Wolf's Obsession (5 page)

“Thorne, you aren't exactly a patient man, are you?” Melanie asked. “Keep driving
and you'll find out.”

As soon as Melanie completed her sentence, a blinding flash of light assaulted their
eyes. Eventually the grassy pathway turned into a large neighborhood of elegantly
crafted log cabin homes belonging to vampires and werewolves. Thorne looked on in
amazement as he shook his head, feeling as though he'd step through some type of
void.

“Melanie, what the hell just happened?” Thorne asked. “I'm not feeling too well.”
The man said, holding his hand to his head.

“Thorne, it's alright. This area is safely hidden away from those outside our clan.
Humans, vampires, nor werewolves can pick up on our location,” Melanie slowly explained.

“So, this is where vampires and werewolves coexist peacefully?” Thorne asked in
disbelief. “Come on Melanie, this is ridiculous. What is this, some type of witchcraft?”
Thorne asked, admiring how each cabin was nestled among trees. Surely this must
have helped vampires avoid extra sunlight slipping through the windows. The neighborhood
appeared to be out of some fantasy storybook.

“Be that as it may, don't let father here you say that. He has spent his entire
existence maintaining peace among vampires and werewolves. It has worked out well
over the centuries.” Melanie spoke proudly.

“Funny how just a few short hours ago, you were ready to run from your father Melanie.”
Thorne said.

“Well, perhaps I'm finally listening to my instincts Thorne. It drove me insane
to see you two arguing like little kids. I don't know, something just came over
me I guess. I'm feeling confused and emotional and I hate those feelings. I like
to be in control over my situation. Last night, I felt like I knew what I wanted,
needed…Now, I'm not so sure…of anything.” Melanie confessed.

“We've just entered the gate into our clan. You can't sense it because you aren't
from…well, there is a reason why that barrier is up, and mother can explain it to
you better than I can.” Melanie said hesitantly. “Also, I have reasons why I've
avoided my father. He was always so strict with me, and I just couldn't deal with
it. Mother has a better understanding of me, and I can relate to her more.”

“Now your father has me curious. I need to learn, to understand how the hell vampires
and werewolves exist in peace. It just doesn't seem natural Melanie.” Thorne said,
stroking the patch of hair within the cleft of his chin.

Don't worry Thorne, soon enough you will understand things. Now, this is my parents'
house Thorne.” Melanie said, pointing to an elegant large three-story log cabin
styled home, a myriad of large trees pushing it further into seclusion. In the driveway
sat a jeep and a sports car.

“Let me guess, the sports car is your father's, right?” Thorne mused.

“No, actually, the sports car belongs to my mother.” Melanie laughed.

The two got out of the car, and approached the door just in time for it to open.
The living room was large, and dimly lit. A hint of coffee, spice, and musk hung
heavily in the air, and the wooden walls were adorned with family pictures. Ming
vases were displayed proudly, along with a few items from the Victorian era. Thorne
felt as though he were stepping back in time to several different cultures.

“Well, it's about time you two finally got here!” Donovan snapped, urging the couple
to sit down on the sofa. “Natalie, they're here!” he called out. “Took them a while,
but they're here!”

The Jackson's home was a large beautifully crafted maplewood cabin. After crossing
over the threshold of the Jackson's home, one would come into contact with exquisite
furnishings. Melanie's mother was a collector of Chinese vases, many of them, gifts
from Donovan when they lived in China during the Ming Dynasty.

From what Thorne could tell, Donovan and Melanie's mother must have lived for quite
some time simply because of the tell tale knick- knacks that simply could not have
been from modern times. A beautiful oil painting of Melanie's parents, crafted in
a gold Victorian frame tastefully adorned the space over the fireplace. Donovan
towered over his wife, looking elegant as ever, held his wife's hand. The background
of the oil painting appeared to have taken place in Greece Thorne decided, since
they were standing next to a magnificent Greek Parthenon. To the left were sturdy
wooden stairs, leading to the third level of the Jackson's beautiful home.

A tall, biracial woman emerged from the kitchen. The expression on her face brightened
as she ran to Melanie with open arms. The two women embraced one another for what
seemed like countless hours.

“Damn, I didn't get a greeting like that!” Donovan sneered. “I guess my baby girl
doesn't love her blood-sucking father anymore.” He said, trying to lay a guilt trip
on Melanie.

