<p >Prologue
<p >
<p >"Look, theyre back!" I heard someone from the crowd yell.
<p >
<p >I pulled up further into my territory in the truck full of blood. All kinds of it, A+, AB+, AB-, 0-, 0+, all the other kinds Im not going to go through right now, the works. I hopped out and was greeted by Aunt Brie.
<p >
<p >"Welcome back," She nodded stiffly at me and my partners. "Howd it go?"
<p >
<p >"Smoothly," I responded. "Though, were running a bit low. Some may not be able to get a full portion," I stated, my eyebrows drawing together.
<p >
<p >"Did everyone hear that?!" My aunt turned to the crowd.
<p >
<p >Everyone nodded their heads in confirmation at their House Mistress. I let out a sigh, knowing for a fact we would come up short and some of them wouldnt get a full portion.
<p >
<p >Ill have to figure out something to fix that.
<p >
<p >"Maria, I need you to do your rounds and your reports by morning," my aunt instructed concisely before I could start brainstorming.
<p >
<p >I shrugged. "Yeah okay. Who needs sleep?" I commented sarcastically.
<p >
<p >She threw a grimace over her shoulder at my comment as she walked away, but didnt say anything on the matter.
<p >
<p >"Since when do you want to go to sleep at night?" Rose, one of my partners and best friends, quirked an eyebrow at me with a small smirk.
<p >
<p >"Since never. Thats why I asked who needed it," I grinned at her while heading to the back of the truck to help distribute the blood.
<p >
<p >1
Why Am I Not Surprised?
<p >
<p >1 MONTH LATER.
<p >
<p >"How we doing?" I glanced back at Destiny from the front seat. Shes Roses replacement while shes out scavenging with another group. Destinys still in training, but she does her job well.
<p >
<p >"Not great, but not as bad as last month," she called.
<p >
<p >"Well thats good news," I mumbled.
<p >
<p >"Yeah, no, shes sugar coating it. Its pretty bad. Might actually be worse than last time," Harper interjected bluntly.
<p >
<p >I sighed. "Well thats less good news."
<p >
<p >I made eye contact with Destiny in the rear view mirror, and she shrank back into herself. I frowned and waited to catch her eye again. Once I did, I sent her a smile, and she sent me a timid one back.
<p >
<p >I shook my head when she looked back down.
<p >
<p >That girl. So shy.
<p >
<p >"Stop here," Harper instructed while looking out the window.
<p >
<p >"Last stop," Destiny breathed out, looking at the limited amount of blood bags around her. Her face fell when she realized how little it really was.
<p >
<p >Even though I dont want to show it — especially not to her — the feeling is mutual. Harpers right, this is worse than last month.
<p >
<p >I hopped out of the truck nonetheless, and Desi and Harps followed. At this point, everyone knew the drill. Harper and I would go in and get the blood, while Destiny waited by the truck to make sure nothing happened.
<p >
<p >Not that most people would want anything to do with a truck full of blood, but were not the only ones scavenging tonight.
<p >
<p >Scratch that.
<p >
<p >We are one of the only ones scavenging tonight. Most others are hunting.
<p >
<p >Even more reason for me and Harps to be quick.
<p >
<p >I glanced up at the sign as we entered. Hearts Foundation Blood Drive it read. We walked up the steps and found the stock of blood that didnt match anyone and wasnt going to be used. We had to use our super speed, great eyesight and sense of smell and whatnot to find the ones that werent safe to drink, because of disease and things like that.
<p >
<p >We only came up with a few good ones.
<p >
<p >Again.
<p >
<p >I blew out a frustrated sigh before I felt movement behind me that made me whip my head around.
<p >
<p >"Whats up?" Harps asked me, distracted with carefully putting the blood bags away for safekeeping.
<p >
<p >"I think something might be going on outside," I stated just as distractedly, turning back around to help her.
<p >
<p >The disturbance stopped so I didnt think anything of it.
<p >
<p >It could be nothing, like a raccoon knocking over trash cans or something.
<p >
<p >Once we were done, we headed out, and there was no disturbance. No noise.
<p >
<p >And no Destiny.
<p >
<p >"What the?" I mumbled.
<p >
<p >"Desi?!"
<p >
<p >"Destiny!" We called out.
<p >
<p >I heard a shuffle a few alleys down, and I could tell Harper heard it too.
