The empty guestroom greeted Evonne. It had been two days since their return to Derek’s home, and he had been grateful enough to give her blood the previous night. But it was this night she dreaded. Gabriel informed her about hunting animals and how it was something she needed to learn, but she worried on how filling it would be.
     Grabbing her coat, she headed downstairs and found Taylor in his usual evening spot—on the sofa, playing a video game. He nodded his hello and went back to the game. She gave her own quick hello, minus the nod, and left the room, searching for a certain werewolf. The night before, Adrian wasn’t at the house. Unsure, Evonne questioned Derek about his absence. His answer was a simple, “He comes and goes as he pleases.” He later added, using the dates on the calendar as proof that Adrian would be here tonight as well as the following nights.
     Out on the back porch, Evonne found no sign on Adrian, not even the fresh scent of cigarette smoke nor the sight of his shadow, Ginger. But the scent of the dog was strong. Her eyes darted over the dark surroundings and found the bright light pouring from the opened garage door. Peering inside, she saw the organized clutter. A motorcycle occupied one side of the garage, while a dark red van sat on the furthest side. Boxes, tools, and other items lined the walls, while on the wall near the motorcycle sat a long work bench.
     Adrian stood by the bench with Ginger laying near him, her head perking up as she saw Evonne enter. The dog shook her tail, an action mixed with excitement and nervousness. Adrian looked up, his greeting a little less easier to decipher. He said a quick, “Hey,” and returned to his task of sorting the mess along the bench.
     “What are you doing?” Evonne asked.
     He shrugged and replied, “Straightening up some.”
     “Need any help?”
     “Nah, I’m almost done.” He sat a handful of bolts in a small box and placed the container in a larger box. He then moved on to pile of rags, most the tattered remains of discarded towels, and began folding each one.
     Evonne sat on a nearby stool and watched him. “You seem restless.”
     “That happens,” he admitted, placing the towels on a side table. “That’s why I like to keep busy.”
     “Or it could be the upcoming full moon,” she ventured to guess, immediately wishing she hadn’t.
     “That too.”
     Pivoting her weight on the stool, Evonne debated her next question. She bit her lower lip. “I want to ask you something.”
     “Ask away,” he said, his voice more relaxed.
     She glanced at the floor before continuing, not sure on how to make this request. “I don’t want to keep asking Derek or Taylor, and Melissa doesn’t seem to like me.”
     Adrian turned to face her, amused at where this was heading. “This is new. Normally, I’m not on the menu.”
     Confused, Evonne tried to read further into his response. “How many visit here?”
     “Just Keelan and Gabriel.” He gestured to the motorcycle. “That bike actually belongs to Keelan. He works on it sometimes when he’s here.”
     “So you don’t mind?” she said.
     He shook his head. “I don’t mind. There’s just one thing I ask in return.”
     Evonne’s shoulders dropped. Ask in return? “What do you want?”
     “You’re blood,” he said, stopping to read her reaction. “Don’t worry. It won’t be much.”
     Taken aback, she quickly replied, “I don’t think I can, or if I’m allowed to.”
     Adrian continued to clean, keeping his eyes from her. “Why not?”
     She shrugged, her own eyes looking elsewhere. “What would Gabriel say?”
     “Nothing, I would imagine.”
     She bit her lower lip again and dared herself to entertain the idea. “Have you done this before?”
     “No. But I’ve heard about it.”
     “About what?”
     “It’s called a blood bond.”
     Evonne perked up. This was something she was actually familiar with. She was no real expert but at least she had some knowledge. “I’ve heard about it before. But I thought it was something only between a vampire and a human.”
     “It can be that, but also works between a werewolf and a vampire or with two vampires.”
     “So this power is in my blood?”
     He stopped cleaning again to face her. “Can I speak candidly to you?”
     She nodded. “Sure.”
     Adrian grabbed another stool and sat down before her. Evonne’s composure stiffened as she noticed the conversation turning serious.
     He nervously cupped his hands together, his eyes still staying away from the girl before him. “I was adopted. My parents don’t know the truth about me. On the three nights a month I stay here, they think those are D&D nights.”
     “D&D?” she asked.
