Prologue: Kellan
Rain
Of course it's raining. Very hard I might add. The temperature is dropping faster now, and with the rain it's even colder. But the adrenaline running through my body helps me to ignore that little annoyance. It also makes it harder to hear, but being who and what I am, I can still hear the footsteps pounding the ground behind me. I try to speed up, even though my injuries are healing, some are more profound than others, and with all I've been through just tonight alone, they are taking longer, which is so very annoying in and of itself. Someone screaming my name, rips me from my thoughts. "Alexandria!" Donte's angry voice rips through the forest after me. I stop and dive behind a very tall and wide tree, holding my breath and just listening. "Alex, you can't run forever, and I will find you and drag you back! You belong to me!" His voice sounds more evil, and angry the longer I don't answer. And if I can help it, I will never answer him again. The blood that was running down my forehead and into my eyes, has somewhat washed away thanks to the rain, so it was good for something anyways. As I stand and try to catch my breath and ease my anxiety, I listen, and listen. I know that I can't stay here, and I need to run, but not knowing his location is causing me to second guess my actions. But I have to go, Ryker is waiting for me, and if I miss his ride I don't know what I will do. Donte will kill me if he catches me, and I don't think I can live like this anymore. I close my eyes, breath in deep, and run...
"Got you, you little bitch!"
"NO!"
Chapter 1: Kellan
"Fuck." I breathe out as I wake from my nightmare. I have at least one a week, sometimes more if my days, or weeks are stressful. Sitting up I wipe the sweat from my brow and face with my hand. Throwing the covers off me I glance at the time, before climbing out of bed. Just a little after noon. Last night was a later night than normal at the bar, we close at three in the morning, but some asshole decided to start a fight by groping one of my girls, and I do not take kindly to having anyone putting unwanted hands on any of my workers. There is a zero tolerance policy, and if I have to get involved, I will make you wish you were never born.
Being a succubus/vampire hybrid, I can see perfectly well in the dark, almost better than in broad day light. After getting up from my king size bed, I look and see four huge heads pop up, with worry in their eyes. My four big beautiful cane corso's let out little whimpers. "I'm ok guys, go back to sleep." Three of those four heads listen, but buy the time I make it to the bathroom and flip the light on, I feel a big, cold nose press into my hand. Kayden, the oldest and the pack leader, after me, looks up at me with another little whimper. "I promise I'm ok buba, it was just a nightmare." I try to reassure him. But he's always a little more protective than the others when it comes to me. I found Kayden in a dumpster when he was only about a week old. Then I found he's old owner, and not only made him eat his own fingers, but also found Carter, Jake, and Jackson in a box. So after I fed my succubus side, (without using sex) Then drained his blood, I threw him in the same dumpster I found Kayden in.
I squat down, and wrap my arms around Kayden. "I promise I'm ok buba." kiss him on his nose, which makes him sneeze, and makes me giggle a little, I rise back up, and turn on the shower, the cool temperature will help my sweaty body cool down, and hopefully get a few more hours of sleep, before I need to get up and start my day.
