Chapter Nine: Another Place, New Friends

Evelyn:

Humming with the radio, an egg sizzled in the pan. Bacon cracked and popped in the pan next to it, Latia popping up behind me with a devious look on her face. Cocking my brow, a crooked grin danced across my face.

"Nice gift you put in the suitcase." I teased lightly, the smell of the egg nauseating me slightly. "It worked. However, I can't tell if it was so we could have a pup together." A soft blush rose to her cheek, her fingers pressing together. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she shrugged her shoulders.

"I didn't put it there, Grayson did." She exclaimed cheerfully, helping herself to the scrambled eggs on the table. "He must have overheard you saying something. But thanks for confirming without me having to ask you. It will be so much fun being pregnant together." Cracking some pepper on the egg, I slid it onto his favorite plate. Hudson walked in sniffing the air, his eyes falling on the plate with bacon, and a perfectly fried egg waiting for him. Wrapping his arm around my waist, his lips pressed the top of my head as he sat down. My toast popped up, the butter melting as I spread it across the golden bread.

"I have to go to the vampire village or whatever they call it to observe the werewolves put up the walls today." I announced cautiously, Latia tossing me her keys. "I will be back in a couple of days." Hudson's lips parted to protest, Latia stopping him.

"The vampires will be putting up the silver fence today, so fair is fair." She uttered tiredly, munching on a piece of bacon. "She is the second strongest here. Besides, she will call every night until she comes home. Also Theros promised to watch her." His eyebrow twitched, his fingers drumming on the counter.

"Like he did last time." He snapped hotly, his wolf begging me to stay. "You ended up in the hands of some starving vampires. I can't get the image of you sliding into an eight foot tall vampire's mouth." A growl rumbled in my throat, my wolf growling alongside me.

"Screw you." I grumbled, tossing my toast in my trash. "That was my fault, you idiot." His inner wolf whined as I slammed the door behind me. Hopping into her car, the seat belt clicked into place. Looking up at the window, Hudson stared down at me. Why did mates have to get possessive? The engine roared to life, the tires screaming as I peeled out of the driveway. Cranking the AC, heavy metal played on the radio. Trees flashed by me, the brakes crying as they screeched to a halt. Werewolves were already working on the wall, Theros running out to me. Turning off the car, I rushed out to hug him.

"Evie, I am sorry." Hudson apologized sadly through our minds, his wolf howling in pain. "Please talk to me."

Ignoring him, Diamond ran out to me. Placing her hand on my stomach, she smiled warmly. Crossing my arms across my chest, vampires stared at me hungrily. Theros took me to his Victorian mansion, black paint covering it all. His umbrella covered his wife and him, the red door squeaked open. Placing his finger on the mouth, his black t-shirt and black jeans throwing me off. Diamond was wearing a black sweater dress, her hair cascading down her back.

"How can some of them be out in the sun, but not these ones or you really?" I asked quietly, the caskets all around me freaking me out. Dragging me to the kitchen, a couple of vampires were attempting to cook. Burnt food filled the air, my head shaking.

"They are half vampires, so that doesn't really work that way. The ones trapped inside during the day are purebreds, like us." He explained, the burning food pissing me off. "Can you help them cook? They have been fucking up all night. I just want to feed the werewolves." Nodding my head silently, irritated looks flashed in my direction as I dumped the food into the trash.

"I just need a dishwasher, and everyone else is free of duty." I snapped bitterly, the smell making me sick to my stomach. "You can rest. Where are the humans that made those half vampires? May I borrow them?" Theros dialed up a number on his phone, a couple of humans walking into the kitchen. Opening the fridge, I pulled out a box of eggs.

"Can you guys manage the bacon?" I asked the nervous women behind me, shooting them a pleasant smile. "I am friendly, I don't bite. I really appreciate your help. Feel free to have some breakfast after we are done. What are your names anyway?" Silky black hair was twisted into a side bun, their green eyes twinkling excitedly. The shorter one stepped forward, her pink lips glistening.

"I am Susie, and my little sister behind me is Sally!" She introduced herself and sister politely, her trembling fingers playing with the hem of her white summer dress. "I look forward to being your friend." Surprise widened my eyes, her words touching my heart. Tears welled up in my eyes, my mind wondering if my hormones were making me cry. Sally tugged at the hem of her black t-shirt, the dark jeans hugging her legs.

"Are you okay?" She stammered awkwardly, bowing in my direction. "We didn't mean to make you cry." A crooked grin danced across my face, the two of them laughing. Turning on the local radio station, we cooked for a couple of hours. Setting up a buffet outside, the clock read nine o' clock. Ringing the bell, the werewolves and humans of the community gathered in a line. The girls helped me until everyone was eating, my attention turning towards them.

