3. Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Micah

B eing in the forest, surrounded by the sounds of natural wildlife and the smell of the forest without the perfumes, sweat, and scents of populated areas, relaxes me. I love the woods. A vampire should feel more at home in the city. Sometimes, I need the quiet. The amount of noise and people I have met over my life is extreme.

I lean back on the tree, my legs stretched out along the branch, my feet bare, and breathe. A shifter or vampire can dull their senses if they are powerful enough. I have had many years of practice at dimming my sensitive hearing and smell, but it gets exhausting doing it all the fucking time. Ryker is a pro at doing it. The idea of owning a nightclub, listening to the pounding music and voices, makes me cringe.

I have a list of bad guys I could be searching for to kill, but I want a night off. Dedicating my life for the last thirty years to doing good is relentless. I prefer the days of not giving a shit. Why do there have to be so many horrible people in the world? I could just let it go. Stop searching, stop bringing justice to those they hurt, and stop trying to be a hero. I could travel for pleasure. Eat good food. Sample different blood types. I could become the beast I used to be so easily. Of course, I would be more of a gentleman about it this time. I would get permission to drink their blood. I was rather good at seducing willing women to bare their necks to me. I could drink my fill, give in to the demon within, and forget about protecting our world and the silly humans who live in it.

I sigh. Then Maddy’s disappointed face flashes in my head. She would shake her head and lecture me. I can’t do it. I can’t dishonor her memory.

Slipping back into my old ways is tempting sometimes, like today. Maybe it is a sign of my impending insanity. I spoke to Quinn, Bash, and Ryker, warning them and preparing them for the day they will have to work together to kill me. Bishop and Laken will have to help, too.

I am not an easy kill.

Ryker and Bash know I am powerful, but I have never displayed all of my talents. No vampire in this world is more powerful than I am. I have traveled and met other vampires and beasts. I have fought alongside them and against others. There is no comparison. Ryker, and maybe Bash, are closer than any other.

I am not bragging.

It is just a fact.

So to kill me, it will take power and skill.

There are numerous different kinds of shifters in the world. If you name a natural animal, they are also shifters of the same name. There are dragons, witches, and warlocks. Two thousand years ago, I met a man who was a spider shifter. I shudder just thinking about watching him shift. He was an asshole, and I was tempted to kill him, but I couldn’t bring myself to kill off someone so rare. He wasn’t a bad person, just a dick. He disappeared shortly after our acquaintance, and I often wonder if he is still alive.

Most of the shifters I know here dislike witches. I have known many over the years, and I think they are misunderstood on many levels. It’s difficult to trust someone who can wield magic by saying a few words. Their bodies are human—it’s the magic that prolongs their life and protects them. Warlocks are a different story. The ones I have met haven’t been anyone I would want to be around again.

Sally, the rabbit shifter who lives here and works for my friend Quinn, is an excellent example of a species who is underrated. She is funny as fuck. Sexy as fuck. And a great person to drink with. We have become friends. Rabbits are rumored to be crazy fuckers, which is partially true, but they are one of my favorite kind of shifters. Their power is premonition. Sally can sense a person's future when she meets them. Some rabbits have dreams about the future or feel the emotions of someone they meet. They don’t have a strong scent, and some can mask it. Their gifts are varied but should never be discounted because of the size of their animal.

A lesson I have learned is never to judge a person by their breed but by their actions.

Except humans. I have seen too many horrible actions they commit.

I chuckle softly. If humans knew the monsters they lived beside, their brains would explode. Most of us just want to live peacefully and enjoy life like everyone else. If the humans knew of our existence, all hell would break loose. So I suppose I will have to continue to do the work I do.

I drain the lukewarm blood bag and grimace. I could go for a warm, willing woman. I know something is changing inside me, as I used to be able to stomach the taste of it better. I fear my days are limited without a mate.

I narrow my gaze, searching the area, when I hear numerous sets of feet trampling the earth and disrupting my quiet night.

Fuck.

I stand and walk to the edge of the branch. Who would be running through the woods? Sadly, I doubt it’s a group of willing women to grant my wish. I close my eyes, relishing the vision.

Is it too much to ask?