“Oh Donovan, stop it. You can't blame her for what she's going through.” The woman
said.

“This is my wife, Natalie.” Donovan said to Thorne. “Natalie, this is the thorn
in my side…um, I mean Thorne, Melanie's…. mate!” Donovan growled deeply, casting
a dark look at the young man. Thorne's eyes began to blaze yellow and Donovan's
incisors lengthened, his eyes burning blood red.

“Alright, dammit!,” Natalie yelled out loud. “You too will need to work your differences
out amongst yourselves! This is ridiculous. Donovan, did you bring them here to
argue with Thorne? If you continue to act like a child, I'll treat you like one
and throw your ass out of the house! I'm not playing now!

Thorne immediately pulled back, out of sheer concern for Melanie. Donovan acquiesced,
even though he was unable to fight the animosity he felt towards Thorne for endangering
his daughter. A part of him liked the young man, but Donovan failed to see how the
man made it this far as pack leader. Thorne must not have known there was more to
his existence than fighting vampires over territory.

“Alright Natalie, but you know my feelings.” Donovan said, calming himself.

“Come on, I've made some coffee for us. Everyone, let's sit so we can discuss things.”
Natalie said.

Natalie quickly retreated into the kitchen, returning with a carafe of coffee and
four cups on a large tray. An older, lighter version of Melanie, the woman was graceful
as she was smart, quickly setting down the tray for everyone to help themselves.

“Now Thorne,” Natalie said, pouring herself a cup of coffee. “I'm sure you know
our Melanie is a hybrid.” The woman smiled proudly, glancing at her daughter.

“Yes ma'am, I just recently found out,” Thorne said, shifting his gaze towards Melanie.

“Has Melanie told you anything else about her heritage?” Natalie asked.

“No Mrs. Jackson, she hasn't.” Thorne said, puzzled. “I understand she is a hybrid,
but that doesn't change how I feel about her. I wish her to be my mate, but I need
to protect her from Raphael.”

“I'm going to explain something to you young man. Only because of the good I sense
within you.” Natalie began.

“Nat, don't do it.” Donovan warned. “What about other vampires who may venture here,
trying to start a war? Even worse, what about the hunters?” the brooding vampire
asked, tapping his claws on the wooden table.

“Hunters?” Thorne asked, his senses sharpening.

“Yes, humans who hunt vampire and werewolves, or anything else out of the ordinary
they feel shouldn't exist.” Donovan sneered. “I've come in contact with many of
them in my time.”

“Donovan Jackson, you should know I call them as I see them. I know you're distrusting
because that's your baby girl. She's my baby girl too, but he has to know about
her.” Natalie insisted.

Thorne glanced over at Melanie, raising an eyebrow. Melanie averted her gaze to
the brick fireplace, breaking out into a sweat. Life as she knew it no longer existed.
It was now time for her to embrace her ancestry, fully. If she truly intended to
accept Thorne as a mate, she would need to be completely honest with him.

“Go on Melanie,” Natalie pushed. “Tell him!”

“Tell me what?” Thorne asked, trying to swallow the huge knot in his throat. An
uneasy feeling penetrated his aura, and the blood in his veins turned cold, warning
him that something wasn't quite right.

“Melanie has magical powers, just like her mother.” Donovan interrupted, his dark
eyes fixated upon Natalie's with warning.

“Oh, you mean like that special entrance that keeps these grounds out of plain sight
from others outside your clan.” Thorne said, stroking his chin. “Melanie informed
me of that when we first arrived. Is that the big secret Mrs. Jackson?” Thorne asked.
“I'm no stranger to magic. My grandfather is the Shaman of our clan, and still tries
to instill “the old ways” within us.”

“Yes Thorne, Melanie has magical powers.” Natalie said through gritted teeth as
her eyes turned black, shooting an “I'll get you later” look at her husband who
sat smugly with his arms crossed. “She inherited them through me, a trait our clan
possesses.” Natalie said, choosing her words wisely as she picked up on the vibe
that now just wasn't the time for Thorne to know of their daughter's true ancestral
blood. Aside from Melanie being a hybrid, there was just one more fact Thorne would
have to accept.

In addition, when they came on their heat, Melanie and Thorne were to be locked
in the steel cage downstairs during the full moon. Thorne would have to pass the
test to see if he was worthy of fathering Melanie's pups one day. This was the way
of Natalie and Melanie's clan.

