Imprint of Mate

Chapter 8

Levi leaned lazily against the door to watch. I began to tremble.

Derek sat on the edge of the bed. His gentle eyes made him seem safe, but the fangs in his mouth told a different story. —I'm sorry, I didn't mean... we didn't mean to scare you—.

—Who the hell are you?!

—My name is Derek. The charming i***t behind me is Levi. We, um, found you the other night—.

—We saved your ass the other night—, Levi corrected.

—What?—

—Do you remember what happened to you?— Derek asked.

I nodded slowly. As if I could forget. —You were bitten. Not just by a dog. But by a...—

He paused, turning to look at Levi behind him.

—By what? My voice was shrill. —Jesus, tell me!—

—By a werewolf—, Levi spat out.

I laughed. I couldn't help it. They both looked at me as if I had gone mad; I had lost a lot of blood during the attack, so maybe I was going mad?

It was impossible that they were serious.

—What now?— I said, wiping away my tears. Another nervous laugh poorly concealed my panic. —No, but seriously, what was it?—.

—A real werewolf bit you—, Derek said kindly.

Levi snorted and rolled his eyes.

This couldn't be real. Werewolves weren't real. They were only objects of strange fantasies and terrifying dreams.

I shook my head slowly. —It can't be... they're just fairy tales—. My mind was spinning with questions I couldn't believe I was considering.

Derek frowned. —It's okay—, he said.

He stood up, turning into a blur of color that crossed the room. He stopped next to the wall, looked over his shoulder, and then climbed up it. He climbed up the wall to the ceiling as if strolling on the beach. He stopped right above me, with a smile on his lips.

He jumped, tucking his feet into a twist, and landed gracefully beside me on the bed. —Still want to laugh?

My mouth hung open. It was real. I clung tighter to the pillow.

—Listen, we're not going to hurt you—, Derek said.

I held the pillow more tightly in front of me. —Your fangs...—

—I won't hurt you, I swear—.

—But he—

—Levi won't hurt you either—.

—He has a gun—.

—No one is going to kill you—, Derek said firmly. —Levi, put the gun away—.

The low growl from Levi made me shudder again.

—Stop it, Levi!— Derek hissed, his eyes darkening.

Levi growled a string of curses as he dropped the shotgun on the floor and leaned it against the wall. He walked over to a chair that had a blue star-stamped blanket and sat down.

Derek breathed deeply. His warm brown eyes had returned and the fangs were gone. —Listen, I promise we won't hurt you, so let's calm down—, he said with a soft smile.

—Breathe deeply. I'm sure the pillow will appreciate it—.

—A werewolf?—

—Yes.—

My fingers clutched the blanket. I looked back at Levi, who was watching me curiously. —So that's what you are, then?—.

—Levi, why don't you show her?— Derek asked.

—Show her what?— He had to get out of this place. These people were certifiable. There was no denying it.

—What you'll become if you survive—, Levi muttered as he stood up and began to undress. —Which you won't. Humans rarely do. And I'd say your chances are crap, since you've been bitten by a bunch of mangy wolves—.

Derek rolled his eyes and positioned himself in front of me, blocking my view of Levi, who was half-naked in the center of the room.

There were cracking and snapping sounds as his body began to contort rapidly in disgusting directions. I felt vomit filling my mouth. I didn't want to watch, but I couldn't help it. I leaned to one side and looked around Derek's body to see something that shouldn't be real. Hair sprouted through Levi's skin, his teeth protruded from his lips, and his head contorted into a snout. More cracking sounds as his body shifted and fur rolled over his skin. I was speechless.

He had transformed into a large black wolf. A black wolf with gray patches on its back. It was enormous, more like a horse in the room. It looked at Derek and me with an expression that seemed annoyed.

It took a step towards us, its muscles rippling beneath the fur.

—What the f**k?—

A growl came from its chest. I closed my mouth.

—Levi—, Derek warned.

The wolf turned to the vampire, whose fangs had begun to emerge defensively, and snorted. It c****d its head and its silver eyes almost seemed to play with me before turning to something else.

—Levi—, Derek growled.

Levi snorted and reluctantly turned around, walking on all fours out of the room. More cracking sounds were heard in the cabin followed by a series of curses. I heard another door open and slam shut. Derek looked down the hallway.

—Where is he going?— I asked, because I wanted to make sure he stayed far, far away from me.

—To run—, Derek simply said.

—Is it going to kill me?— My voice broke. I felt like the walls could start collapsing at any moment.

Derek sat back down on the bed. —On the third full moon since the day you were bitten, you will transform—.

—Into what Levi is?—

He nodded. —Yes, into what Levi is—.

I covered my mouth with my hand to hide the sobs. This couldn't be happening. I was trying to start over. I was about to start a new life. How had it all gone downhill so fast?

Derek pulled at his hair, watching me intently. —What did you say your name was?—.

Should I tell them my real name? Betray that part of me? Renee—, I said.

He narrowed his eyes and tilted his head. —Your real name—.

Apparently, using my mother's name wasn't going to work. I guess it didn't matter.

—Christine—.

He smiled softly again and sighed. —Everything will be okay—, he said. —I think you just need some sleep, and then, maybe a stiff drink? Yeah? There's a lot you need to know. I know this is probably overwhelming—.

—Is it going to kill me?—

—No—, Derek said firmly. —I promise you.— He stood up and headed for the door. —I'll let you rest. We'll talk when you wake up—.

—Why are you doing this?—

—Well, I'd rather you not die. Aren't you?—

I didn't know what to say. All I knew was that I had seen what I had only read and seen on television unfold before me.

Derek left me alone to lose myself in the solitude. If they were right, there was no escape. My body was a ticking time bomb. I could run a thousand kilometers away and still not escape.

I lay back on the pillow and wished Jhon was here. For a moment, I felt as if his nose would touch mine. The mere thought shattered me. I hated that it shattered me. I hated continuing to crave that butterfly feeling in my stomach that he gave me.

I closed my eyes and tried to think of something happier, but all I heard was Jhon laughing at me. I saw him perfectly, with his Ray-Ban glasses and the sleeves of his chambray shirt rolled up to his elbows. The sunlight made his hair almost golden.