Nice Surprise Part 2 (With @DesolateBadass)
Wilder: I sat there listening in on the conversation with Amber and the new guy in town, taking a sip from my glass of whiskey. My tongue darted out to catch a small drop on my lips. Mysterious man seemed to have all the right answers and made it sound as if he was here on business. I wasn’t buying it.
I also wasn’t expecting you to stand up and walk over to my table. Taking that moment to let my crystal blue eyes scan your frame. It wasn’t very often that I came across someone as tall as I was, taking note of the way your shirt hugged your muscular physique. Standing up when you reach my table, my gaze locked with yours. Bold move to come introduce yourself, but it absolutely held my attention.
Slipping my hand into yours, giving it a firm shake. “It’s nice to meet you Dehv, I’m Wilder.” My hand lingers in yours for a brief moment, trying to get a read on you. I could hear your heart beating and it was calm, releasing your hand to motion to the chair. “Please feel free to join me.”
Taking a seat Amber drops off your drinks and I watch you move, it was effortless. Unable to stop myself from taking in the sight of your features, curiosity written on my own. Chewing on what I wanted to say to fully break the ice. “The filet mignon, medium rare?” I blink and glance up at Amber feeling her hand on my shoulder. “Yeah, that sounds perfect, sweetheart.” She scampers off once more to put the order in for both our steaks.
My gaze met yours once more and I did see the point in beating around the bush. “I’m sure it’s safe to assume if I can detect you are not human you are fully aware I’m not as well. So what exactly are you?” I state bluntly, making my own bold move to see how you’d react to someone being direct.
“I know you're not the one involved with the attacks, your scent doesn't match theirs. Are you working with them? Scouting out the next victim? How the fuck is your partner able to manage to make a scent vanish with no trace of where they went? It’s infuriating. Also, might want to let whoever you’re possibly working with, it ends tonight. This town is protected by us and we don’t exactly take bloodshed lightly.” I lean back in my chair, not one to shy away from making it known that the locals are off limits. Taking another sip from my glass of whiskey, calmly waiting to hear what you had to say.
Dehv: ~ I smiled lightly, keeping my posture light. I was happy to stay calm and reasonable until I was given a need not to. Wrath had said not to get involved, and technically I wasn’t. I was reassuring a local that I was friendly. Which I was, mostly. I waited until Amber was out of earshot, running off to get the order that sounded incredible. I was excited for my steak if locals were ordering one. No one kept coming back to somewhere if the food was shit. I lift the glass to my lips and then feel myself smiling again at the questions. Head tipping slightly to the side as I try to keep track of them all. I nodded to your first. If I could tell, you could tell. But damned if I was going to give you anything before I got something in return.
I held your gaze and suppressed the growl of annoyance at the tone of your voice. I was taking you seriously, but I wasn’t about to be run off when I had someone who might be able to give me a lead.
“Firstly, nice to meet you, Wilder. I can detect that, though my nose isn’t really good enough to tell me much more than your blood isn’t human.” I cleared my throat and fell quiet when a couple moved past us a little closer than I would have liked. While I focused my attention on the bright blues in front of me, I kept a keen eye on what was going on around me. I was here to hunt after all, and I wasn’t going to lose sight of that.
“I’m not working with them, I don’t know who they are, though I do know they are like me. I might have scared them off for a night or two. I’m not sure. I have tried not to be too obvious, and I haven’t seen anything that would alert me to them being around. However, the night has only just begun, so I expect they will come later than this if they are as sloppy as they appear.”
I leaned in slightly, though my voice volume didn’t change. “I’ll have to know more about you before I can open up. And I would need to speak to my King to find out whether I’m even allowed to divulge any secrets. He’ll likely want to speak with you before I’m given the go ahead. And he’s, well, he’s prickly when he’s not comfortable with something. You want to know about me enough to show me yours before I show you mine?”
My lip quirked into a grin, though my fangs were mostly hidden, there was enough there to show they weren’t normal human teeth. Hopefully it will be enough for you to trust me. I was going to say more, but Amber came back with both our meals, which was impressive. I tipped my chin up and smiled. Reaching for the condiments in the center of the table.
