Claire

After a few days, Rowan arranged for me to meet with Alaina so we could start on our plans for the human safe city. I was excited, but also a little nervous. I knew I would have to get over my fear of vampires, and I knew that one of my mates would always be with me. Bennett promised me that.

"Why can't she just come here to the house?" I ask Rowan, whining a little as I get dressed to go into town. He watches me put a shirt over my head and does little more than grunt in response.

"Rowan. You know I don't like to go out where it's crowded." I try again, gaining his attention this time.

"No one comes to the house, Claire. No one." He says sternly and I pause my movements to look at him.

"Do you not trust her? Should I be worried?" I ask a little fearfully. He huffs out a breath and drops his arms to his sides before walking up to me. He lifts his large hands up to cup my cheeks and my hands settle on his waist, gripping the soft fabric of his t-shirt. I look up into his face and nearly get lost in the depths of his smoky eyes.

"I trust no one on this earth. Other than you and Bennett. And I will do everything possible to keep you both safe. Never forget that, my sassy little demon." He says with an affectionate smile. His fingers curl into my hair and he massages my scalp gently. I nod at his words and close the distance between us, tucking myself into his chest as he holds me close. He kisses the top of my head and I take a moment to enjoy our closeness. He sighs before letting me go and pulls me towards the living room.

"Now, stay close with Bennett. I'll be home in time for dinner." He says bending down to kiss my lips. I groan into the contact making him growl.

"Don't tempt me, demon." He murmurs against my mouth and I throw him a cheeky smile, making Bennett laugh. Rowan kisses Bennett as well before we leave the small house, Rowan shifting into his dragon and flying to some town I had never heard of to deal with some supernatural issue.

I grip Bennett's hand and thread our fingers, leaning against him as we walk towards the small coffee shop Alaina had agreed to meet us at. Bennett leans down to kiss my forehead and I smile up at him.

"I love your smile." I murmur quietly to him. He gives me a smug grin before chuckling and pulling me closer, wrapping his arm around my shoulder.

"I love just about everything about you." He says making me smile.

As the shop comes into focus I feel my nerves grow and my pulse begin to race. Bennett rubs my arm gently and I wrap myself into him, his firm presence helping me to feel safe.

"You'll be ok, baby. Alaina would never hurt you. She's actually a sweetheart." Bennett says and a flash of jealousy flows through me and I look up at him with narrowed eyes. He must feel it through our bond because his eyes widen in surprise before he bellows out a laugh. I shove him a little, but his firm body stays still.

"And what's so funny?" I ask as Bennett tries to rein in his laughter.

"My little mate, so possessive." He says with another chuckle.

"Just don't call other women 'sweetheart'." I say, my tone dripping with sass as I cross my arms over my chest. Bennett wraps me in a bear hug, shaking me gently from side to side.

"If either of us would be jealous, it would be me." He says with an expectant look and I stare at him dumbfounded.

"Why is that?" I ask and Bennett leans forward to whisper in my ear.

"You're more her type than I am." He says and my eyes widen in realization.

"Oh." I say simply and Bennett chuckles again before capturing my lips in a sweet kiss.

"I don't mind you being territorial though. It's hot." He says smugly and I smile, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"Well, Benny Boo, you're mine. Just as I am yours." I say firmly and his smile widens as his eyes rake over my face.

"Say it again." He pleads and I can't help but laugh a little.

"You are mine." I say with a little growl. His eyes shine a little before he pulls his wolf back.

"That will be rewarded later. I promise." He murmurs as my skin heats at his feral look. He puts me down and I pout until he turns me and I realize we are at the coffee shop. I push in and hear the little bell ding overhead.

I look around and my eyes fall on Alaina almost immediately. She looks incredibly out of place in this simple setting. Her whole demeanor screams power and grace as if she just walked off the cover of a magazine. The red eyes only add to her intimidating demeanor.

But when she sees me a wide smile breaks out on her face and she waves at me excitedly, making me grin in return.

"Claire! Claire, over here!" She shouts and I saunter over to her, her kind greeting making most of my fear melt away. I sit down at the table with her and hear Bennett come up behind me.

"Your usual, little one?" He asks and I nod, thanking him quietly before turning my attention back to Alaina.

"Good lord. How do you manage two men?" She asks right off the bat. I feel my cheeks blush, but all I do is tilt my head back to laugh.

"It was a challenge at first, I have to be honest." I say and she nods, her eyes wide as they trail Bennett.

"What's it like? You know... the...."

"Penis?" I ask and she shooshes me, bending her head as if she's embarrassed making me chuckle more.

"Yeah. What's that like?" She asks and I shrug.

"Huge." I admit and it's her turn to laugh.

"And I thought Celeste was a handful." She says and I grin at her.

"Is she your mate?" I ask and she nods.

"Yes. We've been together for nearly two hundred years." She says wistfully and it's obvious she cares deeply for her mate.

"Is she... human still? Or do you change them?" I ask reluctantly, not sure if it will offend her.

"She's human. Some mates want to be changed, but I never wanted her to struggle with the thirst. Plus, I never feed off of unwilling humans." She says and my eyes balk.

"So Celeste is the only person you've fed off of for two hundred years?" I ask and she nods solemnly.

"Oh yes. It would be disrespectful to feed off of another. It would hurt Celeste deeply. It would be equal to you having sex with someone other than your mates." At that thought my nose crinkles.

"I could never. Besides, have you seen my mates? I could never want someone else. It doesn't get any better than them." I say a little smugly. Alaina giggles as Bennett takes the chair next to me, putting my coffee in front of me and kissing my cheek.

"Thanks, baby." He says with a wide smile, obviously hearing what I just said.

"Yes, and anyone else would taste like dirt in comparison to her." Alaina says with a disgusted shiver. "She is all I will ever need." Alaina says firmly and I nod.

"Is that why you're so passionate about the humans?" I ask and she shrugs.

"Partly. But the other part of me knows it's wrong, the way other supernaturals treat them. You can't expect them to live with such strong, volatile creatures and try to function normally. It's cruel really." She says and I nod in agreement. Bennett's hand finds mine and I twist our fingers together, squeezing gently to let him know that I'm alright.

"My parents were killed by vampires." I admit quietly and Alaina's eyes go wide with sadness. She reaches across the table to pat my arm, her skin cold and hard as stone, but the movement still soothing in a way.

"I'm so sorry, Claire. No child should experience that. And we are going to fix things. Make it so it never happens again." She says passionately and I sniff back my tears, nodding in agreement with a wobbly smile.

"Well, then. Let's get to work!" I exclaim.

Alaina and I discussed what a human city would need and picked a few to visit that had a relatively low supernatural population so it would be easier to relocate the rest and expand the cities for more humans. By the time we said our goodbyes, I was already attached to Alaina and gave her a firm hug on the way out before grabbing Bennett's hand and practically bouncing back to the house with joy. He watched me affectionately as I rambled on and on with ideas for schools, playgrounds, and movie theaters. As we walked up to our front door, Bennett pulled me back to face him, his hand coming up to run gently down my cheek.

"I'm so proud of you, Claire." He says quietly, his voice full of emotion. I look up at him, soaking in the beautiful face I have come to love.

"Thank you, Bennett. For helping me with this. It means so much." I say fervently and he leans forward, pressing his lips to mine.

"Of course, little one. I'd do anything to see you smile." He says with a sweet smile.

"I adore you, Bennett." I murmur against his mouth as I press my lips to him again. He chuckles and picks me up, wrapping my legs around his waist.

"How about you show me?" He whispers the taunt in my ear.