Chapter 4
Ethan's POVJessica was a little hesitant on me picking her up when I texted her, now I see why.She doesn't belong here. This area is full of homeless people, drugs, and probably black mold. I watch as two men discreetly exchange money for drugs, making my skin crawl.She deserves better.I pull a cigarette out of my pack and light it. The burn of the menthol travels through my throat, calming my anger from the fact that this beautiful woman is living somewhere so dangerous.Her dirty black hair bounces as she turns to close the door. She checks the time on her phone, looking around to see that it's the time we agreed I'd pick her up at.Flicking my cigarette out the window, I step out of the car. The smile that reaches her eyes when she finally notices me makes me want to just never bring her back to this place.I survey the area as she walks up to me, seemingly not understanding the danger all around her.Once she makes it to my car, she shyly waves."Hi. Where are we going? ‘city Laundry’ is the only place around here that I know of." She suggests.Oh, she's still thinking about my shirt."No need. I'm taking you to get some snacks ." I close her door for her, leaving her with more questions than answers.Once I make it into the driver's seat, I feel her jumping nerves."What's wrong?” My head turns to her.Her eyes looked around the car, "nothing I think it stupid.” She laughs to herself.I lean forward, searching for her eyes until they meet mine. "Nothing about you is stupid, girl . What's on your mind?" Her cheeks slightly flush as the smile grows on her face."Why are we getting snacks?" She answers my question with another question.Humans like to eat them."I'd like to get to know you better, if that's alright." I tell her and spot her hand rubbing into her skin again.Anxiety, a human's cruelest punishment."Shouldn't you be angry with me? I ruined your shirt.”I shake my head! pull out of the parking lot. If I had it my way, shirts would have never been invented.The drive to the snacks shop was quiet. I'm not much of a talker, but hopefully she hasn't been uncomfortable this whole time.Her face lights up as we walk inside. She inhales the smell of the fresh cookies and brownies they bake .Cute."Get anything you want." I place my hand on her back, leading her towards the snacks options.Her body shivers at my contact which gives me a huge ego boost, not that I needed one." I was fifteen when I start eating dessert""Fifteen? Most toddlers eat it regularly.” I state. Toddlers really shouldn't be eating such sweet things, driving them to annoyingly bounce off the walls.She turns, giving me a sad smile. "I know."Before I can push for more information, a worker comes to the counter and asks what we want.Her big blue eyes look up to me, I assume she wants me to order first."I'll have any she chooses.” I tell the worker who then turns to JessicaHer fingers dig into her skin, "may I have a small mint chocolate chip cup?” Her voice is small, fragile."Give her a large.”With enlarged eyes and a slacked mouth, she looks at me. My lips pull into a smirk, causing her to look away."I can't afford that, a small one will be fine.” She tells the worker.“Anything else?” The worker asks. "Yeah, a large mint chocolate chip cup. I'm paying.” I look down at her silly grin.Most women I meet don't appreciate a man who pays, she does.As our order is prepared, I usher her to a seat near the window. I ve heard humans with anxiety feel better when they're in the light.She sits across from me, my back towards the window. The light causes her blue eyes to have this desirable sparkle, a beautiful gentleness.I can't help but watch her dig into her ice cream once it comes. The smile and tiny dimples on her cheeks draw me into this cloud of needing to protect her. I should've been able to tell from the start. She's too innocent for this world."Thank you." Her voice of angels hit my ears."Tell me about you." I ignore her thanks, feeling like I should just buy her the whole damn shop.“Well, what would you like to know?" She says as she chews into the chocolate chips from her ice cream.Manners, girl"Start with what you love.” I smile.She hums while she brainstorms."I upcycle things. My most recent project was a vintage chair from the nineteen thirties. I painted the old wood red and took the seat off and replaced it with a flowerpot. I don't have a garden, but the person I sold it to thinks it looks beautiful in theirs." She cheers."What else have you upcycled?" I ask, loving the bubbly attitude she has while talking about her hobby."A tire from a truck. The truck was in the scrap yard, ready to be demolished. I had my friend Bambi help me figure out how to get one of the wheels off and I turned it into a table."My eyebrows lift in surprise at her craftiness."How'd you do that?”"I wrapped rope around it and used a strong glue to hold it all together."“What do you love?" She returns the question.I notice the rubbing of her arm has now stopped, she's comfortable."I like to read, and carve." I said as I finish my ice cream while hers is still basically full with a small dent.Carving?" Her head cutely tilts."Yeah," I smile, "it's wood carving basically.”Her smile reaches her eyes as she learns this about me. Perhaps, she feels the same way we do.