A/N: HAPPY LABOR DAY to those of you enjoying a nice day off in the US. To commemorate this lovely day, I am posting the next installment of Never Say Never. Shout out to SmittensKitten for catching some of those typos for me. I hope that you'll all enjoy.

Disclaimer: I own not own the characters of True Blood and Sookie Stackhouse Vampire Mysteries. I'm just borrowing them for my own sadistic plot. I do not profit in any way, except having erotic dreams about Alcide and Eric.(hehe)


Chapter 9 – Special Delivery

It was nearly twelve o'clock in the afternoon when Tara's eyes fluttered open, still drowsy from lack of sleep, only to find herself alone, naked, and tangled among white sheets dotted with blood. She looked down, feeling a zing of tightness in her nipples. Despite the muggy heat that smothered the bedroom, the peaks stood hard and erect like tiny icebergs. A sticky residue of dampness pooled between her breasts.

Feeling nauseous and a bit disoriented, she struggled to sit up. Her body was sore all over, particularly between her legs. She looked down at the two tiny puncture wounds on her inner thigh. The bite marks Eric left behind pretty much debunked her theory that last night's sexcapade was just another erotic dream.

She waited for a residual feeling of guilt, shame, or anger to resurface, but couldn't even muster a hint of angst in her heart. Sex with Eric had been amazing. In fact, it was the best sex of her life. Just thinking of the things he'd done and said to her sent a rush of arousal coursing through her veins. Would she do it again? She wasn't sure. At least for now, she had no regrets.

The smell of fried pork chops distracted her from her thoughts.

Ginger must be back, she thought, assuming no one else would be here in the middle of the day cooking food.

Her mouth watered. She hadn't eaten fried pork chops in ages and couldn't wait for a taste, but first she had to take care of a more urgent matter. Her legs wobbled as she stood up. She grabbed hold of the bed post to steady herself then slowly made her way to the bathroom. If sex with Eric wore her out this much, she would definitely have to pace herself.

After taking a shower, throwing on a pair of jeans that fit snugger than she remembered and a purple tank with thin straps, she followed the delectable scent of fried food into the kitchen. Her mouth dropped when she saw the shirtless man standing at the stove wearing dark blue jeans and no shoes or socks.

"Alcide? What the heck are you doin' here?"

Alcide spun around to face her, holding a plate in one hand and a spatula in the other. He looked as surprised as she was. "Tara? You're the last person I expected to see."

After setting the spatula and plate on the table and wiping his hands on a nearby towel, he crossed the space between them and pulled her into a bear hug. His chest pressed against her cheek. She felt like she was being wrapped in a heated blanket, which was a stark contrast to Eric's tepid temperature. The pleasant scent of Aqua Velva filled her nostrils along with his own masculine musk.

He pulled back to look at her. "I was just fixin' somethin' to eat. You hungry?"

"I could eat a whole fucking pig right now," she said, moving out of his embrace and over to the kitchen table.

Alcide chuckled then took out another plate from the cabinet and set it in front of her. Tara grabbed the spatula and placed two medium sized pork chops on her plate. She grabbed the fork he handed her and took a bite of the tender meat.

"Mmm...damn that's good. How'd you learn to cook like this?"

"My dad."

"Well give him a big 'ol kiss from me." She stuffed another succulent piece into her mouth and chewed. "I swear it's like my body's been craving this."

She looked up to find him watching her with a half smile on his face. The way he kept staring made her feel self conscious.

She stopped eating and quirked a brow at him. "What?"

"Nothing," he said, smiling wider.

"Do I got something on my face?"

"No, it's just you look…different."

"Is that good or bad?"

"Good...really good. If you don't mind me saying so, you're a very attractive woman, Tara Thorton."

She shook her head and chuckled. "Are you flirtin' with me, Alcide?"

"Maybe."

He ducked his head, giving her a bashful grin that was both endearing and alarming at the same time. Who would have thought that an alpha-male like Alcide had a shy streak when it came to women.

"Well, you need to stop it cause it ain't gone get you nowhere with me."

