The Vampire and the Alpha's Son

Stay

Liz's POV

"What?" I hissed ferociously. He winced, and I instantly regretted my harsh tone.

Unlike his father, his body language was soft and open, his eyes pleading. I got lost in those eyes again, as they bore into mine, searching. He had a firm grip on my upper arm, which was impressive for a boy who didn’t yet have his wolf. I could tell this by his scent; the smell of a wolf was very distinct. My skin tingled where he touched me, and suddenly I needed his hands all over me, exploring every inch of my naked body. Before I could stop myself, I started to imagine his soft lips against mine, kissing my face, my neck, sucking on my– 

I took a deep breath and struggled to regain my composure. I softened my voice as I spoke again, “What do you want from me?”

“I want…” he started, then cleared his throat and tried again, “I don’t want you to leave.” His voice was sad and quiet.

“Why?” I asked, looking away. He was probably only around seventeen, so I was much better at hiding my emotions. However, I was finding it difficult to keep my cool the longer I looked into his lovely eyes that were so full of lustful longing. 

“Because I need–” he began.

“You know what I am,” I cut him off. I was afraid of what he was about to say. I had lived my life mostly alone. Even in my coven I had been more of a loner, never getting close to anyone, except Jasper. I was used to not needing anyone and having no one truly need me, and I liked my life this way. “I can’t be here.”

“I don’t care,” he stated boldly, causing me to whip my head around to look at him again, my eyes wide.

“How can you say that?” I asked incredulously, “You heard what your father said! I’m not welcome here.”

“And I said I don’t care,” he repeated a little louder, grabbing my other arm with his other hand, gently yet firmly. “I’ll be alpha soon enough, and I want you to stay.”

“Alpha?” I balked. If he was to be the next alpha, that meant his father was the current alpha. The last thing I needed was an alpha after me.

“Yeah, my birthday is next week, and then… Wait a second,” he interrupted himself as a realization dawned on him, “How did you know he is my father?”

“You bear a striking resemblance,” I answered with a shrug, looking down. 

Just then his father appeared at the top of the staircase, presumably to see what kept his son. His alpha aura was unmistakable and I wondered how I missed it before. I didn’t dare look up, but nor did I try to escape from his son’s grip.

“David,” the Alpha called in a low, warning growl. “What do you think you’re doing?”

The young wolf, named David apparently, turned from me to bravely face his father. He squared his shoulders and lifted his chin defiantly, authoritatively. He stood in front of me protectively, keeping one hand on my wrist, ensuring I wouldn’t run. He had broad, muscled shoulders and was taller than me by about a foot or two. Werewolves usually matured quickly, making a teenage boy appear to be a man in his twenties. 

“She’s not leaving,” he said definitively, his voice set.

“What are you talking about? Have you lost your mind?” he asked harshly, his face grimaced in angry concern.

“Probably,” he answered honestly with a shrug.

The tension between them was terrifying and palpable. The hairs on my arms stood on end as an icy chill rippled through me. I didn’t know I could still get goosebumps. Having mostly traveled alone, I couldn’t remember the last time I felt fear. My body was still urging me to run. It wouldn’t be hard to wrench my wrist from his grip, and I was sure this time I could be out the door before he even turned around. I had not been using my full speed before, since there were humans around.

But I didn’t run. I let him continue to hold my wrist, relishing in that small contact. I couldn’t explain it to myself, but I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to be near him, wanted to know more about him, and I wanted him to know me. I realized that he didn’t even know my name yet.

“I don’t care what you say or think about it,” David continued, sounding like the future alpha he was, “I’m going to be Alpha soon, and I want her to say.”

“Well, you’re not Alpha yet, and I won’t allow it!” his father bellowed, and I was thankful for the barrier between us.

I couldn’t see the face David made in reply to that, and next I knew he whirled away from his father with me in tow. We strode down the stairs, through the lobby and out the door. Once we were a safe distance from the casino, I stopped abruptly, forcing him to stop too.

David’s POV

I was glad she made me stop, because I’m not sure I could have on my own. I had always been a model son and I had never dreamed of ever deliberately defying my father and my alpha like that. My body began to shake uncontrollably and I covered my face with my hand. My other hand was still gripped tightly around her thin, yet sturdy wrist. Her scent and the feel of her skin against mine was my anchor in that moment. If I wasn’t so terrified of my father’s retribution, I would have laughed at the irony of finding comfort in the presence of a vampire.

I had been raised to hate and fear vampires, just as my father had been. We had been taught that they are all blood-sucking predators with very little regard for human life. However, I found it hard to believe that this small woman with her kind eyes and gentle nature could ever be a ruthless killer. During our brief exchange on the stairs, all I saw in her so far was fear and remorse.

“You should go back,” she said from behind me, her voice concerned.

“How can I go back after what I just did?” I replied in anguish, still facing away.

“If you don’t go back now, he might not let you return later,” she continued as I finally turned to face her. Her expression was calm and kind. “Then you’ll be a rogue, and I’m sure you don’t want that.”

“I’d rather stay here with you,” I argued, even though what she said was true.

“You shouldn’t,” she disagreed, turning away. “I’m already a hundred and fifty-three, and I’ll still be the same long after you’re dead and buried.” She winced at that last part, as though the thought of me dead brought her pain. That gave me a sliver of hope that she felt about me as I did about her.

“A hundred and fifty,” I noted with a low whistle, ignoring the comment about my eventual death.

She turned back to me suddenly, her eyes glowing in the failing light of the setting sun, “Yeah, and what are you, seventeen?”

I looked down, slightly embarrassed that she had seen right through me so easily. Also the way she said it made me feel small and insignificant. I was almost eighteen, but I looked and felt older than I was. Werewolves, and especially alphas, age at a different rate than humans. We matured and developed faster and more fully.

“Yeah,” I answered sheepishly, afraid that she would be turned off by our monumental age gap. “But I’ll be eighteen in a week.”

“You’re a child compared to me,” she mused softly.

“I don’t care if you don’t,” I countered dejectedly. That shimmer of hope was fading and I was starting to doubt that there was really anything between us. I was still looking down, afraid to see the expression in her eyes. I let go of her arm finally and kicked a rock nervously with my foot. I waited for what felt like an eternity for her response, bracing for the worst.

She surprised me by stepping closer and reaching out her hand to caress my cheek. My breath caught as I looked up into her eyes. It had gotten even darker and her eyes now shone fiercely, reminding me of a panther. Her gaze was intense and full of longing, and her parted lips inched closer and closer to my face. My heart was speeding at an alarming rate that I could feel in my throat as I anticipated her lips against mine, but instead she went for my ear.

“You should go back now,” she whispered, her sultry tone not quite matching her words, “I work at Janet’s diner, Monday through Friday. Come see me there.”

With that she pulled away and started to leave. It was a clear invitation that I took to be a confirmation, and my heart soared. However, I suddenly realized that I did not yet know her name, even though she knew mine.

“Wait!” I called after her quickly, and to my surprise, she stopped. “I don’t know your name.”

She smiled. “Call me Liz”

After that she started to run in the direction of the woods that bordered the small town to the West. In the next second she was simply gone. She was immensely faster than I had first thought, meaning she had not been using her full speed before. I stood there in stunned silence for a few minutes, a wide smile on my face. Finally I turned to head back to the casino, planning a phony apology to my father. I would make amends for now, and bide my time until my upcoming Alpha ceremony.