Inner Predator: Unleashed

Chapter 11

Here you go lovelies! Chapter 11! In case you didn't see the change to my update schedule, I'll tell you here. Inner Predator Unleashed will be updated on Sunday's for the foreseeable future. (Obviously this update is late and I apologize but expect Sunday's from now on :])

Chapter 11

 

“Aurora,” Vance says fondly and wraps his arms around me. I stand stunned at the action. Vance and I are cool, but the old vampire—the head of the council is scary as fuck. And I never thought he was the touchy feely type.

Belatedly, I return the hug. I’ve never been a very huggy type of person either, but something about seeing all these people again is bringing it out in me. I never thought I would be with the group again, but they’re all here. All well.

And they all owe it to Chase. The men, whoever they worked for, had to knock Chase and Jess before they could take me. Yet they left them both unharmed. Something I still don’t completely understand. I can’t wrap my brain around how they chose who to take, Chase is obviously strong, so it can’t have been based on power alone. Of course the gas they used wasn’t nearly potent enough and Chase didn’t stay down for long. Just long enough for me to disappear. And while Jess was losing her sanity, Chase had the mind to make phone calls. He warned my father and the council. He called Arlo and his parents. I guess sometimes it pays to not be at all trusting of the humans.

“It’s good to see you, Vance.”

As he steps away to take his seat at the table and the other vampire chair holder, Ruben, takes his place, I notice a line had formed. Every council member is present and is waiting in line to greet me. As someone they’ve missed. Someone they care for. As one of their own. And I suppose that I am. One of them. Even if I took a rather abrupt leave of absence shortly after joining the ranks.

I greet Bryn, the mage, next. Her blond hair and smile are just as perfect as I remember but the dark circles that seem permanently below tired eyes suggests that the last months have not been easy. The second mage, Foster, who has been in the council for nearly as long as Vance offers a handshake and warm welcome.

Both fae, Aine and Cillian approach next. Aine is a beautiful fae, six feet tall with nearly jet-black hair and a willowy frame. She puts a hand to my face, cupping my cheek and smiles in a motherly way. She and Cillian welcomed me as one of their own from our first meeting when they took their spots on the council.

One by one the rest hug and welcome me home before taking their seats around a large round table that has me feeling a bit like one of King Arthur’s knights. Two mage, two fae, two elementals, two shifters, and three vampires sit at the table. One seat remains empty, my seat. They’ve left me to sit at the head of the table, the center of attention this morning where the eldest of the group typically resides.

A handful of others are in the room. Chase’s parents, whom I have yet to officially meet, but stand rather intimidatingly next to Arlo and other, less recognizable faces. I recognize them immediately from a picture Chase has shown me, but also because he shares a striking resemblance to them both. A glance around the room confirms that I’m not the only one here intimidated by the two, other council members around the room exchange shifting glances and quick looks at the couple. Though I know they aren’t on the council and that his family is powerful both literally and figuratively in the Supernatural world, I don’t know exactly why they seem to be feared by so many. The thought doesn’t make me very eager to meet them.

Chase, not one to care for the rules drags a chair loudly across the tiled floor and plants it to my left. When he takes his seat, I feel comfortable enough to take mine. It’s much more comforting knowing that I’m surrounded by the two people who care for me most.