"Can't blame a man for trying."

Tara rolled her eyes. "You never answered my first question, Alcide. What are you doing here?"

"Eric's stuck in Bon Temps for the day. He called me last night asked me to do another job for him."

Tara frowned. He must've left right after I fell asleep, she thought. Why did he leave without saying anything?

Then again, what did she expect from a 1000 year old vampire. He rarely had to answer to anyone, except himself, so why would he think twice about her feelings?

"He told you to come here?"

Alcide shrugged. "He wants me to babysit his human for the day until he gets back. He didn't really give me a lot of details."

Tara felt her anger rising. Babysit? Who the fuck did Eric think he was? She didn't need a damn babysitter. She stared at her plate of food, suddenly feeling queasy.

"Is there anything in the frig to drink besides blood?" she asked.

"Sure. A delivery service dropped off groceries this morning. I was surprised that Eric even thought to call them."

Alcide opened up the refrigerator and took out a carton of orange juice. "So…you workin' for Eric too?"

"Not exactly," she said, taking the offered glass of orange juice. She took small sips, hoping the citric acid would help settle her stomach.

He sat down in the seat across from her. "So who's the fangbanger I'm protecting? I haven't seen her come out of her room yet. I already know it ain't Sookie. I saw her with Bill when I was in Bon Temps."

Tara tensed at his use of the negative epithet. She watched him take two hardy bites of his pork chops before answering.

"Pam and I are the only ones here besides you."

His fork stopped midway to his mouth. "What? Did she slip out without me knowing?"

"No."

"Then where the hell is she?"

Tara looked down at her hands on the wood tabletop before meeting his bewildered gaze.

"You're looking at her."

His hand dropped to the table. The fork clanged against his plate making her ears ring. "You? You're Eric's human?"

She scowled at him, crossing her arms over her chest. "Don't you mean 'fangbanger'?"

"Sorry, I didn't mean…I didn't know…" He combed his fingers through his hair and stood up. "This is fucking crazy. You of all people…I never would've…"

"Never would've what?" she said, growing more defensive.

He began pacing. "How in the hell did you get mixed up with Eric?"

"I'm still wondering that myself."

His frown deepened. "Did he glamour you?"

"No."

He sat down in the chair adjacent to her. "I can't believe you belong to Eric now?"

"I'm not his fucking property!"she snapped.

His eyes narrowed. "Has he fed on you?"

Tara didn't answer, though the appalled look on Alcide's face spoke volumes. He shook his head in disgust.

"Of course that fucker fed on you! What is it with these fucking fangers that turns you women on so much? Didn't you learn anything from the shit that happened in Jackson? God, I thought you hated those dead bastards as much as I do?"

"Don't you dare judge me, Alcide. You don't know everything that's happened."

"I know Eric's no good."

"I've heard this speech before and I'm so over it. Right or wrong, Eric is keeping me alive. If he's so damn bad, why do you keep working for him?"

His eyebrows furrowed deep over his dark eyes. "That's strictly business and to help my dad get out of debt." He leaned forward, his nostrils flaring. "I can smell that fanger's stench all over you. I guess best friends do share everything."

Tara leaned away from him in shock. "What the fuck is that suppose to mean?"

"Does Sookie know you fucked her precious Eric?" His voice was low and filled with venom. "She told me you and Sam used to fool around. I heard he used to have a hard on for Sookie too."

"That's none of your damn business! And what does that have to do with anything?"

"Tell me is Bill next?" he said, continuing as though she hadn't spoken. "If I wait my turn like a good little wolf, do I get a chance to fuck the both of you too?"

She couldn't believe what he was saying to her, not that she hadn't heard worst. Yet, hearing it from Alcide, who had been her ally and a strong shoulder to cry on when she thought her best friend was about to die, cut her deeper than any knife. She jumped to her feet, slapping him across the face as hard as she could. The impact forced his head to turn. She could see the red outline of her handprint emerging on his left cheek.

