When Ethan had been told they were moving houses, he had not expected this. He had imagined a slightly bigger home like his in Snow Pines, not an entire fucking resort.
The hotel was a massive, idyllic winter escape with slightly curved floors staggered up against the mountain. The layers of gabled roofs made it seem like a series of buildings connected together. But as they got closer, Ethan realized it was just one sprawling complex nestled amidst the trees. The soft lights glowing through the windows welcomed him like a campfire on a cold night.
Cameras and automated barricades were mounted on the street leading up to the hotel. As they followed Jan's car, the enforced mechanical barriers lifted up, allowing them to progress. They circled around the front and then drove through a side entrance that led into an underground garage. Zyga parked next to Jan's Range Rover.
Three men walked briskly towards them as they got out of the cars, two in thick winter jackets and combat boots and the last in a neatly pressed black service suit. As the leader approached, he handed Jan a leather-bound folder with a nod.
"Thanks, Chris. Has Ivan left?" Ethan's mate responded.
"Yes. He'll be landing in two hours," the square-jawed Chris answered. He looked at the three Lycans who had rounded the vehicle to stand behind Jan with their luggage.
"These are the visitors we discussed. Zyga, Jeb, and Ethan," Jan introduced. "Gentlemen, this is Chris, head of security. Behind him is Indri, who assists Chris, and Matt, the hotel manager. He will help you with any accommodation requirements. Chris, kindly set them for access. Ethan has school in the morning."
"Right away. If you'd follow me ... I need your biometric data."
Before meeting Jan, all Ethan knew about vampires was that they were savages who killed wantonly. And the stories he heard of humans working for them portrayed those people as either insane or did so against their will.
Neither of these individuals seemed crazy, or if they were, they hid it pretty well. And looking at the handguns on Chris and Indri's hip and the knives strapped to their thighs, Ethan doubted someone was forcing them to do anything.
In contrast, the interaction between his mate and the staff was very cordial and professional.
So why would a human work for a vampire who could snap his neck any day for food?
Chris led Zyga, Ethan, and Jeb to the elevator bank in the garage. When the doors opened, all but Jan got inside. Ethan's eyes narrowed. Before the lift could close, he placed a palm on one of the sensors, keeping it open.
"Aren't you coming?"
The silver glacial eyes did not blink as they flicked between the two stone-faced wolves behind Ethan before coming back to him. "I think your guardians would appreciate a... human touch... in settling you in. I'll be upstairs if you need me."
Ethan did not want to let the vampire out of sight, but he almost felt the laser heat from the hard eyes behind him. With reluctance, he let go of the doors.
"I'll see you soon," he declared, intending to go after his mate the moment he deposited his bags.
Chris led them to a large office converted into a tech room on the ground floor. The pale yellow walls did little to soften the harsh fluorescent lights flooding the area. A massive circular machine with two rotating arms sat in the middle with a corrugated mat marked with a big red X placed at its center.
Ethan would have expected something like that in a hospital or lab somewhere. Not in the security office of a makeshift vampire camp.
"What's that?" he asked Chris.
YOU ARE READING
Blooded Mate
Fantasy[[MATURE CONTENT]] Pack, family, mate. Loyalty, respect, honor. These are the words that form the foundation of the wolf society. At six years old, Ethan had to choose between his Alpha title and his survival on the night of his father's death. As a...
