Page 17 of Those That Are Lost (Hidden Vampires #2)

TY

I hear Aurora and Henry whispering to each other as we head after the wolves.

I know I’m going to have some explaining to do but I stay quiet for now.

I knew coming face to face with the woman I’d called aunt my whole childhood would be difficult.

But I knew coming here would provide some level of protection.

A place we can stay, hopefully for the winter, where Adicious won’t be able to reach us.

Ash trots along just ahead of me. He was a pup last time I saw him.

Theodora’s youngest—at least when I last had contact—looks fully grown now, and powerful in his wolf form.

Even with the thick dark coat, I can see the muscles underneath flexing as he glides across the snow.

An alpha for sure. If it wasn’t from his scent, I wouldn’t have recognised him.

“Care to share how you know the wolf pack?” Henry breaks through my jumbled thoughts.

“Theodora was friends with my parents, she would often visit as I was growing up. They used to live on the coast in West Scotia. ”

“They escaped here during the war?” Red asks.

“Yes, she, along with her mate, managed to get most of their pack here. They merged with the one already residing here and a couple of others which made it too. She is one of the reigning Alphas.”

Ash’s ears twitch and I know he’s listening to every word I say. They understandably won’t fully trust my companions, so I leave out a few details for the wolves to reveal themselves once they see Henry and Red aren’t a threat to their safety.

“They’re so beautiful,” Red states. I take a quick glance over my shoulder at her, see the awe on her face as she watches the wolves ahead of us.

“That’ll go a good way to winning them over.” I chuckle. “They all would’ve heard that.”

Ash leaps up out of the snow and barks, proving my point.

Aurora’s cheeks flush crimson and she smiles sheepishly. Heat swarms my own body at that look. Her real smiles are still so rare I cherish them.

The wolves ahead of us start barking again, demanding we hurry to catch up.

“Come on. I, for one, am happy we don’t have to sleep on the ground again tonight,” I say to divert the conversation.

It doesn’t take us long to reach the first of the wolf dens.

Built in amongst the trees, the houses are low down, only the top floor and the pitched roofs are visible.

The majority of their homes are built down into the ground.

They blend into the fauna of the surrounding forest floor, butting up against the tall evergreens .

Lots more barking and yipping fills the air as we walk down the path between the houses.

Shifters in both their forms come out to greet us.

We wave, greeting those who introduce themselves.

I feel myself slipping into the role easier than I thought, I’d been used to this kind of treatment once upon a time, diplomatic conferences and council meetings where packs got together to discuss key issues.

Henry is a little reserved, but I see the soldier in him come out. Polite but brief. Red looks stunned, remaining shy, but her kind nature has her returning the greetings graciously.

Eventually, we reach a small clearing where a few larger buildings reside. They are still single storey, at least above ground, but are much longer and wider than the homes we’d passed. We’re led inside one of the grandest.

As soon as we’re through the entrance, Theodora shifts back into her human form and calls out to her mate as she disappears through an archway leading deeper into the building. In wolf form they can share thoughts telepathically. But as humans, their powers are pretty limited.

Ash also shifts, giving me the first look at the man he’s become. I was right about the muscles. The guy is packing, a far cry from the lanky pre-pubescent kid I knew. The third wolf to follow us inside stays on four legs.

“Ty, you’ve barely changed a bit.” Ash grabs me in a powerful hug.

“You certainly have,” I respond, feeling myself grin at the beaming smile he gives me.

“Yeah, well, building all these homes has its perks.” He flexes his biceps a bit, showing off the strength he’s earnt through graft rather than a gym.

“I see the arrogance in you hasn’t changed, though. You always were a cocky shit,” I tease before turning to take in my surroundings.

The place is entirely wood. Painted panelling for the walls and exposed beam ceilings. It's rustic but somewhat regal. Large square windows sit on the upper sections, they’re simple but will let in plenty of light during the day.

Rugs litter the floor and a few paintings decorate the walls, giving it a cosy feel.

This is clearly just an entrance way, devoid of much furniture other than several racks for boots and coats.

The wolves aren’t affected by the cold in either form but there’s several waterproof jackets, coats and trousers hanging on the pegs for when they venture outside on two legs in the rain.

Red stands off to the side, looking dumbstruck, still not quite believing what she’s seeing.

“Hey, you okay?” I ask her, striding the few paces back to where she stands near the door.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she says, clearly not fine.

“You can ask any questions. This lot are very open.” I try reassuring her. “Sometimes too open.”

That draws a little chuckle from her. I knew she’d be surprised when the wolves revealed themselves in the clearing, but she’s shutting down now.

“They won’t hurt you.”

“They’re a pack, aren’t they?”

“Yes, they are,” I reply, confused by her train of thought.

“Last time I was near a pack…” Her eyes flick to me. “We got chained in a basement.” She forces out the words.

“They won’t hurt us. Can you trust me?” I place my hand out for her to take.

She hesitates for a second but slips her gloved fingers into mine.

I don’t ask her to remove any of her outdoors wear as I lead her into the property.

