"David," I stepped up behind his chair and placed my hand on his shoulder. "I'm going out."

David tilted his head up, "I thought we were staying in tonight."

"Yeah, on account of the rain," Marko said as he hung upside down from the ceiling above us.

I glanced up and rolled my eyes before looking back at David as I moved in front of him, "I'm not going to be gone long. I just want some girl time."

Paul looked over from where he was tuning his guitar with a smirk on his lips, "Oh, so you're taking Jeremy out, then?"

Jeremy let out a low snarl, "I'll show you a girl."

"You gonna strip?"

"No, I'm going to rip off your –"

I tuned them out at that point with a groan, "I need some me time – I need away from the testosterone for a few hours."

David watched me closely for a moment before nodding, "Yeah, all right." He grabbed hold of my wrist and pulled me down so that our faces were parallel. "You can bring us back a snack."

"I'll see what I can do," I chuckled and gave him a small kiss.

I turned on the heel of my boots and moved towards the cave's entrance, where Dwayne was perched close by with his eyes focused on mine. He didn't speak words that we both knew could be said. He only made a small motion with his eyes and quirked the corner of his lips as he tossed me the keys to his bike.

"Hm, thanks," I smiled. "Now I can crash yours instead."

His motorcycle had better control in the rain that mine; it was my second one, really – I smashed the first one into a concrete wall years before.

"You crash my bike and I'll whip your ass," Dwayne responded with narrowed eyes.

"Say it again, only slower," I said with a lick of my lips.

xoxoxo

I parked the motorcycle under an awning next to the building that was formerly Max's video store.

After his sudden… disappearance, the location had changed hands numerous times and was currently a bookstore.

The rain was alternating between light drizzles and heavy downpours. The weather left the boardwalk sparsely populated; it was never empty, but it was far from crowded.

That didn't bother me much. I really was just looking for some time away. Most of the boys didn't like going out in the rain, so it was always a perfect opportunity to leave. I loved them all dearly, but one girl surrounded by five boys – those boys in particular – was enough to make me want to lobotomize myself some days.

I pulled the hood of my charcoal jacket over my head as I stepped out from the safety of the awning and barely made it a few yards before I heard my name being called out.

"Rhi!" Trinity called out from one of the open fronted clothing shops on the strip as she waved her hand.

Trinity was a sweet girl. She was 17 with light chocolate skin, a smidge of freckles and thick reddish-brown dreadlocks that fell to the base of her neck and were typically held back from her face by a folded hot pink bandana. She ran the clothing shop for her parents at night and rarely smelled of anything other than cannabis – it fit with the leaf tattooed on her spine and the peasant skirts and the loose fitting beaded dresses she typically wore. It was cute, really. She was a little pixie in tie-dye.

I had taken a shine to the human. I hadn't felt for any mortal in that way since Michael died. Trinity just happened to remind me of Star… and she had been made off limits to the others.

"Hey, Triny," I smiled as I stepped into her shop. "How are you doing, sweetheart?"

Her bloodshot eyes creased at the corners as she smiled, "I'm good." She finished hanging a stack of shirts before lighting a cigarette at the front of the shop so that the smoke blew out into the rain. "I love storms. We should go dancing."

I let out a small laugh as I draped my wet coat over a chair and traced my fingers over the closer racks of clothing, "Maybe another night. How's your school work going?"

Trinity had been homeschooled for the last few years, "I'm almost done. I'll graduate next month."

"That's great," I responded with genuine pride for the girl.

"Yeah," Trinity nodded as she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. "Where are the boys at?"

"I left them at home," I arched an eyebrow and gave her a playful smirk. "We know that's not what you wanted to ask."

Trinity had what she thought was a discreet interest in one of my brothers. I happened to know that she had met her soul mate when she was 15 – now she no longer wore her ring after he died in a car crash a month after their introduction. I felt for her, but she seemed far past the pain of losing someone she never really knew.

A blush crossed over the human's cheeks, "How is Paul?"

"Same as always," I chuckled. "He's still my favorite asshole."

Trinity let out a giggle, "He's not that bad."