     Adrian glanced at her, shocked that she didn’t know the name. “Dungeons and Dragons,” he said. “It’s a role-playing game.”
     “Oh.”
     “Anyway, I’ve never known what it was like to be in a pack. There this connection I’ve never experienced while hunting or in everyday life. It can be very lonely at times. I’ve heard that the connection is similar to a blood bond. But I’ve never had the guts to ask anyone before.”
     “Why not ask Gabriel or Keelan?”
     He shook his head. “I wouldn’t feel right asking them.”
     “But you asked me when you’ve known them longer.”
     Adrian let out a nervous laugh. “You’re not that intimidating.”
     “Well, gee, thanks.” She rolled her eyes in the midst of her sarcasm.
     “I don’t mean it like that,” he defended, already doubting his choice to tell her. “You just seem easier to talk to.”
     “Do your friends here know about this?”
     “They’re human. They can’t understand. My mind likes to think of them as my pack, but it’s not the same if they can’t experience things from my side.”
     Evonne sat back, thinking over his offer. The idea did intrigue her. But what would Gabriel say if she chose to do this with him? Would he scold her for being so naive? It didn’t seem like a big deal to her. She had shared her blood in the past. It wasn’t a permanent effect. “I don’t know. I wouldn’t know what to expect. I’m still new to all of this. I’m still learning.”
     “Then this is something we can learn together.”
     “I’m still not sure.”
     “Gabriel mentioned about hunting tonight. Do you think he would mind of I tagged along?”
     “You’ll have to ask him.”
     Adrian sighed. “I thought you’d say that. Just a—just forget that I asked.” He stood up and went back to the bench.
     “Wait. I’m glad you told me. It took a lot to tell me.” She left the stool to stand by him, her eyes catching his. Evonne saw the sincerity in his voice and his plea. Though she couldn’t understand this missing connection he spoke of, she pick up on the hint of pain within his words.
     “Okay,” she said.
     He tilted his head, unsure if he heard her correctly. “Okay?”
     “Yeah. I don’t think I’d get in trouble. It’s my body anyway.”
     Dropping what he was doing, he faced her once more and explained. “For a link to be strong, you’ll have to take more blood than what you would with a human, and I will have to take the same.” He looked away, offering her the right side of his neck.
     Evonne wanted to act fast before she had a chance to change her mind. Though one side of her held sympathy towards his request, the other half was filled with curiosity, most of it focusing on how his blood would taste. As her teeth broke his skin, his body remained still, not even flinching at the pain from her bite. Adrian’s blood entered her mouth. The taste was very different from a human’s, yet somewhere within, she found an allure all its own. Did this really compare to animal blood?
     The blood ran down to her stomach and delivered a new sensation to every tissue it happened to touch within her. This wasn’t the perfection she felt while in the depths of human blood, but rather an exhilarated rush, a new level of excitement and awareness, very similar to a sparks preceding a massive brushfire. She could easily become lost within him, as well. And Gabriel disliked this taste? How could he see it differently than her? Perhaps it was the taboo nature of the act itself. Vampires needed humans to survive, but where did werewolves factor in? They were living creatures, yet animals were also living, but a diet on their blood only left a vampire weak, with only half their real strength remaining. At least that’s what she learned from Keelan.
     The fire engulfed her. His blood moved throughout her veins and crashed into her heart, flooding the organ with life. She wanted to take in all that his body had to offer, to bathe in the heat of his blood. This wasn’t perfection, but rather the start of an addiction.
     Adrian gently urged her away. She left him, licking at the blood still leaving the bite. Before she could even move away, he leaned in, his mouth on her neck and teeth pressing into her skin. His bite was different than that of a vampire. The two sets of sharpened teeth on top sent an overwhelming pressure over her neck, the muscles and tendons underneath tightening against him. She forced herself to relax as his teeth withdrew and he began to drink.
