Page 5 of Chasing Secrets
The vampire’s lips curled into a smile that never reached his eyes. “You taste delicious, by the way. I can still feel you running through my veins.”
Chase growled, tightening his grip around the vampire’s throat.
The son of a bitch laughed, the sound unnaturally musical despite the violence of their struggle. “Your little human up there smells incredible. Sweet blood. I can almost taste it.”
Red clouded Chase’s vision. His control slipped, canines descending as a growl rumbled from deep in his chest. “You won’t get anywhere near him again.”
Chase didn’t want this monster locked in a cell. He wanted him dead, his head separated from his body. The thought of this thing hunting his mate, stalking Jalen through the darkness, filled him with murderous rage.
Deputy Santi moved in with another set of reinforced cuffs, but Chase knew what needed to happen. This creature wouldn’t stop hunting Jalen. Arrest wasn’t enough. He needed to end this threat permanently.
Before Chase could act, the vampire twisted with inhuman speed, breaking free of his grip.
“I’ll be seeing you both again,” he taunted, dancing backward. His gaze flicked upward toward Jalen’s apartment.
With that, the vampire blurred into motion, vanishing into the darkness beyond the parking lot lights. Chase started after him, but Deputy Leverton grabbed his arm.
The cheetah shifter holstered his weapon, which Chase hadn’t even noticed him draw. “He’s long gone now.”
Chase knew that, but he hated letting the bastard get away a second time.
“Sorry about the formalities upstairs,” Deputy Santi, brushing dirt from his uniform. “Had to keep it professional in front of the human.”
“Standard procedure,” Leverton added with a nod. “Can’t exactly explain the whole supernatural situation to civilians.”
Like Jalen hadn’t already figured it out. Fangs. Blood. Canines and claws. Superhuman strength. Their subterfuge had been unnecessary and probably confused Jalen more than it helped.
Chase turned back to face them, his heart still hammering from the confrontation. “The human. Jalen. He’s my mate.”
The words felt strange on his tongue. Chase had spent 240 years assuming he’d never find his mate. Most preternatural never did. Yet tonight, standing in that doorway, looking at Jalen for the first time... the bond had hit him like a sledgehammer to the chest.
“No shit?” Santi’s eyebrows shot up. “Congratulations, man.”
“Does he know?” Leverton asked, more pragmatic.
Chase shook his head. “Just met him tonight. Caught the vampire’s scent while patrolling and followed it to the apartment. Got there just as the vampire was breaking in.”
If he’d been just a minute longer, that bloodsucker would’ve sank his fangs into Jalen. Chase would’ve lost his mate before he’d had a chance to get to know him.
“Good timing,” Santi said. “That bloodsucker’s one of the three that’s been causing trouble, right?”
“Yeah. Same one that jumped me in the alley by the bakery a few weeks back.” Chase rolled his shoulder, remembering how close that fight had been. “They’re getting bolder.”
“We’ll call this in to Sheriff Owen,” Leverton said, pulling out his radio. “Get a patrol car to watch your mate’s apartment tonight. We’ll cruise around, see if we can track the vamp.”
“Doubt we’ll find him tonight,” Leverton added. “But at least we can make sure he doesn't circle back here.”
Chase rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the tension knotted there. “Thanks for the backup,” he said, genuinely grateful. Crimson Hollow’s sheriff’s department was comprised of nothing but shifters. Made things a lot easier when shit like this went down. “Appreciate it, Caleb. You, too, Carmine.”
“No problem,” Santi replied. “We protect our own in Crimson Hollow.”
Leverton clapped Chase on the shoulder. “And mates definitely count as our own.”
The deputies nodded before heading to their cruiser. Chase watched them drive away then pulled out his phone. His alpha needed to know.
The display showed 2:47 a.m., a hell of a time to be calling anyone, but this couldn’t wait. He dialed Zeppelin’s number, knowing his alpha would be awake regardless of the hour.
Zeppelin answered on the second ring. “What’s up, Chase?”
