36. A little bit too alive.

**Alpha Gillian**

I stand at the cell door and watch the man covered in blood. He looks all but everything I've ever imagined one of the Elite freaks to look. The determination, the strength and the hatred that burns in his eyes are so intense that my heart might stop unless I turn my attention back to my Beta.

So I do, a cowardly move, but I tear my gaze away from the savage and focus on Adrian. "Are you sure he's a leech?" The question crosses my lips before I can think about starting this conversation here, in front of the one person who might be a tad more dangerous than we've been told. No, fuck it, it's not that he might be; he fucking is.

Whoever created him must have hated all of humanity and every supernatural being I can think of. I don't give a shit what his name is; I'll even dismiss the code name Tank because though he truly is as massive and dangerous as a machine created for war and destruction. All I can think of when I look at him is karma. He is the embodiment of the one thing that every living or semi-living being truly fears.

Shit, even I get goosebumps every time I hear him breathe in. It's weird for a vampire, but I assume it's just a thing those bastards have adapted as part of their nature to blend in.

Before my mind could wander any further, Adrian clears his throat and grins, "Yeah." His answer is as light as a mere breeze of wind. The grin on his lips makes Adrian look like a proud parent. I wonder why he's acting like shit on a stick.

I raise an eyebrow and scan his features. I could swear my best friend is trying to hide something from me. Something so vital that the information could change all of our lives, and possibly the lives of other supernaturals trying to stop the vampires from overthrowing the entire world.

Since the look doesn't fade, I lean closer to him and whisper the question that won't leave my mind, "Have you seen him feed?"

The savage is covered in blood, and only a tiny part of it is his own. The sight makes me wonder why he shows no signs of temptation or thirst. His eyes aren't red, so he hasn't had his fill in a long time. Besides, surely everyone knows that the Elite allows their puppets to live lawless lives, so he should react. For fuck's sake, why doesn't he react?

Adrian gulps and shakes his head. "No, that I haven't seen. But I know for a fact he's a vampire." As soon as I step back, I notice how evasive his gaze is.

Good, I'm still affecting him. Even after the motherfucker rejected me, I have a grip over him that no other man could have.

I follow his lead and shake my head. Now is not the time to think about my Beta, my best friend, my goddamn mate who rejected me. Sure, I'd rather bone him than stand here watching a robot vampire, but now is not the time to stand up and fight for love or pleasure.

The pack and its safety come first. Once we solve the vampire problem, I won't hesitate to put Adrian where he belongs. In my damn bed, his body caged under mine.

"For a fucking bloodsucker, this one has a true heart of a savage," I gesture towards our prisoner. I can see him watching us, calculating our movements, thinking of ways to disrupt the relationship between Adrian and me. Some of Elite's vampires are far too smart for their own good, and when intelligence is coupled with this specimen's strength and skills, he's an unstoppable weapon. "Besides, he looks a bit... hmmm... too alive?" I add, just to make a point.

I'm sure Adrian noticed as many details as I did when we ran into him. Something about the blood-covered monster screams 'danger, stay away' or even 'run for your life'.

"I know, isn't it refreshing?" Adrian giggles. The sound he makes can't be called a laugh or chuckle; it's an outright fit of giggles. One of the many things I love about this idiot.

"Indeed, but," I pause and let my gaze drift back to the vampire's heated irises. "I can't help but wonder why neither you nor any of us have seen him feed. We both know how important blood is to these bastards," I finally voice my thoughts.

Not that I have much hope for a positive outcome, but maybe Adrian has some ideas that I could combine with mine, and we could find out what, or better, who is behind all this.

"Yes, but I saw something much more interesting," Adrian mutters, rubbing his palms like an excited child.

Once again, the only reasonable reaction seems to be to raise an eyebrow and question him. "And that could be?"

My Beta, well, he's so much more than my Beta, but I have to forget that. Yes, Adrian has always been the odd star in the sky, but I don't know anyone I could trust more than this man.