“What about your family?" I ask, wondering what her parents are like and how they raised such a beautiful soul."I only have Bambi. We met recently, but it feels like we're sisters." Her eyes shift to the floor."What about your parents?" My eyebrows furrow."They died when I was young. I don't know what happened to them.All I know is one day, I came back home from playing outside and I couldn't find them, I searched the house and started getting scared by the fact I couldn't find them. I went to my neighbors to ask for help,” her eyes begin to water, "when she went into my house to help me look, she found them, I guess. Ever since then, I have lived in a group home.”Her somber eyes never reach mine until I lift her chin, forcing her to look at me."I'm sorry you had to go through that." I try to comfort myself, probably failing.I don't know how to comfort humans."It's okay," she wipes a stray tear, "wherever they are, I just hope they're proud of me."They have to be. "I'm sure they are, girl.” I notice she hasn't taken another bite of her ice cream. She hasn't even eaten half!“You're beautiful. I say as I rub her knuckles with my thumb.Her cheeks reddened, "you're beautiful too. Handsome! I mean..."I chuckle listening to her slightly panic at my small compliment.When was the last time you've had a compliment?We walk quietly together, hand in hand for a while until I drive her back to her place.As soon as we pulled up, I was reluctant to let her return to this place. I don't even know if she knows self defense."I had fun with you. Thank you.” She opens my car door, ready to leave."I want to see you again.” I told her.Even with the soft orange light from the sun setting, I find the blush staining her cheeks."I'd like that too.”A dumb boyish grin rests on my face as she closes my door.I watch her go inside and wait a few more moments to make sure nobody is going to try something that'll get them killed before driving back home.After pulling up to the home that's been in my family's name for centuries, Jordan runs out the door.“How was it? What do you think?" He asks as I step out of the car.I sigh, knowing they will throw my admittance in my face. "She's more than a one night escapade." I tell him as my phone begins to ring inside my pocket.Chapter 5Jessica's POV Spending time with Ethan was nice ! I've never been so close to someone as handsome, or screams as much authority as him. "How was the date?" Bambi slaps my arm playfully as I plop next to her on the couch. Date? Is that what it was? "I don't think that was a date." I giggle. "Girl, that was definitely a date. I saw him look at you through the window." "How was he looking at me?" I ask, clearly oblivious to him looking at me at all. I'm not much to look at. I don't have the supermodel legs, the toned stomach, the bombshell boobs, or the confidence . “Like he wanted to eat you up.” She winks. My stomach drops, "shut up.” I laugh. "Call him.” An evil smirk grows on Bambi's face. “Heck no! He just left." Her sea green eyes roll to the back of her head as a strangled sound leaves her throat. "I'll do it for you then." She lunges for my phone. I quickly hide it under my body, causing her to tickle me. I thrash around, laughing loudly as I try to ignore he
Chapter 6Jessica's POV On the way to work, Bambi and I had a small little party in her car. Neither of us can sing, but that doesn't mean we won't! Sadly, our time comes to an end as we pull up to the restaurant. I'm happy she's on the same shift as me. Working with her helps time pass faster. "Oh my God, Jessica! Is that their car?" Poppy elongates her arm, pointing to the expensive white car. No, that can't be them. They have to be getting sick of me by now. "Maybe someone just has the same car as Ethan." I shrug. She laughs and follows me to the doors to reveal a pale Leo waiting for us to enter. "Great! You're finally here!" Leo quickly sighs. I look at the clock on the wall and see that I'm ten minutes early. “You have special guests that requested you." Leo says, looking directly at me. "Special guests." Bambi's eyebrows bounce. Is it really them? As Leo moves away, I see all three of them sitting at one of my tables. "Seems like they found a new pet ." Soffie whis
Chapter 7Jordan's POV Jacob and I patiently wait for Ethan to get back with Jessica. Last night we talked about what we would tell her. All the dark secrets that surround us and this home. All the things we could be hunted down for if anyone were to find out. We've been safe for years, for the first time in centuries. Before now, we were always on the move every twenty years or so. Hunters would kill us, humans would murder other humans if they were accused of being what we are, witches try to lure us into their unholy spells, and even our own kind turned on each other. Ethan has never felt what it means to be human, and honestly, I don't remember clearly either. This is the first time I've seen him so infatuated with a woman before, especially a human. All of us are extra hesitant when it comes to humans. Ethan has more control over himself and has had a lot more time to work with Jacob, but I'm still affected by it easily. We came to an agreement that we talk to her about wh
