Chapter Five

The ride was uncomfortable, to say the least. Everyone was staring at me like they wanted to kill me. All except Ivan and Rebecca. I kept catching the both of them staring at me. I didn’t mind Rebecca looking at me but Ivan's eyes were unnerving.

 

We drove for what felt like about an hour before we turned into a dark wooded area and into an old warehouse that stood behind a large white mansion. Once inside, Ivan barked orders out to his crew and told me to follow him. We walked down a hallway and into an office. It looked extremely elegant and modern. Clean lines, not very cozy. I could sense that there were many other vampires here.

 

“I thought vampires were more solitary.” I commented, not really expecting him to answer me.

  

“While most vampires choose to roam the earth alone, there are some very old clans that have been around for thousands of years. Bored of hunting for themselves, they set up small communities. Sending out the younger ones to do the leg work. Guaranteeing a safe place where one can be themselves.” He commented undoing my cuffs.

 

“How old is this clan?”

 

“The King has been around for thousands of years, but this clan only a few hundred. And I, part of it just a little over twenty.”

 

“Your King?”

 

“A title they made for themselves. Every clan has a leader. Hierarchy is based on age and quality of blood. It’s not like how you Wolves have Alphas, or the Faye have royal bloodlines. They gain no extra abilities, no extra magic in their blood. Just a title, and an arrogant one at that.” He took his seat behind the desk.

 

 I wasn't sure why he was telling me, an enemy, all of this, but I knew almost nothing about vampires and would take all the information he would give me.

  

“How many clans are there?”

 

“Here in America just two. Scattered around the world, ten. They are a network that all keep close tabs on each other. Like you, we keep our existence secret at all costs.”

 

“Why Colorado?”

 

“Lots of people go missing in skiing or hiking accidents. It helps keep suspicions at bay.”

 

I stood in front of him silently, wondering why he had brought me here.

 

“You’ve put me in quite a dilemma, John.” He said eyeing me up and down.

 

“I didn’t do anything.” I retorted.

 

“It’s not what you did, but who you are. Little Rebecca mated with a wolf. What a twist of fate.”

 

Wait, how did he know that? I must have looked shocked because he let out an empty chuckle as he continued.

 

“If you want even a shred of hope of taking care of her, you’re going to learn to guard your thoughts a lot better than you currently are.”

 

I had heard that vampires could play mind games, but I had never thought about them being able to know someone's thoughts. Instantly I felt uneasy. How would I plan an escape with Ivan knowing my every thought?

 

“I could not leave you, John, for you would have stopped at nothing to find us. I could not kill you, for she would feel the bond break and would never be the same. The same goes for rejection. I could have convinced you to break the bond,” 

 

I became dizzy as I saw a vision of Rebecca and me back at the store. The words “I reject you” echoed in my voice, but it wasn’t really my voice. Tears stung my eyes as Rebecca doubled over in pain crying. No, I didn’t want this, I would never reject her. 

 

“No! Rebecca, I didn’t mean it, I would never reject you!” I tried to yell out but my body was frozen. Very suddenly I was back in Ivan's office. He continued,

 

"but I couldn’t risk the rest of the team finding out she had a werewolf for a mate.”

 

“You forgot the best option, you could have just left her with me.” My tone was cold. I didn’t appreciate him implying the amount of power he had over our bond. Surely if I was under his influence and he forced me to, the moon goddess would know, and not grant the separation. 

 

Ivan let out a slow deep laugh. “Has it not crossed your mind that there must be something special about her, that makes her valuable to a group of vampires? No, I could not leave her. I would have been killed if I returned without her. But that still leaves me stuck with what I’m supposed to do with you.”

  

“Why is she so special?” The more I learned about her the more questions I had. Like why a vampire followed the orders of a human.

 

“It’s a bit of a long story, and I’m afraid it will have to wait. As for now, I’ve called for Rebecca to join us. You will tell her who you are and she will decide if she will accept or reject you. Rejecting you would make my life a whole lot easier but it’s her choice to make, not mine.” He gestured for me to take a seat, but I remained standing. While it seemed Ivan meant me no immediate harm, I wasn’t going to let my guard down. It wasn’t long before there was a knock at the door.