This time it's Adrian who takes the first step forward. He steps closer and wraps his arms around my neck. My body freezes as I gulp, doing my best to restrain myself from doing something stupid. But what he does next surprises me even more. No, screw it, I can't decide if it's his actions or his words that shock me beyond limits.

Adrian pulls me down and presses his cheek to mine as he whispers, "He's walking under the sun."

At this point, I have no idea if it's his breath tickling my skin or dread creeping up my spine. All I can do is stare into the distance and suck in a sharp breath. It couldn't be, could it?

As soon as I regain my senses, which I absolutely don't, but faking is better than staying quiet, I whisper. "Holy shit, don't tell me this one right here is a goddamn daywalker."

Everything in me, my entire being, silently begs Adrian to comply with my request and laugh at my assumption.

Of all the things we could face, daywalkers are the last ones I'd enjoy encountering. Some might say they are more human than vampires, which would be a weakness, but it's definitely not.

These creatures are more sophisticated and deadly than some of the Elite vampires.

"No, Alpha, he's so much more than a daywalker. We're dealing with a hybrid. An ancient hybrid," Adrian explains.

Is it odd that I don't care about the information he gives me just because I feel like my heart is breaking? No more Gillian, no more sweetheart, just plain old Alpha. Back to basics 101.

I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths to calm down. If that's the way, Adrian wants it... Who am I to deny him his wishes? Nobody but an Alpha of the pack.

"You're shitting me," the words leave my lips as a mere whisper, though all I want to do is hiss and snarl, growl, and lose my fucking mind over this.

After all, that would be the perfect excuse for another fit of rage. Demolishing the place because of a goddamn hybrid, not because of my fated partner's rejection.

"No, I've never been this serious before," Adrian shakes his head again and steps away from me. His gaze almost burns my skin, but for some reason, I feel like he's accusing me of something.

And maybe he is. Perhaps the bond he damaged still lets him feel some of my emotions, so he knows I'm hiding something. Damn you, Moon Goddess, along with the bullshit you've sent my way.

"This doesn't make sense," I blurt out because there is nothing else I could say at this point. Everything's too confusing, and my conflicting emotions don't help much either.

"That's what I thought at first, but when I started digging, it all made perfect sense," Adrian states, crossing his arms in front of his chest. I've never seen him so defensive, well, except once, but I'm touching territory I shouldn't. At least not now.

"Hybrids don't live that for that long, my friend. He might reach his thirties, at best," I point out the obvious.

"That would be the case if he were an affair child of two species, but he's not the result of mad love. I mean, he kind of is, but not exactly." I watch Adrian roll his eyes and let myself wander deep into the forbidden territory.

There are so many things I'd love to do to make him stop rolling his eyes. God, I'm fucking helpless.

To save my sanity, I focus on our prisoner. The smirk on the monster's lips means he knows what I'm fighting now.

"What do you mean? Just lay it all out for me and stop beating around the bush," I bite my lower lip to restrain myself from accusing the monster of his childish behaviour. The thing is, he hasn't said or done anything; this mess is on me. I just wish I could blame someone.

I glance at Adrian right when an insane smile spreads across his lips. I both fucking love and hate that look, especially the spark of excitement dancing in his eyes. "He's one of us. No, let me rephrase that - he was one of us. He stood above his pack, fought far too many battles and didn't lose even one. Honestly, I believe we got him in here only because the bloodsuckers drugged him. If it weren't for the drug overdose, he'd take us down, all of us, without breaking a sweat."

"You're digging too deep. Just tell me what he is and how he became whatever he is."

"Some crazy bastard fell in love with him. We didn't get a chance to get all the details, but the bastard who fell in love with him was ancient. He or she, whoever it was, found a way to turn him but keep the nature of the savage intact so that he'd live for eternity and still have the ability to walk under the sun without the daywalker's label. There's a reason Elite keeps him at such high rank- he's the weapon of Invictus. Once this guy is gone, the city will crumble; it's already on the path to self-destruction." Adrian speaks so quickly that I struggle to understand every word that passes his lips. But then again, I understand why exactly he's this excited.

