Chapter 22

She lead me up to my room and promised that someone would come a long with my things later. My new room was a lot more private than the first. It was on the second story and I had a big window that overlooked the wall and where the forest met the grass. The window was framed by sheer lacey curtains. I also had a small emerald couch and a coffee table where a vase of maroon roses set. Hanging above the mantel over the fireplace was my favorite room improvement, a portrait of the Alpha. His intense eyes seemed to pierce me and draw me in to the painting as easily as they could in real life. I gently touched one finger to his painted cheek, but it had none of his warmth I crave so much.

A scream wrung out through the air and I ran back to my window. Out on the lawn I saw Dani struggling to break free of the grip of the greasy vampire I saw running the front gate on my first day. She kicked and punched futilely at his face but it didn't stop his fangs from sinking into the skin of her stomach. I gasped. Surely someone else heard the scream and was coming to help. I waited a beat then two before I realized that nobody was coming. The vampire pulled back to take a breath and excess blood dropped down her stomach as she shook and hyperventilated. The vampire took his long disgusting tongue and cleaned up his mess and met my gaze with a smile. His merciless stare pinned me to the floor for a moment and then I snapped to my senses and rushed for the door. 

The stairs a halls passed in a blur until I stood in front of the huge double doors that barring me from the outside. 

"Open the door! Quick open the door!" I said to a footman, but he didn't seemed alarmed at all by my urgency.

"Elma, the Alpha wishes to see you in his office as soon as possible."

"Not right now. There's been an attack on the lawn! Come with me we have to hurry before it's too late!"

"An attack?" he said curiously, "Elma shouldn't you be recovering in your room? You've had a close call yourself and I fear it's done a number on your nerves."

I slammed my fists against the doors, but they swallowed all the impact with barely a sound. 

"Dandilion, I need to get to her!"

The footman gently removed my fist from where it was pounding on the door and caressed the top of my hand sheltering them inside his own.

"Hush now. I'll send someone to go check it out. You can't go break up a fight in your condition." His hand touched a bit of my skin on the edges of my bandages where it is the most sensitive. 

"Ok," I responded. Now that I couldn't feel the vampire's eyes on me anymore the danger didn't feel as pressing.

"Come, Elma, he said taking me by the hand and bringing me down the hall to the Alpha's office. 

"Elma!" the Alpha greeted, "I'm glad to see you back on your feet."

"It was only the thought of you that gave me the strength to hold onto my life." I lied. I don't think flattery really counts as a lie. 

"And how do you find your new accomodations?" 

"All fine, but I fear I have something more pressing to discuss if you'll allow it."

"Speak."

"I was faced with a most horrible sight through my window just earlier. One of the vampire lingering around this place drinking his fill from my dear friend Dandilion." 

"Dandilion? That can't be, She left to go home by sled a couple of hours ago. I saw her off myself."

I frowned deeply. 

"I will have this matter checked up on nonetheless," he said in an attempt to appease me.  

"Speaking of people 'lingering around this place' I called you here to inform you that we are expecting some guests to be arriving and staying at the estate soon. An ambassador and attendants are visiting from the elf clan."

I grimaced. If werewolves and vampires were known for not getting along well than werewolves and elves were even worse. 

"Why?"

"Were hoping to improve the relationship between our two kingdoms and foster mutually beneficial trade."

"I see."

"Look, Elma," the Alpha lowered his voice and his eyes bored holes into my soul. I would do anything for him to keep looking at me like that.

"Elma, I know this is coming at an inconvenient time, but my pack is counting on me to be able to do this. It would be my first big success and I would appreciate it if everyone made sure they were putting their best foot forward. "

I nodded and he pulled my hand up to his mouth and planted a kiss on it. I could melt. 

"Thank you Elma, I will look into this attack you believe you witnessed, but if you could keep rumors like that quiet around our guests that would be great. I want them to have the impression that everything is under control here." 

"Of course," I agreed. I needed to be a cool laid backed Luna and I tried to embody what I thought that would look like. The love of my life needed support and it was my duty to put aside my silly concerns to accommodate him. He stood up and placed a warm kiss on my cheek as he led me to the door. Comfort spread from my cheek all the way to my toes as I drifted back up to my room. I couldn't wait until he was all mine.