Chapter TWO

Max was up at the crack of dawn; he never knew why he always woke up so early while the others remained asleep. Maybe it was that old habits die hard.

The brunette was turned by Hayden back in the early 1500s, when life was simple, not swallowed by technology. Max was a war veteran. He remembered how Hayden saved him while he was on the brink of death. Max remembered being in the hospital, he suffered from internal bleeding due to food poisoning given to his troupe by the enemy team.

He was the only one surviving — pretty soon... He would've died too. That was until a dimpled face doctor came into the room...

And turned him unknowingly. Hayden always told Max that his blood was exceptionally sweet yet held a sharp after taste. It explained his character— Hayden says that Max was a bit hard-headed, monotone, and shows little to no emotion but sometimes... He could be sweet.

Hayden always told him that he needed to lighten up; otherwise, he would get left behind in life. After all, his life was eternal...

Surely he wouldn't want to spend the entirety of it alone.

Max sat atop the marble counter in the kitchen and held his veteran tag in-between his fingers. The pads of his skin running over each engraved symbol, his breathing came out slowly and softly. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting over the trees and creating a matted, grey sheen onto Max's face.

His baggy pants falling onto his side's, his feet placed flat against the marble.

A click of the door had Max's head darting toward the newcomer. Hayden walked through, even though he had just woken up— he looked as fresh as ever. His skin had that typical marble sheen to it, his blood red eyes meeting Max's. Hayden offered a sweet dimpled smile, and Max nodded softly.

"You okay?" The blue haired male raised a brow as he made his way toward the coffee machine in the corner of the room, pouring himself a cup as well as for Max.

" 'M fine." The brunette kept it short. He would sit in the kitchen and wait for Hayden every morning. Due to the lead vampire being a doctor— he had demanding hours, mainly due to the fact that he was the best doctor there was. Max couldn't explain it... But he felt nice... Almost normal around Hayden despite his short words.

Hayden walked over and extended his hand out for Max to take the cup, but Max shook his head, this caused the elder to sigh before putting the cup in the sink.

"Benji is going over to meet the wolves today... I take it that you're going with." Hayden raised his brow, to be quite frank, he didn't even need an answer.

The mere mention of it had Max bristling, suddenly the scent of basil and dew musk filled his nostrils, and he breathed it in like how a lion would with blood. He knew he just recalled the scent from memory but it got even stronger.

"Just be careful alright? When I come back... I want my coven here in one piece. Got me?" Hayden ordered this time but Max answered by vanishing out of the kitchen at the speed of light.

Again, Hayden sighed. He really hoped Max would find someone soon so that it could distract him. The only reason Max waited for him every morning, is because Max felt empty when he was alone but he had no choice because his entire coven had lovers.

It was about time that he found his own.

-

Chuckles of mock and tease filled the air as the wolves began to ascend the high rock that seperated wolf from vampire. They sensed Benji's call summoning them through smell and here they were.

Each wolf appearing in their human forms, tight jeans or shorts covered their lower bodies while their torso's were out in the open. Tanned, glowing skin coming into effect with defined abs and sharp hip bones. Most were broad at the shoulder before it narrowed down into a sexy, thin waist, also accompanied by a sharp V line.

There were five of them, some rocking wolfish smirks while the others held serious expressions. Absolutely monotone.

Upon their arrival, Benji kicked off the tree and began to move closer. Max on his left and Tyler on his right. The girls chose to stay at home— not like they had a choice anyway— their men would kill them if they volunteered for danger.

Tyler smirked too, while Max and Benji remained monotone.

Tyler chose to stand by Benji while Max perched himself atop a tree branch— his posture too relaxed in a situation like this. From where he sat, he saw a large black wolf making its way toward the large mound, clearly out of Benji and Tyler's sight.

The pack Alpha.

"I want to speak to your alpha." Benji spoke calmly, his tone almost sluggish. He was concerned, yes but not as urgent as he should be. He woke up realizing that his baby brother was correct— the wolves broke one of the rules of the treaty— therefore... Disrespecting them.

None of the wolves answered but slowly turned their head back to look on top of the large mound and just in time— the alpha made his presence known by showing himself. His red eyes darted from head to head of the members of his pack.

There were way more than five members in the pack but today's hunt only required little numbers.

The way his eyes flickered— Max could tell that they were communicating. The black wolf slowly began to transform, defined legs replaced hinds and the wolf's snout was replaced with a wolfish smirk. His black hair morphing into a reddish copper before it reduced to a mop on his head.

"What can I do for you today Vampires?" The cocky tone came through a blinding smile, taunting and teasing the bloodsuckers but all three didn't seem all that affected.

