Running From the Vampire Into the Arms of the Wolf: (9 page)

She stilled in his arms and her heartbeat sped up.  “Maybe one of the pack?”  She asked optimistically.

He hesitated.  He wanted to go out and see if anyone was there, but didn’t want to leave Melody unprotected.
  “No, they moved too fast.  It might be nothing but I should go check.”

Grudgingly he set Melody down on the
floor, her eyes were already wide with worry.  “Go upstairs, into your bathroom.  Lock the door.  Don’t come out until I say... just in case.”

No, she couldn’t allow Hans
out there on his own, what if it was
Him
?  “No you can’t...”

His face was grim.  “No
arguments, do it.  Now.”  His tone was harsh and commanding
.  It said ‘don’t fuck with me’.

She gulped
and wordlessly ran upstairs.  When he heard the click of the lock he went out to look round.

Chapter Eight

Melody paced in the bathroom.  What if it was
Him
?  What if she had just allowed Hans to go out there with
Him
lurking, waiting to strike, waiting to kill.  She should have warned Hans.  She should have told him about her history.  She should have told him she loved him... 
Damnit
.

She had to go out there and help him, save him.  She ran to the door,
unlocking it she flung it open to find Hans stood on the other side. 

When he saw what she was doing his face became furious.
 
She didn’t care
.  She launched herself into his arms and kissed him soundly.  He opened his mouth in surprise and she took advantage to push her tongue into his mouth, hungrily touching and tasting him.  He held himself tautly but after a few moments under the barrage of her sensual attack he relaxed into the kiss.

He
spun her back to the bed and they toppled onto it.  He was laying above her, his body covering her, pinning her.  He held each of her wrists and pushed them into the bed.  She tried to wriggle out of his grasp but he held her more tightly.

Panic suddenly hit
her, she was trapped under him, his heavy weight holding her down.  She started thrashing beneath him but his kiss just became more ardent.  She couldn’t move.  She hated feeling helpless.  He could do whatever he wanted to her and all she could do was cry and scream, just like
Him
...

She wrenched her mouth from his.  “Get off of me!”  She shrieked.

Hans stared at her in shock.  He let go of her hands and she pushed at his solid.  “Get off!”  She sobbed.

His eyes hardened to anger.  One minute she’s throwing herself at him and
then all of a sudden she can’t stand him? 
Fucking witch
.  His wolf howled at him.

He stood up,
looming menacingly over the bed, wolf howling.  His claws lengthened and his eyes burned amber.  She scrambled over to the other side of the bed and sat with her back to him.  “I’m sorry...”  She tried not to let her emotions seep into her voice.

Her nerves were fraught and she had stupidly panicked.  She had hurt him.

“What’s wrong with you?”  He demanded gruffly. 
He had bared his most private pain to her and now she was rejecting him? 

“
It’s nothing... I just...”

“
What are you keeping from me?”  He bellowed heatedly.  His chest tightened,
did he not mean anything to her?

She recoiled at his tone and felt her hackles rise.  “
I said it’s nothing” she said vehemently. 

He spoke through gritted teeth.
  “You’re lying to me. 
Fucking witch
.  You’re no different from the rest.”

“G
et out of my house.”  She said coldly.

He scoffed.  “
Gladly, I don’t want to have anything to do with a heartless bitch like you!”

She leapt off the bed and rounded on him, tears streaming down her face.  “
You’re the one who told me he hated me the first day we met, you initiate sex and then accuse me of tricking you. You get angry when I flirt with other men, again initiating oral sex, then you make it very clear that you don’t want me and are embarrassed about anyone thinking we might actually be together.  You’ve made it clear you don’t want me or even like me and I’m the heartless one?  Get out!” 

She shook from the force of her
rant, she felt her face burning with both rage and embarrassment.

Wordlessly he looked her up and down in disgust and left the room.  She heard his heavy tread on the stairs before her front door was slammed shut.

She collapsed onto the floor, wrapping her arms around her.  Dios! Why couldn’t she just be happy?  Didn’t she deserve that?  After everything she’d been through the past few years...

In spite of his boorish behaviour the last couple of days had been wonderful.
  She laughed a little hysterically at that, what exactly did that say about her, that she liked the way he treated her?

But then she had to blow it.  Maybe if she had just told Hans the truth things would have been okay...  Maybe if she had told Hans about
Him
and what he had done to her...

No, she couldn’t.

She couldn’t bear to have Hans look at her in pity or worse
revulsion
.  Would he really want to touch her body knowing where it had been? 
No, he wouldn’t she thought bitterly
.

Maybe it was better this way, he hated her more than ever now.  It was for the best.  This way at least Hans was safe from
Him
, should he ever find her...

