Part III

The oldest sister had to stop the middle one before interfering, when I came out of the room like a lunatic. I heard their conversations, but the meaning was far from my understanding.

“He is an adult, so let him handle this.”

“In that state? He is not even himself anymore.” The middle was not sure. “He can create a lot of problems for us to deal with later.”

“That was his decision. Whatever the result will be, let’s hope for the best for him.” I felt her gaze on me, but didn’t care anyway. “And I wish there won’t be much cleaning after tonight.”

They got out of the way. My only goal was to get to Michael and there was no way for me to play nice anymore. I was a vampire, what's more hungry and furious, ready to take what's mine. And that was Michael and I didn't care about any obstacle standing in my way. I have never heard about someone who complained about being a partner, so why did I have to find one who did? I wanted to respect and cherish him, because I was in love, but there was no place in my heart for that. Eye for an eye, I was hurt and I wanted to hurt too.

Michael should be thankful for me choosing him, going against my family, basically keeping him in good health, and just because someone told him the truth he had never confronted me and believed it right away. Did he ever fully trust me or his feelings were so shallow, so he would take any chance to leave me? And that situation was perfect for that. But I have never agreed for that, he was mine and he will be until his very last breath. Even though he might think that he can’t love me anymore, he would feel that again in time. Isn’t it how arranged marriages often work? I admitted that I decided on my own that me and Michael would be bound together, but I was ready to offer him a lot, so he won’t be worried about anything. No reason to complain. It was not like I planned to keep him as a prisoner, but to have control over him. He left me because he didn’t want to be a puppet, so I will treat him as one.

We were tracking each other's phones just in case anything bad happened and Michael didn’t turn off that option yet, so finding him wasn’t a hard task. I was shaking but in the zone, that I didn’t care about anyone or anything else. Just to get to the place where my boyfriend was. And when I found him, he was with werewolves again hanging out in the park and he was the only one surprised by my appearance. The pack was not at all, like they were waiting for me or rather for a chance to get rid of me. They only needed a good reason to kill me and they pretended to protect Michael from me. I smiled, all that situation was just ridiculous.

“What are you doing here?” that bastard alpha asked me, getting closer to Michael basically putting his arm on my boyfriend's shoulder.

They both looked at me. The werewolf was challenging me, while Michael just checked my reaction and pretended that he wasn't feeling uncomfortable. At first I wanted to get there and free him, but I'm the corner of my eye that the rest of the pack was getting ready to move the moment I would attack their leader.

“I am here to get my boyfriend back,” I said, not hiding the silent threat that if they try to stop me, I won’t go easy on them.

“I have told you Michael that simple breaking up won’t work,” the alpha said, tightening his grip. It was so hard not to react, but I knew I couldn’t make any rapid moves. “He is addicted to your blood and without it he is just a monster wandering around and killing people. You can’t stop being his puppet, so the only way for you to be free is the death of the vampire you are bound to.”

Michael looked at him a bit confused. So they did tell only what they thought would be reasonable, that just made me feel like they lied about not having a problem with me when they actually did.

“Tell me why you brought Michael into this, when you didn’t tell him all the truth? I am asking again, what is your problem?” I smiled knowing that the situation is getting a bit better on my side.

“I have told you already, it’s enough for me that you are a vampire.” The alpha finally stood up and started stretching a bit. “You being the youngest of one of the most important vampires’ families in this country. Just a nice addition, as your death might be just a bit more impactful than others.”

He shrugged his shoulders, while the anger boiled inside me, understanding that Michael was used just to get me. I didn’t know what to do, I thought that I had control, but that almost brought me to lose it. I was so proud of myself that I did so well so far, but not very about the source of it.

“And you were so scared to confront me directly, so you had to use my boyfriend?”

“Who cares about the method, when the result is what you expected.” I tried to have a look at what was going on behind the alpha’s back. The pack’s focus moved from me to Michael. I didn’t like the way it was going. “But I must say that I suspected that you would kill at least one person, so we would be justified to kill you. Still you are standing here and it seems you are aware of yourself. Are you really not hungry at all? Getting here must be tough, all those people you must have passed, blood pumping in their veins. Warm and tasty…”

“I didn’t kill anyone,” I said, my voice trembling and my body was shaking. If there was anyone around I would lose it right away. He reminded me of hunger with premeditation. “And I don’t intend to do so.” I announced it more for Michael than werewolves to assure him that I wasn’t a bad one here.

“To make that happen you need Michael’s blood. I want to remind you that you broke up and he doesn’t want you in his life. You see yourself Michael how it is?” The alpha turned to him, but I saw that he was debating about something with himself. “What do you say? Just let's sacrifice a person or two, we will kill him and you will be free?”

“Don't bring him into this. Michael has a good heart, he would never decide to let that happen.” I smiled as I thought that his plan didn't work out, but it was getting harder to stay there, as my body wanted so badly to go for a hunt.

“I want to be included in the conversation about me,” Michael interfered and came between us. “We didn't talk about anyone dying or being killed.”

“There is no other way for you to be free,” the alpha sounded a bit frustrated as it seemed that my boyfriend wasn't as sure as earlier.

“But I don't want Lucas to be killed,” Michael looked at me hesitantly, it almost moved me that he didn't want me to die..

“So you don't give me another choice. It's really nothing personal, Michael.” The alpha sighted heavily and suddenly grabbed my boyfriend and pulled towards him. I tried to reach Michael, but the way was blocked by other werewolves, while he was trying to break free from the leader's arms. “What about a bit more direct approach? Do you want your puppet back, vampire?” He started to laugh and that moment just tipped the balance.

“Michael is not my puppet, but my partner, so I won’t let you hurt him,” I said angrily, but my voice was so steady.

Hunger was not important anymore, it could even help me, because I felt that it was the time when I lost my mind the moment I attacked to protect the dearest person for me. I couldn’t remember anything specific, just sounds of fighting, screams of pain and reek of werewolves blood. I get back to my senses the moment when I get close to Michael and just stop myself before hitting him, because I couldn’t recognise him at first glance. On his knees, covered in blood, which wasn’t his, unable to move. He was in shock, me a bit too, I was never in that state, just heard about it from the stories. That’s why partners were so important to us vampires. Looking around, there were dead werewolves bodies, I have killed the whole pack. I looked at myself, covered in wounds, however I couldn’t feel the pain yet.

There was another thing for me to prioritize, like Michael, who realised I was there when I tried to wipe his face. At first he tried to move away, I know that he was scared of me to the point that he would rather do everything so I wouldn’t get angry at him too. I wished him to know that I couldn’t even think that he made me do so. He got manipulated and if they just didn’t interfere further, with time everything could be easily resolved. I thought that Michael was able to forgive me and he would get together sooner or later, but I still needed his blood, before entering again into the monster I have become earlier. There was no more reason to not fulfill hunger. I didn’t ask him for approval, just bite into his neck and a moment later I filled his tears on my own. My mind cleared and my body relaxed. I could fall asleep right away. That stench won’t be easy to get rid of. Oh, and I have to apologize to him later. I just hugged Michael tighter.

“I was with you, because I was in love with you. Now I have to be with you, so you won’t go on a killing spree every other week,” he whispered.

“Mhhm,” I agreed.

“Then let’s never break up.” There was sadness and resignation in his voice, but I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. I will make sure you won’t regret it.