I sighed and glanced at Marko. "He didn't say nothin' to you about what he was doin'?" Marko shook his head and threw a pebble. "Not a thing, at least, not to me. Dwayne said he mentioned something about a chick." he shrugged and smirked. "Probably just a midnight snack. She'll fall in love and then, WHAM! She'll be just another meal before she knows what hit her." I laughed and sat in the wheelchair that David usually sits in. If he were in the cave with us, there's no way I'd be able to sit there, but it was like being home alone. Felt kinda rebellious.

"What if it's an actual date? What if she's a new member or like your mate or something?" I asked. Marko was about to respond when I heard Dwayne say, "Ha! Little Mark having a mate.." he shook his head and laughed. Marko glared at him. "Yeah, yeah, make jokes. Girls love me. Anyway," he turned back to me. "I mean, could be. Maybe he intends on turning the chick, I don't know. None of us know until he gets back." he lay back on his bed and picked up a magazine. I was starving and hunting, finding a nice human or two, wasn't an option. We did that together. As a pack. Kinda like wolves, ya know?

"C'mon, bud, why don't ya go grab a bite to eat from that pizza place or somethin'." I suggested. I couldn't be the only one that was starving to death. Marko shot up. "You kiddin'? Before the boss man gets back? No way, man." I groaned and rolled my eyes. "Dwayne, you gotta be hungry, too. I can't be the only one! How 'bout it, man?" Dwayne glanced my way and scoffed. "You're out of your mind. Until David gets back, we're all staying right here." I rolled my eyes. "He left you in charge! That gives ya total and complete control, which, includes the right to go get food for your starving brothers." I grinned and hoped he'd give in, but knew he wouldn't. "Not a chance. Give it up, Paul." I got up and walked over to my bed. "Give it up, Paul." I said in a mocking tone.

All I ask for is pizza. Just pizza! I haven't had a proper meal since the day before last, I gotta have something. David, hurry up with that chick, will ya? I wanna eat.

About that time, David walked in, his arm around a girl. I jumped up. Marko and Dwayne looked at David and the new arrival. "Come on out, boys, there's somebody I'd like ya to meet!" he called out. We all came out into the open and looked to David. "Boys, this is Jasmine. Jasmine, this is Dwayne, Marko, and Paul." he gestured to each of us as he said our names and we gave small waves or nods. Before I ran away and joined the gang, I had a sister named Jasmine. Boy, I missed her a whole lot. We were separated as kids. Parents divorced and we got torn apart. I figured I'd mention the sister thing to her at some point if she didn't become a meal.

Jasmine smiled as she looked at the guys, but it disappeared when her eyes landed on me. "Paul? I've gotta be going crazy, I'm sorry, at first, I thought-" She cut herself off and stepped a little closer. "No, it is you! Paul! It's me, Jazzy!" My eyes lit up and I ran forward to pull her into a hug. "Jas, it's you! It's really you!" Her arms were tight around my neck and she laughed. "I missed you so much.." She pulled back and smiled. "You look like Steven Adler or Duff McKagan, Pauly, except not as cute." I put her down and chuckled. "Aw, shut up, Jas." David cleared his throat. "You two long lost lovers or somethin'?" he asked, sounding kinda angry. I shook my head. "Long lost siblings, actually. Ain't that right, Jas?" She nodded. "Yep, haven't seen my annoying excuse for a brother in years." she said and shoved me jokingly.

Food was the last thing on my mind now, well, sorta. I didn't want my sister to become food. I motioned for David to walk with me to another part of the den. He gave me an odd look, but followed. "Yeah, what is it?" he asked. "Member or midnight snack?" David leaned against the wall. "What are you talking about? What are you saying?" I sighed. "Jasmine. She's not just some snack, is she? She can't be, man." I said, glancing back at her. She was joking around with Marko and trying to get Dwayne out of his shell. David looked at her then back at me. "No.. she's not a midnight snack. Not just a member, either." I cocked an eyebrow. "Not just a member?" I questioned. "She's mine. I know it. I felt it right from the time I saw her. That's my mate." Well, guess Dwayne was kinda right. I wasn't sure how to feel about her being his mate. The whole mate business was kinda weird in the first place. It was like you were meant for each other, not exactly like soulmates.. or was it? I dunno, I don't know nothing about that stuff, but apparently when ya found your mate, you'd know.

If she was his mate, that meant he was turning her. Whether it be now or later, he'd do it at some point. I didn't have a problem with that, though. If she was anything like me, she'd love the idea. Who doesn't wanna live forever?