"No, we are not taking a detour to see the world's oldest sloth."

Rami pouted at me like a child. "Fine."

We have been in the road since six in the morning and it's now eight. Rami jumped in the driver's seat and I rode shotgun while the werewolf is at the back. I have yet to say a word from him ever since last night. I know he didn't sleep in the tent last night because I was up all night, too upset to sleep. Either he didn't sleep or he slept outside. This morning, he tried to talk to me, apologizing constantly but I refused to acknowledge him just yet. Rami never asked, but he had sensed something was off between us and for his own amusement, and torture for me, he keeps playing sappy love songs. Right now he's playing My Heart Will Go On and all I can think about is how precious Leonardo DiCaprio looked in Titanic and how Jack deserved to live.

It took us a while to figure out where we are, since I took so many detours the other night as I ran from the hunters, but things worked out perfectly as we are on the right way to west coast, with the sea on our side. We're getting really close. However, we haven't passed by a town that has food and I'm hoping we reach one soon because we are short on food and my stomach is crying. We ate all of our food last night and all I've had are gum, to satisfy my brain for a while.

"Oh! I love this song!" Rami exclaims as another song begins. Shrugging, I bopped my head and sang along with Rami, temporarily blocking the man in the backseat. After another hour and a few more love songs, we had finally found a town by the sea. It has a few boats by the bay, a couple of restaurants, a gas station, and the typical small town stuff. It's called Clearwater Pier. Today is quite cloudy and rain is on schedule, so there aren't many people out. As we entered the place, I had only seen four people walking around.

There is one motel, where we checked in. This time, we are able to get two rooms. Rami suggested I share with the wolf but I begged him to make some arrangements so he is sharing a room with Lysander instead, and he agreed, much to the sour wolf's dismay.

For now, we parted ways as we explored the small but beautiful town. Rami had lunch by a Chinese restaurant and took Lysander with him. I found a coffee shop not far from the Chinese restaurant and it's just about the coolest cafe I've seen. It gives me that medieval times kind of place. Inside, there are only five people and I love how the workers are dressed in medieval attires.

"Hello ma'am." A server greeted as I took a seat a wooden bench. With the dim lights, I was able to see a woman who looks like Audrey Horne from Twin Peaks. Wow. Maybe I should just forget about Lysander's bitter ass and stay in this place. "What can I get for you?"

I read the menu, looking for something I am familiar with but all names are weird. "Um, I'd just like to have a really strong coffee." I checked the food section. "And this sandwich." I pointed at a picture of a giant sandwich that looks like the best thing in the world. I'm probably not going to finish it with my tiny tummy, but I'm starving so we'll see.

The waitress laughed softly. "Yes ma'am. Are you new here?" She questioned as she writes down my orders on a small notepad.

"Yeah. This place is great!" I beamed at the interior's design once again. "And you look great!" My face heated up as soon as I realized my words. "I mean, your outfit! Your outfit is cute!"

"Why thank you." She grins. "I will be back with your order."

"Thanks." I really do need that strong coffee.

***

I'm so proud of myself. I actually finished my food, crumbs and all. Usually, I would have to take home what I order because I almost never finish my food, but this time that hunger really got me. I also had two cups of the strong coffee that the waitress gave me and everything was perfect.

That is until Lysander found me and sat down with me. "Andromeda, please listen to me." He pleads with his eyes. "But first, I should tell you. I don't feel good about this -- " He was interrupted when a hot liquid poured on his back. A woman passing by with her hot coffee had crashed into our table and spilled her drink on Lysander.

I quickly grabbed napkins to wipe Lysander's already wet grey shirt while the woman began to apologize. Lysander was not at all bothered by the hot liquid and just stared at the woman. The server from earlier came to clean up the mess but I stopped her. "It's okay, I got it." There was only a bit of liquid on the floor since most of it went to Lysander's shirt.

