"Pack meeting now," yells Ajay. Everyone circles around. I know Ajay's form of punishment is to embarrass me.
"Because one of the vampire's hands got ripped off, I am sure a fight is in the near future, so prepare yourself for that," Ajay says, glaring at me.
Everyone looks confused. I'm sure they have no idea what just happened.
"Next Zare, I'm going to tell you this one time and one time only. If you leave this camp whatsoever unescorted, you will be banned from the pack," Ajay yells at me.
"That's a little harsh," says Dev.
"No, it's perfect and I won't be going with her," Chetan says.
"Do you understand me?" Ajay asks.
I nod. "Sorry Alpha."
"I am trying to protect you and this pack, Chetan ran like hell to reach you in time today, and you are no longer going to put yourself in danger because that puts us in harm's way," Ajay says.
"I won't."
Ajay looks at me before turning to the rest of the pack. "Zare isn't the only one who's not allowed to leave by themselves, for now Zombie runs will be completed in groups of two. If you leave to take a bath in the river or hunt, you must have a partner with you at all times," Ajay explains.
"Yes, Alpha", everyone says.
We all went our separate directions, I feel everyone's eyes on me. You can tell the girls are getting fed up with the save Zare act. I can't say I blame them. Chetan hasn't made eye contact with me since the meeting. He was beyond mad at me. I should have just listened to him. I feel like an idiot.
I lay down in our sleeping area. Closing my eyes, I remember Alec's hand in Chetan's mouth. That must have been absolutely devastating for Alec. I try to shake the awful memories.
I see the pack laughing and telling stories around the fire. They roast marshmallows. The smell of the burning sweets does smell good. I don't feel like facing everyone yet.
Aanya sits very close to Chetan. A little too close for my liking. I watch them and I seriously want to go confront her. Do I want to be responsible for another fight among the pack? I see her lay her head on his shoulder. He smiles awkwardly, gets up and walks towards me.
I hear him enter. "Are you going to cry in here all day like a baby?" He asks.
I sit up. "Yup."
He rolls his eyes. "Sometimes Zare, you really get under my skin."
"I am sorry."
"I told you to not go there alone," he tells me.
"I know it was stupid."
He lays next to me. "I'm not doing this to control you, I want to protect you right now," he tells me.
"I know."
"So does Ajay," he says.
"I just feel trapped in a little cage."
"I don't want you to feel like that baby, just right now until this is just settled with all the creatures, just don't leave without me," Chetan remarks.
"I won't."
"Did I hurt your chin earlier, I was so mad?" he asks.
"No, you didn't squeeze very hard."
"I would never want to hurt you, I love you so much," he says.
I roll over and lay on his chest, he rubs my back.
"What's going on with Aanya?"
Chetan looks so annoyed with the mention of her name. "That kiss has gone to her head."
"Does she actually like you?"
"I don't know, I told her that I used her to get back at Ajay, and I'm very sorry for that, and there's one girl I want to be kissing, and it wasn't her," he tells me.
"But she wasn't convinced?"
"She said our kiss felt more passionate," he explains.
"Was it?"
"No, it was a stupid mistake," he tells me, rolling around so he is on top of me.
"So is she and Ajay over?"
"No struggling through it," he remarks.
"Oh."
"I don't want to talk about Aanya anymore," he says before kissing me.
"So what do you want to talk about?"
"I don't want to talk, I want to show you what happens when you don't listen to me," he says, kissing my neck.
"Like a punishment?"
He laughs. "Exactly," he says, nibbling on my ear.
I wake up, still wrapped in Chetan's arms. I rub his arms, and he kisses my cheek.
"Good morning," I say, getting up and kissing him on the lips.
"No, more sleep," he says gently, pushing me back down.
Clutching my throat and beginning to feel annoyed at its burning, I get up.
"Are you thirsty?" He asks.
I nod.
" I am getting up baby," Chetan says, rubbing his sleeping eyes.
"I can have Ash take me, I am sure he's thirsty too."
"If you want to," Chetan responds.
I kiss Chetan before leaving to look for Ash. He was chopping firewood. Ash is so strong he gets it cut in no time.
"I need to go hunting, cuz I am thirsty."
He laughs. "Sure." He sits the axe next to the pile of wood.
We race off into the woods. I see a fox walking along a log. He stares at me, pleading for his life.
"Ash don't." Before I could finish my sentence, the fox was dead. Moments like this, I hate who I am even more.
Ash passes me the fox. "You take this one."
He drinks the blood, I watch as it drips down his chin. Can I do this forever?
Looking around, I see an owl that lays dead on the log, probably killed by the fox.
I pick up the owl. His body was still warm and not sniffed. "Why kill another animal?"
"Sure, less work for me," Ash laughs."
I drink the blood quickly. I didn't have to kill this animal, and it still did the trick.
I see Rowdy, and the redcaps approaching me. They look so tiny walking through the forest. Unless my eyes are deceiving me, there looks like a lot fewer red caps as I last saw them.
I count at least ten of them. Ash looks confused. He starts to hiss, showing his fangs.
"Ash it's fine."
"What happened?" I ask Rowdy.
"AB attacked our village, '' he responds.
"Nobody has a deal with AB."
"You're telling me girly," huffs Rowdy.
"Can we be of assistance?"
"The Redcaps stand-alone," Rowdy answers.
"But you don't have to."
I hear howling approaching. Looking back, I see Ajay and Chetan. Ajay looks concerned.
"You guys were gone longer than I expected. I wanted to make sure you were okay," Chetan tells me.
"Yup, I am fine."
"Who are you?" Ajay asks, looking at Rowdy and his redcaps.
"Who's asking? Snaps Rowdy.
"I am Ajay, Alpha."
"Rowdy, leader of the red caps," he takes a bow.
"They had an arrangement with AB, but he broke it and attacked the village."
"So that's true," Ajay asks.
"Aye, I lost many of my goblins," Rowdy says sadly.
"If you guys camp in the woods adjacent to the camp, the Wolves will offer you some protection," Ajay offers.
"The Redcaps defend themselves," Rowdy says, arms crossed.
"Then be my guest," Ajay responds.
I watch helplessly, and Rowdy and the others leave. I wish so deeply they would have stayed, so we could protect them.
"Ajay, force them to live with us."
"I can't, it's their choice," he tells me.
I nod. Why is Rowdy so stubborn?
"Looks like somebody was in the field," Ajay smirks.
I nod. "Sorry ."
"Yeah, so sorry Alpha," Chetan says.
Ajay looks surprised. "Zare, I am not shocked, but you, Chetan," he laughs.
"I know," Chetan says.
"Let me guess you were following Zare in the field?" He asks.
"Yeah."
"Recaps can be very vicious, that's why the fields are off-limits. I'm surprised they didn't gut you alive," Ajay says.
"Rowdy seems okay."
"Trust me he's not," Ajay remarks.
"It's pretty sad, damn vampires can't even keep their word, AB was only supposed to collect their dead Redcaps," Chetan explains.
"I guess it's their fault for trusting dirty vampires," Ajay states.
I am a vampire, should the pack even trust me?