<p >
<p >I turned to her. "Here, put that up, and Ill go check out what that noise was. She might have seen something and wandered off."
<p >
<p >Not that its like her to make decisions like that of her own. But you never know.
<p >
<p >Great, this is exactly what the curious girl in horror movies does. Follow the weird sound down a dark alleyway.
<p >
<p >"On it," Harps responded.
<p >
<p >I neared the alley and heard Harper fling open the doors to the truck.
<p >
<p >Not even a second after, a startled gasp came from her direction. I spun to face her, and there was a tall and muscular man jumping out at her from inside our own truck with inhuman speed.
<p >
<p >Which only leads me to believe one thing.
<p >
<p >Hes not human.
<p >
<p >I was in the middle of a gasp of my own when I was yanked back from behind with a hand over my mouth.
<p >
<p >Well, crap.
<p >
<p >I was thrown into the very alley I was heading, and found Desi seated on the concrete with some other random guy standing over her.
<p >
<p >"Oh, there you are," I smiled at her.
<p >
<p >She looked at me like Im crazy.
<p >
<p >I rolled my eyes at her reaction and helped her up as the third man came over with Harper in his grasp and threw her onto the asphalt. She landed near my feet and I reached to help her up as well.
<p >
<p >The third man walked into the space between the other two, blocking off our only exit completely.
<p >
<p >Other than scaling the side of the building and jumping from roof to roof, of course. But that just takes so much effort.
<p >
<p >Harper sniffed the air and scrunched up her nose. "Werewolves," Se hissed while pulling herself off the ground.
<p >
<p >"Alphas," I tacked on with an inquisitive eyebrow quirked and arms crossed.
<p >
<p >Desis eyes turned into saucers as her eyebrows shot up. "Plural?"
<p >
<p >"Plural," I confirmed with a nod.
<p >
<p >She glanced at them warily and backed up a bit.
<p >
<p >This made the dog boys lips inch up into a small smirk, and one of them spoke. "Good evening ladies. Whos in charge here?" The wind whipped his shaggy brown hair around his younger-ish looking face as he scanned the area, studying us. He still has the grin plastered on his face as he speaks calmly. Almost like hes not cornering us in an alleyway.
<p >
<p >Its too bad that he is too. Hes pretty cute. Hard features like a chiseled jaw and cheekbones so sharp they could cut you, then a cute little button nose in the center of it all to make him less intimidating. Or, at least when that smile resides a few inches under it hes not. The soft, crystal blue eyes dont help his case either.
<p >
<p >"Whatd you want?" I questioned with a jerk of the head, giving him his answer.
<p >
<p >Theyre all pretty good looking actually. The two on the end are a bit on the older side, but handsome nonetheless.
<p >
<p >#shamelessdrullingovertheenemy
<p >
<p >The one to speak first — who cant be older than 23 — opened his mouth to say something else, when the one in the middle — whos probably in his 30s — cut in first.
<p >
<p >"We want you to come with us," he crossed his arms with a stern face, getting straight to the point.
<p >
<p >I raised an amused eyebrow, "And. . . Why would we do that, exactly?"
<p >
<p >"Because, we figured youd want to meet the new leadership of your house," he stated bluntly. He looked a little more smug this time though.
<p >
<p >My lips fell into a straight line. What? Is this some sort of joke?
<p >
<p >I stood and waited, and when there was no punchline, I spoke. "Youre just going to leave it at that? No explanation?"
<p >
<p >"Oh," the young one looked surprised. "We were expecting you to say something like, excuse me or WHAT?! or but, what do you mean," he stated in a distressed and over dramatic high pitch voice.
<p >
<p >Was that supposed to be me and my friends?
<p >
<p >"Sorry, hate to disappoint, but would you like to elaborate?" I pressed sarcastically.
<p >
<p >"Hey, you better watch it. We have your pack," the one that hasnt spoken threatened.
<p >
<p >"House," Harper interjected.
<p >
<p >The dogs turned to her.
<p >
<p >"What?" The same guy questioned.
<p >
<p >"House, not pack," she corrected. "A group of vampires is a house," she specified.
<p >
<p >He let out a growl, and stalked a few steps towards her.
<p >
<p >"Hey," I interjected. "It doesnt matter whats happening twenty miles away. Here, now, its three on three, so I suggest we be civil about this," I eye them darkly, suddenly on the defensive.
