Chapter 8

Eight

ALANA

W hile I laid on my makeshift bed of blankets on the hard ground, I listened to the rain pelting outside. James had gone out, and I didn't dare leave the hut this time. Maybe I'd try another escape attempt next time, but I was still shaken from earlier.

It was a close call.

I wondered if my family was looking for me and if they were worried about me at all. I began to regret isolating myself from them for so long. I missed my grandmother and wondered if she was faring well with my shop. The shop that I had taken care of like it was my baby.

The door burst open, letting in a shower of rain, and I sat straight up. James walked in through the door. I noticed his bloody hands as he smiled at me.

"Err, what did you do? Don't tell me you murdered an innocent beta," I said, staring at him in bewilderment.

"Come outside. I have a surprise for you," he said, holding the door open.

"But it's raining out," I whined. "I don't feel like getting wet."

His eyes flashed at my choice of words, and I blushed.

"Oh, don't you?" he said darkly. "Come, omega."

Rolling my eyes, I stood up and followed him outside- shielding my face from the harsh summer rain pouring outside. A severed leg of a sheep was sitting on the table at the front of the hut.

"Okay?" I said, staring wide-eyed.

"Your burger," he said proudly, slapping the shank. He took a rusty knife and began to shear off a small square of meat, then placed it over a small fire, sticking the meat on a makeshift skewer. I ran under the roof patch next to the fire to escape the rain. The small fire warmed my thighs while I stood next to him, watching him turn the meat around in circles.

It reminded me oddly of the time Lio and I roasted marshmallows. And the light fluttery feelings I had years ago.

I shook my head quickly to dispel the memories before they took me down the dark lane that I could never escape from once I was in it. The memories consumed me to the core, making me feel helpless and weak. I shuddered.

"Are you okay?" James asked, placing a hand on my arm.

"Yes," I said. "I was just remembering the time…sorry, never mind."

"Never apologize," he said in a hard voice, turning to me. His eyes locked onto mine, also remembering. A deep understanding between us. "I understand."

I nodded shakily, watching the piece of meat sizzle with tendrils of smoke floating above us. I was touched that he took the time to get me a real meal, even though it was rough. It spoke volumes of who he was at his core.

"I think it's done," I said. Then trying to lighten the situation. "Where's the bread for the burger?"

"That was the only thing I couldn't obtain," he said, handing me the skewer. I blew on the meat.

"Then this will be barbeque, my next favorite meal," I said, smiling.

"I'll never get used to your type of food," he said, shaking his head.

"Want a bite?" I asked, bringing it to his mouth. His nose twitched, and his lips curled in disgust.

"I like my meat bloody," he declared. "That looks dry as fuck."

I giggled as I took a few bites of the meat. It was dry but not that bad, especially without any seasoning.

"Do you have salt?"

"Of course not. I don't have time to season my victims," he replied.

That very same night, a hole broke through the roof above me. It happened while I was trying to sleep, and a stream of water splashed across my face. I woke up sputtering. Sitting up, I quickly moved out of the way, looking up to see that there was a tiny hole where the rain was coming through.

Great.

"You okay?" asked James, groggily from the bed.

I quickly pulled the blanket from the ground, dragging it out of the way of the leak. The floor was slowly getting flooded.

"Do you have a bucket or something?" I asked.

"No," he said, opening one eye. "Come join me."

"Can't you just fix the leak?" I asked, desperate. The bed was way too small, and there was no way I was going to get on the bed with him.

"I'll work on it tomorrow," he said, turning onto his back. "I won't touch you, I promise. Just sleep."

My heart puttering in my chest, I gingerly walked over to the small bed and lay on the very edge of it. Even then, our bodies were only inches from each other. We were barely touching, but I could still feel the forbidden energy between us. I pulled the blanket over my head, watching the rain sprinkle into the hut and soaking the mud floor.