"Chase..." Tyler tipped his head in greeting and this caused the alpha to smirk wider, his aura just radiating confidence. A pair of blue shorts hugged his legs till his knee and his toned torso glinted in the light. He was smaller in body size than the rest but his wolf was most definitely the biggest, he was a monster in a fight. He remained undefeated since he took his place as alpha many years ago and remained unchallenged for the past three years.

That alone spoke volumes.

"Seems that... One of ours.." Benji trailed off, his eyes meeting Tyler's then Max in confirmation before continuing, "... Were concerned about a certain detail you wolves chose to hide from us."

"Hide? We'd never do such a thing." Chase teased, holding his hand over his heart in mock and this caused the other pack members to let out snickers and hoots of chastisement. Benji rolled his eyes before he turned to walk away, wanting to keep his distance from the filthy stench that was wolf.

"Well, seems as one of ours... are not convinced." Tyler spoke now, his voice speaking in for Benji. Last night, it seemed as only Max smelt the newbie, the others hadn't. Due to Max being fast, he was sharp in picking up on things that nobody else did. His sense of smell and hearing were just as fast as his legs. Benji saw the wolf but there was no way to attain whether that was a new wolf until Chase admitted it.

"Who is it? Maybe we could discuss it?" Chase once again smirked, chastising them again. He had a mind that it was Hayden, and for some reason... A sour feeling took over him. He felt himself lose his composure, but quickly regained it when he saw Tyler look to Max.

Chase's eyes met the vibrance of the youngest vampire and instantly, a genuine smile took over his face. Despite their differences, Chase liked Max a bit.. due to his composed nature but in no way was he underestimating him. Max could be the strongest from them all if put to the test. For Max had a very unique power, well... Powers.

Max was one of the few to possess two.

Speed and visual illusion. Which means, he could make you see whatever he wanted you to see...

It was very much different from vision— visionists could see the future while Max could create false images or memories he picked up from the past.

"Ah... Max. What a pleasure." Chase bowed in sarcasm, drawing more yips and snickers from his pack. Max kept the eye contact strong though, not once did he choose to look away. Both alpha and vampire staring it off.

It seems as if Max wasn't in luck of making friends in the past few hours.

"Please enlighten us on what you saw." The alpha spoke calmly but Max could detect the lie in his tone, the 'caught out' look in his eyes. Max needn't have to say much besides,

"Basil seed and dew musk."

Max spoke monotone, his eyebrow raising in question as he waited for the alpha to react. The pack members stiffened.

Bullseye.

"Care to enlighten me on what you're hiding?" Maz asked and this time— Tyler snickered, and Benji smirked in knowing. His proud eyes falling onto his brother when he saw the alpha stiffen.

Max took Chase's silence as a sign to continue,

"Where is he?" Despite the calm atmosphere, Max's tone seemed a bit hard and aggressive. He didn't mean for it to come out that way... But it did and everyone noticed.

"Seems my little Connor chose to stay back today... Wasn't feeling too well." The alpha pouted teasingly but Max could tell that the alpha was hiding something.

"Well, now that you've admitted to having another member... We suggest you keep to the rules of the treaty. You were supposed to inform us of his arrival." Benji spoke and that was the time that Max tuned them out...

Because there... Atop a mountain— from where Max stood on the high tree— he swore he spotted a white silhouette perched at the edge— watching them attentively from the distance.

That wolf.

Max stared through the crack of the trees and his fist clenched tighter when the wolf made eye contact with him, both males staring at each other once again. It was intense, tension building between them. From where they were, Max was the only one who could see him ...

This... Connor.

The wolf howled loud and clear, and Max's eyes widened. His head darted back to the alpha and he was taken aback when Chase's dark eyes were already staring back at him.

'He spotted me brother.'

Chase paused mid sentence once Connor's voice came through. His red wolf eyes settled onto the small vampire clearly staring off into the mountain range and once Connor howled, Max's head whipped backward... As if he had caught on to the communication.

"Our conversation here is done vampires... I'd love to stay and chat but... Duty calls. You know how it is." Chase spoke, his voice a little edged. His eyes not once leaving Max as he spoke and this seemed to catch everyone's attention. Max stared back with narrowed eyes.

Slowly, one by one... Each wolf began to disappear and descend the large mound but before the alpha could disappear, Benji's voice spoke up,

"Chase."

The alpha paused but didn't turn, waiting for the vampire to carry on.

"Do bring along little Connor to our meeting this Friday." Benji said with a smile but it was hiding a bit of anguish. Benji saw the size of that white wolf last night and to call him little was an understatement.

He was almost the size of the alpha if not larger . Which could only mean...

More threat.

Chase took this as a chance to look over his shoulder, a smirk gracing his face,

"Don't worry... He will definitely be there."

And just as the wolves disappeared, Max watched as the white wolf howled one last time before he too, retreated into the thick brush of trees.

They're hiding something and Connor seems to be the source of the concern.

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