Skylark wrapped my leg and Mason was taking a few last dregs from Matt. Beebee and Dennis were arguing in the hallway and there was a headache forming in my temples. So that's how the rest of our night went. By the time Skylark was done with wrapping my leg, Matt had collapsed beside me, eating the leftovers of a deli sandwich. Mason leaned against the counter and stared at us. I stared right back at him.
"Want to explain what all the trouble was about?" I asked him.
"Yes, and no." He stood up from the stool and came to stand in front of me. "I wish it were easy to explain without you overreacting."
"I don't overreact."
"Okay, if you say so..." He rubbed his wrists and without looking at me, began to talk. "When you got back from California, I was already here. Scouting for vampire rogues who'd make you easy prey once your scent infused the air again. I came across a group of werewolves. A pack. The leader was looking for me, apparently. They knew I was a hybrid, but they didn't want me. They wanted you.
"They had a plan to use your blood against the vampires. Dylan has caused some trouble to them, and he single-handedly took out a chunk of their numbers. They were tired of fighting back, so they wanted to compromise." He sighed. "If you went with them and gave your blood to fight the vampires, they'd grant you a lifetime of safety living within their pack. By marrying the alpha and bearing children with your blood to fight future vampires."
"And you said no, right?" I questioned, arching a brow. He glanced up at me and I saw it. I was about to bolt from the couch but Matt grabbed my arm and forced me to sit.
"How could you give me off to werewolves!?" I snapped. "That wasn't your decision to choose who I marry! I'm not even on good terms with the werewolf I know." Ugh-how typical. My father was giving me off to some random werewolf stranger to marry. Alpha or not, I wasn't marrying the guy. Or girl. Whoever it was, I wasn't marrying them. I'd run away if I had to.
"I think she has the right to overreact on this one," Matt said from beside me while I fumed in anger.
"Bree," Mason said quietly. "I said yes for your protection. Werewolves can be trusted far more than vampires. But then I saw that they just wanted you for your blood to protect themselves. So I went back and cancelled the deal. I fought the alpha, but they left me alone. They'll leave you alone. But when I was free of them word got to the vampires holding me captive. That's where I sent you the text. But now only a few people know I'm alive. They're dead."
It didn't make a difference. He decided something without my consent and expected me to go along with it. Sometimes I wished I had different blood. It'd save me a lot of trouble. It'd save everyone a lot of trouble. I sighed and glared at him.
"You're not getting off easy on this one," I said.
"Right," he replied. But he smiled and placed a hand on my knee. My hurt knee. "But thank you for saving me. Thank you all."
"Mason," Skylark said. He turned to look at him and Skylark stared at his friend.
"You should've reached out," he said. "I could've introduced you to Bree sooner."
"No, it's fine. Things need to take their own time," Mason replied. "But thank you for looking after her when I couldn't."
"What are best friends for?" Skylark joked. They both chuckled and embraced, where Skylark winced.
"Sorry, my hybrid strength," Mason apologized, stepping back. "I think I should stay here for the night, until things cool down for me."
YOU ARE READING
H Is For Human (Garlic Is For Vampires, Book 3)
Vampire"You and I aren't that different," Dylan murmured, taking my blood-covered face between his hands and placing a kiss on my lips, his fangs digging into my bottom lip. "We both want something but we can't get it." "I guess not," I replied, reaching...