"Interesting," I hum, bringing my hand to my chin.

I need some time to process the information, but the lovely goddamn creature next to me doesn't care. Adrian sucks in a deep breath: "Ohh, wait, I have something better."

"What could possibly be better than this?" I don't intend to, but I'm sure I sound more irritated than ever.

"Alpha, there's someone trapped in Invictus. Someone he cares about." That damn title again. Don't get me wrong, all this information is important; it could change so many lives and destinies. It's hard to believe, but I don't have enough strength to overcome my own inner turmoil. I must be the most selfish man ever walking the face of Earth.

"A woman?" I raise an eyebrow, still staring at the prisoner. When Adrian mentions her, the beast's body freezes, muscles tense, and the smirk disappears from his face.

"A daywalker he captured and sold himself. She was far too young to be kept as his plaything, a temptation as Elite described her. But he kept waiting. No one knew, not even his partner, his brother, who went after her first. Our savage knew who she was when he met her again, and he tried to keep his distance. It didn't work out, though," Adrian lists one fact after another and I might question his story if it weren't for the savage's reaction to our conversation.

I almost smile, but the words sink in faster than I thought. I tear my gaze away from the beast and shout at Adrian, "What?"

Could this be true? Okay, we know that daywalkers aren't a fairytale or a figment of the imagination, but would any of this make sense? Someone who cared about someone would give them up just because Elite said so? Or was he afraid of being seen as her father and losing the opportunity completely? No, why am I even thinking about this mess? This is the bloodsuckers' business, not mine.

"Before Elite sent him off, from what I've heard- he claimed her. Alpha, we have the ultimate weapon in our hands; we just need to push the right buttons. He'll do anything for that daywalker." This time I don't feel the pain in my heart as Adrian speaks.

My body trembles with excitement. One woman, that's all we need to gain control of the vampires' deadliest weapon. If the rumour is true- even the Elite fear him, so there must be a reason. Maybe, if we're lucky, this man can kill the Elite and free everyone from their grip.

Once I'm calm enough to speak, I remind Adrian of the risks we're taking. "As tempting as that sounds, you know your plan could fail, right? Once Elite gets a chance, they'll kill the poor woman."

The monster tenses once I involve the woman and the Elite in a statement. Something tells me he's well aware of the risks and knows what could happen to his beloved woman.

"My dear friend, did you just grow a heart? Daywalker or not, she's still a vampire. Since when do you feel sorry for them?" Adrian chuckles. Well, at least he doesn't use the damn title anymore.

"I don't feel sorry for them; I feel sorry for this woman. Don't act ignorant; it's unlikely of you. We know better than others how those daywalkers are created." I roll my eyes at his ignorance.

"Yeah, sorry," Adrian clears his throat. "Aside from that, you don't think we could use her to our advantage?"

I shrug. "We could, but we don't have much time if what you told me is true. How old is she?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but she's legal under vampire law." Adrian's gaze falls on the vampire as if expecting a response, but the monster acts as if he's mute.

"In that case, since she's somewhat grown and an ancient, ehem, creature claimed her, she'll experience her first thirst soon. Gather the troops; we're going to Invictus and taking our freaky friend with us."

"We're attacking?" Adrian gasps.

Of course, he's surprised, and so, we don't attack- we protect ourselves. As much as I'd like to keep things as they were, there are times when you can't sit back and wait to be attacked. The roles have reversed.

I lean closer to Adrian and whisper, "No, we're playing a game of sides. If we get her out, the beast will be on our side. If he's anything like us, he'll do anything to repay the debt."

"So we're sort of fighting his demons now, yeah? The Elite and everything? But how are we going to do that? Drown them?" Adrian laughs as if he managed to spit out the joke of the century.

I'm about to speak up and stop Adrian from his usual goofy mood when a deep, freaking graveyard deep voice joins the conversation, and I swear, time stops at the power in his words. "I can't drown my demons; they know how to swim."