Chapter Six

Avery's point of view

There wasn't a way in hell I was going to stay in this house for two weeks without at least checking out everywhere and everything. Ryan said he had a roommate so I am very sure I would be staying in the living room and I had to make sure it was comfortable for me. Did not need any rat sleeping close to me at night.

Leaving my bag on the couch, I ventured around the house tentatively. The kitchen area wasn't as clean as the living room, thank the heavens for that. There were some unwashed plates in the kitchen sink, unfinished coffee in a mug with the words "World best boyfriend" written on it close to the coffee machine and a pair of dirty footwear by the door. I checked the fridge expecting to see nothing of importance but it was actually stocked with fruits, drinks and.....cake. Must be world best boyfriend's birthday.

I probably shouldn't be checking out the rooms but curiousity kills the cat or in this case the werewolf. I checked the first room, the room Ryan entered some time back but found it locked. He probably knew I was going to sneak around, the smart bastard. Luckily for me, the other room's door was unlocked and I entered.

The room like the living room was neat and smelled wonderful. There was a queen sized bed sitting wonderfully at the center of the room, well made and inviting. A wave of dizziness hit me reminding me that I had not slept for about twelve hours and counting now. A tiny stack of clothes sat at the corner of the room and by it's side was a table and chair, books neatly arranged. A picture frame caught my attention and I walked towards it, careful not to touch anything.

A family dressed like they were posing for a commercial stared back at me. The picture in black and white made me unable to guess their hair colour and they looked human enough, nothing out of the ordinary. Pretty sure that was the roommate and his family. Disappointment coursed through me, I wasn't sure what I was looking for but I knew I was looking for something, maybe something to show that the lycan was up to no good and I was right about him.

As quietly and quickly as I could, I walked out of the living room and back to my new sleeping quarters, in other words the living room. I kicked off my shoes and stretched as far as I could, my hands curled around my bag and fell into a dreamless sleep.

****

Ryan's point of view

With the curtain closed and no possible way for sunlight to enter the room and fill it with warmth and light and the occasional fresh air, I took my place in one of the chairs opposite the club's owner chair. The vampire stripper I had admired only a few hours ago stood some inches away from me, her skin looking paler than usual under the lack of light. She looked kinda sick.

"Your blood smells wonderful from here" She said, her eyes taking my appearance from head to toe, her lips curling into a monstrous smile showing her fangs tip.

"My blood always smells wonderful Rose" I muttered tiredly, my head ached and I had a stranger that was my mate staying in my house. For all I know she was a thief "You know that" I added as an afterthought.

For reasons I could not think of or remember if I had thought of them, I wanted no one to know of my brief affair with Rose. Much especially Avery, beautiful Avery. Avery was the opposite of Rose in almost every way, where Avery was soft and curvy Rose had a firm look, Avery was all stubbornness and full of revenge and hate, Rose was more of a go with the flow and kinda karma stuff of thing girl. They would become fast friends if they knew each other.

"Are you thinking of that night? " Whispered Rose, her nails trailing down my arm while her other hand cupped the back of my head. Her fangs were dangerously close to my neck, I think they even grazed my neck.

When did she get here again?

"We can do it again you know, right here and right now" She continued.

The fan whirled overhead, squeaky noises coming out of it as it circulated the hot air around, the curtains still closed and I started to hear my own blood as it flowed in my veins. Rose, this close to me was intoxicating, and she wasn't even a succubus. Where was the goddamn boss that requested for my presence?

Without warning, Rose placed her mouth over mine and kissed me with such heat I gasped giving her tongue access to my mouth. Her hand cupped my head while the other was busy moving through my neck probably finding where was more delicate to suck from. I wrapped my hands round her waist, bringing her closer ....

"I don't think I invited you guys here to makeout" The boss voice came loudly and uncharacteristically sharp that I pushed Rose far away away from me unconsciously.

Rose as usual wasn't bothered. She settled down on the other chair fast and without a comment,her head held up high. She didn't care that they were caught but that wasn't new, Rose didn't care about anything.

"And you shouldn't care about her" my wolf growled in my mind "You remember last time"

Last time was when I had been in a bad place physically and psychologically. It was my first time away from my pack and I knew nothing about what I was going to do to make money or at least get a decent place to stay. Rose had met me in that bad place, planned on using me for sex, to satisfy her wicked cravings and I had no where to go. It was a toxic relationship from the moment it started and I was glad to let her go at the end though we ended up as co-workers.

The boss snapped his hand to get our attention, the cigarette in his mouth dangerously close to the closed curtains. He was a human, nothing special about him. But he was a human good at his job.

