Chapter Thirteen

Helena might have had a wonderful time with Cliff, but that didn’t mean she could wake up with him. With a massive clan of vampires so near Paxton, she couldn’t afford to be absent from her birthplace. Her family could require her assistance at any given moment. Therefore, she waited long enough for him to fall asleep, put her clothes back on, and left him a note:

“Thank you for an amazing night

We should do this again

Call me

XOXO,

Helena”

She snuck out of his room, and then out of his hotel. Thankfully, it was well after 4 a.m., when she found herself on the main road. It was dark and quiet; perfect for what she had in mind. After getting out of range of the hotel cameras, she teleported back to Roman’s sanctuary.

The night she had spent with Cliff had wearied her. Indeed, Helena could feel the strain in the muscles of her arms and legs. She felt as if she had walked ten miles non-stop. However, despite all her fatigue, she couldn’t even consider sleeping. The taste of his kisses still lingered in her mouth. The moisture between her legs served as a reminder of the passionate encounter that had taken her breath away. Still, she had experienced steamy nights before. Cliff had worshipped her body in almost every way imaginable, but the sex with him was not what dominated her thoughts. What lingered in her mind was the kindness in Cliff’s eyes. The song they had danced to, and, more importantly, his will to assist her in finding a job. What kind of man says those words to a woman on their first date? The answer was simple: an extraordinary man; someone with no malice in their heart; an actual, noble soul, interested in more than just getting her into bed.

The co-protector of Paxton kept pacing up and down the hall, recalling the delight his suggestion had sent into her heart. Her eyes had just started to become heavy when a deep rumble from outside snapped her out of her thoughts. Helena lengthened her strides as the roar of a powerful, diesel engine rang in her ears. It had to be one of the Bradford brothers; but, the sun had yet to rise. They never visited so early. Whatever they had to say had to be of vital importance. The wooden floor began vibrating beneath her feet, as she snapped her fingers. Helena recognized Raul’s large, black boots, as the gate slid open upwards. The Alpha had a piece of paper in his hand, and, for some reason she couldn’t understand, a huge smile on his face.

“Raul, what are you doing here?” She squinted up at him, curiosity written all over her face. “It’s six o’clock in the morning. Couldn’t this wait?”

“Sorry about the hour, but I have good news, good news and great news,” he announced as he entering the hall. “Where would you like me to start?”

“Follow me to the library,” she urged, intrigued by his words. The gate hid them from the outside world, as she snapped her fingers once more. “I’m listening,” she added, as he walked alongside her.

“First of all, the recruitment is going really well,” Raul claimed, flashing a bright, sideways look. “We’ve got twelve new members, all of them young, strong, and agile. They need some training, but they’re prepared to fight for their town.”

“That’s fantastic,” Helena commented, her voice deep, with a hint of change behind it. “We still need more, though.”

“I doubt it,” he disagreed with a laugh. “You see, Martin and Jimmy have done a lot of recon these days. You were right about vampires. A couple of days ago, our guys found out that Redfield’s lieutenants possess a few, impressive skills. Mindreading, mind control, power over water… Redfield himself has some kind of super defense, which doesn’t allow his opponent to strike first. If we ever fight against each other, I’ll have to get real close to attack him.” He continued, as they turned right and into the library. “But, when Martin and Jimmy went back to the woods last night, they discovered that the clan was gone. At first, they thought they were hiding from them, but they weren’t. Their scents were starting to fade. We’re not going to war, Helena. Not this time.”

“Naïve pup!” the witch scoffed at his foolishness, her eyes blazing with anger, as she slammed the door shut behind her. “They’re still here! Maybe not where you left them, but make no mistake. They’re still around.”

“No, they’re not!” Raul’s stentorian voice roared like thunder, as he narrowed his eyes down at her. “Haven’t you been listening? Their scents are…”

“Nonsense!” interrupted Helena, raising her voice even higher. Still, as the echoes lingered in the air, it occurred to her that this was not the way to deal with the problem. Had she kept screaming at him, the two of them would have an argument, and that availed neither of them, or anyone else in the family. “Look…” she heaved a long, heavy sigh, taking two, hesitant steps towards him. “Do you remember our stroll in the forest the other night?”

“Yeah,” he said with a firm nod, as he folded his arms across his chest. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“I told you they were unpredictable,” she declared, her voice stiff. “They are your kind’s natural enemies. Don’t expect them to negotiate terms, Raul. They will strike. It’s just a matter of ‘when’ and ‘where.’ Tell me, did your scouts do anything to mask their scents?”

“They said the smell of death was so strong that they couldn’t smell one another from fifty feet away,” Raul informed her, his voice deepening, as he dropped his gaze from her.

“Major mistake,” Helena reprimanded, fighting the urge to yell at him once again. “By nature, vampires cannot smell one another. They focus on the living. It makes sense, really. They feed off the living, not the dead. You should have consulted with me, before you sent out your scouts, Raul. Redfield’s clan vanished because they discovered they were being watched.”

“That’s a pretty good explanation, but…” he faltered, pressing his lips together. “Those two came back without a scratch. Why would they let them live?”

“Your guess is as good as mine,” she shrugged her shoulders. “Most likely, they wanted them to think they had slipped by undetected. Or, they just didn’t want to engage two, very strong wolves. Martin and Jimmy are among your finest warriors.”

“I’d put my money on the ‘undetected’ theory,” Raul stated, as his face hardened with disappointment. “What do you think should be our next step?”

“Double the guards at the town limits,” Helena advised, assuming a calm tone. “Send out your scouts again. Tell them to rub themselves with this,” she urged, slipping her hand into the right pocket of her cloak. The witch pulled out two, small bottles, and threw them over to him. “It’s Cedar. Redfield will want to take you out first. It’s the only way for him to break the pack’s spirit. Don’t leave the estate, unless you absolutely have to do so. Don’t fret, though. My agents are on the prowl. We’ll find them.”

“Thanks a lot for the advice. I appreciate it, I really do, but the boys would like to see you,” he maintained, unfurling his arms. “They miss you. Monica also told me to invite you over tonight. She wants to have a word with you.”

“Well…” she let out a snort of amusement, as she realized what the Alpha’s mate would like to know. “Tell Monica I’ll be there tonight at eight. As for ‘the boys’, I’m sorry, but I can’t show myself at ‘Joe’s’ diner, while those FBI agents are still here. I’m sure Monica has told you about me and Cliff. He might get curious.”

“Right,” Raul gave a quick chuckle. “I have to run. Take care.”

A smug smile burst upon her lips, as the Alpha made his way out of the library. She and her friends would have a conversation about men, and, for the first time ever, she would be the center of attention. Finally, she had something to talk about with them, other than their mates and any issues they might be facing with them. Cliff had not just given her a night to remember. He had reminded her how it felt to be a woman.