My Sinnamon Roll Alpha

The Encounter

Nocturnal beings lament when the moon rises. Screams reverberate throughout the forest, mixing with howls. Fae, shifters, humans, and vampires mingle in the cover of darkness. Love blossoms between species at the Samhain festival. What could go wrong between the immortal enemies: werewolves and vampires?

Legend has it, werewolves were the servants to vampires. Being their eyes during the daylight. Until one wolf had grown tired of the minuscule tasks given. He then turned on his vampire master, killing the entire clan.

People considered vampires the mightiest nocturnal beings. Enthralling all with only a passing glance. Their only weakness was the sun. The rays cause them to burst. Their hatred of other species is the reason they were killed on sight.

Two very different species fall in love and unravel the truth behind the legends. They say love conquers all, but can that be true when it’s interspecies enemies?

Catarina

It was a day like any other. Or so I thought. Those droll peasants were celebrating once more. It was unnerving. The merriment and noise were just far too much. It had been several days since my last liquid feeding. I was sure hunger was the reason for my foul mood. “Another glorious evening is upon us. What joy!” I scoffed.

The last corpse was not as healthy as I thought they were. Or rather, how he appeared to be. Disgusting little thing was a drunk. How on hells earth could I get the only fit drunk?! No matter. It’s only fitting a liar loses its life. I still bled him. Don’t these wastrels understand the meaning of excessive? How can I get my life force if they do such stupidity to the extreme?

Food doesn’t taste as good without a side of blood. I need that spark to accompany it down. Anger rolled off my body. Sighing, there was no choice. I needed to go and hunt. With this many people in my domain for Samhain, surely there would be someone suitable. Someone who would feed me the best meal, fae, wasn’t on the menu. “I’ll have to be better at discerning my food better.”

I spoke it aloud, hoping my addled brain heard it. Understood it. And did well to keep my senses sharp. Despite the lack of feedings. Walking to the window, I peered out to see the sun cascading the horizon. Hues of orange, blue, and purple littered the sky. It was the perfect time to go. The sun would not be a hindrance. Praise Vladimir. Not that I couldn’t go out during full daylight. My kin struggled in the sunlight. Our paler counterparts even combust at an inkling of it.

But not I. I would be singed. It takes so long to recover after being sunburned. It would still hurt. Only a fool would brave the heat of the day. I’m no fool. The humans below glittered in magic. I sensed it. There were fae hidden amongst them. Licking my lips, my tongue brushed against the fangs peeking out. A fae meal would be far better than any human. Their blood could sustain my brethren, and I, for several weeks. Plus, they don’t die. It’s the most wondrous thing. We wouldn’t even need the paltry human for food. I hurried to dress.

My once white dress stained from so much blood. I am not a neat eater. Especially when I’ve been starved. I sighed. It would never be the pristine color it once was. No way those peasants wouldn’t figure it out. Even with all my attempts to have it cleaned. I paired it with my black bodice and a hooded cape. I may be able to withstand the sun, but I cannot withstand stakes. My food would know what I was. It would all be due to my hair. No matter our hair texture or skin, the color of our hair is all the same. Gray. Devoid of color. Lifeless.

We cannot blend in with gray hair and ruby-red eyes. Beautiful though I may be. It is impossible. The combination would mark me for what I am. A bloodsucker. Immoral immortal. Leech. Nosferatu. Vampire. Or rather, in my case, vampiress. Most of my kin didn’t mind the names. Except leech. We may be similar, but it was just uncalled for. Unnecessarily rude.

Many of the humans used them to help aid in health. How are we any different? We perform similar attributes. Only we make it more pleasurable. I checked my window once more before leaving. The magic continued to linger in the air. It was better to go now than allow the fae to disappear. I needed to enthrall one. Preferably a happy one. A happy fae is a tastier fare.

I ran. The clacking of my footsteps blurred in my ears. The wind whipped around me. The sun tingled on my skin. Normally I wouldn’t revel in it. But I had to. Stopping just short of the bustling center. I enjoyed what little of the sun left. Once it was gone. I walked into the town’s center.

Stalls lined up as far as my eyes could see. It was overwhelming. So many smells and sights. I needed to focus. Closing my eyes, I attempted to sense the magic. A glimmer of a spark passed through my mind’s eye. It was harder with all the noise. Frowning, I focused harder until it became clear.

Opening my eyes, a thin blue line appeared. Invisible to everyone but me. I followed it. It weaved in and out and around the vermin. I wanted to retch at the abhorrent odor coming from them. The blue line branched out into several. I took the first branch that led me to a stall.

The person before me appeared grimy. Wrinkles lined their forehead. An elderly man. Glamour was a fae attribute. Magic doesn’t lie. It just misdirects you. Their wares were minuscule trinkets. “Such a beautiful lady all alone. My trinkets will help.”

There was a hazy wall between us. I leaned forward. Appearing to check out their trinkets. The wall was harder to infiltrate, but I pressed on. The fae stepped back, afraid. “What are you doing?”

Once my head shattered through the glamour, her true self was shown to me. Disappointment raised inside. “Ugh, you’re nothing but a hag. You’ve done nothing to be healthy for a fae.”

The hag sneered. “You blood w***e! Should I tell the humans you’re amongst them?”

I shrugged. A sneer on my lips. “Should I tell them you’ve bespelled the trinkets to cause misfortune?”

The hag hissed. “Go away.” She shooed me away.

I smirked. “Do be careful. This is my domain. You live in the woods. And in this area belongs to me.” We only tell our name in two instances. When we find our mate or about to kill.

Since I didn’t touch the hag personally. Once I pulled away, her glamour remained. I followed the next branch. This time it was a hafling. Poor sap could never be accepted by the fae. I wanted them. But my eyes would not be deceived. Not this time. “May I come back after I’ve checked everything out?”

They nodded. A gentle smile, hiding the fangs, appeared sweet. The stall next to them held a father and son. A human. I would have ignored them, but the palest blue iris caught my gaze. Brown hair tousled softly in the breeze. A soft smile touched his lips. I gravitated towards him. Them.

The father spoke to me. “Never seen you around before.”

“I’ve never been to this. What is it?” I waved at everything around us.

The younger man openly watched me. He befuddled me. Curiosity beating at my back. The father spoke. “It’s to celebrate the town. A fair if you will. To ward off the evil that beckons near Samhain.”

I nodded. “That seems…quaint. But evil comes in all forms whether or not you protect against it. You are father and son?”

They looked at each other. Laughter, rich and warm, wrapped around me. The older man nodded. “He is my son. A shy one. But a great man.”

The younger one had only taken his eyes off me briefly. Something about him sent my senses haywire. My limited blood boiled. A sharp ringing left my ears unusable. My hands were hot. I would not get what I wanted this day. I had to leave. My voice strained as I spoke. I swayed on my feet. “Will this celebration continue tomorrow?”

With a furrowed brow, the man answered. “Yes, it is a week long affair, but you don’t look so well.”

How right he was. I was not well. Waving his concern off, I retreated to my castle. Devoid of a meal. I needed sustenance, but this feeling would have to pass before then.