Chapter fourteen

Jeff

Iwake up slowly, reaching out for Axel instinctively and frowning when my hand comes up empty. I open my eyes, finding the morning sun already streaming in through the windows of my RV. I blurrily blink the morning dust away, trying to shake myself fully awake.

What I wouldn't give for a hot cup of blood coffee this morning.

With a final yawn, I get myself up and out of bed. I change out of my pajamas and into my day clothes quickly before heading outside. I take a deep breath, letting the cool morning air further wake me up.

Martin is already out here, starting up the fire so we can cook some breakfast. I give him a small smile, pulling up a chair and sinking into it with a sigh. I'm not sure why but I feel like I'm in a funk this morning. There's a pit gnawing its way into my belly.

My eyes dart all around the forest around us, wondering if there's something out there putting me on guard. Are these my instincts? Or is this just a weird feeling after waking up without my mate in bed with me?

I shift in my seat, clearing my throat. "Have you seen Axel this morning?"

Martin shakes his head. "I think he went for a walk with Carlos." My brows wrinkle and there's something rising up inside my chest, something close to panic. What the fuck is going on? "What's up? Is something wrong?"

"I'm--" I start to say, shaking my head, trying to clear it. "I'm not sure. Just, something feels off."

Martin sets his supplies down, standing up. "Do you wanna go look for them? Just to be sure?"

I think about it for a moment. "I'm not sure," I confess softly, feeling somewhat out of my league at the moment. How do you explain to someone your insides are welling up with panic without any reason? I stand up, running my fingers through my hair. "Okay, yeah. There's nothing wrong with bothering them, just to make sure they're okay."

"You're not bothering them," Martin says, reaching over and patting my shoulder when I make my way over to him. "You're checking in on your true mate. From what I've gathered, having one of those is a huge deal." He gives a shrug. "Nothing wrong with making sure they're okay."

"Yeah, you're right," I say, giving him a little smile.

Just as we're stepping onto the path leading up to the campground office, the smell of blood hits my nose. My body goes cold all over and tense with panic. "I smell blood," I blurt out, preparing myself to run full speed ahead. But before I can, I see Carlos running towards us.

"What the fuck," Martin murmurs, stepping ahead of me and catching Carlos in his arms. "What the fuck happened, kid?"

Carlos is clutching the side of his throat, blood still sluggishly pouring from what I can clearly see is a bite. Thank gods I don't need to breathe because right now I don't think I could even if I needed it. My head is throbbing with panic and my vision is starting to blur. Where's Axel? Where the fuck is my mate?

"Vampire," Carlos grits out, holding his throat. "She got the jump on me. I'm so sorry," he says, his voice filled with anguish. "She took Axel."

That sparks me into action. "We have to tell the others." I shake my head. "No, you two get back to camp, have Ronny track Axel's phone. Maybe she's sloppy and left it on him. I'll start tracking his scent." I take out my ear piece, thankful I grabbed it this morning and slipped it into my pocket.

"You can't go alone," Martin says, looking worried. "Who knows what she has planned. You need backup."

I shake my head, putting my ear piece into place. "I'm a vampire, Martin. You won't be able to keep up with me. Once Ronny's located the place Axel is being held, you're free to come join. But right now I'm going to run after Axel's scent." I give him the smallest smile, "if you want we can race and see who finds him first."

It has the wanted effect, sparking a tiny bit of hope in Martin. I pretend to feel it too instead of the overwhelming rage that's taking over. Someone's taken my mate. Someone is trying to hurt my mate and my baby, and I won't let them get away with this.

My instincts want blood. And as a hunter, I'm inclined to follow that instinct wholeheartedly.

"Go," I tell Martin. "And don't beat yourself up, kid," I say to Carlos, not liking the look he's giving me. "It wasn't your fault. We'll get Axel back."

He nods back. Once I know they're on their way back, I stop holding myself back. An animalist hiss leaves my chest as I run down the pavement. I find the spot Axel was taken, can smell Carlos' blood thick in the air. If he wasn't my family, I know the scent would be distracting me, make my mouth water and my fangs drop. But his blood has too much wet dog to it to be appealing.

I take a deep breath and close my eyes, parsing out the scents around me. There's the smell of forest and moss, of Carlos' blood, but there, that's solely Axel's scent. I hold onto it, finding the thread of it and chasing it.

Before I even realize what's happening, my feet are moving, chasing after the smell of fresh rain. The path feels incredibly straightforward, like this woman didn't care about covering up their tracks. Was she too focused on finally having Axel to care about me following her?

