Chapter 11
Ansley
My emotions are in a tailspin.
I’m worried about Daisy. Confused that there are actual vampires. Not just vampires, either. Apparently, there are Witch Doctors and men that can turn into wolves.
And I thought getting a job at York Financial was going to be the most exciting thing that happened this year.
The weirdest part is how I’ve just accepted it.
Yesterday, I just had a feeling someone was watching me.
Since then, I’ve had a vision… or hallucination.
I’m still not sure what that was. I’ve seen horrifying creatures and an actual bloodsucking vampire.
I’ve watched Hayden tear hearts out of chests and fight Daisy’s evil date.
I’m not sure how much Daisy will remember when she wakes up, but I doubt she’s going to believe anything I tell her. If she does, I have a feeling “Remember that time you went on a date with a vampire?” won’t be something I’m able to tease her about for a very long time.
“Up there,” Hayden says, gesturing to a gas station. “Call the Uber. We’ll wait by the curb.”
Hayden is wearing a patchwork blanket like a cloak, tied around the waist by a gold cord that reminds me of the one I recently wore at my college graduation. That feels like a lifetime ago, not a matter of months.
Oh god, I have to work tomorrow. And feed Caddo. How do I just return to regular life after what just happened?
I also have a different sensation. This one is concerning. I noticed it when the adrenaline finally wore off. The night at Fletcher’s, when I saw him staring at me, I felt a tingle between my legs. A pulsing heat in my core. Now, my core is on fire, and my panties are wet.
This is unholy. This is the kind of thing my grandmother would have said was a sin. But I’ve checked a few of them off her list without thinking twice, and right now, I’m having a hard time focusing on anything else except my concern for Daisy. The rest will have to wait.
“Oh, fuck! damn it,” Hayden groans, shuddering underneath the blanket.
“Are you… okay?” I ask, trying to swallow the strange sensation, and only seeming to make it worse. “Are you still in a lot of pain?”
“It’s not the pain. It’s hard to maintain my Third Form around you. I’m weak. I need food. A bottle of whiskey. A hot shower, followed by a cold shower,” he sighs. “I’ll be fine.”
“I feel like I need all of those things, too,” I admit, looking down. “Not a whole bottle, though. Then again…” I snap out of it in an instant. I’d be dead if I drank that much. “Why is it difficult?”
“This isn’t who I am. This is a disguise I wear to blend in with humans,” he growls, lowering himself to the curb, a hard sigh escaping his chest. “It takes concentration to maintain it.”
My eyes widen. “So, the wolf… that’s what-who you are?”
“It’s what we call our Natural Form. The true name for it sounds like a grunt to a human. But we aren’t born like that. What you saw, that’s my true Human Form,” he says, “It’s easiest to maintain that one.”
“I thought that was like your… Superman form or something,” I say, imagining what it would be like to be in those massive arms.
“No,” he chuckles, shaking his head. “That’s how I was born.”
“Wow,” I say, swallowing hard, then a car approaches the curb. “There’s our Uber.”
Hayden insists I get in first. He grunts and groans as he climbs into the backseat. The driver flashes a curious look at us, but then he glances at the rather generous tip I put into the app and shrugs.
“York Financial,” he says, adjusting his rear-view mirror. “Buckle up.”
When I first got my apartment, I imagined myself walking to work, not going broke paying for rides everywhere. But I’m glad to be sitting. Off my feet. It helps with the rising heat in my core if I squirm a little in my seat.
We ride in silence. I’m not sure what to talk about in public.
The weather? He can probably smell thunderstorms coming or detect a chill in the air before anyone else.
Well, he’s not wearing anything under that blanket, so I’m sure that’s just natural at the moment. Why did I just glance over like that?
I squirm and our knees touch briefly. I swear I feel sparks. I pull back, trying to focus on anything else, but it’s impossible with him so close. I glance again and there’s an amber flicker in his eye, even in his Third Form.
“And one big financial building on the right,” the driver says happily. “I hope the two of you have a wonderful night.”
“Thank you,” I say politely, getting in one last squirm before opening the door.
We wait until the Uber is out of sight before crossing the street.
Once we get to the building, Hayden steps into the shadows and the next thing I know, he’s in his true Human Form, climbing the building like Spider-Man.
Except Spider-Man doesn’t ram his fingers into concrete when he climbs buildings.
The wind blows the blanket, and I get a glimpse of his very large…appendage. My heart thunders in my chest, and I force myself to look away, but the image is in my mind like a brand. I can barely breathe, the heat inside feeling like it’s trying to go supernova.
The way it flops against his leg. Long, thick, and…
“I’m coming back down,” he yells. “Using the fire escape this time.”
“Okay!” I squeak out, trying not to think about his dick.
What is happening to me? I’m losing it. I think my sweat is sweating. He would destroy me. Literally break me in half. The thought of that should make me tremble with dread, instead of anticipation.
I mean, I’m tall. I played basketball in high school.
Mainly because my grandfather wanted me to.
I was a power forward and could hold my own on the court.
I’m not as fit as I used to be when I was running wind sprints every afternoon at practice, but I’ve still got some definition in my arms and legs.
Despite that, though, Hayden is still enormous compared to me.
He comes back down the fire escape rather quickly. He’s dressed now, instead of just wearing a blanket, and in his disguise form. Third form? Now it looks kind of bland, like realizing the food they just put on your plate at a fancy restaurant has nothing on your grandmother’s cooking.
“I called my brothers. Gave them the location. They’re going to check the cathedral and see if there are any survivors.
