The Vampire Who Thirsted for a Wolf (2 page)

vampires have a powerful hold over Japan, and since we are now in

communication with shifters, he wouldn’t have come here without

powerful incentive.” He scanned the faces of the four men and saw

the same decision he felt in his heart. “He must be caught at once.”

There were nods all around, everyone agreeing with Kaname.

“Excellent,” Kaname said. Deciding everything else could wait after

his guests and especially Derek got some sleep, he smiled and got up.

“Now, please, you must go rest. You have traveled a long way, and

you’re probably very tired.”

The men tried to protest as they shot to their feet, but Kaname

summoned one of his servants, Hiro, to the room.

“Show the gentlemen to their quarters, Hiro,” he ordered.

Hiro bowed lowly. “Yes, Yamamoto-sama. At once.”

The servant gestured for the shifters, incubus, and warlock to

follow him. After thanking Kaname profusely, the men followed after

Hiro. However, just as he was about to leave, Derek threw one single

look back toward Kaname.

It was a telling gesture, something clearly done out of impulse. He

hesitated, as if he didn’t truly want to leave. Their gazes met, and this

time, Kaname caught a brief glimpse of the man behind the mask.

There was desire in those eyes, one that echoed what Kaname himself

felt.

Before he knew it, Kaname took a step forward, but his action had

an effect opposite to what he’d have liked. Derek seemed to snap out

of his trance, and the veil of propriety instantly fell again. “Thank you

again for your hospitality, Yamamoto-sama,” he said quickly. “We

appreciate it a lot.”

With that, Derek followed after his companions and fled

Kaname’s office. For a few moments, Kaname stared at the spot

where Derek had disappeared. He couldn’t help it. He laughed.

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11

The werewolf truly was delightful. Kaname was desired by many,

human, shifter, and vampire alike, but the explosive chemistry he

shared with Derek surpassed everything he’d ever found before. And

yet, Derek denied him. It seemed almost cute, and Kaname had

trouble keeping himself from going after the werewolf. It was only

the knowledge that he couldn’t afford to mess around with Soren

Wade’s son in such complicated circumstances that kept him from

pursuing the spark he’d seen in Derek’s eyes.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, a distraction soon appeared, in the

presence of Yakumo. The young vampire stalked into Kaname’s

office, glaring at Kaname, jet-black eyes shooting daggers at him.

“Why must you bring those people into the coven? Do you care

nothing about our ways, our kin?”

Had Yakumo been anyone else, Kaname wouldn’t have allowed

him to speak like that without being severely punished. Kaname was

the elder of all vampires and leader of the most important coven in the

world. He couldn’t have his own people questioning him, especially

not in these dark times.

But Yakumo was his weakness, and the young vampire knew it.

Kaname had indulged him in everything ever since Yakumo had come

to stay with him. But who could blame him? After all, Yakumo was

his younger brother, the only sibling Kaname had and would ever

have.

Oblivious to Kaname’s musings, Yakumo continued to rant. “And

not only dirty shifters, but also an incubus and a warlock. A warlock,

Kaname? And Tyrell Hall’s son, at that. I’m starting to think you truly

aren’t the best leader for our nation.”

Anger flowed through Kaname, hot and bright. He narrowed his

eyes at his brother, allowing his abilities to flow over the younger

vampire. Instantly, Yakumo shut up, but it wasn’t enough. Exerting

just enough pressure over Yakumo’s body so as to express his point,

Kaname said, “Remember your place, youngling. I have allowed you

to come here and live by my side out of pure sentimental reasons,

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which I will never deny. However, that doesn’t give you the right to

question me. In fact, I expect better from you than what I have

received. If my own brother is so eager to throw me to the wolves,

what will my enemies do?”

All the blood drained out Yakumo’s face as he realized just what

he’d said. “I…I’m sorry, Kaname.” Yakumo fell to his knees, his

entire being irradiating misery. “I just…I want you to be safe. I don’t

like what they say of you.”

Kaname sighed and lifted his brother back up. He didn’t protest

when Yakumo buried his face in his shirt, clutching the silk in a tight

grip. His shoulder shook with silent sobs as he seemed to attempt to

keep his shame and frustration in check.

Kaname held his brother tightly, angry that he couldn’t do more to

help Yakumo. Since their mother had gone to ground, Yakumo had

become the only family Kaname had. Yakumo might be impulsive,

but his intentions were always good, and he was pure at heart,

something which, unfortunately, was common knowledge within the

coven. Other vampires always tried to exploit Kaname’s affection

toward his sibling for their own purposes. Yakumo always ended up in

the middle, manipulated by them, and sometimes, Kaname wished he

could send his brother away, someplace safe, where all the political

chaos and filth wouldn’t touch him.

“It’s all right,” he told his brother. “Just don’t listen to them. You

must know that I will always, always do what is best for you and our

people. Do you truly not trust me?”

Yakumo pulled away from Kaname and gave Kaname a put-out

look. “Of course I do. I know it often doesn’t sound like that, but I

trust you with my life.”

Kaname opened his mouth to say that he felt the same toward

Yakumo, but something stopped him. He didn’t know what was

bothering him. Actually, he did. It was the fact that his brother had

called Derek a “dirty shifter.” Kaname could forgive Yakumo

anything, but for some reason, that particular insult upset him greatly.

