Page 28 of Blood Lust
Zane was distracted over the last week as more and more members of his pack continued to arrive. I hardly knew any of them. They all just seemed to follow Zane telling them this is how it was now and remained outside.
“Elle,” I heard Zane’s voice come from the side yard where I sat, getting some fresh air. “While Cole fires up the BBQ and some of the pack are out getting food for dinner, I wanted to have a talk with you.”
I looked over to see a shirtless Zane. Yes, the shifters were all abs and no shirts. My vampires were the same, but unlike the shifters, they didn’t have to worry about shifting in or out of their form and actually wore shirts most of the time.
“What’s up?” I asked the tall and handsome dark-haired alpha wolf. I pulled my eyes quickly away from him. Of all the shifters, he’s the one I knew I would cave and let him have his way with me if he wanted. He was definitely sexy, but his commanding air and even the inner wolf I sensed in him was something I wanted sexually.
His icy-blue eyes were seductive yet dangerous. His plump lips made me want to kiss him and feel them with my own. Hell, even Zac had teased me and said that Zane was probably the only guy he’d admit was almost tempting enough to swing the other way for. Even though I knew he was joking, it was just proof that even other men couldn’t deny the guy was a stone-cold babe.
“You still with me?” Zane asked. “God, penny for your thoughts? You’re actually smiling in the direction of Jen’s bitchy wolf that’s running with some of the pack.”
“Trust me, you don’t know what I’m thinking.”
“Try me.”
I laughed. And Zane laughed in return. “What the hell is actually putting a smile on your face? Nakia pining over you since he’s the only one you’re torturing by feeding on? What?”
For the first time, the mask of authority fell from Zane’s handsome and naturally kickass features as he was trying to get into my head. I inhaled deeply, what the hell, Zac and he would have a good laugh anyway.
“Well, half the reason I only feed on Nakia is that I am in control with him.” I chewed on my bottom lip. “You, on the other hand, are sexy as hell.” I flung my ponytail over my shoulder, “So sexy, in fact, even Zac said he’d fuck you.”
Zane laughed loudly and cast a look over at the house. “Well, that’s quite a compliment since that vamp does nothing but insult us every time we turn around.” He glanced back at me, “And I’m pretty sure Zac would make something I would never do enjoyable.”
“He’s not into dudes.” I felt I should clarify since I’d just blabbed what had been an inside joke.
“Don’t worry. We’re not into vamps, vamps aren’t into us, and look at us now—a vampire is our alpha, and we let her feed on us.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Never fucking say never,” he said, looking up as the wind blew a soft breeze through a weeping willow tree. “Never thought in all my fucked up life that this would happen.”
“Us merging?”
“Yes. Then the issue of the bond that you seem to be afraid of.”
“I don’t know why I put the brakes on this. I am trying to get over it though.”
Zane nodded. “The faster we get this show on the road, the faster we can go after the witch.”
“Why have you all the sudden taken an interest in this? I mean, I thought it was because of Jon, but he’s been distant since the merge ceremony. And honestly, why haven’t you or any of the other supernaturals taken it seriously that Enzo wants to dominate all your asses?”
“I can’t speak for the other supes—that’s what we like to call supernaturals—” he said with a wink, “but the shifters have our own threat to worry about. Hopefully, in this merge and bonding with the immortals, we can one day take out Enzo’s bullshit threat and then take out the threat to the shifters.”
“What could be bigger than Enzo’s threat?”
“The Shifted,” he said with a dark expression, glancing over to where Cole came out with more food to start BBQing.
“What are theShifted?” I questioned.
“It’s a prophecy. Some believe it to be a myth, some think it will happen. As an alpha, I have to prepare for shit like this. The Shifted are a disastrous threat of dead shifters. They, like Enzo, want full domination. Something is drawing shit—like this witch you’re dealing with—to want to take over this fucking world. Even the dead.”
“Holy hell. Dead shifters?”
“Yep. Prophesied to kill all shifters and bring them into their army. If this happens, we’re all fucked. If the Shifted take over, the entire race of humans and supernaturals will serve whatever it is they want.”
“So basically zombie shifters?”
“Yes. Not a threat right now, but God knows, we have to be ready. We burn the dead or their corpses can be taken by Shifted scouts and transformed to continue to build the army.”
“Damn,” I answered. “So if it’s not one thing, it’s another?”
“Pretty much,” Zane answered. “Hey, I know it feels like we got here yesterday and did the merge and all this crazy ass stuff is going down fast. I know the wolves are different, and you as a vampire are not as crazy of us as you could be, but trust me, we’re loyal to you. No matter what, we’re here. If you’re not ready for the bond, it’s fine. Just tell me what I need to do to make this easier.”
