Meat

Chapter Twenty-Three

"Do you have a plan B?" Spencer asked, scratching his cheek and watching the waiter walk down the street away from them. He cocked his head to the side and tongued his fangs. His gaze remained fixed on the back of the waiter's neck, even as Vince paced in front of him.

Carson watched the vampire, his nose twitching as he tested the air. Spencer was hungry, that much was clear, but how far the man would go to get a meal was a dangerous question to ask himself, especially as the girl inside the diner popped into his head. His body warmed at the thought of her, the dark eyes and thoughtful smirk. Her scent had become locked inside his head, and as close as the dusty taste of the vampire was right now, it didn't overwhelm the memory of the soft feminine scent.

Carson shook his head vigorously as Vince made another turn and passed by them again.

"She's not going to talk to us," he said. "Maybe you were wrong, Sonny."

That was the one annoying part of turning, not being able to communicate. It was better back at the farm with the rest of the pack. They would have understood him. Vince had been around wolves long enough to get an idea of what different things meant, but Carson would never be able to reassure his nephew in this state. It was bad enough that he was having to leave the talking to the vampire. Carson was sure that, had he been in human form, he would have been able to convince the girl of the importance of what they were doing.

A bell jingled, catching their attention as the door was pulled open. The waitress stepped out, giving a final wave to the man sweeping the floors. She'd tied up her hair in a messy knot, her long neck pale under the orange glow of the streetlamps. Carson sat up straighter and then stood, nostrils flaring as he came out from between the two cars.

She whipped around, glaring at each of them in turn. She held his stare as she pursed her lips, hitched her purse higher onto her shoulder, and strode across the road.

"I told you to leave me alone," she said, passing between the cars and coming to stand in front of Spencer. Even talking to the vampire, her gaze flickered to Carson. "I want no part in your war."

"War?" Spencer asked, leaning against the car door. "What war?"

"I know what you want from me."

"We just want some help."

"Help? You think I'd help you?"

Carson began the mantra in his head, repeating what he'd told Spencer about Vince's transformations. The vampire's thoughts would collaborate the story if the girl went prying into their minds again. As long as Carson could keep his thoughts on Vince.

She looked down at him, her eyes narrowed and her lips pursed. Her eyes were so dark they looked black under the stars.

"My family have warned me away from you all my life," she said. "Vampires, wolves, you never bring anything but death."

Carson whined and shook his head but she simply raised an eyebrow as she turned away from him, tugging her jacket tighter around her. Flinching back, Spencer's hand only brushed her elbow.

"Just hear us out, please."

"I don't need to hear you out, Spencer," she said. Spencer stood up straight and Carson could see him trying to figure out whether he'd ever told the girl his name. He hadn't. "I already know what you think you want from me, and I couldn't help you even if I wanted to."

"How do you know you can't help us?" Spencer asked. "We're sure that you can and you said it yourself, your family have sheltered you, kept you away from us, raised in the dark just like we were."