What the hell just happened? I’d given myself over to him, letting him fulfill my intense craving and yearning for him. His excitement pressed against his jeans, creating just the right amount of friction that sent me spiraling.
In the final moments, his neck veins pulsed, and I could feel my own blood lust growing. I’d fed before I got here. It should have been enough.
He gazed at me, understanding in his eyes, fully aware of my true nature, yet not at all disturbed. It was almost as if he found it as satisfying as I did.
I was relieved he left when I’d asked him to. Now, the issue was him keeping my identity a secret from everyone else. The truth would come out soon, and it would throw everything into chaos.
Over the next few weeks, we crossed paths, still grappling with what happened that first time between us. He held my secret, and I braced myself for Alice’s arrival.
The turmoil had already begun with Akasha and him trying to seize control of the werewolves, but he was oblivious to the secret the vampire elders were keeping. It was going to be our salvation.
With all the chaos, I hadn’t been able to go home to feed. They sent someone here with a blood sachet. We needed very little, and the loyal werewolves who provided us with their blood were part of a group that even the top councilors were unaware of.
The Conri blood oath dates back to when he offered it as part of his death to aid vampires. He knew then that there was a greater purpose in helping us. Now, it was up to me to help Alice become who she needed to be.
I had the blood in my pocket after the quick off-campus meeting. My pulse quickened at the impending need for it. As I headed back to my dorm, I stepped outside and there they were—the three she-wolves.
“Who are you?” One of them lunged at me.
“Bitch!” I yelled back as she pinned me down. I couldn’t reveal my true self. The other two circled around me.
“Leave me alone, I haven’t done anything to you.” That was true, I’d kept my distance.
“There’s something about you I don’t understand.” Her lip curled up. All I could do was hope that someone would come and get her off me.
The throbbing sensation of blood rushing through my veins grew stronger, a constant reminder of the shot I craved. My fingers trembled ever so slightly, betraying my hidden truth.
I couldn’t remember ever going this long between feeds. My heart rate increased.
“Oh, am I scaring you? I don’t like you, bitch. Next time, you won’t see me coming, you’ll just feel my fist in your face.”
“Feeling’s mutual, bitch,” I whispered back. And she’d better watch her back because when I retaliate, she’ll regret ever messing with me.
With her wolf-like hearing, she would have heard my threat.
“What did you say?” She stood, pulling me up with her. A quick glance around, and the next thing I knew, the other two kicked me.
I was shoved and landed on the ground.
“Stay down, bitch,” she said, clenching her fist.
“What the hell!” It was Raff’s voice. He stormed over and confronted the she-wolves.
“You don’t fucking touch her! Do you understand?” His entire demeanor changed. There was a tense standoff, then the she-wolves left.
Raff turned and offered me a hand. When he pulled me up, his eyes flashed amber. “You’re hurt?” Then he wrinkled his nose.
“Shit. That was my supply.” Blood stained my pocket where I’d kept the pouch. “They must have broken the pouch.” I closed my eyes. “Thanks for helping me.”
“Why didn’t you fight back?” He gently brushed his hand over my cheek. We’d been avoiding each other, but this moment made it clear how strong my desire for him was.
“Remember, no one here knows I’m a vampire.” I tried to steady my breathing. As I inhaled, the faint metallic taste of copper lingered on my tongue. It only heightened my need for blood. Now I’d have to leave and go home.
“Do you need blood?” He tilted my chin up.
“We have a supply. It helps us walk among you in the daylight.”
“Werewolf blood?” He caught on quickly. I nodded in confirmation.
“Come with me.” He grabbed my hand and led me through the girls’ dorm to my room. He slammed the door and turned to face me. “Take mine,” he growled.
“Raff, I can’t. We don’t bite to get our blood, someone gives it to us.”
My hands shook uncontrollably as the intoxicating scent from the broken pouch in my pocket amplified my craving. I’d never experienced this before. I needed to leave.
“I’m a werewolf and I heal. No one will know.” He licked his lips. He pulled his shirt off, and I gasped at his bare chest.
“I know you want me,” he teased. “I can hear your heart racing.”
He grabbed my waist and pulled me into him. My hands landed on his chest, and the heat radiating from him mirrored my own feelings. All hot and incredibly turned on.
I felt his heart beating under my palm, and the rhythm sent me into a daze.
“Bite into my shoulder.” It was almost a command. He knew I was holding back.
“What if I can’t control myself?” I whispered.
“Then my wolf will take control of you.” He smirked.
I licked my lips and eyed the vein that ran down from his neck. Biting lower down would mean he could hide it until it healed. Probably less than a couple of hours.
“Do it,” he growled. Or was it his wolf? Every part of me flushed with heat and desire for this man.
I licked his skin, and he groaned. “Fuck, Natalia.”
I closed my eyes tightly, trying desperately to keep my composure. With my fangs extended, I felt the slight resistance as I grazed his skin. Then I sank them into his flesh.
His firm grip kept me still, and a deep moan escaped his throat. Holy shit! With each pull, I drew more blood, the sensation intensifying with each swallow.
Tasting him was like a heavenly burst of sweetness on my tongue. I didn’t need much as the blood nourished my body with the necessary nutrients.
As soon as I was done, I wiped my mouth and licked his bite. The puncture wounds had already stopped bleeding and healed. Only two tiny marks remained as a reminder of where my fangs had pierced.
He swallowed hard, his fingers gently cradling my chin. His eyes flickered, shifting from hazel to amber and back again.
“I can’t make sense of what’s happening between us, but the thought of staying away from you… I don’t think I can do it.”
His lips grazed mine lightly. “That was the most intense thing I’ve ever felt.”
“More intense than a blowjob?” I teased, noticing the bulge in his pants.
“Guess we’ll find out after you give me one.” He winked, glancing at my bed. “Do you actually sleep in that, or is it just for decoration?”
“Thanks for letting me taste you.” I licked my lips, feeling a sense of calm wash over me. It was as if I was floating on a cloud.
“Are you going to tell me why you’re really here? I know something’s up. My alpha mentioned something about new rules being enforced by the council.”
I wasn’t sure if I could trust him, but he had just let me drink his blood.
He put his shirt back on—much to my disappointment—and moved to sit on my bed.
“I can’t exactly spill the beans. I’m keeping our secret, so you can trust me with yours.” He reclined on the bed, hands tucked behind his head. It was clear he wasn’t planning on leaving anytime soon.
I moved to join him on the bed, lying down next to him. I was unsure about how much I should reveal.
“You swear you won’t tell anyone?”
“Werewolf’s honor.” He turned to face me, his eyes locked on mine. “I’ll keep your secret, if you keep mine?” His fingers traced a path up my side, teasing me.
“There’s a girl, Alice. She’s coming soon. My job is to protect her, that’s all I can say for now. What’s your secret?”
I had a feeling he was just messing with me, I didn’t think he actually had a secret.
Deep down, I felt like I could trust Rafel with my life, but it was more than just trust. Something was happening between us. His smile had the power to make my knees weak, and my heart pounded in my chest.
I shouldn’t be feeling this way, especially not for someone like him—a werewolf.
Suddenly, there was a knock at my door.
“Miss Leven, the principal would like to see you.”
I didn’t recognize the voice, but I had a hunch the she-wolves were behind this.
“I’ll take the window.” Raff kissed me quickly, moving toward the window as the knock at the door sounded again.
I quickly changed out of my blood-stained clothes and opened the door.
