Winter

I rest my head against the cold, bathroom door as I calm myself down, a quick glance at the full-length mirror next to the shower, and I push myself as close to the cold door as I can.

My eyes are silver in the middle, bright silver. It’s so strange, I watch as my eyes turn back to a bright blue that is more familiar. I look wild and out of control with my long hair and panicked face. I have to close my eyes for a while to get my head around everything. I’m mated to Wyatt. That seems like a long-term kind of thing, with a man who is haunted, and I’m not sure I’m in love with. I’ve been sleeping a month, and my mother most likely has no idea where I am.

How did this all happen?

My tears fall faster than I can stop them as I slide to the floor and wrap my arms around my knees. I have to remind myself that I’m stronger than this. I eventually get up and run the shower. It’s one of those small ones with glass walls all around it and a glass door.

I pull the silk nightie off me and just stare at myself in the mirror. I’m still curvy as I have always been, I have the same pale skin and dark-brown hair, but it all looks different. For one my hair is longer, much longer than I’ve ever had it, and it looks softer. I feel different, I feel stronger.

I sound like a superhero out of a comic when he first gets his powers. My thoughts are lame.

I turn, so I can see my back in the mirror, remembering what Wyatt said about his mark. Right in the middle of my back is a black tattoo about the size of a fist. Holy crap I have a tattoo, as I look closer at it, it glows too. That’s cool.

It’s a phoenix, with a small body in the middle and the wings are taking off. The wings gently move as I watch and its tail is long, full of swirls. It is strong and elegant. It reminds me of Wyatt in a way. It could pass as an ordinary tattoo like most normal girls get.

Hell, who am I kidding, none of this can be classified as normal. I force myself into the shower, I use the men’s shampoo I find and a razor to clean myself up. I come out of the bathroom a little later just in a towel. Alex is sitting on my bed, a pile of clothes next to her, and she is playing on her phone. Her eyes widen when she sees me. Alex looks as awful as Wyatt and Atti did. Her skinny frame is covered in sweatpants and a baggy jumper. Her eyes look red from crying, and her hair is in a messy bun that looks slept on. I have never seen Alex look this tired.

"Win,” she cracks out as she stands, dropping her phone on the bed. “I heard sleeping beauty finally woke up. You scared the crap out of me. I thought I'd lost you, and I couldn't cope. Come and hug me already." Alex is in tears as she opens her arms. I walk over, and we hug for a long time as she cries. I couldn't imagine losing Alex, so I have an idea of how scared she is.

“What does mum think?” I ask her.

“That you and I are on a trip. She doesn’t believe it, but I have been messaging her off your phone pretending to be you. I have spoken to her a few times, and she’s worried,” she tells me, and I’m filled with relief. Well, sort of, my mum isn’t stupid, and I’m going to get an ear full when I speak to her.

“I bet she is. I can call her tonight,” I say quietly.

“Yes, you should. She’ll go mad at you because she thinks you’re too busy to talk to her. I couldn’t exactly say that her daughter was stabbed, and her vampire boyfriend turned her into a weird version of a vampire. She would have me committed,” Alex lightly chuckles.

“I love you, you know that, right?” I tell her as I pick up the pile of clothes.

“I know,” she says.

"Let me get dressed, and then you can catch me up on what I’ve missed," I tell her, and she nods as she wipes her eyes. I get changed in the bathroom into a tight, yellow top and skinny, black jeans. I don't think too long about how my underwear got here, the other clothes aren't mine but fit well. They can’t be Alex’s because she is at least two sizes smaller than me. Lucky cow.

My hair looks like I've spent hours with a curler on it and has dried on its own. I don't bother trying to find a hair band, but I do look at my face in the mirror. 

I don't know how to feel about all this. I force myself not to think about Jaxson and the pack. The pain of Fergus’s loss is heavy in my heart already. I didn’t know him well, but I know he loved his pack. Poor Anna, and she is pregnant. I can’t imagine how she is feeling. I remember seeing her terrified, pain-filled look just before Esta took her away. I wonder if Anna couldn’t shift because she was pregnant. I doubt she was stronger in her usual form.

