Walking into school the next day was hard for Thomas. The events from the night before were stuck in his head. Stryker was stable but not having him home, made Thomas anxious, not to mention the whole vampire sneaking into the kingdom undetected. Thomas was especially thinking about what the vampire had said about how Thomas' blood stood out compared to other fairies, he was pure. What did that even mean? The same thoughts had kept him up all night as well, the bags under his eyes were proof. He practically dragged himself through the hallways trying to get to class. He made it through most of his day without event, mostly because he was too tired to even pay attention to anything.
He made his way to the lunchroom at 11:30, not even bothering to grab food. He sat himself down and put his head down.
"Didn't get much sleep?" A familiar voice questioned. Thomas lifted his head up to see Axel and another wolf standing in front of him. They had trays in their hands and went to sit down. Thomas then noticed all the wolves piling in and his classmates getting excited. Thomas just laid his head back down.
"Mind if we sit with you?" Axel asked. Thomas shook his head no without lifting it off the table, he could smell the sloppy joes on Axel's plate and was glad he decided not to get any.
"Is he usually this quiet?" the unknown wolf asked, there wasn't a reply so Thomas assumed Axel replied nonverbally.
"Is it because of your dog?" Axel asked, Thomas shrugged. That was part of it.
"Are you not eating?" Axel asked changing the subject.
"Not hungry, besides that stuff isn't edible." Thomas replied this time, turning his head to look at the two boys. They both were shoveling food in their mouths.
"I'll take what I can get." Axel answered with his mouth full. Thomas smiled weakly, Axel looked like an absolute dork.
"That's because you're a glutton." Axel's friend replied, Axel glared.
"You're eating it too."
"yeah, but there is nothing else." Axel rolled his eyes.
"This is Issac, he's my friend." Axel told Thomas, Thomas held out his hand without picking his head up off the table. Issac wiped his hands on his shirt and went to grab Thomas'. At the last second Thomas retracted his hand.
"On second thought, I don't know where your hands have been." Axel laughed as Issac pouted. "No offense." Thomas added.
"None taken" Issac replied coming out of his fake sorrow. "I wouldn't shake my hand either."
"That's comforting." Thomas deadpanned. He sat up and rested his head on his hand.
"What happened to your dog?" Issac asked, referring to what Axel had said earlier. Thomas frowned and Axel slapped Isaac's arm.
"Dude!"
"No, it's ok" Thomas reassured. "He got hurt last night on my walk, he's in the puppy hospital right now."
"My bad, hope he gets better." Issac frowned apologetic. Thomas gave a small smile.
"So what's wrong if it's not your dog?" Axel questioned. "I mean besides getting attacked by a vampire." Issacs eyes widened.
"That was you?" Issac stared at Thomas seemingly getting excited.
"Uh yeah, It's just something he said that's been bugging me." Axel furrowed his brows.
"Didn't you get questioned? By the other wolves I mean." Axel asked confused. "They should have reassured you that this was a one time thing. Yet they also should have questioned you because they need to know why the vampire came in knowing he would be killed."
"They were busy, I kind of took off with my dog, I was worried about him." Thomas explained. Axel nodded.
"You'll most likely be questioned soon, what did he say to you?" Axel asked, Issac was listening but was busy stuffing his face.
"He said he only came into the kingdom because of me. He said my blood smelled sweet, sweeter than all the other fairies because I was pure." Thomas said shivering at how gross the words made him feel. Axel furrowed his brows and looked at Issac, they seemed to be having a conversation with just their eyes which was impossible.
"That's odd, I'll alert the alpha, if what he said was true, you may need more protection." Axel looked back at Thomas as Issac got up and left immediately.
"Why?" Thomas questioned, his stomach sinking, although he was afraid he already knew the answer.
"If that's true then more vampires may come after you. The fact that they can smell you outside the kingdom is worrisome." Axel stated, his face cold. Thomas gulped and suddenly the room seemed smaller. "Don't worry, we won't let anything happen to you." Axel promise smiling a bit.
The bell rang, snapping the boys out of their conversation. Thomas got up from the table, not wanting the subject to go on any longer, he was starting to feel sick. He felt a hand pull him back and knew who it was before he looked. "You look sick, are you ok?" Thomas nodded, not looking at Axel.
"What happened to being strong and protecting yourself?" Axel joked, trying to cheer Thomas up.
"You saw me in the woods, I can't. I couldn't protect myself or my dog." Thomas gulped remembering his close run in with death.