     Through the veil of her mind, she saw the darkened curtains lift as Adrian was granted entry. Evonne began to feel anxious and a little frightened at what Gabriel may do if he found out. But these thoughts seemed odd. She already knew her stance on his possible reaction. These thoughts… they weren’t hers. She felt them again, taking her time to glide through each one, seeing them without any hindrance. Evonne’s wanderings drifted over one thought, the image unmistakably Adrian’s. Did he really see her like that? As soon as the sight came into view, it was ushered away, replaced by an obvious attempt to hide its existence. But Evonne remembered it well. There was nothing shameful in what she saw. It was actually flattering. While her current mind called herself a monster, the image briefly shared by Adrian spoke differently. She was no monster in his eyes. She was seen as a special human given an ancient gift—the very gift as old as the bloodline’s he carried.
     Pulling away, his mouth left her but his mind remained, though not as blindingly strong. Evonne glance at his neck and saw the bite mark already healed. She leaned in, her tongue returning to his neck as she licked the blood away from his healed skin. Her eyes dropped down to the dog. The animal watched the two with a curious stare. Evonne stepped back and placed a comfortable distance between them.
     Ginger gave a muffled bark.
     Glancing at the dog, Adrian spoke. “If you all are heading out soon, I’ll need to lock her up. She sometimes wanders into the woods if no one’s watching.” He headed for the door and called out for Ginger to follow. The dog obeyed.
     Evonne looked around the garage once last time, her eyes landing on the bike. Aside from her own motorcycle, she didn’t know much about them. From the looks of this one, however, she knew it to be a Harley Davidson, and an older model at that. But that was the extent of her knowledge. She went over to the bike and placed a hand to the handle, her fingers rubbing the tough covering. This was the first moment she allowed herself to miss Keelan. He had done so much for her, and yet asked for nothing in return. Turning away, Evonne left the garage and walked toward the kennels where Adrian was busy securing the kennel door.
     “You should ask to come along,” Evonne said, reaching his side.
     “I would be imposing.”
     “I don’t think so. It’s just a hunt for deer, right? There’s nothing to it really.”
     Smiling, he seemed amused at her overconfidence. “Have you ever hunted deer before?”
     “Have you?”
     “Plenty of times. But Derek’s never that thrilled when I bring some of them back.”
     Evonne tried to picture the scene—a naked, blood-covered Adrian waking up next to the carcass of a dead deer, with Derek standing over him, arms crossed and shaking his head. But it wouldn’t quite end like that, as the movies would suggest. The waking up among such a scene was a common occurrence to half-breeds, or those with no knowledge of their true heritage. These few cases were called runners within SEVEN’s terminology. But then again, Adrian did say that he was adopted. So the runner theory probably held some grain of truth.
     “Why would you bring them back?” she asked, sliding her hands into her pockets. She still tried to shake the image from her mind.
     “William use to sideline as a butcher. He has two vices in life; alcohol and venison.”
     Evonne continued to pick up on several nagging feelings emanating from him, all centering around one wish. “If you really want to go, I think you should ask him.”
     Adrian looked down and stuck his fingers through the kennel’s wire. Ginger began to lick him. “Nah,” he said, hiding behind his words, “he’ll say ‘no.’ ”
     “You’ll never know if you don’t ask me,” Gabriel said.
     Evonne and Adrian looked to see Gabriel standing on the porch, arms crossed on the railing as he watched the two by the kennels. A flutter of nervous unleashed itself within Evonne, igniting the same emotion within Adrian. Gabriel left the porch and approached them. He was without his coat, a small detail hinting at the impending hunt.
     “Well?” he asked.
     Adrian struggled to reply. “I, uhm… it was a silly idea.”
     “What’s so silly about it?” Gabriel glanced at Evonne then back at Adrian. “You seemed to be setting this up for a fun night. Now you’re backing out?”
     Evonne felt Adrian’s nerves blend into fear.
     “If I have overstepped my bounds,” he said, trying hard to keep his composure submissive, “then set me straight.”
     Gabriel looked at Evonne as he replied, “It’s her call.” He took off her coat and walked back to the porch, setting it on the wicker sofa. He returned to them, still waiting for her answer. “And?”
     Giving little shrug, she answered, “Why not? What harm will it do?”
     “No harm that I can see,” Gabriel agreed, making his way toward the field.
     Adrian couldn’t keep the smile from finding him. “I guess that’s a ‘yes.’ Go on. I’ll catch up.” He back to the garage to undress.