"I'm so sorry about this." The woman touched Lysander's shoulder, and her hand slid down to his chest. My mouth dropped and my grip on the coffee mug tightened. Lysander kept his eyes on hers, allowing her hands to roam on him. And that absolute prick had the nerve to smile at her!

"Oh, there you guys are." Rami entered the shop, his eyes lighting up at the design. "Rad." He took a seat next to me and glanced at Lysander and the woman across from us. "What's happening?" The woman snapped her head towards Rami and smiled at him. "Wow. Hello." He sighs happily. "I'm Rami. Why don't you join us?"

"Well, um." The woman bit her lips while the two men gawked at her. "Sure." She sat next to Lysander and smiled at Rami. "My name's Melody."

Shaking my head, I slammed a twenty on the table and stormed out of the cafe.

I'm starting to think this whole mate thing is bullshit. I should have just focused on the internship and stayed away when I had the chance. I should have said no when they asked me for help.

Groaning, I stopped by the sidewalk that gives me a good view of the sea. Soon, cold rain began to pour down on my skin and every inch of the town. I'm used to rain starting as drizzles but this one was straight out heavy. I'm only wearing a shirt and jeans, so I was soaked instantly. What a beautiful day!

"Miss, you need to be inside." I jumped startled at a man who suddenly appeared beside me. "You'll get sick."

"No shit." I spun my heels and started walking back towards the motel. I could feel the man's eyes on me as I go farther, which made me increase my pace. After a while, I checked back and sighed in relief when the man disappeared. Then, I was pulled into an alley and there he came, right in front of me. His brown eyes started to turn almost red and I knew then, I'm in trouble.

"That wasn't nice, sweetheart. You don't talk to your superiors like that." His hand on my neck tightened and I struggled to breathe. It wasn't long until I felt lightheaded. I raised my knee up and hit him in the stomach, then took my chance to run as he flinched.

I should have known better than to fight against a vampire. Even if I was a fast runner, he would have still caught up easily. I could only run at the end of the alley before I was slammed back against the wall. It all happened to fast that I didn't have time to do anything before sharp teeth drilled into my neck. I was not expecting the pain to be so unbearable. I screamed as loud as I could, hoping anyone would hear me. The vampire covered my mouth and pulled his fangs from my neck. As he looked at me with a sadistic smile, his red eyes glowed. I see my own blood dripping from his teeth and I weakened, terrified of the man.

"You're very delicious baby. I think I'll keep you to taste the rest of you."

Just like back in The Citadel, I felt everything around me move and I was hit with a gust of wind, then suddenly I was on a completely different place. I am outside a house. A cabin. The vampire held onto me tightly as he kicked the door, revealing two other vampires. As my eyes saw what was behind them, I almost fainted.

Rami is tied up against a chair, his neck bleeding with a vampire's bite and Lysander is chained up on a hook that is on the wall. Silver. Right on the floor, there are purple flowers.

Rami paled as we made eye contact. Meanwhile Lysander growled and tried to break free of the chain, but failed to do so. The vampires guarding them slapped Lysander's face. It's that woman from the cafe. The woman who spilled her drink at Lysander and stole them away with her smile. She's a vampire. How did Lysander not sense her?

"I see you're still in bloodlust." The other vampire, a man with gold teeth, reeking of marijuana, said to the vampire holding me.

The woman vampire rolled her eyes at me. "Look what I found, Sterling." Her voice is so much deeper than how it was earlier. "One very tasty human and a werewolf!" The vampire holding me tensed up. "Who would have thought a werewolf still walks in this world!" She cackled, running a hand over Lysander's jawline. "Such a pretty one too."

"And we need to kill it before it kills us." The vampire with the gold teeth adds.

"Or we could make something really powerful." The woman's eyes twinkled. "Ever heard of a hybrid?" Lysander moved uncomfortably while Rami's eyes enlarged. "That would be a hell of a combination. A child that is half vampire, half werewolf. It's never been done before but I'm sure we could be the first." She licked her lips as she looks at Lysander.

