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Essie on the side---->

AN: Its short, I know :c but I can't change anything because I have everything mapped out for the rest of the chapters so, it is what it is. Also, do you guys want the next chapter in Lysander POV, or keep it Nikolai??

Chapter Eight

Two Hearts

I peeked around the corner to stare at the girl sitting in our living room, bleeding all over the carpet.

That was going to be something to try and explain to the maid.

I looked back at Nate as he crossed his arms and stared me down. "We need to tie her up. It’s not safe." He said, jerking his head over to the living room.

I honestly didn't know what to do with the girl. Her body was decaying from all the damage and she was going to have to leave and find a new one soon. I can guarantee you that I was not going to be on that journey though. Don’t know about anyone else, but I kind of prefer not knowing how shape shifters take new forms. All I do know, is that they have to kill someone to do it.

And I would like to keep it that way.

“We can’t just yet.” I told him and he narrowed his eyes, as if asking and why the hell not? “If we tie her up, she’ll decay right on the spot. We need to get her a new body, and then tie her up. And by we, I mean you.” He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. I looked back at the girl and saw she was slouched over, and that around the open wounds on her arm, the skin was starting to peel up. I curled my lip and looked back at Nate, to see his eyes were open.

“Fine.” He snapped, and shoved past me, out into the living room. The girl slowly lifted her head as Nate approached her and she smiled.

“You’re letting me go get a new body.” She breathed and Nate nodded his head.

“We need to make it quick. Whoever was chasing you could still be lurking around.” She nodded and tried to get up, but started to fall before Nate caught her around her waist. She winced in pain and he mumbled a sorry.

“Hurry back guys. And be safe.” I warned. Nate rolled his eyes and as they left, I didn’t miss the pained expression on the woman’s face. And it defiantly wasn’t because of the wounds on her. I knew that look, because I had the same one whenever my dad would expect me to do something I didn’t want to. If I had to guess, I would say she didn’t want to change bodies.

I’ll ask once they get back.

I sighed out loud as I looked around, laughing at the noise my lips made. I had no clue what to do while they were gone. The red stains on the carpet caught my eye and I shrugged. Cleaning those up would be helpful. The maid would have a heart attack if she saw them. I hurried to the kitchen, hoping I would find something useful in the cabinets, but alas, there was nothing.

So I moved to the bathroom.

I let out a holler of success when I found a bottle of Clorox. It was marked for bathroom use, and only had a small amount in it, but I would take anything at this point.

I hurried back to the kitchen, snatching some paper towels, before sliding down next to the stains.

“Hello there blood stain. My names Nikolai, and I’m here to make love to you.” I said in what I thought was a seductive Spanish accent. “Okay, I kid. I’m really going to kill you—Wait. Why am I talking to stains?” I squinted my eyes and shook my head. I needed to get out more that was for sure. I returned my focus to the carpet and sprayed each spot with the cleaner and took to scrubbing it with the napkins. By the time I finished, the stains were almost invisible, but there was now little torn pieces of paper towels all over the floor. I groaned in frustration and started to pick them up when I heard a knock on the door.

“You guys can come in.” I yelled, assuming it was Nate and the girl. When another series of knocks sounded through the suite, I threw the mass of paper towels down, stood up and stomped to the door. “Seriously. You can open the  door. It’s not just my roo—“ I froze when I opened the door and saw Lysander standing there. I felt my heart flip and a warm sensation filled my stomach.

“Are you alone?” He asked, his voice soft, but panicked. I couldn’t find anything to say. My mind just stopped working, along with my mouth. I slowly nodded my head and he sighed, stepping in past me and closing the door. I was literally kicking myself in my head for being an idiot. Use your words Kolya. WORDS.

“What brings you here?” I suddenly asked in the same seductive Spanish accent I had earlier when I was sizing up the blood stains. I winced and cocked my head, lips pused. “That came out so wrong.” I admitted, and expected him to laugh, but he was just staring at me with a cold look.

“Don’t go on your date with Giovanni. In fact, don’t go anywhere near him.” He suddenly said and I was taken back. Hold the phone.

“You just said a couple of days ago, when you sexually assaulted me in the bathroom I might add, that you needed me to leave you alone. That you wanted Giovanni to be happy. And now suddenly; I’m supposed to ignore him?” This time, Lysander did laugh, but it was menacing and nowhere near a laugh that would be made at something funny.

“Sexually assaulted? No. You liked it and your cock knows it too.” My whole face heat up at that and I widened my eyes at him. “And—Gesù Cristo. Just listen to me. Stay away from him. I know my cousin better than anyone, and he is just going to break you.” I opened my mouth to agrue back, but he stepped forward and cupped my cheeks, placing his forehead against mine. “I don’t want him to hurt you. I don’t want to see you in pain.” I felt my heart soften at the agony in his voice. I could say it sounded like he was going to cry, but I think it would take a lot to make a man like Lysander cry.