     Evonne hurried after Gabriel, slowing down as she caught up to him. “Thank you for letting him come with us.”
     “How was he?”
     Her mind raced for a moment then collided into one overlooked fact—Gabriel’s uncanny ability to sniff out a wolf. There was no denying the truth to him. “It was different,” she quietly admitted. “Not as all as I was led to believe.”
     He kept walking, his eyes on the forest’s edge. “He longs for a pack, you know.”
     “He told me.”
     “Sharing your blood with him wasn’t necessary. You’re still too young for all it entails. I don’t think you’re ready for that. But we’ll see.”
     “You’re not mad at me?”
     “There’s nothing for me to be mad about.” Gabriel kept his answer calm. But was it just a facade?
     They reached the forest’s edge and stopped. A rush of exhilaration filled her as she sensed Adrian approach. Though he remained unseen to her among the tall grass, she felt his four paws striking the ground, each stride sending a jolt of energy within her own muscles. She wanted to run with him.
     Adrian entered the woods several yards from them and vanished into the darkened brush.
     “Follow his led,” Gabriel informed her. “He will tell you what to do.”
     “Aren’t you coming with me?”
     “I’ll be around. You have all night to find something out here. If not, you’ll just have to go hungry for a day.”
     The thought of her hunger sent her legs into motion. She stepped into the woods, making it a few strides before turning to address Gabriel. He was gone. Great. I’m on my own.
     Evonne calmed her mind and focused on the presence of Adrian swimming around her. She sensed him move through the woods, his body, his spirit, all mingling with his surroundings. She was in awe. This creature, the embodiment of something she once feared, was now the most perfect creature she had known. A vampire was the result of a human taking the blood of another vampire, thus resulting in a fractured creature, no longer human, yet no quiet pure as the Originals. But a wolf, a pureblooded werewolf, was a creature derived from the purity of nature. Again, she now saw herself as the monster by comparison—the perversion of nature.
     Evonne’s long walk turned into a run. Attempting to keep all of her movements swift and quiet as possible, she moved over the terrain. Though she heard no words from Adrian, he continued to speak with her through subtle images and feelings. It was a stronger variation of how she felt the night Keelan guided her to the park. No words, just an understanding of what she was asked to do.
     After minutes of running, Adrian told her to stop and stay low. She obeyed, her ears picking up on the faint rustling of leaves. She testes the air and caught a strange scent dancing before her; the tangy mixture of dirt, grass, and a hint of sweetness, each a part of a single entity. Her eyes peered through the leaves and found a small group on deer making their way toward her. Adrian had steered her into position, right in the path of their prey.
     She heard his new command, this one telling her to move forward while keeping low and undetected. At the last moment before stepping into the open, he told her to give chase but not to attack. Obeying once more, Evonne made herself known. The group of deer sprang into a run, their slender legs carrying them with incredible speed. The group split. Evonne chose one doe and continued her pursuit. She sensed the focus within Adrian, yet she couldn’t figure out where he was. He gave no more commands.
     Evonne pushed the deer further into the forest. Plenty of times she saw a perfect opening to strike, but his order was clear—only give chase. The deer darted to her left, almost losing her pursuer. With a quick change of direction as well, Evonne was once again several quickening strides behind her target. To her side, she saw a blurred form move through the undergrowth, almost running parallel to her. Just as she caught sight of him, he was gone. The doe turned again, this time to her right. As Evonne tried to recover the lost distance, the large wolf form of Adrian leapt onto the doe, flipping her under the force of his attack.
     Slowly down, Evonne approached the two. She stopped, watching them with curious eyes. The doe lay on her side, legs flailing while Adrian kept his body behind her and his jaws clamped on the underside of her neck. He placed a front paw to the doe’s shoulder, keeping her body from rolling over as his powerful mouth pulled in the opposite direction. The doe’s body quieted but remained alive. The paw on the animal’s shoulder shifted its form, bulking out to the shape of a hand, still clawed and covered in hair. The strong hand held the doe to the ground as his muzzle left her. With both hands on her body, Adrian looked up at Evonne. The unspoken language returned.
