Alex's nose took in the stench of sweat, blood and fear off of the weasel called Sunny. He owed Alex's boss some cash and he was lacking in the fund department. Alex had him up against the wall a hand holding him in place. Alex's fangs dropped and Sunny screamed in terror.

"Alex, please! I'll do anything, anything. Just don't kill me." Alex couldn't stand weak vampires like this guy. Dropping Sunny on the floor he caught his coat in his hand pulling him up by it. "You have until tomorrow. Don't leave town!"

Alex let him go and walked outside. He wasn't afraid to turn his back on Sunny. He was probably still trying to get his legs to stop shaking. When he went outside he saw Sunny's car, it was a brand new Charger. Alex picked it up and turned it upside down before putting it back. He chuckled as he walked down the street. Several moments later Sunny came out and saw his precious car upside down right where he had left it. The top of the car was crushed by the weight of it. The wheels were still turning. Angrily he yelled, "I'll get you NORTH!"

Alex walked into his club and took residence up in his favorite spot so he could watch the others without intruding.

A large black wolf rounded the corner, almost invisible as she stayed cloaked in darkness. Her golden eyes glowed fiercely in the black of the night, the only real clue that she was there. She can no longer hear Caius' voice in her head so it means that she was too far away from him. And without it, her temper was unbridled and volatile.

Her thoughts shifted to Theo, her last lover. He was a human. Rich, charming, understanding. He was the ideal man. And he had proposed marriage to her. While most women would have jumped at the chance and happily accepted, it infuriated her. He knew what she was and had told her that he could get the best medical treatment for her.

---

"What medical treatment are you talking about? There's nothing that can cure what I have. This is what I am. And the only thing that can cure me of it is death.

"We're talking about modern medicine, Claudia. There's stem cell treatment, genetic modification... The possibilities are endless and the scientists employed under my father are the best in the world. You---"

Claudia had not let him finish. What did he think of her? Some sort of animal to be tested on? The thought shot her temper straight to the roof. And she was afraid that staying with him would risk her putting his life in danger. It was time to leave...

---

And so she did. And here she was, lurking in the shadows of the city.

She smelled him even before she saw him. A vampire. That irony smell of blood on him. The stench of alcohol in his breath. Smelling him made her rage flare. He was standing beside an overturned car and was shouting about who cares what. She didn't hesitate. The world is better with one less vampire in it. She was on him before he could even turn around. She pinned him onto the ground and clamped her teeth onto his skull. Her powerful jaws cracked his skull before she tore his head clean off his neck. She threw the head aside and snorted. Pitiful.

Convenient enough, there was a set of female clothes on the sidewalk, probably from the overturned car. She smelled human on it. Probably belonged to the pathetic vampire's latest conquest. Her form melted back into that of a human. Her eyes tamed down from gold to blue although there was still that look of contempt in them. And soon, she was clad in a black leather corset, matching black leather pants and stiletto heels.

She looked towards a club a few blocks away. She could hear loud music blaring and smelled both humans and vampires in it. She smirked. It was probably a bad idea to walk in a place swarming with bloodsuckers but who cares? If it went down to a fight then she was more than willing to rip off more heads. Her blood was still singing with adrenalin from her latest kill. She headed towards it and walked in.

Alex looked out at the club and took a drink from his glass. It was the same as usual. The same groupies that liked to be fed on or have sex with vampires. There were vampires and humans alike dancing on raised platforms. There was a bartender who was clearly a vampire. Alex looked towards the door just in time to see a beautiful young woman come in. Everyone turned towards her, not because she was beautiful but because she was a werewolf. Alex's fangs dropped and the bartender sped to the door to meet her before the bar became a battleground. The hissing from the other vampires was quite loud and Alex raised a hand and it ceased immediately.



Shade was Native American and had hair down past the middle of his back. His broad shoulders and back were heavily muscled and his abs made good girls swoon.

As Shade approached the she wolf, Alex watched to see what would happen.

Shade looked at Claudia and gave her a approving look. "Miss werewolf. I think you are in the wrong place. There is a wolf bar on the other side of town."

@kyrisse

Claudia heard the hisses, she saw the hostile looks directed at her even before the heavily muscled man stepped in front of her to block her way. The smell of blood intermixed with that sickly sweet scent vampires give off was so strong that it took effort not to phase into her wolf form and start going on a rampage. The memory of Caius' calm voice echoed through her head. What the hell are you doing, Claudia? Do you have some sort of death wish?

Yeah. Maybe I have.