 

“Come in Rebecca.”

 

Rebecca slowly opened the door and poked her head inside. Looking around the room she saw me and smiled slightly. She looked different now, but still beautiful. She was in a black pencil skirt and a red blouse, both showing off her figure much better than the black combat bag she was in earlier. After closing the door behind her she turned to Ivan.

  

“You wanted to see me?”

 

“Yes. John has something he’d like to tell you.” He looked completely uninterested and indifferent, meanwhile, my heart was racing. I could think of a hundred other ways I would have liked to tell her, but my back was to the wall. Not to mention I was now nervous that Ivan would have me say something I didn’t mean. She turned to me curiously, waiting for me to speak.

 

“Rebecca...you’re my...I’m your” I took a deep breath. “We’re mates.”

 

Her eyes widened, glancing at Ivan and back at me. “Are you sure?”

  

“Yes, Rebecca I’m sure. I don’t know your story, but I do recognize that this is a complicated situation. I want you to know I would do anything for you, and to keep you safe.”

 

I held out my hand. She reached out and we finally touched, sparks running up my arm and hers as well. She gasped, looking up at me tears welling in her eyes. She looked at me with so much hope and happiness. I wanted to just grab her and leave, but something told me Ivan wouldn’t let that happen. She turned to look at Ivan apprehension in her eyes.

 

“Did you tell...him?” She asked Ivan fearfully.

  

Ivan shook his head “No, I was hoping you’d reject him. It would have been easier that way, but it's your choice. I will help you either way.”

 

“No!” She looked back at me, “Absolutely not, I won't reject you.”

 

I think my smile could have almost broke my face. She wasn’t going to reject me! I let out a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding.

 

“Well, that’s settled then.” Ivan stood from his chair. “Now what do you want to do about Claude?”

 

Rebecca looked at Ivan in horror “He can’t know, he’ll kill him!”

  

“I’m not saying we tell him you’re fated to a werewolf, Princess. But the team knows we brought back a werewolf, and you can’t just run away with him, Claude would put two and two together. He’d follow you and kill everyone that got in his way.”

 

“Princess?” I asked. Ivan said it with reverence, not with sarcasm.

  

“John, Your mate is the daughter of our head Vampire, making her the princess of this particular clan.”

  

“Adopted, daughter.” Rebecca cut in forcefully. “I’m not related to that monster. I’m more his pet than anything.”

 

“Rebecca,” Ivan warned. “We do not speak ill of the king.”

 

“Sorry,” She whispered losing all her fire at his words. 

 

“But you’re not a vampire?” I looked down at her. She looked sad, I hated seeing her sad. “Why would he make you a princess?"

 

“No, she’s not,” Ivan answered for her. "I told you she has quite the story that we do not have time for at the moment. Just know your love will be hard and sacrifices will be made.” He paused. "Also know, that if you hurt her I will kill you personally after months if not years of torture.”

 

“I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.” I reassured him.

 

He seemed to be satisfied with my answer as he turned to Rebecca.

 

“I am meeting with your father now, I will stall for you, but you have to come up with a plan. You only have until dinner. Take John down to the cells, and keep the cuffs on him whenever anyone can see you.”

 

“Ivan, I can’t do this, I can’t talk to the king. Can’t we just run away? You would stall him for me, wouldn’t you? Tell him I got my period back and I have to be secluded for another week." She pleaded with him desperately.

 

“The king, while not well versed in human anatomy, is not that stupid Rebecca.” He answered sharply. “ Trust me when I say, if you want to live, you will not run away from him. Find another way.” He turned and left the room. It was just the two of us now. Finally. 

Nervously she took a step closer to me.

 

“John, this is your last chance, don’t let me fall in love with the idea of leaving with you unless you’re really going to see this though. I feel like I may be more trouble than I’m worth. Your whole pack will be at risk, you’re Alpha might not...”

 

“I, am the Alpha Rebecca. And my pack will fight for their Luna.” I was a little offended that she didn’t realize I was an Alpha, but humans can’t pick up on those things.

  

“Of course.” She nodded, bowing her head slightly in respect. “I’m sorry John, I know these hurt but you have to look like a prisoner. I’ll keep them unlocked though, just don’t let them drop.”