     Evonne stepped forward and sat on her knees by the doe’s head. She looked down at the bite delivered by Adrian’s attack. There wasn’t any large amounts of blood. His teeth only broke the skin, going no further into the muscle or the blood-filled veins and arteries. But where to bite? One place could offer her plenty to fill her body, while a few inches off would offer nothing more than a fleeting taste.
     Adrian’s amber eyes went from her to the deer. His muzzle returned to the doe’s neck and tore her open with one quick tug. The doe thrashed about once more. Adrian leaned forward, placing more of his weight on top of her.
     The blood poured freely from the large gash. Evonne placed a hand to the deer’s head, keeping her still. She then lowered her mouth to the bite and began to drink. The sweetness and warmth of the blood was the most different out of all. There was that shred of resemblance to Adrian’s blood, but the comparison was subtle enough to forget altogether. No fire sparked within her, only the constant mummer of calmness. The blood even seemed lighter than human’s. It was like attending a feast, yet only given a plate of bread to ease her hunger. Sure she could live off the bread alone, but where was the living in that? This made the taste of human blood much more precious in her eyes.
     The deer’s body lurched underneath her. Evonne looked up to see Adrian ripping into the animal’s gut, spilling her innards. He was careful not to puncture the stomach or intestines.
     Evonne returned to the neck as the deer’s heart stopped. Pulling a few more mouthfuls of blood from the animal, the vein ran dry. Evonne placed her other hand to the base of the neck and pressed down. She slid her hand up, pushing the quieted blood toward the bite. A small rush passed through her lips.
     Sitting back, Evonne turned the doe’s head, exposing the other side of the neck. Remembering the placement of the other side, she bit down and tore the skin. The artery popped open and relinquished the blood pooling within. There wasn’t much to drink.
     Evonne left the deer and watched Adrian. He ripped at the skin, removing it from the deer’s hindquarters. He stopped what he was doing to pull the ribcage apart. With a his clawed hand, Adrian removed the heart. He offered it to Evonne. She hesitated. Uncertain, she took the warm heart into her hands. Adrian went back to feeding.
     Evonne held up the tough organ and began to squeeze, pouring the blood into her open mouth. No shame or embarrassment found her as she sat beside Adrian, both thanking the deer for the life it gave them. Her thoughts mingled with Adrian’s once more. She felt his own euphoria and the edge it drove him to. His teeth ripped away the muscles from the bones, savoring it all: the taste, the warmth, and the softness, everything filling his mouth and stomach.
     Evonne heard the rustling of leaves. She looked around. Adrian, too, lifted his head. He tested the air then returned to the deer. Evonne left his side to investigate the sound. She stopped every few yards to listen, changing her direction if needed. The long walk ended as she came to the edge of another field. In the center of the large field sat an old farmhouse, it’s porch light shining bright. Evonne hunkered to the ground. Her eyes read the scene quickly. A group of ten deer grazed contently in the darkness, while the farmhouse stood lifeless. In the field beyond the house, a fence enclosed the area. The scent of cattle was strong, even at this great distance. But the cattle didn’t interested her. Killing livestock was out of the question, and this was something no one needed to tell her. Nevertheless, the thought of the humans within the house tempted her. How easy would it be to sneak in and take what she wanted. She didn’t even need to kill them. I can’t. That’s not why I’m out here. Her eyes returned to the deer.
     Crawling on her hands and knees, Evonne inched through the tall grass, her eyes locked in the direction of the deer. She wanted this moment to prove that she could hunt alone. There were plenty of times she could’ve taken the deer during the chase, but obeyed Adrian’s order. It didn’t seem that difficult.
     She waited.
     One doe stepped closer. Her head shot up and her body ceased all movement. Snorting the air, she went back to grazing. Evonne’s mind replayed what she needed to do, trying her best to eliminated any possibility of failure. The seconds felt like minutes. She wanted to spring her attack, but kept her body still. Wait…
     Evonne leapt from the grass, her hands wrapping around the deer’s neck. The other deer scattered. The doe in her grasp thrashed about, its hooves striking Evonne in his abdomen, cutting deep. The unplanned change in events caused her grip to weaken. Continuing to flail around, the doe wiggled free and bound for the safety of the woods. Evonne was on her feet, giving chase. This was more like it anyway. She preferred a chase.