I stayed quiet, watching you, waiting on your reaction and whether I needed to make this phone call and piss Wrath off with the cautious need to reveal our secrets to a complete stranger. ~
Wilder: Formalities were not my forte when I felt my town was being threatened. Listening to your every word intently. I could tell you were slightly annoyed with my tone and I needed you to give any and all information you possibly could. Ripping open a dinner roll, adding some butter and salt to it. “I’d apologize for my bluntness, but I’m not exactly sorry. As stated, this town is under the protection of my Pack. Intruders who are unwelcome don’t last very long. But, we have been struggling to locate whoever is attacking people on the outskirts of town.” I take a bite from the roll, speaking out of the corner of my mouth as I continue.
“Being that your scent doesn’t match the one we are trying to hunt, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that the reason why you state you are here is true. We could use your help being the trail always ends up cold. I’m willing to see if we can work together on this, but we have to come up with an arrangement we are all comfortable with.” I stop talking when I hear Amber on the phone with Liam, telling him I’m here and that things look intense between us.
“Excuse me.” I stand up and walk over to Amber, motioning for her to give me the phone. “I take it you got my text? Everything is fine, y’all stay put and I’ll fill you and Cassie in when you get back.” I could hear his concern in his tone. “No, do not cut your camping trip short.” My eyes meet yours for a moment as Liam attempts to insist I had some sort of backup. “I’ll be at Whiskey Row in an hour. Jackson already knows if I don’t stroll in at that time to head on out to find me. We have it covered.” I hang up with him and head back over to you, taking a seat.
“Now where were we? A secret for a secret, yes? I believe the way you put it was if I show you mine you’d show me yours.” A sly smirk tugs at my lips, I couldn't help but to gutter those words. Allowing my gaze to scan your muscular physique. Had to admit I wouldn't mind seeing what was under your clothing. Cutting into my perfectly cooked steak, groaning appreciatively as I take a bite. Shoveling some mashed potatoes into my mouth as well. Having that all too important intimate first bite, licking my lips. “How about we give out what we are comfortable with first. If I need more information after that, then you can call this King of yours. It’s easier for me if you simply ask a question. So, what would you like to know?” I take a sip from my glass of whiskey, hoping we can comfortably learn a little about each other without getting anyone else involved.
Dehv: ~ I shake my head and chuckle, your lack of apology making me snort slightly “I don’t need you to be anything other than blunt. I get this town is yours, but for me all humans deserve protecting. So, I am here to figure out what’s happening and sort out the problem.” I leaned forward and scooped a little potato onto my fork, chewing and swallowing before I continued on.
“I have no clue who is here, but we have little pockets outside of our main Brotherhood home and training centre’s town. I’m assuming it’s more than one, but in all honesty, one could do this if it was very hungry or hurt. Seems more involved than that though, since they keep coming back.” I shook my head and then nodded once when you stood up. I kept you in my line of sight, but sent a quick message to Vishous
‘Give me a full rundown of Red Lodge, Montana along with any outlying settlements.’
I placed my phone beside me, the thumbs up message back letting me know he had the assignment in hand.
I could hear what you were saying, but chose to ignore it. Assuming that if you’d told whoever Liam was not to come, you must be willing to talk. I instead focused on my steak, cutting it into mouthwateringly perfect bites before adding a little mustard for the sharp hit. The potato was also cooked perfectly and I enjoyed my few minutes to eat without having to try and dance around what I was.
When you came back to the table I lifted my gaze to meet yours, my smile still hiding the tips of my fangs, though I was a little more relaxed knowing I wasn’t about to get jumped. I’d likely rather just walk into the sunlight than go back to Wrath and tell him I was run out of town by an unknown entity. He knew my mouth was likely to get me in trouble, but could also get me out of trouble. I didn’t want to bother him unless I absolutely had to.