I reached up and touched his hands, causing him to look up at me. I wanted to look away. I wanted to shove him, and throw him out the door.

But I wanted him to hold me more. I wanted to touch him. I wanted him to touch me. To feel his heated breath against my skin and his bulging muscles under my fingertips. I hadn’t known the man for even a month, and I wanted him.

I wanted him so bad.

I slowly moved forward and touched my lips to his. For some reason, I didn’t want to do anything hot and heavy. I wanted sweet and caring. Tender and slow movements and actions. I wanted love.

And that’s what I felt with Lysander.

I pulled back and he looked me dead in the eye, and I saw the confusion. Suddenly it all clicked. He was confused of his feelings. One minute he’s a manwhore, having sex with every girl he meets. Then he meets a guy and suddenly, that’s all he wants.

All he wants is me.

“I have to go.” He whispered and I frowned. “Just promise me you won’t see him.” I nodded my head and heard myself say “I promise.” He smiled and grabbed my chin, pulling my lips to his, but it wasn’t a lustful kiss. It was a kiss you would receive from your lover. Or at least it’s what I assumed that would be, because I had never had someone who loved me. Besides my parents and pack members, no one else loved me for other reasons. They loved me as a friend, a son, an Alpha, but not as a person.

I frowned as Lysander pulled away, opened and walked out the door.

I wanted to keep him here. I wanted to fall asleep and wake up to him. Cook meals, watch movies, and play games with him.

Want, want, want.

I jumped at the sound of the door opening and looked up to see Nate walking in, and the girl behind him was definitely different from the one that just left.

Her hair was now thick and jet-black, a contrast to the mocha skin color and caramel colored eyes. Her facial structure was prominent; cheekbones defined, eyebrows lifted and a full mouth that I’m sure had a beautiful smiled behind it. She was gorgeous, to say the least.

“Good thing you didn’t come. The way the get their new bodies, I’m gonna have nightmares for weeks.” Nate shivered and closed the door behind them, and suddenly all the questions came rushing to me.

“You might want to take a seat, because now comes the interrogation.” She didn’t argue, and patiently walked over to the couch and sat down. I followed, sitting in the chair opposite of her and Nate sat on the arm of the couch. “What’s your name?” I asked.

“Essie Salvatore.” She replied, her voice smooth. Guess they changed voices as well as appearances. I nodded my head slowly.

“Okay, Essie. Why were you covered in blood? And who was chasing you?” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

“I’m married to the leader of shape shifters. So, basically the Alpha, but not for just one pack. He rules all of them. Ever since I was born, I hated what I was. Killing people felt wrong and disgusting. Even after my parents drilled into my head that it was necessary for us to live, I still refused to do it. I would go to the point of where I was practically bones, before they would lock me in a room and force me to kill the person they threw in there. I still didn’t change. So, they thought if they married me off to someone of high class, I would understand that killing a person was okay.”

“I married Victor. At first, he treated me kindly. He understood my dislike of changing and we came to an agreement that he would find a way for me to change shape without killing someone. It didn’t work. He tricked me. I woke up in a room with no windows or lights. He would leave me in there for days with no food, no water. He said it was too teach me that I needed to kill to survive. It was kill or be killed. I lived like that for years, until one day, I wanted out. So when he came in for his weekly visits, I smashed his head against the wall and took off.”

“I just kept running. My legs taking me anywhere, and finally I ended up at some woman’s house. I had to explain to her everything that was happening or she wouldn’t let me stay, so when I told her, she said I could take her body when I needed it. I was confused, but it turns out she had cancer, and said she would much rather die knowing she lived on to be healthy since we don’t take diseases with the body. I never got to save her though. Victor and his men found me and they burned her house down, with her inside. But I remember her telling me to run, and never stop. So that’s what I’ve been doing. Running. I was close to making it two years without being caught, but Victors mean caught up to me. Today, I could have died. But I sensed you guys and knew that if I found you, I could be safe.”

“That’s why you only wanted to kill that girl.” Nate said, nodding his head slowly.

“Yes. This woman was dying of an unknown disease. I’m sure if she knew, she would want me to do what I did.” She answered.

“Wait. So, not only do we have a bounty hunter riding our asses, we now have the fucking leader of shape shifters out for our blood?” I was partially yelling the last part, but in my defense, I was freaking out.

“Nikolai, calm down. We can call Navaeh and get this sorted out.” Nate said softly, but I wasn’t having it.

“Call Navaeh? We have been calling her for days and she hasn’t answered once!” I closed my eyes and started pacing. I was dead. This trip was to get away and let loose. But instead, I found my mate, have a bounty hunter on my ass, along with shape shifters? I was two seconds from having a meltdown.

I have to call my dad.

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