too long, and I can feel my patience thinning. When no response comes, I wait another beat, then push the door open. The creak of the hinges slices through the silence.

Tessa is sitting in the chair, her back straight as a board, chin raised in that defiant way she’s always had. The moment our eyes meet, I swear, I can feel the heat of her anger on my skin. She doesn’t say anything, but I can almost see the fury radiating off her in waves.

Her eyes burn into mine, the kind of look that could gut a man if it had the chance. The space between us feels as if it’s charged with a thousand unspoken words, her gaze cutting deeper than anything else.

“You’re here,” she spits out, her voice dripping with contempt, and I know damn well she’s trying to make me feel every ounce of her hatred.

Stepping in, I close the door softly behind me, but I don’t move any closer. Not yet. I wait because I can smell her fear as well as her anger.

“Are you okay?” I ask, my voice is soft. Her rage is palpable, but so is her vulnerability.

Tessa waves a hand in the air as if she’s brushing off the question and makes a dismissive sound. “Pfft!” She’s pissed, but I can see a flicker of something behind that defiance. Something more human, more fragile.

“May I sit on the chair near you?” I ask, keeping my tone calm, even though every part of me wants to be anything but.

She nods once, and with a deep breath, I keep my hands held out at my sides, a non-threatening gesture. I take the seat opposite her, keeping the distance, respecting the space she’s carved out for herself.

“The funny thing is,” I say in a low, almost hesitant voice. “I was going to tell you. You’re the first woman in a long time who’s caught my attention.”

Tessa’s eyes flicker for a second, but then she narrows them, her lip curling into a half-smile that’s more bitter than anything else. “You were going to tell me you’re a...” she pauses, clearly weighing her words, before finishing with a scoff, “... a freak?”

I don’t flinch, but the word hits harder than I want it to. “I’m not like Ranger,” I mutter, shaking my head.

Her brow furrows, but there’s something behind her tough exterior that softens just a fraction. “What are you then?”

Dropping my head, eyes averted, the weight of her question is heavy. A beat of silence stretches between us, and I hold up a finger, trying to make this as less of a shock as possible.

“I promise not to hurt you,” I say, but my voice has a rough edge, a warning. “And please, try not to scream.”

Slowly, I raise my head, the motion deliberate so she can prepare.

When I do, I see her eyes widen, then freeze.

My fangs have lengthened, sharp as knives just below my jawline, and my eyes are white, the pupils and irises completely disappearing, leaving nothing but a blankness that matches the monster inside me.

She stands so fast that the chair clatters to the floor behind her, the sound echoing loudly in the small room. Her hands fly up in front of her as if she’s trying to shield herself from the sight of me. She stumbles backward, her face pale, lips parted in shock.

The high-pitched scream that rips from her throat fills the space, and I flinch, even though I know it’s coming. It’s the kind of scream that stings your soul, the kind that makes you realize just how much of a freak you are.

Before I can react, Rooster bursts through the door like a damn wrecking ball. “What the hell is—”

“Get out!” I roar at him, the growl in my throat sending him skittering back out of the room.

The door slams shut behind him, and I’m left in the heavy silence with Tessa, her body trembling violently. My gaze softens, but I don’t dare approach her just yet.

Carefully and without haste, I retract my fangs, the sharpness dulling, the length disappearing, the thrum of power ebbing away. When they’re gone, I know my eyes are returning to their normal shade of brown, the monster momentarily caged.

But the damage is done. Tessa is still shaking, her breath coming in ragged gasps, and I can feel every ounce of her fear in the air between us.

“V-vampire?” she stammers, her voice barely above a whisper, her body still trembling as her eyes dart between my mouth and the door, trying to figure out if she can make a run for it.

I let out a deep laugh, more amused by her reaction than I should be. It’s a bitter, dark sound that cuts through the air. “Yeah,” I reply, keeping my voice steady, though the words come with a sharp edge. “And I don’t glitter in the sunlight.”

Her eyes snap to mine, disbelief still flashing across her face. “You... you don’t...” She shakes her head, clearly trying to process what she’s seeing.

She’s about to say something more, probably about how I should be hunting in the dark or whatever nonsense people think they know about vampires.

But I don’t give her the chance. Instead, I take a step closer, watching her freeze in place, her chest rising and falling too fast. “Don’t worry, Tessa,” I say, my voice low and calm now, but the weight of the words is still heavy.

“I’m not the monster you think I am.” Moving closer, I place a hand on either side of her head.

My fingers brush against the sides of her neck, and I can feel the pulse beneath her skin, fast and erratic.

I don’t let go, though, and I keep my gaze locked on hers.

“I’m the same man who visits you just about every day for coffee and to read the newspaper.

” My voice is quieter. I’m trying to ground her in something familiar.