I remove my wet sleep shirt, which I think belongs to Ryker. It's most defiantly not mine. For one it fits me like a dress, Ryker is 6'5, and I am 5'4. He's built like brick wall. Muscle on top of muscle. He's also a werewolf. When he's in human form, he's just as handsomely beautiful, as he is when he's in wolf form. As a human he has the most smoothest unblemished light brown skin, even with all the muscles, it feels so soft. He keeps his hair short on the sides, almost the skin, and on top he has neatly rowed braids from the front of his head, which extend halfway down his neck. His eyes, are glacier blue, so much so they almost look white. But when his emotions start to amp up, they will flash from yellow, to a very bight gold. It also smells like him, a woodsy, citrusy blend with a very small amout or honeysuckle. As I raise said shirt over my head to take it off, I catch a look at myself in the mirror. "Oh, what the actual fuck?!?!" I am also naked under said shirt. I love Ryker, more than he will ever know. He's my right hand, my first ever bodyguard, my most trusted advisor, and would throw himself in front of any danger that comes my way, just to keep me safe. I've known him since we were around five years old. We met in school, when the teacher decided I was going to be a target of his sexual desire, he had locked me in a closet in his classroom and was waiting on everyone to leave. He had told me not to make a sound or he would follow me home and kill my family. Little did he know I really didn't have a family. Ryker heard me whimpering in that closet, and when he asked the teacher about the noise and the teacher told him to mind his business, Ryker had turned to walk out of the room, and I thought he had left me, but about 5 mins later, Ryker came back, eyes flashing gold and swinging a baseball bat. I heard a loud crack, then a thump, and then the door swung open. I was crouched in a ball, with my head in my hands, crying as quietly as I could. Then I felt Rykers, soft hands, taking my hands. When I looked, I looked into the most beautiful blue eyes I had ever seen. "Come on little succupire." He called me with the biggest, brightest smile. I took his hands and laughed a little. "Succupire?" I asked, cocking my head to the side. "Yeah, that's what you are, right? A succubus, and a Vampire. Right? So...Succupire!" He exclaimed. After that, my smile dropped, and I jumped into his arms and held him tight, thanking him profusely. He held onto me and carried me out of the classroom and right out of the school. From that day forward he's been by my side. Meeting at my house every morning and walking me to school, and walking me home. Hanging out with me, playing with me, protecting me from everything he possible could. When he would notice the bruises on me that my clothes didn't cover, he swore that one day he would kill my dad. When some boy broke my heart, he would break an arm, or some fingers. Which made me love him even more. So when some girl broke his heart, I would drain their life forces, or break some bones in his honor as well. Although I never told him I did those things, and I'd use my vampire powers to make the girls forget it was me. I've loved Ryker for as long as I can remember. But I've never acted on it, and if he feels the same he's definitely never acted on it. So how in the world, did I end up naked under one of his t-shirts? I run my hand down my face and breath out a sigh. Turning to look at Kayden, I ask "Do you know how I ended up naked, under Rykers t-shirt?" He tilts his head to the side, then to the other, just looking at me, like if you don't know, I don't know. I shake my head and step into my shower. There are five shower heads, one directly in front of me, two above, and one on each side about waist level. As I'm lightly massaged from all sides, I begin with soaking my long black hair, that hits me about waist level, then reaching for my honeysuckle and lavender shampoo I start scrubbing my scalp good then my hair. After I rinse, I grab my conditioner of the same smell, then take my brush and brush the conditioner through it and let it sit while I get my coconut and honeysuckle bath wash, lather my loofah and scrub my body. When I rinse the soap off, then I rinse my conditioner. While I'm doing that, I just so happen to hear what sounds like a man, pissing in my toilet across my bathroom. Oh my God, what the actual fuck is going on right now. I have to rub my eyes, because what it looks like is, Ryker, pulling a thick fucking snake out of his sleep shorts, while taking a piss. In my bathroom, in my toilet, and holy fucking shit, his cock is huge, I sometimes forget that I have seen, and also had it down my throat before, Even when I know I made him forget that, that had happened, a long ass time ago. And with that I slip, and with full on cartoon mode, my legs swing up into the air and I hit my back, flat on the shower floor. Knocking all the air out of my lungs. So know I can't breathe, I'm wheezing, tears spring forth, and I am laid out naked as the day I was born. The next thing I hear is "Oh fuck, Kellan!" then the shower door is flung open, and I'm looking straight at Rykers snake, and choking all over again, only this time for a whole other reason. Ryker looks down, sees that his cock is still out, shoves himself back in his sleep shorts, then reaches down picks me up full bridal style and cradles me to his chest, while carrying me to my bed and laying me down. I am, however still wheezing, and can't for the life of me take a full breath. That's when Ryker lays his massive hand on my chest and as calm as