☽Ⓛ❈Ⓒ☾

I wake with a start and groan as pain shoots down my spine. I rub my eyes and lift my head, wincing when my neck protests.

I must have fallen asleep as I sat on the floor, with my head on the sofa.

I was worried about leaving the vampire alone in case he woke up again, and I must have dozed off.

When I look at him now, he is still completely out of it.

I slowly get to my feet and stretch my arms above my head. I need a shower.

My muscles very much appreciate the hot shower I take. I wash myself until I'm flushed with the heat of the water.

I turn off the water and step out, wrapping a towel around myself. I frown as I stand in front of the mirror, it's all fogged up.

After cleaning my teeth, I slip on my new blue dress. Looking 100+ isn't going to stop me from wearing nice things.

I stare at the vampire on my sofa again and grimace at the sight of his dirty trousers. He needs new clothes, but I'm certainly not undressing his lower half. He can do that himself when he wakes up.

For now, I'll clean his face.

I sit down next to him with a bowl of water and a cloth again. His clean wounds are almost fully healed, thanks to the salve I put on them.

I wash the blood and dirt from his face. I brush the twigs and leaf litter from his hair. The improvement is startling.

I'm in awe of just how handsome this vampire is. Unable to stop myself, I move some stray strands of his hair away from his face.

The vampire groans and I pull my hand back at lightening speed, letting out a squeak of surprise.

His eyes blink open and land on me. His pupils dilate and I swallow hard under his intense stare.

'Hello, again,' I greet him awkwardly. 'I'm Meera, I've been looking after you.'

'Mea,' he rasps.

I frown.

What does he keep calling me Mia?

'No, Meera. Hold on, I'll get you some water,' I tell him.

I rush to the kitchen and pour a glass. When I come back, a couple of the cats are sat in various places in the living room, watching the vampire with vague interest.

I hold the cup to his lips and he takes a few chugs, sighing with relief after.

'What's your name?' I ask him softly.

His eyes find mine again and I'm instantly hooked once more.

'Aldon,' he replies gruffly. 'But you can call me Don.'

I smile at the handsome vampire. 'Nice to meet you, Don.'

His eyes drop lower and train on my neck, making me shift uncomfortably. He wants to feed, I imagine. It might have been a while since he last fed.

Sighing heavily, I stand up.

'I'll be back in a minute.'

'Don't go,' Aldon pleads quietly, groaning when he tries to turn his head.

I place my hand on his shoulder to reassure him. 'I'll be right back.'

I get to the kitchen and find a glass and a knife.

With no other option, I grit my teeth and press the knife against my skin until it breaks. Bright red blood trickles from the wound.

I hold my hand over the glass and squeeze, letting it fill the container. When it gets to about half-full, I wrap a bandage from my cupboard around my hand.

The bandage is soaked in a special oil I made, it will heal in about ten minutes.

I pick up the glass, my stomach turning as my blood moves around inside it. It looks like a very strong bloody Mary.

The moment I carry the glass back into the living room, I see Aldon's body visibly tense.

'You're bleeding,' he comments, whilst I'm still behind him. 'Are you okay?'

I walk up to him and his eyes widen when they land on the glass.

'Your blood?' He asks, his voice shocked. 'You didn't have to-'

I hold the glass to his lips before he can protest any more. What's done is done and he's not wasting my blood.

He closes his eyes and lets out a soft growl. His hands come up to grab the glass from me and he chugs the liquid.

'Easy,' I warn him.

I eye the wounds on his chest, conscious that he may open them by moving his arms.

He drains the cup dry and then licks his lips. His eyes are still closed and he leans back against the pillow.

'Thank you,' he says huskily. 'That was the most delicious blood I have ever tasted.'

When he opens his eyes, I'm blushing and his irises are completely black, like a daemons'.

'You are truly stunning, Mea,' he says softly.

I don't bother correcting him again, it's obviously what he has decided to call me.

He moves to sit up but I push on his shoulders, keeping him on the sofa.

'Don't move yet! You're still healing and I don't...'

I trail off as I realise he has passed out again. I make a tsk noise and sit back on my heels. He shouldn't have tried moving so quickly.

Well, at least now, I know his name.

With the vampire unconscious again, I decide to go to the pack house to get him some clothes for when he wakes up.

I trek across the territory once more. There are a few pack members around. Irritation bubbles inside me as they stare more than they usually do.

Are they not used to my curse yet?

It's been ten bloody years, it's about time they accept it. If I have, they should, too.

I knock on the door of the Alphas' house and wait.

It opens and Alpha Leon looks me up and down. His eyes narrow and he instantly looks wary, making me worry.

'Hello, can I help you?' He asks, his voice untrusting.

