Free First Bitten by Samantha Towle Page B

three men, one of whom is barely that, who happen to be able to change into animals when they feel like it.
    “ We’ll make sure the Originals never know you exist,” Jack adds. “Think of this as your home, now and for the foreseeable future.” He waves his hand around, smiling through tight lips. “We’ll take real good care of you.”
    I see the quick look that Nathan gives Jack, the one Jack chooses to ignore, and I know unequivocally that Nathan doesn’t fully agree with Jack’s statement. Nathan wants me here until he can find a suitable place to put me. He doesn’t want me here for good, confirming what I already knew.
    I’m all alone.
    I squeeze my eyes shut, wanting to block it all out, block all of them out.
    “ You will be okay.” Nathan’s voice comes close to my ear.
    You. Not we - you.
    He touches my arm. I open my eyes, surprised. I yank my arm away from him. It’s his turn to look surprised. I don’t know why he’s pretending to be nice to me when he clearly doesn’t want me here.
    And I’m about to say so when Nathan sighs loudly and leans back in his chair, raking a hand through his mussed up hair. “Great, just what we didn’t need,” he grumbles.
    I stare at him, confused.
    “ You ready.” Sol grins clearly amused. Nathan laughs. Jack mutters something unintelligible under his breath.
    Okay, so I’m clearly left out of the party here.
    Then I hear a car screech to a halt outside. A knot tightens in my stomach.
    “ Five, four … ” Nathan starts to count down on his fingers. Sol joins in. Jack picks up his cigar from the ashtray and lights it back up.
    “ Who’s that?” I ask none of them in particular, gesturing to the outside with my shaky hand.
    “ Three … ”
    “ Cal,” Jacks answers, his cigar perched precariously between his lips. A big puff of smoke emanates from out of his mouth.
    “ Two … ” Nathan leans over, picks Sol’s glass up off the table and throws back the contents. “One.” He bangs the empty glass back down.
    I’m just about to ask who Cal is, but before I get a chance, the back door flies open and standing there is a huge bloke.
    And he doesn’t look happy or friendly in any way.
     
     

Chapter 8
     
    Brothers
     
    “ So you are all okay, then?” Cal marches into the house, leaving the back door wide open, letting the cold air in. “Because Dad tells me you’re all sick, dying from the bloody flu, and I’m not to come into work because you don’t want me to pass it onto Erin. But you’ve all been acting so shady when I’ve rung to check on you, and Sol is the worst liar in the world, so I know something’s going on, and then I walk in here and find you all fit as fiddles drinking bloody whiskey, and … ” He suddenly stops mid rant and appears to sniff the air. Then his eyes locate and lock onto me.
    I shiver and it’s not from the cold. My brain instantly goes on high alert. I shift in my seat. Nathan reaches his hand back and puts it on my arm, firmly holding me in place like he thinks I am going to bolt.
    Well, actually, he isn’t far wrong. Something about Cal has set me on nerves' edge and wanting out of here, now.
    “ Vârcolac?” Cal’s eyes widen in disbelief. “But ... she’s a woman? How? What the fuck is going on here?” He’s aggressive demeanour is suddenly gone and he just looks kind of dumbstruck. He shakes his head roughly as though trying to clear his thoughts.
    Seeing Cal’s reaction to me is a bit of a wake-up call. He’s looking at me with a mixture of horror, anger and mild panic. And even though Nathan, Jack and Sol have told me what the calamity of being me is, it is a little different when you see it actually being played out in front of you.
    “ Does someone want to explain to me just how the hell she happens to be a Vârcolac?” Cal drags his hand down his face, removing with it his perplexed expression. He turns around, slamming the door firmly, like he’s worried someone might be out there