Dumbfounded, he could only gape at a blank spot on the wall before he broke out of his reverie.
“I can guard this place. I won’t let it happen again.”
“It’s far from our territory, and you can’t keep campers out. Potential victims. You can’t protect the animals, either, especially when they are not in our territory. It’s better if I find a way to close that entire area down so no one can access it at all.”
“Angelo—”
“I’m a cop, remember? We have a few in training. It would be better if this is handled on a widescale basis to ensure that it’s not just our territory that’s protected. Sending our clan members out won’t do, not when we risk crossing into other territories and sparking rivalries. We already have enough of that.”
There was no arguing with that, not when it was obvious that Angelo had made up his mind. The man had a point, too, so Nico gulped down his instinct to be the protector and brought out another important matter.
“I have someone with me. A lone creature. She’s not the culprit, but she hangs around the area. I’m not comfortable leaving her alone….”
He sensed more than saw Anne stilling as she listened intently.
“Bring her with you,” was Angelo’s response. “We watch out for those who need it.”
“All right. I will let her know she’s welcome.”
The utmost trust in Nico’s judgment had him reeling, but then again, that had always been Angelo’s personality: more than ready to welcome anyone with open arms. Anne seemed flabbergasted, too.
“My clan leader is mated with a vampire from a powerful vampire clan,” Nico explained. “None of that matters because he looks at the heart, not what kind of creature one is.”
She didn’t trust that, but she didn’t contradict it. He rested his elbows on his knees, leaning forward.
“So, Anne…it’s your choice. Do you want to be free or do you want to come with me? If you go, you have to leave completely and find a new spot—somewhere far away from all the trouble happening here. There aren’t many of that around with all the clans flourishing, and they are all wary of lone creatures like you. The second option is that you can come with me. My clan’s main territory.” He paused, letting all of that sink in. Then he went for the kill. “We have shelter and protection. We have food. You will never have to go hungry again, and you won’t have to steal.”
Her cheeks went violently red at the latter, unable to deny it. He glimpsed her internal battle happening under a relatively calm façade, and there was nothing to do except wait for her to finish it.
But the relief was heavy when she held out her hand to shake on it.
***
“Hey, what are you doing here?”
Ironically, Peachy was the first to welcome them back, mostly because she was hanging out at the spot where Charlie held a post at this time of the day. She went in for a hug, then stepped back and beamed.
“You know I’m always here.” She turned to Anne. While Anne assessed her, Peachy was already gasping. “Who is this?”
“A new addition to the group. This is Anne.”
“It’s lovely to meet you, Anne!” Peachy took Anne’s hand and shook it enthusiastically, not noticing when Anne snatched it back and flexed it behind her. “This is so nice. How did you two meet?”
There was something in the tone that had him chuckling. “We are not dating, Peachy. She’s an acquaintance. She needs a home for now.”
“Oh, I see. Well, welcome, then, to our home. If you have any human-related questions, come to me. I’m always around. If it’s more shifter-related, Nico here is the man. There’s also Angelo, who is the kindest leader there is, and his wife Janella is just so cool. Oh, and there’s Iz. If you are interested to know more about vampire history, you can always talk to them….”
“Peachy?”
“What?”
“Where is Charlie?”
She covered her guilty look with another smile, but he was on to her. “Oh, he’s just—”
“Charlie, I know you are somewhere behind there. You had better not step here with a smoke in hand.”
Silence. Then a figure emerged from the shadows, expression defiant as he slipped his hands into his pocket.