Family

Book Two: Her Blood

‘Lake Mavris’s life has always been rough, but recently things have gotten so much worse. As if having the blood of both vampires and werewolves running through her veins wasn’t problematic enough, she’s lost her mate, and all the people she knew and trusted have turned their backs on her. Now she’s going to have to find some new friends to help her—the type you only hear about in fairytales.’

Lake

The forest is lush with green ferns and wildlife. My heart races at the sight of my mate standing on the edge of a stream in the distance. His beautiful black wolf is drinking the refreshing mountain water.

Spring has finally broken through the thawing ice and snow in South Dakota. The birds are singing, and squirrels jump from branch to branch above my wolf’s—Lynne’s—head.

Derrick’s wolf, Drax, huffs away the water lingering on his nose. Lynne runs over and playfully lunges at his large form, plunging both of them into the chilly water. Drax growls in mock annoyance, but wags his tail at our antics.

Lately, Derrick has been worried more and more for our safety. Crossing pack territories as often as we have been, while holding the titles of rogues, has him on edge. So much so that we haven’t been out of wolf form all winter.

Lynne and Drax are more capable of protecting us and keeping our body temperatures up while in their own forms. But three solid months of traveling on all fours has me itching to finally see my mate’s human form.

Don’t get me wrong—I love Drax just as Derrick. But the skin-to-skin contact I’ve been longing for these wintery months is almost within my reach, and I can’t wait to hold Derrick in my arms again.

Lynne and Drax heave themselves out of the water and shake their coats out. They’re both shedding their heavy undercoats, just as any other wolf would this time of year, which makes it difficult to avoid leaving a trail.

Drax licks Lynne’s ear affectionately. His red eyes peer into my wolf’s black ones lovingly. He’s saying goodbye for now, knowing that Derrick is about to take over.

Lynne’s desire to stay like this for just a while longer is overwhelming. My wolf understands the severity of the situation, but that doesn’t mean she can help feeling a bit selfish.

I soothe my wolf as much as possible. Her sadness turns to understanding, more so for me than anything. I haven’t fed as a vampyre for four months now, and it’s getting to the point where my thirst can’t be managed anymore.

Lynne and Drax nuzzle one last time, and finally I’m back in my own body.

I stretch, my naked body shivering as the cold air numbs my skin. One thing I will miss is Lynne’s fur. Human clothing never holds the same warmth.

When I open my eyes, I find Derrick smiling down at me. His dark hair has grown partway down his chest, cascading over his broad shoulder. My breath catches in my throat at the sight of his muscular frame.

It feels like I’m seeing him for the first time, all over again.

“Derrick.” I wrap my arms around my mate, and he brings me into his arms. His scent surrounds me, and I feel like I’m melting.

“I missed you, Firefly,” Derrick’s deep voice whispers into my ear.

“I missed that ridiculous nickname.” I smile against his skin. “And you, too, of course.”

Being in wolf form with my mate isn’t the same as having him here with me physically. While on all fours, our wolves have just as much control as we have in our human form.

But they can’t communicate inside of our minds, just as they can’t talk to us. I wish mind-linking was really a thing, like it is in books.

Derrick cups my cheek and brings my lips deliciously close to his. I grab a fistful of his long hair and pull him the rest of the way toward me. His lips crash into mine, and the taste of him makes my entire body quiver.

“Not here, Firefly. We’re out in the open.” Derrick chuckles and begrudgingly pulls away from me.

“So what? Nobody’s around.” I tug him closer once more. Out in the open, in a cave, or even in the middle of the forest—I don’t care. It’s been months since we’ve been intimate, and a girl has needs.

“How about this?” Derrick puts his finger on my lips. “We get clothes, food, and a motel room for the weekend. We have to get out of town by Monday, though.”

“Derrick, it’s Sunday.” My words are muffled behind my mate’s finger. “The weekend is already over.”

“We have to move on by tomorrow, then,” Derrick replies with a kiss on my forehead.

“I get to pick where we stay, at least.” I sigh. “I’m not staying in another bedbug infestation.”

He rolls his eyes. “Agreed. I still can’t believe we only got a third of our money back.”

***

A couple hours later, Derrick and I walk out of a popular restaurant, Layfield Steak and Grill. Before the winter, the owners kindly agreed to keep our things safe while we were gone.

“This town’s pack is nice to rogues coming through as long as they’re not a threat,” Derrick says. “Their Alpha is very lenient compared to most these days.”

“You seem to know a lot about this town.” I raise an eyebrow. “We’ve lingered around it ever since we came to this territory.”

“It reminds me of somewhere from my year before you came along,” he says, opening the door to the hotel we chose on our way into town.

We approach the elderly woman behind the check-in desk and request a room for the night.

“Rogues pay half the usual price,” she says as Derrick takes out his wallet. “Alpha’s rules.”

“That’s very charitable for a pack to do,” I say. “Any reason why?”

The old lady shrugs. “We only enforce the Alpha’s rules. Don’t question them.”

She hands us our keys and we head to the elevator. The pack members in the lobby offer us welcoming smiles, which should be comforting, but instead set my teeth on edge. Derrick squeezes my hand reassuringly.

“Are you feeling okay?” he asks as we enter our room. He sets our suitcases on the coffee table.

“This place is weird,” I admit, throwing myself onto the bed. “Why is the pack so nice to rogues? We ran into the territory with no struggle.”

“You’re questioning why we don’t have to be chased and hunted like wild animals?” Derrick sits beside me and brushes a lock of my hair away from my eyes. “Firefly, you usually complain about the opposite.”

“I’m not complaining,” I protest. “It’s just...ever since I turned rogue, no pack would even let me set foot in their territory without threatening my life. You were there for all of that. Don’t you think this is just a bit weird?”

“Just enjoy the peace while you can. If all ends well, we may just stay here for a while.”

I blink. ~Stay?~

“Who are you and what have you done with my mate?” I hit Derrick with a pillow. “My mate loves life on the road and dangers of being a rogue!”

“I know, but—”

“And on top of that, we don’t know these people or their motives for letting rogues in!” I add. “For all we know—”

“Firefly, do you really want to start a family in our current circumstances?” my mate interjects. “Territory is hard to come by. In this pack, I could protect you and our pups better.”

I freeze. “Family?”

“Well, yeah.” My mate smiles gently and takes the pillow from my hands. “You’re already twenty-two and I’m twenty-five. Wolves our age usually have at least a pup or two with another on the way by now.”

“That’s because we’ve been in this cycle of running for four years!” I exclaim. “Plus, we don’t know what would happen to the pups, with me being a hybrid and all.”

“Hybrid or not, Firefly, I want to start thinking about it.” Derrick takes my hands in his. “I want to give you the life you deserve. The past is irrelevant.”

I avert my gaze from his. I’m not nearly as sure as he is on the subject of having children. “Derrick, I—”

A knock interrupts me. Derrick sighs and goes to open the door, revealing an impeccably dressed she-wolf. Her eyes are wide with wonder and speculation.

“Hello, my name is Nymph,” she says, nodding to both of us. “I am here to formally invite you two to the pack-house for a feast being held in the Alpha’s honor.”

“Thank you,” I say, “but I’m not sure that would be appropriate. We’re rogues.”

Nymph shakes her head and holds out an envelope, her small hand trembling slightly. “All wolves in the territory, regardless of title in society, are required to attend.”

Derrick takes the parchment from her grasp. With a final bow, Nymph quickly departs.

“Welp, there go my evening plans.” I groan and throw myself back on the mattress.