THE VAMPIRE'S MATE

***********EPISODE 1************

.... JAKE...

I am going to end this man tonight. I made a promise to my clan that I'd get vengeance for the mutilation of Eric and murder of his mate, so here I am, all the way to the Pacific North coast. I'd much rather be home in HavenTown , enjoying living a life out in the open rather than hiding my vampire nature. But it is my duty to avenge Eric's mate, Luna. No I won't let him down.

Wind rustles through the leaves, and with each step on the spongy earth, dry, brittle twigs crunch under my feet. My senses are momentarily swayed by the tang of dried blood from a decaying game animal obviously left to rot in stagnant pond the smell mixing with the wind carrying the scent of woodsmoke through the air. I force myself to control and focus my attention. I can't let the environment overshadow my intended target.

Three hearts beat go as two other humans join my prey and they convene in the distance, their beer-soaked sweat proving exactly what I thought to be true. The man I'm looking for is off his game. Hunters are supposed to be quick, sharp, dangerous. Two of them are sloppy, and my target is already buzzed. This will be a walk in the park.

"You bring the stuff?" one man asks, his voice thin and tight. He's coming down from a high, I can sense it in the rapid throb of his pulse.

"I told you, I'm not using anymore. Strictly booze and smokes. It fucks with my brain too much. I've got a job to do."

The third guy laughs, and from what I can see through the brush, he sits on a fallen log and takes a drag on his cigarette. "I bet you still think vampires are real, don't ya? Seems like ya brain is already fucked. Maybe we need to lock you in the loony bin."

He had a slight accent to his tone

The hunter growls, his frustration scenting the air. "Believe what you want. I'm not going to explain my job to you nut heads again."

"Shit, man, you're no fun anymore."

I turn in my position and an animal rushes out from behind me. It skitters and rustles the leaves loud enough to draw attention to my hideout, and I do my best to blend into the darkness. The hunter looks over his shoulder in my direction, and sniffs lightly at the air.

I slink back into the shadow afforded me by the trees. They can't see me. They can't know I'm here. He may be drunk, but he's still a hunter. If I underestimate him, I'll put myself at risk.

"Come on," he says. "Let's get out of these fucking woods. See what kind of trouble we can stir up before I have to go on another job."

"Oh, I know. I've had my eye on a real pretty piece the last few weeks. Let's see if she's up for a little fun."

I don't care who said it, just that they're about to head into public view. I can't kill the hunter if he's in the middle of a city.

I could take them all down, but there's no guarantee the hunter wouldn't fight. I'm sure he's got at least one stake on him, possibly a silver blade. I need to catch him unawares, and at this point, my cover has likely been blown. He was too eager to leave. Damn.

I let them get to the edge of the woods, their disgusting, unwashed scents getting fainter by the moment. Then I follow.

He will die tonight.

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