Changed (Book 3 of the Athens Wolves Series)

2

His eyes were almost completely black and I knew that no explanation would really be necessary. I would have to change the subject.

"I see you like to stalk people." I nodded at him before turning to the now partly brownish black sauce and deflating a bit. "Sorry daddy." I said taking the pan off the fire and letting it cool before putting it in the sink to wash it to start over.

"I am going to get something, from my room." My dad announced before making a move to pass Greyson who was still staring at me with black eyes as I moved around the kitchen

"Sit down or something, you standing behind me is making me antsy." I ordered and then started out with the measurements again and he grunted and did as I said, pulling out a chair and making it face me fully and then sat down.

"How was I supposed to know you?"

"We went to the same high school, and middle school, and elementary school, in fact I even think we were in the same classes until 6th grade." I said and rolled my eyes when he took a deep breath.

"I wasn't the best in school. The only time I ever concentrated on anything was when my games depended on it." He sounded like he was angry with himself at that fact and I peeked at him. "I'm sorry."

"Well, it doesn't help when you are shamed or talked about negatively I should be happy you didn't realize I was the girl without a mom." I shrugged and started stirring again and he stood up and came closer.

"Why do you smell like a Vampire?" His eyes were somewhat normal and I gulped again.

"My best friend is a vampire." I told him, there was no way I was going to let him change my life around just because he didn't like it.

"Who and how long has she been one?"

"He-" I ignored the growl- "has been a vampire for more than 1000 years and gay for about 800 give or take." I added and he blew out a breath.

"Then he has control." He stated and I looked up at him with confusion.

"How do you know that about Vampires?"

"Being in the royal guard... it means you have to mediate between a lot of packs and covens. You pick up on a couple things." He stated coming even closer and I backed up again and again, every step he took, I took back. "Are you scared of me Aaron?"

"Why should I be scared of you Greyson?"

"You don't really know me." He pressed on as I smelled the food and turned to get the garlic powered.

"You don't know me either, are you scared of me. Excuse me." I said and smiled at him as I brushed past and started putting the powder in.

"You aren't scary." He laughed out and I shook my head.

"And you are? Why? Because you're an enforcer?" I asked and scoffed when he sort of shrugged. "The enforcers protect the packs don't they?" I asked already knowing the answer. "And since I am not a rogue I am not in any danger of seeing you at your worst." I rolled my eyes as I swirled the water around the chicken before moving around the huge wolf standing a few steps behind me.I grabbed some rolls and then went for garlic and butter. I let it sit out just a bit as I chopped it up and Greyson sat back down and watched.

"Do you need any help?" He asked when I smelled a slight overcooked vegetable.

"Slather the garlic butter on the rolls." I said knowing the chicken was almost done and I would need to pull that apart.

"Why did you run from me earlier?" He asked when I started pulling the chicken apart.

"I didn't run. I had a prior engagement and besides, I was a little pissed off you didn't even know my name." I sighed out and then yipped lightly when I pulled apart a slab of really hot steamy chicken.I pulled my finger to my mouth and licked the red spot before it was pulled from my mouth and towards Greyson's chest.

"Let me do that." He said after kissing my finger tips and then moving my bowl, and the forks I had wanted to use but gave up on so I wouldn't miss any bones.

"I can do it." I protested when he started pulling them apart. I tried to pull it back but he didn't let me. "I can do it by myself." I ground out and pulled it towards me again but he growled and I looked up at him ready to push him away.

"I am trying to help."

"I am doing fine all by myself. I gave you a task, if you can't handle that, then don't help." I growled and pushed at his shoulder and finally got the chicken back on my terms. Greyson backed away and I noticed him watching me, his arms crossed, his stance tense, and irritating me all the same.

"You have a real problem with help don't you?" Greyson asked and I hesitated for a moment, debating between telling him to shut up, and ignoring him. I chose to ignore him. "Yeah, you do." He sighed and I felt my eye twitch and I turned to him now.

"What's it to you if I don't like taking handouts."

"I am sort of your mate Aaron, everything to do with you, has to do with me now." He stated coming closer but I huffed, rolled my eyes and avoided his hands when he tried to pull me closer to him by my shoulders.

"Sort of huh? Well, until you sort of even have a clue about me, or my life, or anything, you don't have to try and be the best mate you can be. Okay?" I told him clearly and his eyes narrowed as they took me in. His mouth opened, then closed before he turned and left the kitchen. I didn't follow him with my eyes, I just waited to hear the front door slam shut.

