Page 68

Wolfe

I t quickly became clear no one had a feasible solution to the problem.

“Find the kid” seemed to be the only consensus, but—as Johann oh so helpfully informed them—child vampires apparently did not yet have the distinctive vampire scent, at least not until they grew into their adult forms. Hence Soren’s inability to track another vampire in town.

Yet another reason this brat was a loose cannon in need of being contained.

But of course Wolfe was a monster for saying so.

It was the first time he’d truly felt Eric’s censure in their time together.

There had been pouting, yes. Irritation.

Anger, certainly. But this disbelief bordering on disgust was entirely new, allowing a sour tinge to work its way into their bond.

Wolfe didn’t like it. It didn’t sit well in his stomach.

Soothe our mate , his beast urged.

We can’t right now , Wolfe countered. At least not like Wolfe wanted, with logical conversation and shared touch and Eric actually meeting his eye. There were too many spectators, including these two new strangers, one of whom wouldn’t stop glaring at Wolfe over his mate’s shoulder.

Wolfe shot the brute a mild look in acknowledgment of his ire. “You seem perturbed, Lucien. I believe I already apologized for accosting you.”

“You definitely didn’t .” Lucien’s glare transformed into a sneer. Yes, he was most certainly French in origin.

Wolfe cocked a brow in mild surprise. “Didn’t I? How strange.”

“Notice how that’s still not an apology?”

Soren made a scoffing sound from his place on Gabe’s lap. “Like you’re one to talk about unprovoked aggression, Luc.”

Luc directed his sneer at the petite blond. “I thought I didn’t exist to you.”

“You exist when it suits me.” Soren waved a dismissive hand, then turned it back around to study his nails. “Get used to it.”

Jamie laughed, a surprisingly bright contrast to his mate’s glowering. “I like this one.” He nodded his chin at Soren’s footwear. “Great boots too.”

“Thank you.” Soren accepted the compliment with a gracious nod. “I officially declare you too good for him. Find yourself another mate.”

Lucien growled. “I did always so regret not breaking your arm, Soren.”

“I’d like to see you try, asshole.”

The arguing continued, but Wolfe had officially had enough.

The problem of the child was not going to be solved in this moment, especially with all the unhealed animosity in the air.

Perhaps if the group was given an evening to vent their frustrations with one another, the next gathering would be more productive.

If not, Wolfe would hunt down the little creature himself.

He rose from his seated position and offered a hand to his mate. “I believe it’s time for us to take our leave.”

Eric, who’d been much, much too quiet the past half hour, blinked at him, a dazed look in his eyes. “It is?”

“Yes, darling. We have our own concerns to deal with.” We are our own concern , he wanted to say. We must address your disgust with me before it taints our bond beyond repair. Instead, he gave a nod to the room at large. “Keep us apprised of the situation with the vampire brat, would you?”

Danny rose from his seat, ever the polite host. “Of course.” He snapped his fingers. “Oh, Eric, I have something for you. It’s in the kitchen.”

Eric followed Danny obediently, and Wolfe watched them go, his patience fraying quite thin. He wanted Eric back in their home, back in his arms, back in his bed.

Wolfe felt a tug on his sleeve. He looked down to find Johann, still seated, offering him a plate. “Cookie, Wolfgang?”

“No, thank you.”

Johann set the plate down, but he didn’t let go of Wolfe’s suit jacket. “You told me you couldn’t love,” he said softly, too quiet for the other arguing vampires to hear.

Wolfe shrugged a shoulder. “I believe I told you I never had before.”

Johann’s brow furrowed. “You tricked me, you mean.”

“It’s not my fault you didn’t do your proper research,” Wolfe countered, too irritated to use his usual kid gloves. “There’s nothing to say people with psychopathic tendencies can’t love.”

Johann nibbled on his lower lip as he thought that over. “Why’d you let me think that, then?”

“Because you didn’t want a romantic relationship, and neither did I. I thought it would help you feel more certain in that.”

Johann’s gray eyes met his. “You were manipulating me.”

Wolfe was coming very close to losing his temper. What was the point of not hiding who he was with Johann if the little vampire was still going to act surprised when Wolfe acted true to his nature? “I don’t feel bad about it,” he said harshly. “Go to Alexei if you’re looking for sympathy.”

Johann didn’t look cowed in the slightest. “Did you let Veronique die on purpose, that day in the woods?”

Wolfe said nothing. He’d always wondered if Johann would figure that out, once his grieving had passed.