"Go ahead and eat." I urged tiredly, wiping my forehead. "I am going to wrap up the leftovers. I am going to make breakfast pizza for dinner tonight with the leftovers. Can I count on you to help me out?" Nodding, they sat with their husbands. Carrying the dirty trays in, a cold hand slammed me into the wall. The trays crashed to the ground, red eyes glowering at me.

"I am so hungry." The shadowy figure hissed venomously, his voice sending chills up my spine. "I am so excited to eat. You smell delicious." Theros popped up behind him, his slender hands tossing him away. I wasn't even shaking, just super pissed off.

"Get your shit together." He growled through gritted teeth, the vampire scrambling off. "Are you okay?" Shaking my head, I scooped up the empty trays. Tossing them into the sink, Theros followed close after me, his very presence ticking me off more. Walking back out, he grabbed the leftovers with me. Setting them down on the counter, the plastic wrap stuck to itself. Taking a break, I dialed up Hudson's number. Dismay dimmed my eyes, the answering machine was all I got.

"Hey, can you leave me alone to prepare lunch?" I said numbly, putting my phone away. "I have a lot to do." Saying nothing, he left. Sally and Susie ran into the kitchen, ready to work. Smiling to myself, they did the dishes as I made a large batch of biscuit dough. Pulling out the sausage, they popped up behind me as I made a sausage gravy.

"Can you give me the recipe before you leave?" Sally pleaded happily, my wolf irritated beyond belief. Sliding them a notebook of my recipes, they jumped up and down with joy. Why didn't Hudson pick up? Did I hurt his feelings? Alone, I needed to be alone.

"You guys can have the rest of the day off until it comes time for dinner." I said sweetly, my polite smile fooling them. "I can handle lunch, it is just a bunch of sandwiches." Running off with their books, the silence was amazing to me. Turning on some scary story channel, a fever burned my cheeks, cold sweat making me clammy. Ignoring the feeling, I got to work with lunch. Making the sandwiches was tedious, the brown bags coming together. Sighing deeply to myself, I tossed them all into a couple of boxes.

"Hudson, are you okay?" I asked through our connection, looking out the window at the wall being built. "I need to hear your voice."

Nothing, I heard nothing. Can this wall just be done already? I wanted to go home into his arms, an icy breeze brushing past me. Tears welled up in my eyes, the sunshine feeling nice on my skin as I stepped out. I had an hour of free time before I had to hand out lunch, a scuffle between a vampire and a werewolf. Rushing over to them, I held them both apart. The brown haired werewolf's mouth had a rather steady stream of curse words from his lips, the half vampire snapping in his direction.

"How about you go home?" I ordered the half-vampire, turning my head towards the werewolf. "You need to control your temper. I know that will be hard, but we are all working together now. Do you understand?" Growls rumbled in my throat, the half vampire swiping at my stomach. Blood exploded from his lips as my knee smashed into his stomach, the werewolf scurrying off. Getting down to his level, his mismatched eyes met mine. Fright widened his eyes, many secrets buried underneath his skin.

"Are you okay?" I queried gently, helping him up. "Are you going through something at home? You just seem off today. Do you want to help me with handing out lunch today?" A toothy grin brightened his face, using the back of his hand to wipe the back of his mouth.

"Sure!" He chirped cheerfully, following me to the kitchen. "I am Theros' half brother, Stephan and I am sorry that I lost control. Sometimes that happens. I just want to get out of here." Understanding how he felt. His brown hair hung over his red eye, his golden eye staring back at me. His casual clothes were a far cry from his brother's fancy Victorian suits.

"Do you want to come with me to my clan?" I offered kindly, the seventeen year old perking up. "I just have to ask your brother. I will later, so don't hold your breath, okay!" Nodding, he followed me into the kitchen. The fever was getting worse as we passed out the food, everyone giving me a courteous smile. Sitting on the floor of the kitchen, more cold sweat drenched my skin. My wolf was begging for me to see or talk to Hudson, tears of frustration streaming down my cheeks. Resting my hands on my knees, Stephan came in with Susie and Sally. Concern flashed in their eyes, my body not moving at all for just a moment. Leaping to my feet, I rolled up the sleeves of my navy blue blouse, wiping my hands on my black jeans. Rolling out my biscuit dough on oiled pizza pans, Stephan spread the gravy on the pizza. Sprinkling a layer of cheddar, he dropped the eggs all over the top. Working hard for a couple of hours, the pizzas sat in the fridge.

"Bake these for twenty-two minutes at three hundred fifty degrees." I ordered numbly, fighting the vomit wanting to come up my throat. "I am going to bed. Make sure you get them ready by five." The girls nodded, my tired feet stomping up the stairs to my room. The werewolves would need me to protect them tonight, my boots crashing into the simple white bathroom. Hot vomit flew up my throat, the cold floor feeling nice against my hot skin as I laid down on the floor. Sweet slumber wrapped her arms around me, taking me to her homeland.