The drive was quiet, probably because no one knows what to say when we're so close to meeting a pack of what we had believed to be mythical creatures. Two days of traveling, listening to the human's snore on occasion and Leslie sing to songs I'd never bothered to learn. Now and then we'd stop to let the humans eat, or do whatever was needed, and then we'd be right back on the road.

Our younger coven members didn't join us on the journey, which I couldn't blame them for. It was such an old tradition, to hold a ceremony and allow the beasts a chance to find their other half but as most do: we stick to what we know.

I'd never had the chance to grow content with anything in my long, endless existence. No place beautiful enough, no man good enough, and the only things I'd ever settled down to commit to the coven and Leslie.

Not that I had a choice with the black-haired female, she wouldn't let me leave her even if I tried.

The coven had been a temporary home for me, never had I intended to take over the role as leader and playhouse with a bunch of vampires who acted more human than any I'd ever seen. I did not have much of a choice however, killing the original male leader was needed as he'd become a power-hungry beast. Trying to create an army of vampires that would not have achieved much of anything in life.

I cannot say murdering the bastard hadn't gotten me off a little bit. My violent side enjoyed the death of such a sick man. A sadistic part of me had come through, but it didn't come about often. Besides, it's different for me.

I had been raised in a different era than these people. I watched my father murder men for drinking his ale, and my mother beat men twice her size for merely looking at me the wrong way.

Squeamish was never a word to describe a Viking. Our loyalty was undeniable.

My coven was my priority, and I'd kill and torture anyone who believed they could hurt or take advantage of these fantastic bloodsuckers that were under my protection.

"I hope we don't lose another member to that bond, it's infuriating watching those dogs latch onto my friends and then take them away." Leslie is in the third row of the SUV, leaning against her human chew toy and playing with the long locks of hair from the woman.

"Maybe you'll find some hot wolf to play bump in the night with." I wiggle my brows at her, and she practically screeches her distaste at me.

Jacob, the man, driving, chuckles at her. The human in the front seat was asleep, a girl Jacob had chosen. The boy next to me was tense and shaky; he was dying for a bite as he'd been reliant on us for quite some time. With it being two days since I'd fed, I could imagine the desperate need moving through his body, but he wouldn't be suffering for long. I reach out and stroke his hot skin, forcing a sound of pleasure from between his lips.

Sometimes I found it strange, our need to be affectionate with our food. There weren't many times when my feeding didn't involve sex, especially when I'd first begun living off the substance that tastes so much better straight from the vein.

Once I'd became better at feeding, I learned how pleasurable it was for both parties when added into the less than sacred act of fucking. My lips turn upwards at the thought of using the pretty male beside me if I got bored over the next few days, not that he would mind with the effect we had on them.

I run my hand down his cheek, and the boy shudders, eyes falling closed with the expectation of his drugs. My eyes move over his face, and soon I lift myself into his lap. Those excited eyes open as he recognizes the position, he grabs my hips softly as he's scared of breaking me. I was small compared to him, but no part of me was fragile. A soft groan leaves him as my lips find his neck, my tongue dragging a trail downwards until I find the place I'd been searching for.

"What's your name?" I question him, knowing that everyone in the vehicle has their gaze on us. It doesn't bother me, however. They have seen far worse from the likes of me. This is what creatures like us lived for, what kept the endless years less dreary.

"Bryce." The human's voice is surprisingly deep, telling me my ability to guess age was not as great as I'd once thought. He had such a boyish charm to him; I'd thought him no older than twenty-six, but I could be mistaken.

"You're going to give me a good angle on your neck, right Bryce? Be a good boy for me."

My tongue darts out once more as I elongate my fangs and pull back to watch his eyes swirl with lust, the hardening against my thigh telling me all the different things this human male wants from me. All of them I could give, very easily.

I run my nose along his neck before my teeth sink into him.

He lets out a long moan, nails digging into me as I suck the essence of life from his body, large gulps moving down my throat as I take greedily from him. My hips move, grinding against him as I enjoy everything Bryce has to offer me. I'm making sure to give him the pleasure of my bite, now and then throwing in a bit of pain to see how he likes it.

By the constant pulsing of his hips, I could see he did.

Happiness made their blood taste better, bringing unlimited pleasure to the human you're feeding on only helped to satisfy the vampire feeding. We were made for this, to use one another in the most primal of ways. One last gulp and I hear him grunt out, ecstasy washing over his body as I pull away while wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

Bryce's blue eyes stare into mine, I notice them being glazed over and move to give him a small peck on the lips. Affectionate towards my meal, as always. Before I can move away the human has his finger gently wrapping around the back of my neck, kissing me harder and forcing his tongue through my lips hungrily.

