Werewolf and Vampire Mate [Book 1 Complete]

special chapter one.

North

Flickering flames in the center of the firepit cast shifting shadows along the grass and the faces of my packmates.

I watch from afar, ignoring the way Lark keeps trying to force me over to join in on the drinking and socializing.

I'm in no mood to be social at the moment—if I ever am.

My best friend and future Alpha, Orson, has his arm around his mate. She's laughing at something he is whispering into her ear, clutching at his chest. Her red hair is brandished a deep auburn by the firelight.

I've never seen him so relaxed and unburdened. And I am glad that he's found her, genuinely. But how am I supposed to be happy when he is sitting there with his mate and I am forbidden from seeking out my own?

Unable to look at the happy scene unfolding before me for a second longer, I turn and walk into the woods. I need to run, in wolf form, and just get away from all of this.

I strip off my jacket and kick away my shoes. My shirt is about to go as well, when I hear the sound of footsteps behind me.

The scent is a familiar one. "Go back to the bonfire, Orson," I tell him without turning around.

"Come join us," he urges. "Come on, man. This is killing me."

"It's killing you?" I turn on him, fury a hot, unraveling ball in my chest. "You're sitting there happily with your mate and it's killing you?"

It is difficult to stay mad when faced with Orson's complete and utter compassion. There is only hurt and empathy in his eyes when he says, "I can't imagine how difficult this is for you. But you've got to try and see it from April's perspective. She cares about her friend, Harper, a lot and she wants to keep her safe."

"You think I don't want the same thing? She's my mate, of course I want her to be safe. I would keep her safe!"

"Like you kept April safe in New York?"

The words cut deep, slashing like a blade. My jaw tightens, my hands curling into fists. I've never wanted to hit Orson before, but right now it takes everything in me not to punch him.

Failing to protect April in New York is one of my biggest regrets. She could've died and it would've been my fault. I take my duty to my pack seriously and she is the mate to our future Alpha; the last thing I want is for her to get hurt.

Orson winces and steps closer. "I don't say that to hurt you, man. I'm saying it because it just goes to show that right now, given the political situation, none of us can protect anyone."

"The political situation?" I bite out. "You mean the situation where your mate wants to screw a vampire?"

The warmth and compassion is gone from Orson's face in a blink. "Watch your fucking mouth, North," he warns lowly.

I turn away; I don't want to fight with him. We can argue till we're blue in the face, we can throw punches and hurt each other, but the fact remains that he has his mate by his side whilst mine is miles and miles away.

She hardly knows I exist and she is all I can think about.

"This won't be forever. I'm going back down to continue negotiations with the Council of Elders in a week or so and after that..."

"It'll magically be safe?" I question, turning my head to look at him over my shoulder. "We both know that's bullshit."

"It'll be safer."

"Right." It seems more like a way to make April comfortable than the truth. I stalk further into the woods and away from Orson, ripping off my shirt and the rest of my clothes and transforming into my wolf form.