4. Chapter Three
Chapter Three
Benjamin
Tomorrow night was just as bad. Worse, actually.
Mainly because I only had Freddy as backup.
Jennifer had gotten hurt before they’d reached me and was tended to by their healer.
Freddy and I faced fifteen vampires and I prayed more backup was coming.
We’d already killed twenty and my arm was shaking from firing off so many shots.
“This is insane!” Freddy shouted, and I wholeheartedly agreed. I had to admit defeat. After we’d blasted these rogue sons of bitches to hell, I would need to call Hazi. No matter what, I had to survive. I had to be alive to protect those innocent children.
Feeling done with it all, I grabbed inside my jacket with one hand and tugged at the small pouch.
With it secure in my hand, I quickly switched it to my other hand and threw it at the cluster of vampires.
It hit the ground and a boom reverberated as the small bomb went off, killing ten of them instantly.
Freddy didn’t even bat an eye. He just kept shooting at the last ones standing. We were panting by the end. Of course that was when the alpha and five officers came running to our aide.
“We heard an explosion,” Christopher stated, looking around the dust filled area with a grimace.
“I hit them with a bomb,” I said, pointing out the obvious.
“Why are you carrying bombs?” he asked incredulously.
“For the main purpose of not dying,” I replied.
“It was fucking awesome!” Freddy exclaimed. “We were as good as dead if he hadn’t done that.”
Christopher visibly winced at that, rubbing his chest as if in pain. Dramatic much? So, what if I ruined a bit of the playground? At least the parents would be alive to complain about the blown-up swing and not left behind as bloodless husks.
I faced the alpha when I uttered words I’d never said before. “We need further assistance.”
He frowned. “You said you were as good as five hunters, surely this can’t be more than you’re used to.”
I didn’t waver from his accusatory tone. My pride was hurt but my life wouldn’t end because of stupidity. “I don’t mean hunters,” I said, steeling myself. “I mean other supernaturals.” I almost bristled at my own words, but they had to be said.
The alpha groaned and pulled at his hair. “Why did Hazi even send you?! You’re already backing out two nights in? Is this a fucking joke?!”
I stood my ground, glaring at the pigheaded alpha.
“I’ve been a hunter for over fifteen years.
I’m the best in my field. If I tell you we need backup, we need backup.
I’m not risking innocent lives because you don’t feel comfortable letting other supernaturals into your town.
You either beg them for help, or see innocent people die. Your choice.”
“You’re talking as if we’re at war here!” He was stomping back and forth so violently that even his pack seemed worried.
“You might be!” I shouted, hoping to get it into his head. “They want whatever it is you’re hiding in there.” I pointed to the library behind us. “And I’m not dying trying to protect whatever it is. I’m here to save lives, not be a guard dog!”
The alpha scoffed. “Like you could be a guard dog, you can’t even do your fucking job!”
“I did my job!” I yelled back, my anger rising. I was tired. I was exhausted. And most importantly, I was fucking horny having this alpha get all feisty in front of me. I had serious issues. And I blamed it all on the wolf.
“You obviously didn’t! If you did, the vamps would’ve been gone by now!”
“That’s what I’m trying to get through to your fucking skull!
” I snarled, making his people growl in warning.
They did not like the way I spoke to their alpha.
Tough luck. I was angry and horny, a deadly mix.
I was not stepping down. “We need to find the source! And to do that we need more people! How do you expect us to kill the vampire responsible, if we’re too busy fighting off its goons? !”
Christopher seemed to finally get my meaning, his expression changing from anger to thoughtful. “Fine,” he growled. “Meeting at eight in the morning at the station. We can call Hazi and hear what he thinks.”
“Eight?!” I all but squeaked. It was already nearing five a.m.
“What?” he smirked. “Need your beauty sleep?”
“Yes,” I replied instantly, not even bothering to rise to his teasing. “I don’t look this good on no sleep.”
Freddy snorted at that but quickly averted his gaze when Christopher stared him down. I just winked at Freddy.
“Eight a.m.” The alpha growled, then strode away with his pack, leaving me at the playground surrounded by dust.
“Well, fuck me then,” I muttered as I returned to my car.
The blood seeped into the floors, the wood soaking it all up. I was frozen in place, unable to move. Figures blurred around me, blood spraying me in the face. I didn’t even flinch. All I did was watch the blood, drip, drip, drip.
