Amia flushed before she graced me with a smile. She lit up my dark and cold world. Whatever she wanted, I wanted. I nipped at her pinky finger and she startled. She jumped and pulled her hand away, but I yanked it back. She tried not to smile, but I could see how much she liked it.
“Are you not going to meet up with your dad anymore?” I asked.
“I am. I just don’t think I want to right now. As much as the thought of having a sibling out there intrigues me, I just found out about my dad. I don’t want to jump into all of… that right now. I’ve always been on my own, I’m not ready,” she said.
“Is that why you’re accepting Andrius’ offer?” I asked through gritted teeth. I stared down at her hand in an attempt to hide my reaction to saying his name.
“No. Saying yes to Andrius is a detour. It’s a path away from the one I’m currently on. I may be running away, but I’m not ready to face my dad, his new wife, and their expectations of what they think I might be like. I… can’t go back to my place anymore either, so it kind of all just lines up,” Amia said quietly.
“Why can’t you? Have things gotten worse with Greg?” I asked.
“Don’t worry about Greg, L. I’m accepting his offer because I want to go. I know how it sounds, but I’ve agreed and… and I want to do this. I want to do something different. I need to feel like I can do something because I decided to. I need to feel like I’ve just got a bit of a hold on my life and where it’s headed,” she said.
“When do you leave?” I sighed.
“I was thinking tomorrow night,” Amia said.
“That’s… soon,” I said.
“It is,” she mumbled.
“The night before your birthday too,” I said.
“You remembered?” She asked.
“Of course I remembered,” I murmured. “Have you ever considered staying with me?” I asked. There, I’d said it. Her eyes widened and her mouth hangs open. “You could stay for as long as you wanted.”
“How could I—” She started.
“I’ve told you that what’s mine is yours, Ami,” I said.
“Where would I stay?” She asked.
“Have you seen this place? I have a lot of rooms, but I would hope that you’d stay in my room like we’ve always done,” I said.
“You’re practically asking me to move in!” Amia laughed.
“Call it what you may,” I teased.
“I’m calling it what it is! If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and sounds like a duck, it’s a a duck! I didn’t know you were that serious about me,” Amia joked.
“Stay with me tonight,” I breathed. No one could make me as nervous as this little wolf.
“Again? You want me to stay another night?” She asked.
“I think I just told you I want you to stay indefinitely. So yes, I want you to stay another night,” I teased. “I want you to stay because you want to stay, not because it’s what I want.” Amia agreed and when she smiled she left me breathless. “I know that you’ve decided to leave tomorrow, but I think it’s best we at least let your mom know.”
“Why?” She asked.
“You’ve been gone all weekend. I’m sure she’ll expect you home for the week. You don’t want her to be worried,” I said.
“She wouldn’t be worried,” she said.
“Have you talked to her since you met your dad?” I asked. She lowered her gaze. I didn’t need her to answer to know she hadn’t. “I didn’t think so. I’m sure she’s mad, but don’t you fret. I’ll call her and smooth things over. She always liked me,” I said confidently.
“She did,” Amia giggled.
After we finished eating, I took the dishes back to the sink. Amia went straight for the dishes and I rushed to block her path. She would not be doing any cleaning in this house. I waved her and laughed when she crossed her arms in front of her chest and huffed stubbornly.
“I have staff for that. Besides, there are things I’d rather do,” I said.
“Like what?” She asked.
A rumble started in my chest and her back straightened. I crouched lower and her eyes widened in surprise. We haven’t played around like this since we were kids and I missed it. Quickly, she turned on her heel and dashed out of the kitchen. We weren’t kids anymore and I felt a different kind of thrill watching her run. I licked my lip as I counted to five.
One…
Two…
Three…
Four…
Five…
It’s never a good idea to hunt while hungry, but this wasn’t a hunt, right? I shouldn’t, but it was too hard to ignore the need to catch her as my shoulders pulled back and my fingers twitched. I watched her hair disappear around the corner and I gave chase. It was never a good idea to run from a vampire, but my little wolf didn’t know that she was the prey in this game.
I really need to tell her.
She giggles as I dart after her. Amia slides against the floor in an attempt to head for the stairway. I laughed out loud as she slipped and fell. She grunted before she rushed to her feet. Her eyes flashed a light yellow before she started her assent up the stairs. Her rushed breathing was music to my ears as she neared the top. I slowed my steps when she looked over her shoulder at me. A triumphant smile pulled at her lips as I’d successfully given her false hope. Amia turned from me and I ran a little faster after her. She mooned me and I couldn’t help but salivate and falter a step.
Someone wasn’t playing fair, but I’ve never lost in a hunt.
I always catch my target and I was going to catch her.