[38] Candy

Jordan heard him before he saw him. Like clockwork Sebastian joined them in the living room as he played video games with Jayden and Micah. To outside eyes it may give the impression that he actually wanted to join them in the fun, but Jordan knew better. He came to ask him the same questions he's been asking for three days in a row now.

"Have you been able to contact Massie?" Sebastian asked, momentarily crouching to meet him at eye level.

Jordan's gaze momentarily flickered to him before returning to the bright screen. "No. She didn't answer my phone calls."

"How many times did you call her today? At what time?" He interrogated, seemingly unsatisfied with the given response.

Jordan sighed. Both of them knew Massie was never this hard to contact in the first place, it was clear she was purposely avoiding them. The tension boiling between her and Sebastian was a palpable one through-out the whole wonderland dance. Now, it seemed Sebastian wasn't the only one playing the avoidance game.

"I called her twice, once in the afternoon and then again after dinner. Nothing." Jordan answered.

Sebastian's nostrils flared in irritation, a vein popping near his neck. This news made him none too pleased. It wasn't just the ignored phone calls, but also the empty visits. Twice Jordan has tried to pick her up from her house, and twice Lydia has told him that Massie wasn't even there. She was 'doing other things', things that apparently required her to not be home.

It got to the point that Sebastian himself went today to pick her up, but the answer didn't change. Both of them could smell that Lydia wasn't lying. Massie scent was absent in her home, she truly wasn't there.

"Go visit her early in the morning before she goes anywhere." Jayden suggested, sensing the rising rage in Sebastian.

It was strange seeing him at such odds over not seeing Massie. It had only been three days, and anyway, he hadn't exactly been the kindest to her recently. He couldn't blame the girl for trying to evade him.

"HA! TAKE THAT! I BEAT YOU!" Micah yelled, jumping up and doing his victory dance at having beat both his older brothers.

Sebastian stood to his true height, giving Jayden a nod. "I will visit Massie tomorrow morning."

At his statement Micah paused, giving him a weird look. "That's a dumb idea. Why would you visit her when she's away on vacation?"

All of them froze. Vacation?

"Pup, explain yourself. Where exactly is she?"

Micah took note of their shocked expressions and began to wonder if perhaps he shouldn't have said that. He tried to remember exactly what Lydia had told him of the situation but he hadn't been paying attention at the time, too busy smelling her and hugging her close.

Micah frowned when the details came to him. "Oh no, Lydia's going to kill me!"

Massie's phone laid on her bed. It was turned off, the screen black. She was tempted to turn it on, only to see if Sebastian had cared enough to text her. It's been four days, by now they must have found out she wasn't home anymore. If they had cared enough to reach out for her, that is...

Before she did something she'd come to regret, she stuffed the phone into the very bottom of her suitcase, covering it with a tumble of clothes. This vacation was to help her get over Sebastian. How was she suppose to get over him if she kept desiring his attention? It's not something he would give her. She needed to let it go.

Massie reached for her two piece bikini. She shimmied into a light dress and headed to the pool. The afternoon sun beat upon her skin, filling her with warmth all the way to her toes. It was beautiful outside. The only misfortune was her missing sunglasses, she really wished she hadn't oversaw them when packing.

Eyes squinted, she made her way to the cruise shop. The sunglasses would be overpriced—no doubt about it, but after four days of dealing with the brutal sun she was willing to part with a few extra dollars to lounge in peace.

Little children pranced around behind their parents, begging for ice-cream or candy. There were also numerous couples holding hands, kissing, and hugging. She would be lying if she said she didn't want to be like them, sharing intimate moments with the person you love. Perhaps she could have invited a friend to come with her... The trip had been so spontaneous she hadn't considered that.

Air-conditioned air swept up her ankles when she stepped into the shop, causing goosebumps to rise on her flesh. It held a variety of things—from purses, to hats, to souvenirs, the whole get up looked like an exclusive boutique. They even had a section dedicated for jewelry. Despite coming for one thing, her hands found themselves on the clear glass. There was a ring in specific that caught her eye, it reminded her of the one Sebastian gave her when she pretended to be his fiancé.

Massie bit her lip. She should hurry up and get her glasses before she got side-tracked. An elegant couple came to the display just as she withdrew her fingers from the glass. The tall, slim man led the busty brunette to the ring section.

