The Crimson Rose || Nicolae Bartholy X OC || [COMPLETE]

Chapter V.

The wolves

It had been a few days since Claire was able to speak alone with Nicolae.

She didn't quite understand why having wolves on their property was a problem, they owned a good part of the woods and she assumed it was normal to have some wildlife.

She didn't know the whole story though.
She didn't know there had been a new pack of werewolves arriving to town, apparently scouting the edge of their property.

Hunting? They didn't know yet.

The Bartholy brothers started patrolling the woods every night since their arrival, trying to figure out why were they there.

At times, Claire could hear the wolves' deep howls in the middle of the night and she had to admit it sounded closer each night, and scarier.

To the point that one evening, as Nicolae, Drogo and Peter headed out, Lorie made her way to Claire's room. She knocked politely before walking in.

Claire saw her and sat up. "Lorie... you should be in bed, what is going on?" She asked her as she pat the bed to have her come sit.

Lorie rushed onto Claire's bed. "I can't sleep. The wolves are too loud." She explained.

Claire smiled and made her space under the covers. "How about you stay with me tonight, uh? I gotta tell you the truth, I don't like them either.

Lorie moved closer to her. "Drogo says they are coming to get me." She looked a little scared and Claire cursed Drogo with her thoughts.

"He's just saying that. Your brothers would never let anything happen to you, Lorie. They love you."

Lori seemed thinking about those words. "What about you, Claire? Would you protect me?" She had grabbed Claire's hand and now was making her worry.

Claire felt again Lorie's cold touch, which felt just the same as Nicolae's.

She looked at Lorie's hand then back into her eyes. "Of course I would, sweetie. "

She brushed the top of her hand. "You are freezing, Lorie, here let me pull another blanket on you."
She smiled at the girl and rested another blanket over her. "There."

Lorie smiled a bit after letting her hand go and snuggled closer to Claire.

"I am happy you are here, Claire. And I know Nicolae is too." She giggled a bit, then closed her eyes, falling asleep right after a few minutes.

Claire smiled watching her sleep.

She had grown fond of her in so little time. She really hoped to be able to stay longer.

Especially when she thought about Nicolae and the almost kiss they had. She sighed, he could have any woman at his feet, she witnessed that when they were out, why would he ever like her?

She reminded herself he called her beautiful, but she shrugged.
 
He was probably being kind because her low self-esteem.

Reaching for a book on her nightstand she started reading. She wasn't really tired yet and she wanted to wait for the brothers to be back and ask them about the wolves.

Every question she had about them was swirling in her head, making more questions come up.

Why none of them ever shared a meal with her?
Why they felt so cold when she happened to touch them?
And how each of them seemed to stare at her so much and were always able to anticipate what she was going to say?

Claire had found an answer in one of her books but... could it be?
Were the Bartholys brother vampires?
And if so, why didn't they ever attack her?