I felt pain on my neck again. "Do whatever the hell you want. Don't bother me." And before I know it, I was moved to another room and I was laid down on a bed with the hungry vampire over me. Panic grew inside me as I backed away as much as I could. I reached the end of the bed and let out a cry, causing the vampire to laugh. "Don't worry, human. Just give me time and I'll end your pain." He then pulled my leg and his teeth bit down my neck again.

I could feel my body weakening. I was beginning to lose hope.

This is it. I wasn't even able to finish my task to save the werewolf. I wasn't able to get a science career and be somebody that matters.

"You taste so good." The vampire moans against my neck, his body holding me down. My own tears clouded my vision as my hands attempted to push him. I moved around to look for anything that will help me. No weapons anywhere. No dagger. No silver. Not even my own strength could save me against the vampire.

Just outside, a loud, vicious growl echoed everywhere, which caused the vampire to pause on drinking my blood. "Some guard dog you have." He grinned. "I should kill him, right after I'm finish with you."

He will fucking not.

I clenched my fist and punched his face with so much energy. As he was caught off guard, he fell off the bed and hit a nightstand. My heart skipped a beat, with hope. He had a digital clock. I quickly snatched it from the nightstand and almost cried in happiness as I found two AA batteries.

The vampire sat back up and hissed angrily. "You bitch!" He grabbed my shirt and slapped me with the back of his hand. At this point, I'd figured I would be bleeding to death, so I might as well die trying. I need to make sure there is one last werewolf standing in this Earth.

My fingers dug through my jean's pocket and found some gum wrapper that I was chewing earlier in the car. With shaky hands and unsteady vision, I wrapped both ends of the metallic wrapper on the end of an AA battery and fire erupted from it.

I dropped the burning wrapper and battery on the bed and caught the whole thing on fire. The vampire backed away in a corner of the room, afraid of the orange flames. I kicked a pillow on fire and it landed right in front of the vampire, trapping him between the wall and the fire. He tried to run through the fire but it hurt him too much that he had cowered and begged me to help him.

Noticing that the rest of the room is beginning to burn and smoke is going everywhere, I made a run for it. Before I could run downstairs, I found a mirror hanging on a wall. A big circular shaped mirror. Through its reflection, I noticed blood all over my face, drying on my tanned skin. My black hair is tangled by my shoulders and my scared brown eyes, finding it hard to believe that I got out of that frightening situation.

And it's not over yet.

This mirror is made out of silver. Just exactly what I need.

Taking the hanged mirror, I smashed it against the wall, making silver shards shatter all over the floor. I picked up one large piece and took a deep breath. My heart beats faster and faster as I make steps down the stairs. As I get closer, I could hear the two vampires still arguing about what they will do to Lysander.

Still light headed, I reached the last step and the woman vampire caught my sent before she looked at me with disbelief. She then took another sniff and her eyes grew with fear. "Fire! You -- how -- " As soon as her hands touched my neck and shoulder, mine clutched on the silver shard I'm holding, cutting my own skin. I stabbed her back with the sharp end of the silver at the same time her teeth sank to my left shoulder and sliding it down, cutting my upper arm life two small knives.

I screamed in pain as more blood started to trail down my arm. The last vampire standing made his way to me, but I didn't have the energy to fight back anywhere. The fire from upstairs is beginning to spread down the stairs. "You little bitch!" The vampire with gold teeth launched at me, but never reached me as the dark wolf jumped in front of me. Immediately, I ran to Rami with all my remaining energy and used the blood stained piece of mirror to cut the ropes tied Rami. It was the last thing I remembered doing before hearing my name and the most terrifying roar, then my body hit the ground and everything turned black.

***

'Don't stop believing! Hold on to the feeling!'

I sat up, confused with everything. Where the hell am I? Am I alive? Why am I hearing Journey's Don't Stop Believing? And why the hell is there a man holding my hand?

I awkwardly pulled it back and the man snapped his head toward me. "Oh." My heart dropped as I saw that his arm and part of his face got burned a little. Second degree.

