Prey

Chapter 38

How typical of her.

My worries didn't last long, however.

The slight trembling in his arms began to be noticeable as he ordered himself more blood than he usually did, specifying that he didn't care what kind it was, just whatever would get here the fastest.

That desperation was still heavy in his voice, yet I knew that this one was different.

An exasperated exhale tore from his mouth as he involuntarily slammed the phone down, his head now hanging low.

I didn't know what to do.

I didn't know what I could do.

If this was the savage side of him acting up enough to where he was now shaking to try to fight it off... or manage it... I didn't know.

For a moment, I wasn't sure if I wanted to risk getting near him.

The part of myself that I despised the most, the fear that Layla implanted in me, and controlled my reactions towards these sorts of things seemed to be sprouting again as well.

It managed to let fear take over me for a moment once I heard that growl from him earlier.

And that was enough for one day.

I loathed how much of a grip it had on me. The grip Layla put on me.

When for now... she wasn't an issue.

This was just Xander that we were dealing with.

Still, I wasn't used to this sort of thing, but I stepped forward ready to try.

Just something to try to ground him, to remind him that I was here.

I got close enough to see the scratches in the wood he was causing, that damned hesitation finding me again.

I shook it off, getting myself close enough to where I could reach him, and ever so carefully set my hand on his shoulder.

There was a cautious tension holding my body tight in the fear that my simple touch might cause him to snap, especially if he needed blood.

But much to my surprise, that tremor running through him stilled within a matter of seconds.

Oh wow... I wasn't actually expecting that to work.

Let alone that fast.

The tightness of the muscles under my fingertips loosened, enough for me to feel it even under his shirt.

His claws as well slowly retracted, and only a couple minutes passed until his heavy breaths were that of relief instead of panic.

I guess he just needed to be snapped out of it.

He slowly lifted his head through two of those breaths, just enough to where he could see me over his shoulder.

Round pupils, and relaxed eyebrows.

Well, not quite relaxed, but at least now they were en pinched. Instead now only tilted in worry.

"Hey," I crooned softly with a calm smile.

That pinch returned in a look of guilt, eyes shying away from me.

"I'm sorry," his hushed voice croaked out.

I just shook my head, rubbing my thumb against his shirt with a weird reflex I didn't know I had.

"Don't apologize for something you can't control." I consoled.

Especially after spending half that time trying to hide it.

Vampires we're complex. Enough so that even they didn't understand certain things about themselves.