Page 13 of Connected

“And why would that surprise you?” She turns around and stares at him. “I have my own personal reasons for hating them. Zak, it’s not funny.”

“No, it… well, it just makes me laugh—considering everythin’.”

“Considering what? Zak, you’ve lost me. What reason would you have to I wouldevergive a vamp the time of day? They’re all sick fuckin’ bloodsuckers.”

“I don’t know. Maybe cause you’re screwin’ one? I mean, that’s what I don’t get. You’ve got an alpha wolf that adores you, a pack that adores you—despite that, you still wanna fuck a vamp? Just seems kinda odd to me,” he shrugs. “What kinda kick can you get out of it? Does it turn you on—the danger of knowing he could kill you? Oh God, do you let him feed from you? I heard that’s one of their kinks. You know what? That’s too much information, so please don’t tell me.”

“What the fuck?” she stares at him; a deep frown settles over her forehead. “Zak, did they give you drugs or something because you’ve completely lost me? What the fuck are you talking about?”

“I’m talkin’ about you—about you fuckin’ Darius. And don’t say you’re not, because I know you are. It’s where you went at the club—to be with him, right?”

“What?” She gasps, with open-mouthed disbelief and stares at him. “You know about that? Shit, does Digby know? Did you tell him?”

“No, I didn’t say anythin’—not yet, anyway. Whether he knows… I don’t know. But if he does well, he’s not said anythin’ to me.”

Kat’s lost for words and tries to decide if it’s worth the effort to lie—deciding it’s not she wonders how to explain. “Zak it’s… well, it’s not like that. It’s nothing against Digby. Luna adores him—I adore him. Hell, we’re bonded. He’s my world but… Oh, how do I explain it? Me and Darius it’s… well, it’s just sex. Different—but sex.”

“Well, I still don’t get it. What, is it some kinda vamp-fetish to spice things up? A love-to-hate thing?”

“What the hell?” she laughs. “Zak… Darius is not a—” Immediately she stops talking and the color drops from her face and she stares looking at him blankly. “Wait, what you….you think Darius is a… you think he’s a—”

“No, no Kat, I don’t think—I know. I know what he is.” He frowns, watching her. The puzzled look on her face and the stunned confusion as a harsh reality sets in.

“Oh my God…” she gasps.

“Wait, you didn’t know? Oh, c’mon Kat, you can’t be serious? Hell, I didn’t think you were that dumb. How could you not know?”

“Wait… no, just wait a fuckin’ minute.” She sits back, dragging her trembling hand through her hair. “Zak, are you saying Darius is a v-vamp… Are you sure? No. Oh God, no. No-no…” she gasps for breath. “No, that can’t be true—it just can’t be. I don’t believe you. He’s a wolf, and I—” she stutters breathlessly. Her head swirls with thoughts as she tries to make some kind of sense of what he’s saying. “No. No fuckin’ way is that true.”

“Wait, you seriously didn’t know?” he swallows nervously; unsure what he’s done. Wondering if telling her was wise. “So, you didn’t pick up on the moody-as-fuck, cold, doesn’t eat—never fuckin’ sleeps—half dead vibe? Kat, how the hell could you fuck him and not know that? Shit, that implant of yours really did screw with your wolf senses.”

“Yeah, it must have done cos seriously… I didn’t know. I mean I-I asked him, about being a wolf and he… he didn’t say anything.”

“No, well, that doesn’t surprise me. Look, if it makes you feel any better, he’s not exactly afull-on-vamp. What I mean is, he’s not ahumanvamp. He’s still a wolf—kinda. Oh, how the hell do I explain this?” He sighs loudly. “Kat, I’m sorry, but I really thought you knew. I thought that’s what you got a thrill out of—most women do. The to-die-for good looks, flashy purple eyes, and that mesmerizing way about him. Hell, what’s not to like?” he grins. “Well, apart from the set of killer teeth, maybe?”

“Yeah, well, we all have those, right?” she frowns. “So, is that why you have such a problem with him, because of what he is?”

“No. No, I don’t like him because he nearly killed Diggs. Oh, it’s a long story,” he sighs.

“Well, it doesn’t look like we’re going anywhere fast. So best you tell me what happened.”

“You really wanna know? Well, first off Digby saved him—fed him his blood and kept him alive. Hell, it took most of his blood, he damn near killed himself doin’ it. Probably accounts for why Darius is still more wolf than he is vamp but—”

“Wait, Digby saved him?” she frowns. “Saved him from what? How the hell did it happen, I mean Darius is strong, so how?”

“Hell, you know I probably shouldn’t be tellin’ you all this, and if we ever get outta here—alive—then Darius is probably gonna kill me,” he takes a breath, “My older sister—”

“Isabella? Yeah, it’s okay Darius told me about her—that she was his wife and she was killed.”

“Yeah. She was killed by vamps. A large nest moved into the area. They came to the commune looking for alpha wolves—female blood-alphas, to be precise. They tried to capture Isabella, but she wouldn’t submit and so they killed her. Darius was away when it happened and when he came back… Oh, Kat, he was so broken for so long, and then he made it his mission to find the nest and destroy it. There were problems at the commune and so we all left—signed up with the military—Darius and Diggs, they worked their way up, hell it didn’t take long,” he laughs. “They set up this special-ops-unit, trained us. Then they used all the resources at our disposal to hunt down the vamps. But Darius, he wouldn’t wait—he didn’t go as a team and it was a large nest, they were stronger than him.”

“What they were stronger than Darius?” she cocks an eyebrow.

“Oh… he killed a fair few before they eventually overpowered him. You’re right, Darius was strong—helluva alpha wolf. He led the commune for years. But the vamps were too much, they attacked and left him for dead. Digby went after him; found him. They spent three days in that cave, with Digby feedin’ him. Like I said, he nearly killed himself. When we found them, Darius was stronger; he’d given Diggs just enough of his blood to keep him goin’ but not turn him. We found them and brought them back. Marco helped to save Digby, but it was too late for Darius—his wolf—he’d already been turned. So, he was a… half-ling, a hybrid… whatever you wanna call it. He can’t shift and so he can never be a real wolf again. But he can stay in the daylight and needs very little sleep. The upside is he has this healin’ ability—his saliva heals wounds. Just surface wounds, not like bullets; hell, we wouldn’t need a damn medic if he could do that, right?” he laughs loudly as he sighs, “Kat, I’m sorry, I really thought you’d know; it’s just not somethin’ we talk about because we all know.”

“So, the initiation,” she looks at her hand and draws an imaginary line with her thumb. “That’s how he fixed my hand. He really did cut it, didn’t he? When he kissed, it… Oh my god,” she swallows apprehensively as she tries to make sense of everything. “You know I see him,” she looks up staring at Zak, “Darius, I see him in my head—I have visions about him. But that’s just a vamp thing, right? I read a lot of stories about vamps, how they can come into your dreams, and if they’ve had your blood, they can feel you—sense you. I thought it was just a damn tale, but—”

“Yeah, Darius can feel us, see—sense whatever you wanna call it. It’s a connection from when he blood-bonds with us. Maybe it’s like a wolf bond? Oh fuck, don’t ask me, I don’t know how all that shit works—it just does. You know—and I’ve never told anyone else this—but I used to get dreams about him; about fuckin’ him,” Zak blushes embarrassed. “Hell, I couldn’t get him out of my fuckin’ head for a long time. Hey, I’m trustin’ you not to tell the rest of the guys that, cos I’m not sure I’d want them knowin’ I was lustin’ for Darius.”

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