His eyes began to glow an eerie yellow and his breathing grew harsh. He cocked his head from side to side, cracking the bones in his neck and shoulders. She took a step back as he rose to his full height, towering over her. Icicles prickled her spine. His lip curled back from his teeth in a snarl. Had she pushed him too far? Alcide could easily rip her to shreds if he wanted to.

Her gaze darted to the closest weapon in the room, a knife setting on the kitchen counter. She would have to go around him to get to it. He glanced over his shoulder to see what she was staring at then turned back with a scary grin on his face.

"Would you use that on me, Tara, after all we've been though together?"

Tara swallowed over the lump clogging her throat. She couldn't explain it, but she knew this was not the same Alcide, the one she grown to like and trust.

She backed away from him. "What the hell is wrong with you, Alcide?"

"Nothing's wrong with me," he said, stalking closer. "I'm just tired of playin' the nice guy while the assholes always get the girl. First Debbie, then Sookie, now you."

He raised his hand as though to grab her. Tara shrank back, jerking her arm out of his reach. Her actions seemed to make him angrier.

"You're afraid to let me touch you, but not him!" He roared.

"You're acting crazy, Alcide. Just calm down."

He slammed his fist on the table causing the dishes to jump as well as her heart.

"Don't fucking tell me to calm down!"

Tara suddenly felt dizzy. Spots littered her vision. She stumbled backwards, clutching her stomach. It felt like her intestines were twisting into a knot. "S-something's…wrong." She could barely get the words out. The room was spinning all around her. She tried reaching for the back of her chair, but missed. Her knees buckled. She crumbled to the floor. Cotton filled her ears. Alcide's face became a blur. She moaned in pain, holding her stomach as blackness surrounded her, pulling her down deeper into its depths until she was swallowed whole.


"I think she's waking up."

"Then step the hell back. She can't breathe with your disgusting doggie breath in her face."

Through the abyss, Tara faintly heard the voices of a male and female arguing. As the blackness turned to grey then grew brighter, she was able to make out the two figures hovering over her. Alcide stared down at her with a worried expression on his face. His chest was now covered in a white t-shirt. Pam stood with her hand on her hip, wearing a stylish canary yellow jumpsuit, looking annoyed.

Tara blinked several times. "W-What happened?"

"You passed out earlier?" said Alcide.

"How long was I out?"

"Only a couple of minutes, but then you got sick again and threw up. I cleaned you up and carried you to your bed to lie down. You've been out of it ever since."

She wiped the sleep from her eyes. "What time is it?

"After seven," he said. "The sun set thirty minutes ago."

She looked down to see that she was now wearing a leopard print camisole, which obviously came from Ginger's wardrobe, instead of the purple tank she had on earlier.

"You took off my top?"

Alcide averted his eyes. His cheeks blossomed with color. "Uh, yeah. I-I was careful not to look at anything private."

Liar.

Pam snorted. "Gimme a fucking break. Look here, Sleeping Beauty, time to get your lazy ass up. Eric will be here soon and we have to be ready."

Tara attempted to sit up. The effort made her head pound even harder. Alcide reached out his hand to help her. She instinctively recoiled. He looked startled and ashamed.

"I'm sorry about earlier. I don't know what got into me."

Tara ignored his apology. "Where are we going?" she asked Pam.

"Don't know yet. That's up to Eric. Just get your shit together." She turned to leave, but stopped when she got to the door. "You need to pack light."

Once Pam was gone, Tara got up to grab a small suitcase out of the closet. She could feel Alcide standing by the bed watching her.

"Anything you need my help with?" he asked.

"No."

"You sure?"

"You've done enough."

"Tara, I said I was sorry. I don't know why I got so mad. All I can say is I wasn't myself."

She stopped packing to look at him. "Just stay the fuck away from me."

"I'm sorry, Tara. I really am. I just don't want to see you get hurt."

She opened the dresser drawer and tossed several garments into the suitcase and slammed it shut. "I'm a big girl, Al."

He blocked her path as she tried to head for the door. They stared at each other for a long moment, both at an impasse.

