Chapter 1- Mate

-Aspen P.O.V- 

I stood there, looking at all the drained bodies. Yes, I am a vampire, in fact I am the prince of vampires. I cleaned the blood of my mouth, using my sleeve, walking back towards my castle. This feels wrong, killing these worthless humans but at the same time it feels so good, this is what I do for a living. Vampires were born to kill humans, right? That is why we have fangs, right? No one can change my mind about this, not even my mother.

Once I had arrived at my castle, the guards greeted me and opened the door for me. I walked in and started walking towards my room when I was pushed against the wall. Using my vampire speed, I quickly got up and looked to see my older brother Jaxson, Jaxson is 28, 2 years older than me in human years, he looks like me but a more mature and older version of me.

"What the fuck," I roared into his face.

"You need to stop killing all those humans, mom and dad are pissed, you’re the Prince, Aspen."

"So, you can't tell me what to do," I pushed him.

"Yes, I can, I am your older brother Aspen." And that's when it started, our first fight with each other. Punches were thrown everywhere, I pushed Jax to the floor, getting on top of him and kept punching his face. Oh, who cares he can heal. Suddenly, I felt someone lifting me off of Jaxson, I looked to see my father, the king, looking at me with a disappointed face.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Father spat at me.

“This bitch thinks he owns me, thinks he can tell me what to do.” I laughed, shaking my head.

“I’m so disappointed in you son, get out Aspen, don’t come back until you’ve sorted yourself out,” Father pointed towards the door. I looked at the both of them, letting out a scoff as I walked past them, hitting my father’s shoulder as I walked out the doors. I walked towards the other side of town, so I wasn't anywhere near the castle, wanting to forget everything, plugging my earphones in, making me get lost in my thoughts.

-Skylar P.O.V-

"Bye," I said waving to Ryder.

Ryder is my best friend, has been for 18 years and he will be forever. I was always at his house, it was my second home, his mother always welcomed me with warm arms. Ryder and I had been best friends since we were younger, our mothers were both very close and eventually Ryder and I became inseparable. “Bye Aunt Julia,” I waved to Ryder’s mother as I walked towards the door.

“Where do you think you’re going at this time?” She asked me, making me stop in my tracks.

“Home?” I turned around to face her, she had her hand on her hip.

“No honey, not alone at this time, Ryder will drop you.” She called Ryder down the stairs.

“Honestly, it’s fine, and I’ll have Hunter meet me half way, I’ll be fine Aunt Julia, I’m a strong girl.” I chuckled at her, walking out the door.

It was currently midnight and I had just left his house, I only lived 3 blocks away, so I didn’t really mind walking all the way home at this time. I opened my bag, looking for my phone so that I was able to call Hunter, my older brother, when a hard body ran into me, knocking me to the floor. Of course, it is a vampire, only vampires come out at this time, no human dares to come out at this time, scared that they will probably get attacked.

"Watch it," it said.

I stood up, patting myself down, cleaning the dirt off of my pants, looking at the guy behind the hoodie as I did so. I scoffed walking past it when my face ran into a body again.

"I think you owe me an apology," it said not letting me past.

"No, I don't. You're the one who pushed me to the ground," I said looking at it.

"Mate," it growled, looking me dead straight in the eyes.

"Mate?" I asked it.

His hand went up towards his head, pulling off his hood, I was finally able to see the mystery guy. I looked at the man in front of me, he looked to be in his mid-twenties, a guy with brown hair, you could see the tattoos on his neck, his perfect jawline and his sparkling silver eyes. I couldn’t help but get lost in his eyes. "I love how you were thinking about me," he whispered in my ear sending shivers down my spine.

"Wha- " I was cut off.

"Royal vampires can read minds," he said confidently, "don't worry I think you're pretty sexy too." I scoffed, walking past him, not wanting to talk to him. “Hey I was not done talking to you.” He yelled from behind me, running to catch up with me.

“Listen vampire, I have pepper spray in my bag, I also box, so I suggest you leave me alone before I use it on you,” I lied about both of them, I couldn’t fight and I was stupid to walk around without pepper spray.

“Now why would I leave you alone?” he smirked down at me.

“You’re asking for it.” I reached into my bag, pretending to grab something.

“Sweetheart, I know for a fact that you’re lying, I just told you, we can read minds, and by the way your heart is beating, I know for a fact you’re lying.” He came closer to my ear, “Do I make you nervous baby?” That is when it happened, the first time a vampire had ever bitten me, a scream escaped my lips as my body slowly went limb in his arms.