Screaming filled the room and the blurring became worse. A reddish hue took over my surroundings, along with the feeling of my heart beating too fast. Drip, drip, drip.
Blood trickled down my cheek, drip, drip. I looked up, finally able to move something, and I wished I hadn’t.
I flew off the couch, my hand gripping my chest as I panted for breath. Only a nightmare. It wasn’t real. I touched my cheek, and almost had another fit of panic, but then I looked at the wetness. It was just my sweat. It wasn’t the blood of my family. I’d survived. I was safe.
I looked at my phone to check the time and was both happy and sad to see I only had thirty minutes until I had to be at the police station. I wouldn’t have been able to sleep anyway after one of my nightmares, I never was.
I hurried into the shower, removing all evidence that I’d had a nightmare after almost an entire year without. Being here was messing with my mental health and I truly couldn’t get away fast enough.
Hazi’s voice came clearly from my phone where it was placed on the table.
Christopher sat on the other side, just like last time, as the three of us spoke.
“If Benji says you need more help, you do.” I loved how sure my boss was of my decision, so much so that I smirked at the alpha, earning me a glare in return.
“What sort of help?” Christopher growled at the phone.
“Well… Benji, you won’t like what I’m about to say,” Hazi said, his tone apologetic.
No, no, nononono. He couldn’t mean—
“The Jevaline coven.”
“Absolutely not!” I argued.
“Benji—”
“No! I told you I won’t work with vampires. I want to kill them, not work with them.”
“They aren’t rogues, remember that.”
I sat with my arms crossed, feeling so done with everything. I hadn’t even gotten more than one hour’s sleep and zero coffee had been offered by my supposed mate either.
The alpha spoke to Hazi next, eyeing me curiously. “You have contact with the Jevaline coven?”
Hazi hummed. “Only if it gets out of hand, then they step in and eradicate the vampires.”
“And this is dire enough?”
“Oh, yes. Over 80 rogues in a single month? You have a real threat targeting your town. They will help.”
“Tell them we’ll be grateful for their help,” Christopher said, effectively ruining my mood further.
“I will. Expect their arrival tonight. They have several cars with highly tinted windows for driving and should reach Keen within a few hours,” Hazi informed us.
“Are you coming, too?” I asked, hoping to have at least one person around that I trusted. Being around vampires, even the “good” ones had my skin itching.
“You know I can’t leave the base, Benji,” Hazi replied. His tone held some guilt to it. I both hated and loved that he knew how hard this was for me.
“Fine,” I relented. “I’ll get some sleep before they arrive. I’m no good to anyone with no sleep.”
I left the room when none of the men made a protest, grabbing my phone and ending the call. I immediately missed the pine scent that clung to the alpha. Being in an enclosed space with him was the sweetest torture. I hoped that I, too, had a tantalizing scent that messed with his brain.
I passed Freddy and gave him a nod in greeting. “Off to get some rest?” he grinned.
“Yes, that obvious?” I combed my hair back, having not even bothered checking my reflection when I woke up.
“Nah, I would’ve done the same if I had the option. I won’t be off for another two hours.”
“That sucks, but at least you got donuts,” I said, pointing to the donut box next to his computer.
“Don’t let it fool you,” he staged-whispered. “That’s Alpha's way of bribing us not to quit.”
I couldn’t help it, laughter bobbled out of me. “It’s a nice trick.”
Freddy beamed but the furious stomping from the hall had everyone silently staring in that direction.
The chief stood menacingly and glared at us. “Mr. Green, weren’t you off to get your beauty sleep? I would prefer that over you interrupting my pack.”
I suppressed an eyeroll. Party pooper. Ignoring the alpha, I turned to Freddy and gave him a genuine smile. “I’ll get going. See you later.”
He grinned back, not even aware that his alpha was glaring daggers at him.
Oh, well, that wasn’t my problem. I had a hot date with my hotel bed and then a shower after.
Perhaps a burger before work could be arranged as well.
Yes, that sounded perfect to my ears. I needed all the pampering to be able to face the vampires later.
And the Jevaline were not just vampires.
They were one of the most powerful covens known.
I had gone thirty-six years without ever meeting a coven, but it seemed I had met my deadline.
At least they were supposed to help us. No matter, I had plenty of turtlenecks packed away.