Her eyes meet mine, a storm of emotions battling behind them. Then she whispers, almost to herself, “But you’re not a man.”

“No,” I agree softly, but there’s a firmness to the word. “I’m faster, stronger, and if I make a promise, I keep it until my last breath.”

I watch her carefully, searching for any hint of understanding, but her face is still frozen in shock, her lips parted as though the words won’t quite make sense no matter how many times I say them.

But I won’t back away, not now when I’ve already shown her this much.

“I will not... we will not hurt you,” I say, my voice steady but soft, a promise wrapped in certainty.

“You are free to leave. But...” I add, stepping back just a fraction, giving her some space, “... one of us will need to take you back into town. You’re a long way out, and I’m not about to leave you wandering by yourself. ”

I can see the hesitation in her eyes, the wariness still there, and I know she’s struggling to figure out what to make of me and everything I’ve shown her. But the offer is genuine. No tricks. No games.

“What if I tell?” she asks, her voice shaking, a mix of fear and defiance, her gaze steady and unflinching.

“Blade is right. People will think you’re mad.

” Moving in closer, I watch her every movement, gauging the space between us.

“And, Tessa, we are no threat to you. The reason we’re all here in Alaska is because we have nowhere else to go.

Alaska’s population density is extremely low, at one point three persons per square mile.

Most of the population lives in Anchorage.

We chose this place so that we’re not a threat to anyone or anything. ”

Stepping back, I give her the space she needs to breathe and think. “Shall I take you home?” I offer, my tone gentler now, trying to show I’m not some looming monster ready to pounce.

Her head snaps from side to side. “No!” She practically spits the word out, her voice trembling.

I nod, understanding. “Have you met Prophet?” I ask, watching for her reaction.

Her eyes flicker with recognition, a flash of something in them. “Y-yes,” she stammers, almost as if she’s trying to place him in a different context.

“Do you feel safe around him?” I press, taking another step back, giving her the room she needs to answer honestly.

She pauses, uncertainty clouding her face, then her voice cracks, “W-what is he?”

Sighing, my tone grows a little firmer. “Doesn’t matter, and it’s kind of rude to ask. If Prophet wants to tell you, he will. Until then, you’ll have to trust that he’s no danger to you.”

“You’ll let me go home?”

Meeting her gaze, my expression is steady, and I let the truth hang between us. “Yes,” I answer, my voice is calm but firm. She needs to hear it, to believe it. “You’ll go home.”

For a moment, I watch her, hoping she sees I mean it and understands I’m not trying to trap her in a world she’s not ready for. Tessa needs to feel as if she has a choice, because she does.

“Okay,” Tessa says, her voice still unsure but quieter now.

My hope is she’s starting to trust me, even a little.

I nod, my movements slow and deliberate as I step backward and open the door, gesturing for her to go through it.

“You first,” Tessa says, her eyes flickering toward me but not meeting my gaze directly.

Smiling, I step outside, my boots crunching on the gravel as I make my way over to Rooster, standing off to the side.

Tessa sticks her head out, scanning the yard, checking for danger, but when she doesn’t find any, she steps out, keeping a healthy distance between us.

Smart girl. She’s still got her guard up.

“Prophet!” I call across the yard, my voice carrying easily. It’s a command, not a request.

The door to the clubhouse swings open, and Prophet emerges, his usual laid-back smile spread across his face as if he doesn’t have a care in the world. He moves with ease, his steps purposeful yet casual.

He stops about three feet from Tessa, sizing her up with a single glance, then asks, “Ready to go home?”

Tessa smiles at him, but it’s tentative. She’s not sure how to react to him. Her expression shifts, and she frowns. “Yes.”

Rooster tosses Prophet a set of keys from the pocket of his jacket, and Prophet catches them easily in one hand without breaking his stride. “Come on, then.” He nods toward an old truck parked nearby.

Tessa hesitates for a moment, but Prophet doesn’t give her the chance to overthink it.

“Do you like country music?” he asks, his voice casual, almost conversational. He doesn’t wait for her to answer, already deep in his own rhythm. “I do,” he continues, a little chuckle escaping him. “It’s honest.”

I watch them for a moment, the scene unfolding like a slow dance.

Prophet doesn’t push, doesn’t rush. He’s got this way of making people feel they’ve got all the time in the world.

And maybe that’s exactly what Tessa needs right now.

It also helps that he can project trust, and the humans will always follow him.

When the truck pulls away, Blade comes out of the clubhouse.

“Will she keep our secret?”

“Too early to tell,” I answer.

“Go to her home. Keep out of sight. Watch and listen. If she talks to anyone about us, we’ll have to move on.”

“How long for?” I ask.

Blade gives me a sort of smile. “If Tessa is going to tell our secret, she’ll do it almost immediately.” He huffs. “Maybe we stayed here too long.”