I frown at him.

'Alpha? Are you alright?' I reply cautiously.

He stares at me, a confused frown set on his face.

'Do I know you?'

My mouth opens in shock and my eyebrows furrow even more.

'Alpha, are you okay? It's me, Meera.'

His face is confused for another moment, before it contorts into surprise, and then joy.

'Meera! Is that really you?'

I stare at him like he's crazy.

'With all due respect, Sir, are you sure you're alright? Of course it's me.'

The Alpha lets out a laugh and then ushers me inside.

'You don't even know, do you?' He says excitedly.

'Know what? What are you talking about?'

The Alpha pushes me in front of a mirror and look at his reflection in confusion. I'm about to open my mouth and ask him what he's playing at, when my appearance suddenly changes.

The wrinkles fade and smooth skin appears in its place. My skin loses it's pallor, becoming darker and more healthy-looking. My hair turns black from the roots, all the way down to the tips as I gasp in shock.

The curse is broken, I'm me again.

No wonder Alpha Leon didn't recognise me, I'm ten years older than I was when the curse was put on me. I'm a woman, now.

I stare at my reflection and tears pool in my eyes.

'Who is he?' Alpha Leon asks, confusing me again. 'Your mate? You obviously met him if the curse has been broken.'

His words make realisation hit me like a truck.

Mate.

The vampire!

'I'm sorry, I've got to go!' I run out of the house, leaving Alpha Leon behind.

No wonder everyone was staring when I came over here, the curse had been lifted, just not to my eyes.

I sprint through the trees, desperate to get back to my mate.

My mate.

I can't believe I've found him! Not only was I excited to meet my mate because he could lift the curse, but also, it's the biggest moment in a shifter's life, meeting your other half.

I burst through the door and rush into the living room. The towels are still on the sofa, but the vampire is gone.

I call out his name, but the house is empty.

My shoulders sag and I drop into a chair in the kitchen.

He's gone.

He must have been healed enough to leave.

My heart throbs painfully. I only just found him and now he's gone.

How will I find him again?

Panicking, I rush back outside. I sniff the air, trying to catch any trace of his scent.

The breeze blows his smell in my direction and run after it. I must look crazy to humans, scenting the air and running in different directions like some crazed canine.

My heart beats faster as the scent grows stronger, before stopping completely when I find my mate lying on the ground.

Naked from the waist up, he is lying on his back, unconscious once more. Next to him, is the carcass of a deer.

He was hungry. He must have left to feed.

I try to wake him but it's no use. He's out of it.

We're a lot close to the house than last time, so I hook my hands under his armpits and drag him back to my house.

I hope this isn't going to become a regular occurrence.

Once he's back on the sofa again, I take off my shoes and jacket and sit beside him. I hold his hand in my own, marvelling at how comforting it is to touch him.

I was too blinded by his injured state to notice our mate bond before. My eyes land on the fangs resting on his bottom lip and I realise something.

He's a vampire hunter, which means he is strong. Hunter vampires, that are stronger than normal vampires, usually are stronger due to their purer bloodline. If he has a pure bloodline, it means he's from Romania.

Where the word for mine is 'mea' or 'meu'.

That's why he was calling me Mea, not as the name Mia, but he was saying mine.

He knows that I am his mate.

The thought makes me very happy.

I wait for over an hour, and Aldon finally wakes up. He groans and I quickly put down my book, rushing over to his side.

'How are you feeling?' I ask as I brush the hair back from his face.

He smiles. 'Like I got dragged across the ground.'

I chuckle at that. 'I'm sorry, it's the only way to get you back to my house.'

'It's okay,' he responds softly.

'I was so worried when I came back and you were gone. I only went to get you some clothes.' My eyes travel to his bare chest and I blush. 'Which I still need to do, sorry.'

He smirks. 'It's fine, mea. I had to feed and I was worried I wouldn't be able to control myself around you, I didn't want to hurt you.'

'I can keep my distance, if that would make it easier?' I suggest, starting to get to my feet.

Aldon reaches out and grabs my wrist, wincing at the movement.

'No, stay,' he pleads. 'Please. I heal faster with my mate near and it hurts to have you out of my sight.'

He slowly reaches up and runs his hands through my hair. I lean into his touch, making him smile.

'Although, maybe we should hide that beautiful neck of yours,' he comments, moving my hair over my shoulder to cover my neck. 'Now that I've tasted your delicious blood, I want nothing more than to mark you.'

I swallow hard and break eye contact, his gaze is too intense. He chuckles at my shyness.

'Relax, sweetheart. I am in no position to take you right now, unfortunately.' He leans back and closes his eyes. 'Hopefully, I will be soon.'

Well, shit.

⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆✥⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