"Andromeda!" He sighs in relief. "I'm so glad you're okay. I was so worried I thought you weren't going to wake up!" He found my hand again and held it tightly before kissing it. "I'm so sorry An. I'm sorry for speaking to you that way last night. I'm sorry for putting you through all that mess. I'm sorry that you got hurt. I'm sorry for allowing that vampire to take you and hurt you. I'm sorry for being so weak." His eyes reddened as water pooled in his grey eyes. "I'm sorry for not saving you." His breath hitched as he continued. "I didn't know that woman was a vampire. She had me and Rami under control and I felt like I couldn't do anything." His jaw clenched. "And that son of a bitch. If you hadn't burned him down, I would have killed him slowly." He took a couple of deep breaths before he brushed a hand through my wavy hair. "I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for you. None of us would be here. Thank you."

I bit my lip and stared at him for a while, ignoring my heart wanting to jump out of my chest.

"Okay. But, um.. Who are you again?"

His eyes widened. "What?" His face paled as he looked at me worriedly. "Please, don't tell me you don't remember -- "

"I'm kidding, Lysander." I smiled weakly. "Now, care to tell me what happened after I died?"

"You didn't die." He scowled. I just realized then that he's kneeling down next to my bed. "As soon as you left the cafe, Rami and I got taken to a house. That vampire told us to follow her and when no one was around, she took us to that cabin. There was another vampire who tied Rami to a chair and the woman chained me. Before I could try and break free, the man had some purple flowers and put them against my skin and it burned like hell. They put one in my mouth and I couldn't breathe. Just like that purple liquid from the hunters. They only had a little bit, but I still felt so weak that I couldn't shift. The man had bitten Rami and he was about to kill him," He clenched his jaw again. "I couldn't do anything. But you and that leech came. I wanted to kill him as soon as I saw him holding you. I could smell his scent all over you." Red started to appear over his pupils, but he calmed down before it grew any more. "While you were up there, the two vampires argued about what they were going to do to me. At that point, I was gaining energy again but not enough to shift. Then, I smelled fire and I was so terrified about what happened to you. Until I saw you and I just felt better then. I was so desperate to save you while the woman attacked you. I was only able to get the last vampire, and that's when you fainted. The fire reached the first floor at that time and I was burned. Werewolves senses aren't good around fires, so I couldn't help us out. But Rami. He was the one who got us out. He carried you and lead the way out of the cabin. We made it just before it completely caught on fire." I could see then that he blamed himself for not being able to be the one to save us.

I intertwined our fingers together and rubbed my thumb over his scarred hand.

"I was so scared that I was going to lose you." He confessed. "I'm sorry about last night. I shouldn't have talked to you that way. I didn't mean what I said. I just missed my pack so much and the humans just -- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." He briefly pecked my forehead before gazing back at me. "I miss my old life. I do. But now, now you're with me. You're my life now and that's all I've ever wanted. I just wanted to find my mate. That's why I've been trying to get close to humans. To see more. To look for a chance to find my mate. And now, I found you. I finally found you, after all these years. I'm not letting you go."

Words failed to exit my mouth. My brain couldn't comprehend what to do. But my heart did and I kissed him like there is no tomorrow.

***

"Lysander, how is Dr -- Oh." Lysander was suddenly pushed away from me and Rami jumped by my side, pulling me in a warm embrace. "Gee, thanks for telling me Drew woke up." He says to Lysander bitterly. "Holy shit woman. You scared the atoms out of me!" He pulled away and sat next to me. "I'm sorry for being a dumb ass like Lysander and falling for that vampire's charm. It's like she had us under a compulsion or something! She's not even my type!" He grimaced. "Oh! And by the way, the stake that Ivan gave us, I made more of it just now while you were out. That way, we each have a weapon to fight those oversized mosquitos." Lysander snorted at the term. "The silver that you used to stab the vampire, it killed the vampire instantly. I think silver stakes are better than wooden, so I made one of that. But yeah. Thoughts?"

I don't know what I would do without this man, honestly.