The Vampire and the Alpha's Son

Infatuation

Finn’s POV

I sat in my room, on my bed, with my gaming headphones on and my controller in my hands. I kept a steady stream of noise flowing from my headset in order to give them some privacy, not wanting to overhear any more personal conversations, like I had while I was in the bathroom. I hadn’t really heard much, but I particularly caught the part where the one called David asked Liz if she liked me. I had to be honest with myself, my heart did a flip when she didn’t dispute it, though I knew my hopes were fruitless.

It seemed my presence was a cause for tension between them, and though that wasn’t my intent, I couldn’t deny my attraction to her so easily. I had been quite taken with her from the moment she walked through the door the night before. The way her bright eyes shone with a poisonous green glow had captivated me almost immediately. It didn’t matter to me that she was a vampire. Though American werewolves tend to have an instinctual grudge against them, back home my pack had many vampire friends.

As soon as I realized that she and David were an item, I had tried to will these feelings away. Unfortunately, it was much harder than it should have been. I had to start avoiding her gaze, in order to keep my own eyes from betraying me. It probably wasn’t the best tactic, but it was all I could think to do to keep myself from falling fast. It had been many years since I had felt anything close to this for a woman. At some point during all those empty years, my icy heart had somehow begun to melt. It had been six years since my mate tragically died, and I had lost hope of ever finding a second chance mate. Though I felt like I was finally ready to let myself love again, pining after someone else’s mate was not what I wanted.

But I guess it’s true what they say: you can’t always get what you want. Despite my best efforts, here I was sitting and sulking, as images of Liz the vampire flowed uninvited through my mind.

At some point, I must have fallen asleep, because I awoke to a message on the screen telling me my character had died and I couldn’t remember how I had gotten to that point. I took the headphones off and went to the door, but I couldn’t hear anything, so I tentatively exited my room and saw the one called Bate lightly dozing on the couch. He was wearing the clothes I had lent him and his hair was damp. I figured the other two must have gone to the laundromat after they all had their showers. I tiptoed across the room, trying not to wake him, and I almost reached the kitchen when I heard him stir.

“Hey,” he called to me in a gruff voice. He sat up and patted the seat of the couch next to him, indicating for me to come sit next to him.

I sighed internally, then walked the few feet over to the couch. My legs felt like concrete as I braced myself for the worst. His character and countenance were yet unknown to me, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I sat down gingerly beside him and looked straight out, across the room. He didn’t speak right away, so I fixated on my doorknob and the door across from me and shifted my feet uncomfortably.

“So, you and my mate,” he started, and I panicked, thinking he was still suspicious of some kind of involvement between us.

“Like I said before, there has never been anything between us. I am completely not even her type,” I sputtered in a rush.

“Hey, relax, I believe you,” he laughed dryly as he placed a strong hand reassuringly against my back, “I was just wondering how long you’ve known each other. I’m hoping you can answer some questions for me.”

“Of course! I can try,” I answered with relief, “Ja, we’ve known each other for about four years now. What do you want to know?”

“Well, I guess, basically,” he stammered, seeming unsure of himself now, “I mean, like, what can I do to make her like me?”

I thought about it for a minute, pondering his question and trying to come up with something helpful, then answered, "Well, pretty much just be yourself. Don't try too hard, and don't shower her with meaningless gifts. Just be authentic."

He sighed dramatically and looked a little disappointed. Now it was my turn to clap him on the back reassuringly.

"I know, it's not going to be easy. Like I said before, she's been through a lot. You gotta give it time."

"What if she never wants me?" he asked in a low voice while looking glumly at his feet.

I felt bad for him, but there wasn't much more I could do to help. I had given him the best advice I could offer. Ali was a complicated person with a painful past, just like myself, and it would take a lot of effort and perseverance on his part to break through the ice in her heart. I desperately hoped for both of their sakes that he would be successful. But when someone breaks your heart badly enough, it can be hard to trust again.

As I was trying to form a reply to his last question, the front door opened as Liz appeared with her young werewolf mate following close behind, carrying their clean clothes. My heart did a jolting flip as I met her neon stare and I quickly looked away, but not before I noticed David’s disapproving glare. I stood as I turned my head, and pivoted toward the kitchen door, trying to make a quick escape. I knew I couldn’t just keep avoiding her, since we would be living under the same roof for at least a couple months. I would have to deal with this little infatuation eventually, but I was presently unsure how to handle myself in her presence.

“I was just about to fix myself some lunch. Can I get you guys anything?” I offered as I faced away from them with my hand on the doorknob.

“Yeah, sure. What are you offering?” David asked as I heard the front door close behind him.

“I can make some sandwiches,” I shrugged, risking a quick glance back.

“Yeah, that sounds fine,” David agreed casually as he crossed the room to deposit their laundry onto the couch.

Without another word, I opened the door and walked into the kitchen, crossing the short distance to the counter by the fridge. I started getting out the plates and bread, then opened the fridge for the rest.

“I’ll go assist,” I heard Liz say through the open door, and I swore under my breath.

I was still digging ingredients out of the fridge as she invaded the small space, filling the room with her scent. Her usual vampiric stench of blood was currently masked by the floral aroma of Ali’s shampoo. I set the meat, cheese, and condiments on the counter as she came up next to me, making the hairs on my skin stand up. I wondered if she had at all sensed my attraction to her, and if so, why would she come so close to me. As much as I wanted her to be attracted to me too, she was David’s mate and not mine. They seemed like a strong couple, and the last thing I wanted was to be the cause of heartache and turmoil between them.