"Oh, sweetie," I shook my head with a snort. "You keep thinking that." As my fingers trailed over a studded red leather jacket, I decided to offer some support. "I'll make sure he swings by next time he's out here."

"Oh, you don't have to…" Trinity started before she flicked her cigarette out into the rain and turned with a coy smile. "Thanks."

"Of course," I said as I pulled the garment off of the hanger. "This is cute."

"I thought you might like it," Trinity reached out to a different rack and pulled off a sleeveless, sheer black lace blouse. "This would go good with it."

"You're right," I eyed the top. "How are you so good at styling me and yet you do this just rolled out of bed thing?"

Trinity glanced down at her loose long green dress with the beaded shawl around her waist that jingled when she moved her eyes to my outfit – all black and tight – with a shrug, "I just think of the opposite that I would wear." She paused and grinned. "Plus, I'm always too stoned to give a damn. This is easy."

"That would explain it," I smiled in understanding. "You look like my mother – er, my great some odd grandmother – back in the 1980's. My mom just followed with the style. It's cute and sexy in an understated way, but I can't pull it off." I waved the leather. "I was always a Daddy's girl."

"Yeah, well, leather and heels fits you over flip flops and patchwork," Trinity pointed out as she unbuttoned the top. "Come on, try it on."

"Might as well," I said as I pulled off my t-shirt.

With no one else in the store and barely anyone on the boardwalk – weaved into my previously mentioned lack of modesty – I didn't much care about the public undressing. It didn't bother Trinity either, as her eyes didn't divert as I removed my shirt.

That was just her way, though.

I could remember one night that I spent on the beach with her and a few of her friends. Under the moonlight, they all ingested 'shrooms and tripped under the moonlight. During the event, she was one of three to strip down to practically nothing and dance around the fire.

It was a good night, all in all. I devoured one of her less favored friends and spent two hours after watching my hand move.

She didn't need to know that, of course.

"Now, let's see," I tossed my shirt onto the same chair that held my hooded coat.

Trinity eased the blouse up my arms and onto my shoulders so that I could button it back up. As she stood behind me, a movement in the corner of her eye caused her to turn, "Can I help you?"

I buttoned the button at the base of my cleavage as I turned and arched an eyebrow, "Hey…"

"Hey," Wolf smiled as he shook the water droplets from his hair – now that he was out of the wind and rain, his smell was clear to me – and crossed his arms over his chest and he – not even close to subtlety – let his eyes wander. "That's a nice top."

I secured the final buttons and looked down at the curve hugging top – it was a good thing that I actually wore a bra, "I think so too." I glanced back up with the corner of my lips curled up. "Are you stalking me?"

"Maybe," Wolf answered with a tease to his voice. "Would that be so bad if I was?"

I grabbed the red leather and slipped it on, "Maybe." I tore my eyes from him at the sound of Trinity clearing her throat. I grabbed my silver wallet from my back pocket and unfolded it to pull out several bills. "I'll take 'em."

"Uh huh…" Trinity hummed as she made her way over to the register with the cash. When we were both standing away from the man, she leaned forward and spoke with a whisper. "Who's that?"

"His name's Wolf," I responded as I watched the cash drawer pop open with a small ding. "I met him the other night. He's a… friend."

Trinity scoffed under her breath, "Man, Rhi. Does David know you have some guy following you around?"

"No," I shot back in a tone filled with warning. "And he's not going to. You got it?"

"Hm," Trinity sighed as she passed me my change. "I got it." She glanced back at the man. "He is cute."

"I hadn't noticed," I deadpanned as I pushed the bills into my wallet, which I slipped back into my pocket. We made our way back to the front of the shop and I placed my t-shirt and new jacket down into the bag that Trinity had grabbed for me before pulling my damp coat on over the new blouse. "Thanks, Triny. You good here?"

"Yeah," Trinity nodded. "I'll see you?"

"Mhm," I placed a quick kiss on her cheek. "I'll swing back when you close up and take you to your car."

"I'm not 5; I don't need an escort," Trinity rolled her eyes, but the appreciation in her voice was evident.

I shook my head and lifted the hood over my hair as I stepped backwards out into the light drizzle of rain, "Yes, you do." I looked over at the other human and made a motion with my hand. "Are you coming?"

