MINI STORY: A Beta and His Mate

"A Beta and his Vampire Princess" Chapter 5

Five hours into the trip, they stopped for lunch at a roadside diner. It was a retro looking joint with a healthy crowd forming inside. The waitress, a middle-aged woman who smelled of cigarette smoke and moth balls, led them to the back of the diner. They settled into a four person booth whose leather benches were stained and torn from years of wear and tear. Greyson and Gena sat across from each other with the menus sitting between them.

“Can I ask you something?” Greyson said after a few moments of silence, glancing up at her hesitantly.

“Sure.” Gena shrugged, not taking her eyes off the menu.

“I was wondering about your diet.” He said in a quiet voice, unsure of himself and not wanting to offend his mate.

Gena looked up at him then with a smirk playing at her lips. She sensed his embarrassment and anxiety over asking about her vampire lifestyle. She didn’t mind answering his questions and, she had to admit, she found his timid questioning adorable.

“I can eat whatever I want and I get hungry for food just like you. I need to maintain a healthy dose of blood to sustain myself, but it’s far less for me than for a youngling.” Gena said, “And, I don’t eat people.” She added with a humorous tone.

“Oh, uhm,” Greyson stammard and Gena couldn’t help but laugh loudly.

“Hundreds of years ago things were different. My family openly fed on anything or anyone we wanted and there weren’t many other vampires to speak of. As the population of our species grew, we all had to take precautions to avoid prosecution. That’s when the term “vegetarian” vampires came about, vampires who fed on animals instead of humans. Now, there are blood banks who sell and supply donations to vampires and bars with humans who enjoy being fed on.” Gena explained to a wide eyed Greyson.

The evolution of vampires was something Gena witnessed first hand as one of the oldest vampires alive. She was born in the thirteenth century to human parents, living in a small hut in a viking’s village with her two brothers. They were some of the first settlers to the new land, far before the pilgrims and Christopher Colubmus and the Native Americans.

One day, a blood witch came, needing to make sacrifices to the blood moon in order to sustain her powers. She murdered everyone in Gena’s village. Her parents begged, not for their lives, but for the lives of their three children. The witch had no pity for them, slicing their throats and splattering the floor with their blood. But, the children? The children were a different story. The witch looked upon the black haired, blue eyed trio and saw herself. Instead of using the sacrifices to dominate her own power, she used it to create a species that was sure to follow her command.

That day, she created the three original vampires; Gena, Gabriel, and Gideon Alfson, children of Alf and Eva. From them, the vampire race was born. The children followed their new mother, a witch whose name eventually goes down in history, for centuries. 300 years later, Marlow, the witch, creates a father for the children and a man to rule her new species. He became the nameless Vampire King.

“I wasn’t judging you.” Greyson said, pulling Gena from her reminiscing.

“Oh, I know. You’re just a curious wolf.” Gena’s eyes sparkled as she teased her mate. Greyson’s face lit up with a grin,

“Curious about my princess.” He purred.

The waitress returned to take their orders and then left silently.

“You must’ve seen so much of the world.” Greyson said,

“I have but it’s a lonely existence.” Gena murmured.

“Not anymore.” Greyson reached across the table and took her hand. Gena smiled at him and nodded, but in her head she was thinking about how everything comes to an end eventually.

Gena had heard the appetites of a werewolf were huge, but she had never seen it in action before. Greyson scarfed down enough food to feed a small army; fries, sandwiches, a steak, spiced apples, a garden salad, and he even had room for a chocolate milkshake afterwards. Gena was so focused on watching him eat, she nearly forgot to eat her own BLT and french fries.

“Did you want some?” Greyson asked, sliding the chocolate shake across the table towards Gena.

“Oh, no thanks.” Gena shook her head, “I don’t like chocolate.” Greyson’s eyes bulged out of his head,

“You don’t like chocolate? Now, that’s just wrong.”

“Oh, forgive me.” Gena faked offense. Greyson chuckled at her,

“Vanilla or strawberry?” He asked,

“If I have to choose, strawberry. But, it’s not my favorite.”

