Alpha Vaughan

Chapter 17

The search for the pack's treasurer, William Woods, as I'd learnt his name was, had proved surprisingly difficult. It'd almost seemed like he'd been avoiding us, although I didn't fault him for doing so; I was going around looking for trouble.

When finally we found him, we'd knocked on the door of his sprawling cottage, night fast catching up with us. The door had flung open, revealing his paternal form, only to get slammed back in our faces. I'd played the Luna card. He'd reluctantly come out: my willing subject--albeit not so willing. After he'd let us in,  he asked us to state our business.

I'd done so. "I want to know the address of the vampire rogue."

"No can't do, Luna," he'd pressed firmly.

We'd agonizingly gone back and forth after that, Nayla's apprehensive gaze flitting between the both of us. I'd used every threat I had in my ammunition: food, water, freedom to run in the forests; but still he'd impressively stood his ground. Until I came clean and told him about Eunice. His tough demeanor had cracked.

Then he'd reluctantly told me the rogue's address--along with strong and ominous warnings of vampires. Before he could finish with his long sermon of the bloodsucking immortals, I was already out the door, heading for the pack-house along with a gravely shocked Nayla who tried to talk me out of going to my 'death', as she'd so dramatically put it.

A slight spring graced my stride, a lightness filing my chest. I could find Eunice now, and maybe the rest of my packmates, that was assuming the vampires had taken more werewolves from my pack. I made a mental note to ask the rogue vampire, Dmitri, of that.

The certainty of that, just asking questions of the rogue, raised my spirits. I figured I would eventually have to employ impossible strength, cunning, or whatever it took, in getting Eunice back from the vampires; but that was a problem for later. First I had to find this vampire, and glean every information I could from him that would lead me to finding Euni's whereabouts. Then I could convince Alpha Vaughan to lend me some of his men... That was considering he forgave me for sneaking out in the first place.

Thinking about him now, a fierce blush warmed my cheeks. My thoughts veered back to last night...

"Strip."

I drew back. "No."

His gaze and tone turned taunting. "What? Scared?"

Indignation straightened my back. "Of course not!"

"Then do it."

Holding his gaze, I sealed my fate. "I will."

Looking back now, I thought I couldn't have been anymore stupid. Pride, I decided, was a p*ick. When my honour had been dragged into the matter, I'd defended it, agreeing to his proposition. Except it wasn't a proposition, it'd been an order, and a traitorous part of me had felt a dark thrill...

Reluctantly I admitted to myself that I wanted to explore this mating thing with Vaughan. I should've felt mortified at least, but I didn't. Instead I felt... anticipation. Vaughan was still a jerk, and would probably remain that way for ages to come, which was why I wouldn't attach any sentiments to our... coupling, and  wouldn't change my less than glamorous opinion of him one bit.

Opening the door to my room, the first thing that greeted my sights were the garments on the large bed.

Nayla's voice reminded me she wasn't far behind. I slammed the door in her face, throwing my body against it. She was an innocent.

She tried pushing the door open, it did not budge. A series of urgent knocks soon sounded. "Miss? Is everything alright?"

"Yes!" I said, then cleared my throat. "Yeah. I just...need some alone time."