My snort was loud when you quoted me, unsure why my stomach clenched at the groan you made when you ate your steak. I had to admit it’s bloody good food, but I could certainly imagine that noise coming out of you for other reasons. Not that I would go there, I’m on a mission, not to have a one night stand. Rubbing my chest slightly I wonder why there’s a tingle there, but I need to ignore that to focus on the deaths in this town. Quicker I solve this, faster I can get back on a plane and back to Caldwell. “I wanted to know what you are. I know you’re not human, and nothing close to anything else I’ve met before. You smell different. What am I telling my King I’ve met when he inevitably asks me to check in later tonight?” ~
Wilder: When I sat back down you held what would appear to be my undivided attention. I was able to listen in on conversations around us and make sure we had the privacy we needed to talk about what we needed to without anyone overhearing us. I didn’t care for the idea of you having to report back to someone. The less others knew about us the better. Not to mention the way you spoke about whoever was doing this was hungry or hurt had me feeling a little uneasy, being I knew how the victims died drained of their blood. Inhaling a breath, my bright baby blues watching your every move.
“You’re going to have to understand I have reservations about telling you certain things. What I can say is I’m not human. Think of me as a shape shifter of sorts.” I had to keep the safety of my pack in mind, for now all you knew about was that I wasn't human. “I’d prefer you didn’t tell your King a damn thing about me. But, if you have to report back I suppose you could say the town the killings are surrounding is protected and we do have one thing in common. Humans deserve being protected. If that’s how you operate then I can respect that.” There was something about you that made me feel like you really were there to help. The vibe you gave off wasn’t a threatening one. You were poised and spoke with ease. My initial gut feeling told me I could possibly trust you, but I wasn't comfortable with the idea of this King.
“How can I trust that if I tell you things about me that you won’t send word to your kind and threaten my town further?” I ask, needing to somehow be able to have a little trust between us. “My family is here. As much as I would like your help, I have to protect them. What are you and why are the victims drained of their blood? Because all signs lead to Vampire, but we always thought that was a myth. Ain’t no way I’m gonna believe that this is the case unless I see some fangs.”
Dehv: ~ I inclined my head slightly, watching you and taking you in. I knew you had to be pretty important to have the authority to pick and choose who had your back. You also had that way about you, one that said not to mess with you. Sure, you were all sweetness and light with the locals, and they obviously trusted you, but I also had a feeling that if we were to go toe to toe, we’d both walk away with some broken bones and not a whole lot of clear winner.
I cleared my throat, then took another bite of my meal, it really was delicious. I reached for a drink and nodded at your summary of feelings. I couldn’t blame you, I was in the same boat. How much could I legitimately tell you without Wrath quite literally throwing my ass out into the sunlight. We were a secret, but then we had humans that had joined us, half breeds meant that we obviously out there sowing wild oats with humans. Butch was…..well, Butch. I shook my head and exhaled. I reached for my drink and then an idea struck me. Pretty sure I twitched slightly. I lifted my gaze to meet your bright blue eyes, wondering absently if they shone as brightly as mine did in the right circumstances, then leaned in.
I was careful not to get my clothes in my food, but I leaned across the table until I only had to whisper to know you’d hear me. I paused only half a second to check in with myself, I’d likely get an ass kicking for this, but fuck it. “You want to trust me, and know that your instincts are correct, but you want to check to see if I am a vampire. Lore can be wrong, and you know in your gut that it is. Because I’m sitting right here. But for the sake of your pack, this town, our working together to figure out who is neatly draining the local folk of their well earned blood. You seem edgy about me reporting anything back to my King, and I am not about to fuck around and find out. You want to see my fangs, I want to know what you are. Feel like asking that gut of yours if you trust me enough to offer me your wrist? You see my fangs, you can tell me what you are.” I kept my face neutral for the most part, only my eyes giving away how amused I was, pretty sure you’d say no and just punch me in the face. Which honestly might mean you saw my fangs anyway, so whichever way played out. Win Win for you. Win Win for me, as once your blood was in my system I could keep a track of where you were roughly for a few days, which played very much to my advantage. “What do you say, Not Human?” ~
Wilder: I sat there cool as a cucumber watching your every move. When you leaned over the table and I inhaled your scent, instantly adding it to the rolodex in my mind. Your words were such that I let out a low growl only you would hear. Still in slight disbelief that you were actually a Vampire. My eyes instinctively flash midnight blue for a brief moment, exhaling a slow breath. Fuck. “Alright, I’ll offer up a wrist for you to prove a point, under one condition. While you’re in town, the locals are off the menu. If you are indeed what you say you are and need to quench your thirst, you come to me.”
