~

I could still feel how swollen Idris had left my lips and I hated that I loved it. I hated that although I had told him not to follow me, he didn't. A sick part of me hoped he'd pull me back and make love to me. I could've cared less where we were. But, Henry... I had to tell him.

But first, I needed to find Camilla. If Ben was a vampire, and she was this upset, perhaps he was hurting her. I hung up as the call went to voicemail. No worries, I'd just stalk her down like I know she would do for me.

I parked my car on the sidewalk. Inside I could see the lights on. She was home, good. I threw my backpack in the trunk and made my way up the walkway. Already I could hear loud music.

I rang the bell once, twice, three times. "Camilla I know you're in there! Open the door!" When she didn't answer I went around her house. What if something bad had happened to her?

I found a small window slightly open. Damn, it would require a pull up. I used my arm strength to push it open and squeeze myself through. Shit! I shouldn't have come in face first. I tumbled but luckily the fall wasn't too much or else I'm sure my arm would've broken.

"Some people would call this breaking and entering." Camilla's sudden voice startled me.

I pushed myself to a stand while fixing my clothes. "Best friend immunity." I smiled, but when I saw the state of Camilla I dropped my smile and went over.

Camilla was holding an almost empty beer and from the smell on her breath it wasn't the first. Her eyes were red, so clearly she had been crying and her hair was frizzled.

"I was worried about you Camilla. This isn't like you." I opened my arms and Camilla came in for a hug.

She held me tightly, a light sob escaped her. I wasn't sure what else to do but let her hug her sorrows but her hand suddenly wandered to my ass pocket.

"Camilla!"

She stole my car keys from my pocket and swung them around her finger. "How else was I getting these!" She smiled innocently.

"What do you want my keys for?"

"Well, this was step two in my plan."

"What was step one?"

"Not answering your calls so I knew you'd come find me. Step two was take your keys and hide them. And step three," she took a swig of her drink. "Me and you are going out."

"Camilla—"

She shook her finger. "No, no, no. I don't want to talk about Ben. I just want to go out and enjoy a night without worry."

"Please." She added softly.

"I don't think I'll be dressed for the night."

Camilla took my hand leading me towards her bedroom. "Good thing I have a closet full of stuff you can borrow!"

~

As the uber arrived I stole a little something from Camilla's kitchen. It wasn't much but it could protect us if need be. Placing it in my purse, I followed Camilla out to the car.

Our driver greeted us with a friendly smile. No fangs, that was good. Maybe I was just being paranoid, but I felt like I couldn't trust anyone anymore. What if our Uber was a vampire? Did that mean werewolves were real too? Fairies? the easter bunny?

A part of me wanted to call Idris and ask him, but I couldn't, not after what had just happened. I needed time, space away from Idris and think about everything that was going on.

"Alixandria?" Camilla finally spoke after a few minutes in the car, I had been too zoned out thinking about what other magical creatures were out there.

I turned to see Camilla staring at me "Yeah?" I smiled warmly at her, hoping it would liven her up. What had happened to her? I wish she would just tell me, but I knew I couldn't push her, not yet.

"Idris... he's in love with you, huh?"

Oh, I hadn't expected her to say that. "Uhh, what makes you say that?"

She smiled weakly, not really reaching her eyes, "I'm not blind. I see the way he looks at you. How gentle he is with you, but also how well he compliments you."

I rose my brow.

"Not like that, I just mean–well, I've known you for a while now and when I see you with him, it's like...like you're alive. I think in good relationships, partners build each other up, support each other, make each other better, and I see that with you two."

"Oh," I wasn't sure how to feel about that, but what I was sure about was how Idris made me feel when I was with him. I felt safe and in many ways whole, something I thought I had felt with Henry...

"I didn't mean to offend you or anything, I know you're with Henry–"

"No, it's okay," I sighed. "I know you meant what you said in a good way." I was just glad Camilla was opening up, maybe now would be a good time to bring up her and Ben?

"We're here ladies." The man behind the wheel interrupted, as he parked on the sidewalk.

Without another word Camilla got out and I followed. "Where are we going?"

"Spencers. Athena is playing today and I've always wanted to see them live!" Her mood seemed to liven up.

~

Idris stalked through the crowd towards the booth at the very end of the bar where Ben was sitting. Before he could even say a word, Ben had put a drink in his hand and beckoned him to sit down.

