The girl had a childlike shyness about her, appearing unsure of whether to trust anyone yet. She stood awkwardly, her knees turned inward, and her hands shaking. For a moment, she froze. Her scared brown eyes pierced Lola’s when she finally took one trusting step forward, which Lola met by pulling her inside the house to sit down.
“What's your name?” Lola asked, her voice smoothing, mothering.
“Remi,” the vamp answered, her attention spreading across the room. Dylan knew the feeling and dealt with it often. She was watchful of everyone and the bigger the crowd got, the worse she’d feel about them. Rescued victims didn’t quite understand when they were safe and wouldn’t until something flipped their internal switch.
“Last name?”
“I can’t remember.”
“How old are you?” Luxe asked, squatting in front of her. Remi relaxed on the couch a bit, visibly calmed by being able to look down at Luxe.
“Seventeen, I think —”
“What the hell is a vampire doing on my land!” Jackson’s voice rang out as the door burst open once more. Jackson stormed into the room, his broad shoulders and heaving chest taking up more space than normal.
“Jackson, it’s okay,” Luxe soothed.
His Alpha scent cracked the energy in the room. Dylan could tell Jackson wasn’t aware of the power of his scent; his focus was completely on what he perceived was the threat.
The alpha was steaming, fresh from a fight, and his instincts were at the forefront of his mind. Meeting another paranormal, different from your species, was normally bad news. It meant war was either already here or coming.
“Jackson, Romeo had her locked up. There was no way we were leaving her,” Flora said, her head turned down in respect. She stood next to Dylan, finally.
Dylan could hear his mate breathing in his scent. With each inhale, her shoulders would release a little tension, and that in itself made Dylan feel on top of the world.
“She’s just a kid,” Luxe said, holding the teenager's hand. Dylan was sure that small physical connection was the only reason she hadn't taken off the moment Jackson entered the room. The Enchanted Alpha stared at Remi. She stared back and began to shake, probably itched to run, Dylan assumed. “She needs a shower and a change of clothes. She’ll come home with me if you don’t want her here.”
“You’ll take home a vamp you’ve just met?” Jackson asked, stress laced in his voice.
“That’s what I just said.”
“Romeo is still out there. You need to stay here,” Jackson argued.
“Last time I checked, he wasn’t after me, Jackson. On top of that, I am a Luna, I decide what I do, big man.” They were toe to toe, the alpha energy ping-ponging between them.Luxe’s eyes searched the room. She looked toward Dylan, then back at Jackson, and she sighed. She knew this technically wasn’t her call to make. This wasn’t her Pack.
“This is your Pack, your Packhouse, so you make the call. But I’ll make sure she’s safe and welcomed everywhere she is,” Luxe muttered, dragging Remi upstairs.
“What happened to Romeo?” Dylan asked, looking over to Jackson, who took a seat on another couch. Leo, Felix, Ryder, and River sat as well, looking over to their alpha.
“He got away,” Jackson said. “We’re going to find him, don't worry, Flora.”
“I’m not,” she said, curling tighter into Dylan.
“Tonight, we rest. We got Flora back,” Jackson announced, his eyes wandering toward the stairs Luxe and Remi disappeared too.
“What are you doing about the vamp?” Felix asked.
“Her name is Remi, not 'the vamp',” Willow said, sitting back in the recliner. She had been silent since they’d gotten in the car. Eddie’s wrinkled shirt covered her thighs, but Dylan could tell she was still uncomfortable. Dylan guessed it was the lack of clothing plus her animal being exposed.
“Remi,” Felix corrected. ‘What do we do?”
“Let me think,” Jackson answered, running his hands over his head. He calmed down now, “We are a Pack, we make decisions together. What do you all think?” he asked.
“Can she stay here?” River asked, playing with the curls that lay over his face.
“You need a haircut, my brother,” Eddie commented, a playful smile on his face.
“That’s up to us…and her,” Jackson said.
