was having none of it, matching his movements, blocking any chance for escape.
“I mean, Jo-Jo is a five-year-old Were in my pack, and he complained about being sent to his room, so Ashi kicked him. Like, kicked him. Jo-Jo is five.”
Ashi had none of his Were agility, but he was still fast. He tried to duck and weave around John, who was matching his speed easily. Analie couldn’t help but think of a cat with a mouse.
“I complained to someone in front of him and he saw fit to mash me into the ground. Freddy, poor guy, chose his first meeting with Ashi to also be the first time he stood up for himself. Ashi threw him into a wall.”
John was slowly advancing as Ashi tried to get around him. Analie glared at the collared Were.
“He knew Freddy couldn’t heal as fast as us. And he still hurt him. I know he’s my packmate but, damn it, he’s—he’s—a total prick!”
“Language,” Christoph mumbled.
“Don’t pull a Gavin on me,” Analie muttered.
Ashi was now backed into a corner. “Christoph!”
“Piss off,” Christoph answered.
John was enjoying himself immensely. The fear Ashi was radiating only made him smell sweeter, more enticing.
More like food.
The vampire was positively salivating at the idea of such an easy, free meal. He didn’t have to work at making him comfortable or safe, or like he was loved and cared for. He didn’t have to pretend to be kind or restrained. He could truly be the glorious predator he was, and no one here would stop him.
Not even Ashi’s packmates.
Mouse casually snagged Analie’s shirt collar and dragged her close enough to cover her eyes when John finally pinned Ashi in the corner, one hand under his jaw to bare his neck. John didn’t delay any longer, fangs laced with pleasure-inducing neurotoxins sinking deep into Ashi’s throat.
After the first prick of needle-like pain, Ashi discovered that the worst part about being so helpless while his blood was being taken was the fact that it felt so good.
Analie shuddered, squeezing her eyes shut behind Mouse’s hand. This was something she would never get used to, no matter how nice the vampires were. Even Christoph had turned away and Analie could feel his shudder through the couch. As bad as she felt, Christoph must be feeling worse. He’d be the tasty snack to a vampire soon enough, too.
She didn’t feel too bad for Ashi. She had expected him to be making a racket, however. Hollering, kicking, grabbing for a weapon—anything to get John away from him. His silence was unsettling. He wasn’t even moving.
Christoph was mumbling the Goliath fight song again. Analie couldn’t help but give a weak smile, but she certainly didn’t join in. How long did it take for a vampire to suck up enough blood? How much was enough?
This was not something to text to Freddy.
Both she and Christoph looked up sharply at the sound of a thump, though Analie had to pull Mouse’s hand away to see what happened. John had backed off. Ashi was sitting in a boneless heap in the corner, not looking at anyone, one hand pressed against the side of his neck. He was shaking.
Christoph looked back at Analie, but didn’t say anything. Analie quietly slid off the couch and skulked to her room.
John nudged Ashi with his foot, smirking as he licked the last remaining drop off the corner of his lips.
“There, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” he mocked. He hadn’t taken that much, technically speaking. For John, it was a little like that small bowl of ice cream after a big meal of steak and potatoes. Not a lot of food, but ultimately a satisfying end to top off the feeding he’d had earlier in the evening. Enough to sate his curiosity.
For Ashi, aside from the lingering tingle of pleasure around the bite, he was lightheaded and his pulse had sped up to accommodate the blood loss. His pride was hurting more than anything else. Too shocked to respond, all he could do was sit there, eyes closed, fighting the shameful urge to ask for more.
Mouse turned away, settling on the couch next to Christoph. John sauntered to the door.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes. I’m going to see if Thad will room with Sebastian for now so we have a place to put those two.”
Mouse stared at him in angry silence as he walked out the door. She was mostly peeved that he’d been so cruel and heartless in front of Analie.