 

The cold silver stung against my skin, but she was worth it.  She walked me through the narrow hallways and down a small stone staircase. The air was slowly becoming more dank and stale as she took me down to the cells and opened a door.

  

“This is the most secluded one. It’s not pretty but at least we can talk freely.”

  

I rubbed my hands where the cuffs were moments before.

 

“What are you going to tell your father?” I asked. I didn’t know the situation, but judging by the quick interaction between Rebecca and Ivan, her father was bad news.

  

“My father is dead. But Claude, I can’t straight up lie to him. With his mind powers, he’ll know.”

 

I made a mental note that she did not like being recognized as the kings' daughter before she continued,

 

“I can’t just disappear either. Ivan was right, he’d hunt me down.” She sighed. "I’m not sure how he’ll react to me having a mate. If I tell him I found the person I want to be with and he’s ok with it, I could try and get his permission to leave here to be with you without telling him exactly who you are.” She sat down on the cot. “That’s the best case scenario.” She continued. “If he flips out though, I’m not sure. I may have to fake my death or something. Ivan’s acting like a grump today but I know he would help me.”

 

“Who is Ivan to you? You seem close.” Again my blood boiled with the knowledge that they seemed to have a bond of their own.

 

“He’s kinda like an uncle or a brother, he’s been my best friend my whole life.”

 

I nodded, relieved he wasn’t something like an ex-boyfriend. “I would hate for you to have to fake your death. Your friends, your family, they’ll all be devastated, and you’ll never be able to speak to them again. I don’t want to cut you off from your family, that’s not fair to you.”

 

She smiled sadly. “Ivan and Claude are my only family. It would be sad to never see Ivan again, but he would still help us. And the king? Well, I’d be ok if I never saw him again.”

 

The layers of her life were peeling back far too slowly. I took a couple of steps so I was standing in front of her. “I really want to know about you Bex.”

  

“Bex” She smiled. “I like it. Everyone here is very formal. Ivan sometimes calls me Becca, but other than that it’s nothing but Princess Rebecca.” Her eyes rolled as if she didn’t think she deserved the title.

 

With one hand against the wall behind her, I leaned down wanting to kiss her, but paused when her body tensed up beneath me. 

 

“I…I don’t know what to do John.” Her voice quivered and momentarily I wasn’t sure if she was talking about what to do about the vampire king, or what to do with me.

 

“I trust you.” I murmured before standing up straight giving her some room to breathe and think.

 

She chewed on her lip as her eyes scanned the room hoping an answer to her problems would be written on the walls. 

“He’s dangerous John. I…I want to leave with you, but,”

 

“Do not finish that sentence,” I growled. “You’re coming home with me Rebecca. If not now, I’ll come back with my entire pack and start a war.”

 

A small smile twitched at her lips. “You won't need to bring your pack to start a war. I’m afraid that just me leaving might do that.”

 

“You really don’t think he’ll let you leave? You’re a human Bex, what value does he even see in you?”

 

Her face fell.

 

“I…That's not what I meant.” I said hurriedly trying to backpedal. “Of course you have value, You’re valuable…but not like a possession…I mean...”

 

“You want a shovel for that hole you’re digging?” She giggled, cutting me off.

 

“I’m sorry.” I sighed.

 

“Forgiven.” 

 

Taking out her cell phone she checked the time. “Well, plan or no plan, I’m meeting with him either way."

 

She took a deep breath as she stood. “I’ll be back later tonight. Here’s an extra key for the door, and the cuffs if for some reason you need to break out.” She shoved them under the mattress. Then she just stood there for a minute looking at me. Lifting herself onto her tiptoes, she kissed my cheek before turning to the door.

 

“You got this Bex, I believe in you!” I called out after her. She paused, like she wanted to stay something, but decided better of it and kept walking.

 

Emptiness filled me as she left. Trusting her was one thing, but it was easy to see the longer we stayed here the more danger she was in, and I hated I couldn't help her. I didn’t know enough about vampires, and I certainly couldn’t escape by force with hundreds of them on our tail. I said a silent prayer to the moon goddess. Hoping she wouldn’t be so cruel as to rip my mate away from me now that I had finally found her.