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13

“And I love you with all my heart,” he said instead. “I want you to

try and be more accommodating toward the shifters. First of all, they

are very powerful people and it would behoove us to have their

allegiance. Second, and most importantly, they are our guests, and I

will not have anyone say that I opened the doors to my coven only to

greet the shifters’ envoys with less-than-perfect behavior.”

Yakumo nodded, wiping his eyes. He offered Kaname a brilliant

smile that reminded Kaname of happier times, when their father had

been elder and Kaname’s responsibilities didn’t keep him away from

his sibling.

As they broke apart, Yakumo shrugged and laughed lightly. “I get

it. If nothing else, they’re certainly easy on the eyes.”

Surprisingly, Kaname experienced a pang of jealousy at Yakumo’s

comment, but quickly squashed it. If Yakumo noticed, he didn’t say

anything. Instead, his expression sobered and he ceremoniously

bowed in front of Kaname. “Worry not, Yamamoto-sama. I will not let

you down.”

Usually, Kaname didn’t want his brother to address him like that.

He preferred the intimacy of using their given names, rather than

hiding behind titles. However, this time, he understood the purpose of

Yakumo’s words and gratefully accepted them. “Very good, Yakumo-

kun. I’m relying on you to make our guests feel at home.”

Yakumo hugged him one last time and took his leave. As he

watched his brother go, though, Kaname couldn’t help but wonder

why he hadn’t mentioned his attraction to Derek to his brother. It was

just sexual chemistry, after all. Wasn’t it?

Troubled, Kaname sat back at his desk and skimmed through a

report from his underlings. Alas, he couldn’t focus, the numbers and

letters making very little sense. In his mind’s eye, he could only see

Derek, the way he’d looked when he’d stolen that vulnerable peek

back at Kaname. Something uncomfortably strong was growing

within him, making him burn with need. Fuck. What had he gotten

himself into?

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Derek struggled not to fidget as his father’s penetrating gaze set

on him. “You want to go back to Japan?” Soren asked. “Why?”

For Derek, the question had a very simple answer. Kaname. A

certain vampire had etched his way in Derek’s heart and mind and

refused to let go. The vampire elder was so out of Derek’s reach that

Derek even hesitated to mention it to anyone, let alone to his father.

Even so, being apart from Kaname showered him with confusion,

pain, and uncertainty. He just wanted to see the vampire one more

time, to reassure himself that truly, the only thing existing between

them was an unexplored sexual attraction. Then, Derek’s mind could

be at rest. He could tell himself Kaname wasn’t his mate and believe

it.

Still, it would be very hard to explain that to his father. Recent

events had caused Soren to become even more protective toward his

family. It was probably a bad time for Derek to run off to do his own

thing, given that his brother had just taken a mate who brought a lot of

baggage with him. Especially since Paris’s half siblings, Alpha

Marrow’s children, came to visit Wade pack lands a lot, Soren had

strengthened security more than ever. Not that any of them blamed

Paris for this mess. Of course they didn’t. The entire Wade family

loved Paris a lot because he had given Jace happiness. Even Jace’s

estranged grandparents had showed him affection, although relations

remained awkward between Elder Wade and the younger members of

the Wade clan.

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15

Acknowledging all this, how could Derek want to go to the other

side of the world and abandon his family? He felt so very selfish for

even being in front of his father to make this request. But then, it was

in the nature of shifters to be selfish and focused on one single

purpose where mates were concerned.

And therein lay the crux of the issue. Derek’s heart and his wolf

told him there was more to that attraction than mere sexual urges.

How could he ignore it?

He wasn’t sure how his father would react, though, so he decided

on a reasonable half-truth. “I believe we should visit Kaname

Yamamoto’s coven one more time to thank him for his assistance in

the Tyrell Hall issue. He was very helpful when he could have easily

ignored our predicament.”

Soren scanned Derek’s face, obviously considering his suggestion.

Derek clenched his fists in the fabric of his pants, forcing himself to

remain completely calm. “It could be a good idea,” Soren finally said.

“We should continue to pursue the alliance with the vampires, as they

have indeed been very cooperative this time around.”

Derek suppressed a sigh of relief. “Then you will permit me to

go?” he inquired.

“Yes, you can go. Take Mel with you. She’s been dying to know

Japan as well, and it’s a bit safer and quieter now.”

Derek supposed that was true. Since warlock Tyrell Hall had been

defeated, no other gruesome enemy had appeared on the horizon. The

Sidhe king, Sterling, was keeping a close eye on his people, and more

so since the birth of Winter and Corbin’s son, Lamont. Other

paranormal species had stepped aside, allowing the werewolves to

deal with their business on their own. The humans remained an issue,

but the isolated bands of hunters and rebels were nothing compared to

previous threats Derek’s family had faced.

True enough, things were far from quiet in the pack. The recent

controversial matings had stirred things up, causing pack members to

be particularly unsettled. They were beginning to accept Anson’s

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genuine affection for Reed, although Reed’s grandparents still showed

some reluctance in that regard. Not only that, but Jace and Paris had

also appeared, and brought a whole new element of peculiarity into

their world. Nevertheless, Derek believed his dads could handle any

issue that might come up on their own.

“I will talk to Yamamoto-sama on your behalf,” Soren continued,

“and inquire into whether or not he is available. We don’t want to