     Her prey darted from the left to the right. Evonne weighed her options. The deer from earlier was probably enough to fill her hunger for one day, and she almost forgot about the blood Adrian gave her. Her running slowed to a stop. Killing this one deer only proved that she could hunt alone. But where was the fun in that? Sharing a kill held much more than simply a meal. Killing alone lacked the camaraderie of the hunt and the bonding over the prey. Her mind jostled. These were the thoughts of a pack—Adrian’s thoughts.
     But to kill alone, there was no need to share. It all belonged to her. Nothing to prove, only to live. And perhaps this was why most vampires preferred to live and hunt alone. But a solitary life was something Evonne dreaded. She had no experiences with anything life had to offer. Though she had her driver’s license, she hadn’t driven a car in years. Then there was the thought of common, everyday things others took for granted. Even going to the convenience store that one time really shown how sheltered she was. A naive, pathetic girl. Even killing a deer on her own could not erase that fact in her mind.
     Evonne listened to the woods. The dull, rippling sound of water came to her ears. She followed the sound to the bank of a wide creek and walked along its edge, stopping as she came to a deep area. The water looked like a black pit. She sat down, her knees drawn up to her chest. A darkened forest at night use to frighten her, but she found nothing to fear within these woods.
     Light footsteps came from behind Evonne. She turned to see the strong, beast form of Adrian walked into view. He stepped past her and entered the water to wash off. Evonne looked from him to the night sky peeking through the trees’ branches. Laying back, she found a brief sense of calmness. She could lie here till dawn.
     Evonne heard a loud splash. In the midst of rising up to see the cause, a torrent of water slammed into her. Drenched, she sat up, gasping in shock. Evonne saw Adrian crouching in the water, playfully, his head almost submerged. She stood and entered the water. If it was a water battle he wanted, then she wasn’t about to disappoint. Swinging an open hand, Evonne hit the water. The splash fanned out. He was gone. Though the water only came up to her waist, it was enough to conceal him completely.
     The water rushed behind her as Adrian sprang up, pushing her off balance. Evonne fell forward. She turned around and kicked at the water, splashing plenty into him. She then found her footing as he lunged for her. Grabbing her around the waist, he tossed her to the side. Again, Evonne found her footing. She lunged for him this time, shoving her weight into his chest. He gave in, obviously allowing her the upper hand. The water battle continued.
     For a moment, Evonne forgot about everything. She was actually having fun. Adrian began to splash her over and over. Backing up, she saw him lunge for her again. She dodged to her side and ran for the shallow end. His hand grabbed on the back of her clothes, whipping her around. Evonne fell into the water once more. She pulled herself to sit up and found Adrian kneeling before her. He made no attempt to continue the battle.
     The carefree atmosphere ended as she sensed his thoughts once more. He was nervous. But why? He only looked at her, and yet his emotions stirred up her own, feeding off his anxiety. With each passing heartbeat within Adrian, the link between them strengthened until nothing else existed. Evonne swirled among him but her body remained unmoved. Extending her hand, she touched the side of his face, her fingers trailing over his wet fur. He closed his eyes and leaned into her hand. All rational thought was absent. The two were locked among something new and foreign, and neither one understood how to control it.
     Adrian’s eyes opened as he moved forward, his body covering hers. Evonne felt his muzzle brush the side of her face, his mouth partially open and teeth lightly running over her skin. The heat from Adrian’s mouth and body called out to his blood within her, sending Evonne further into him. He pressed against her, the pesky clothes the only thing keep them apart.
     The bond they shared became blinding. Everything paled in contrast.
     A new thought snapped into the forefront.
     We’re not alone.
     Adrian retreated from her. The same thought struck him as well. He watched her sit up, her eyes staring back. With her mind clearing, Evonne was in shock at what might have happened. How could she be so stupid! It was clear now. She wasn’t ready for this. A blood bond was more than she expected. And Adrian concluded this as well.
     His eyes moved to the woods and searched for what he feared most in this moment. But the old vampire kept himself hidden very well. The fear found itself within Evonne, added with the hatred he now felt. She saw no reason for him to scold his actions. She was apart of this just as much as he.
