Page 4 of Forced Bonds

“I always am.”

After tossing and turning for a few hours, I gave up on napping. The sun was setting and that meant vampires were waking up, ready to eat humans and cause trouble.

I showered, mainly because it made me feel more alive, then got dressed with my favorite weapons strapped all over my body. The chief hadn’t texted or called me since I’d left this morning, so I figured he was okay with me just scouting ahead, killing vamps as I did so.

While I would’ve preferred to have my bike with me, my car would have to do. This wasn’t a skyscraper town. Most buildings were three to five stories high at their tallest, and there was lots of greenery in between the buildings on the outskirts of town. I would simply pick out a drive-through and get some greasy junk food to satisfy my growling stomach, and then do a sweep in whatever direction I felt like going. I doubted I would kill many vampires tonight, but considering they had fifteen in four days I might be proven wrong on that.

With my food secured, I drove and parked near what appeared to be either a library, or a sort of museum. It was quiet and lacked people. The perfect place to eat and plan what to do next.

I was just about to bite into the juicy goodness when my phone vibrated. “Just my fucking luck,” I cursed, wiggling it out without dropping my burger. “Benjamin Green speaking,” I said, eyeing my burger with longing.

“Mr. Green,” Christopher’s voice was a smooth timber that promised so many dirty and delicious things, but I wasn’t having it.

“Alpha,” I greeted. “I’m eating, so excuse me while I continue to do so while you talk.”

The only reply I got to that was the sound of the man exhaling a breath. I took that as my go ahead and finally took my bite, groaning when the crispy taste of bacon hit. Damn that was good. I hadn’t expected that from a small town like this, but it was often those small places that left you surprised and sated. Maybe it was because you knew going in that it wouldn’t be as good as you hoped. Then they prove you wrong and suddenly it’s the best damn thing ever.

“I regret asking for the best,” the alpha growled. “I called to inform you that my pack has already taken down five vampires. What have you been up to?”

Now, I knew talking with my mouth full wasn’t professional, but neither was declaring someone was your mate in the middle of a work meeting. So truly, I thought I was justified when I replied, “I’m eating. I’ll kill after.”

After a brief pause where I got to get another bite in, he said, “They seem to be heading for the old library. It’s closed at night but that, um, seems to have been their goal every night.”

I looked out my window at the three-story building. “Yellow brick façade and a red flag on the roof?”

“Yeah…? Are you driving while eating?!”

“No,” I said, chewing. “I’m parked in front of the building they seem to be attracted to.” I truly needed a raise. It seemed I knew the mind of those rogue vamps better than anyone around.

“Call me if you need more assistance. My pack are working their way to the library as we speak.” He hung up before I could reply. I had no idea why he was so angry at me. It wasn’t my fault I was his supposed mate, and really, I should’ve been the one in a bitchy mood. It truly took a hit on my self-esteem, being rejected on the spot like that. Not that I had time for love or a family. It truly would be best that the alpha found a nice werewolf to spend the rest of his life with.

Once my burger was devoured, I checked my surroundings in the car mirror before stepping out. It was fully dark now. The street lights were the only thing illuminating the area. That and the small sconces on the library front.

Casually, I took out my gun, holding it as I stepped around the building. It was easy enough to spot a rogue vampire, mostly because their eyes glowed red, something regular vampires didn’t do, not unless they were feeding or highly aroused, or so I’d heard.

Honing in on my trained senses, I already knew one was approaching from the grassy area behind the building. I believed it could’ve been a playground, or something similar, but the darkness hid the details in shadows. Red glowing eyes appeared like a light in the fog, their gaze intent on me. I raised my gun and shot. Bang, dust. It was as though my shot had alerted the other vampires, because several came running from the same direction, all headed for me.

Fuck! It had been years since I had this many coming for me, and they were fast!

Quickly, I shot two in the head, one seemed to blast off some of its skull before it turned to dust. I faced the others, noticing more coming up behind them. Was this a trap? Had I been called here just to get killed?

“We’re here!” A woman shouted behind me, but I didn’t dare take my eyes off the approaching vampires. I kept shooting, always aiming true. Other guns went off next to me as one policeman and woman joined me, their shots hitting the vampires with precision. They were smart, even werewolves should attack at a distance and only shift when it was hand to hand combat. They would last longer like this and avoid getting hurt.

“I’m Benjamin,” I greeted, still focused on the killing.

“Jennifer, and this is Freddy,” the woman, Jennifer, said.

We worked in silence, the only sounds coming from our guns and the groans from the dying vampires.

“That had to be like twenty!” Jennifer exclaimed next to me.

I finally felt safe enough to face them. They were in their late twenties, if I had to guess. If Christopher hadn’t called them pack, I wouldn’t have known they were werewolves.

“I think I counted twenty-five in total,” I grunted. I wasn’t annoyed over the fact I’d killed more vamps; it was mostly because now I knew I had to kill the source, and that was the last thing I wanted to face. And the last thing that should be alive to fuck with innocent families like this. Whoever was creating these vampires was after something. It could either be a war between werewolves and vampires, or something deeper than that.

Freddy groaned as he stretched his fingers, his hand likely aching from shooting so much.

“What’s in the library?” I asked, preferring to get right down to business.