Chapter 7
Delaney
Humming to the music playing throughout the supermarket, I drop some trail mix into the cart, moving on to some candy and chocolate. My period is coming, so I need to stock up on survival supplies now.
This is the first time in nearly a week that I am truly alone yet surrounded by people. The two prospects who have been placed on my protection, thanks to the bossy, sexy ass Thorin, are outside by my car waiting for me.
Thorin believes that I was the target of the two new vampires who were at Starlight, especially because they saw him drag me off from behind the bar.
So in actual fact, he put a target on my back, not me if they come for me.
Moving to the next item on my list, I look through the fresh meats, and then head to get some cheese. You can never have too much cheese.
The hairs on the back of my neck bristle, and I look around sharply, but I see no one. Frowning, I quicken my steps, getting the rest of the things on my list so I can get my ass home.
I see an evening on the sofa with a nice hot drink, a book, and some trashy TV show.
“Delaney, I thought that was you.”
I look to my left, seeing a woman from my past, and I smile.
She was one of the only nice people to me when I was in one of my many foster homes.
“Oh, wow. Mrs. Drury, it is so nice to see you again.” She pulls me in for a hug, and I smile, smelling her family’s butterscotch scent.
She was always making some at her home, along with cookies, handing them out to the kids in the neighborhood.
“Oh, dear, you turned into a stunner, didn’t you? You are such a beautiful woman, Delaney. What have you been doing with your life since I last saw you?” A little frown appears on her face.
I shrug, not sure how much to tell her. I am not ashamed of being a club girl for the Kings; they helped me, protecting me when I needed it. Still do.
“Oh, you know, this and that. I spiraled when I got kicked out,” She rolls her eyes. “Found myself with some not-so-good people and got in trouble. But I got help from the club; they saved me and helped me heal.”
Her eyes flash wide, but she masks it quickly.
“You mean the Kings?” I nod.
“Yes.” I straighten my spine, ready for whatever tongue lashing she is about to dish out.
For a second she does not speak, her eyes taking me in. What she is hoping to find I do not know, but the longer she looks at me, I start to fidget.
“Well, I am glad that they helped you heal and get better. Winger is a good man, and so is Halen. I have had a run in with the boys before, and they do good, along with the dark that surrounds the club,” she tells me.
My mouth drops open in shock and words fail me as I take in her smile because what she said was unexpected.
I clear my throat and nod. “They are good men. They did right by me, and I am finally finding my footing away from the club.”
“Oh, you are no longer with them?”
Shaking my head, I reply, “Um, no; I moved out a little while ago. My friends helped me with a new place to live and a new job.”
She steps forward, resting her hand on my forearm. “Oh, dear, I am so happy that you have people you can rely on. I had heard some rumors about your time there, but I was not sure if they were true or not, so I did not participate in idle gossip.”
Her words pique my curiosity. “What rumors?”
She sighs, her eyes going soft, and icy dread fills my veins. “That a member is your mate, but he was disgusted with what you went through and he thought of you as weak, so he fornicated with other women in front of you.” Her voice is soft, like she is not happy explaining what she has heard.
My heart sinks into my churning stomach and sizzles, making nausea settle over me.
So Thorin was disgusted by what I went through, and he admitted that I am a weak pathetic human. Good to know. My dislike for him burns in my veins, replacing the ice that was just there.
Needing to get out of here, I force a smile, and I know that she can see clearly through me.
It is not her fault; she was always kind to me.
“It was so good seeing you again, Mrs. Drury, but I really have to get going. I have a few more things to take care of before my shift tonight.”
“Take care of yourself, Delaney. I know that you are strong, but there is no shame in asking for help.” With that she walks past me, her words leaving me stunned for a second.
Regaining my composure, I join the back of the queue for the register. I pull out my phone and scroll through my social media apps, trying to take my mind off seeing Mrs. Drury again.
I am a self-confessed addict of social media. I like to know what is happening, and who to. Also, trends are a thing I love to keep up to date on, even if they are cheesy.
I like a few posts, and also save some, after I spot a spicy looking cover for a book that just got released. Who doesn’t love a bad guy who is twisted and ready to kill and die for the woman he loves… but he also treats her like shit in the beginning…
My finger freezes over the buy button, the blurb hitting a little too close to home for my liking.