I refocus and engage my senses. I see five figures in the distance, running hard after the sixth, only yards in front of them.

I narrow my eyes when the smell of coyotes reaches me, along with the stench of anger and demented glee. They are finding pleasure in the chase, but their intentions are evil. I guess I will do a good deed for the night after all.

I let myself drop from the tree, floating and landing soundlessly. I’m annoyed that I have to put on my boots, but it won’t take long to kill them and send the would-be murder victim home. I slip them on and begin to blur but freeze.

Her scent surrounds me, bringing with it her determination and desperation. She is a coyote. Underneath her emotions is the most euphoric scent I have ever smelled. It’s indescribable.

My mate.

Mine. All mine.

I feel the white ring bleeding into my eyes, proving I am correct.

The smell of her blood and the knowledge the men want to hurt her force my fangs to descend without my prompting.

I do not question it. She is the one.

In seconds, I am next to them. My hand circles the neck of the man who was the closest to her, squeezing painfully. I use my gifts to freeze the other four in place, their faces showing fear and shock.

I tilt my head to my left.

The woman is ten feet away, her eyes wide. The picture of her wild hair, tempting body, and fierce spirit will forever be burned into my brain.

“Come here,” I command. Our eyes lock as she takes hesitant steps. She stops three feet away. “That’s not close enough,” I say roughly. It pleases me greatly when she eliminates the remaining space between us. Her sweet scent of heat wraps around me. I grab the back of her neck, retract my fangs, and yank her as close as possible. “Mate,” I say and take her lips.

Yes. This is what I have been waiting so many fucking years for. This glorious, stunning, warm woman pressed against my chest. Her mouth welcoming me. Her hands are at my sides, her fingers digging into my shirt. Her lips are plump, and I pull back enough to suck the bottom one before diving back inside.

I want to tear her clothes off and fuck her on the forest floor. I want to open her delicious thighs to eat her sweet-smelling pussy. I tighten my grip on her neck, never wanting to let her go. She moans as I suck on her tongue.

The asshole ruins the moment when he sputters, and I reluctantly ease back slightly.

“Is there a good reason for me not to kill them?” I whisper over her lips.

“Huh?” Her eyes slowly open.

“Love,” I say, my lips twitching. “Who are they?”

“Umm…” She licks her lips, her tongue almost touching me. “Henry.”

“This one?” I squeeze my fingers, and he squeals.

“Yes.”

“The others?”

“Pack.”

“Can I kill them?” I ask.

She blinks. “Kill them?”

“Yeah, love. They were chasing you. It won’t take much.” I add another layer of mental pain to the other four, and they scream.

“Shit,” she gasps, turning her head to see their legs buckle. “Wait.” She pulls away, and I frown. “Let me think.” Her gaze sweeps over me, and her fingers touch her lips.

“Do they mean something to you?” I ask harshly. The thought of her with one of them makes my vision go red.

“No.” She shakes her head. “No. You…are a vampire.”

“Yes.”

“My mate.”

“Yes, love.”

“Wow,” she breathes. “You are really hot.”

“Thanks, love,” I smirk. “I’m glad you approve of your mate.”

“Shit.” She brushes her long, gorgeous hair away from her face when it escapes the hair tie. I want to gather it in my fist as I fuck her. “This is happening.”

“It is. I want to know if I can kill them,” I remind her.

“You have no idea how long I wished I could kill them in their sleep,” she says, shifting from one foot to another.

“Then there isn’t a problem.” I grin and concentrate on one of the pack, willing his heart to stop beating. He drops heavily to the ground.

“Holy crap,” she says, holding her hands out. “Wait…wait.”

“Too late. The first one is dead.” I shrug. I have developed and gained many gifts.

“Hold on,” she gasps, and I narrow my eyes. “It’s not what you are thinking,” she starts, stepping close. She grabs my shirt in her fist, and I look down and then back to her conflicted face. “Can they hear everything?”

“I can make them not hear anything.”

“Do that,” she demands.

“Done.” I cut off their ability to hear. Most vampires can influence humans, changing their memories. I can force them to act however I want. It’s harder to do with shifters, but not for me.

“Are you sure?” she whispers.

