Page 50 of Wolfgang

He watched as Johann wandered off, Ferdy on his heels. He couldn’t spare the extra energy to contemplate how to placate the little vampire, not with things so askew with his own mate.

But apparently the night was not done with him.

Wolfe allowed himself one heavy, indulgent sigh as Alexei sidled up next to him. How many more unwanted heart-to-hearts was he going to have to have this evening?

Alexei crossed his arms and made some Russian-sounding grunt. “I don’t like you manipulating Jay. But Iamglad she’s dead.”

Wolfe pinched the bridge of his nose. “I really don’t care how you feel one way or another, mobster.”

“That’s fine,” Alexei said easily before moving to stand directly in front of Wolfe, the small amount of space between them emphasizing his unfortunate height advantage. “But be nice to Jay or we’ll see just how far this new vampire strength of mine goes.”

Wolfe smirked up at him. “I don’t like threats.”

“And I don’t like seeing Jay unhappy.”

“I won’t apologize for Veronique’s death. It was her own fault for ignoring Silas’s deterioration.”

Alexei shrugged his massive shoulders. “You don’t need to. He’ll forgive you anyway because that’s who he is.” He turned, presumably to follow his mate, before looking back at Wolfe. “Just eat one of his cookies next time, okay?”

By the time Wolfe escaped the cursed yellow house, he found Eric already waiting in the passenger seat of the car. “I’ve changed my mind about you having friends, darling.”

Eric didn’t answer, not even to glower. He just flipped through what looked to be a journal of some kind.

“From Danny?” Wolfe asked.

“From Danny.”

Well, at least his mate was not entirely incapable of speaking to him.

“His notes on vampirism,” Eric continued. “‘New vampires are unstable and bloodthirsty. Except when they already have mates, then they’re just super horny all the time.’” Eric chuckled, though the sound was without humor. “Helpful.”

Wolfe tried to catch his eye. “What’s troubling you, pet? The child?”

Eric frowned down at Danny’s notes. “Yes. No. Yes. We definitely need to talk about what you said back there at some point. But… I don’t know. I think it’s hitting me: this is my life now. I’m not human anymore, am I? And it goes beyond this bond with you. I’m going to have, like, vampire friends, and deal with vampire problems. And one day I’m going to go hunting with you and feed from a living person. But I guess I should just be grateful some asshole didn’t turn me when I was still some innocent kid.”

Wolfe felt some tightness he hadn’t been aware of in his chest loosening as Eric shared with him. “You don’t have to be grateful at all. You’re allowed to still be angry with me.”Be angry all you want, as long as you don’t cast me aside.

Eric sighed. “I’m not though. I’m kind of getting it now. You acted on instinct when you turned me. It’s fucked up, but it also just…happened. I feel it with this new beast inside me, always longing to be close to you at all times. I can imagine it would get exhausting, resisting it.”

“Yes.”

Eric finally looked at him, a strange half smile on his face. “You talk to yours a lot, you know. Like, out loud.”

Wolfe saw no point in denying it. “I suppose I do.”

“Why?”

“Mine has always been vocal. And perhaps before I was turned, I was a bit…isolated. It wasn’t so bad, having a bloodthirsty companion in my soul.”

Eric’s brow furrowed, just the slightest. “Were you really unhappy before you met me?”

“I wasn’t unhappy in the slightest.” Wolfe didn’t think he’d ever been truly unhappy. He’d been angry with his family, frustrated with society’s need for his self-control. But unhappy? He’d have to have cared more for that to be possible. As Eric’s frown deepened, Wolfe conceded, “Perhaps things were a bit duller.” He reached a hand to Eric’s cheek, pleased when his mate didn’t flinch at his touch. “I find the world has a bit more color with you in it.”

“But why? You hardly know me.”

Here was where a different type of mate may have been able to offer flowery words, lovely reassurances of Eric’s worth. But Wolfe, as always with his mate, could only offer him the truth. “Other people may need to rationalize, may have morals or hang-ups or other things that get in the way. But I’ve always run on instinct. I trust myself more than anyone else. And I want you. I want to keep you. That’s enough for me.”

Eric pursed his lips and drew away from Wolfe’s touch, clearly still doubtful.

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