She looked at the man in front of her from head to foot before she spoke. "Aww... and here I thought this was the most happening place in this whole city. I didn't see any sign warning wolves to keep out," she paused. Yeah, as if I need a sign... She didn't bother trying to crane her neck to see what was going on inside. Humans freely offering their necks to vampires, humans getting intoxicated and almost having sex right there in the bar with the bloodsuckers. It was unnatural and violated the laws of nature. "I didn't come here to cause trouble." Yet. She walked two fingers up the man's well muscled chest. "I don't suppose you can make an exception, can you?" she gave him a smirk.

Alex watched as the young woman ran her fingers up Shade's chest and he smirked.

"Well as much as I might like that you would be in danger in here and wolf or not I'd hate to see a pretty thing like you die such a horrible death." Shade reached up and took her hand in his slowly and let it go.

Alex could see the woman's face and he called "Shade!" Shade turned and nodded.

"Follow me." Shade said to Claudia.

Shade took her upstairs to Alex, guarding her from the others along the way. When he got her upstairs the rest of the bar went back to its former activities. Alex smiled slightly at the young woman and offered her a seat. He was sitting at a comfortable chair with another on the other side of a coffee table. It looked more like a living room setup than bar seating. It allowed him to see nearly everything.

Alex glanced at her and then he openly stared at her a moment. "I can count on one hand how many times a wolf has come here willingly. What do you want?"

@Kyrisse

Claudia raised an eyebrow when she heard a male voice call out to the man that blocked her way. Obviously, she was given a pass into the pub as she was led in. Factoring out that lust for a fight, Claudia was amused to walk into a place so full of bloodsuckers ready to launch themselves at her. She could see the fangs glint in the dim light of the pub. She could feel the foggy, intoxicated stares of the humans. Her heart's tempo increased and she felt a buzz run through her. Just one attack and she'll unleash hell.

A death wish...

She was reckless and quick to anger but this was by far the dumbest thing she has ever done. She was skilled, faster than an average werewolf and more vicious too. But walking into a place practically crawling with creatures she swore to hate was definitely a death wish. There was no way she was going to walk out of this place alive.

She was led upstairs into what appeared like a spacious living room. She looked at the man, obviously the one in charge of the place. A vampire. She would have thought him handsome if it wasn't for that minor detail. Too bad. She walked across the room and settled herself on the seat offered her. Probably the last seat she will ever sit on after tonight. Once seated, she looked straight at her host. "What I want? Well, what everyone that comes here want. Alcohol and a place to get wasted in. I would have gone to the wolf bar down the road but I figured it would be more interesting to come in here."

Yes, definitely a death wish.

Alex smirked at the young woman, she was gutsy and full of spunk he had to give her that. She didn't give off the appearance of being ignorant so why was she taking such a chance coming in here? He grinned at her answer. "A sense of humor, I like that."

"I'm Alex North. What is your name?" He looked down at Shade who was looking up at him and he held up two fingers.

"So what brings a wolf like you into a vampire bar just after the sun sets? You are obviously smart enough to know it's suicide coming in here and yet you still flirted with Shade to get in here. Why?"

Shade brought the drinks up and set them on the table and left not even glancing at her.

@kyrisse

And now here she was, face to face with a vampire, pretending to be cool and pretending that being there didn't bother her. "My name's Claudia... Claudia Aluredes. I can't say that I'm crazy about how this whole place smells like blood and sex but I suppose it's something new, something that would break the monotony of life... you know? So suffice to say, I'm just bored." She glanced around. "This little set up you have here is nice though. Comfy. Stinks like hell, but hey, who am I to complain?" She looked at the drink that Shade placed in front of her and raised an eyebrow. "I really didn't expect to be let in. What gives?"

"And you wouldn't have been had Shade not liked you just a little. Most that try to come in are human or they are already drunk and don't seem to realize the mistake they are making." Glancing out at the bar he says "The reason you got this far is that your death wish seemed a little forced."

Alex stood up and motioned for her to stand. Alex took two steps towards her effectively walking her to the wall. He locked his eyes on hers and he put his hands on her shoulders firmly. "You came in here for some excitement huh?" Alex took in her scent and closed the distance between their lips. His kiss was very quick as he expected her to bite him or try to kick him in the balls. The kiss was enough though to stir feelings in him that he had thought long buried. He stepped back a little surprised and caught the hand that swung at him.

Alex picked up his drink and said, "What makes you think that I will let you out of here alive?" He looked at her and thought her beautiful but he didn't want her to know what he was thinking so he kept up his bad boy image.

@kyrisse

"There are an abundance of stupid humans," Claudia commented as she stood up. She chose to ignore what he said about her death wish. It really wasn't up for discussion. As soon as the vampire took a step towards her, he expected him to attack. He did but not in the way she expected. Her eyes grew wide when she felt his lips press against hers for a fraction of a second before he stepped back. A low growl escaped her lips and he swiped at him. Why the hell had he kissed her for? She wanted some form of excitement but she definitely didn't expect this. Her temper flared and she felt her heart beat quicken, something she will adamantly claim to be from an anticipation of a fight.