For a second, Idris took in his friend sitting glumly in his seat, his usual blue eyes were marked by unusual dark circles under his eyes, his jaw clenched tightly. There was definitely something wrong, and yet out of all the places Ben could have chosen to meet up, he'd chosen this one, why?

"Why are we here Ben? You've never been particularly fond of these places."

"What do you mean?" He grinned darkly. "I love crowded bars full of walking blood bags."

Idris finally took the seat in front of his friend. Without taking his eyes off of Ben he took a swig of his whiskey until Ben folded at the intensity of Idris's glare.

"Okay," He rolled his eyes. "I needed a drink and I heard this place has some of the best drinks in town." He swirled the whiskey in his cup before taking a large drink.

"I doubt that." Idris rose a brow. "Since you won't start then let me ask, what is going on with you and your mate?"

"How do you–"

"Alixandria, she practically gave me an ear full."

"Snitch."

"Watch it or I'll rip out your tongue." Idris warned, but Ben seemed too irate to care.

"Oh no, not my kissing tongue."

Idris rolled his eyes. "Are you going to keep stalling? I can tell by the look in your eyes you feel like shit, that and I've known you since you were a little shrimp," He smiled, leaning back in his seat. "So tell me–"

"I bit her." Ben's words came out fast and miffed.

"You what?"

"I couldn't help it." He said with a sigh. "You know more than anyone how strong the pull is!"

"You idiot." Idris leaned forward on his elbows chuckling. "You really bit your mate without her consent?"

"It's not funny man." Ben frowned, taking another large swig and setting his drink a little too hard on the table. "I wasn't thinking straight, I just knew I wanted her... and–fuck, I know she wanted me too."

"That doesn't mean you can bite her without her consent." Idris shook his head, "Did she even know what you were before that?"

Ben ran his hands through his hair, "Of course but...ah," his hand rested on his face for a moment, "I really fucked up." He cursed at himself, gripping the glass of whiskey with his other hand so tightly Idris thought it might break. "I let my instincts take over and I bit her."

"How did she take it?"

"What do you think?" Ben sneered but after a moment he seemed to calm down. "She was scared at first...then she was angry, just really angry."

"Angry that you are a vampire or that you bit her?"

"It doesn't matter man, she stormed off and said she didn't want to see me." His eyes narrowed as if he could still see Camilla's disappointed face. "Idris...I finally found my mate, after all these years and I just want her to be with me for as long as I live, but she's human...she's weak and—"

"Fragile." Idris inhaled deeply knowing exactly how Ben felt.

Idris knew, that for a vampire to find his mate, it was already a rarity, and the pull drawing them to be together would only grow fiercer, however that was nothing compared to the pain of losing a mate, and humans, being as fragile as they were, could die at any moment.

"You wanted to turn her." Idris said, knowing exactly what instincts had taken over Ben's mind as they were the same instincts that had crossed his mind about Alixandria often.

Ben reluctantly nodded his head, "I love her Idris and I don't want to be without her."

"So then tell her that." Idris leaned back, crossing his arms.

Ben rose his brow and scoffed. "As if it were that easy." He took another gulp of his drink.

"Look." Idris took a swig of his whiskey as well, "by some miracle, our mates have accepted us for who we are. I'm sure if you explain things to Camilla, then she'll understand."

"Yeah, how's that worked out for you?"

Idris clenched his jaw, "That's my advice. Take it or leave it Ben cause there is nothing standing in the way of having your mate but yourself."

Ben was quiet for a moment, before he finished his drink and exhaled sharply. "You know I hate it when you're right."

"You must hate me quite often then."

Ben chuckled and smiled warmly at his friend. "You know I do want you to be happy with your mate as well."

Idris frowned, not liking the look of mischievous glee that suddenly crossed Ben's eyes.

"I know." Idris said cautiously, "but I can handle that myself."

"You might not have to."

"What do you mean?"

Ben smiled widely beside the look of confusion on Idris's face and just when he was about to ask him what he had done, Idris felt the pull within him warm his chest. He turned just as two familiar faces came into view from a distance.

~

Camilla and I quickly entered the bar/venue and made our way through the crowd to the bar. A band was already playing on stage. I thought my heart would be thumping because of the large crowd and the confined space, but oddly I felt fine. The air felt electric and I loved the scent in the air. Guys dressed in dark leather jackets, girls with dark skirts and thigh high socks walked around. The vibe was very rock and I loved it.

"What would you ladies like?" A bartender with a low top and red and black long hair approached us with a smile.

"Two strawberry daiquiris please." Camilla ordered as her foot drummed.

