Tainted, p.3
Tainted, page 3
part #1 of Light in the Dark Series
After graduation Nick was there to pick us up. He had been looking for us. Said he recently started his own pack and wanted Denver to be his beta. We didn't have any family left in the West pack so there really wasn't any reason to return so we both went home with Nick.
Subconsciously I think I come out here and spend hours roaming these woods thinking one day I will find Denver returning home.
I head in the same direction every time I'm out here, just past the tree line. There is a huge rock that sits inside a cliff that we would always hang out at. On one side of the rock there is an opening. It is too small for us to fit in now but I always look inside. If Denver ever tried to reach me I know he would do it at that rock.
Before I make it to the tree line I am stopped by the screeching tires of Seth's car. His car billows up gravel leaving a trail of dust behind him going up the drive. I growl at the nuisance. There goes my peaceful tranquility.
I shift back to two legs and walk toward the car. I need to warn them of our alpha's mood. The last thing I need is for him to upset our alpha again.
Seth jumps out of the car. Sensing his distress, I pick up my pace. "Maddox get the door. We need your help" I growl at the command. I am beta, my wolf does not take orders from lesser ranked wolves. Just as quick, my irritation is interrupted when I notice the girl Jace is holding in his arm.
"Is she wearing a wedding gown? I can't see her face but I get the sudden feeling to wrap my hand in her think black hair while I pound into her and claim her in her wedding gown. I shake my head to clear my thoughts. What was that about?
"Why does she smell like that? Wait is she a vampire?" My body tenses and I growl. "Did you bring a freaking vamp to our home?"
Chapter Six
Saleen
I jerk my arm out of Nick's hard grasp so I can take a step closer to Seth and help him and Jace. What the hell? Before my mind can even register that Jace is holding an unconscious bride, Nick jumps in front of me, blocking the guys from their route inside the house. Nick is once again frozen in place. I move around him again so I can get a better picture of what the heck is going on in my living room between my pack members. I take the spot next to Nick. I feel his heat and his aggression rolling off of him in waves. His jawline is tense, his eyes penetrating Jace, growling at him with displeasure.
Nick doesn't look like an intimidating guy... normally. Right now is one of those times you realize why he is alpha. He is not the biggest in the pack, leaner than both Jace and Maddox actually. They are both almost twice his size but his alpha vibes would bring anyone to their knees. Sometimes I forget with his pretty boy smile and ocean eyes just how scary he can be.
"Nick." I can hear the desperation in Jace's voice. I watch Jace silently plead with Nick. It is clear why Nick is our alpha right now. The power he is releasing could knock us over. Nick is worried and is ready to protect his pack.
Seth steps towards Nick, in front of Jace. He watches Nick and then his gaze turns to me, nodding he gives me a small smile. Seth is asking us to trust him. I don't understand the full concept of what actually is happening yet. It must be a wolf thing, but it's clear Nick is obviously being overprotective because of the girl in Jace's arms.
"Move out of the way Nick and let Jace put her on the couch." I whisper, touching Nick's arm reassuring him that the unconscious bride is not a threat. Nick nods his head and closes his eyes. After a few seconds he opens them and I can tell that his agitation has diminished. He is calmer now, and whatever was happening, I can see has past by the look in his eyes. His ocean eyes are clear and focused now. He eventually steps out of the way so the guys can get by.
I watch Jace gently lay the girl on the couch. He smooths out her dress, slowly moving his hands down her legs and sides. It's weird watching Jace react to a girl this way. He is usually more of a angry broody type. I have seen him with plenty of girls but I have never seen him touch or look at anyone that softly or caring. His affectionate mannerisms are throwing me off a bit.
Nick bends down and gently touches her cheek. Him too? I don't think I have ever seen such a tender reaction from him either, he has changed completely from just a few seconds ago when he looked as if he was going to toss the guys out onto the street with the girl.
"What happened?" Nick questions looking directly at Jace.
"She walked out in front of our car." Jace throws both of his hands into the air. "Seth barely hit her. I think she passed out before the car even touched her." I watch him run his fingers through his hair. I don't have to be a wolf to know that Jace is nervous.
"She needs blood?" Seth questions. "If we feed her she might wake up." She is a vampire? No wonder Nick didn't want her in the house. Nick hates vampires. We all do.
"I will do it." Maddox instantly declares. I turn around and look at Maddox standing behind me naked. I've seen all of these men naked plenty of times. It's actually pretty sad if you think about it. I live in a house full of gorgeous men and I no longer appreciate a man's gorgeous naked body.
Maddox steps around me and bends down on his knees next to Nick. Without wasting another minute he bites his wrist and holds it up to the girl's mouth. She immediately wraps a hand around his wrist and holds him tighter against her mouth. She groans as she eats her meal and lifts her head off the couch just to get closer to the source. The drink is slowly pulling her awake.
"That's enough!" Nick snaps, instantly Maddox pulls his wrist away from the girl.
"Will she wake up now?" I question. I know they have no idea. We haven't been around a lot of vampires to know how well they heal.
