We arrive at the office and park in my space. The ride there was quite fun. I had never fooled around in a car like that, especially while the car was in motion. We get into the elevator and I turn to Vincent, “Now you have to behave. Don't push the haze to come and act human.”
He smirks, “I think I can manage.”
I roll my eyes as I sigh, “Oh the human part maybe, but as for the other I have my doubts.”
He pulls me close, “What do I get if I behave?”
I give him a quick kiss, “Wouldn't you like to know.”
I wink as the doors open and we step into my office.
Kia is the first to greet us, “Eva good to see you.”
I smile as I approach her desk, “Always. I have some short articles and pictures.”
She sighs in relief, “Send them over because I need some for this issue. Brandon has been slacking.”
“Will do, I need to chat with Rick, is he in?” I ask.
“Yes, but he's in a meeting with Brandon,” she tells me.
“Did he use the company card to get a stripper again?” I ask because I need to know and I don't want to try and read her mind.
She laughs, “No, I think he learned that lesson when you hired that guy to strip for his birthday.”
As amusement dances in his eyes, Vincent asks, “Love, you seriously did that?”
Kia winks at Vincent, “Oh I'm sure she's not told you the half of it. I have some stories on your girl.”
“You best watch it lady or the next man you bring around I'll spill some tea too,” I warn.
She giggles, “I'm an open book.”
“A lengthy trashy novel filled with sex scenes,” I say.
“The best kind,” she says with a huge grin.
I feel Vincent tense. He's not comfortable openly talking about sex. He's not like Sam. I need to show my mates the same respect that they have me.
I kiss his cheek, “Sorry Vin.”
“It's almost as bad as having Katie around,” he remarks.
“She's a blast!” Kia exclaims.
“What am I, then?” I ask.
“My wingwoman, but not now that you're taken,” she says.
Vincent turns to Kia, “I'm not the controlling type like Victor. I will never prohibit her from doing anything unless it is for her protection.”
“That man is a parasite!” Kia says all too loudly.
Her remark draws Derek’s attention, “Who's a parasite?”
“Victor!” Kia says with disgust.
“Parasite is putting it nicely. Nice to see you again Vincent,” Derek says as he offers his hand to Vincent.
Kia blushes, “Oh sorry, hello Vincent. Would you care for some tea?”
I smile at them all. They are so accepting of Vincent perhaps they could accept the truth in time. I go to knock on Rick's door but it's open. l overhear Rick telling Brandon to back off and he has a feeling about all of this.
I barge in, “Guys, a word please.” They looked shocked, but I read their minds so I knew what they were talking about.
I put my hands on my hips, “Oh I heard plenty too.”
“Eva, why are you here?” Rick asks.
“Working,” I say tersely as I am thinking of how to deal with this.
I feel Vincent wrap his arms around my waist which instantly soothes me. I close the door and lock it, “So, let’s chat.”
“First, I don't know what all you and your friends did, but the magazine is safe. Mr. Fall filled me in early this morning,” Rick said.
I smile, “I have a good team. We didn't stop until we found out the truth. They'll be prosecuted too.”
Brandon glares at Vincent as a snide glint appears in his eyes, “Truth I doubt you have a clue.”
I have far more than a clue, but I want to hear him say it, “So tell me then!”
“Brandon, whatever you're thinking of doing don't!” Rick warns.
Brandon points his finger at Vincent with pure hate in his eyes, “How he's out right now I don't know, but he's evil, Eva!”
I lightly run my palm lovingly along Vincent's cheek, “Well if he's evil, then the devil must be a woman and she's me.”
Brandon reaches for me, “He's controlling you.”
I laugh as I hold up my hand. I laugh so hard because I know Vincent can't. None of them can, and it is possible no one ever will. I look into Brandon’s eyes, “He can't control me and neither could Victor. Vincent has been nothing but kind to me and Katie.”
“He's a fucking vampire!” Brandon exclaims.
Oh, that's it! My eyes must change because I feel my ire mounting and myself levitate, “News flash, the world is full of many beings with your kind being the least powerful and youngest creation!”
I float so I can stand on Rick's desk, “Not all vampires are evil just as not all humans are good!”
Brandon grips his pendant under his shirt, “You’re a witch!”
I grin with satisfaction that he fears me a bit, “Nope, I'm me same as I ever was. No spells needed. No- one turned me. I'm not a vampire, not a werewolf, and not a witch. Rick may I?”
He nods as I begin my demonstration. I take my hand and lift Rick up and then sit him down as I ask Brandon, “Can a witch do that without a spell?”
He turns to Rick, “You knew, Rick!”
Rick shrugs, “I suspected. Wood is a very influential man and when he started taking an interest in Eva's work, I started paying more attention. Plus she's never sick, so it all had to mean something.”
I look down, “About that…”
“You're not sick are you?” Rick asks in concern.
I feel my cheeks heat with embarrassment. I mean how do you explain to your boss that you need a sexcation? I take in a breath, “I turned in some extra articles and photos. But I'm gonna need to be less involved a bit.”
