TO BITE WITH LOVE

TO KILL FOR

CHAPTER 5

“TO KILL FOR”

ALEXI’S POV:

I reached Karl’s office in record time through the mass of people, without using my vampire speed. f**k, my mate. I never believed I of all people would be gifted a mate. Doren had suggested that it could happen, but I never believed him. I began pacing the floor and stopped only once to pour myself a drink from the bourbon decanter sitting upon his desk. I slammed the burning contents down my throat quickly and set the tumbler down onto the silver tray. I heard the office door open and close quietly from across the room, but I didn't bother to look up. It would be Dimitri.

“Alexi, what was all that about?” There was a genuine twinge of concern in his voice. “I have never seen you depart in such a manner before.” I stared at the empty tumbler sitting on the silver tray.

“That girl, the real, pretty brunette…" I hesitated, taking a deep breath, I could hardly even speak about her. I didn't want to say this out loud, I didn’t want to acknowledge it.

“Yeah, I know which one you are referring to… she’s very pretty. Do you know her? Have you met her before?” I noticed his eyes widen as he concluded that I must have done more than simply meet her in the past. “Did you taste test that one?” He teased me gently. I felt the blood begin to boil in my face, and I glanced up at my friend, my eyes burning as they flickered red. The smirk fell off my friend’s face as he took an uncomfortable step back, raising his hands, palms up at me.

“Alexi, what’s going on? This is not like you. He stuttered. I closed my eyes tightly once more, hesitant to speak.

“She’s, my mate.” I finally blurted out. I was beginning to feel anxious; I could already feel that mate bond. Was that even possible? It felt as though it was settling into my soul. I felt as though I needed to be near her, touching her, protecting her. I shouldn’t be up here hiding in the office like a coward. But here I was, behaving like a confused little boy. Dimitri froze, his face paled even more than it normally was.

“Mate? Are you sure?” Now my old friend was stuttering even more as a bewildered flabbergasted look graced his face. I shook my head and gave my longtime friend a remorseful look. My expression said it all, there was no doubt that this pretty little human female was indeed my mate.

“Holy hell, what are you going to do?” he asked, taking a couple of slow steps towards me. I dropped my gaze again to the empty tumbler sitting on the silver tray and sighed. I lifted the crystal decanter and poured myself another drink, grabbed another tumbler from the tray and pouring Dimitri one as well.

“Thanks man.” Dimitri nodded as he slowly walked over to the barstools and took a seat across from me. We both slammed down the alcohol and set the tumblers back down onto the granite bar top. I sighed heavily and sadly glanced up at my friend.

“I can’t have a human mate. This is utter insanity; I can’t fathom having a mate at all.” I muttered as Dimitri frowned and fiddled with his glass.

“But damn, a mate. I mean, that just doesn't happen to us. Not gonna like, I’m kinda envious.” Dimitri said slowly as he carefully surveyed his glass tumbler. I scoffed and frustratedly ran my hand through my hair.

“Yeah, a little human female is going to believe in mates, least of all mated to a vampire. There is nothing that can come of this.” I paced back and forth a few feet in either direction behind the bar anxiously. “Yeah, it’s going to be best if I simply forget about her. For both our sakes.

Jades POV:

It was unnerving when that man, the man identified as Alexi left our group in such haste. I felt a slight unidentified pang hit my heart as he exited. This entire night was unnerving. I knew I should have stayed home but something had drawn me here, and I didn’t mean Scarlett. I had told her no multiple times, why was this time so different?

Meanwhile, Karl had led us to a private bar within the VIP area. Courtney gushed over the new club owner, Chandel at his opposite side as well. Scarlet stood beside me at the bar, sipping on a s*x on The Beach. I had ordered a simple Malibu and diet coke.

“You seem distracted. What’s going on?” Scarlet asked me, her brows slightly raised as she searched for the lost expression on my face. While also attempting to manage her attention to the other two girls.

“That man, the one that left, Alexi I think his name was, his…" I paused, something nagging at me that I shouldn't divulge what I had seen with his eyes. "He just… I don’t know, something about him seemed different, off, unnatural. " I murmured to my girlfriend as I took a sip of my drink. She scanned my face carefully then posted a smile.

“Honey, that man is unnaturally gorgeous. It’s unfortunate that he left us." She purred. I left my cheeks get hot and an unfamiliar surge of jealousy came over me. I stopped myself and took a deep breath. What the hell came over me? Why in Gods earth did I feel anything towards this stranger. More than likely I would never see him again.

“I don't know, just something strange about him. But anyways, doesn't matter. " I said clearing my throat and picking up my black clutch purse off the bar, sliding my empty glass away. I exhaled a long breath and stood.

