Their Forbidden Love

Chapter 1: Karime

"Aaaaahhhh...Karime, you make me want to strangle you on a daily basis, female!!" An exasperated Demetrio exclaims. "Exactly what are we doing out here in Dog territory? Do you have a frieken death wish or something? Your father would drain me if he knew you were out here."

"Calm the nerves, Dem. We won't be here long. I just want to see how large this new pack that moved in is. My father would be elated to know this information about our enemies. Maybe if he sees how useful I am in the field, he will stop forcing me to meet different eligible clansmen and get the idea of using me as a bride bargaining chip out of his damn mind!" I said.

I could only hope that this would work. It's not easy being the daughter of an elder clans men, especially one so well respected and powerful as my father. I know it's not completely his idea and that Mother is pushing him to marry me off. I'm already to old to be single and without a mate or husband.

I cringe inwardly anytime I hear, "How did that one taste?" from my mother, anytime I would come back from a tasting. As vampires, that is how we find our mates.

No, true happily ever after, love story there. Just simple genetics.

It completely sucks!

But, it's what I have always wanted. To find my one true mate that I would love with all my being and he would love me the same.

Yes, I wanted to find love and I didn't want to be forced into marriage with someone that wasn't my true mate. I have more self-respect than to be put on display at each council meeting like prime beef. But yet that is what I have been subjected to.

"You know he is only thinking of protecting you. He's an Elder. Name one other Elder's daughter that has been able to join the guard? Come on.....name one." Demetrio said to me.

I gave him my Shut the Hell up look, with my hands on my hips.

"I will sit on this rock and wait for you to come up with one name." Demetrio smirked and sat on the boulder behind him, crossing his arms and then his legs at the ankles.

I stopped and thought quietly to myself, pondering his challenge and came up with nothing. Dem had a point. The Elite Clans Guard have all been men. But who said I couldn't be the first female. I was tough and I do not like to take any creado from anyone.

"None, but he has let me train with the guard. No other Elder daughter has been able to do that before." I said.

"Ha! That's because your a spoiled brat and you kept pestering him till he gave in. But knowing well that the safest place you could be, is surrounded by trained members of the Elite Clans Guard." Demetrio jumped up and said with a cocky smile.

"Just shut up Dem and help me look for fresh tracks. You know you are one of the best trackers in our clan." I said and turned to look closer at the ground.

"So now your trying to butter me up with sweet compliments. Fine! I will help you, just so I can get you the hell out of here."

Demetrio said as he hunched down to the ground.

He put his right hand on the ground, closed his eyes, and maneuvered his tracking senses to flow through his arm to the ground.

Demetrio wasn't just my best friend but he was also the son of Claudius, the best tracker in the Elite Clans Guard. Dem had inherited that gift from him.

Each vampire is born with powers or gifts, as we like to call them. It is usually one that has been passed down through generations of vampire clan families. As children, we are taught how to control our gifts and use them at will.

I inherited my grandmother's gift of emotions-reading their auras. I can touch, sense, and feel other people's emotions. Sometimes I can tap into people's emotions long after they have left a location by just standing in the same place they have.

For example, right now standing in this very spot I can feel that a female wolf walked here with her young. Both were full of sorrow, nervousness and a hint of excitement.

It may seem like a great power but it isn't really. I would much have wished to have been born with my father's gift. The gift to read minds. Now that is a great power to have and along with his bloodline made him the leader of our clan. That is also the reason he has a seat on the Vampire Clans Council.

"I got something," Demetrio said pulling me out of my thoughts. "It's faint but they definitely passed through here and headed south."

"Left or right Dem? You know I don't have a compass permanently in my head as you do." I retorted.

Demetrio rolled his eyes and pointed to the left. I started walking left with Demetrio right on my heels.

"I can't believe we are doing this. My father and your father are definitely going to drain me of all my blood." Demetrio complained behind me.

"Shut up! No, they won't. they won't even know we were h...." I was saying.

"But WE can make sure to drain you," a man's growl behind us stopped me.

Demetrio and I turned suddenly at the same time when we heard the voice.

There in front of us stood three, smiling, shirtless wolf guards.

"You won't have to wait for leech-daddy to do it. We will happily oblige." The bigger wolf in the middle sneered.