When I finally have the courage to walk out, Alex is waiting by the open bedroom door. 

"Come on, you have three hot guys waiting to talk to you,” she says, and I walk to the door. “You’re such a lucky bitch, we need to chat about that," she shouts, and I hear a chuckle in the other room. 

"Alex," I groan, and she chuckles as I walk past. I let my hearing lead me down the small hallway and into a living room. There are two leather chairs facing a large fake fireplace and a leather sofa against the wall by the door. There’s also a large bookcase filled with books in the one corner. I see Dabriel first, and I nearly fall over in shock. I take a step back as I see his big white wings on his back. I can only see his wings and his white hair as he’s looking out the window, but I would recognise him anywhere. He turns at my small gasp, and his purple eyes find mine. I just stare as he realises I’m looking at his wings and I notice that he’s wearing a tight white shirt and black trousers. Looking like a sexy angel straight from heaven.

"You look stunning, you always were something else, but now, I've never seen anyone as lovely as you, Winter," he says and comes over to me. I let him pull me into a massive hug, lifting me off the ground as he does. The overwhelming scent of Dabriel hits me stronger than it ever has before, like vanilla and something else.

"You’re still in a slight bit of pain, what’s wrong?" he asks me as he puts me down. I watch as his hands glow and white symbols appear on them. The light is so bright I can't make out what they are, but as he puts his hands on my cheeks, I feel the warmth of them.

"You need to feed, like a vampire," he tells me and lets go. I instantly miss the sensation, and I almost go to grab his hands before remembering how weird that would be. Try to act cool, Winter, I tell myself, especially in front of one the hottest guys you know.

"I can help you with that," he grins as he points at his neck, and I shake my head wondering what he is talking about.

"She shouldn’t have angel blood for a starter, she wouldn't be able to stop," Wyatt says, drawing my attention to him. I knew he was in the room, but he hasn’t moved or said a word until now.

"So, you’re suggesting you feed her?" Dabriel says moving away from me slightly. 

"Shouldn't it be Winter's choice?" Atti asks from the doorway. Atti and Wyatt start staring each other down as I watch. I move in the middle of the three, drawing all their gazes to me.

"Guys, enough! Don't you think I can talk for myself? I don't want to feed on anyone, just an ordinary sandwich will be alright,” I say. I do feel hungry.

“Winter, it won’t be enough,” Dabriel starts, and I shake my head.

“I want to know what happened the night I almost died," I say. They all go silent, and I take a seat on one of the chairs by the fireplace as Alex sits on the arm of the chair.

"You all were told. Very sexy teacher attitude you’ve got going there, Win," Alex says into the silence, making me laugh, and a few of the guys chuckle.

“You can be my teacher any day, I think I like being told off by you,” Atti says and grins at me.

Wyatt takes the seat opposite me, and everyone else finds seats as the joke stops the tension. I feel Atti standing behind me like he needs to be close.

"I’ll make you a sandwich, I want to call Drake and see what's going on, anyway," Alex says, and leaves the room when I smile at her. I hope she doesn’t try to cook anything, I’m sure we don’t need a fire right now. You’d think a sandwich was a safe thing to have her make you, it’s not.

"First off, you did die, Winter. Your heart didn’t beat for the longest day of my life," Wyatt tells me, his face colder than ever as he talks to me. I don’t believe it’s aimed at me but hurts all the same.

"How am I alive now, then?" 

"When I got to the pack, I was too late to stop the newly turned vampires from attacking them, but I tried to help. My father didn't tell me about the attack, but I have friends in his court that let me know. I saw you straight away. You were so close to death when I got to you, I gave you my blood, and you died," he says, and I suddenly feel the chill in the air.

"Then you came back, with a heartbeat and normal eyes. You do smell like a vampire but slightly different," Atti finishes. 