"Scarlet, I love you, but this just isn’t for me. I’m just not feeling up to tonight’s festivities. I’m going home." My words were firm and unapologetic. I was going home to cuddle with my cat, company I appreciated more this this meat market. Scarlet stood and grasped my hands, an alarmed look fell over her, her brow furrowed.

"You can't leave yet. What will I tell Courtney?" I pursed my lips in a sweet smile for her.

"Tell barbie I’m sick or don’t say anything, I don’t care. Not like she's gonna notice me gone anyway. " Scarlet frowned and after a moment released my hands in surrender.

"You gonna be okay?" She asked with some reservation. I smiled again and nodded as I turned around and took my leave. I swore I could feel her disapproving eyes upon me until I finally descended the stairs of the VIP section, heading towards the front door, where a fight had broken out. The exit was blocked. I rubbed the back of my neck, surveying other options to get out of here. I was going to have get a taxi or an uber as I had ridden here with Scarlet. s**t, suddenly I felt an arm wrap around my waist, causing me to whip around, placing my hands firmly against the chest that held me. I looked up in alarm to see a handsome man, close to thirty, with reddish brown hair and eerie grey eyes.

“You look like you could use some assistance.” He murmured to me. I frowned and attempted to push away from him, but he held me tightly. The stranger slid his hand onto my waist, onto my bare skin. I shivered at his touch; his hand was like ice.

“I’m just trying to go home." I told the stranger firmly. I noticed a sly smile form on his face, causing me to shiver again.

“Allow me. There is a rear entrance. Come with me and I will help you." The man's eyes sparkled, and I suddenly felt compelled to go with him. He was tall and athletic, much like the other men I had been introduced to earlier. He reached down and grabbed my hand and began pulling me away from the entrance. We weaved through the crowds of people until we reached a back door that read private. I hesitated; however, he pulled me forward as he opened the door, ushering me through.

I felt a new terror as he spun me around and deliberately backed me into the wall once he closed the door behind me. I froze, this was all wrong. My heartbeat picked up as I scanned the dark room, and then noticed the exit door only twenty-five feet away from where I was standing.

“So pretty girl, you really want to leave do you?” His voice was menacing, his eyes flickering a different color causing me to gasp. What was going on with the men at this club!

“Thank you for your assistance, sir, I can find my way out from here.” My voice was shakier than I would have liked as I attempted to gently push past him. However, my captor shoved me against the wall and in an instant was nearly covering my body with his.

“Now pretty lady, I helped you, don’t you think you should help me?” He growled at me, carnal, like an animal would and I froze. The stranger leaned his head into the crook of my neck and inhaled deeply.

“Hmm, you smell delightful. I bet you taste divine." His voice was course, and I felt my face getting hot, as tears began to form in my eyes. I was terrified, I had no escape from this man.

“Please, let me go. I whimpered, however the response I received was simply a low chuckle.

“After I taste you my sweet.” He murmured as he gently licked the side of my neck. I closed my eyes tightly fighting back the tears.

"Jake!" I heard a voice roar from beside me, and the man who held me froze and turned even colder. He pulled away from me quickly and spun around to meet the voice standing only feet away from us.

“Alexi!” He gasped. "I just wanted a…" his voice trembled. I opened my eyes and saw the same handsome man that had left our group earlier that evening takes another dangerous step closer to us.

"I know exactly what you wanted. But not her, not ever." I could hear the anger rising in his voice and watched as the stranger took yet another step away from me, raising his hands in submission.

"I just wanted a taste, what’s it to you anyway?" And as he finished those words the man called Alexi leaped forward so quickly my eyes could barely focus upon him. Did I have that much to drink, I pondered? I had never seen a human move so fast and before I knew it, Alexi had the stranger identified as Jake against the wall and his hand clasped around his throat.

"When I tell you not her, ever, I mean it. Or they will find your body burning on the nearest steeple." The man was gasping and struggling under the dark man's grasp, clawing frantically.

“Under what authority do you have to tell me who I can have and cannot.” He hissed, his eyes flickering red causing me to screech and back away, covering my mouth in horror, and scraping my side against the doorknob. I fumbled with the door only to discover it was locked.

"Because she’s mine." The dark-haired man sneered in a devilish way, and in one simple movement, he tore the stranger’s head off his body. I screamed and began clawing at the door in a panic, pounding on it with my fists in terror, tears cascading down my face.

“Oh my god!” I wailed, focusing on the locked door, praying someone would hear me. However, the door never opened and moments later I felt a pair of strong arms tenderly encircle my body.