"Not now, but I did promise to train you." Axel pointed out, Thomas looked up at Axel and saw he wasn't joking.
He smiled a little. "Yeah, alright." Thomas agreed, Axel gave him a pat on the back and headed towards the gym. The rest of the day went by quick and soon Thomas was walking out the front door to the school. At the front of the school were three big SUV's, the windows were all tinted and there were a bunch of wolves standing next to them. All Thomas' peers were steering clear of them but were also staring.
"Thomas Gilder?" One of the wolves asked looking right at him. It seemed that he already knew, but was using formalities.
"uh, yes?" Thomas replied, feeling dumb.
"We have orders to pick you up from school, your mother has already been informed." The man said, he gave Thomas a look that told him that he didn't have a choice. Thomas nodded and looked around seeing all the kids whispering about him.
"That's the kid who wants to fight vampires, I mean if you want to die just kill yourself, it's not like your contributing to society anyway."
Thomas' face glowed red, he already knew what his classmates said about him but it still hurt to hear. The wolf opened the car door for him and waited for him to get in. Thomas obliged, as if he had a choice anyway.
The ride was rather short, Thomas was thankful for that. The building he was brought to was beautiful, too bad it was hidden in the woods. The door was opened for him yet again and Thomas was brought to a room. The room was nicely furnished and smelled like pine and cinnamon. Thomas sat in the comfiest chair and waited like the man told him. After what seemed like an eternity, a tall dark haired man walked in. He had an aura that just screamed respect me. Thomas gulped, the man was also very handsome. he walked over and sat across from Thomas.
"I need to ask you some questions about the incident the other night," The man spoke, his voice was sweeter than he had thought it would be. Thomas stared dumbly at the man. The man raised an eyebrow at him. Thomas blushed deeply.
"I-uh...yeah the other night!" Thomas struggled to maintain his dignity. The man chuckled.
"My Alpha has asked me to question you, due to the unusualness of the attack."
"You're not the Alpha?" Thomas asked, he couldn't help being surprised.
"I'm flattered, but no. Besides, I'm still in high school." At that Thomas' jaw dropped, he thought the guy had to be at least mid-twenties. "but back to the task at hand right?" Thomas nodded.
"Did the vampire say anything to you? Anything that might hint at his motives?"
"Actually yeah, he said that he could smell my 'sweet' blood across the border, that it was too tempting to resist something so 'pure'. Whatever that means." Thomas recalled putting air quotes around sweet and pure. The man nodded.
"So nothing about anymore vampires coming here? An invasion?" Thomas shook his head, suddenly the interview made sense, they wanted to make sure that they weren't getting a declaration of war.
"No, just the stuff about my blood."
"I am in understanding that your dog was injured?" Thomas frowned and nodded again. "Your dog will be taken good care of and we will pay for his injuries, since its our fault the vampire got in." Thomas looked at the man surprised.
"How could you guys have known?"
"It's our job to protect you, which brings me to my next question. Are you hurt in anyway? We can have the pack doctor come treat you right now." Thomas shook his head no.
"Nothing serious just some bumps and bruises, most from before the attack." The man nodded.
"Alright, once I talk to the Alpha, based on what you have told me you will put under protection twenty-four seven. We will notify your mom when that starts." The man got up from his chair. "Now, Ill take you home."
"Wait...Your taking me home?" The man smirked.
"Yes, problem?" Thomas blushed, this man was undoubtedly the most handsome man he had met.
"I don't even know your name."
"Styrmir." Thomas had never heard a name like that before. He didn't even know if he could pronounce it correctly.
"Sty...Stymir?" The man chuckled.
"Close enough. Come on." The man led Thomas down to his truck, the truck was a bit big for Thomas to climb into so Styrmir picked him up and set him in it, also leaning over to buckle him in. Thomas blushed madly and could feel his heartbeat picking up. Styrmir smirked to himself since he could hear it with his advanced hearing. Thomas stared out the window the whole way home, he couldn't believe he was in this hot mans truck. When they arrived at Thomas' house Styrmir got out and opened the door for Thomas.
"Umm thanks." The man chuckled again.
"Give me your phone." Thomas looked at Styrmir really weirdly but handed him his phone. Styrmir fiddled with it and then handed it back. "I put my number in, incase you need another ride." Styrmir smirked and got back in his truck. Thomas waved dumbly with his cheeks burning. When Styrmir turned the corner he ran into his house all giddy like a school girl.