Here is chapter 4. Chapter 5 will be written soon.
All of the characters are above the age of consent.
This is self-edited and I know there may be some errors. I ran this through spell checker, but alas, I'm not perfect. I hope any errors you find don't distract from the story.
Please leave feedback.
Note: I hope you are really enjoying this story.
Chapter 4
Heaven talked as Nevaeh listened. Both girls were happy for Rosita, the shyest of all the girls. Savannah knocked and joined in, after making sure Christiana was alright. Christy relaxed, and for the fifth time that day she smiled.
"Oh no, dish." Savannah demanded. "Ok, he's a cop. He's gorgeous. Is he as good as I think?" She queried. Christy blushed.
"Vannah, stop. We talked and kissed a few times; that's all." Christy replied, as her family members laughed.
"Look, we'll ask Rosita for some pointers when we can get her way from Nials, ok. But really Christy, you need to a little more than just kiss." Savannah teased.
Christy laughed. "Wait, I heard you were met someone?" She asked.
Savannah smiled, "Yes, but he wasn't for me. His mate was from Kingsley."
"Oh, that's OK. You'll meet your mate one day." Christy added.
Someone knocked and it was Kalen. "Ladies, checking in, are you all good?"
"We're fine. Stop pretending you're working. We know Uncle Kale sent you to spy on us." Christy teased.
Kalen laughed, "You figured it out. I'll tell Dad that I'm busted."
"Let me go. You ladies have to dress." As he was leaving, Rosita returned. "Rosa," he teased. "You look different."
Rosa laughed, and said, "Shut up, Kalen. Go find your own woman."
Kalen walked away laughing when he felt a sudden burst of anger. He heard voices and went to see what was going on. Some of the guards had accosted a female digging in the trash. She wasn't a guest, and from what they gathered, not the type that belonged in this neighborhood.
They were calling the sheriff when Kalen entered the room. Her eyes flew to his, silently begging for mercy. He froze. He could not move. She was human. She was filthy. She was not the type of person his family ever wanted them to meet, but she belonged to him.
"Kalen. The sheriff is on his way. We can stay here with her." One of the wolves suggested.
Kalen nodded. "I'll wait with you." He offered.
The wolf was offended. "Look bloodsucker, you aren't security. What you think I'll hurt her?" He stated.
Kalen backed down, "No. Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean any offense, but I wanted to help in some way." He stood. "I can leave."
The girl gasped and whispered. "Don't go." Sitting in an iron chair with her arms wrapped around her body, Kalen could see that she was terrified.
The guard sighed, "Ah she speaks. Stay bloodsucker. At least your pretty face helps with something." Kalen gave the wolf a censoring look. The wolf stepped aside.
Kalen sat next to her. He examined her and realized she was much too thin. The girl watched him. She was too small, too frail.
"What's your name, little one?" Kalen whispered.
The girl looked away. "Sweetheart, tell me you name." Kalen whispered.
"My name is Keeley. Keeley Rose." The guard snorted, and her body trembled even more. Kalen started to warn him when the other guard looked in. She looked at the guard. He was big, but for some reason this guy made him less scary. She relaxed a little.
"OK, Keeley, I'll stay here with you until the Deputy arrives. Can you tell me why you came here and what you were doing?" Kalen asked. He knew. She was starved. She reeked. Her clothes were too big for her small frame. However, that did not matter, she would never want for anything again.
Keeley sat thinking of her loved ones at home. They had not eaten all day as their small ration of food had run out. They just needed food for tonight. Tomorrow, she'd go back to the pantry. She grabbed Kalen's arm, gripping his bicep. "Mister, I can't go to jail. They need me. I just needed some food. If you let me go, sir, I promise that I'll never come back here." She pleaded.
Kalen froze. He scented her. She did not carry the scent of one with young children, but she was human.
"Who needs you Keeley?" he asked.
"My family, I'm all they have." She answered.
At that moment, the deputy arrived as did Navarro. "Officer, she meant no harm. Let me take her home." Kalen offered.
"Sir, I'm sorry. Mr. Fashion told us to deal with all intruders. She goes with us." He reached for Keeley. She grabbed Kalen's sleeve.
Kalen fought his anger. "I'll meet you at the station." He declared as the officer led the sobbing young woman away.
Navarro stopped him. "Let's take my car." He offered and headed to his Dodge Charger. Before the officer could put Keeley in his cruiser, Lesvia stopped him. Hugh joined them and the girl was released. She went straight to Kalen.
"Let's get you something to eat and I'll take you home." Kalen whispered. The cook packed a huge basket for her family and Kalen drove her home. She was embarrassed as they approached the small shack she lived in with her aged parents.