The guys have fought vampires before so they have had some exposure but I'm pretty much sheltered, protected, and kept inside the house most of the time. The guys are very overprotective of me. I am not only the only girl in our pack but I am also the only human. Which also means I am the weakest.
The girl grunts moving her hand to her head. "Ohh my...head it feels like I got hit by a car." She moans once again, I giggle because she literally did get hit by a car. She opens her eyes and looks right at me. I stop laughing. I'm shocked by what I see. You can't tell she is a vampire. Her eyes are warm and she really is beautiful. I've seen a few vamps but not one as pretty as her. Her gaze travels around the room. What must she be thinking waking up to a house full of wolf shifters? I can imagine that would be any vampire's worst nightmare. She suddenly stops and eyes Maddox with confusion.
"Are you naked?" She stutters. “Am I dead?" Her eyelids flutter once again, she manages to hold them open, her gaze leaves Maddox and stops next on Nick. Nick is only a few feet from her face. She smiles at him. Nick looks utterly lost in her existence. I watch as she slowly lifts her hand to his face, barely touching him with her fingertips. I can see Nick’s body tense by her touch. "You are so pretty," she tells him, right before she falls back to sleep.
Chapter Seven
Nick
Is it possible for your heart to stop and somehow speed up at the same time? My wolf was pleased when she looked into my eyes and touched the side of my face gently with her hand. Mine. That couldn't be right? Why would my wolf claim a vamp? We do not even like vampires. That was one of the few things my wolf and I have always agreed on.
"She will be fine she just needs to rest." I assure my packmates. Somehow I know what I am saying is the truth. "Does anyone know who she is?"
"No boss." Jace replies. "We were on our way home. She walked in front of our car looking confused." He clears his throat, "It was a weird feeling for both of us."
I know exactly what feeling he is talking about. What I don't know is how it is even possible. She is a vampire and This isn't suppose to happen. Sure wolves can mate with humans and witches and even Fae but I have never heard of a wolf mating with a vampire.
Vampires only have one fated mate. It's rare to find your mate but even rarer for vampires. Most vampires bond to someone other than their mate. It doesn't matter to them who they screw. Vampires are heartless soulless creatures who are unable to love the way any other supernatural or even human does. They bond for power and money. Anything their greedy hearts can win over on the next bloodsucker.
A Wolf's bond is magical. We mate with the other half of our soul. Our mates bond to the entire pack because all magic in a pack is shared. Once we become pack our souls are intertwined. Making us all one part of a whole, and the other part, our mate, becomes one and the same.
Our mate is here, on our couch, right in front of us. I should be happy, and there is a part of me that is. The other part of me is also disappointed and wondering what I did to deserve a cold bloodsucker as a mate?
"Jace take her to bed..in my room. Saleen call Salvatore and Giles." I demand. "We are having a pack meeting in five."
I watch Jace pick her back up and take her out of the room. My wolf wants to follow and I have to force my feet to stay put.
"How is this even possible?"
"I don't know Seth." I answer him honestly. I keep my eyes on the couch where she once laid. I'm not sure I will ever be able to get the scent out. My wolf growls at my thought. He has no intention of removing her scent.
Her scent. I have never smelled anything more delicious in my entire life. I was fighting my wolf, unable to accept what I was smelling, my wolf knew, immediately wanting to claim her.
As soon as Seth called out I could sense her. I couldn't move, couldn't verbally communicate with my pack, while I stood there blocking Jace from entering our home with her. I knew instantly what she was. I know there is a vampire in my house right now and I am at a total lost for words. Angry that after everything else that happened today I now have to deal with my vampire mate. To top the entire day off, my wolf could care less what she is. He is so damn over the moon right now, and I don't understand why it's not bothering him that she is a vampire. Why does one part of me want to go upstairs and hold her until she wakes up and the other part of me want to run out the door and take my pack as far away from her as I can?
I look up as Salvatore and Giles walk in the house. They frantically look around the room, confused. Saleen must have told them enough. They both look at me and freeze. Their eyes widen and instantly darken with an intense and questioning fervor.
"She's our mate." I growl, and I go back to staring at the couch. Where did I put that bottle of whiskey?
"How is that possible? Saleen said she was a vampire. I scent a vampire!"
I turn back to my brother. I know I need to take charge and get my head into the game here. I need to help my little brother with this. I need to lead my pack through this. "I have never heard of it happening before but it is true Salvatore. We all could smell her. I felt it when she looked into my eyes." I watch as a small smile reaches his eyes. I'm not sure if I have ever seen my brother smile. Most of us don't. We have all had a hard life. We have never had a reason to smile.
I don't feel the disapproval coming from Salvatore. In fact, this whole time I have only felt concern for her, approval, appreciation, and adoration from each one of my pack members. I realize now that I am the only one who is denying it, fighting it.
Salvatore and Giles are pleased. As we all should be. Finding the mate of your pack should be a joyous occasion, except when she is your most hated enemy. My man and wolf continue to argue back and forth. I silently listen to the debate going on in my head. Knowing that eventually both my man and wolf will stop for nothing to claim our mate. She belongs to us...no matter what she is.