ever, he says, "with me." then he takes a full breath in, then lets it out on a five count. "Again." In and the out, this goes on for about another five more breaths. My eyes are now closed and we are breathing together, and before I know it Rykers hand has slipped to my right tit, both of us with our eyes closed, then I hear Kaydens deep, soul piercing growl. I open my eyes and look down at Rykers hand, who is still breathing with it on my tit now. And I say, "Ryker, love, if you don't wanna lose your hand, I'd move it. Kayden's not to fond of anyone, touching me, unless I say it's ok, next thing I know his hand has moved like I burned him, and I'm reaching for my duvet to cover myself. "A-a-are you ok?" He asks. "Hmmm, well, I'm a little confused, but I think I'm ok. What exactly is going on Ry?" I ask, as I lay there soaking my bedsheets, because he brought me straight in here, no towel, no nothing to calm my breathing down. "Well, to be honest, I wasn't fully awake when I went to take a piss." He sheepishly answers me. "I see. Mm-hmm, but, why was I naked, in one of you shirts, and why are you in my house?" I ask, trying to remember as calmly as possible. He just stares at me like I'm crazy. He stares at me for so long that my eyes widen and I start freaking out. "Oh my God, please tell me we didn't..." he abruptly interupts me, "Oh God no!" His hands fly up and he's crossing and uncrossing them. "No, no, no, that did not happen." "Oh, wheew, ok, then what's happening right now?" I ask. "You really don't remember?" "Ryker, no, I can't remember anything past waking up a litlle after 12, from a nightmare, I was all sweaty, so I thought I'd shower and cool down, then you and your snake came in to the bathroom, I fell, and now we're here, in my bed...? So, tell me what's going on? I think I kinda remember some guy putting his hands on one of the girls?" "Ok, um, well some guy did come into the bar last night, and he did put his hands on someone, but, that someone was you." I rear back a little, totally confused. I definitely do not remember that. So, I gesture for him to continue. "At first, it was fine, but I noticed that he kept watching you, like if you went across the bar to talk to someone, his eyes followed you, when you moved where he couldn't see you, he would move seats so you were back in his field of vision. When I finally couldn't stand it anymore, I walked over and started talking to him. I introduced myself, and he seemed familiar, but not at the same time. I asked him if he knew you, and he said he did. I asked how, he said that I shouldn't worry about it, but that you were his, his um..." He just stops cause he sees my face pale, and I feel a bead of sweat roll between my shoulder blades. And apprently I'm shaking. "Hey, Kel, you ok?" He reaches out and lays his hand on top of mine on the duvet where I'm holding it so tight my knuckles are white and my hands hurt. "Yeah, (I clear my throat) yeah, um, keep going." I urge him to continue, cause I still can't remember, I have the worst feeling in my stomach. "Well, he kept talking about, how you were his, and he owned you, and that it was time for you to come home. I finally told him that I thought it best he leave, maybe he had, had to much to drink. But when he looked at me his eyes, they were blood red, Kel, they looked creepy, worse than yours get when you're succubus energy gets too low. Then he got up and started walking towards you, so I followed, when I blinked he was right in front of you like (he snaps his fingers) that. Then he reached out grabbed your arm, and when you turned and looked at him, your face paled, kinda like it is right now, then you're eyes glowed a bright indigo/purple, like they lit up that half of the room. And this guttural growl came out of you, after that he flew across the room, straight threw a wall, you screamed and passed out. I ran to you, picked you up, had the guys take the weirdo out and drop him in the alley, told them to stay with the girls to help Brenna close up, and brought you home. After I convinced your children (4 cane corsos) that I was taking care of you, which was really scary, by the way. They wouldn't calm down until Kayden could smell you and see that I was still the good guy he's know for the last 5 years. Then before I got you up stairs to lay you down, you puked all over me and you. Hince the naked under one of my shirts. (And quickly he adds) but I did it mostly with my eyes closed. I know how you are about your privacy. I'm really sorry, I tried to wake you, but you were out. So I cleaned you up as best as possible after grabbing what little bit of extra clothing out of my car that I had. Which is why I am only wearing basketball shorts, and you only a t-shirt. So, yeah." I take a couple of deep breaths, open my eyes, then, "Thank you, Ryker. I don't really remember hardly any of that, I do remember feeling like my world was going to end, and being very afraid, like really afraid. I can't tell you the last time I've felt that afraid." Kayden is now laying between my legs with his head on my chest, as I absently rub him, and he knows that he's calming me down. That's one of the things he's been trained to do. They are all not only military trained, guard and attack dogs, but they are also trained to reduce stress, and detect heart palpitations, and a few other things. They are also trained to use the toilet, if something happens and I can't make it home in time, that way they aren't stuck holding their bowel movement. That's actually pretty handy when I've worked 12 to 18 hours and I need sleep. I can just feed them and go to bed.
