Rose

Chapter 3. Unwelcome News

The 3 of us head to the den, James to my left, the vampire to my right. She's dancing along beside us as we hurry. I've been made to watch enough ballet by my younger sisters to see the same grace in the vampire, put one of the net frills on her and some white feathers and she could certainly have looked like Odette from Swan Lake. Like I said I have younger sisters.

As we approach the den, the big house looms across the centre of the pack lands, its style is log cabin, but its huge, 6 floors high, communal rooms and Pop's official office on the ground floor, kitchens, dining and leisure rooms, a pack library and study space, upstairs the pack offices and above that guest bedrooms, sometimes used by the pack members after a good party rather than stager through the village. We have just over 1000 wolves here. And as a litter usually is a multiple most family's have gangs of pups running around. Today it's no longer business as usual. There is a sharp tang in the air, vampires! Lots of them.

James and I turn the corner of the central space, and there they are, 16 vampires. Kneeling, heads down, reeking of acid. We skid to a stop. My vampire doesn't. She drifts over to the diamond shape the vampires have formed in the courtyard and takes her place on the far left. Facing the den. The male vampire behind her leans forwards. In a voice straight from Downton Abbey he whispers "You owe me a new car Rose!"

Rose, her name is Rose. And now I see it she looks like the roses my mother had behind our den growing up. Creamy white with a hint of pink. Yes Rose is perfect for her. Her blond hair is shiny in the sun, she tilts her head to the side in response to the English vampire. He huffs quietly "I liked that car."

The vampire at the front of the diamond turns his head. "I'll buy you a new car Edward! I told her to take it! Now stop bickering about it. Rose did an excellent job to get us this far, let's not make.." he stops a word forming on his lips, changes it and continues "our hosts" he decides "think we are unable to unite!" Edward bows lower towards the back of the front vampire's head. He says nothing and doesn't have any emotion on his face.

Pops and Ma step out of the den door. Pops walks to the front vampire and slowly gets to his knees. The pack murmurs and shifts.

Looking round I see every pack member is here. Some as humans, some, reacting to the vampire arrival, have shifted into wolf form. When Pops keels. A ripple goes through the pack. Some of the lower pack members also kneel. The stronger ones stand. I walk to my place to Pops right. My mother steps to his left. Wayland should be here but he left in his truck a while ago and hasn't returned yet.

My mother keels facing a female vampire. The woman looks 30 maybe, she has dark almost black hair, it's curl is lose and she's wearing a red dress and a gauzy head scarf. She looks like a gypsy. Her skin has a faint tan to it. She has no jewellery. I thought gypsy women wore a lot of bracelets and stuff?

My father speaks "Welcome to the pack lands of the Wild pack. I am Jacob, Alpha and leader of this pack. My wife and Luna is Erika, my eldest son is Daryn." he gestures to my mother and to me. The front vampire bows low to my mother and gives me a quizzical look. "My head of security is out verifying your…. information" my father says "if your message was true there was no time to wait!" the vampire nods.

"I would expect nothing less King Alpha" he says. This vampire is small. Slender, his shaved head makes his face look long but his nose very prominent and quite hooked. Like an eagle's beak. He has dark lines around his eyes. Although he looks like he is Pops age. He's wearing eyeliner. He reminds me of someone. Someone I've seen in a book. As a pup. History was always my favourite subject in school.

"Allow me to introduce myself to you. My name is Ptolemy, this" he gestures to the woman in front of Ma, "is Rebekka, she has been beside me for many years she is my..." he looks at Rebekka, she smiles and inclines her head "my... Er..... Luna?" he questions, trying the wolf word. "my lifetime companion" he clarifies.

A Pharaoh?? How old is this guy???

Still speaking Ptolemy continues "We have been made aware of a planned attack on your pack, we were invited to join a rogue team. Our reward would be wolf blood!" I hear people gasp. An attack. Did Pop send Wayland off to do a perimeter search? Why only 4 men? "wolf blood would make us incredibly strong. And the offer of regular top ups was.." he paused "very attractive" my father is turning a dark red. The pack murmurs are now loud, the growling of those in wolf form are deepening. A couple of the vampires on the outer edge shift uncomfortably and bow lower.

My father holds up his hand, commanding silence. The vampire inclines his head as thanks.

Rebekka looks up. She speaks directly to Ma, kneeling a few paces in front of her.

"I know you think we are indiscriminate monsters" she says. Her voice is strong, clear and seems to carry a slight accent "but we hold young life sacred. Once we become this" her hands flutter over her dress indicating her body "we are unable to breed. So, to us, young, children, pups?" she questions "are not to be touched or defiled." My mother nods, she's had many litters, I'm her only single. Her first pup. A big one, causing some issues to a first-time mother. Her other litters were multiples, like standard. Sy and James, now 20. Then 3 sisters Kia, Karry and Krissy now 16. 2 more girls, Ffion and Felicity now 13 and 2 more boys Adam and Zeb both now 7. There had been a final litter 5 years ago. But the tiny scraps were born early, and could not be revived. The loss of the last litter affected Ma deeply. She hasn't had another litter since. Declaring herself too old. It's sad, she's an excellent mom and Luna. She hasn't shifted once the last 25 years at least. She's never needed to.

At Rebekka's words my mom jolts, I can feel it from the other side of Pop. The idea that pups would be hurt is too much.

Rebekka's voice continues "Their plan is to kill all adults over 18 and all boys totally. The girls they will keep and..... train to please them. Once there are new pups the boys will be offered as yearly gifts to strengthen the vampires and the agreement."

This was her message? No wonder Pops threw up. I hear a buzzing in my ears. I feel sick. I can hear pack members reacting in shock. Recoiling away from the vampires in the middle of the square. Anger bubbling, snarling and teeth snapping. The vampires don't so much as twitch. Rebekka clears her throat and continues "Once we realised this part of the plan, we could not allow it to continue. We discussed the possibility of leaving and being no part of this, but Edward," she indicates the English vampire "He wanted to get a message to you. One you would listen to. Tol asked Rose, she's his Turn." I bristle, a Turn, what is a Turn? He's already said Rebekka is his mate, Rose is what?? "Rose is the weakest of us, she refuses to drink and hasn't for her whole time. She exists only on transfusion, a weak and usually useless situation" I gather Rebekka doesn't think much of Rose, I want to jump up, showing how she got herself here, in daylight, so weak she couldn't stand. To deliver the message, save our pack. I'm angry with Rebekka and her attitude. "A vampire so weak you could have killed her instantly. She agreed, knowing her state and how strong her starving smell would be, she still came to you. Trusted you would allow the message. I understand she even used her last reserves to show your Alpha King everything. She was braver than us! " Damn right she is, I think, mollified by Rebekka's praise.

"We have deliberately weakened ourselves to come to you. We make ourselves vulnerable to you to try and emphasise our offer. We will help defend your pups. Vampires are not a pack, or clan we are each individuals. We unite now in one cause." Rebekka stops, the vampires all turn their heads, it's like a ripple effect. Then I hear it. Wayland's distinctive truck engine. He's driving hard and fast. The dust from the track is billowing behind like a smoke trail. Pack members leap to their feet and scatter as Wayland skids his truck to a stop.