"Keeley, is that you?" a frail voice called.
"Gammy, it's me. I have food." She answered. Kalen carried the basket inside.
Keeley kneeled beside an elderly gentleman, "Gampy, wakeup; I have food." She whispered.
He opened his gray eyes. He could not see anything, but he knew someone else as there. "Keeley, who is with you," he asked.
"A friend, Gampy. He helped me to bring the food." She then unpacked the soup and fed her grandfather first as her grandmother tried to eat on her own. Kalen stepped up and helped the old woman to feed herself. Soon they finished and he faced Keeley. "You need to eat." He stated.
"No, I'm fine. I need to change his bandages and grandma needs her medicine." She explained.
"I'll help." Kalen stated as he stepped in and assisted her grandfather as she went on to help her grandmother.
As he helped the old man, the old man spoke. "She deserves better than this. She has taken care of us her whole life. Her mother was a disappointment. We were too old to have a child but we had her anyway. Gammy was forty-nine when her mother was born. We named her Miracle. Miracle had Keeley when she was sixteen. When Keeley was little, she tried to give her to a man. Keeley was just five years old and we took her. That was twenty-four years ago. We raised her as our own and when I couldn't work anymore, she worked. Now we are a burden on her. She deserves better." He cried softly.
Kalen listened. "Sir, she will never want for anything again. You have my promise."
"Are you vampire or wolf?" The old man asked.
Kalen froze. Human did not know about others. The old man smiled, "Son, I've lived almost one hundred years. I've seen some things."
Kalen relaxed. "Vampire, I'm from the Ivanov Coven."
The old man gasped. "She will be loved. "Take her from here tonight and don't let her return. She needs to be free."
Kalen paused. "Sir, like her I will not abandon you, either of you. You are her family and that makes you my family now. We will stay here tonight, but tomorrow arrangements will be made for all three of you."
Keeley and her grandmother entered. "What are you talking about?" Keeley demanded. If he thought to take her grandparents, she was fighting.
Kalen smiled, "No, I'm taking you all some place safe. You can get the help you need and your grandparents can have people there to look out for them."
Her grandmother sighed. "Where are you taking us? She asked.
Kalen smiled, "A little town in Texas called Loess Falls."
Keeley relaxed. She wasn't alone anymore and for some reason, she trusted this man. Kalen wasn't finished. "Keeley, you need to eat. Do you two need help getting into bed?" He asked, and they did. So he helped them.
When he emerged from their small bedroom, Keeley was waiting.
"You shouldn't have promised them that. But for now they are at least happy. Thank you." She whispered.
Kalen watched her. "Have you eaten?"
"I will. You can go now. Thank you Mr.?" she paused as she realized she didn't know his name.
"I'm Kalen, Kalen Ivanov, and I'm not leaving you here." He whispered.
Her heart pounded as she looked into his eyes. A lone tear fell. "Thank you." She sighed, as she sat down to eat her soup.
Kalen watched her. In his entire life, he never felt the need to completely possess someone like he did Keeley. She did not eat enough, but for now he'd let it go.
He looked around the sparse space and noted the wire bare sofa. This is where she slept. How? He wondered. Keeley talked.
"It wasn't always like this. Gampy worked at his own business for over fifty years. Then the recession hit and customers could no longer pay. He cut back as much as he could until the banks demanded payment. We'd just learned that Gammy was battling cancer. She needed treatments. Gampy mortgaged everything to take care of her. I quit school to find work. It wasn't enough. I found this place, and bought it dirt cheap. We moved in ten years ago. It's not much, but it's ours." Keeley explained.
Then she frowned.
Why did she feel the need to explain anything to this man? He was a stranger. Why did she agree to let him fly her and her grandparents to Texas? She didn't know him.
Kalen could sense her doubt, and wanted to calm her. Soothing her racing thoughts, he willed her to sleep. As she dozed, he placed her on the sofa and made an important call.
Javon was in his study. He was hiding out. His youngest daughter was driving him, Thaddeus, and Blaine insane. It didn't help that his oldest grandchild was often in on the plans with her. Elise decided that after she practically raised Ares, Aria and Vince, he would have the joys of handling this brood.
His phone rang. "Hello, Kalen, I'm surprised to hear from you." He answered. "Has something else happened?" he asked, knowing that Christiana just escaped the hands of a kidnapper.
"No and yes. Uncle Javon, I need your help." Kalen paused and then explained the situation.
Javon did not hesitate for a moment. "Bring them, they are welcomed." He answered.
Kalen smiled. He knew he could count on them. He would have taken them home, but they were human. He wasn't sure if they could adapt. Besides, the older ones were so frail, he prayed the trip to Texas wasn't to taxing on them.