"Bossman?" comes in through my earpiece.

"I hear you loud and clear," I say back to Ronny.

"The phone is still," he tells me before rattling off an address. My stomach sinks. It's the same place I killed her mate. Fuck.

"I have a bad feeling," I say slowly, never stopping my movement forward. With the address in mind, it's even easier to follow Axel's scent, knowing exactly where it'll lead me. "Why is she being so sloppy? She didn't cover her tracks at all."

"It's almost like she wants you to show up."

I swallow thickly. "That's what I'm afraid of."

"Don't think like that," Ronny says right away and I can hear his fingers flying over the keys of his keyboard. "Stay positive, Jeff. You'll get there in time."

I nod despite the fact that Ronny can't see me. I can hear movement and a moment later, Martin is coming online with me, his voice in my ear alongside Ronny's. They might not physically be here with me but they're on my side, they have my back. It renews my strength and resolve. We'll get to Axel in time.

Axel's scent leads me to the warehouse. The doors are closed but not locked. Everything inside of me is screaming at me that this is a trap but I can't stop right now, not when I know Axel is just beyond these doors, waiting for me to save him.

I take only a second to compose myself before opening the door and walking inside. It's dingy and run down in here. I look at the ground, finding two sets of fresh footprints. One from the woman and another from Axel.

"You don't have to pull them so tight," I hear Axel say and I follow the sound of his voice, like a beacon leading my way. "It's not like I'm going anywhere."

"Shut up," the woman hisses out and my back stiffens. She sounds different than the last time we met. Before she was calm, collected. She knew exactly what she was doing. This time she sounds completely out of control.

"Found them," I breathe, wanting the guys to know I'm here.

"Be safe, Jeff. I'm three minutes out. I'll be there as fast as I can to have your back," Martin says into my ear. "And don't be afraid to do what you need to do to keep your mate safe."

If my heart could beat, I know it would be hammering a bruise into the inside of my chest. My steps are silent as I go.

"I know you're here." I go completely still, my entire body locking up. "I can smell you."

There goes my element of surprise. I step out into the open, no longer needing to hide. My eyes lock with Axel's and I do my best to silently tell him that everything is going to be okay. I'm here to save him.

I look over at the woman who's done so much damage in the small amount of time I've known her. Her eyes are still dark, filled with hate, but this time they're foggy. She's losing control of herself.

A pang goes through my chest. If only I could help her, if only I could save her. I pity her. I wish I didn't have to kill her. If given the chance, my stomach clenches because I wonder if I'll even be able to do it. Will I hesitate?

I clench my hands into tight fists, trying to clear my head. Are these even my own thoughts or is this the sire bond? Fuck, I feel all tied up inside. I freeze in place. In my line of work, hesitation usually gets you killed.

"Look at the gift I've given you," the woman says, giving me a wide smile that's filled with malice. The look makes a shiver run down my spine, especially combined with the blood that's drying across her mouth. No doubt that blood belongs to Carlos. "You're faster. You're stronger. You have supernatural instincts now. You're welcome."

I let out a hiss of annoyance, uncaring that my fangs are dropped or that I so obviously don't sound human. "I have nothing to thank you for."

"Nothing, huh?" She steps behind Axel, running her fingers over his shoulders. The way he tenses up makes me see red. Mine. Mate. Intruder. Instincts are shouting at me to make this woman stop, to have her not touch what's mine. But at the same time, there's a pull inside my gut, telling me to protect her. Gods, I hate this. I feel like pulling out my own hair.

"Don't fucking touch him."

"You can thank me for bringing you to your true mate. Isn't it wonderful? That bond you share with them? It's beautiful." Her eyes turn even darker and I startle, watching as the whites completely disappear, filling with dark red. "You took that away from me!"

"You were killing humans," I tell her. "I couldn't let him keep hurting people."

"Humans are below us," she says, like it makes complete sense. "They're our food."

"They're innocent people!"

Instead of responding, she lets out an inhuman snarl. I start to move but I know I'll be too slow. That hesitation is going to be the death of my true mate and I know without a doubt that I'll never be able to forgive myself.

But Axel moves faster.

Just as the woman is diving down to bite Axel's throat, he tosses his head back, connecting with her nose. She lets out a scream, distracted. This is my chance and I refuse to not take it.

With my heightened speed, within the blink of an eye I'm behind her. I have no weapon. I have no gun. So I use the only thing I'm equipped with; following instincts I didn't even know I had, my nails grow into sharp points. Sharp enough to piece skin.