I liked this one, I decide as I go along with his kiss.

After a few minutes, I climb from his lap and allow him to lay down, using my legs as a pillow to let him rest. Oh, how I've come to enjoy these small moments over the past few centuries. It was mindless, the process of absorbing the life source

Gently I climb from him as I lick and heal his neck before laying his head in my lap and allowing him to rest. Oh, how I've relished moments like these over the centuries.

"I should've waited to feed; we could've had a little vampire orgy." Leslie laughs as the words leave her mouth, and Jacob widens his eyes.

"I don't think I could drive with that happening, girls."

"Oh, Jacob, you'd get a taste too." She winks at him, and he scoffs, making us both bubble with laughter.

"End the sexy time ladies and change your clothes. We're about to cross onto Crescent territory."

"Alpha Bowers, it's very nice to meet you." My cold hand meets his warm one and we give one another a firm shake, a grin plays on the middle-aged man's lips.

"It's a pleasure to have you all here! I know it must've been a long drive, but we appreciate you joining us." Once he's introduced himself to everyone, the wolf returns to me but this time there is a female at his side.

She's thin and fragile, a small frame that wouldn't lead you to believe she could turn into a ferocious beast at any second—but I can smell it on her. The stench of these creatures being one of my biggest issues with their kind.

The woman smiles adoringly up at the Alpha as he leans down and presses a gentle kiss on the clear marking that decorates her neck, making her shudder.

Such affectionate creatures these are.

"This is my mate, Mable Bowers. She can show you the rooms we have set up and you can all settle in, get cleaned up before the ceremony. Whatever you may need to do." His eyes move over us, seeming to read our expressions as though he was looking for something specific. "We understand they usually put you in separate housing but due to the Lycans, we're a little short on space. Are you comfortable with this arrangement?"

All my vampire's nod, knowing better than to refuse the hospitality of someone allowing us on their land. We fall in step behind the little wolf as she begins leading us towards the house, and I feel Bryce trying to keep himself up by using me for support.

I turn and grab ahold of him, although the height difference is awkward, I help him easily and plan on tucking him in for a nap once I'm settled.

From the outside, the house had appeared more like a hotel, but once inside the home like feel made its appearance and I was a little surprised. We are led to the third floor. Mable explained that I'd, of course, have a room to myself, whereas the others would be partnering up but I tell them Bryce will be staying with me. I had no thoughts of taking one of these dogs to bed, so the human was the best I'd be getting.

The room was nice. A large four-poster bed sat against the wall across from a large dresser. A walk-in closet and master sized bathroom certainly wouldn't be bringing about any complaints from me.

"I was wondering if I could ask you a question, Eira?" I stare at the timid woman with a look of almost pity, to think that a woman holding so much power over a pack of wolves could feel this small.

Her entire demeanor screamed weakness.

She takes my nod as a go-ahead, all the while I begin moving my exhausted human to the bed. His small groans of protest tell me he's ready for another round of pleasure, but his weak body would never allow it.

"If you're going to question me, wolf, you need to get on with it. Stop being acting like a fragile child and speak up." I growl out the words, irritated about having to wait for her to talk. My patience thin. I throw a glance at her, noticing the hurt in her eyes but ignoring it completely.

"I'm curious about your arrangement with the humans that you feed on, as it appears most of you bring someone and then keep them with you." I keep myself from laughing at the question, knowing her mate had probably avoided explaining that we fuck our food.

"I'll answer your question if you answer mine, how's that sound?" She's nodding before I can even finish the question. "What makes you submissive when it's supposed to be against your nature?"

Mable thinks it over for a few moments, allowing me to properly lay Bryce down and he begins dozing off.

"It's how we were raised in my old pack, the women cleaned and cooked while the men learned how to fight. We didn't speak unless spoken to, and no woman was above any male because we were made to pleasure our mates. That's the only meaning of our lives, or it was before my mate found me and brought me here. I've gotten better at not bending to others' will and standing up for myself but there are days or people who make it harder." I've walked over to the dresser by the times she's done speaking, looking over myself in the large mirror and nodding to let her know I've been listening.