She trembled at the thought.

No, no she was safe.  She was sure of it. 
She was... almost positive.

Chapter
Nine

31
st
October

It was Halloween.  The
pack were holding a party. 
The Alpha’s new mate insisted
.  She apparently loved Halloween.  The wolves had never been particularly fond of it themselves, something about wolf shifters never being cast in a flattering light.  However everyone was pretty excited for the party.

The pizza parlour was closing at 8pm to allow all the employees to go.
 
Melody was not going
.  She was definitely not in the mood for revelry. 
As much fun as it would be seeing the Alpha in costume, rumour had it Rosalee had insisted on a Zorro costume for him...

After crying herself to sleep last night she had woken up with a plan. 
She was going to leave Rose
.

It was the easiest solution.
  She would leave the drama behind her and start afresh in a new town.  Not a big deal, she’d been doing just that over and over for the past three years.  Once more c0ouldn’t hurt.

Her stomach churned at the thought of leaving.  She’d never really made any friends in the other towns though, or particularly enjoyed her jobs.  She had both here though.  Not to mention Hans...

But it was because of him she had to leave.  She couldn’t bear to stay here and have him hate her, alternatively she couldn’t bear the thought that if they were together Hans may get hurt if
He
ever showed up.

It was definitely for the best that she
move on. 
Definitely...

She sighed, trying to ignore the feelings in her stomach.  Trying to ignore all the things she would miss
about this place, which always centred on Hans.

It was 6pm.  She’d managed to get through almost a full day’s work.  Thankfully
Ilse had been in the kitchen in the morning, Hans being inexplicably absent.  He had only started work at 5pm, so there hadn’t really been time for things to become too awkward.

Ilse
had noted that she was looking a bit pale.  Melody had assured her she was fine and Ilse hadn’t pressed her.

Hans couldn’t even stand the sight of her.  He completely avoided looking at her when she came to the kitchen counter to drop off orders and pick up food.
  She didn’t think it was possible to feel any worse and yet she did.

She took
out her order pad and plastered a fake smile on her face, and walked over to a couple of new diners with as much fake confidence as she could muster.

“Hi, can I get you guys some drinks?”

“
Melanie
?”

Melody
stilled. 
No, no, no, no no!  This wasn’t happening!  Dios!  She recognised that voice
.  She’d know it anywhere.  It belonged to Stan Marsden.

The handsome older brother of her childhood best friend Stephanie.
  She’d grown up with a massive crush on him, she’d spied on him going on dates, religiously attended all of his football games and generally just worshipped him.  He on the other hand had teased her and Stephanie mercilessly.
She was always the fat little Latina girl desperately running after him. 
But at least she always had Stephanie.

Stephanie
.  She felt a pang.  She hadn’t even talked to Stephanie in two years.  Feeling lonely she’d tried calling Stephanie after a year of running.  Stephanie had been cold and distant, she couldn’t understand why Melanie had run away.  And Melanie hadn’t dared tell her the truth. 
No, not Melanie, it was Melody now.  She can’t forget that.

The smile was frozen on her face.  She studied the man in front of her.  He was a little paunchy, and had deep bags under his eyes, not to mention his hair was a lot thinner, but yep that was definitely Stan Marsden. 
A seedier, older version of Stan Marsden alright
.

“Close, it’s actually Melody.”  She smiled again, pretending to be politely confused.

He stared at her dumbfounded.  “Melanie Ramirez?” 

“No, Melody James.”
  Her cheeks were starting to ache.

He snorted. 
“You look just like Melanie Ramirez... although a lot skinnier.”

Her eye twitched at that comment. 
He had always made fun of her weight
.

“Well I don’t know what to tell you.” 
Honestly she didn’t
.

He chewed his cheek.  “Melanie, if that’s you, you can tell me...”

“She said her name’s Melody!”  The brunette he was sat with snapped impatiently.  “We need a few more minutes to decide, go away and come back.”  She clicked her fingers and Melody was dismissed. 

Melody realised who she was then, it was Jane
Fogel.  The prom queen, the homecoming queen, the head cheerleader... every average girl’s worst nightmare.  She had certainly kept both high school figure, unlike Stan she looked amazing.  Although her skin was a little tight... ah
botox
.  Jane barely registered that Melody was alive back when she was in School, there was no way she would recognise her now. 
Melody was grateful for that
.

Stan looked at her though
tfully.  It was the same look that Stephanie would give her when she did something silly, like sending a Valentine card to Stan. Feeling the heat rise to her cheeks she mumbled that she would come back.

Spinning around she saw Hans glaring at her angrily. 
No, please not now.