I keep mine on too, thinking Aurora will feel too vulnerable if she’s made to take it off right now.

“Is that true?” Ash asks, not even pretending he didn’t hear our conversation .

“Yeah,” I tell him. “The pack in Froan are pretty barbaric.”

“Clearly we have some catching up to do,” Ash mutters. “Let’s get you settled first. This is our main house for pack meetings but it has a few bedrooms for guests.”

My eyebrows raise at that.

“I’m clearly in need of updating myself too. What would a banished wolf-pack that’s meant to be cut off from the rest of society need with guest bedrooms?”

“There’s time for that. Come on.” He gestures for us all to head through the archway, and the remaining wolf trots along with us.

A short hall opens up into a large rectangular space. More timber and rectangular windows line one wall, and an L-shaped kitchen is fitted against the far corner.

“This is the main meeting room. It’s used for pack stuff mainly but it’s also a place to hang out.

We eat dinner together here most days. The doors we just walked past are to the offices my parents share with the other pack alphas,” Ash informs us as he leads us diagonally through the space to another archway, dodging several heavy wooden tables.

“Through here are the bedrooms. All have ensuites. There’s four in total, and no one else here currently, so feel free to take one each or buddy up. ”

He gives mine and Red’s clasped hands a curious look but doesn’t make any assumptions. He’ll know we aren’t bonded through our scent.

“Do you want to freshen up before we eat? It’s not a full pack dinner tonight but I normally do the cooking for my family in the evening.”

“A hot shower would be fantastic,” Henry pipes up.

“Great, you should find towels and stuff already in there but come grab me if you need anything else. I need to start the food or I’ll have a bunch of hungry wolves whining at me.” He chuckles.

“Thanks,” I tell Ash. “Shall we join you after you’ve all eaten?”

“No, come sit with us. And don’t worry, I’ve not forgotten. No food for the vampires. I’ll get my family fed though so you can drink,” he says like it's an everyday occurrence and walks back the way he came, taking the other wolf with him.

“Drink?” Red looks at me confused. “They’ll have blood packets?”

“No, we’ll be able to drink straight from them.” Red’s eyebrows practically touch her hairline. “Sorry, we should’ve explained that better. Most of the wolves are fine with being drunk by us, at least Theodora and her family will be.”

Matching expressions of disbelief face me.

“I forget you were turned during the war and haven’t known anything different either,” I say to Henry.

“The wolves were always the most accepting of us. They know the blood we need to take won’t affect them, so most are willing donors.

It's part of the reason they got persecuted so much alongside us.”

“Fascinating, and not well documented,” Henry muses. “Let’s unpack that later. I wasn’t lying when I said a shower sounded fantastic. What are we doing, a room each?”

“Sure.” I gesture at him to have the first pick.

He’s quick to disappear into the nearest one.

I look to Red. “Do you want the next pick? Although I have no idea if there’s any difference.”

“Can we share?”

Her words take me by surprise. I assumed she’d want her own space. She’s been reluctant to share her bed with me. Maybe she realised last night that both of us sleep better when we’re together.

“Yeah, of course.” I gesture to the doors surrounding us. “Which one? ”

She goes for the one sharing a wall with Henry instead of the opposite side.

Pushing open the door, she reveals a rich and cosy room.

It's still wood panelling but this time they’ve been treated so the panels are a more natural looking rich deep brown.

The rugs on the floor are thick furs. The bed is a king and has a carved wooden frame with a large headboard.

It's covered in a rich burgundy duvet and several throws and cushions.

My brain immediately conjures images of Red cosied up in that bed, naked beneath the sheets, hair fanned over the pillows. Gods, I want nothing more than for that to be my reality later.

I pull my gaze away from it and take in the fitted wardrobe and desk space taking up the near wall.

There’re also bedside cabinets with matching lamps that I missed on my first glance.

And a velvet overstuffed armchair in the corner next to an empty fireplace.

A door is squeezed between it and the end of the bedside cabinet, I’m assuming the ensuite is beyond.

Red strips her coat before shrugging out of her jumper and placing it on the bed.

“This is really nice,” she surmises.

I nod my agreement as a thick atmosphere settles over us. My skin itches like it does whenever I’m separated from her.

Dumping my own bag at the foot of the bed, I half expect her to kick me out before we get to the point of sleeping. Maybe she only wants me in here whilst she showers. Not that I’d be lucky enough to join her, but I’m guessing she would feel safer if I was guarding the room.

“Did you want to wash up?” I enquire.

“Yeah, you?” It’s not an invitation and my dick gives a valiant pulse in hope anyway.

“Definitely, but you can go first,” I tell her.

“Thanks,” she replies. She takes a couple of minutes to route through my pack for her clothes. She’s been borrowing mine, which I’m one hundred percent loving, but her jeans are now dry after the lake. When she disappears into the shower, I hear the door click but she doesn’t lock it. Interesting.

I take a seat on the armchair and try not to think about her stripping in the next room. An unlocked door dividing us.