"What makes you think I can't?" she challenged back, a self assured look on her face. "And what the fuck was that kiss for?"

Alex chuckled to himself. The girl had no idea who he was. He found that alone to be a little intriguing. "As strong and fast as you may be there is no way you could get out of here alive unless it is my will. As for the kiss...you have made my day a little brighter. Sorry it was so short a kiss. I thought you might be a little upset about my not being a complete gentleman."

About this time a female vampire came upstairs and wanted Alex's attention. She was very obvious about what she wanted. Her hands were quick to reach for his belt buckle and just as fast he tossed her off the balcony of the loft over the rest of the bar. She crashed down to the floor and some of the patrons helped her up. Her spite was obvious. Alex sighed. Turning to look back at her he mumbled, "When you are the top dog everyone wants to bite a piece off for themselves. So you still think you could walk out of here without me?"

@kyrisse

Claudia was about to make a retort when the female vampire came up and made a move on Alex. Apparently not the right move as soon she was sailing through the air. She watched her crash below. She almost felt sorry for the vampire. She turned her attention back to Alex and she felt the beginnings of an attraction. A tiny pull. She irritatedly brushed it aside and focused on what he was saying.

A feral smile settled itself on her lips and her blue eyes glinted with danger. "I couldn't care less if I don't walk out of here alive. And I may not be much of a challenge to you." She gestured towards the bar below with her head. "But it'll be fun taking some of those bloodsuckers down with me."

Alex actually laughed at her words. "Are all wolves as suicidal as you are?" Alex walked back up to her and held her in place as he kissed her more deeply this time. While intensifying the kiss he felt something inside of him opening up and he pulled back as his cell phone rang. The surprise on his face was only there for a fraction of a second.

"Excuse me a moment." Alex said as he answered the call. His face went back to that unreadable expression. When he got off of the phone he asked her with a smile. "So, would you like to get out of here and go do a job with me?"

@kyrisse

Despite herself, Claudia laughed with Alex. "No, not all. Maybe just me," she said and backed up as Alex walked towards her. When he lowered his head towards her, she felt that urge to push him away. But when he began kissing her, the urge strangely disappeared and she even allowed him to deepen it, responding with the same intensity. She was more than a little disappointed when he pulled back to answer a call on his cellular phone. She watched the surprise on his face melt into an unreadable expression. A part of her wanted to grab the phone and throw it aside so they could get back to what they were doing but she restrained herself.

She narrowed her eyes at him when he started speaking. "First you threaten me about not letting me walk out of here alive. And then now you ask me to go with you to who knows where? Are you right in the head?" she paused for a moment to consider it. It only took a few seconds before she was nodding. "Fine. I'll play along for a while. I can't promise to stay too long though," she followed him down the stairs. "And who gave you the right to keep on kissing me anyway?" she grumbled.

Alex's shoes had barely touched the ground floor when Shade looked up and raised an eyebrow at him. Alex was nearly knocked down by a flying body. Luckily his instincts were quick and he dodged it and kept Claudia from getting hit all in a microsecond. He grabbed her hand and held onto it.

"Kitty!" he barked. "What the hell?" The female vampire was wearing a leather type bra that matched the leather pants that she was wearing. Her red hair went 3/4 of the way down her back and it was in pig tails. She was the only one who had ever made pig tails look sexy according to Alex.

"Sorry, I didn't see you. He thought he could just come over and take what he wanted namely my meal." Alex looked frustrated at her. The guy had managed to pick himself up off of the ground and he hurled his fist into the air and Alex stopped it with one hand and started crushing his hand.

"Fucker!" Kitty yelled at the man. "You mind Shade I'll be back." Kitty looked at Alex and pouted like a disappointed kid.

Shade gave him an irritated look and glared at Kitty. "So I'm Kitty sitting huh?" Alex grinned. "I don't know anyone else better at it." Shade threw ice cubes at him as he walked out the door with Claudia.

Once outside they walked out to Alex's car and got in. It was a sports car an old one. Alex fired it up and looked at Claudia. "Now you want to know why I keep kissing you?" Fast as lightning he had her in his arms and pulled her to him. Looking in her eyes he smiled and said, "because you keep letting me." He kissed her deeply, wanting more of that same feeling that she was opening in his heart that he thought long dead. He was completely shocked that a wolf girl was doing this to him. His hands traveled and his touch was light and inquisitive as he held her to him. When he pulled back his eyes were glazed and unfocused.

