Julian had run into a store on the outskirts of town. After giving him my sizes and a vague description of what I would wear, he headed off on his little mission. I was still in my clothes from yesterday, blood stains now dried. His solution to the problem? Buy me something to wear for the day and head out to a mall for some actual shopping. I had protested at the idea of walking around looking as if I had painted with someone's blood. Julian had agreed and off we were. I hadn't allowed myself to think of the situation we were in. There was no news from my pack, not that Julian would tell me if something had happened. All he wanted was for us to have a normal day. Get to know each other. Whether we were mates or not, I would be stuck around him from this point on. Julian had promised that my future would change, regardless of the status of our pendants.
I waited for close to an hour, getting restless. Julian couldn't possibly take that long to find me some jeans and a shirt.
We had walked around for a good few minutes before we stumbled upon the food court. People ambled around from fast food restaurant to fast food restaurant. Julian had settled on a nice looking café in the far back of all the take-out places, pressing his hand into my lower back to herd me towards it. Women of all shapes, sizes and colours watched us closely. Some undressed Julian, their gazes stripping off what he wore. I hadn't missed the sneers or whispers as they watched me, either. None of them hid their disdain about who hung on his arm.All of that didn't matter, as the realization that I was starving hit me. My stomach rumbled a bit too loudly, but Julian kept walking. He either chose to ignore it, or hadn't heard. Food was delicious. Ever since I was a child, I had loved to cook and eat. Mother would then throw me onto crash diets like the gospel. Food had been a comfort when I couldn't find Mikaela for comfort. When I wasn't allowed even the smallest freedom b
I had slept peacefully that night. No dreams tormented me. No faces drifted in front of my eyes. Julian had brought us home and we had parted ways. I had gotten myself a new phone on the way back, explaining that I might not have wanted to be found, but that I wasn't going to live in the dark ages. My room was already cleaned, the clothes we brought standing on my dresser. Maids would come and pack those away, Julian had informed me and headed to somewhere in the house. I had set up the new phone and quickly drifted off to sleep. So much excitement had happened during the last few days. My body finally realized I would crash if it hadn't succumbed to the deep tendrils of sleep. The house was silent when I had woken up just before dawn. My footsteps echoed across the floors as I padded towards the kitchen. More food had been brought in for me yesterday, cupboards over flowing with snacks of all variety. Lillian had most probably stocked everything, as no one else knew what so
A servant, who I hadn't bothered to learn the name of, brought a car for me to use. True to his word, Julian let me go. I had taken some of the clothes we had bought yesterday. It seemed a life time ago, those happy few hours spent with Julian. All it had been was a way for me to lower my guard. Accept what was coming my way without putting up much resistance. He had known who I was. What I was tohim, but kept it hidden. Kept it a secret even from his grandmother. All of this had happened too fast for me to comprehend. One moment I was home and in hell, the next I was half way to a heaven I hadn't believed in. Now I was going back to the hell where all my demons still lurked. How would any of them react upon my arrival? Would father throw me to the literal wolves?I stole one last glance at the room that was supposed to be mine. A sanctuary that I so desperately wanted to make my home. I looked towards Julian's room, the door still so eerily similar to my neckl
The hand gripping my arm was warm, almost inviting, but I knew I couldn't stay here long. I needed to find Mikaela before my father decided to end his somewhat peaceful countenance towards me. On instinct I spun around, palm flat and open, as I jabbed towards the elbow connected to my arm. The joint gave way, releasing me from the intruder's grip. A soft hiss of pain flourished the air. Who faced me made my day much better, but guilt gnawed at the injury I had just caused."I told you not to do anything stupid!" Mikaela yelled at me, her voice quivering at the end. Her hair was plastered to her forehead, a sheen coating her skin. She must have run here, to get to me. My heart warmed at the thought. Somewhere within her mind, I was still hers, as I had always been."Rescuing you is also considered stupid, especially after my first grand act of stupidity." I replied and pulled the speck of a girl in for a hug. Sunflowers and dew drops clung to my nose, a familiar and com
=When I woke up again, I was in Sebastian's lap. No fur coated my skin. So I was human again. Naked. On a mated vampire's lap. Trying my best not to squirm, I looked towards Mikaela. Her eyes were keenly focussed on the road. Music softly played in the background. One of my favourite tracks. The brooding man finally noticed that I had woken up and looked down at me. Smiling slightly, he pulled his jacket over my shoulder. He had covered me sometime during the drive. How thoughtful."I'm glad you could join us." He mused and ruffled my hair. I grimaced at him. We had never formally met. Never gotten the chance to in these short days that had passed. Somehow he reminded me of a model, with his up turned nose and full lashes. Mikaela let out a tingle of a giggle. Trying to sit up a bit more, I winced. Stabbing pains went through my side and spread all over my body. Something warm trickled down my skin. Pangs of iron stuffed itself up my nose."Careful sweety. You
4 Days EarlierMikaela's Point of ViewA whirlwind had passed through my life. From stability and family, to losing it all in the blink of an eye. But I still had her. I have always had her by my side. A rock breaking any strong current sweeping my way. Goddess, the thought of losing her now as well made my heart ache. Luciana hadn't opened her eyes, even after Julian had fed her his blood. Even after our mating bond had started. Mating bond. Another foreign concept. In some twisted way, I always knew Luciana was mine. Home had never felt like a place, but more like a person. Especially when she smiled at me. The fire in her eyes. Strength leeching from every pore on her body. I had wanted her for numerous years now. She never made any such feelings for me clear, so I had let them slide. Pushed down the urgent need to be with her. But Luciana felt natural. Inviting to me. Now there stood another person before me. Also my mate, but a co
3 Days Earlier Mikaela's Point of View Julian had invited me to breakfast the next morning, insisting that he wanted to get a better idea as to where I was mentally. I had obliged, but hadn't felt all too eager to be around him just yet. My mind was still a tumbling mess. Still filled with unwanted ideas. Sleeping next to Luciana was a blessing, but only brought more horrid thoughts to fill me. They wanted to use her. Used the mating bond as an excuse to make her do whatever they wanted. It sickened me to think such things could happen to my mate. The person I loved, even before we realized we were meant to be. Amber had escorted me towards the back garden, pale stones winding through the grass. Strands of hair twisted around my face as we trudged through the pristine landscape. Servants had brought in some clothes for me late last night. All brand new and somehow to my taste. there were so many purple pieces I could barely p
2 Days Earlier Mikaela's Point of View Julian hadn't come to see me after our little discussion yesterday. Lillian hadn't bothered to look for me, either. This left me with enough time to myself to explore the manor. Luciana hadn't woken up or even stirred. Her heartbeat was steady again, but there was no sign of consciousness. I had all but screamed at her to get up, to help me in this situation we found ourselves. I wasn't as strong as she was, Lillian had been right. All the information I had gathered on Julian yesterday hadn't sat well with me. The fire inside his eyes when he had mentioned spilling blood still heated my own. I didn't want to acknowledge that fact yet. His anger hadn't scared me off, instead it ignited my own hunger for justice. Luciana would have handled it better than I had. She would have had counter strikes and questions. All the information in the world couldn't brace me for the fact that I felt alone. Even