Chapter Two

Elijah

The wolf girl is not amused. And yet, she's highly amusing.

Hayley knows the extent of my power, but she's not afraid of me. That defiant glint in her light brown eyes makes that clear. As someone who is used to immortals and mortals alike kowtowing before me, Hayley is…refreshing. And beautiful. There's no question about that: wavy brown hair and pouty lips—pursed in irritation? And now she's crossing her arms. And scowling. She's tiring of our game.

"How do you know the vamp bitch?" Hayley asks without batting an eye.

I should be surprised by her bluntness, but I can't stop myself from laughing.

"Katherine…or should I say Katerina? We go back. We have a deep history."

"So she's an ex-girlfriend or something like that?"

"Not quite. We're old acquaintances…"

Hayley groans and presses a hand to her temple. "Look, Elijah, original vampire, you might live forever, but I don't have time for this. How about we just get to the point—what does this have to do with me?"

It's a fair point, but I don't want to part ways just yet. And I still need to ask her for that favor.

"Why don't you and I go somewhere a little more…appealing?" I gesture to the dank alleyway that surrounds us.

Hayley nods. "Well, I suppose if you wanted me dead you would have done so already. What'd you have in mind?"

"There is a private lounge near here called Le Crystal. Shall we?" I give her a quick wink and extend my hand.

She considers my offer for a couple seconds then brushes past me. I feel a slight twinge of disappointment until she suddenly whirls around.

"Sounds expensive. You're buying, right?" Her voice is flat, but her eyes are sparkling with humor and her full lips are curved up in a slight smile.

I return her grin. "Of course."

Candlelight, red satin couches, dark wood tables. There are a few couples sitting in shadowy corners in the lounge and stealing kisses. It's a small, intimate space. Le Crystal is nothing if not romantic. But as soon as Hayley strolls into the lounge, I realize my mistake. She takes in the dim lighting, the embracing couples, and the soft jazz music playing in the background and raises an eyebrow at me questioningly.

For a moment I wonder if she'll leave, but she shrugs casually and takes a seat at the bar. I don't know why I feel relieved, but I tell myself it's because I need her help. I sit down next to her and order drinks for us—a scotch for me and a Brooklyn Lager for her.

I raise my glass in silent cheers and she mimics me jokingly and sips her beer.

After a few moments of nursing our drinks, Hayley breaks the silence.

"So about that elusive point…"

"Ah yes. The reason you're here. Tonight you were attacked by that werewolf boy."

Hayley nods. "Yeah, I think his name was Bill or Will or something. I beat him up pretty bad. But what do you know about it?"

"Well, this evening I also had the pleasure of meeting this young wolf's acquaintance…along with five of his friends who weren't as lucky as this—let's call him Bill?"

Hayley nearly chokes on the beer she's drinking. "Wait—hold up. You mean that you were attacked by Bill and five werewolves? How could they be so stupid? To think that they could go up against an original…"

She pauses for a second. "They're dead, aren't they?"

"Yes. They were out for blood—but to be specific, they were out for the blood of an original. My blood."

Hayley can't meet my eyes and I feel I need to explain my violent actions. Even though the code of the original family has always been an eye for an eye…

Still, it occurs to me that Hayley might of thought of these wolves as family. And I need her cooperation. I decide to show a softer side.

"They wouldn't stop their attack on me, Hayley. It became obvious that the wolves were under some sort of compulsion—and it was very strong. Though I did manage to find out who was responsible from one of the wolves. Katherine."

She shoots me a glare. "And I suppose the wolf just gladly gave up the name without any sort of pressure from you?"

Her antagonism doesn't intimidate me. I won't dance around her accusation. I have nothing to hide from her.

"I had to interrogate the wolf. And in doing so, I found the answer behind the attack. There is something you aren't comprehending, Hayley. It's for the wolves' protection that I called you here."

She crosses her arms and pouts her lips. I'm starting to think this is her default expression. And I'm hopelessly charmed by it.

"And how is that?"

"Katherine has always harbored a certain…hatred for my family. One member in particular. If she's compelled the wolves to hunt us down, it's not my family that I'm worried about. I fear that it will force my family's hand—to kill all the wolves Katherine has compelled."

Hayley meets my gaze and I see a myriad of emotions: distress, fear, and anger reflected back at me. She slams her right fist on the table causing some lip-locked couples to stare up at us in alarm.

"So you piss off your girlfriend and she decides to use the wolves to do her dirty work? That cowardly piece of shit!"

She's shouting, and though the noise is not at all compatible with the mellow ambience at Le Crystal, I don't try to calm her. I know she needs this—to air out her rage.

I rest my hand on hers. A light touch, but it startles her—and me. Her bright eyes are wide with surprise, but she doesn't remove her hand from mine.

"Why me, Elijah? What can I do?"

Her voice is a little above a whisper. She seems small now and vulnerable. I want to comfort her, to protect her from this new threat. But without her involvement, there might not be a way to get to Katherine…to stop this madness.

I'm about to reveal everything when I see a shock of bright red hair out of the corner of my eye. The color is familiar.

And then it clicks. It's Bill the young werewolf from before. He's bruised and bloody from his tussle with Hayley, but his eyes are glazed over. And he's moving closer…near Hayley with something clutched in his hand.

Within seconds Bill clocks Hayley over the head with an empty bottle of wine. Hayley let out a cry and collapses hard on the floor. I stare at Hayley's unconscious form in shock as a combination of fear and anger—a dangerous amount of anger—hits me.

I allow my killer instinct to take over.

Before Bill can whack Hayley again with the bottle, I grab it out of his hands and smash it against the bar. Then I push Bill against a wall in the corner of the lounge and press the sharp edge of the half-broken bottle against his neck.

I'm about to rip out his throat when Bill starts to laugh maniacally. If I was remotely intimidated by this baby wolf, I might quiver at the frightful sound. Alas, I know his life will soon be over.

Bill sneers at me. "You think you can stop our beloved queen? You will fail. You're going to die. You and your whole family—"

I roll my eyes at his psychotic ramblings.

"—and that bitch of a wolf, Hayley. She'll be dead too."

I narrow my eyes and with a flick of my wrist I cut open Bill's throat. Blood pools out of his neck and he chokes, gasping for air. I leave him, collapsed on a heap on the floor. He'll die soon enough.

Walking away from Bill, I register my surroundings. Le Crystal is completely empty except for the dark haired wolf knocked out on the floor. All the patrons and the staff must have fled as soon as Bill struck Hayley.

I stoop down next to the injured wolf girl and spot a large gash on her forehead. I feel another surge of anger. If Bill wasn't dead already, I would surely kill him again for harming her. I touch Hayley's cool face with the back of my hand. She's out cold. I have a strong urge to stay with Hayley until she wakes up, but I know that after all the commotion the police will be at Le Crystal soon.

I lift Hayley up and I marvel how light and delicate she feels in my arms. I smile despite myself. Even though I've just met this girl, somehow I think she'd take offense to being called "delicate." In fact, I'm pretty sure she'd punch me square in the face.

I snap out of my daze as soon as I hear sirens outside of Le Crystal. I peer down at Hayley. It's time to make a quick decision.

Now what to do with this beautiful, sharp-tongued wolf?