“Shit.”
Memories of how Thorin used to treat me roll through my head, and how heartbroken he left me time and time again. Not knowing the full extent of his reason for doing it, I cannot help but think there is a deeper meaning to why he hurt me.
There is also a part of me that will never forgive him.
My soul will always call to him, and my heart will never fall for another man like it has him, but that is why sometimes Fate get it wrong.
Even though my heart and soul still feel for Thorin, I know that there will be a point in my life when I have to move on, but I can’t get the interaction out of my head that played out between us in the office the other night.
He was hard; I felt his cock in his jeans.
He wanted me; I could see it in his eyes, and the way he called me ‘baby’— that has never happened before.
Hope flared in my chest for the rest of the night, but when I got home and our past played through my mind like a movie, that hope was like an atom bomb going off, and anger set in.
It got me hooked back on the reason I disliked him. I would never say that I hate him, because my soul would not allow that, but fuck, he can piss me off like no other.
When it is my turn, I put all of my things on the conveyor belt. The cashier rings me up, and I pay with my phone. The sweet teenage boy packs my goods and offers to help me carry them to my car, but I decline with a smile. I will make the prospect do something other than watch me for a change.
Carrying the three bags out of the store, as soon as I step out into the late evening chill, I scan the parking lot for the two prospects, but do not see them. Something feels off; I can feel it deep in my bones.
Skyla and Clark think that I am some kind of descendant of witches, as I feel things that cannot be explained, but I do not know my family. They left me at a fire station when I was nearly one, and I bounced from foster home to foster home until I aged out.
I grew up learning to do things for myself, if I wanted anything done.
Rushing toward my car, I feel the first whoosh behind me, and the bags lightly tug in my hands. My heart hammers in my chest as I speed up my steps. I hear the faint crackles of laughter, both male and female.
Where the fuck are the prospects?
My ponytail gets tugged, and I let out a scream, hoping that someone will come to help me. Not that they can see who the hell is taunting me, but there is no one else in the parking lot.
It is vampires; I can smell earthy, coppery tones as they rush past me. A few more whooshes come at me, one spinning me around on the spot. I drop my groceries and bolt for my car. I know that it will not keep them out, but it offers some safety until help gets here.
“You will die by his hands,” is whispered, so faint I almost miss it.
“He will be the end of you,” is also added.
“Leave me alone,” I cry, reaching my car.
Menacing, cackling laughter fills the space around me, making my body coil tight with fear.
Before I can open my car door, I am spun around, coming face-to-face with a young man. His skin is pale, his eyes red, like fresh blood. His lips spread in a smile as he takes me in.
His gaze moves over my face, dropping down my body, and I shiver, disgust rolling through me at the idea of him fantasizing about me.
“I can see why the alpha vampire wants you.” He leans in, breathing me in, and I close my eyes, fighting back tears.
He is so close to me, and I hate it.
“He doesn’t want me,” I reply, making him laugh.
The creepy sound amps up my fear, the way his gaze slips over me again. Turning my head to the side to look away, I see three other vampires, looking around, checking out the surroundings to make sure that no one interferes.
No one human is stupid enough to take on four vampires, and some supernaturals won’t dare to either.
Fuck, where the hell are the prospects?
“Oh, but I know that he does. You once belonged to the club, and we have information that he wanted you so fucking badly but would not give in to his desires, so he would fuck whores in front of you. Feeding off them instead of his fated mate, so that he can cause her pain. He is a fool,” he states smugly.
His words bounce around my head.
Who the hell has been feeding them this information? It has to be one of the club girls.
No way would they turn on the club; they know what would happen.
He cackles again, gripping my jaw and making me face him.
“I see the wheels turning, sweetheart. Well, do not worry that pretty little head of yours.”
The sound of motorcycle pipes fills the air, and I force myself not to sag in relief.
“I will see you soon, Delaney,” the vampire holding me spits out, before letting me go with a shove, and my head hits my car with a thud.
I cry out, feeling dizzy as I sink to the ground.
