ClaireDamnit!Running late again.That's what you get for buying an alarm clock because it's fuzzy. The next one will need to be more practical, even if it's not as cute.I hurry to throw on my work uniform and dash out the door, only bothering to brush my teeth. A shower will have to wait, I'd need it after a shift at the diner anyway.I start walking to one of the few public dining places left in our city. It's in a decent part of town and is only a few minutes walk, even though I don't like to be outside for that long. Especially at night.The city had pretty much gone to hell ever since the supernaturals came out of hiding. With really no human government left after they were all murdered things like health inspections and funding for upkeep had basically disappeared. All of a sudden, humans were thrust to the bottom of the food chain.Literally.I have lost a few friends to vampires.The thought makes me shudder as I walk past abandoned buildings that used to hold things like cl
ClaireNo. No no no no no.This can't be happening.Please don't let this be happening."She smells good, doesn't she Bennett?" The deep timber of the man's voice rings out through the still night and my body shivers in fear and disgust.Suddenly another man is at my side, twining his fingers through my hair. I can't see either of them clearly in the dark. The man, Bennett apparently, leans down close to me and takes in a large lungful of my scent as well. My knees begin to shake in terror and a low growl rumbles from his chest."She does smell good. She's pretty too." He says, pecking a kiss to my cheek. My face crunches in despair as I try to pull from their hold."Let me go." I beg and the first man chuckles."Awe. The little human is nervous." He says, amusement evident in his voice. A sob breaks from my lips as I try to pull my arm from his grasp."You're hurting me." I say, tugging my arm again."Let her go, Rowan." Bennett says, making the larger man grunt."Don't get attached
ClaireI stayed tense in Bennett's arms for the rest of the ride. He told me to relax repeatedly, but I couldn't. He obviously had a terrible temper as well as didn't realize how easy it was for him to hurt me. He could lift me and crush my pelvis without putting in any kind of an effort.I'm not sure how long Rowan drove, but by the time he stopped it was pitch black and we were in the middle of nowhere. We pulled into a long driveway of a massive house with a forest off the back. My eyes kept flitting nervously to Rowan. He noticed and growled a little annoyed before scowling at me."Why do you keep staring at me like that?" He asks and I pull back, closer to Bennett as he opens the car door."Are you a vampire?" I ask quietly. Rowan chuckles a little and lowers his face close to mine. His scent hits me in the face, warm and spicy."Why? Are you more afraid of vampires? Or less?" He asks and I swallow audibly."More." I say honestly and he smiles."I'm not a vampire." He states and
ClaireI wasn't sure how long I laid there, not really sleeping, but not totally awake either. There were no windows, so I had no idea if the sun had come up. Eventually, the light flicked on and I had to cover my eyes from the stinging pain it caused. I heard loud footsteps and the metal of my cell lock clanking. I squint my eyes against the light and see Bennett walk into my cell. I shoot up and press myself against the wall, watching as he stalks towards me. When he sees my terrified face, he stops his approach and kneels in front of me. He watches me for a moment before he sighs and his shoulders sag."I'm sorry. I tried to talk Rowan into letting you upstairs, but he was pissed. Are you going to listen to us now?" He asks quietly. I nod, mostly because I really need to use the bathroom."Thank you." He says, holding his hand out. I reach out tentatively and take it. He helps me up and I wobble on my unsteady legs. He wraps his arm around my waist to help me and leads me from the
ClaireI do as Rowan says, stay wrapped in the blanket laying in bed until I hear the quiet padding of feet down the hall hours later. The door swings open slowly and Bennett walks into the room. I can't stop the frantic beating of my heart, or the way my fingers clench the blanket out of fear when he walks towards me. He notices and stops, dropping his head and his shoulders sagging. He takes a deep breath and sits on the bed next to me. He lifts his hand and runs it gently through my hair, looking at me with wide, sad eyes."I'm sorry for what I did. My wolf wants you so much. I'm not used to these feelings, it's hard to control them." He says and for some reason a pang of hurt goes through me at his expression. I sit up on the bed and wrap my arms around his neck slowly.He stills at the contact and I tuck my head into his neck. He smells incredible, like fresh air and wildflowers. I know in order to survive, I need him to care for me. Rowan never will and Bennett is my best chance
Claire We landed in a field just outside the city, my fingers digging into Bennett's arms as I hold on for dear life. His warm chuckle reverberates through my back and I shiver against him. He lifts me and slips me off of Rowan's back. I hit the ground and cry out in pain as my ankles buckle under me and I hit the ground. "I'm sorry, Claire. I didn't think it was that far." Bennett says apologetically, lifting me off the ground and carrying me. I turn to watch Rowan shift, soon his naked form stands proud and tall. Bennett keeps walking and a certain sense of unease crashes over me, like I don't want to be away from Rowan. My heart begins to pound in my chest as I watch Rowan get smaller as Bennett walks away from him. I see him putting on his clothes, but he makes no move to follow us. I squirm in Bennett's arms as a feeling of dread takes over me. "Wait!" I cry, as I push away from Bennett. He eyes me curiously and sets me down on my feet. My ankles are sore, but I limp back to
Claire Flying back to the house wasn't as nerve wracking as flying away. I was still nervous, but Bennett clung tightly to me and for some reason I felt safe in his arms. He helped me off of Rowan's back this time, rather than letting me fall and walked me into the house as Rowan shifted back. Bennett carried my things for me and set them down before walking into the kitchen. I sat quietly on the couch, not sure what to do and not wanting to piss either of them off. Rowan came back in and didn't pay me any attention, simply walked into the kitchen with Bennett. My eyes traversed the living room and looked towards a door that I realized was to the garage. The car keys were hanging on a hook right next to it and a thrill of excitement went through me. I wasn't sure when or how, but I knew that was my only chance at escape. I could never run away on foot, we were too far from civilization for me to make it and I knew they could track me down easier that way. My mind is in contemplation
Claire Luckily the car I stole is almost full of gas. I was grateful for that. I didn't have much money saved in my apartment and I wanted to get as far away from my mates as I could before having to stop. Hopefully I would have enough money to live on until I could find a new job and earn some more. I wasn't sure how far I would need to go before they wouldn't be able to find me. A small part of me was hopeful they wouldn't really try. Maybe Rowan could convince Bennett that they were better off without me. That I'm not worth the effort. A girl can dream. My eyes kept flitting to the rear view mirror, watching for any sign of life from the house. No lights turned on and there was no movement that I could see. No growls or roars either, which seemed like a good sign. I allowed myself a breath of relief and small smile as I cruised down the dark highway. I turned the lights on brighter when the house when no longer in view and even flipped on the radio. I hummed along to the familia