Riley
I gasp as I stumble away from the man and turn to face him. I look at the man in front of me. Black hair combed over, a strong jawline, and he towers over me. I’m five foot six and he stands at least a foot taller than me. But what captivated me and scared me most was his piercing red eyes. He’s a vampire.
Then I recall the words that he said, he called me ‘princess’. How does he know who I am?
I stumble backward as I try to put some distance between us and say, “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He looks at me curiously before he smirks and says, “You don’t have to hide who you are from me, Rieka. I know who you are and I’ve been watching you for a while now.”
I question, “Watching me? What are you? That Edward creep in that vampire movie? You’re stalking me now, is that it?”
He chuckles and looks at me with amusement in his eyes as he says, “No I’m not like him.”
“But you’ve been watching me?”
He nods, “Yeah, it’s kind of my job, I’ll explain the details later. We don’t have the time to go over everything right now, all that matters is that you’re safe and you do not mention to anyone that you saw me.”
I scoff, “Of course, you wouldn’t want me to tell anyone that I saw you, you’re a vampire. I’m sure the wolves here would have your head because you’re trespassing!”
He shakes his head, he seems amused by me and it’s frustrating me. He tells me, “I’m not trespassing, my job and my loyalty are aligned with you. Anywhere you go, I go. If you’re allowed on the premises then so am I.
I shake my head and say, “You make no sense.”
Two wolves run up behind him and they look ready to kill. They’re some of Archer’s patrol but before they can even lunge towards the vampire, he raises his finger stopping them in their tracks. He makes some weird hand motions and it looks like the wolves are in a trance.
I ask curiously, “What are you doing?”
He answers nonchalantly, “Replacing their memories.”
I question, “Why?”
“As I said, no one can know that I was here. They are going to remember saving you and you’re going to play along with it. I will explain to you everything about who I am and how I know who you are etcetera later but for now, this is what needs to be done.”
I look him up and down and ask, “Why should I trust you? Why should I keep you hidden?”
He smirks as he answers, “As I said, my loyalty aligns with you, princess. Your parents hired me, your biological parents. They arranged a bit of a trade with my people in return for them helping us out I must keep you safe. So, that’s what I’m doing.”
I retort, “And why would I need you to keep me safe?”
“As you get closer to 18, your wolf is more pressed beneath the surface ready to emerge. Your aura has shifted and makes you more of a target as you catch more attention. Even with all the potions and everything your parents have done to try to hide you, your presence, in general, is demanding. Why do you think you have so many wolves taking an interest in you?”
I nod in understanding and he says, “I need to get going. More wolves will be here soon and the more I have to change memories, the harder it is to get them to stick. I promise I will come to see you soon, once you’re back in your home. Unfortunately, it’s too dangerous for me to do it here. But I’m not far, just in case you need me.”
I nod and ask, “What’s your name?”
His eyebrows raise in surprise like he didn’t expect me to take an interest in him. He says, “I’m Leviticus Adams.”
I nod and say, “Riley Ford.”
He chuckles as he says, “No, you’re not. Your real name is Rieka Hart, princess of werewolves, the future Luna Queen. That’s who you are, Rieka. You knew I knew your identity yet you still presented yourself as Riley. You’re not Riley, you’re Rieka. The strong, rare, Purple Sapphire Gemstone Wolf, and the Luna Queen that the supernatural world doesn’t know that it’s waiting for.”
He comes close to me, just a breath away. I’m entranced by his ruby-red eyes and I hear Archer as he starts yelling my name. I turn my focus away from Leviticus and he softly says, “I’ll see you soon, princess. Remember what I said, no one can know that I was here. If you need me, if you ever feel like you’re in danger, all you have to do is say my name. I’ll be there, I swear it.”
I nod and say, “See you soon, Leviticus.”
He flashes a smile and runs his hand through his black locks and then in a blink, he’s gone. He used that supernatural speed that vampires have made them faster than us werewolves.
I breathe out and I see the wolves that he changed memories on quickly shake their heads and then shift as one asks me, “Are you okay, Ms. Riley?”
I smile, “I’m fine.”
Archer runs towards me, already in his human form and completely naked. He hugs me tightly, his body flush against mine. My hands raised in between us, and I can feel his chiseled chest. He asks frantically, “Are you okay? I was so worried.”
I push his chest, forcing distance between us as I say, “I promise, I’m fine. W-we should go back to the packhouse.”
He nods, and I watch as Brandon and Caleb’s wolves run towards us and suddenly shift into their human forms. I avert my gaze, trying not to focus on all the male genitalia surrounding me. They both ask if I’m okay and I say, “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. A little uncomfortable, but I’m fine!”
Archer tells the patrol to come back to the packhouse to make their reports and for Brandon and Caleb to continue checking the perimeter and that there are no more rogues. Archer looks at me and asks, “Do you want to ride on my wolf, or we can walk until I see the next tree with some shorts behind it?”
I nod and say, “Yeah, that’s fine.”
He chuckles and says, “You can walk ahead of me if that makes you feel better.”
My cheeks are burning with embarrassment from this and I walk ahead of them as we go back to the packhouse. As we walk, I struggle not to focus on Leviticus.
The mysterious vampire who I long to know more about.