Chapter 8Jessica's POV Run! Get out of here! My feet carry me faster than what my brain is comprehending.I keep looking over my shoulder, making sure they aren't about to kill me. My heart bangs against my chest, my head fills with pressure, and my lungs refuse to breathe in. Once I find the door, I pull as hard as I can, but it's not budging. No, they locked me in here! They're going to kill me! I slide down to the floor, accepting defeat. I'm going to die before I've even lived. Hot tears roll down my face as I shake on the floor. I don't know if it's the adrenaline making me shake, or the coldness of this marble floor. I hear faint yelling coming from upstairs, but I can't make out any of the words. "She's crying!" I hear Jordan yell. My eyes close, expecting them to just hurry up and finish the job. "Girl." I hear Jordan say from in front of me. I refuse to give him the satisfaction of seeing my fear before he kills me. "Jessica" I hear him sit next to me on the floor
Chapter 9Jessica's POV Jacob returns with bags of food. I help him unpack it all on the unnecessary large dining room table. I like this dining room, the feeling it gives is vintage and beautiful. Two chandeliers hang beautifully over the dark wooden table with a pristine white tablecloth. Chairs line around the table, at least thirty chairs surround the table. The walls are off white, adding to the vintage feeling and the few artsy paintings on the walls make it seem like it belongs in a museum. Jacob got a whole menu of food laid out on the table. burgers, fries wings that are red and wings that are regularly fried, onion rings, rice that has green vegetables in it, pizza that has pepperoni and sausage with another pizza that has nothing but cheese, a cheesy spiral pasta.“Why did you get a whole buffet?" I laugh. A smile appears on his face, "I didn't know what you liked, so I got a little of everything.” My heart flutters at his thought process. I forgive you for not getti
Chapter 10Jessica's POV I told Bambi about my day, leaving out the part about how I like these werewolves and they saved me from a beast in the forest. She'd only freak out if she knew, or call me crazy. I'd call me crazy too if I were her. She then told me about her time with Theo. All the details screech in my ears as she talks about the dirty things they've done. I'm happy that she's happy, but I don't need to know how many times they had sex and in how many positions. Over the next few days, I've been texting all three of the guys. Ethan said that Jacob stole it off his phone then just gave it to Jordan to make him stop begging. I don't mind one bit though, I'm happy that I'm able to talk to all of them. It especially helps pass the time when it's a slow day at work. Over these few days, I've also come to the conclusion that I do really like them. If they wanted to kill me, they would've already done it. If they didn't care about me, then they would've let me die when I wa
Chapter 11Jessica's s POV This relationship will be only us with you, we will not sleep with other women and you will not be with other men. If this is broken the relationship will no longer be valid between us and you will not be allowed to return to our home. We would like it if you could stay here with us but it's not mandatory. Feel free to always ask questions and get an honest answer from one of us. You may be in a dangerous situation one day which we would never want. Others hunt people like us ,so you might l be a weak point they could take advantage of. No matter what happens we will always do our best to keep you safe and out of harm's way . To consent to this please sign your name at the bottom of the page. The words ‘dangerous, honest, advantage, safe, and weak point’ flash into my mind repeatedly. They will keep me safe. I signed my name on the dotted line and handed it to Ethan. "The next paper you need to really focus on, let's go to the sunroom.” Ethan offers his
Chapter 12Jordan's POV She was very open minded, only having marked out three things. As soon as she and Ethan leave to bring her back home, I go to my room and think about how we got so lucky to have gotten someone like her into our lives. She's a gift. The way her face twisted in melancholy as I explained why I couldn't participate in blood play tinged my heart. She's so innocent, so easily letting her emotions slip. Over the next few days, we all text in the group chat, making me miss her even more. Me: When can we see you? I miss you,girl. Jacob: I miss you Jessica: I'm off for a week starting tomorrow. Ethan: A week? How? That does seem a little suspicious, nobody gets a week off work so easily. Jessica l: I kind of dropped a whole plate of food on a customer and that customer was very upset...maybe. Me: Are you alright? Ethan: Leo is making you take a whole week off for that? I could feel Ethan and Jacobs anger. They don't like Leo, I don't like him either but I tr