“Mate, you don’t know me, but this is easy.” I try not to smile when I smell how turned on my power makes her.

“Henry isn’t the leader, but he is his second in charge. Turner is the Alpha. They both may know where my brother is, and you can’t kill them until I know,” she says quickly.

“The others don’t know anything?” I ask.

“I don’t think so, but I can’t know for sure.”

“Would you like me to find out?”

“You can?” The awe in her voice pleases the pride of my demon.

“I can with almost everyone. Especially with the weak-minded.” I point to one of them. “Come here,” I command. He mindlessly walks forward. “What is your brother’s name?” I push my mate slightly behind me. I tilt my head and lift my hand, placing it on his head.

“Liam,” she whispers. I am one of the few who can take our influence a step further and see their memories.

“This is going to hurt very badly. Do not scream. You won’t make a sound.” I close my eyes, pushing into his mind, sorting through the years of his life. “He has killed many people,” I say. “He enjoyed the pain he caused.” I stop voicing my findings when I see all the sick things he has done. Regardless of his role in my mate's life, he deserves to die.

“His eyes are bleeding,” she says softly, her fingers contracting at my side.

“Yes. They don’t last long after I delve into their memories. His weak mind can’t take it.” I don’t use this gift often because you need to be sure they deserve to die. It also takes energy I don’t want to lose all the time, and I have seen enough bad shit that I don’t want to take on every bad guy's actions. I release him, and he falls to the ground, his bleeding eyes still open but sightless. “Will you believe what I say I find?” I ask.

“Yes,” she says firmly.

“Just out of curiosity, why?”

“You are my mate,” she simply says.

“What is your name?” I ask, even though I saw it in his mind.

“Daisy. Yours?”

“Micah. I am a six-hundred-year-old vampire, much older than you. That a problem?”

“I’ve always had a daddy fetish,” she retorts, her delicious lips curving.

“Good.” I chuckle. “When we fuck, that’s what you call me,” I instruct.

“Okay.”

I hear her heart race. “He doesn’t know anything about your brother.”

“Damn.”

“Do you want me to do the rest?” I ask.

“Does it take a toll on you?” she asks.

My perceptive mate. “Yes. But I’m fine for now. If I do it to all of them, I will need to recharge.”

“By drinking blood?” she asks, frowning.

“Yes.” I like seeing the concern on her face.

“From who?” she asks, her voice hardening. I like her jealousy, too.

“A blood bag.”

“Oh.” She bites her lip. “I have to know what Turner did with him. That's the only reason I stay in the pack house.”

“Can I suggest something?” I loosen my grip on Henry’s neck; his face is a little blue.

“Of course.” She nods her head eagerly, leaning further into my body.

“I have a friend with a dungeon. We could store the rest of them there. We could find out more information.” I am going to owe Ryker so much for this.

“A dungeon? He’s your friend?”

“Yes. He’s a vampire.”

“Do you trust him?”

“I do. Do you trust me?” I hold her eyes.

“You would never hurt me,” she breathes. “Why do I know that?”

“Because I am an ancient vampire who just met his mate. I would kill anyone who tries to take you from me.” My fangs descend at the thought of her being hurt.

“I trust you,” she says. “Do you need blood now?” She lifts her hand and lightly puts her finger on one of my fangs. “What does it feel like? Having blood pulled from your body?”

“That’s a dangerous question to ask me right now,” I growl, restraining myself from taking her finger in my mouth and sucking. “When that happens, I will have privacy and hours.”

“Hours?” she gasps in wonder.

“Daisy, love, don’t tempt me right now,” I warn. She snatches her finger away.

“Dungeon it is,” she murmurs.

“I will have to call another vampire, too,” I inform her. “I need more help to transfer them and to keep them quiet.”

“Okay.” She steps back, removing her hand from my shirt. “What will they think?”

“About?” I frown. Ryker and Bash won’t blink finding me surrounded by bad guys.

“Me.”

“You?”

“I’m a coyote,” she says. “I know what others think of us.”

“I don’t give a fuck,” I hiss. “They will have no choice but to accept you.”

“You don’t care?”

“Love, if you reach down and palm my cock, you will feel how much I don’t care,” I grit out.

My cock twitches when she looks down at it.