     Evonne leaned in and placed her hand to the side of Adrian’s face. She didn’t want him to feel this way. But no words could change that now. He pulled away from her and left the water. As he stepped onto the bank, he shook out his soaked fur, and then disappeared into the forest.
     Evonne moved through the water and floated on her back. She could sense Adrian walking in the direction of the house. With each passing moment, the link between them dulled. The cause wasn’t the distance, but rather Adrian’s attempts to block her.
     A new presence broke through the shell of the weakening link. Evonne made no effort to see who approached.
     “He’s heading back to the house,” she said, her eyes staring at the sky.
     “This early in the night?” Gabriel wondered, stopping on the embankment.
     Evonne kept the conversation light. “I guess he had his fill.”
     “Or he was wanting something else tonight.”
     She sat up. Did he… “You saw?”
     “You two were completely focused on the hunt that you failed to sense me only yards away. And just now… In a blood bond, one is the leader and the other the follower. Emotions are heightened between those bonded, and it is easy to become lost among them.”
     “So I was the follower,” Evonne concluded. Things were beginning to make sense. It was easy to see how she became embroiled within Adrian.
     “You both were struggling as leader,” he corrected, taking a seat on the ground. “You need to learn how to block yourself while bonded. It is a necessary trait you must learn.”
     “How long will it last?”
     “About a week. Give or take.”
     Evonne looked for the gloating in his words. But he was hiding his “I told you so” with ease.
     “Why can’t I sense you like that? Wouldn’t there be some kind of link between us?”
     “There is. But I’m blocking you.”
     She settled further into the water. “That doesn’t sound fair.”
     “Your mind is still acclimating to your new life. There’s no need to complicate things anymore than what they are.”
     The “I told you so” was beginning to surface. Evonne ignored it. “Other than hunting, tonight was a huge mistake.”
     Gabriel tilted his head. “Why would you say that?”
     “I’m sure you saw what just happened.”
     “And? You think I would be jealous?” He sounded amused at her assumption.
     Evonne grew angry. “You know, just when I think I have you figured out, you go and say something like that.”
     “If you want to sleep with him, then feel free to do so. You don’t answer to me.”
     Her temper exploded. “Err! I can’t believe I’m hearing this from you! Maybe a girl wants the guy she’s with to feel jealous of others she’s around, or likes the fact that she can drive him crazy.”
     “Or feel comfortable enough that it is he she will always return to.”
     “Are you so certain that’s the case? Will this be something you’ll say five hundred years from now?”
     He sat back, watching her carefully. “I would like to think so. But five hundred years is a long time. You will be a different creature by then. You may not want me around.”
     Evonne pulled herself onto the embankment and sat beside him. “Are you speaking from experience?”
     “More like the experiences of others,” he admitted, choosing to go no further into an explanation. This wasn’t the time to delve into his past.
     “I’m not going to,” Evonne said, her eyes on the black water. “With Adrian, that is.”
     “If you do, then know that I will think of you no differently.”
     She shook her head. “I find it a little odd that a werewolf hunter has no problem with the possibility of me sleeping with a werewolf.”
     Gabriel stood and offered Evonne his hand. “I’m your sire, nothing more.”
     “A little jealousy would be nice,” she confessed, taking his hand. He helped her to her feet.
     “Keelan wanted you free from your father to experience the world untethered. What would he think if I tethered you with unneeded emotions?”
     She smirked at his reply, seeing the truth he attempted to hide. “That’s called ‘avoidance.’ ” Evonne left his side and headed into the woods as she began the long walk back to the house. She wanted to have the last word, something to prove that she saw through his personal walls.

Avoidance? Gabriel wondered. What was there to avoid? He kept his words as truthful as possible. Was something really hidden within him that he had no knowledge of? But how could Evonne see this? She had no talent when it came to reading others’ thoughts. In all of this travels, only a few vampires carried such a trait, Demetrius included. Evonne held no comparison to him. To even entertain the idea seemed ludicrous. Perhaps it was only a shot in the dark. He wanted to laugh. Such simple three words threw his mind into a tailspin. And all for what? Payback for the lack of jealousy? These were human games she attempted to play on him. Little did she know that her ploy failed before it began.
     Yet those three words continued to sting.