Lorelei's POV:

I walk into the compound as Nik is on his way out. He stops dead in his tracks when he spots me.

"Where have you been?" He demands

"What are you talking about?"

"I've been trying to get ahold of you for two hours! Where were you?"

"Nik I told you I was going to Georgia. I'm helping train Adam." I say

"Adam?" He asks

"Yes. He's new to the pack and he's having a hard time."

"I asked you to be here."

"And I told you I couldn't! What's your problem?"

"Why don't you go back to Georgia if your having so much fun there?"

I scoff in annoyance and surprise.

"Are you jealous?"

He doesn't respond but the expression on his face tells me everything I need to know.

"First of all, I'm training Adam. He can barely throw a punch. Second, he's seventeen Nik. Plus if you wanted me here so badly then why didn't you tell me that you wanted me to stay?"

"I shouldn't have to ask!" He yells

"You're being ridiculous!" I snap

I turn and walk away. I can't do this right now.

Nik tries to block my path but I push past him and go to the bedroom and shut the door.

I sit on the bed and put my face in my hands.

When did everything get so strained between us?

I'd been helping with the Tray pack by going up to Georgia for a week every month. Maybe I should take a step back and spend more time at home.

Nik walks in the room but I don't say anything even as he sits down next to me.

"I'm going to stay here this week and next month I'll stay down here too. I get that you miss me but you have nothing to worry about. It's training. Hell if you hadn't trained me I'd probably be dead by now." I say

We hug and talk for a bit then he goes downstairs to spend some time with Hope.

I go sit outside on the balcony and feel the cool breeze on my skin.

I listen to music and close my eyes.

It's been disgustingly hot out the past few weeks so I've really been going out at night at least when I'm home.

I close my eyes and doze off for a while and when I wake up I'm starving. I jump off the balcony and head into the Quarter looking for someone to sink by the teeth into.

The breeze makes me shiver and I wish I had brought a jacket. I end up at a party with a bunch of vampires and some humans. I catch sight of a ginger haired woman in the crowd.

The woman who I'd seen in Mystic Falls is standing there.

Annabeth.

She walks over.

"Hey."

"Hey."

"Sorry about the whole snapping your neck thing."

"Why'd you do it?"

She turns to me stunned.

"Girl have you met your boyfriend? He's got a death toll in the thousands. You don't cross that guy and live to tell the tale." She says and downs a shot

"Oh fuck he's not here is he?" She asks after a moment

"No he's not."

"Thank God. I paid my debt."

I almost ask what that means when she drags over a young man.

"This is Oliver." She says

Dark brown hair, dark brown eyes.

Adorable.

"Sup." I say

I look from him to Anna.

"He's human right?" I ask

"Oh my God are you not human?" Oliver asks horrified

I stare at him alarmed and Anna laughs and punches him in the shoulder. He starts laughing too.

"Vampire. He says between laughs

"Very funny." I say eyes glowing

His laughs turn into a cough to try and disguise it. He looks worried.

I smirk and start laughing.

"The look on your face is priceless." I say with another laugh

I motion for a young woman to come over. She's human. She's got a few bites on her neck. I heal her then grip her neck with my right hand and sink my fangs into her neck.

When I'm done, I heal her and compel her to go home. We all dance and take shots in between conversations. They are both new to the US. I tell them about some places I've been to and they tell me about how they met and places they'd gone to.

Anna was a vampire when she met Oscar. He'd gotten into an accident and she healed him. She didn't tell me how she'd turned, I didn't ask and vice versa. Oscar died anyway due to his injuries and they've been friends since. Oscar spent a few decades in Europe and she went to Canada for awhile. They both reunited in Tennessee at a party a week ago.

I decide to call it a night and head home.