The Hunter's Vampire {Re-writing}

Chapter 22 Reasons Why

Adam marched past Kalson and Kate, the Vampire still in his arms. "I think I'll be heading home. Come tomorrow we shall have a discussion as to what just happened... but for now, I need rest." Kate nodded and Adam walked away, the hunters all quite stunned by what just occurred in only a matter of minutes.

"Will he be safe with that beast that he's caring for?"

"He is a capable man, Kalson. Let's just worry about caring for the injured and gathering up the deceased." Kate walked away to tend to the hunters in need leaving Kalson to ponder what could be going on with Adam and the Vampire.

~ ~ ~

Marissa had eaten her fill of the leftover soup, her wounds had healed and she was no longer in any more pain. Leeland kept a close eye on her as they sat at the table. He had been afraid of her reaction to what he was, but she seemed just alright after she realized that he was not a threat to her life. "How long have you been a wolf?"

He looked up. "Werewolf... I was born a werewolf. I've known this life since I was twelve."

"That sounds scary."

He shrugged and shook his head. "Nah, I had a really good life, my parents were kind people, and they took care of so many different walks of life. No matter what... I guess I could count myself as lucky."

"You talk about them as if they were..." her eyes grew and she rushed to find her words, "I—I am so sorry. I didn't..." he rose a hand to cut her off.

"It's okay. They died in a fire a few years ago. I am okay, they're long dead."

"I'd be crushed if that were my family, how could you manage?" He shrugged again.

"I couldn't, I couldn't forgive myself for surviving, they saved me but couldn't save themselves. It was hard to get over it, but they would have wanted me to live a full life and to make them proud." She smiled at that. She opened her mouth then jumped as a loud banging came from the front door. Leeland was on his feet, then he relaxed, noticing the scent of the hunter and Lexander... and blood. He rushed to the door and yanked it open, his eyes widening in fear. Adam brushed him aside as he hurried to set the Vampire down on the couch where Marissa was a few moments ago. "What happened? Is he dying?" The wolf smelt the air and whimpered as he fell to his knees beside the hunter. "Lex?"

"He'll be alright, I fed him some of my blood earlier."

"What the hell happened? These are werewolf claws!" Leeland's voice held all the worry that Adam felt and he could understand. Leeland felt guilty for not stopping the Vampire from leaving when the warning sounded. "It's my fault."

"Don't. Lexander is older than both of us combined, he knew what he was doing... he saved us, he saved me... This is what led to his injury." The wolf snarled. "Explain hunter." His eyes changed and Adam glared back just as hard.

"Lexander risked his life to warn me and my hunters about the oncoming werewolf attack... the rogues I assumed you were with until they abandoned you. He killed two of the bigger ones, the second didn't leave him unscathed. I should have been attentive, I should have left when he asked me to... but I couldn't leave my fellow men and women without my help. He could have died because of me." Leeland's face fell as his anger faltered. He rested a hand on Adam's shoulder when he heard sobs coming from the hunter's mouth.

"He wouldn't stop. Even after I warned him that the hunters might kill him, he didn't care, Adam... he only wanted to make sure that you were okay. He said you saved his life, and now he owed you his own." Adam bends over the Vampire, his tears falling now, as he wept.

"Adam?" A sweeter, softer voice said making him shoot up, fully alert, and surprised.

Marissa?

"The hell are you doing here? What the hell is she doing here?!" He said turning his anger on the wolf. Leeland put up his hands.

"Long story, I accidentally attacked her. She was at the door around sunset when Lexander and I were having a minor disagreement and well, she cracked her skull... but Lexander fixed it, he fed her some blood—,"

"WHAT!" he cringed and backed away from the hunter.

"It isn't their fault!" Adam turned to the girl. "I disobeyed my father and you... and came here with a pie for you. I know how much you like strawberries and I thought you'd appreciate one after I heard you had fallen ill." She was so confused as to the whole situation but what she could see and know well enough was that Adam's heart was stolen by another... and it just so happened to be a Vampire. It broke her heart to see and hear him cry over the beast, but she could not understand his pain, not after, losing a wife... "Leeland only took care of me and made sure I understood what was going on, but he did leave out the part about the Vampire. That, I did not know." She played with her apron, "will I become one?"

Leeland shook his head. "No. Only if you die within a twelve-hour frame." Adam sighed.

"Marissa, you'll sleep in my bed for the night, it is too dangerous to bring you to the village and I am spent beyond my means. Leeland you can stay in your room—."

"No, you're exhausted, you sleep in there. I'll be fine out here with Lexander."

"Leeland, are you sure? Will you be alright staying out here?"

"Adam... I've caused enough trouble for the day, you can rest. I'll stay up with him." The hunter and the wolf exchanged understanding looks and then the house was quiet as everyone made their way to sleep. It had been a long and tiresome day. Tomorrow would be the real challenge.