While she did that, I quickly shot Henry a text. I chose to exclude the fact that I was at a venue with Camilla. All he really needed to know was that I was helping Camilla through a tough time. He didn't reply right away and I figured he must be having a busy night at work. He never worked so late until he started working full time.

Camilla handed me my drink. "Yeah, you're different." She eyed me suspiciously.

"What do you mean?" I took a sip of my drink. I felt exactly the same.

"You seem livelier. "

"I feel great. Well, healthier than I have in years. I can't really explain it."

Camilla wrapped her hand around my arm warmly. "I'm glad to finally see you being more yourself. You always seemed... trapped."

"Trapped?" I smiled.

Camilla giggled, "Come on, let's go to the dancefloor the band sounds good!" She wiggled her shoulders to the rhythm.

I had to admit, they did sound good and I had never been to a concert.

In a fluid motion, Camilla finished her drink and urged me to do the same. I was hesitant at first. I'd only drunk a couple times in the past and each time had triggered some sort of heart issue, but I had been feeling so good lately that I was almost certain nothing bad would happen.

And so, with a smile on my face, I drank my drink like I'd just returned from the desert.

"Atta girl!" Camilla wooed. "Tonight is definitely gonna be fun!"

As soon as I sat my drink down she took my hand and we made our way to the venue's dance floor.

The loud bass, the drummer going wild and the electric guitar ran through the air making the crowd jump. Camilla weaved us into the middle of the dance floor. The singer up on stage was shirtless. His body was as beautiful as his voice. I recognized this song, they were doing a cover of a Blink 182 song.

I quickly found myself jumping up and down like Camilla beside me.

I sang as loudly as I wanted because the fact was no one was listening to me. No one was paying attention. "It's alright to tell me what you think about me, I won't try to argue or hold it against you! I know that you're leaving, you must have your reasons! The season is calling, your pictures are falling down!"

The crowd wooed when the singer asked them to take their shirts off and I burst out laughing when the guys who did were suddenly chased by security.

This was the most fun I had had and years, and the more I let go, the more I also felt a deep sadness, because I felt as if a part of me was blooming and was letting go of who I used to be.

I'd only ever had Henry in my life. Camila had been the first friend I had made when we moved. I had taken one of the freshman classes with her and I was so thankful because she had always stayed my friend.

I took her hand as we sang together and with each shout and scream of the music, I felt liberation.

It's not that I had intended on becoming a shut-in but I think somewhere along the lines, I lost sight of who I was. For my mother, I wanted to be the perfect daughter, for my father I'd wanted him to love me, and for Henry I wanted to be everything he gave me, but I'd never stopped to think about myself.

Who was I? What did I want?

I wasn't sure... but I wanted to find out and this freedom I felt-–like the chains that bound me to my past had broken— I was ready to move forward.

~

"Ben." Idris growled, "You knew they would be here." He said, staring at Camilla and Alixandria who had walked into the bar.

The second his eyes landed on Alixandria, he'd wanted to stalk over there, take her in his arms and kiss her.

"Camilla was upset and I needed to make sure she'd be okay."

"I'm sure you could keep an eye on her on your own."

"Yes, but I thought you might need to be here for Alixandria."

"I think Alixandria has had enough of me for the night," Idris thought back to only a few moments before, when her warm lips and soft body had surrendered to him, and yet just as he'd feared, she'd denied their bond and left.

He looked back to find she was no longer there, but he could feel her close and he realized she'd gone next door to the dancefloor. "She needs her space and–"

"Shush, shush," Ben shook his head, "I didn't necessarily call you here for her."

Idris frowned in confusion, "So then why did you call me here?"

"Well," Ben smiled sharply. "I just thought you might find that interesting." his gaze suddenly flickered to the right corner of the bar.

Idris followed his gaze until another familiar face caught his eye. Immediately, he felt his muscles tense and his fist curl.

~

Alixandria could barely move her arms as the venue had become tightly packed, nonetheless her and Camilla made the space to jump around to the song that played, until she felt her feet ache and her breath hard.

"I need fresh air." Camilla fanned her face. "And another drink! Athena will be on soon!"

Alixandria nodded in agreement and followed alongside Camilla when she felt a pull drawing her to a dark corner of the room. The feeling was light but familiar.

She let go of Camilla and followed it. Looking around until she saw him.

How had I not seen him before.

"Alix is that—"

"Henry..." She stared at a beautiful girl sitting closely beside him with tan long legs and voluminous waist long dark hair.