Chapter One
Vlad had always loved the night. It represented safety, peace, and desire. Only, he hadn’t felt anything close to desire in centuries.
Glancing up at the Alaskan sky, he attempted to recall the last time he’d enjoyed sex or participated in sex for that matter. But the memories were vague at best.
“Will you be needing anything else from me before I retire, my lord?”
Vlad had sensed Mordecai’s approach long before his otherwise silent arrival. The elderly butler had been with him for over fifty years and was the only human Vlad completely trusted.
“I don’t require anything further this evening. Have a good night, Mordecai.”
“You as well, my lord.”
Pulling the hood of his cloak up over his head, Vlad ventured out to the hot springs bubbling in the distance.
He stared into the pool’s depths for long moments, debating on whether or not to strip out of his clothing and sink into its welcoming warmth.
A wolf’s howl sounded in the distance, echoing through the mountains in a haunting melody of pain.
The animal had likely been injured in one of the bear traps set by the locals, Vlad thought, his vision sharpening with vampiric precision.
Vlad despised the wolves, almost as much as he despised his own immortality.
Another agonizing howl split the night, signaling the descent of Vlad’s fangs.
He lifted his heated gaze in the direction of the tormented sound, his breaths suddenly coming in rapid succession. Vlad had one thing on the brain as he blurred his way to the foot of the mountain… Death.
A shot rang out, slowing Vlad’s steps. His vision sharpened, scanning the distance for signs of hunters.
Vlad could hear the bullet enter the wolf’s flesh, wringing a cry from the animal’s throat.
His fangs lengthened in rage. How dare someone deprive him of the kill?
Taking off in the direction of the gunfire, Vlad ran with the speed born of a vampire, stopping directly in front of a raised rifle.
He could hear the intruder’s heartbeat thumping inside his chest at an increased rate.
The man jerked his rifle higher up against his shoulder and pulled the trigger.
Vlad easily sidestepped the bullet, bending the barrel of the weapon with enough force that the stranger fell to his knees.
“Who are you?” Vlad rasped, looming over the cowering man.
The guy stared back in rebellion. “Fuck you, vampire.”
Bending down, Vlad gripped the man’s jacket and yanked him to his feet. “Vampire being the key word here.”
Vlad struck, sinking his fangs into his victim’s throat hard enough he hit bone.
The guy began to struggle, boring Vlad with his feeble attempts at escape, until he stopped moving altogether.
Disgusted, and more than a little disappointed over the fact of losing the hunt of the wolf, Vlad dropped the corpse at his feet.
One of the things Vlad hated about draining his dinner was disposing of the body. But bury it he must. He couldn’t afford to leave it lying about to be discovered by trappers.
He trailed back toward the house, keeping his senses on alert, and grabbed a shovel.
White puffs of smoke surrounded Vlad’s face with every breath he took as he made his way back to the dead body.
Vlad loved the winter, and he loved Alaska. It had been his home for over a century. Romania would always be his heart, but nothing compared to the quiet serenity of the mountains of Anchorage.
Being alone had become a way of life for Vlad, long ago. It wasn’t that he hated humans— Oh, who was he kidding? He positively despised them, had for centuries. They were a means for a vampire’s survival. Period.
But nothing got Vlad’s ire up more than a shifter. Part human, part animal, shifters stalked that which they deemed a threat. Namely, vampires.
Vlad buried the dead body with swiftness, tossing some brush over the grave to camouflage its existence before turning toward home.
A soft whine reached his ears, barely audible over the sounds of the forest. Vlad stilled, expanding his senses to the hills beyond.
The sound came again, fainter this time, summoning Vlad’s predatory nature like a moth to a flame.
The injured wolf had obviously survived the gunshot wound, Vlad assumed, changing course.
He blurred his way toward the injured animal, the wind whipping his cloak around as he dodged the massive trees lining the foothills of the mountain.
His lip curled over a fang with the first glimpse of the giant white wolf, lying on its side, struggling to breathe.
Vlad came to a stop next to the hideous beast and allowed his gaze to travel from its injured leg to the gunshot wound in its side before coming to rest on the creature’s face.
Dropping down onto his haunches, Vlad pushed back the hood of his cloak and stared into the wolf’s amber-colored eyes. “I bet that hurts like hell.”
A strained growl bubbled up from the animal’s throat, further amusing Vlad. “I should let you lie there and bleed out for thinking to step foot onto my land.”
No fear entered the wolf’s strange-looking eyes. Only acceptance…and rage?
“This is your lucky day, dog. I’ve had my dinner, and I’m feeling mildly generous.”
Vlad reached down and grabbed onto the wolf’s neck in time to watch a pair of feminine legs begin to emerge from beneath its silky white coat.
He relaxed his hold as his gaze slowly traveled up over the curve of a hip, a small ribcage, and a pair of incredible breasts before coming to land on a face he would never forget. “You…”