But that never came. I heard pacing hard steps but never the door. I finished the chicken, and the peas, and carrots, and mixed everything together. I made rice and set out three table settings and dished before going to my dad's door and knocking.

"Yeah?"

"Dinner is ready." I called loud enough that even Greyson would hear, I knew he would have heard three plates being set so he would be in there. I for one, was not hungry anymore. "I am going to call it a night." I told my dad way more quietly and then walked away. I wrapped up my plate and walked past Greyson and out the front door.

"Where are you going?" Greyson called and I unlocked my door.

"Home." I told him not looking back.

"Come on back in Greyson, I think we have a lot to talk about." I heard my dad just before I shut my door and started the car.

I swerved around, got to the stop sign, and took 6 deep breaths before leaning back and then going straight home. I walked in, ignored the mail in the mailbox and put the plate on my dinner table before sitting and eating it slowly.

I looked at the other three empty seats and licked my lips. I thought back to Greyson and my dad talking and opened my eyes and saw him sitting there across from me, looking at a boy and girl on either side of the table who were laughing and giggling and looking like the both of us.

I shook the notion, knowing that I didn't want kids. Even if Greyson and I are true mates, I never wanted to see him walk out on them. He was a damn enforcer who was here for his brothers wedding. He would leave, and come back, leave and come back... because I sure as hell wasn't leaving my life behind. I wasn't leaving my dad ever again.

I washed my dish, set it near the front table with my stuff for tomorrow and then walked back towards the stairs to my bedroom. I grabbed some pajama bottoms, a tank top and a change of underwear and then went towards my bathroom. I filled up my tub, added bubbles and waited while I stripped.

I had just lowered myself when I heard persistent knocking at my front door. I decided to ignore it as I soaked, hoping that it wasn't something really important. I leaned back and sighed melting into the porcelain.

After 10 more minutes I heard my door being broken down. I went on alert, got out of the water, shifted and waited as I heard about 5 different feet moving around, breaking stuff. One set came closer and closer before a loud whistle went through the house. Suddenly all the feet were moving towards the door and I growled lowly and got ready to pounce.

The door swung open and all five guys stormed in, while I charged the first guy that entered. I mauled his face, pushed off of him and made my way out there. I charged out the front door and then through the trees heading to the pack house. I was panting and saw Genevieve and Heidi rushing towards the doors. I barked and they both stopped and looked at me.

She gave me a long look making sure I wasn't some of the rogues and then waved me in and I advanced only then and trotted in.

"What happened?" She asked when her mom came and took Heidi. She touched my ear and I whined and flinched away. I didn't even notice my ear had been bitten.

"I'll go get her some clothes." I nodded to Reese and she took off up stairs as another female rushed to get some wet towels to sop up my blood and clean my ear.

Reese came down and I followed her towards the closest bathroom. She left the dress on the toilet and I waited until the door was closed to shift back.

I got the clothes on and looked at my ear and matted hair. I took a hair clip and moved my blonde frizz out of the way and then took a dark towel and started dabbing around it to clean it up.

"Aaron, the doctor is here, she wants to look at your ear." I heard Reese as she knocked on the bathroom door. I kept the rag to my bloody ear and walked out with a small smile. "Are you okay? What happened?"

"I was taking a bath and then I heard my front door being broken down. I shifted and waited for them to all come up. When they charged in I attacked the first guy in and then ran through the house and here." I said and the doctor waved me over and I pulled the rag from my head and she got to work, spraying rubbing alcohol and then giving me a dosage of vampire blood to help me heal.

Jesse was not only my friend, but a new asset to the pack. Without his blood right now, I would need stitches.

I felt the mending of my ear right away and just took a moment before the doc turned and started washing out the rag I had. I reached up and felt my ear and sighed knowing that it was the way it was before the attack.

I noticed how all the women around me were fidgeting and pacing while I just felt tired. "How many rogues were there?" Gene asked looking over at me and I perked up.

"Only 5 in my house."

"Did they search you out?"

"No, it was weird, they were like going through my first floor, I heard a lot of things breaking or being tossed around. They seemed to be looking for something. Then one came up and smelled that I was in the bathroom." I told them and they all started pacing again. I don't know why but my lids dropped after I leaned back and my breathing increased and I couldn't open my eyes.

I heard mumbles and my name but I couldn't hear it. My recently repaired ear was burning and I felt my fingers turn into claws before trying to rip it open. Hands restrained me, and I heard the words calm and relax but nothing else was registering.

I felt a pin prick on my neck and suddenly things just stopped hurting, I stopped hearing murmurs and my breathing went back to normal.