“Calm my darling.” His voice whispered in my ear, causing an unnatural calm to sweep over my body, I felt the tension ease and this stranger’s touch was welcoming upon my skin. I held my breath, my entire being halted. I didn’t understand, those same hands had just killed my attacker. Nothing about this night made sense. Had someone spiked my drinks? Was any of this real? Had I really seen any of this?

“Shhh my darling, nothing can ever hurt you.” He cooed. “Don’t cry my love.” And just like that, the tears ceased. Fearfully and hesitantly, I glanced up at the man who held me so tightly, so gently. He smiled warmly at me and brushed a strand of my hair away from my face. As I searched those icy, nearly silver eyes, I suddenly felt safe, ironic yes, that I felt security in this murderer’s arms.

“I just want to go home.” I whispered, pleading with my second captor.

“Then go home you shall.” I stared at his face and noted how gentle his expression was towards me and how sincere. I pouted my lips as I remembered that I had ridden here with Scarlett and didn't have my own car.

“Can you call me an Uber please.” I asked, slightly embarrassed. I noticed him frown and tenderly caress my cheek with his palm.

“Then I shall take you.”

Alexi's POV:

My anxiety was high as I had one final drink with Dimitri. I set the tumbler behind the bar once we had finished and as I glanced forward through the one-sided mirror leading out of Karl’s office, I saw jake pulling my mate towards the rear entrance. She had left her group and had returned to the general population of partygoers and Jake had imprinted on her immediately.

“f**k me.” I growled furiously. Another opportunistic snake of a vampire coming to Karl's opening to catch an easy meal. Dimitri leaped from his seat and looked out the window as well.

“I thought you didn't care?" He taunted, immediately catching the scene I just had. However, I ignored him as I raced out of the office, using my vampire speed. I didn’t care at this point who saw what. If I didn’t hurry, my perfect little mate was going to become a total scumbag’s meal. How dare he think to touch what’s mine. I was livid, and seeing red, and he was going to pay with his useless life. I ripped open the door and my eyes fixed on the filth who had my beloved pinned against the wall.

“Please, let me go.” I heard her whimper, she had such a sweet, soft voice. Jake responded with a sinister chuckle, making my blood boil even more if that were possible.

“After I taste you my sweet.” He murmured as he gently licked the side of her neck. My brave little mate was terrified yet stood so tall and brave against such a low-some vampire.

"Jake!" I roared, and I saw the younger vampire freeze.

He pulled away from her quickly and spun around.

“Alexi!” He gasped. "I just wanted a…" his voice trembled.

"I know exactly what you wanted. But not her, not ever." I was becoming more furious the longer he stood near my mate, and I witnessed Jake take another step away from her, raising his hands in submission.

"I just wanted a taste, what’s it to you anyway?" Those words, “what’s it to me anyway” cause my blood to boil. How dare this salty, presumptuous bloodsucker question my motives? Without thinking I lunged forward and grabbed jake around the neck, lifting him off the ground, his feet dangling.

"When I tell you not her, ever, I mean it. Or they will find your body burning on the nearest steeple."

“Under what authority do you have to tell me who I can have and cannot.” He hissed, his eyes flickering red, threatening me, showcasing his utter disregard for his elder.

"Because she’s mine." I was blinded by rage and ripped his head right off his pathetic corpse. No being would ever threaten my mate, and no vampire would ever show me such cynical disrespect. My little mate screamed and began clawing at the door in a panic, pounding on it with her fists in terror. She was crying uncontrollably, and I could only help that, if she felt the mate bond at all, would help to calm her.

“Oh my god!” She wailed, focusing on the locked door. My poor little mate flew into hysteria, not that I blamed her. I rushed to her and tenderly encircled her body, holding her gently. The sparks ignited as my fingers caressed her skin.

“Calm my darling.” I whispered in her ear; she froze under my touch, I sensed she could feel the bond as well, although as a human, she would never understand alone. “Shhh my darling, nothing can ever hurt you.” I cooed. “Don’t cry my love.” And she obeyed instantly the closeness doomed me to be her’s forever. I could already feel the pull. It was stronger than I could have ever imagined it would be. Although I could sense her fear, her eyes met mine and I couldn't help but smile softly at her. She was so beautiful, and I couldn't resist, as I tenderly brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

“I just want to go home.” She whispered in a pleading voice.

“Then go home you shall.” She pouted her lips at me as though she hesitated to tell me something.

“Can you call me an uber please. “ The fear had subsided some from her voice.

“Then I shall take you.” I murmured, gently grasping her hand, and leading her towards the exit.