It’s unlikely, but the vampires will be gone by now.
They don’t stay in a nest that’s been discovered by wolves and humans,” he says as he descends the fire escape.
“Even if that means giving up their entire blood bank.”
“I guess that means we go to the safehouse?” I ask, nibbling my bottom lip.
“Yes, but we’ll wait for a car,” he growls. “Not an Uber. My brother is dropping one off for us.”
He walks to the end of the alleyway and leans against the wall. I linger behind him. I’m literally at my workplace. I don’t think anyone would be around at this hour, but I don’t want to risk it.
My emotions are still in a tailspin. My body is aching for something I’ve never had. Yeah, I know, a virgin at twenty-two. Most girls my age are a lot more experienced, but I’m not. I shouldn’t be thinking about these kind of things.
Then again, the most devout nun would probably be struggling with some very naughty thoughts right now.
Car brakes screech then it rolls until it’s in front of us.
The driver gets out, and I’m instantly surprised by the resemblance between them.
It’s clear their brothers, even in their Third Form.
Remy’s hair is darker, with no hint of charcoal.
His skin isn’t as tanned, and his eyes are a hazy kind of grey, rather than black.
“Catch,” the man says, tossing some keys towards his brother.
Hayden catches them effortlessly. “Thanks, Remy.” He pauses and glances back towards me. “Remy doesn’t bite. Not unless you piss him off anyway. Come on out and met my brother. Remy, this is Ansley.”
I step out of the alleyway and swallow a lump that rises in my throat.
Remy’s gaze meets mine, a polite smile on his face, but it instantly evaporates.
I feel the same strange pull towards him that I do towards Hayden.
I’m not sure if he feels it or not, but he keeps me trapped in a captivating stare.
“Nice to meet you, Ansley,” Remy’s gaze lingers for a moment, then he glances at Hayden. “You’re right. She’s a Scion. An interesting Scion…”
A Scion? What the hell is that? Does that have something to do with my vision? Why I knew where to find Daisy? Why I’m drawn to a man who can turn into a wolf? Why I feel something similar for his brother? I feel trouble coming.
“I’m taking her to the safehouse near Mulberry,” Hayden says, walking over and opening my door. “We’ll be safe there. Probably a good idea for everyone to lay low after you check the cathedral.”
“Yeah, I agree,” Remy says, finally looking away, but his eyes dart back and linger a moment longer. “I’ll let you know if we find anything. Did you ever talk to Jaxton?”
“I haven’t made it there yet,” Hayden sighs. “I’ll drop her off and then I’ll go see him.”
“Don’t worry about it, brother,” Remy says, looking at me again. “I’ll go talk to him. We may need him tonight and you need some time to recover.”
“Thank you,” Hayden relents.
Remy disappears into the shadows, and I get into the car.
The feeling of being watched returns, and I don’t have to question if it’s him.
The feeling drifts off as Hayden drives us away, and then the sensations I’ve been trying to fight return.
I wiggle in my seat as inconspicuously as possible, grateful to have something to rub against.
“What’s a Scion?” I ask, more concerned about that than the needy fire between my legs.
“It means you’re not human. That’s what we call…
everything humans refer to as supernatural: Wolves, vampires, Fae, witches, all of them.
All of us,” Hayden explains. “And before you ask your next question, yes, you’re a Scion.
And before you ask the one after that, no, I don’t know what kind of Scion you are. ”
“How do you know I’m a Scion?” I question, tilting my head slightly as I process it.
“It’s the only explanation for what I feel,” he growls. “And you’ve been doing too much squirming to deny you feel it too.
My face turns red, then pales. I stop moving immediately. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Lying to your mate, hmm?” he inquires, eyebrow raised. “That would have gotten a she-wolf a trip across her mate’s knee.”
“What!?” I say loudly. “How dare y—I’m not a she-wolf! I can’t turn into… I don’t have forms!”
“No, the last she-wolf died a long time ago,” he says, some sadness creeping into his voice. “Our kind isn’t supposed to feel this pull, this desire, toward any other species. It defies everything I know. But what I do know is that you’re my mate. I’m as certain of that as I am of anything.”
The way he says it. Such confidence. I can sense it’s the truth, just like I knew I could trust him earlier. But what does that mean? I’m his mate? I’m… a Scion? I’m confused.
I can’t deny the attraction, pull, desire, fiery, fiery need. It’s not letting go of me. Mr. Right isn’t supposed to show up, kill vampires, then let me ride him all over Chicago like my personal steed after rescuing my best friend. Or maybe, apparently, he is.
I can almost hear Daisy’s voice in my head telling me I’d be crazy to ignore this. And not to forget to feed Caddo. The last part is louder.
“You think I’m you’re mate, and you don’t even know what I am?” I ask, nibbling my lip, unable to stop myself from squirming again. I turn red when he glances over, making it clear he notices. “We don’t know each other! How can we be mates?”
“It’s an instinct. The same ones that tell me when I’m hungry, thirsty, or need to go for a run in the forest to clear my head,” he says.
“We are drawn to our mate. It’s in your scent.
The second we breathe it in, we just… we just know.
But there’s a piece missing. Maybe more than one.
It’s not because I don’t know who or what you are.
The only thing I need to know is that you’re mine. ”
Is that what I’m feeling? An instinct? Can an instinct make my core go supernova? Can it make me crave something I’ve never experienced before?
The pull towards him is undeniable, a magnetic force that defies logic. My mind screams confusion, but my body knows what it wants.
If it’s an instinct, is it even my fault if I give in?
Or is it just… inevitable?