Page 36 of Rafe

“Maybe she’s right,” Greyson surmised. “I think it’s a good idea we’re open. You see Rafe here is attempting to shield you, a mere human, from the reality of this supernatural situation.”

“Don’t listen to this big, dumb vampire. If he understood anything about humans, he’d show a little sensitivity after what happened to you last night. You see, my lovely human,” Rafe turned to her with a soft smile, placing his hand to his chest, “I would like you to know that not all paranormal creatures are scary. We can be quite kind.”

Skylar gave a small laugh. “If you say so.”

“I think it’s good for her to have a healthy fear of vampires. And wolves for that matter.”

“We are no different than humans,” Rafe argued.

“You were never human,” Greyson countered.

“Of course, I was born wolf, but my point is that all creatures have both good and evil within them. It is the eternal struggle. And like humans, some are stronger than others.”

“This is true,” Greyson confirmed.

“But just because you’re stronger. Older in Greyson’s circumstance. Way older. That doesn’t necessarily equate with doing bad things.”

“How much stronger is he?” Skylar asked.

“I’m like Zeus.” A chuckle rumbled from his chest.

“Dude. Yeah, no.” Rafe shook his head and rolled his eyes. “He’s got a God complex. Pretty bad one. He’s tried therapy for vampires, but you know,” he shrugged with a laugh. “I mean sure, okay, he does that thing where he disappears and appears. Neat trick but he’s no wolf.”

“I’m not a dog person,” Greyson commented.

“That’s his trick?” Skylar raised her eyebrows. “That’s pretty cool.”

“Ha! Did you hear that, wolf? She thinks it’s cool.”

“He’s much older than Kade,” Rafe continued and reached for the car door, waiting for Skylar as she slid into the back seat. “He has some abilities not all vampires have. He can flash. Something that I hope we won’t have to do with you.”

“We’re gonna get you home safe.” Greyson nodded, both hands gripping the wheel.

“Why did that woman call you Alpha?” Skylar asked.

“She’s confused.” Rafe’s stomach knotted. Alpha. Hearing it on Skylar’s lips shot right through him like a bullet. “Things here are unstable. The wolves are afraid. They need a leader. I’m not it.”

“We’ve got a bit of a situation.” Greyson backed out of the parking lot and beeped his horn as a car cut him off. He gestured towards it with his hand. “Assholes. Do you see how these humans drive?”

“Why are they moving bodies?” Innocence rang in Skylar’s voice as the question rolled from her tongue.

“That is the question.” Rafe shrugged. “I guess the obvious reason is for food. But it could be for human trafficking. It’s a hotel. Plenty of humans there but they don’t make ideal locations for a vampire club. You’ve got to get the humans out somewhere secluded. Like they did with you. They got you to the desert. Possibly using that tunnel. The wolf back there said vampires are watching. They must be in management.”

“They’re drugging them,” she suggested. “Like they did to me.”

“Or maybe using some kind of black magick to incapacitate the humans,” Rafe suggested. “It appears someone used glamour back there. So that makes me think a witch or warlock could be working with the vampires.”

Greyson pounded his fist on the steering wheel, a blaring horn reverberated through the car. He gestured to the red pair of taillights ahead of him. “Now, did you see that? Look at that guy. Could he go any slower?”

“Somehow Grey got a driver’s license. I suspect he threatened the human giving it to him,” Rafe told her.

“He lies. I’m an excellent driver.”

Rafe and Skylar exchanged an amused look as they braced their hands against the back of the seats as the car lunged forward once again.

“He needs anger management. You know they have classes for that, vampire. Online.”

“Anger management? Nonsense,” Greyson shot back. “I’m a vampire. Anger is an asset. Killing is in our nature. I’m of a perfectly suitable temperament.”