"Pick whatever you want Sugar."

Massie found it interesting how his blue eyes did not look at the woman with love, but with detached interest. The scantily dressed woman did not notice this, though. She kissed his cheek, leaving a red imprint and greedily surveyed the ring selections.

Swiveling on her heel, Massie navigated to the proper area and quickly picked the darkest pair she could find. She sighed in dismay when the cashier rang it up. Oh well, at least now she wouldn't be squinting everywhere she went.

The rest of her afternoon was spent lounging in the high sun and people watching. A waiter would periodically approach her to offer refreshing drinks. She slipped into the pool when the heat became unbearable. It felt great to use her muscles in this way. To slide across the pool with ease. As she gasped for air, she couldn't help but wonder if her absence made any difference.

I wish my mind could forget you with the same ease I escaped you.

Massie smiled as she sunk deeper. Even though it was difficult now, it could only get easier from here.

Noah found himself gasping for air as the men reached the edge of the forest. Blood pulsed through his veins like a rushing river, his heart felt as though it were about to burst. The other men on the team were in no better state. They were sweating so profusely any outsider would think they came from a pool instead of a run.

Each muscle felt strained to its full capacity. Sebastian, the one who lead the team was not much better. He had done everything he ordered them to do, partaking in the strenuous exercise as though his life depended on it.

"I think I'm going to vomit," said Jayden, back arched as he grasped his knees.

Running thirty miles in human form wasn't usually so bad, except they had trained for triple the usual time beforehand and done some fighting. Not to mention, Sebastian chose a trail that was especially strenuous. A lot of hills, very few valleys, uncomfortable jumps and need to balance. If they hadn't finished now, he was sure he would have passed out within the next fifteen minutes.

"That will be all. You have a free day tomorrow." Sebastian said, guiding them to the outside showers.

Everyone sighed in relief. After a day like this, they would need it.

Noah jumped into the pouring water the moment the lever was moved. His shirt had long ago been discarded somewhere, he honestly couldn't remember. The others followed in similar fashion, taking turns but showering more quickly than usual. A bed and some sleep were all they could think about.

As the men emptied out Sebastian cleaned up after them. As usual, he was the last to shower. Noah wanted nothing more than to drop in his mattress, but his friend had him concerned.

He approached him under the frigid water. "Are you alright?"

Today made five days since she left. It was different. Noah knew that before, Sebastian had been content with watching her from afar. Even though he didn't talk to her, at least he had known she was there. Her presence had been palpable. Now, she was completely absent.

Sebastian's golden eyes met his. They were full of exhaustion, but not of the physical kind. "No."

Noah sighed. He pulled him into a hug, the kind that conveyed comfort and hope. The troubling topic was something Sebastian would have to fix on his own. In the meantime, Noah would be the proper packmate and offer all he could, his support.

The drink was sickly sweet as it went down Massie's throat. It was deceptively light, anyone would think it contained no alcohol. It's a good thing she knew better. Two drinks down and she would officially only drink the virgin kind for the rest of the night.

There were surprisingly at lot of single people in the cruise. It seemed the unattached ones only came out at night—and that only to the club portion of the cruise. Massie shook her head as she spotted a familiar figure flirting with a girl. It was the blue-eyed tall stranger she had seen at the cruise store yesterday, only this time instead of the busty brunette, he was with a leggy blonde. His sly smile let her know he was whispering empty promises. He was that type. The way she giggled and gazed with unhindered awe showed just how taken she was with him.

"Another one, miss?" The bartender asked, taking her empty glass.

"Malibu Bay Breeze this time, virgin please."

The bartender cocked her head to the side, curious. She did her bidding nonetheless. If Massie wanted to, she could go to the dancefloor and move along with some stranger. She didn't want to, though. She felt quite content just sitting there and enjoying the music. The idea of any man touching her that way didn't sit right with her.

What is wrong with me?

After downing her last drink, Massie picked her purse and headed to her room. It was one in the morning. She was only moderately tired though. In her room she would indulge in a book and fall asleep.