"Do you remember what the guy looked like?" I asked Ryker, cause I still can't remember any of that, only the feeling of dread. "Um, well he was maybe a couple inches shorter than me, he had white hair, like snow white hair, um, a 5 o'clock shadow, he walked with a small limp, he had like icy green eyes, and a scar above his right eye."
My breath stutters in my chest, because some of those details sound like someone I know, then the others don't. The scar and the limp sound a lot like what I did to Donte, almost ten years ago. He had starved me of essence, and of blood so I was weak. I had taken an iron lamp and hit him in the face with it. He went down but not for long, so with that same lamp I busted his knee. Then I ran. But Donte has chocolate brown hair, in an almost military style cut, he is usually clean shaven, his height is about the same as what Ryker described.
"Ok, ok, um, first, I need clothes. Um, could you step out real quick so I can get dressed, please?" "Oh, shit, sorry Kel, yeah, um, just holler when you're dressed and we can talk about this more, ok?" Ryker asks with almost pleading eyes. So I agree. After he leaves the room, I walk over to my walk in closet, that I swear could be used as an extra room, that's why when I bought this house, I had the contractor put in a panic room, and it's built in so that you wouldn't even notice it, if you didn't already know where to look. I have it stocked with everything anyone would need for a full three months except what my succubus side needs, cause that can only come from some kind of contact with another being, I also rotate out things like the water, blood, and anything that might get stale every two to three weeks just to make sure everything in there stays fresh, there's is also a small bathroom with a small shower, and toilet. You really could live in there for about three months. But that's not what I need right now, I reach out and pull underwear, bra, a comfy crop top, and some sweats, pull everything on, then walk out into my bedroom, and then tell Ryker to come with me down to the kitchen, we will need coffee for this talk we are going to have, and I need something for my headache.
Down stairs, there's sliding glass (bullet proof) door that leads to my back yard that's fenced and extra re-enforced, for one to protect my babies from busting through in case they are chasing someone and that someone actually makes it over the ten foot fence, and two, also to deter anyone from coming over said ten foot re-enforced fence. That being said I call my babies to see if they'd like to run a bit, there's a little over a half an acre back there, where they can run and get there exercise, especially when I can't walk them. That would be days like today. Carter, Jake, and Jackson take off and I smile because to me they are just big goofy babies, but to anyone else they are huge scary death machines.
I look down and Kayden leaning against my leg, and I'm barley holding him up, his head comes past my hips when he's sitting down. I tilt my head and ask "You don't wanna go run with you brothers?" To which he give a huff, and I take it as a no. I leave to door open then go and finish our coffee.
After coffee's made and we are sitting at my dining room table, both of us just enjoying our coffee and kind of spacing out for a second. I run my hands down my face take a deep breath and look over at Ryker. "Ok, so you remember about five and a half years ago when I called you in a panic and asked you to pick me up over on Lakewood dr. But I never made it and you didn't hear from me again for like three years?" "Yeah, I flipped out, cause you didn't show, and I couldn't get a hold of you, I called you're piece of shit dad, I called Benny, and I think I even call Sarah, and none of them knew anything, but of course your dad couldn't care to be bothered, he said you were probably acting up again and your husband was probably punishing you. I didn't know you had gotten married." He somehow looks hurt at this revelation. "Ry, I was never married, not willingly anyways." At that I just look down at the table. Clenching and unclenching my hands, Kayden lays his head in my lap and whines a little, he feels my anxiety. Ryker reaches over and holds my hand and asks, "what happened Kel?" When I look at his hand holding mine, all the guilt comes rushing back. Just for a second I look in Rykers eyes, so beautiful, and he's going to be so utterly broken when I tell him what has happened, and what I have done. "Ry, when I tell you this story, (a tear slides down my cheek) you're gonna hate me, and I don't blame you." He reach up and wipes my tear away, which causes more to fall, I am so afraid of losing him. Then he says, "Kel, there's nothing that could make me hate you."
"When I was 17, my wonderful father sold me, to...
As I dive into the memory, I can't even look at Ryker, so I stare out the window and relive the worst almost 10 years of my life.