Origins: Silver Mountain

Chapter Eighteen

Lukas

Just a few weeks. It was only supposed to be a few weeks to unwind and determine my purpose. In just over two weeks, my territory was attacked by a batch of randoms. How did they access my lands?

Our security is supposed to be tight. This should not have happened.

I lost several of my honorable men. Who would replace them?

Amanda sat in my office across from me, fidgeting and sighing over and over. It was beginning to drive me crazy.

"Amanda, why don't you go upstairs and wait for me." It was more a command than a question.

"No. I'm starving." She chewed her bottom lip.

"I told you we would hunt a little later. You have to learn to control your urges."

"I wouldn't be in this position if you hadn't lured me outside." She rolled her eyes.

"I did not lure you. You stepped out back for a smoke. You should know better."

She glared at me and then stood.

"I'll be upstairs."

After Amanda exited my office, Augustus came walking in for our meeting, followed by Brighton and a few others I had invited.

Everyone found a seat.

"First, I'm deeply disappointed in my guards for not doing more." I paused.

"Brighton, you were one of my brightest stars. What happened?"

Brighton dropped his head.

"And Chase ... where were you?"

" I-I ..."

I held up my hand.

"We lost too many. Any loss is too many."

"Might I suggest more training and recruits? We were unprepared. They just caught us by surprise." Brighton was nervously wringing his hands.

"I'm working on that. I know just who to call in."

"Sir?" Augustus frowned.

"I know my relationship with the supernatural realm is generally unwelcomed, but it is our only hope."

"Lukas--"

"Augustus, we have tried it your way! It is not working. I can't take a vacation without my territory coming under attack. I'm going to do it my way."

"With all due respect, I don't--"

"What other options do we have? Continue to take in strays and rogues? Can we make a strong army out of refugees?" I was becoming frustrated with the entire situation. People expected a perfect leader and I wasn't that. I couldn't be.

We continued our discussion, most of it rambling on. Augustus excused himself. The conversation kept going well into the night. No resolution was reached, so we adjourned and agreed to meet thr next morning. I was beat.

Upstairs, I found Amanda seated in my den. She swirled her wine in the glass and bought it up to her lips to take a sip.

"I'm going to change and take you out for some deer. I'll only be a minute."

She grunted.

I took my time getting dressed because her attitude was honestly annoying. I had saved her life. She should be grateful.

Amanda was standing beside the door when I came out of my walk-in closet.

"Let's make this quick. I'm kinda tired." She swung the door open.

I sighed and followed behind.

The walk to the hunting grounds was lengthy, but I'd rather take it than listen to her bitching. I could have taken her to one of our farms, but for her needs, it probably wouldn't be a good idea. We were silent the entire hike down. She mumbled to herself here and there. It was inaudible, but I didn't really care what she was saying anyway.

After about an hour, we arrived at our destination. I crouched and gestured for her to be quiet. She crouched beside me and inhaled, her head turning suddenly to her right. I didn't get the chance to coach her through it because she ran full speed at this enormous buck and pounced. I couldn't watch.

The sounds the poor creature made were frightening.

Amanda also made disturbing noises while she sucked the buck dry. Fifteen minutes later, the sounds quieted down. I turned to see her standing up from her position on the dead buck. She swiped her bloody lips with the back of her hand and sniffled.

"That was great." She sighed, then let out a large belch.

"Classy." I scoffed.

"Whatevs. We can go now." She shrugged and headed back toward the direction we came from.

I pulled my shirt over my nose and began the walk back.

Narration

Amanda felt so alone. She used to be a werewolf and now she couldn't even talk to her wolf. Being a vampire was absolutely gross. The desire to gnaw on human flesh was ... barbaric. She always thought of vampires to be lower class. Now she was one of them. She didn't quite know how to cope.

It didn't make sense. Why would the Moon Goddess allow this? How could she? It was hard to consider being a part of a world she didn't belong in.

All she wanted to do was catch up with an old friend. He had to have set her up. Even if she suggested a smoke, he knew his kin was on the hunt. He could've talked her out of it or stopped them. He ruined her life.

She stared at the ceiling as she lay on her back. Her family had to be worried. She wondered if anyone was looking for her. Her friends. What did they do when she went missing from the club that night?

The deer blood was filling. She turned onto her side, still deep in thought. Her eyes were getting heavy and she was becoming uncomfortable. She needed to leave and get back home. There was no way she was going to stay with Lukas. She sat up, placing her strawberry blonde hair into a messy bun. The only plus to this nightmare was that she could do some new tricks. She wrapped herself up tight in her comforter and cried herself to sleep.