The Werewolf and Vampire's Princess

Council Offers

The “pack house” was smaller than Aleida expected. She was accustomed to the leader of the community living in a castle. Vampire leaders considered themselves to be royalty, and lived like it. But not werewolf Alphas, apparently. The house was more of a small mansion, with just enough rooms to get lost if you weren’t paying attention, but it wasn’t overwhelmingly huge.

Conley gave Aleida and the Marie triplets the grand tour. Aleida’s favourite room was the greenhouse on the roof, with a small library the room below. She could’ve stayed there all day, but Conley was excited to show her the last few rooms of the house.

His excitement was contagious, and she couldn’t stop herself from smiling as he led the four vampires’ downstairs.

‘Ta da!’ he opened the double doors with a flourish. At first Aleida thought the room within was an opium den, or equivalent of a brothel.

‘What is it?’ Anne-Marie asked. None of them vampires had passed the threshold.

‘It’s a feeding room.’ Conley looked so proud of himself. Aleida took a slow, deep breath.

‘Oh … it’s …’ Anne-Marie trailed off, apparently giving up finding an adequate description. Conley’s smile slipped a little.

‘You don’t like it?’ he asked. ‘Is it the lighting?’

‘Alpha,’ Carly-Marie interjected, ‘What do you know firsthand about vampire eating habits?’

‘Only what I heard growing up, and what the King told me.’

‘Which is?’

‘You need blood every other hour, preferably from the same volunteer human, who you generally also sleep with, and nothing else.’ Conley trailed off at the incredulous expressions he was receiving.

‘Where did you hear that?’ Carly-Marie asked in shock. Conley bit his lip, and images of a man who looked very much like Conley swam before Aleida’s mind.

‘Your father?’ Aleida asked. Conley looked surprised for a second, then nodded.

‘What did the King tell you?’ Anne-Marie asked softly.

‘Similar things. You require a volunteer, and somewhere dark and quiet to feed and … satisfy … yourself …’ Conley ran a hand through his hair.

‘Alright sweetheart,’ Anne-Marie gestured for Conley to exit the room, ‘I think we need to discuss this as a … community. The feeding room will be appreciated by some, but it will need a remodel.’

Together the five of them left, Conley leading the way to his office, stuttering out apologies as he did so.

Aleida barely heard, allowing Anne-Marie to take the lead in soothing his ego and figuring out next steps with him. She was more concerned with what other lies the King had fed Conley, and how many more accidental offenses she was going to stumble across.

*~*~

In Conley’s office, he officially asked the Marie sisters if they would be on his council.

‘Like your governing council?’ Beth-Marie asked in excitement. Conley nodded.

‘What would you have us do?’ Carly-Marie questioned, sounding slightly suspicious.

‘Help me understand vampires.’ Conley shrugged. ‘I knew I had some missing information, but clearly I have more than I realised. Werewolves and vampires have different eating habits, different sleep cycles, different everything, and I want to make this a pa-community that works together.’

‘You’ll need to stop saying pack.’ Beth-Marie commented dryly.

‘I know. It’s just so much easier, and faster, for me than saying community.’ Conley apologised. ‘That’s why I want everyone’s input in tomorrow’s meeting.’

‘If we join your council, what would our official titles be?’ Anne-Marie asked.

‘All of you would be liaison between wolves and vampires. You’d work with me and our community to make sure the vampires have everything they need to feel at home here.’

‘You need all three of us for that?’ Carly-Marie demanded.

‘To begin with, yes.’

‘Only to begin with?’

‘Once the dust has settled I will know you better, and find titles and work for you that better suit you individually. Although I already have a pretty good idea where I want you all.’

‘Oh?’

‘I will tell you when we get to that.’ Conley winked. ‘Can’t have you knowing all my thoughts.’

Carly-Marie rolled her eyes, but Beth and Anne-Marie tittered. Together they stood in the corner of the room, whispering amongst themselves. Aleida was busy looking around Conley’s office. It had a high ceiling with beautiful inlaid decorations on the roof, but the room itself was almost completely empty. Upon entering the room, Conley’s huge oak desk was to the left, with two armchairs opposite it and a small side table between them. But that was it. The floor to ceiling window, looking out over an expansive forest, more than made up for the lack of furniture. Aleida was staring out at the forest when Conley padded up beside her, overwhelming her with his scent.

‘I don’t need much more than the sight of the forest.’ Conley murmured.

‘It’s gorgeous.’ Aleida admitted. Conley leant forward to whisper in her ear.

‘I used to think that, until I met you.’ His voice was low and husky, sending a shiver down Aleida’s spine. Aleida half turned to head to look at her mate, and he winked before giving her a chaste kiss.

At least, that’s what he obviously meant for it to be. The moment their lips touched, Aleida was overcome with need for him. She could see in the darkening of his eyes he felt the same. Aleida wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again, slower and deeper.

The world around them melted away, all Aleida could feel was him, all she could hear was his breathing and her own thundering heartbeat.

‘We accept your offer, Alpha Conley.’ Beth-Marie’s voice shattered into Aleida’s consciousness. Conley grasped Aleida closer to his hard body and lifted his head – Aleida couldn’t stop the whimper that escaped her lips – to speak to the Marie sisters.

‘Thank you, ladies, I deeply appreciate that.’

‘It’s our honour.' Beth-Marie giggled. ‘We’ll just…’

Aleida couldn’t focus. She just wanted her mate. To feel him touching her right…

‘If you wish, you can choose a room here, in the pack house.’ Conley said. ‘Any room I showed you today.’

‘Oh.’ The three sisters blinked in surprise.

‘Or you can go see Beta for a house allocation. It is entirely up to you.’ Conley shrugged, simultaneously subtly sliding his leg between Aleida’s. She struggled to stifle a moan as his leg rubbed against her while holding her still, stopping her from grinding against him, like she really wanted. Like she really needed.

‘Thank you, Alpha.’ Anne-Marie said, holding both her sisters by their elbows. ‘We will go settle ourselves in and leave you for some time with Aleida.’

‘Thank you, Anne-Marie.’ Conley bowed his head, not looking away from the sisters until they had closed the doors behind them.

At the click of the doorhandle, Conley turned his gaze back to Aleida. His eyes were full of primal need, and Aleida felt herself growing wet as she tried, unsuccessfully, to grind against his leg.

‘I hope you’re ready for this, Little One.’