"I know you can take care of yourself and whatever you got going with Eric is none of my business-"

"You damn right it's none of your business," she said, cutting him off.

"You don't want my advice. I get it. But I've seen Sookie make the same mistake that you're about to make."

"And what is that exactly?"

Alcide cupped her cheek with his large hand. Tara forced herself not to flinch. It surprised her that his touch could be so gentle when earlier he looked angry enough to break her in two.

"She put all her trust in a vamp only to have it thrown back in her face. It nearly got her killed. I asked Sookie to think with her brain instead her heart for once and now I'm gone ask you to do the same. Pam told me what happened. Think, Tara. Do you really want to live your life on the run, especially with Eric?"

Tears burned her eyes. No, she didn't want to run away again and leave behind the people she cared about most, but what choice did she have? Eric was her only way out. Now that she was bonded to him her situation had become so complicated. This was way more than her brain could make sense of at the moment.

"I'll do what I have to do to survive," she said. Her hand tightened around the handle of her suitcase. She hated seeing the pity in his eyes.

"Survival seems to be the story of your life, Tara?"

Her throat felt as though it was closing. A tear leaked from the corner of her eye. She quickly wiped it away before it could course down her cheek.

"Believe it or not it doesn't always have to be like this," he said, swiping a calloused thumb across her cheek.

"Am I interrupting something?"

Tara's heart leaped at the sound of Eric's low timber. She quickly stepped away from Alcide. Her gaze locked with the Viking vampire standing in the doorway, dressed in all black, his blonde hair combed back from his forehead, and eyes as cold as a winter storm. Pam stood beside him with a smirk on her face.

Tara didn't understand why the sight of him filled her with such tranquility. She could only describe it as happiness. A smile threatened to curve her lips.

Eric showed no outward emotion, though she felt his anger through their blood bond. It simmered just beneath the surface ready to pounce if Alcide said or did the wrong thing.

"No, you didn't interrupt anything. Alcide was just helping me pack." She handed her suitcase to him, hoping he'd catch the hint and leave before it was too late.

Alcide gave her a strange look before glancing over his shoulder at Eric. The two men stared each other down. Tara watched to see who'd blink first.

After what seem like a lifetime, Alcide broke the deafening silence.

"I'll just take this out to the van," he said. "I'll be around, Tara, if you need help with anything else."

"Thanks," she responded weakly.

Eric didn't move as Alcide crossed the doorjam. Their shoulders bumped. Alcide growled. Eric's fangs popped out and his hands balled into fists at his sides.

Tara heart began to race. This was definitely an Oh shit moment.

She held her breath as the vampire and werewolf stood face to face practically snarling at each other. She couldn't help comparing the two men. They were both big and powerful, standing at least 6'5 in height. Eric's shoulders were broad, his muscles lean and toned like a runner's. Alcide was all brawn with arms as thick as tree trunks. Both had superhuman strength and were viciously skilled killers. It was hard to determine which one would win in a fight. Either way, it would end in a blood bath.

Pam rolled her eyes, looking as though her patience was wearing thin. "Eric," she snapped. "We don't have time for this shit. If you two can stop posturing like two dogs fighting over a bone, maybe we can…hmm, I don't know, get the fuck out of here before the Authority finds us."

That seemed to snap Eric out his cloud of fury. He took a step back allowing Alcide to pass through the doorway. Tara could still feel the tension between them, but at least they weren't about to tear each other's throats out. Pam shot them both a reproachful look before turning to follow Alcide out the door.

Eric stony glare pinned her where she stood. "You're attracted to him." He made it sound like a statement instead of a question, as though the answer was obvious.

"No. He's a friend."

"A friend that is very attracted to you."

"He likes Sookie."

Eric scoffed, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "You think that means something? He practically wanted to mark you as his territory."

"According to him and you, I'm already marked as yours."

Eric gave her a grave look. "Yes, you are mine and if that dog ever…"

"We were just talking, Eric, that's all," she said, wanting this conversation to end.

"About what?"

Obviously, he wasn't going to let it go. She let out frustrated sigh.

