Bark Or Bite

Chapter 10

I walk quickly, and make sure no one is following me. I shift about a mile from Ian's house, figuring it would be easier to stand his prescence in human form. I believe I can control myself around him. I just have to find the will.

I don't bother knocking when I make it to the door. The tall trees near the house make it easy to reach the window to his bedroom at the top of the house. I grab the first branch, and hoist myself up easier than I expect. Maybe I can get use to this athletic thing. I climb up branch after branch. I know I can just jump and it would be easier, but honestly I haven't learned my limits yet, and I'm afraid.

I push the window open and slide through with caution. His room s empty, but torn apart. Papers are everywhere. Shreds cover his room from the door to the wall. His stench covers everything. I hold my nose and think deep, happy thoughts of Ian. I think about the way he made me feel before all of this chaos. With my mind full of thoughts of him, I slowly feel the anger subside.

I feel it return quickly when I smell a different scent. I feel myself becoming territorial, even if the territory isn't mine. I'm protective over Ian, which I know is going to be a problem. My mind goes from Ian to pure red as I notice the scent is getting closer.

I quickly hide behind the door, ready to pounce on whoever is sneaking into his house. I crouch down, ready to take action. If it is just a vampire, I won't have to shift as long as I don't give them access to my neck or rib cage.

The figure comes into view. It's Nik. A deep growl unintentionally ripples from my chest. My senses automatically know who he is. He looks up quickly and bounces a step back. He crouches and bares his teeth as soon as he realizes who I am.

The door downstairs slams shut and I instantly pick up Ian's scent. I calm down just a little, but Nik lunges at me and it gets worse. Nik throws me to the ground and gets on top of me. My hands fly to his neck, ready to scratch. It won't do as much as one of my bites, but my scratch will still make him sick. He bares his fangs, ready to attack.

I feel his weight lift off of me and the wind from the swiftness of his body blows past me. I raise up quickly, ready to shift, when I see someone else pinning Nik to the wall. A wooden stake sits between the guy and Nik. It is Ian, ready to stake his brother if neccessary for my survival.

"I told you not to touch her!" Ian growls in Nik's face, not budging the stake.

"She was gonna kill me! Sorry bro, but nothing you say is going to make me give up my life!"

I slowly walk up to Ian and carefully put my hand on his shoulder, telling him to calm down. I gasp when I touch him. His body is cold and lifeless. I can feel his misery just through his skin. He calms down and melts into the warmth of my touch. I can feel him relax right before he drops the stake between him and Nik.

"Get out. Now." Ian speaks to Nik without really looking at him. Nik scoffs, fixes his clothes, and walks out of the room.

I feel Ian exhale, relaxing his body completely. It tenses back up when he turns to face me.

"What are you doing here?" I let the happy thoughts of Ian flood my mind to block out his scent.

"I wanted to check on you. I needed to."

"I just have one question." I knew it. He asked me the question upfront. It was the only thing I had dreaded.

"Have you mated yet?" He looks me in the eyes, waiting on a true answer.

"Yes. I marked Maximus." I can never lie while looking into his crystal blue eyes.

I see the pain furiously flood into his eyes. I hear the breath he sucks in as soon as he heard me say yes.