Page 4 of Hunting for Redemption

Once inside, I lay him down on my couch, making sure he’s as comfortable as possible as the transformation continues to happen. It’s in that moment that I realize with a start that I have no idea who this guy is. I don’t know even know his name.

I run my fingers through my hair before getting to work. I pull the baby vampire free from the body bag, making sure the blood bags are safely on my end table where they won’t fall and break. It wouldn’t do either of us any good if this guy woke up inside the body bag and freaked out. I need to try to make his waking up as gentle as possible. That’ll help with all the heightened sensations he’ll be experiencing.

Once the body bag is out of the way, I let my eyes wander over this man. He has dark hard, dark stubble, full lips. His body looks strong and fit, no doubt from being a hunter. But there’s something else, something tugging at the back of my head.

I walk away in order to clear my head, making quick work of getting a washcloth. When I come back, he’s still not stirring. As carefully as I can be, I wipe the blood away from his throat. Whoever did this left this man a mess. His blood is along the side of his neck and shoulder, his mouth is covered in someone else’s blood. I’m no hunter but if I were, I would promise to fuck over whoever did this.

Changing someone like this is unthinkable. It’s disgusting and cruel.

A fire burns inside my chest as I clean this man. I’m not a violent person despite being a vampire but there’s something about this situation that boils my blood with rage. My fangs drop down and a hiss wells up inside of my throat. But I push it down.

What is that smell? It smells so fucking good.

I use the cloth along this man’s mouth, cleaning the blood away. Once he’s clean, my hand lingers, touching his cheek, just above his stubble. His skin is ice cold. The change is happening. The vampirism is taking. Soon he’ll be awake.

I touch my own chest, sitting down on the end table in my living room. Something is compelling me to stay put and watch over this man. I’ve done this before. I’ve helped baby vampires get on their feet. But this is the first time I feel so attached. The feeling is instantaneous and overwhelming.

There’s something about this one that’s making me care, making me want to make sure he’s safe and happy and taken care of. There’s something going on inside my chest that I can’t quite explain or understand.

“What is it about you?” I whisper to this unconscious man, letting myself reach out and run my fingers through the man’s hair. I pull back, clenching my fist. I need to control myself. He’s unconscious for fuck’s sake.

There’s movement. His fingers, they’re twitching. Any time now.

For some reason, I find myself excited with anticipation. If my heart was beating, I know it would be fluttering about with nerves. Why do I feel like a school boy with his very first crush? What the fuck?

His hand twitches again. I take a deep breath and freeze. His scent, it’s changing as the transformation is finishing. He smells so good. Fuck. Like lilies swaying on a cool summer day. I breathe the scent in deeply, letting it wash me away for a moment.

Holy shit.

All of the pieces start clicking into place. The feeling in my chest, his scent, my need to protect him. Oh gods.

The man before me finishes his transformation just as the life changing realization hits me full force. He opens his eyes, looking straight at me. My true mate is officially a vampire.

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