Page 7 of Hot Vampire Next Door: Season Four

Where do I even begin?

I think the first thing I need to do is make sure my relationship with Bran is unshakeable. I know he’s on unsteady ground. I know he’s uncertain of how much to fear me. But I need to reassure him that I will never go against him. Well, my secret trip to The Greasy Spoon notwithstanding.

I’ll ask for forgiveness. That’s always better than permission, right?

“Thank you, Sam.” I lean over and rest my head on her shoulder as she drags another fry through her pool of ketchup. “I’m so grateful for you.”

“Same, Your Royal Highness.”

I lurch upright. “Don’t even start.”

She laughs, salt glittering on the corner of her lip.

“Let’s stop talking about me for a second,” I say and my stomach fills with butterflies just thinking about my best friend being the Alpha’s fated mate.

Is now the time to tell her? I don’t know if there’s a perfect time for that bomb to drop. But I like distracting from my own problems.

“Are you insisting we talk about me?” Sam asks. “You will be left wanting. The most exciting thing that happened to me in the last week is that I accidentally put on my little sister’s underwear when I was running late for work and then spent the rest of the night picking fabric out of my ass crack.”

I hang my head back and laugh and I swear some of the weight leaves my shoulders. Sam makes everything feel lighter.

Once I’ve sobered, I try again. “In all seriousness, there’s something I need to tell you—”

Sam leans in. “Okay.”

“And you’re not going to—”

Just then, the front door of The Greasy Spoon pulls open and the locked deadbolt tears through the door frame as one very strong arm rips it back.

And, as if summoned by mere thought, the Midnight Pack Alpha walks through the door of the diner, his eyes brilliant wolf gold, and says, “What the fuck do you two think you’re doing here alone?”

Episode 56

Control Issues

BRAN

When the Alpha’s name flashes across the screen of my cell phone just five minutes after I’ve called him, I’m not sure if I should be annoyed or impressed.

I tap to answer. “Yeah?”

“Is that how you answer all of your phone calls?” he says.

“Did you find her or not?”

The Alpha laughs. It’s a rumble through the phone, more animal than man. “Yeah, I found her.”

“Where?”

I’m already moving toward the nearest exit in Duval House. Several lower ranking vampires duck out of my way as I stalk down the hall.

When I put eyes on her, she’s going to regret running away.

Did I not tell her to stay put? Five minutes was all I needed to find her a wet cloth, something to clean the vomit from her mouth.

And she took those five minutes to run off like a naughty little mouse.

“She’s at The Greasy Spoon with Sam,” the Alpha says.

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