"The pack, did many of them die? Are they okay?" I ask quickly. My heart feels in pieces at the thought that any of them are dead. Jaxson is my primary thought, I hold back the urge to be sick at the idea he isn't okay. 

"I don't know, none of us have left this apartment for more than an hour since I brought you back," Wyatt says.

"I have to go back to my apartment and then to the pack," I say standing up, and Atti’s hand stops me.

"There is more we need to tell you, and then we will all take you back to see them," Atti says, and I sit down.

"What now?" I ask. 

"My father knows I turned you because some of the vampires saw me feed you, and they escaped. You’re expected at court to be introduced as my new mate in a week. We will have to travel to France and go to my old home. Atti will spell you so your eyes and heartbeat can't be detected. My court won't accept Atti or Dabriel to come with us, but they can visit if need be." 

“But Alex’s eyes haven’t changed, so why do mine have to?” I ask.

“Alex isn’t meant to be a full vampire. She shares blood with Drake regularly, and that’s how she mated with him. She never died, and you did, in front of a lot of vampires who told my father. If Alex died then, Drake would entirely turn her, but there are risks. Most don’t survive, I never expected you to,” Wyatt’s sentences drift off, and I feel a slight pain in my chest. I’m pretty sure it’s his emotion and not mine. I will have to ask him about that, alone maybe.

“So, Alex could be human again if she stopped feeding with Drake?” I ask, not because I want her to, but I’m curious how this all works.

“No, she would die, she is a half-mate. That’s what we call them, humans like Alex. She already is marked and needs vampire blood but not a lot of it. Most people don’t survive losing their mates anyway,” Wyatt answers.

“So, your father expects me to be a full vampire?” I ask him.

“Yes, the fact you were human will annoy him, but he will get over it,” he says, his voice sounding tired.

"Do I have a choice? Is it safe?" I ask Wyatt. His grim look is the answer I need, but he responds anyway,

"No, you don't have a choice, but I promised I would keep you safe. I will protect you." 

"Fine, but I want to see the pack first," I say crossing my arms. I need to see Jaxson. I watch as Wyatt and Atti have a silent conversation.

"Winter we need to tell you something–" Wyatt starts.

Alex comes into the room shouting, "I found chocolate that was hidden, that should stop your need to snack on us." 

"Thanks." I smile, accepting the food. I devour it all quickly as everyone watches, it’s a little weird. I'm so happy Alex found chocolate, it turned out to be Malteasers. Oh, how I love her.

"Can I have one?" Atti reaches his hand over the chair for a Malteasers.

"Not that I don't like you, but I will bite you if you try to take this chocolate from me. Fair warning." I grin up at him, and his hand moves away.

"You can bite me whenever you like, Love," he winks. 

I can't stop staring at Atti, I've always known how attractive he is, but I don't know why he seems more now. Atti’s light-blond hair shapes his face as it falls on his shoulders and is parted at the top. The slight beard he is growing suits him. It’s like a glimpse into what an older Atti will look like. His grey eyes meet mine, as he gently strokes my cheek.

"You will need to feed soon Winter, I can feel you fading," Dabriel says breaking up our moment, and I blink seeing that he is standing next to my chair.

"I’ll sort it out," Wyatt says. I want to know how he plans to make me eat anything. If his mind power didn’t work on me as a human, it sure won’t now.

"Fine," Dabriel says tensely to Wyatt but pats his shoulder.

“I’m hungry, are there any Oreos in the cupboard, Alex?” Atti asks her.

“Yes, but–” she answers, and is cut off by Wyatt.

“Don’t be a little shit,” Wyatt says tensely as he stands.

Atti laughs as he jumps up from his seat and walks out of the room. Wyatt moves quickly to catch up with him, and the two of them crash into the door. Atti disappears altogether into thin air.

“You’re such a fucker, using your powers,” Wyatt swears before stomping out of the room.

“Should I even ask?” I ask Dabriel, who just leans against the wall by the fireplace.

“No,” he says with a small smile.

"Right…when are we leaving?" I ask instead.