"So where is Cooper?" Jason asked taking a seat on the couch.
"Away for work," Mac said looking back at the TV. This was the first day in some time where she could relax with no big worries. She knew there were things to do, but she just couldn't bring herself to deal with it today.
The movie day the other day was relaxing that was until Gage showed up. Then Mac couldn't help but hide in her room. She knew she was this all-powerful vampire-werewolf but her human side couldn't take the rejection. She was after all a girl first.
"What does he do?" Jason asked.
"You know I'm not sure," Mac asked putting down the remote. "I think something with his coven," Mac said.
"He is in a coven?" Jason asked alarm. Most vampires he didn't like but something about vampires in covens made them act extra savage.
"I think he hunts hunters?" Mac said, "With his coven."
" He...Hunters?" Jason asked confused.
"You know we learned about this in school, hunters the humans that know about the fantasy world. They hunt us all down one by one and try to kill us," Mac said.
"I know what hunters are, but I have never heard of vampires hunting down hunters," Jason said.
"Well, how many covens do you hang out with on a regular basis?" Mac asked.
"None, but still a coven brings trouble," Jason said. "Has he texted you today?"
"Yes like ten times," Mac said finally turning her attention to Jason. "What is with the 3rd degree about Cooper?"
"I know you guys had a falling out in high school, it is just surprising that after all these years he is different," Jason said.
"People can change, I know I have," Mac said.
"Now, we both know that isn't true, you are the same girl that was awkward at every college party you went to," Jason said.
"I wasn't that awkward," Mac said.
"When weren't you that awkward?" Ethan asked coming in from the kitchen, he had two cereal bowls in his hand with fruit loops. He handed a bowl over Mac.
"Back in college," Mac said taking the bowl, "thanks."
"Well I didn't know you back then, but I would say you are still pretty awkward," Ethan said taking a bite.
"Thank you," Jason said.
"Name one time I was awkward," Mac said.
"Last week you tripped in training," Jason said.
"Like I've never seen a vampire trip, but that was hilarious," Ethan said.
"That was one time," Mac replied.
"It happened last month too," Ethan responded without missing a beat.
"Shut up," Mac huffed putting her bowl down and standing up.
"But it is why we love you, for your awkwardness," Jason said to Mac retreating back. She couldn't help but put her middle finger high in the air once they started laughing.
"I am not awkward... I'll show them," Mac mumbled to herself going up the stairs.
"I would say you are pretty awkward," A voice said up the stairs. Mac couldn't help but stop in her tracks. "Gage."
"Like one time in class the teacher called on you and you didn't know the answer so you just stared back at him almost like he never spoke, it was awkward for everybody involved," Gage said smiling.
"Allen didn't tell me you were going to be here today," Mac said finally reaching the top of the stairs. She was happy that she still had Vamp mostly in control, otherwise, she would be an awkward mess right now.
"I got the new Halo game I was hoping he wanted to play," Gage said holding up a video game.
"Wait Allen isn't here, he went to run errands with Collin," Mac realized.
"Yes, probably should have texted first," Gage said, he couldn't help but look down at Mac. Every time he saw her she always seemed different these days.
"Probably," Mac said trying to take a step around Gage, but Gage stepped in her way. "Who let you in?" She knew none of the boys did, but Katie might of. Trying to get Mac to face her feelings. Every day it has been Mac you need to talk about it, or Mac you need to see a therapist you have been through so much and on and on it went with Katie.
"Phoebe," Gage said. Mac wasn't surprised, while everybody hated Gage for the things he pulled with Mac, Phoebe was the only one to remain impartial.
"Well as you can see Allen isn't here, so next time text or he can go over to your house," Mac said finally managing to take a step around Gage " Wait strike that, I don't want him anywhere near Derrick, Sandy, and the other jackasses in your house. You are welcome to hang out with Allen here anytime he wants you to," Mac said.
"Thanks. Mac?" Gage said to Mac's retreating figure. She paused sighing but didn't turn around.
"Yes?"
"Will you look at me?" Gage asked. There was a childlike innocence in his voice, something even Mac couldn't ignore. She turned only to find him much closer to where she left him. His blue eyes staring back at her. He looked tired like he hasn't slept well for many days. "I'm sorry," Gage said.
"You know you say that a lot," Mac said without taking a step back.
"I mean it every time," Gage said.
"I don't doubt that," Mac said. "But you are never sorry for the right thing."
"I miss you," Gage replied.
"It has been a week," Mac said referring to the last time they talked.
"I mean I miss you at school, class isn't at all like it used to be, neither is lunch," Gage replied.
