Page 1 of A Vampire's Pain
Chapter 1
-Gabriel-
It had been a year since Dominic and Lara got together and things had run rather smoothly since then. We were even having a party to celebrate their first anniversary together, inviting all the highborn and giving them even more reason to like Lara. Not that anyone dared anymore to say anything about her mixed blood or anything like that. Especially after they learned she was Aaron’s daughter, which made her the daughter of an alpha, and not just any alpha, but an alpha who sat on the council. Of course, all the highborn would never say no to a party, and therefore, they liked her even more just because of that. I smiled as I watched those two from afar. Right now, they were surrounded by Lara’s family. Her siblings and father were standing around her, even her father’s mate was there. Over the last year, she had really gotten close to all of them, and she seemed to have flourished even more because of it.
She no longer had that mentality that she had to keep her head down in order to survive. Now she kept her chin high and showed everyone she wasn’t afraid. I was so damn proud of her. Lara and I had become close too, and I really did consider her family, yet there was this empty feeling I had had for years that I couldn’t shake, and that feeling only grew, as I watched Dominic pull Lara close, kissing her shortly and looking at her with so much love.
I want that.
It was all I could think. I wanted that closeness, and while I wanted to believe there was a chance for me to get it, I had lost hope long ago. I even remembered Arianna’s comment from last year and it still haunted me. Even she believed I wouldn't find my mate.
Maybe I wouldn't …
Maybe I was just meant to be alone … It could be. I wasn’t even sure I deserved a mate. I hadn’t really acted like a person worthy of one. I just … I didn’t know how to change even if I wanted to. It was so easy to get tempted, and sometimes I was just that weak. Maybe that was why Ace was always watching me. Even now, from afar, I could feel his eyes on me, even though I couldn’t see him. I smiled to myself, sipping a little of my drink, and thought I might as well give him a show. Then we both had something to do. Really, I was just trying to get him off my back, but he never stopped listening to that one order from Dominic, which was making sure I didn’t get myself into trouble. Even they knew how easily I got tempted by bad things.
Soon though, I found myself a target. A beautiful little werewolf, with long blond hair and shiny brown eyes. I was sure she could offer me a little distraction from this hollow feeling in my heart, but I also knew it wouldn’t get Ace off my back. I never did. So, it had kind of turned into a punishment instead of a show. Maybe that was cruel. I wasn’t sure. He never said anything.
I placed my drink away and walked over to her. She was surrounded by a group of friends, but as soon as she saw me, she turned her attention to me. Her eyes grew bigger, and she looked almost hopeful as if she hoped I would drag her to some dark room in the house and have my way with her. Her friends even gave us some room, as they saw me putting all my attention on her.
“And what is your name, little wolf?”
I used the nickname Dominic always used on Lara just to be a bit of an ass.
“Cathy,” she said.
She held out her hand and I grabbed it but didn’t shake it or even let it go. She watched our hands surprised for a moment, but then her eyes moved to mine, and I started to stroke her hand with my thumb. I watched her swallow hard, while her cheeks turned a sweeter pink.
“Gabriel,” I just said.
“I-I know,” she stammered.
Of course, she did, but I loved this part. I loved figuring them out. Were they aggressive or were they sweet and nervous like this one? It was all a part of the game, and a good way for me to think about something else but the hole in my heart. I slowly let go of her hand, and I could see the disappointment in her eyes. I had her right where I wanted. She might seem sweet and nervous, but she knew what she wanted, and if I said I wanted her in a dark corner with her dress up and ready to get fucked by me, then I knew she would go stand in the corner waiting for me.
“Are you enjoying the party so far?” I asked.
She swallowed.
“Yes, but I hoped it would get even better,” she said, and her voice turned a little flirtier.
Okay, maybe she wasn’t so nervous. Maybe she was aggressive. This might be fun. Sometimes the nervous or shy ones could be the dirtiest, and this one certainly had hidden sides to her.
“Oh yeah?” I asked and leaned closer, lowering my voice. “How so?”
She smiled. Her pink lips stretched into a flirty one. She even got bold and placed her hand on my chest, moving it up to grab the collar of my jacket. I had to say she surprised me a lot.
“How about you and me in the bathroom just in the hallway in ten minutes?” she asked.
“Bold,” I said.
“I know what I want,” she whispered.
She certainly did.
“I do too.”
She moved closer, so our lips were only inches apart.
“Then what are we waiting for?”