"It has come to my attention" He started, he blew a large puff of smoke from his mouth then continued "that you Rose are the belle of this place, people love you or they love your body and you Ryan are wonderful with numbers..."

"This has nothing to do with the fact that I asked for a raise, does it?" Rose interrupted him, her tone uncharacteristically sharp.

From the corner of her eyes, I saw the way her hands were clenched tightly by her side.

"I also asked for a raise"

The boss laughed, an unusual sound that I did not think I wanted to hear again. He took another puff from his cigarette, muscles getting relaxed.

"And I considered your offer and decided to give you that raise, you deserve it" He explained.

Okay, this was too easy. Words on the street and in this bar was that the boss wasn't an easy thing to work with. His beady eyes were full of suspicion, always finding who was trying to double cross him and whatnot and he was intelligent enough for a human.

"What's the catch?" I asked lazily. I was getting more comfortable and the place no longer made me dizzy.

There was silence. Not uncomfortable. Everyone thinking about the situation and what they wanted to get out of it. I wasn't bothered.

"I'll need you two for something later on, something important"

"And if we disagree" Said Rose

"Well you'll go back to the current wages and owe me some money, it's a win win situation"

It wasn't a win win situation and he knew it. He knew exactly what he wanted and somehow by asking for a raise, I had been roped into it. With a mate who didn't want me that I was supposed to help and the need for rent and groceries, I knew I needed this job.

"Sorry but this isn't worth it" Rose turned to look at me communicating what I already knew, what he was proposing was too high risk and there was no way we were sure we would be able to do it. I came to the city for a clean life, no sudden surprises but my life was just full of surprises now.

I sighed, shoulders slumped "I'll think about it" I said at last.

I did not know what to say so I excused myself and hurried out, Rose right behind me. She placed a hand to stop me from walking any further, her large gray eyes filled with concern and something I couldn't describe.

"What's wrong Ryan? You met your mate or something?" She asked jokingly. She like my roommate knew the story I told them years back that my mate was dead. They had not asked further questions.

I shook my head. I needed a distraction,something was obviously clouding my mind but I could not pinpoint it. I've been like this ever since I left the house. Taking Rose's hands into my large one, I lowered my face to her throat inhaling the scent of her skin and hair and letting them wash over me, the scent of a seductress. She did not ask for anything or say anything, just let me press my face to her neck like a creep.

"She's not our mate" My wolf growled in my mind, his voice full of displeasure. He did not want this, whatever it was I was doing.

"Our mate does not want us now and she won't want us when she discovers the truth" I growled back. I was tired, just so tired and I just wanted quiet for the time being.

"This isn't...."

I tuned him out before he could continue whatever he wanted to say. I wasn't interested in hearing anything.

Rose led the way to her room at the end of the bar where she did private entertainment for people who paid heavily. The boss did not know about that or he didn't care, either way I also did not care. My shirt did not make it to the room with me, being ripped away by Rose's sharp nails and dropped somewhere in the hallway.

Rose's tongue was hot and sharp, running her tongue all over my lower lip. She had the metallic taste of blood in her mouth and something else. Her hands were working on my body, one playing with my hair with reckless abandon while the other found the edge of my trousers and was unbuttoning them.

Her mouth moved downwards, from my chin to my neck. Her tongue searched, licking every surface until she got to the one she needed when I gasped softly, the place scared over after the years. The place were she fed from, her fangs grazed the skin softly until she pierced it with all her force.

Months of her feeding on me made me an expert on what to expect, the pain as her fangs pierced through my skin, the dizziness that followed as I tried to get my bearings and then the dull ache and voice in my head telling me to let go and just enjoy the moment. I was also an expert of telling her it was enough and I did not want it anymore but now, I was just taking whatever she was giving me without complaint.

After what felt like minutes, she stopped and licked the blood from the place. She removed her dress with one hand, showing me the pale flawless skin that was underneath, the top of her breast spilling from her bra. She looked beautiful, so very beautiful. My Avery.

"Avery hmm hmm"

My eyes snapped open and I groaned. I had whispered my mate's name without meaning to. Even far away, she was clouding my senses. I stood up before Rose could continue what she was doing, zipping my flyer close.

"You can stay you know, I don't mind and I'm sure Avery won't either" Rose said. Her half naked body lied on the bed in a seductive manner. She looked at me from under her lashes, that wicked smile still on her face.

Without meaning to I knelt down across from her and cupped her face with my hand.

"I'm very sorry" I whispered softly. To her or to Avery, I did not know.