Melanie looked over at her father, shooting him a look of relief. Her father had
stepped in, saving her from possibly losing Thorne. If he found out the truth of
her heritage, it was quite possible he'd never accept her for who and what she truly
was. Her entire life she felt she was a freak of nature, although there were other
hybrids who accepted their heritage without fail. Somehow, Melanie could never quite
come to terms with things. Seeking life as a dancer, she fulfilled her strong powerful
sexual lusts with clients, male and female whenever they bought her out. Who would
have known her life would change forever after crossing paths with Thorne the evening
before. She had half-hoped she would continue dancing, never having to change her
life, until she met Thorne Cloudfeather.

“Alright, so that's settled,” Donovan said. “Sun's almost up, and it's time for
me to retire,” he said stretching his arms above his head, and exhaling with a sharp
hiss. “Come on Natalie. Uh oh, almost forgot. I don't want any hanky panky going
on up in my house, is that clear?” Donovan Jackson demanded. “I know you are grown
Melanie, but if the urge strikes, take it outdoors!”

Stifling a giggle, Melanie had allowed her father to penetrate her hard shell, and
for the first time in years, she felt close to him.

* * * * * * *

“What do you mean you couldn't find them?” Raphael roared at Darius, one of his
clan members. Darius, the same height as Raphael growled in anger as Raphael chastised
him. His eyes, glowing like golden embers, Darius ran his fingers through his blond
hair, which came just above his shoulders. Darius proceeded to explain himself,
something he had grown tired of over the past two years.

“I'm telling you Raphael, they disappeared into thin air. Where were you, why weren't
you tracking them?” Darius hissed. “I'm not your lackey man!”

“You dare speak to me in that tone Darius? Have you forgotten the times I saved
your ass? If it weren't for me, Thorne would have turned you to dust last week!”
Raphael spat.

Darius clenched his jaws tightly together, looking through Raphael as though he
weren't standing before him. There just seemed to be no respect for a newly turned
vampire. Originally from California, the man had been the victim of a car-jacking
while traveling through New Orleans. Darius was thrown into the streets, left for
dead until Raphael found him and granted him the gift of immortality. Darius, or
Jeff McKeegan had very few family members left. After siring Jeff, Raphael named
him Darius. Within the next few evenings, Raphael showed Darius how to hunt and
kill without mercy. Raphael tracked down the perpetrators responsible for the car
jacking, coaxing Darius to take his revenge; reluctantly, Darius did. Everywhere
Raphael traveled, he left death and destruction in his wake.

It was much later when Darius regretted his existence as a vampire. Somehow, death
seemed much more inviting than the sewers, clubs, and the bayous of New Orleans.
Death had to be more inviting than enduring the cruelty of a monster such as Raphael.

“Raphael, why do we never adhere to the pact between you and Thorne? Don't you think
life would be easier, and the wolves wouldn't harass us so much?” Darius asked.

“Are you questioning me Darius? I half-agreed to what Thorne wanted. He and his
damned brother, Storm nearly wiped out my best vampires! That's the only reason
why I turned your sorry ass when I found you half-dead.” Raphael hissed. “So far
your service to me has proved useless as tits on a bull!”

Darius hissed, his eyes glowing a pale gold. Raphael swiftly turned, eyes glowing
hideously red. Grabbing the newly turned vamp around the neck, he slammed the man
against the sewer wall. Darius hissed as his spine cracked against the concrete.
In vain, Darius clawed at Raphael's hand, but the man held him fast. He was more
powerful, leaving Darius no match for him. Raphael was driven by rage, bloodlust,
and pure evil. There was no reckoning with him, and no mercy from him.

“Give me one reason why I shouldn't rip your head from your pathetic body right
now!” Raphael growled, drawing blood from Darius' neck. Eventually, he let the man
go, but not before cracking his head against the wall, letting Darius know who the
boss was. “Next time, I'll dust you myself!” Raphael hissed.

“I'm fucking sick and tired of living in sewers, bayous, and other fucking places
a werewolf would never hang out at! I want the girl, his mate!” Raphael spat. Two
other vampires from Raphael's clan joined the two men. “I want you all to search
hi and low for Thorne and his whore.” Raphael said.