<p >
<p >"Yeah, but Im sure all three of them are capable fighters," Harper mumbled, shooting Desi a snotty glance.
<p >
<p >I raised a brow at her, "Aw, Harps, dont underestimate yourself," I smiled bitterly at her.
<p >
<p >She glared at me in response.
<p >
<p >"W-Well they are alphas," Destiny stuttered out worriedly.
<p >
<p >"Not all of them. Not by blood at least. At least one of them mated into it," I contradicted.
<p >
<p >The dog boys looked surprised. "Howd you know that?" The quiet one at the end questioned suspiciously.
<p >
<p >I tapped my nose. "That stuff radiates off people like no tomorrow," I referred to the smell of their blood and feeling of the energy that radiates off them. Im assuming from his reaction, the quiet one is the one that doesnt have alpha blood.
<p >
<p >They nodded, still confused judging by their thoughtful faces. But, all of them being too prideful to show their confusion, they kept it to themselves.
<p >
<p >"How is there more than one alpha?" Harps wanted to know, changing the subject.
<p >
<p >"Its complicated."
<p >
<p >"Allied packs," I guessed with a shrug.
<p >
<p >". . . Guess its not that complicated," the cute one humored.
<p >
<p >I rolled my eyes, but then felt intrigued. "So if Ive assumed correctly from all your indirect and cryptic answers to my questions, you have invaded my house?".
<p >
<p >"And conquered it," the old one nodded gruffly.
<p >
<p >"Ah," I nodded as well. "So, which one of you is the unfortunate soul who has to deal with us for the time being?" I smirked. This whole we have you conquered thing isnt going to last long.
<p >
<p >"Oh, your permanent new alpha is back at your house, getting everything under control," the grumpy one stated gruffly, putting emphasis on the words permanent and alpha.
<p >
<p >Yeah, okay. Well see how that goes.
<p >
<p >"But," the cute one chimed. "You do get second in command," he did a little play bow.
<p >
<p >"Youre a beta? You have alphas blood," I tilted my head, making conversation with the adorable, but unlucky pup.
<p >
<p >"Yeah, it runs in the family. My brother is the alpha of another pack," he explained, conversing casually right back.
<p >
<p >This one actually perplexed me. "How did that work?" Families are usually part of the same pack.
<p >
<p >He sent me a smirk. "Now that ones actually complicated."
<p >
<p >I nodded, pondering on it a bit.
<p >
<p >"Okay, back to the whole taking over thing," I got myself back on track. "Howd you manage? And what about the House Master and Mistress?" I questioned with narrowed eyes.
<p >
<p >"They just. . . Handed it over," the beta shrugged.
<p >
<p >"Wait, what?" This time I couldnt help it. I went the predictable route. I just cant believe what Im hearing.
<p >
<p >Wait. . . Yes I can.
<p >
<p >Cowards.
<p >
<p >"Master Blake would never do that," Destiny jumped to their defense, not believing the dogs.
<p >
<p >"Well, maybe not on his own, but we all know how my aunt can be," I pushed out through gritted teeth and rolled my eyes.
<p >
<p >Always looking out for no one but herself.
<p >
<p >Silence.
<p >
<p >Apparently, no one had anything to say to that.
<p >
<p >Suddenly, "So, now theyre rouges, or as you vampires like to call them, wanderers," Mr grumps explained. "House-less."
<p >
<p >"Yeah, unless they come back and decide to serve the alpha," the cute beta chimed in again.
<p >
<p >"Oh, I hope for their sake they dont do that," I hissed, suddenly feeling beyond aggravated.
<p >
<p >"IF theyre even telling the truth," Harps interjected.
<p >
<p >"What reason do we have to lie?" Grumpy replied with a raised eyebrow.
<p >
<p >"None," I nodded, talking more to Harps and Desi than the one who asked the question.
<p >
<p >My aunt and uncle deserted everyone.
<p >
<p >I dont want to be plunged into a war as much as the next person, but —
<p >
<p >"Did they even try to fight back?" I asked, breaking the silence in the air.
<p >
<p >Im really wondering.
<p >
<p >"Well. . . The guy seemed like he was pondering on it. . ." The beta shrugged.
<p >
<p >Pondering on it? Seriously?
<p >
<p >Even hes trying to sugar coat it.
<p >
<p >"But, not really. . ." He finished.
<p >
<p >"Oh, okay. . .
<p >
<p >Why am I not surprised?"