“How long?” he asks.
“A few months,” I reply.
“Why?” he asks.
I sigh, “I will show you.” I shift into the White Wolf and go rub Rick's leg.
He squats down as he looks at me, “Your eyes are still you.” He reaches his hand out and pets my head, “You’re exquisite!”
I shift back just as Brandon says, “You said you weren't a werewolf!”
I shrug, “I'm not but a small part of me is somehow.”
“There's so much we don't know, so many questions. Vincent, how are you here right now?” Rick asks awestruck.
“Sunlight doesn't kill us Elders, it only weakens us a bit,” Vincent answers.
“So why risk it? Shouldn't you be home. If Victor is still after Eva shouldn't Mr. Fall accompany her?” Rick asks Vincent.
I smile, “Mr. Fall is dealing with our pack currently. Eric and I dealt with Victor. He won't be bothering anyone anymore.”
My mates have given me so much in just a short time. They have eradicated the demon that was haunting me, shown me what it is like to be truly loved and valued, and given me strength that I never dreamed possible.
Brandon looks at me confused, “Fall's a werewolf?” I nod and he continues, “You said ‘our’ pack?”
I pat Brandon on his shoulder, “He didn't turn me, why I can control my shift. I was born this way. I'm the new Alpha of the Fall pack, and its Luna which is the female equivalent.”
Rick looks at Brandon, “Like I said so much we don't know.”
I grin, “Believe me I'm learning more each day.”
Vincent laughs, “We all are and I've been a vampire for nearly a thousand years.”
Rick gazes at Vincent, “The things you've seen!”
Vincent shrugs, “They are both good and bad, I assure you.”
Brandon blinks a few times, “Don't wolves and vampires hate each other?”
I giggle, “Some days but hate is a strong word for the most part there's tolerance. They have neutral ground and a treaty too.”
Brandon shakes his head in disbelief, “This is all a bit much.”
I shrug, “This is my life.”
“Not to appear rude, but don't you need blood, Vincent?” Rick asks.
“Not as much as you'd think. The older we are, the less often we need it. Some have human donors, some use blood banks, others animals, and some still hunt,” Vincent answers.
I furrow my brow at the last part Vin said and he feels my empathy, “I'm sorry, my love.” He holds me and strokes my hair.
“Well, I'll be putting a stop to that the world over, not just here as Eric is doing!” I exclaim.
Rick looks around, “I'm confused how you all know each other because you never spoke about them.”
So I tell them how I met my guys, but I leave out the three mate part. I just claim Vincent as my boyfriend.
“So he tried to enter your mind,” Brandon says disgustedly. He didn't have an issue with Sam being a wolf, but he has this beef with Vincent. Why does he despise vampires?
I smile as I kiss Vincent’s cheek, “Yep many vampires try, they all fail or get blasted with a song.”
Vincent swats my ass, “No more Macarena!”
I smile, “Just a small price to pay!” I turn to Brandon and Rick, “You both do know that you can't tell anyone, not even Kia and Derek.”
Rick looks Vincent and me in the eyes, “You know I won't!”
Brandon sighs, “Who'd believe me?”
I grin, “Exactly.”
“I knew your stories had a life to them, I just didn't realize how real until now,” Rick says.
“Neither did I at first, but when you see a vampire turn to ash, you start believing even if you try to talk yourself out of it,” I reply.
“Wait. the story about the Good Samaritan!” Rick exclaims.
I nod, “It was me, the young man is Sam's nephew.”
Rick asks, “So the pack owes you and that's why they took you in, right?”
I sigh, “No. I bested the men and won the right to challenge the Alpha and won. And that was after I showed my superiority to the one who thought she was the Alpha female.” I know that I just upset Vincent.
“I will not allow Sam to run off with you again. Eva, you promised you'd behave!” Vincent bellows.
I run my hands over his chest, “I did. Etiquette gets you nowhere with a wolf unless you have an elevated status.”
His nostrils flare, “Eva!”
I nibble his ear, “I only compelled them or fought as a wolf. I was cunning and careful. Only my family knows what I can do.”
Vincent chuckles, “Whatever am I to do with you!”
I give him a quick peck on the lips, “You have an eternity to figure it out.”
“Wait! Just wait a goddamn minute!” Brandon yells.
Rick glares at Brandon before he asks, “How does that work?”
Vincent explained vampires and their mates and I explained wolves and their mates the best I could. Rick says, “Well, we theorized that wolves had family units so that makes sense. But we were so wrong about vampires. We thought that they were solitary unless part of a horde. A horde that was sired by the eldest too. Their taking on mates shows some humanity. It's amazing!”
Rick thinks like I do part of why we work so well together. But Brandon is a different story. He has always tried to date me. I thought about it once when I just started working here but I just got an off-putting feeling so I said that I would never date a coworker. I am pretty sure that he's hiding something. Maybe I can use my abilities to find out what.