@kyrisse

"If they weren't bloodsuckers, I'd probably like them." Claudia murmured as she stepped out of the door. Her eyes took in the sports car and she wrinkled her nose in distaste. She never really liked riding in cars. It made her feel boxed up and trapped. What was its purpose if she can just run freely? Hell, she can probably even run faster than it. But... she did say that she'll play along with whatever Alex was up to. And so, she bit her tongue and just got in. It was the least she can do for letting her walk out of the pub alive. Or at least that was how she wanted to think of it.

Her butt haven't quite touched the seat yet when Alex pulled her to him. She yelped in surprise. "Now you want to know why I keep kissing you? Because you keep letting me." She blinked as she stared into his eyes. And for the third time that night, he began kissing her. As much as she hated to admit it, the more he did it, the more she was liking it. And the more she liked it, the more she wanted to keep doing it. Acting purely out of instinct, she swung her leg so that she was able to get out of the passenger seat and onto the vampire's lap. She straddled him and began kissing along his jaw and neck.

Alex knew if they continued he would lose control and doing it in a sports car was just not what he wanted with her. "Claudia" He groaned breathlessly as he pulled her to him. He was completely lost on how she could defrost his carefully built walls so quickly. He cared about this girl already and he was not used to that. He was Alex North the enforcer and he cared about no one but his offspring.

He looked into her eyes and he dared one more kiss and when he pulled back he mumbled to himself. "Let's get this job done so I can get you home." His hands encircled her small waist and lifted her back into her seat. "You are driving me crazy woman."

Alex put the car in drive and the car lurched forwards, in a hurry to get to top speed. It wasn't long until they were in the industrial section. "Stay here." Alex went inside and soon after there was fighting that could be heard from outside.

@kyrisse

Claudia felt herself lifted and deposited in the passenger's seat. She was uncomfortable and she didn't like it. The cramped space of the car was definitely unpleasant. And her growing attraction to the vampire grated on her nerves. What was it about him that made her want to touch him when she hated all vampires with a vengeance? Her close proximity to him was making her confused and she had half the mind to hop back onto his lap and continue kissing him. It was a good thing that Alex shifted the gears and sped off before she could act on impulse.

Expecting to be let in on the fight, Claudia was thoroughly annoyed when she was instructed to stay in the car. She huffed and got out. Without nothing better to do, she paced back and forth by the car.

"Claudia Aluredes," came a male voice from the shadows.

Claudia immediately turned towards the direction the voice came from, her eyes already turning golden. But before she could change forms, a tall man walked into the light. He had a long scar running through his left eye and another through the left half of his lips. He lifted both hands up in the air. "Whoa! I don't intend to harm you or get into a fight with you."

Claudia glared at the man, her stance still wary. "Werewolf. Who are you and how do you know my name?"

"My name is Darric. And I know your brother, Caius."

The Vampire he had just killed had killed the State Senator's daughter and now had vampires under serious investigation. Some of the council didn't like this so he had to be taken out. Alex opened the door to go back to Claudia. He was not happy to see her out of the car and talking to wolf. He wanted to beat him to death or rip his heart out but he knew then he would lose Claudia entirely and most likely have to fight with her and then he would end up killing her. Knowing this he held himself in check and walked up to them and slid his arm around her waist possessively.

He watched Claudia blush as his skin touched hers and seeing recognition in the wolf's eyes he nodded. "Is this guy bothering you Claudia?"

@kyrisse

Claudia heard and smelled Alex as soon as he stepped out of the building he had gone into. Even without meaning to, she was hyper aware of the vampire's presence. It was a sure sign that she was getting more and more attracted to him. Was it obsession? That irresistible temptation to taste the darkness, to align herself with who she should fight? Or was it something else? She decided that she needed to get as far away as she can from him. But when she felt his arm slide around her waist, she blushed and knew that she will not be running away from him any time soon. She turned towards him. "No, no. He's a friend... I think." she said a little hesitantly.

Darric looked from Claudia to Alex then at the arm that was possessively draped on the young she wolf's waist. He raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything about it. Instead, he explained his relationship to Caius. "I am the Crimson Keeper's pack leader and Caius is a part of it. I recognized you from his thoughts. And when I saw you here, I thought of offering you a place in the pack. To rejoin your twin brother."

"Caius is here?" Claudia asked, looking at Darric strangely. He reminded her of his twin. The way he spoke and the way he carried himself.

"No, he isn't yet but I expect him to be here in a few days time. For the meantime, I will take my leave." He looked at Alex, his gray eyes neutral. "I apologize for any inconvenience I might have caused. Good night," he gave them a small bow before turning and leisurely walking away.