Closing my eyes, I try to stop the spinning. My stomach rolls like a tsunami and I fight back the urge to puke in the parking lot.
“Delaney.” My name is called, and despite me feeling worse for wear, my body reacts to him calling my name, hearing the fear in his voice.
Opening my eyes, I see Thorin kneeling in front of me. I would gasp, but I know it will hurt. Thorin Blackwood does not go to his knees for anyone.
“Baby, what happened? Where are you hurt?”
“Fuck. My head.” His hands go to the back of my head, feeling for the goose egg that is forming.
A deep, menacing growl slips from him when I see blood on his hand.
“Shit.”
“I’ve got her, brother.” Halen steps forward, offering me a gentle smile.
With his hand on the back of my head, he does his thing, and suddenly the pain and the nausea are gone.
“I love you, Halen,” I mutter, keeping my eyes closed.
Chuckles can be heard mixed with another deep resounding growl from the man kneeling in front of me.
“I get it, brother. Backing off,” I hear Halen say, humor cutting his tone.
“Delaney, what happened?”
“Where the fuck are the prospects?” Thorin growls. “They should have been protecting my—” He stops himself, and I sigh.
He will never claim me, never admit to what I am to him.
Feeling super tired, I try to push to my feet, but Thorin is there, helping me. I push his hands away, but he grunts, keeping a hold on my waist.
“Delaney?” Winger tries again.
“She is hurt, Pres; give her time,” Thorin growls.
“Damn, you are growly today,” I huff.
More chuckles go up around me, making me smile. I wink at Camo, and he dips his head with a smile of his own.
“It was four vampires. They must have been waiting for me. I have not seen the prospects since I came out of the store.”
“You should have waited for them,” Thorin grunts, and I huff, not bothering with a reply.
He can fuck off for all I care.
“Found them. Both behind the dumpster, drained,” is all Shift says.
“Well, fuck.” My heart hurts for two young men who lost their lives protecting me and wanting to be a part of a brotherhood.
“How were they out in the daylight?” Shift asks. “They must have some kind of amulet like you do, Thorin,” he adds.
“Witches will do anything if you give them what they want, and some have zero morals,” Camo spits out.
“Did the vampires say anything?”
I nod to Winger’s question, finding myself leaning into Thorin, who is still holding me.
“They said that I am a target because I am important to the club and...”
“And?” Winger prompts, but I can see in his eyes that he knows what I am going to say next.
“Thorin,” I whisper. “They also said somethings that only someone from within the club would know about.”
The atmosphere around us goes arctic cold as each of the men stare at me.
“What do you mean, babe?” Camo asks, his voice showing his concern.
“Not your ‘babe,’” Thorin snaps.
“Shut it, you.” I elbow him.
“Delaney.” My name is a warning on his lips, but Thorin does not scare me, not in that way anyway.
Trying to inch away from the man holding me, he holds me firmly against him. It is nice to feel him there, but I know it is short-lived and like the sucker that I am, I take what he offers me.
“Like what Thorin did in front of me while at the club. Feeding and fucking club girls so I could see, so that he could hurt me.” My voice is barely a whisper once I am finished.
The men all swear, their anger evident in their tones. Thorin is vibrating with anger next to me. Tilting my head back to look up to him, I see he is watching Winger, and they seem to be having a silent conversation.
When none of the men speak for maybe a minute or two, they all just rage and plot in their heads, I know that I am ready to leave them to it.
“I am going home.” I sigh.
Thorin stills for a second. I expect him to speak, but he doesn’t, making me sigh. Stepping away from him, I collect my bag from Rush, who gives me a gentle smile, then he looks over my shoulder at Thorin before giving me his eyes again.
“I will follow you home.”
“Thanks, brother,” Winger calls as Rush helps me into my car. I ignore the growls coming from the stubborn vampire.
He hates the brothers helping me, yet he refuses to do it. He is fucking confusing as hell. I think the past few interactions I have had with him have made me more confused than in all the years I have known him.
I just want to go home and curl up in the comfort of my apartment, watch TV and eat ice cream while I read a book.
That is what I do after one more look at Thorin, who is watching me with a torn expression, which just adds to my confusion.