Memories of Stephanie, memories of her life before...
Him
assaulted her.  She felt all her pent up sadness and loneliness welling up.  She needed to cool down, she needed a few moments alone.

Head down
Melody retreated to the store room. 
The damn store room again.
  She’d spent more time in there in the last few days that she cared to think about.

She rubbed at her eyes, trying to suppress the tears threatening to spill.

She heard soft footsteps behind her.  Her body suddenly trembled with need. 
She knew who it was
.

“Who was that man?”  Hans
demanded.

She sniffled. 
“No one, he thought he knew me but he didn’t.”

His wolf
snarled.  She was lying to him
again
. 
Fuck, he’d fallen in love with a dishonest witch
.  But maybe, just maybe if he could get her to tell him the truth... then they could be together.  He winced.  He felt like a love-sick puppy, was he really so desperate that he would be willing to tie himself to a false-hearted witch?

He stood behind her, only inches away.  Her short curls were pulled back with a band, soft wisps of hair danced over her graceful neck.  His beast mewled in appreciation, both man and wolf wanted nothing more than to press their fangs into her, make her theirs. 
And yet...

Hans tempered his tone slightly. 
“He said your name was Melanie...”

“Well
my
name is Melody
.” 
She hated lying to him, but it was for his protection as well as hers.  She had to stay hidden, she just had to.  If that meant deceiving the wolf she loved then so be it.

He moved even closer to her, she felt the heat radiating from him.  In spite of herself heat pooled in her womb, if he chose to take her that moment she knew she couldn’t possibly resist.

Hans stared at her.  He growled lowly.  “Why won’t you tell me the truth?”

Her slender shoulders shook.  “I just... can’t...”  She sobbed.

“Can’t or won’t?!”  He yelled at her, he felt his claws lengthen.  He’d been so angry after last night that he’d tossed and turned all night.  He’d driven to Darlington and sparred with a friend of his, a bear shifter called Cain who was a cage fighter.  They sparred until every part of him felt exhausted and bruised.

Hans himself had been a cage fighter for a few years, after he got out of military prison.  He’d won every fight he’d been in.  But he’d given it up when his mothe
r pleaded with him to come home and help with the restaurant.  He was never happy anywhere, so what did it matter if he was unhappy in Rose?

He’d never really cared about feeling content or love before Melody.  He’d always been an angry man with an angrier wolf.
  But now that he’d met Melody both he and his beast were reluctant to just let her go, even though his head told him he should.

She shivered and rubbed her arms.  He wanted to hug her, to nestle his head in her neck, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
  Her nearness practically set him on fire, he wanted her in his arms so badly but what about her?  Did she want the same things?

“What do you want Melody?”  His voice was quiet and a little sad.

You, I want you.
  “I... I don’t want anything... I’ve decided to leave Rose... there’s no reason to stay.”  Her own words stabbed at her heart.

Hans saw red, his wolf snarled at the woman.  She had to be made to be submissive, she wasn’t allowed to leave.  “Fuck Melody... you come to my town and make me fall in love wit
h you and then you just decide to skip out like it’s nothing?”

She whirled round and stared at him. 
He loved her?
  She was taken aback by the look of longing in his eyes.  She raised a hand to his cheek to try and soothe him.  He recoiled at her touch, like he’d been burnt.

She dropped her arm sadly.  Maybe she deserved that. 
Maybe she deserved all the bad things that had happened to her.

He looked at her with loathing.  “You cast a spell didn’t you?  You made me feel this way didn’t you?”

She sighed, resigned to her fate.  “Whatever makes you feel better Hans.”

He
ground his jaw.  He wanted her to deny it, so say it wasn’t true.  To say that what they had was real, that she loved him and needed him. He opened his mouth as if to say something but changed his mind. 
What was the point?
He shook his head and quickly walked out the room.

She sobbed a few more times into the empty room before wiping away her tears and getting back to work.

*

Melody had finished the last two hours of her shift as if in a dream.  Her mind and her heart were both so heavy, she couldn’t think of anything else
but Hans.  She had practically completed her shift on autopilot.

She was walking home slowly.  Normally she rushed the whole way, but she was enjoying the cool breeze on her flushed skin.

Hans had said he in love with her.  True he had marred that by accusing her of casting a spell to do it, but still...

Maybe she should stay in Rose?  But he wouldn’t be satisfied until she told him everything, and she couldn’t... could she?

She was too wrapped up in her thoughts to even notice anything was wrong.  To notice the warning tingles racing through her body.

But the moment she heard the coldly sensual voice her heart almost st
opped beating.

“
Melanie... I’ve missed you princess
...”