"Well we aren't in high school anymore, we are adults and we made choices. Choices that we have to live with," Mac said.
"I'm not sure I can live with those choices," Gage said taking a step closer, now he was just a few inches from her face. Mac took in a deep breath, small tingles ran up and down her body and she wasn't sure if it was because of nerves or because of him.
"Mac" A voice echoed up the stairs causing Mac to jump back. For a brief second, she could see the disappointment in Gage's eyes, but she couldn't dwell on that. "Mac" the voice echoed again.
"What?" Mac replied looking down the stair. Jason was there his eyes glaring at Gage who was now standing behind Mac.
"The west end, it is being attacked," Jason said.
"What?" Mac said running down the stairs. "By who?"
"A pack of rogue wolves, but they seem to be unified," Jason said.
"Unified?" Mac asked, but she didn't question it any further. She ran past Jason out the living room door, teleporting the second she made it to the porch.
"You can't let her fight by herself," Gage said running pass Jason as well, he opened the door less than a minute after her only to find her gone. He leaps off the porch shifting mid-air. He knew Mac's territory well enough that it wasn't hard for him to find the west end.
Thirty wolves easily gathered around attacking the ten wolves that were Mac's pack. But that wasn't what caught Gage's eye. It was Mac, she was fighting in human form but there was something majestic about the way she fought. It was smooth almost angelic.
He transforms back to his human form, naked but that doesn't stop him from leaping into the fight. He has never seen rogues unified like this. Normally at most they will be a pack of four but there were lots of them. He looked to see a couple of wolves knocked out, but none seemed to be dead.
"Mac," Gage said fighting his way over to her. She turns surprised to find him there, even more surprised to find him naked.
"Go away Gage," Mac said kicking a wolf mid-air.
"No I want to help," Gage said tackling a wolf to the ground. He takes a step closer to her only to feel minor scratches down his back. "Ouch," Gage shouted half turning to kick the wolf in the face.
"Gage I can take care of this on my own," Mac said ducking to the ground while a wolf flies over her.
"No you need help," Gage said, Mac half turned which she quickly regretted, a wolf biting down deep into her arm. But it wasn't the pain of the bite that made her scream.
"Mac," Gage said grabbing the wolf with all his might and chucking him into the tree.
"You need to leave now," Mac said clutching at her arm. "All of you leave," Mac let her alpha tone seep in. Her pack didn't hesitate to run, the rogue pack nipping at their heels. Gage fought the urge to leave continuing to fight. "Gage please," Mac said finally getting to her feet, but stumbling a bit.
"I'm not going to leave you," Gage looked around, a quarter of the rogue pack was still here. Attacking over and over again. Gage was quickly growing tired.
"Gage, please," Mac said. He couldn't help but half turn to look at her. She sounded different, not like herself. She was leaning against the tree, clutching her bloody arm that refused to heal.
"You know I would really listen to her if I were you," A guy said in front of them. "And why sir are you naked?" He looked Gage over with disgust. He was different than any guy Gage has ever seen before. His hair was a bright silver, his skin was a shimmery white, which just blended in with his white suit that he was wearing.
"Zane," Mac said gaining some of her energy back.
"Oh sweetie it really has been too long," Zane said holding up a gun. The rest of the rogues stopped attacking, just growling from a distance at Mac and Gage "Now he needs to go bye bye," Zane said firing off the gun towards Gage. One moment he saw the guy, the next moment he was staring at bright blue eyes, with little bits of green and black flecks in them.
"Mac," Gage said holding onto Mac. He was in shock, Mac was shot, but she was still moving, still alive. He looked over to find red staining her back.
"Gage go," Mac said again when Zane fired off a second bullet.
"Stop," Gage said panic seeking into his voice. "You are killing her," Mac's eyes started to close, but she was still gripping onto Gage. He looks down at Mac, seeing her eyes slowly blink almost like she couldn't stay awake. He pressed his forehead against her, slight tingles running down his face. "I will not leave you," he said.
"But you need to leave," Mac said she was too exhausted to keep her eyes open anymore. The black capturing her. "You won't make it through this."
"Interesting," Zane said, watching as Mac dropped to the floor.
"You bastard," Gage shouted, he looked down at Mac, she looked like a sleeping angle so peaceful.
"Relax she is alive," Zane said excited, "and you will live as well." He fired the gun, hitting Gage square in the chest. Gage dropped to the floor, feeling the wolfsbane spread through him. "Well at least for now," Was the last thing Gage heard before his eyes closed.