Claws ripped open his shirt as Eric stumbled back, reeling from the first blow that had landed. The vampire was stronger than his thin frame suggested.

Eric struck aside another fist that flew at his stomach, then blocked the third blow. The vampire spun in closer to him, aiming an elbow at his face. It connected with a crunching sound. Eric stumbled back, pain shooting from his nose. He growled, letting his teeth sharpen in his mouth while his Wolf struggled to come out and defend him. But he couldn't Shift, not indoors like this. He wouldn't have room to maneuver.

"For the coven!" the vampire screeched, rushing him again.

He leaped on the vampire, crushing the creature under his weight. The vampire toppled to the floor, writhing and spitting like a feral cat. Long claws slashed across the Alpha's arms and he bit back a howl of pain.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kayla still standing behind the couch, her eyes wide, her hands pressed to her mouth.

"Get Quin!" he yelled before focusing in on the vampire again.

"Filthy beast," the vampire spat. His teeth snapped inches from Eric's throat. "You will not take our home from us again!"

Eric didn't waste his time trying to reason with the vampire. He wrapped his arm around the vampire's throat and squeezed hard. Maybe after the creature was subdued he would be able to get through to him.

Blinding pain shot through his abdomen. Eric yelled, releasing the vampire instinctively. His enemy whirled on the floor, pulling its needle-like claws from the Alpha's stomach. The vampire's hands shot out again. The claws pierced his shoulders, and the vampire threw himself forward, fangs flashing as they aimed for the Alpha's throat.

The Alpha grunted and ripped himself from the vampire's grasp. Both leaped to their feet, circling one another warily. The vampire jumped forwards, a screech tearing from his throat. Eric stepped into the creature's path. He swung, punching the vampire hard in the stomach. The creature stumbled back, pallid face turning green as it doubled over.

Eric panted, watching his enemy. "I don't wish to hurt you or your fellow vampires. We can resolve this peacefully."

The vampire's face twisted. He spat at the Alpha and dashed towards the door. Eric stumbled after him, the wounds in his abdomen screaming with pain. By the time the Alpha got to the door, the vampire had disappeared in the pouring rain.

"Eric!"

The Alpha turned to see his brother rush into the room. It only hit him then how quickly everything had happened. Adrenaline still pumped through his veins, but all the vampire's stabbings were beginning to take a toll. He shut the door and stumbled back to the hideous yellow couch. He was going to stain it with blood, but he'd buy a new one for Kayla.

Actually, he'd replace all of the furniture in her house.

"Make sure Kayla and Mikayla are safe," he grunted. "There might be more in the house."

Quin nodded, understanding him, and jogged out of the room. Moments later Kayla came back in, carrying Mikayla. The little girl's nose was twitching, her teeth bared in a snarl. Kayla's face was white as a sheet. When she saw Eric, covered in blood, she gasped and swayed on the spot.

"I'm fine," Eric said. "It was just a vampire."

"Vampire?" Kayla's eyes widened. "What do you mean a vampire? They're not real, are they?"

"As real as you and me," Quin said grimly. "I take it that this means our attempts at negotiating with them are over?"

Eric shook his head. The wounds inflicted by the vampire would take longer than normal to heal, given their similar paranormal roots. Even so, he'd be alright in a few minutes. "This wasn't an aggressive attack."

"Looks aggressive to me."

"It was based on fear. But I don't want any Wolves to go near those grain elevators alone. Groups no smaller than five."

"Grain elevators." Kayla slumped into the chair, her arms tight around Mikayla. The little girl's green eyes latched onto the blood still pouring from Eric's side, and her olive complexion paled. "There are vampires in the grain elevators."

"Yes," Quin said. "And the good news is that they seem to be the kind that can live off animal blood. The bad news is that they're truly undead, and can only procreate by turning humans into vampires. They tend to be more unreasonable than their more human-like counterparts."

Eric frowned at his brother. "They are still able to be reasoned with. In the meantime, I don't want you or Mikayla to stay here by yourselves. You can come live at the hotel with me and the other werewolves."

"I can't afford—"

"I'll pay for it." Eric wasn't going to accept any arguments. Not in this situation, at least. He sat up, checking the blood flow in his abdomen. It had slowed to a trickle – enough for now. "Let's go."