“What’s your favorite, then?” Greyson asked curiously.

“Teaberry.” She replied and Greyson looked confused,

“What the hell is teaberry?”

“Such an uncultured little wolf.” Gena purred and Greyson opened his mouth, actually offended this time,

“I am not little. You offend Clyde.” Greyson said sternly.

“Clyde?” Gena temporarily forgot about her mockery. She was almost afraid of what exactly was named Clyde.

“My wolf, Clyde.” Greyson said his name again, his eyes flashing black for a moment.

“What must Clyde think of me?” Gena said, watching his expression carefully.

“He loves you.” Greyson answered without a pause or a moment’s hesitation.

“He….” Gena opened and closed her mouth wordlessly like a fish.

“Clyde’s been obsessed with you from day one, I certainly didn’t stand a chance arguing with him if I had wanted to; which I didn’t, by the way. He’s enamored with every single thing that you do.” Greyson’s voice was low as his gaze caught mine fiercely.

“But, I have no wolf.” Gena stated.

“He doesn’t care.” Greyson replied.

“I’m a vampire.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Greyson’s face was stern and intense, so intense that Gena couldn’t look away, “We love you.”

He said it so casually Gena almost missed it.

We love you.

Gena blinked in shock, gasping at his declaration. Of course she knew it, he was a wolf and he felt the matebond more powerfully than any other species. She’d seen it before, hundreds of times over hundreds of years. But, hearing the words, feeling the connection, was something entirely different. She couldn’t say it back, but she knew without asking that he didn’t expect her to, not yet anyway.

“Should we get back on the road?” Just like that, Greyson’s serious expression faded and his goofy, crooked grin returned. Gena nodded, still in a daze.

Greyson greedily snatched up Gena’s hand as they walked through the restaurant and across the parking lot. He helped her into the car, even against her arguments, and then settled in the driver’s seat himself. He didn’t care that they weren’t making good time, he wasn’t in a hurry to make it to their destination, anyway. He was excited about all the potential road trip bonding.

Fifteen minutes later, Gena was fast asleep, leaving Greyson alone with his thoughts. He chuckled at her sleeping face, her heaving breathing and her little snores. Her eyelids fluttered occasionally and her body twitched like she was having a dream. Greyson thought again about how little he knew about vampires. Honestly, he thought they didn’t sleep or, if they did, they hung upside down from the ceiling like a bat.

Suddenly, Gena’s twitches turned to violet thrashes as she strained against the seat. Greyson quickly pulled the car over and started shaking her shoulders,

“Gena! Gena, wake up!” His voice panicked as he struggled to wake her up.

Nothing was working, so Greyson took a deep breath to calm himself before placing a hand on either side of Gena’s face and gently rubbing his thumb across her cheeks. He whispered soothingly to her, pressing his forehead against hers and willing Gena to feel the comfort of their matebond.

After a moment, she took a deep breath and began to still. Her eyes fluttered open and her face was white, strained. Her lips parted slightly in a silent gasp.

“You were having a nightmare.” Greyson whispered.

“I was?” Gena looked confused.

“Are you okay?’ Greyson asked, still holding her face and hovering over her body.

“I don’t….I can’t remember what it was about.” Gena answered absentmindedly.

“Are you okay?” Greyson asked again, more sternly this time. Gena focused on him and nodded,

“Yes, yes, I’m fine.” She struggled against the seat, trying to sit up. Greyson sighed and removed himself from her, leaning back in his own seat.

“Maybe we should stop for the day.” He said, mostly to himself. Gena looked around and noticed that the sun was beginning to set,

“What time is it?”

“A little after 5.” Greyson said,

“I didn’t mean to fall asleep.” Gena looked down at her hand, picking at her fingers in embarrassment.

“It’s okay,” Greyson chuckled softly at her, running his hand through her short, soft hair, “I didn’t mind.”

“You don’t have to stop on my account.” Gena said,

“I wouldn’t mind a rest anyway. We’re not in any kind of hurry.” Greyson shrugged, putting the car back on the road and following signs for a hotel.