Wolf bowed his head towards Trinity with a smile before following me out of the shop and down the boardwalk passed other brightly lit stores, "She's a friend of yours?"

"Why do you sound surprised that I have a friend?" I asked with a hint of offense.

"She just doesn't seem…" Wolf appeared to be choosing his words carefully. "… Like you."

"There aren't many people like me," I smiled inwardly at my own joke.

Little did I know…

"Trinity's a sweet girl," I continued. "We're a bit opposite, but… I like it that way. We mesh well. Plus…" I slipped the bag over my wrist so that my hands could go into my pockets. "Santa Carla is full of all sorts of people. She's young, pretty… A girl like that needs someone to look out for her."

"And you've made that your job," Wolf assessed. "Who looks out for you?"

I gave him a wide smile, "I can take care of myself."

"Yeah, I bet you can," Wolf agreed with a nod. "How'd it go with your warden the other night?"

I let out a laugh at the nickname, "He's protective, that's all. And he was right. It was getting late."

Wolf eyed me with a look that I couldn't place, "Is it late now?"

I pulled my lips into a thin line, "I don't know." We both knew that it was far from late, considering I had to stay out to make sure Trinity got off of the boardwalk – we vampires weren't the only threats in town. The place was full of creeps that we had yet to eradicate.

However, in the present moment, I was more concerned for his safety than hers.

I did tell Dwayne that I would kill Wolf. The human was a threat… I felt that after only one meeting. And now smelling him for the third time, I needed to be rid of him. I didn't need to feel the urge to think of him.

I didn't need… any of this.

"I suppose I've got some time," I said with a smile that I had to force on my face.

Wolf gave a grin that matched his name, "Great." He held his hand out to me. "Come with me."

My fingers twitched as I pulled my right hand out of my pocket. As my palm was mere inches from his, my eyes narrowed at the sight of his wrist where his leather coat had risen up on his arm. There was an item there – something that did not belong.

With even just the tip visible, I knew exactly what it was.

When Wolf's eyes met mine, he knew how much of a mistake he had made in not keeping his arm down.

"You son of a bitch," I grabbed hold of the front of his coat and shoved him backward until we were at the opening to an alley. I slammed the human back against a brick wall and jerked his sleeve up further. A metal and leather cuffed device was secured to his wrist with a wooden stake attached. Before he had a chance to react, I ripped the stake from its holder and tossed it down the alley. "Fuck!"

"I had hoped to prolong this…" Wolf gritted through clenched teeth. "So go ahead… kill me. Or try."

"There wouldn't be trying," I confirmed as I shifted my hold so that my hands were holding down his wrists. "I have to admit, you're good. You didn't go for the direct kill. You charmed me. You…" I let out a gasp. "You were the reason I was poisoned. You were in that alley."

"It was a long shot," Wolf's eyes darkened as he looked down at me. "I didn't think anyone would actually sink their teeth into that body. I was just disappointed that you weren't alone when you did."

I tightened my grip and smirked as he winced, "I can't believe this shit."

"Hunter," Wolf tilted his head down a fraction of an inch and directed the next word at me. "Hunted."

"You aren't a hunter. Hunter's do better when it comes to not getting caught."

"And what would you know about it?" Wolf snapped and a flash of pain that I couldn't suppress crossed my face. He cocked his head to the side. "What would you know?"

"My uncle was a hunter," The words came out before I could stop them. "I know the game. You haven't been playing it long enough to have it mastered."

"He was a hunter? What did you do, kill him?" Wolf tried to instigate.

"No. I watched him die a natural death," I sneered as I pushed him and took a few steps back. "You should get out of town."

Wolf rubbed at his tender wrists, "You're letting me go. What kind of trick is this?"

"It's not a trick," I answered with a shake of my head. "Find another clan to kill. Leave Santa Carla tonight. I can't guarantee that you'll get out alive if you don't take this opportunity."

"I don't…" Wolf clenched his jaw as he contemplated lunging forward. "I don't understand."

"I'm not going to kill you! Not now. I'm giving you a pass. If my brothers find out about you – or God forbid David does – then your fate won't be so simple. If they discover a hunter in our town? They'll rip you limb from limb."