***

Eric upgraded his room at the hotel to a condo-style apartment with two bedrooms on a higher floor. He also paid to install silver-infused steel bars over all the windows and promised the proprietor that he would pay to fix the damage afterward as well. If it were up to him, Kayla and Mikayla would both be on their way to the heart of the packlands, away from these vampires. Maybe he'd insist on it later, but right now he didn't want to assume the worst.

Besides, he sent Quin to talk with the vampires again, and hopefully this time they would see reason. He didn't want to turn this into an all-out battle. But if the vampires were going to attack him and his people, they would get no mercy from him. He protected his own.

That night, he had just finished up a phone call with Quin – the vampires had blockaded the grain elevators and refused to speak with him – when Kayla exited her room.

"How is Mikayla?"

"Sleeping, finally." Kayla sank onto the couch and shivered. "I never knew vampires were real."

Eric shrugged. "They tend to keep to themselves. The relationship between vampires and humans is worse than between Shifters and humans. Shifters and vampires have quite a bloody history between us as well. I don't blame them for wanting to stay a secret."

"What will happen now?"

"I'll handle it. You don't have to be afraid." He smiled softly, but it faded quickly. "Kayla, I want to apologize for kissing you like I did earlier."

Kayla ducked her head. "I kissed you back."

"Yes. But I shouldn't have started it."

"It's okay. That time, I mean. We can't go around kissing all the time. We've got our own lives, and getting thrown back together like this… Mikayla needs stability. And jumping at each other like that isn't stable."

"I understand."

How many boyfriends had she had since him? A girl as beautiful and intelligent as Kayla couldn't help but draw attention. Any man who didn't want to marry her on sight was a blind idiot. Eric wanted to be jealous and angry, but all he could do was hope they treated her properly.

"Where are we now?" Kayla asked.

It took a moment for Eric to understand what she was asking. Where were they in their relationship? He shook his head and raised his hands, indicating that he didn't know. Everything was so confusing. They hadn't even seen each other for three years, and suddenly they had a child together. That itself ought to put a block between them.

After all, he had had a daughter for three years and Kayla never told him. That wasn't okay. And maybe he could understand why she hadn't told him, especially considering the number his parents had done on him, but it still left him in a strange position that he didn't know how to deal with.

"I don't know where we go from here," he told her. "But in any case, I am going to be part of Mikayla's life. As her father. Not just as the man who comes to visit occasionally and gives her cards on her birthday. I want to be a big part of her life."

Kayla nodded. "Of course."

"And that means that she is going to spend time with me and the rest of the pack. This is her home, I don't want to uproot her, but she is going to get to know her own people."

"Yes. Yes, of course. I want that, too. Maybe summers? She loves the outdoors and camping, and I'm no good at that sort of thing."

"Summers are good," Eric agreed. "But I'm going to want more. We can figure out the specifics at another time."

"She stays here for Christmas. The other holidays aren't so important to me, but I want her to be with me for Christmas. But you can come join us if you want to."

She shifted so her knee brushed his. A spark of electricity jumped between them. Eric swallowed heavily, trying to force himself to move away. But he couldn’t make himself do it because he didn't want to. But it wouldn't go further. He would make sure that Kayla was comfortable with him. He couldn't just go around kissing her all the time.

"We can discuss it later. But as far as our significant others—"

"Yes." Kayla ducked her head. "You must have a mate by now."

"No."

She looked up at him, eyes wide.

"I don't have a mate. I don't even have any prospects." Eric swallowed again. "I haven't even dated since you."

A red flush rose in her cheeks. She chewed on her lip, a gesture that always drove him crazy. "I haven't either."

"I still love you."

Kayla gasped audibly. Her eyes widened. And before he could stop himself, Eric had grabbed her around the waist. He pulled her tight against his body, kissing her fiercely.

She was even more receptive than she had been earlier that day. Her fingers tangled in his hair. She straddled him, pushing herself against him. Eric groaned, moving to her neck. He wanted to see if she still made that little chipmunk noise when he nipped at her collarbone.

She did, her body shuddering under his attentions. Eric grinned as he continued.