Stuck with my Vampire Mate

25 - Complicated Life

No one said anything. Not even Ryan, who seemed caught off guard by the unexpected presence. This was supposed to be a secret hideout, not a venue for unwanted guests.

"Come on, boys, loosen up a little."

The voice was foreign to me as well as the owner. He stood in front of us, and it was clear he was revelling in our discomfort. Taller than Adrian and Sid but shorter than Ryan and the werewolf, he had a confident stance that suggested he was used to being in control. Yet, despite his relaxed demeanour, there was something unnerving about him. His eyes appeared lifeless, as if he had witnessed every horror this world could offer and had grown numb to it all. It sent a chill down my spine. Ryan shifted his weight, repositioning his right foot, clearly displeased by this newcomer's presence.

"James," Ryan addressed him with a stiff nod.

"Hello, dude, what's up?" James replied, his voice light and carefree as he turned to an irritated-looking Adrian. Adrian didn't respond, his expression stone-cold. Of course, he was a loyal friend, always ready to defend us. James didn't seem to expect any answer, though, as he moved on to the next person without a hint of concern for the tension.

"Hey, hottie. You bear an uncanny resemblance to somebody I know," he said, his gaze landing on Helena.

Her cheeks began to flush a noticeable shade of pink, causing Sid to visibly bristle with jealousy. I could practically see the green-eyed monster creeping up on him.

"It's me, James, Helena," she said, her voice slightly shaky as the pink hue crawled up the side of her neck.

James leaned closer, a playful smirk on his face. "Helena! Wow, it's been a while. You're looking even more stunning than I remember."

Helena stammered a response, clearly flustered. "Thanks... um, it's nice to see you too."

Sid's jaw tightened, and I could sense the waves of discomfort radiating from him. It was amusing to see Helena and Sid's dynamics shift so dramatically in the presence of James.

"I never knew glow-ups were possible for witches. Your ex-boyfriend must be furious at himself for throwing you away. Don't you think so, Sid?" James remarked, a smug grin plastered on his face.

That was unexpected. Luckily for him, James couldn't see Sid's facial expression; otherwise, he would have realised just how deeply his words had struck a nerve. Sid's complexion turned bright red, a storm of emotions flashing across his face, wrath, despair, and a touch of embarrassment.

"You don't have to bother yourself with my personal affairs, James. I'm sure you have plenty of other amusements," Sid grumbled under his breath, trying to maintain his composure.

James merely shrugged, still grinning like a jackass, clearly enjoying the discomfort he was causing. The hostility in the room thickened, and even Helena looked disturbed by the sudden shift in conversation. She glanced anywhere but at James and Sid.

Next, it was my turn, and my pulse skyrocketed as I anticipated what James might say about me. I could feel Ryan's animosity beside me, ready to spring into action if things went south. His eyes were already hurling daggers at James as he gradually narrowed the distance between us.

"Look at what we've got here. I assumed she was a high school student, but turns out she is one hell of a—"

"DON'T!"

The warning came out like a chorus rather than from a single voice. One of them was, unsurprisingly, Ryan, his tone sharp and protective. But the second voice caught me off guard—Cole?

James halted mid-sentence, looking taken aback, though he quickly recovered his poise.

The good-looking werewolf was already positioned next to the sofa, his fingers clenched into a fist. Ryan mirrored his stance, but his irises had shifted to crimson, darting between James and Cole like a predator sizing up its prey. Great, I'm really going to enjoy this trip with these two.