At Wolfe’s lack of answer, Johann nodded slowly. “You did.” He rose from the couch, straightening another one of his hideous sweaters. “I think I might be very mad at you right now, Wolfgang.”

“That would be well within your rights.”

He watched as Johann wandered off, Ferdy on his heels. He couldn’t spare the extra energy to contemplate how to placate the little vampire, not with things so askew with his own mate.

But apparently the night was not done with him.

Wolfe allowed himself one heavy, indulgent sigh as Alexei sidled up next to him. How many more unwanted heart-to-hearts was he going to have to have this evening?

Alexei crossed his arms and made some Russian-sounding grunt. “I don’t like you manipulating Jay. But I am glad she’s dead.”

Wolfe pinched the bridge of his nose. “I really don’t care how you feel one way or another, mobster.”

“That’s fine,” Alexei said easily before moving to stand directly in front of Wolfe, the small amount of space between them emphasizing his unfortunate height advantage. “But be nice to Jay or we’ll see just how far this new vampire strength of mine goes.”

Wolfe smirked up at him. “I don’t like threats.”

“And I don’t like seeing Jay unhappy.”

“I won’t apologize for Veronique’s death. It was her own fault for ignoring Silas’s deterioration.”

Alexei shrugged his massive shoulders. “You don’t need to. He’ll forgive you anyway because that’s who he is.” He turned, presumably to follow his mate, before looking back at Wolfe. “Just eat one of his cookies next time, okay?”

By the time Wolfe escaped the cursed yellow house, he found Eric already waiting in the passenger seat of the car. “I’ve changed my mind about you having friends, darling.”

Eric didn’t answer, not even to glower. He just flipped through what looked to be a journal of some kind.

“From Danny?” Wolfe asked.

“From Danny.”

Well, at least his mate was not entirely incapable of speaking to him.

“His notes on vampirism,” Eric continued. “‘New vampires are unstable and bloodthirsty. Except when they already have mates, then they’re just super horny all the time.’” Eric chuckled, though the sound was without humor. “Helpful.”

Wolfe tried to catch his eye. “What’s troubling you, pet? The child?”

Eric frowned down at Danny’s notes. “Yes. No. Yes. We definitely need to talk about what you said back there at some point. But… I don’t know.

I think it’s hitting me: this is my life now.

I’m not human anymore, am I? And it goes beyond this bond with you.

I’m going to have, like, vampire friends, and deal with vampire problems. And one day I’m going to go hunting with you and feed from a living person.

But I guess I should just be grateful some asshole didn’t turn me when I was still some innocent kid. ”

Wolfe felt some tightness he hadn’t been aware of in his chest loosening as Eric shared with him. “You don’t have to be grateful at all. You’re allowed to still be angry with me.” Be angry all you want, as long as you don’t cast me aside.

Eric sighed. “I’m not though. I’m kind of getting it now. You acted on instinct when you turned me. It’s fucked up, but it also just…happened. I feel it with this new beast inside me, always longing to be close to you at all times. I can imagine it would get exhausting, resisting it.”

“Yes.”

Eric finally looked at him, a strange half smile on his face. “You talk to yours a lot, you know. Like, out loud.”

Wolfe saw no point in denying it. “I suppose I do.”

“Why?”

“Mine has always been vocal. And perhaps before I was turned, I was a bit…isolated. It wasn’t so bad, having a bloodthirsty companion in my soul.”

Eric’s brow furrowed, just the slightest. “Were you really unhappy before you met me?”

“I wasn’t unhappy in the slightest.” Wolfe didn’t think he’d ever been truly unhappy.

He’d been angry with his family, frustrated with society’s need for his self-control.

But unhappy? He’d have to have cared more for that to be possible.

As Eric’s frown deepened, Wolfe conceded, “Perhaps things were a bit duller.” He reached a hand to Eric’s cheek, pleased when his mate didn’t flinch at his touch.

“I find the world has a bit more color with you in it.”

“But why? You hardly know me.”

Here was where a different type of mate may have been able to offer flowery words, lovely reassurances of Eric’s worth.

But Wolfe, as always with his mate, could only offer him the truth.

“Other people may need to rationalize, may have morals or hang-ups or other things that get in the way. But I’ve always run on instinct.

I trust myself more than anyone else. And I want you.

I want to keep you. That’s enough for me. ”

Eric pursed his lips and drew away from Wolfe’s touch, clearly still doubtful.