A sickening sound rings through the room as my hand goes through this woman's back. In my hand, I hold her heart. With a quick jerk, I pull it free from her chest. She turns to look at me with wide eyes, like she's in shock. And maybe she is. Her eyes meet mine before they dart down to my hand where her heart lies. After another excruciating moment, she crumbles to the ground.

I stare down at my hand. This woman's heart is in my hand, blood dripping down my fingers onto the floor. My mouth waters. The bloodlust is clouding my head, making it hard to focus on anything but her heart. Drip. Drip. Drip.

It would be so easy to bring it to my lips. It would be so easy to drink from it, to eat the flesh, to have this warm inside my belly. I want it. My fangs ache with how much I want it.

"Jeff?" I let out a hiss, taking a step back. My eyes meet Martin's and I freeze. "Hey," he whispers, holding up his hands in surrender. My eyes follow the movement until I'm looking over Martin's shoulder, right into some glass.

I see my reflection and my stomach sinks. Like cold water is thrown over my head. I look like a monster. My eyes are the same bloodshot red as the woman's, my fangs on full display. There's blood dripping from my hand that's holding a literal heart.

I drop the heart like I've been burned.

Oh gods.

I close my eyes, trying to find the self-control that Axel has taught me. I take a steadying breath, focusing on the smell of fresh rain, focusing on Axel. I can do this. I can remember how to be Jeff rather than the monster I've become.

When I open my eyes again, the red is gone, leaving my usual eyes. Martin relaxes, putting his hands back down. I can hear him murmuring into his ear piece that he's found us and that we're both okay.

I quickly fall to my knees before Axel, untying him. "I'm so sorry," I murmur, feeling utterly devastated that I've somehow let this happen. "I'm so sorry, Axel."

"Hey, hey," he murmurs, his hands going to my hair the moment they're untied. "This is not your fault, Jeff. You saved me. I knew you'd come for me."

I look up at him. "I will always come for you."

"I know you will. I'm so proud of you. Not only did you save me but you stopped yourself, Jeff. You could have let yourself lose control, but you didn't."

"Only just barely," I say under my breath, helping Axel to stand before lifting him off his feet and carrying him bridal style in my arms.

"Shush. It doesn't matter. All that matters is that I'm safe and you didn't lose control. Focus on the good for once, Jeff."

"He's right," Martin says, getting into step with me. "You did good today, bossman." Then shyly he adds, "if that were me, I don't think I would have been able to stop."

"I wouldn't have if it weren't for you coming in."

"That's why we're a team," he tells me seriously. "When one of us is ready to give up, there's another one of us there to pick up the pieces and push each other on. That's what family is for."

Axel tucks his face against the underside of my neck, breathing me in. With him safe in my arms I feel like I can breathe again. When we eventually get back to the campground, Ronny and Cooper are there to receive us, checking up on both Axel and I to make sure we're okay.

"Where's Carlos?" Axel asks, looking around for him.

"Sleeping," Cooper says with a frown. "He didn't take this whole situation very well. Give him some time to recover."

"He's not blaming himself, is he?"

Cooper shrugs. "You know he is," he says in a hushed tone. "Plus, the blood loss has him tired as hell. I've sent him to bed once we knew you were safe."

Axel tightens his arms around himself. "I'll talk with him in the morning. He needs to know this wasn't his fault. We can't control what other people do, only how we react and he did the right thing. He got help the moment he could."

I keep Axel tucked tight against my side. "You're right. But sometimes that's not an easy lesson to learn."

He looks up at me, giving me a knowing look. "One that you could learn as well."

After everyone has given Axel a tight hug, I pull him into my RV, needing to hold him. Under the safety of the blankets with his head against my chest, I finally let myself process what the fuck just happened.

"I almost lost you today," I murmur, my voice just barely audible. "I would have never forgiven myself."

"The same way you don't forgive yourself of your family's crimes?"

"Jesus, Axel. Give a guy a break. We just went through something traumatic!"

Axel tightens his arms around me. "If you're still searching for redemption, consider it granted in my eyes," he says after a moment. He leans up on his elbows in order to place a chaste kiss against my lips.

"You really think so?"

"Yes," he says without even needing to think about it. "Without a doubt."

I don't say anything more. We lapse into silence and after a little bit, I can feel Axel fall asleep. I stay awake a long time, thinking about what Axel said. He's my true mate, the one who's supposed to complete me. I love him more than words can say and somehow, he sees me as someone who doesn't need redemption.

Could I believe him?

I'm not sure, but in this moment I decide I'm going to try.