Cassandra woke early the next morning to deliver the supplies to the store. She looked in the mirror after getting dressed. She adjusted the black skirt she wore then looked to the gray blouse. After staring at it for a moment she hurried to the closet, changing into a red blouse that dipped low, baring the tops of breasts. She smirked at her reflection before the realization hit her. She was dressing for him. Half hoping she'd run into him today. She cursed herself and grabbed a coat to button over the blouse.

She and Donella could set up the new displays before the mortal girl, Kenzie would take over Donny's duties at the shop. After organizing them in their boxes she took them back out to the car. The sun was high in the sky, but she could, just barely, make out his scent on one of the boxes. She inhaled slowly. Damned if this vampire wasn't under her skin.

She got to the store before Donella, unloading the boxes from her car, she set them in stacks on the counter. The bell on the door rang out and Cassandra looked back to see Donny stepping in.

"Morning, Boss Man." She said, taking off her sunglasses and placing them over the collar of her t-shirt.

Cassandra smiled. "Guess who has new supplies for you to shelf?" Gesturing to the boxes.

Donella frowned. "Don't you need customers before you buy new supplies?" She stepped around the counter, tossing her sweater on the chair behind it.

Cassandra glared at her. "I'm sure we'll get an increase in customers; I'll just need to run some ads or something."

Donny laughed. "Alright. If you weren't loaded with Lykae fortunes, we'd have never made it this long."

"Get to work, Missy." Cassandra said, pushing a box into Donella's arms and grabbing one for herself.

"Yes, Mam." Donny said with a mock salute.

Cassandra stayed at the shop to keep Donella company after all the new supplies were settled. The sun hung low in the sky and Cassandra looked down at her watch. "Closing time?"

Donny looked up from her rapid texting. "Yes please."

Cassandra smiled and the girls walked out together, locking up the shop.

"I'm going to be leaving so I can study with the witches in the states tomorrow, so I asked Kenzie to come in. Is that alright?" Donella asked.

"Sure. I'm going to miss having you at the store." Cassandra hugged the witch.

"Of course you will." Donny winked. "See you, Boss Man."

Cassandra watched her leave before walking over to her car. She almost reached it before she heard him behind her. "Ambrose," She said turning to face him, "Do you no' have anything better to do then follow me?"

"I do have a bit of hunting to get done, but how could I resist the appeal of my lovely bride?" He smiled and it nearly took her breath away. Damn him.

"Stop calling me that." She said glowering at him, having to tilt her head upward because of his height.

"That won't change the fact that it is true. You are my female and I have been waiting for you; waiting for someone to bring me to life once more. I have been alone for too long, Cassandra. Now that I've found you I don't want to let you go." Ambrose stepped towards her. Sending her heart pounded furiously.

She'd been alone too. Abandoned by the man she had loved for centuries. She had been alone. Ambrose was a vampire, could fate be any more cruel. The same creatures had been responsible for killing her father. Lachlain had chosen the same breed over her. She had loved him, grieved as a widow would when she believed him to be dead and he still chose a leech over her. She shook, thinking about the past, before he dragged her back to the present.

"Cassandra, what's wrong?" Ambrose touched a hand to her cheek. He felt compelled to comfort her.

She looked up at him. His stormy gray eyes held concern. For her. She stared at him, forgetting her thoughts and merely admiring the man before her.

His expression changed. He raked his eyes over her body, letting them linger on her chest. She suddenly remembered that her coat was in her hands and she was wearing the blouse she had chosen that morning. For him.

She was exquisite, he thought, allowing his eyes to roam over her body. Her plump breasts notable in the low cut blouse she wore. He grew hard for her instantly, licking his lips and his eyes reached her face. She was blushing from his inspection of her and it only made her all the more lovely.

He stroked her cheek softy, lifting her chin, and kissed her. She fell into the kiss, allowing his tongue to probe her mouth and he expertly petted hers with it. He pulled her to him and she allowed it; allowed him to exercise his strength as he held her to him. He pressed her back against her car and she could feel his rather sizable erection graze the front of her body. He groaned low in his throat and the sound vibrated against her lips.

She could drive him mad, this female. Her taste, her smell; it was intoxicating. Ambrose rocked his hips against her and she shuddered in response. Gods he had never wanted a female so much in all of his life. Not even his wife. The thought gave him pause. He had spent many nights thinking about Ivana over the past few hundred years and since he first laid eyes on Cassandra he hadn't thought of her once.

Ambrose pulled back from the kiss and left her breathless and wanting more. She made a move towards him but she paused at the pained look on his face. What had he been thinking of she thought, looking into those beautiful eyes of his. His head jerked to the right suddenly and he stopped to listen.

"Get in your car." He said. "Go home."

Cassandra was stunned. He was sending her away? After following her and showing up at her shop he was the one sending her away. "Ambr-"

"Hurry." He said, cutting her off. He shuffled her over to the car door. "Go."

She blinked at him, but unlocked the door and climbed inside. He watched her expectantly, so she started the engine and pulled away, leaving him on the sidewalk.

Once his bride was out of view he ran down the street. The vampires that had been killing people were close. He had seen one trace away from the street corner. He looked around, but he couldn't see them; couldn't smell them. He growled. They were too close to his bride. His Cassandra.

Cassandra pulled into the drive that led up to her house. She leaned her head against the steering wheel. It shouldn't upset her, he was just a vampire. But she couldn't help but be angry. She felt rejected. Sighing, she stepped out of the car and made her way up to the porch. She had never been so attracted to a male before; had never been so lost in a mere kiss. She shook her head, trying to rid herself of thoughts of Ambrose. He was the one she had been desperately waiting for and yet he was the one thing she despised above all else.

Ambrose gave up on his hunt for the vampires and dawn neared. He would catch them soon; he wouldn't allow them to evade him for long. Not with his bride so near to their reckless violence. He traced home and poured himself a glass of the prepackaged blood that sat in his refrigerator. Sipping it slowly he let his mind wander back to the days he was mortal; to his family.

Ivana had been beautiful, stunningly so for a mortal. Her family was wealthy and his father believed the two would make a good pair, especially considering her money. Ambrose hadn't minded, he found her beautiful and had been glad to take her as his wife. After long battles he was return home to her and their son. His son. Dmitri had only been four years old when he, along with his mother were killed by Estonian soldiers. The Great Northern war had taken the lives of his family along with his own. Kristoff's soldiers saved him by changing him and he had resented them for it. Until now. Now that he had found her, he would never leave his bride. Never leave her to suffer the fate of the last woman he had made his wife. He could admit to himself that he had never truly loved Ivana, but she had given him a son, and he had been so grateful for Dmitri, he had loved his son, there was no denying that. Perhaps this was his second chance. His chance to begin again, with Cassandra he could love again.