I lay there, listening to James breathing next to me. A few minutes passed, and I could tell he was still awake too. I was as still as a statue, trying not to make it awkward. I tried to breathe normally, but my scent was getting heavier in the air, overpowering every other smell in the hut. Deciding to get more comfortable, I turned onto my back and closed my eyes.

"Do you normally sleep at this time?" I whispered.

"Not really," he replied. "I'm usually out hunting."

"I don't want to change your routine or anything," I said. "You can still do what you do at night."

"I want to make sure you're safe," he said. "Do not worry about my comfort."

Somehow that touched me. A little part of my heart wondered if he was for real.

"How did I get myself into this situation?" I sighed.

"You were simply curious. Don't blame yourself."

"If only I had stayed at home and worked at my shop- none of this would have happened," I said.

"What kind of shop do you have?"

"I sell products for omegas," I said. It was my pride and joy. And I especially loved talking about it. "Stuff like candles, nesting products, and perfume."

"Sounds…interesting."

I looked over at him, seeing a thoughtful look on his face. "What is it?"

"Do you feel like you might go into heat? Considering you don't have any products for it here?"

"I mean, it could happen," I said. He suddenly reached over and touched my forehead with the back of his palm. His hand felt nice and cool to the touch. A warmth of fire simmered in my core and in between my legs. His touch ignited something foreign within me.

"You're warm," he said gruffly.

"Oh, it's nothing to worry about," I brushed off. "I'm always warm, and you're a vampire. Your temperature is a lot different from mine."

When he lifted his hand off my forehead, I reached out, grabbing his hand. His eyes widened in surprise, his red irises staring directly at me. I instantly released his hand, and he slowly turned towards me, lying on his side.

"What's going on, little omega?"

"I don't know what took over me. I'm sorry," I said, my face burning. I hope he couldn't see how embarrassed I was as I lay on my back. I felt his eyes boring into me as I lay there, contemplating whether to run out of his hut in embarrassment or just sleep on the flooded floor.

"Something tells me you're not too far from your heat," he said in a low voice.

Breathing hard, I turned away from him.

"I think…I'm just tired," I said, yawning loudly to cover the silence. After that, he stopped prying and asking me questions about myself. Then I heard the sounds of his soft breathing when he finally fell asleep, mingling with the sound of the rain dripping.

Sometime in the middle of the night, I opened my eyes- restless. I was somehow lying in the center of the bed, right next to James, with our bodies touching and molded into each other. He was snoring heavily as I tried to move away from him. The movement of the bed startled him, and he grabbed my left thigh. My face burned as I lay there, not wanting to wake him. His hand was wide and powerful, holding me to him as he slept.

My pulse raced, and the wetness between my legs drenched my panties as I lay there. I tried to pry his hand off my thigh, but that only made him move up higher, going into intimate territory I wasn't prepared for.

His cool hand was heavy against my bare skin, and for some reason, it made my omega hormones go wild. My stomach clenched with desire, and the feeling in my breasts got heavier, begging to be touched and caressed by this vampire. Was I attracted to him because he wasn't an alpha? Or because he was being protective of me? I decided I needed to end this before things got out of control. I tried to shove his hand down, and suddenly his eyes snapped open in the dark.

He looked down at his hand clutching my thigh and immediately released me.

"Fuck, I'm sorry," he said groggily.

"Don't stop," I whispered, and he let out a low groan in the dark. I could see his cock standing straight out, uncovered by the cloth.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," I said in a low voice, my gaze lowering. His dick was rock hard, and I couldn't help but stare. I waited for him to come to me, but he lay there on his side, his dick jutting out.

"Then I want you to come to me," he said. "If you want me, that is. I will not force you."

Swallowing out of nervousness, I turned to him and laid a hand on his chest- exploring him. He wasn't too hairy, and he wasn't hairless either. The planes of his muscles stood out, turning me on even more. My pussy tightened and clenched with arousal as I lifted my leg over his waist, and he rolled between my legs, settling above me.

"I want you," I said, my hand traveling downward until I grabbed ahold of his cock behind the loincloth.

He ripped his loincloth to the side, cock springing free.