Seth and Jace walk back into the room, meeting us with smiles. "And Seth hit our mate with a car!" Giles growls at Seth. Giles is the youngest and he is also a half breed. One half wolf and the other half witch. What he lacks in size and strength he definitely makes up for with brains and spells.
"Calm down puppy." Jace explains. "It was an accident and she will be fine." He then quietly growls back at Giles, but surprisingly very submissively. I can feel he is agitated by the tension on the room but he is also trying to convince himself that she will be fine. That everything will be fine.
"Look I don't think we should say anything to her when she wakes up." I interrupt. "We don't know if she can feel the bond like we can. First we take care of her and find out where she came from and why she is in that dress." I spit out, disgusted with the thought of my mate in a wedding dress marrying someone not in my pack boils my blood. I want to rip apart the groom and eat him. Okay maybe that part is more my wolf. I am however, glad our mate is home and safe and hopefully before any vows were made.
Chapter Eight
Vivka
I slowly open my eyes and eventually find myself waking in a strange dark room. I turn my head towards the sliver of light creeping through the window. A sharp pain spears into my eyes. I close them and squint a couple times, trying to slowly adjust to waking.
"I wasn't sure if the sun light would bother you.” A deep voice announces. "I closed them the best I could." The silky voice soothes the tension in my body, melting the muscles in every limb. I turn my head into the direction of where the voice is coming from. The most gorgeous man I have ever seen is sitting in a chair across the bed looking at me. For a second I forget how to breath and I'm pretty sure my heart stops. His bright blue eyes glow in the darken room. Clean shaven with smooth creamy skin, a softer but strong square jawline, that strangely I just wanted to place kisses down. Despite his beautiful face, I could sense the danger in him. He radiates power that demands respect. It spreads throughout the room as he casually sits in his chair. There is also an essence of sadness coming from him. I have a strange urge to smooth out his blonde messy hair. Something tells me he is usually more put together than this. He looks tired. I can see the exhaustion in his appearance despite his effort to cover it.
"I aahh... yes. I mean no. The sun does not bother me." I stutter.
The sun is not a problem for born vampires, only made ones. Even the made ones grow immune to the burn after a few hundred years. We can never sunbathe but with hefty sunblock, a large hat and well made clothing we can spend many hours in the sun.
"Well not really. I would have to be outside unprotected for a while anyway. I am a born vampire." Shut up Vivka! Quit rambling. No need to tell him anything about you. He doesn't really care about you and your aversion to the sun.
"How do you feel?" His voice vibrates through my bones once again. How do I feel? How about like I want to jump on your lap and run my fingers through your hair. Maybe I will if he keeps talking. Huh?
"Umm okay I guess." I answer. "Where am I? Who are you?"
"My name is Nick and I am the alpha of this territory." He pauses, as if he is waiting for me to comment. When I do not he continues. "You are at my house. My pack mates, Jace and Seth brought you home after you passed out in front of Seth's car. He thought he hit you but I found no injuries. You were running from something or someone. Jace said you looked lost and confused before you fell."
It takes a while for the weight of his words to catch up to me. Wait did he say Alpha? This yummy beast is a wolf? How did I not smell it? I sit up a little in the bed so I can get a closer look at him. Vampires have excellent night vision but I need to see more of this man so I try for a better angle.
"Ouch my head is killing me." Is he sure that his pack mate didn't hit me with his car?
"Are you hungry?" He asks, strangely, sounding concerned. I shake my head no. I know he is making sure it is safe. We can’t have a blood thirsty vampire in the room with us now can we?
"Let me get you help. My sister will help you get up." He gets up from his chair. Stopping in front of the bed. "While you are under my roof I expect you to control your... vampire urges." What I thought once was concern clearly is now disgust. Does he think I am some heathen that goes around sinking my fangs into just anyone?
"You can use the bathroom. She might even have something you can wear so you can get out of that." He points at my chest with repulsion. He is not happy I'm here. I am a vampire and I should be lucky to still be alive. Why would a wolf bring me to his den? Why wouldn't he just leave me where I passed out? The answer smacks into me like a crane. They know who I am and they are going to hurt me. They are going to use me. They are going to turn me into a bargaining chip with my father. Fear grips me in my chest. It runs down into my stomach.
"Are you okay?" Nick places a hand on my arm. His touch instantly soothes my tension. I look at his hand where he touches me. I am still wearing my dress. It is covered in dirt and one sleeve is ripped at the seam. Is that my blood?
"I will get my sister to help you." The door closing brings me out of my thoughts. What is happening to me? I pull the blankets off of me and turn, placing my feet down on the floor.
"Hello." I hear a very quiet feminine voice whisper. I turn my head around and see a tiny blonde girl walk in with a pile of clothes in her hand. "I'm Saleen, My brother Nick asked me to help you." She smiles at me but I say nothing. "Giles is downstairs cooking breakfast so if you want to get dressed we can feed you.. if you want?"
