Page 2 of Forced Bonds

“Will do, boss. Any details about the case?”

“No, the alpha wants to inform you in person. I only know it’s regarding rogue vampires and that he seemed pretty agitated about it.”

“I’ll repeat myself. Fun.”

After two hours on the road, I was finally in Keen. I hated working with wolves, not because I didn’t trust them, but most didn’t understand personal boundaries and the rest were territorial assholes who growled like the dogs they were.

Knowing my luck, I would need to stay in town for several days, which was the main reason I’d packed two bags. One for weapons and one for clothes. I could survive with few clothes but my weapons were essential for my survival here. I parked in front of the police station where the alpha had his main office, arriving ten minutes early. I adjusted my turtleneck, a force of habit. I always hid my neck. Always. If you really thought about it, most supernatural beings loved necks. Werewolves bit them, vampires sucked on them, and demons… well, they sort of did both. I was simply saving them the temptation by hiding my neck.

I shot Hazi a quick text, informing him that I’d arrived for the meeting. He didn’t need to know more than that. He would only need further details when I knew how long this would take. And once I was done, of course.

I left the car and took confident strides toward the station, one arm gently pushing against my side, feeling my weapon there. I immediately felt calmer. I was protected. I was safe.

A brush of warm air hit me as soon as I stepped inside, as did the lingering scent of pine and coffee. An interesting mix, that was for sure. Tapping could be heard from my right so I followed the sound and found the receptionist. She was likely in her mid-thirties and sported a curly bob on her head that moved as she typed on the keyboard.

She stalled her typing and gave me a beaming smile. “You must be Mr. Green.”

“I am,” I confirmed. “I have a ten a.m. meeting with your alpha.”

“He’s already in meeting room 5, just follow the hall to your left. Do you want coffee? Tea, perhaps?”

I shot her a charming smile. “No, thank you. Hope you have a nice day.”

She smiled shyly and replied, “You too.”

The scent of pine intensified as I approached the room with a clearly marked 5 on it, it was a nice scent. A calming one. Maybe werewolves had the right idea when it came to scenting places. The ones I’d been saved by had led me to a house that smelled like vanilla and cake, and that had been marvelous to my kid senses. Too bad they’d met the same fate as my family did.

I mentally slapped myself just out front of room 5. I couldn’t keep revisiting the past. All I could do was make sure rogue vampires were killed. I would make sure no other child was left orphaned because of bloodlust.

Steeling myself, I knocked and then opened the door. I was practically attacked by a pine forest as I stepped inside. The scent enough to make me all mellow with contentment. Were they doing drugs here?

A black-haired man stared at me in shock, which was granted as I just stood there and sniffed the air like I was a dog in heat. I would not stoop to their level, dammit!

“Hi,” I greeted, putting on my professional mask as I offered him my hand. “I’m Benjamin Green, the Vampire Hunter.”

“Christopher Keen,” he replied, accepting my handshake with a firm hold.

I sat opposite him, ready to get started and escape this room and all the wonderfulness it brought as soon as possible. Maybe it helped with interrogations? Even I felt my mental walls come down. Smart thinking.

“So, Alpha, what’s troubling you?”

He noticeably swallowed. “I have a vampire issue.”

I nodded. “Rogue vampires, I’m guessing?”

“Yes, all newly turned.” It was hard to determine whether rogues were turned recently or not. Even I couldn’t tell how long those I killed had been around. Perhaps it was a scent thing?

While I waited for him to continue, I couldn’t help but notice just how young he seemed. He could be anywhere from twenty-five to forty. I knew supernaturals aged differently than us mere humans, but it was throwing me off a bit not knowing. He was the pack alpha and that alone often meant an elder.

“There’s so many we can’t keep up,” he continued. “I’ve had to take night shifts for two weeks straight just so none of them got further into town where the families reside.”

I grimaced. Families. I would protect those children.

“How many have you had this last week?”

“Around fifteen,” he replied easily.

My eyes widened at that. “And in total?”