It would take a little more than a nip on the wrist to have me trusting you, but my gut was telling me I could. Pulling out my wallet to hold up my debit card when Amber walks by to pay for our meal. The two of us have a silent stand off while I sign the check, leaving her a generous tip. “Can’t help but to think this is an advantage for you of some sort, but let's take a walk.”
I stand up, knocking back the rest of my whiskey in one swift gulp, welcoming the familiar burn in my chest and throat as I lick my lips. Giving you an unspoken hit as I pause to randomly pat a small wolf statue at the front of the restaurant. Feeling confident you’d follow, leading you to where my truck was parked. Turning to face you, my curiosity peaked. Wasn’t often that I stood eye to eye with someone, a soft grin tugging at my lips for no real reason. “Let's see those pearly whites.” I state showing I wasn’t intimidated. I was all for coming to some sort of mutual grounds. If a nip on the wrist meant it would protect my pack and the locals, so be it. It wouldn’t surprise anyone in my pack that I was stepping up to do whatever it took to stop these attacks.
Dehv: ~ I watched you, my chest sparking with something I couldn’t place when your eyes flashed. But it was the reaction I wanted, I didn’t fancy a punch to the face. This was much better for us both, no townfolk got in the middle of a fight, and I could track you for a few days. What I didn’t bank on was your offer. I only needed to feed every month or so normally, but it had been a few weeks, and human blood wasn’t nearly as good. Perhaps this would help me more than I thought, if I could stomach it.
When you stood, I followed suit. My heart started to beat just a little faster. Perhaps this wasn’t the best idea, but I wasn’t one to back down now. I left my whiskey, though there was barely any left, my eyes sparking with amusement as you patted the wolf on the way out. I hadn’t taken you for a superstitious kind of person, but perhaps you were. I gave the little wolf a look on the way out to the carpark, checking to see if the nose was polished like I’d seen in pictures of dog statues around the world.
When we rounded to your truck I checked the area, it was fairly secluded and dark enough that human eyes weren’t picking up anything if we moved to the back. There was no way I was getting in the truck, I didn’t trust you that much. I reached out to take hold of your forearm, moving us both towards the bushes behind your truck, holding your gaze the whole time. Glad I didn’t trip on anything on the way. I kept my gaze on you as I lifted your wrist, not obscuring your view as I inhaled your scent, swallowing a groan, eyes almost shutting as I realised you smelled really fucking good. I couldn’t think on it any more, and let my fangs drop down, tips sharp enough that you’d barely feel the puncture, but it was likely to leave a mark with the paper thinness of skin at the wrist. I much preferred feeding from other places, but I would make an exception. You had certainly seen the fangs now, and I wasn’t giving you a second to think about it. I lowered my head and pierced your skin, the first mouthful of your blood making me groan. It was nothing like vampire blood, though it wasn’t far off. It was far better than human blood. I took a few more pulls from your wrist, the blood sending signals to every nerve, my body reacting accordingly. My chest throbbed and I felt my eyes start to glow as I lifted my gaze to meet yours again. Confusion probably showed on my face, and I instantly pulled free, swiped my tongue over the wounds and then dematerialised back to the carpark of my hotel. ~
Wilder: I made sure to listen to our surroundings and internally check on my pack members. I knew where every last one of them were and we were completely alone. The moment I saw your fangs I arched a brow. Holy shit, Vampires do exist. I couldn’t help but to listen to your heart rate the entire time, feeling the slight sting from your fangs piercing the skin on my left wrist. Standing still letting you take a pull from me and your groan sends a chill down my spine. A completely new sensation for me and I stood there trying to wrap my mind around what was going on. Something inside of me ignited and in that moment I knew I could trust you.
Seeing your eyes glow, watching your every move. I had a thousand questions, only to be standing there alone a few moments later. “Well, that was cool as all hell. Also explains why the damn scent disappears.” I state to myself, wondering where Dehv literally disappeared to. Moving to sit in the driver seat of my truck, in complete shock lost in my thoughts.
What the actual fuck just happend? I scrub my hand over my face, my gaze falling to the two puncture wounds on my wrist. The slight bruising that appeared didn’t alarm me, figuring it would heal fairly quickly. Trailing my fingers over them, feeling that heat inside of me grow. “Ain’t no fucking way….”