"Me leaving town with you."

Eric came to stand in front of her. "Are you having second thoughts? You said you would stay with me."

His veneer of arrogance lifted briefly to reveal a glimpse of something she'd never seen in him before. Vulnerability.

Through their bond, she felt his desperate need for her. It went deeper than lust and possession. Deeper than mere infatuation. It was as though he was actually in … No it couldn't be. Though she tried to reject the notion, the word love kept bouncing around in her brain. She stared into his eyes, no longer seeing him as her enemy or a monster. He'd become her lover, her champion, someone she wanted to rely on and protect as well. She wasn't sure if that was due to the bond they shared or if something had truly developed between them in this short span of time.

"No, I'm not having second thoughts." This time she truly meant it. The realization made her sway on her feet.

He placed his hands on her shoulders to steady her. "Did I take too much blood last night?"

"No, I don't think so."

His gaze searched her face. "Pam told me you weren't well. My blood should combat any ailment you have."

Tara glanced away from his scrutiny. "It's probably something I ate earlier from that delivery service.

"What delivery service?"

Now she was the one confused. "The one you sent to the house this morning to deliver groceries."

Eric's whole body went rigid. His brows furrowed. "I didn't send for groceries. Why would I? Ginger keeps a supply of human food in a deep freezer and on shelves in the basement since she's rarely here."

"Then who would've sent them?"

A cold realization came over her. Dread filled her heart. "Oh, shit."

Without a word, Eric disappeared through the doorway in a blink of an eye. Tara ran after him, catching up with him in the kitchen. He pulled the carton of orange juice from the refrigerator and sniffed it.

"It's been tainted with infected vampire blood and something else." He slammed the carton on the counter. "The Authority must have figured out that I had you staying here. My guess is all the food has been poisoned. If it weren't for my blood inside you right now, you'd most likely be dead. I'm surprised it didn't do more damage."

Tara sagged against the nearest wall. "Alcide ate some of the food too."

"The poison is not potent enough to kill a werewolf, though it might have caused an adverse reaction. Dammit, I should've never trusted him to take care of you."

"Eric, what do you mean by adverse reaction?"

"Vampire blood consumed by werewolves makes them act more aggressive and unpredictable, especially if it's been laced with something else." He turned to give her a leveled look. "Did Alcide act strange in any way?"

Tara swallowed hard. Strange didn't begin to describe Alcide's behavior this afternoon.

"He got really agitated when I told him about our…arrangement. I could tell something was wrong, but then I got sick and passed out." She didn't want to tell him that before she blacked out she'd actually feared for her life.

"We need to leave now," Eric commanded.

Pam rushed into the kitchen, holding a wooden stake in her hand, with Alcide in tow.

"It's too late. They're already here."

"I won't let them hurt Tara," Alcide said, his expression resolute.

Eric nodded. "Neither will I."

"What do we do, Eric?" asked Pam.

"We will stand and fight."

Tara grabbed Eric's arm. "Wait. This is suicide. We need to have a plan."

"I do have a plan."

"Well, I wish you fucking clue me in on it."

Cool fingertips caressed her cheeks as he bent to kiss her on the lips. When he pulled back, he wore a smile of reassurance. "Don't worry Little Rose. I said I am going to protect you and I will. Trust me."

Tara's gaze darted to Alcide. His lips tightened into a grim line. He'd made his feelings clear to her when it came to trusting Eric. However, her gut was telling her that Eric would not fail her.

Tara stared into Eric's startling blue eyes and nodded. "Okay."

Pam pressed the stake into the palm of Tara's opened hand. "I may not like you," she said, "but I'll admit you are an excellent fighter. Are you ready for this?"

"Yes," Tara said, curling her fingers around the stake.

A look of admiration gleamed in the female vamp's eyes. "I can see why Eric wants you."

Tara said a silent prayer as she followed him and Pam out of the kitchen into the living room with Alcide trailing close behind. There was no telling what horror awaited them on the other side of that front door. No matter what happened, they were all going to face it together.

To be continued…


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