Tasting The Enemy

Elaine

“It’s a cute town. I like it,” I said.

Azaire squeezed my hand to let me know he was listening but he had his head buried in his phone. I didn’t like that he wasn’t giving me attention and that something big and potentially dangerous could be stealing his attention.

“Azaire what’s wrong?” I asked.

He turned his phone off and stuffed it in his pocket.

“Richie had to go back to the Pack. He’s leaving me to take care of this Pack.”

“Are you pissed about it?”

“Yeah, Elaine. He wants me to be Alpha.”

“Is that bad?” I tilted my head and asked.

He leaned back in the booth and exhaled. “I don’t want to be Alpha.”

“What makes you think that dummy?” I said softly.

“I don’t want the responsibility. It’s easier to be Richie’s second-hand beta and let him handle everything.”

“I think you’d been a great Alpha. You’re a great big brother and a wonderful mate.”

“You’re not just saying that because you want to be Luna right?” he raised a brow.

I grimaced. “Of course not. This is about you.”

“You don’t mind living here?” Azaire asked.

I bit my bottom lip. It would be a great opportunity to get to know my Mother and be a big sister to be Isaura. Elvira Falls has a lot of bad memories for both of us maybe a change of scenery wouldn’t hurt.

“I don’t mind,” I smiled.

“You have to tell Opal. You know she’s going out with Richie right?”

My jaw dropped. “What?”

“Probably should have kept my mouth shut,” Azaire chuckled.

“How did you know!”

His smirk faded and his eyes scanned the diner. I followed his gaze but all I saw were average-looking people. Azaire’s eyes flashed with his wolf. That was his wolf’s way of warning him. Dove reached out to her mate and sensed his uneasiness.

“Vamps,” Azaire whispered.

“I can’t sense them,” I said.

“Draw out your claws under the table.”

I forced my claws to extend but it was like trying to start a car that would just not start. I pushed Dove to break through the barriers of our curse but my wrist split open instead. I bit the inside of my cheek to hide the gasp.

Azaire tossed a napkin in front of me. “We’ve got to move.”

Vampires loved the scent of blood. Damn, my curse I couldn’t even shift to help Azaire. With all the heads turning our way we would need the help.

“Sorry,” I cringed.

“Just a few vamps nothing to worry about,” Azaire replied.

“Don’t be so sure.” A guy with half black and half red hair strolled towards our table. He grinned revealing shiny silver teeth. “We don’t like cocky werewolves.”

“I guess we were never destined to be friends,” Azaire said.

Another guy slithered up to us. He was slimmer than the one with the weird haircut. I’d never encountered vampires before but from all the books they’re supposed to look like demi-gods, these guys looked like crackheads!

“Her blood smells amazing! I’d love to be friends with her!”

“Watch it!” Azaire shot to his feet.

I stood too and scurried to his side. He placed an arm protectively over my shoulders.

“Dove, I need you,” I told her through our link.

“Now isn’t the best time,” she replied.

Crap.

“You’re on my territory and you’re not wanted here.”

The group of vamps increased. Some of the other diners skedaddled. They all smelled like dirt and animal blood. I fought the urge to throw up.

“You’re outnumbered buddy,” the one with silver teeth said.

“Never been a problem before,” Azaire shrugged.Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

“Azaire… now is not the time,” I said through gritted teeth.

“Listen to the little pup,” they laughed.

Azaire was on the verge of throwing the first punch. With his brute strength, he could take them all out easily but vampire bites were more lethal than wolf’s bane and silver.

“Enough,” a low rubble cut through the tension. “We’re not here looking for a fight.”

“No one made you our leader,” the one with silver teeth snapped.

A man with ruffled brown hair, blue eyes and firm broad shoulders. He didn’t look like the rest of his sickly friends with pale skin and bright eyes. There was something about him that felt familiar like I’d seen his face before but I didn’t know where. However, I recognized his scent if I hadn’t seen his face I would have sworn it was Nik.

“I’m self-appointed. You would have been dead without me.”

My heart slammed against my ribcage when his gaze landed on me.

“If you’re not looking for a fight then you shouldn’t be on werewolf territory,” Azaire said, his voice even yet deadly.

The Leader dragged his eyes away from me. “We’re not staying. We’re just passing by.”

“I suggest you get going,” Azaire said.

The Leader’s lips lifted and he glanced at me again. “Of course. Move out boys we don’t want to upset the dogs of the town.”

I gripped Azaire’s arm before he went off.

The vampires exited the diner slowly. The staff slowly came out of hiding. I assumed these ones were witches because werewolves were always up for a fight.

“He’s odd,” Azaire said, still glancing at the door.

“Because he didn’t want to fight?” I asked.

“No, because he’s a hybrid and he’s running vampires.”

“How can you tell?”

“He smells like a wolf but he also smells like death. If he’s strong enough to be the leader then he’s a strong wolf.”

“Or maybe he’s wolf’s defective like mine,” I mumbled.

“We’re going to figure that out. I’m done with this place let’s go.”

I nodded. “Yeah so am I.”