As she maneuvered through the halls it became progressively darker. It was the cruise's designated 'quiet time', so only the noise of outside waves reached her. It wasn't until she made four turns that Massie realized she must have went the wrong direction, because the doors of these room were spread further apart and looked much fancier than the ones in her section. She was just about to turn around when she noticed a couple against the wall.

Normally, a sight like this would only make her want to turn away faster—but this was different. It wasn't that she recognized his womanizing slender form, or that she recognized this girl as the busty one he bought a ring for. No, it was the fact that in this instant, he was sinking his teeth into her.

Massie watched, frozen as he extracted from her. The girl hummed, seeming to be overtaken by something while he continued to draw from her.

In a state of distraught puzzlement, she found herself gasp. She knew exactly was he was—a vampire.

The man paused, and apprehension chilled her bones. The vampire detached himself from the woman. He murmured a few words she had trouble distinguishing before she saw the girl crumple to the floor, eyes closed and unresponsive. Massie gaped. Did she faint? Die?

Within seconds he whizzed in front of her, causing her to regain her ability to move. Immediately she stepped away from him but it was too late. His cold hands cupped her chin and drew her face inches apart from his, forcing her to look him in the eyes.

The man smiled deviously as his blue dotted dark eyes seemed to spin, causing her to fall into a trace. He was doing the same thing to her as he had done to his other victim.

"You will forget everything you saw tonight. Go to your room and fall asleep."

Drowsiness spread across Massie's body. An overwhelming exhaustion seeped into her every cell. Her eyes drooped with heaviness, and the last thing she heard was the sound of a dark-humored chuckle as her body moved and she fell into darkness.

Massie woke up the next morning feeling oddly well-rested. It was a surprise to her as she couldn't remember getting to bed. She remembered going to the club, but interestingly enough she had no further recollection after that other than fuzzy, muddled images that made no sense.

Deciding to get up and start her morning she washed up to eat some food and go enjoy the sun. She hurriedly donned some shorts with a see-through yellow shirt and rushed to the food restaurant. She didn't want to miss them before breakfast closed and they began to serve lunch.

Much to her delight, when she arrived the staff had yet to switch the breakfast food to lunch. Massie grabbed a large plate and joined herself to the line where they made customized omelets. It was a medium-sized line, but she couldn't see much ahead due to the tall man in front of her.

Massie's stomach growled loudly, astounding even her. "We're already on the line." She poked the lower region of her abdomen for further emphasis, but it only earned her another growl.

The man in front of her turned, his blue eyes appraising her with clear amusement. It was evident he overheard the whole of her conversation with her stomach. "I'm certain a meal will be more effective in calming it down." He said, raising a brow.

Massie felt a sudden wave of dizziness. She massaged her temples in vain attempt to lessen the pain, but it only reduced minutely. Noting her distress, the stranger came to her side. She recognized him, it was the guy from the club last night. The one she's seen with two girls.

"Hold on to me," he said, his voice was smooth and reassuring. She felt a hand encircle her and another mold itself into her waist for additional support. His hands felt cold and sent a shiver up her spine, how could someone's extremities feel so cold in this kind of weather?

Another wave of dizziness hit her, making her almost faint in his arms. "Don't faint on me Candy, though if you did at least you know it's on a wonderful catch such as myself." He chuckled after that, finding his joke hilarious. Massie would have probably told him to not call her that ridiculous nickname, except the pounding pain on her head rendered her speechless.

He led her towards a two-person table. Judging by the cup of coffee and assorted fruits on it, she figured he was already sitting there. Massie tried massaging her temples again. "That is so weird," she mumbled, mostly to herself. She was not one to be prone to headaches, especially one so sharp.

Suddenly, like a fast paced film, the events of last night returned to her. Each image causing her more confusion than the other until they all formed a clear picture, and she had to stop herself from slamming a plate on this man's face. The very man in front of her was the one who made her forget everything she saw last night. Rather then fear, a wave of indignation rose.

"I know what you did to me last night!" Interestingly enough, all the dizziness she felt earlier vanished away. Massie grabbed the front of his shirt and hauled him to her.

His eyes flooded with shock before molding itself into one of clear interest. A small smile graced his lips. "It's been a mighty long time since I've been gifted the opportunity to meet one with matura, a beautiful one as well might I add. Now I really want to be your friend, Candy."