I've heard about a lot of the traditions held by packs, the differences sometimes affecting how others integrate into the new society if they must move around for whatever reason. Usually due to finding a mate. The female is expected to move packs, most of the time, unless she is from an Alpha or Beta bloodline and the male is not.

I put my hand on my neck, running my fingers up and then to the back just below my hairline. The inked skin had been there since I was a child, a marking of my family name that was one of the only things left of my past. The one thing I'd genuinely cared about after all my years.

"I was six, the first time I'd held a sword and been told to fight—not against an army or anything that dramatic but when your brother is coming at you with an even bigger weapon it's just as scary as war. It was as big as I was, almost as heavy as well. I remember thinking they'd filled mine with rocks to weigh it down." I smile fondly at the memory. "My oldest brother whipped my ass that day, my weapon ever had the opportunity to leave the ground as he'd attacked. I'd used it well though, learning to block his lower hits and dodge the others.

Father had been so proud, even though I'd had my ass kicked ten times over, he'd always said that one day men would fear the moments I held a weapon in my hands. Now it's not just my hands, but my very being that is the destruction of men—that's what you are as well. A beautiful blade made of teeth, knowledge, and power. If you don't realize that sooner than later, Mable, then you will die an arm piece. I don't feel any self-respecting Luna would want that."

She's silent. Her shaking hands wipe away the tears that my words seem to have brought on, and she nods multiple times. There are a few moments where the Luna tries her best to wipe any signs of tears from her eyes, and she straightens her spine.

"Thank you, Eira." I give her my best imitation of a smile as my mind wanders to darker places, memories of people that'll never again stand before me. She's filled with questions, wanting to know all about our relationships with humans and how long it's taken for me to feel so free with the body I'd inhabited for centuries.

"The only way to survive without becoming, in essence, a monster is to use sex to your advantage. Not many humans just give their blood away, so unless you plan on killing every time you feed it's only right to have a little fun with them." Bryce semi falls into my lap as I take a seat on the bed, and I begin running my fingers through his hair in adoration. Such a cute human. "Plus, I don't crave companionship or anything longer than a fun night in bed so that helps. I'm an older vampire, most of my feelings have slowly faded over time, so I have less value in relationships than you do. Traditions are different."

Bryce gives me a groan as I pull a little harder on his locks, eventually running my fingers down the side of his face and meeting those plump lips.

"When the only thing you can feel is pleasure, anger, or pain...well it's not hard to make a choice. Although sometimes you can't help but let the blood lust take control."

"So, you don't love any of them? At all?" Mable is on the edge of her seat, eyes wide as they follow my movements across the male. The human has gripped me by the wrist, practically begging for the high that I always have available for him.

"I haven't felt anything other than lust or anger since the day I was turned." I laugh.

I'd wondered more than a few times what it would be like to be human again if the lack of emotions would come back or if I'd always feel like a hollow shell.

I could still find humor or admiration in things but it wasn't that overwhelming emotion that brought people to their knees in happiness or sadness. It was always so far from my reach.

A gentle reminder that I could still have a taste, but never the whole thing. Always something missing.

"I pity your kind, vampire." My eyes snap to her form, the quick movement seems to scare her, and although I'm a little proud of her outburst it does not please me. The judgment radiating off her in waves. "You may have forever, but without someone beside you to share it with...it's not worth it. I'd rather live fifty years with someone who'll give me the happiness my mate does, than forever and feel lonely every minute of it."

That was a line passed, and the look on my face tells her that. I can smell the tendrils of fear as they leave her.

"You've been brainwashed into following the traditions based on a god you have no proof in. You held your virginity for the male who probably did not wait for you and has decided to spend the rest of your days not understanding how freeing it can be to live for yourself. To do everything and anything, for your gain and not others.

The emotion of love that you want me to feel, was ripped from my chest before it ever stopped beating. As I watched my family be slaughter in front of my eyes and hear the begging of those I had cared so deeply for. So, pity me if you want, Luna. But I would always prefer freedom over that cage you call love."

The wolf is no longer confident, her spine bending forward at my powerful words as anger seeps from my pores and tears spring to her eyes.

"I'm so—"

"Leave. I'll see you and your soft heart at the ceremony." My words taste bitter on my tongue, but I don't stop them from hitting her ears.

On her way out I move my hand further down the human, deciding to rid myself of some stress before the ceremony. He's been half awake during the argument, and those soft hands hadn't stopped running over my thighs since coming to.

I needed this; I tell myself.

To calm the building rage inside, douse the fire with a bit of pleasure.