Filip licked the wound closed once he finished taking my blood. He smacked his lips together and nodded. "Very tasty," he said, gesturing for me to continue on my way towards my pack. "As always."

I rolled my eyes but didn't reply, not knowing what he was getting at but started to make my way back to the pack with him by my side. I knew that he drank my blood every once in a while, starting back when we had first met when I was fourteen, but I didn't care if my blood was tasty to him or not.

"It does taste a little strange," he said. He gave me a look, narrowing his eyes at me. "It's not your usual blood taste."

I narrowed my eyes at him suspiciously. "What do you mean by that?" I asked. "I have not had any alcohol if that is what you are questioning me on." I moved my hand across my arm and thought back to what I had to drink that week that was different than normal.

"It tasted herby," Filip said. He narrowed his eyes further and studied me, and I watched him with a blank look on my face. "And, it doesn't taste like the normal herbs your grandmother gives you. What did you take, Alexandra?"

"How can he be so sure that it doesn't?" Corey asked. "I think your Vampire friend is broken."

I rolled my eyes and scowled but didn't reply to Corey while studying the male in front of me. I had no idea why he was questioning what was in my blood and wondered what my grandmother had given me to make on high alert. "My grandmother did give me a new tea," I said finally.

Filip narrowed his eyes, and I could tell that he was halfway between not believing and believing me. "How long ago, and why?"

I shrugged and grimaced. "A couple of nights ago," I replied. I wrapped my arms around myself and sighed, leaning my chin against my chest, staring straight ahead and not looking at him. "And I have been having trouble sleeping again." I shrugged again, with the grimace becoming deeper. "One of the reasons is because Levi is back, but it isn't the main one."

"Then what is the main one?" Filip asked. "I thought it would be him."

I shook my head and stayed silent. I had no idea why I had trouble sleeping, but I did, and it caused me to moodier than normal, something that scared the pack members that I came into contact with.

Filip nodded. "I could..." He trailed off when I shook my head. "It won't kill you, prekrasnyy (beautiful)," he said, winking.

I scowled but didn't reply. I knew that he wanted to "hypnotize" me to fall asleep, but I wasn't going to do it. I trusted him but didn't trust him that much to be under a Vampire's Spell.

Filip's eyes went wide, and he gasped and placed his hand over his mouth. He had slid into my thoughts without my permission, and I knew that he picked up why I didn't want to be under his spell. "You don't trust me?" he asked, amusement filling his voice.

I scowled but didn't reply. I had a feeling that he knew I trusted him enough to let him drink my blood, but I didn't trust him enough to do anything else. I also didn't care that he went through that thought because as soon as he heard it, he left, leaving me without another voice in my head.

"Rude," Filip said, and I rolled my eyes. He narrowed his eyes, and an amused smile flickered onto his lips. "You don't trust me."

"Go bug Nike," I retorted finally. I had enough of the Vampire, and all I wanted to do was shift into my wolf form, but I knew that it wasn't safe. I knew that I had to wait until I was in my designated area before I could shift into that form and let out the pent-up anger inside me. "I don't know why you are even out here and not there, partying like you want to."

"Because of the other Alphas," the king said. "I know he won't do anything without your permission, but I don't want to start any wars."

I scowled and narrowed my eyes, even though I knew that the king wouldn't see it. "You make it sound like I can control the male. I can't. He is a Vampire and does what he wants."

The king chuckled but didn't reply. The chuckle was the same as Filip's: if only you knew...

I bristled and pursed my lips, annoyed, before I narrowed my eyes at Filip, who had been silent with a sad smile on his face. "What are you hiding?" I asked, narrowing my eyes further while I glared at him. I folded my arms across my chest and scowled, not liking the secrets that were being hidden from me.

He raised an eyebrow, and an amused smile appeared on his lips while he cocked his head and studied me. "Nothing," he replied. He cleared his throat and looked away before he looked back at me, his eyes darker. "The reason that I am not there is because of that Alpha of yours. I am sure that he will not like it if he finds out that I am using you as a blood bag."

"Hmph," I replied because I knew that was not the actual reason as to why he had not walked into the packhouse, find Nike, and wish him a happy birthday. I felt the shift when I stepped out of the pack ground and onto the human city that laid between my pack and theirs, and it felt like I had a hard time breathing because I was not a fan of the human city.

"What was the tea that your grandmother gave you?" he asked, changing the subject. "It tasted weird and not her normal tea."

I shrugged my shoulders and grimaced. "I learned not to ask," I replied. "She would not tell me if I did. The only thing she would do is give me that knowing look and then wink before she changes the subject to something else."

Filip chuckled and nodded. "Well, I will leave you to your run. Have fun shifting, and don't kill anyone yet." He winked. "We don't need any dead bodies piling up, prekrasnyy."

I rolled my eyes and scowled. "Goodbye, Filip," I said in a voice that told him to leave me alone.

The Vampire laughed and bowed his head. "Proshchay, prekrasnyy, (Goodbye, beautiful)," he said. He patted his pocket where the ring laid. "I will get back to you as soon as I can with the verdict on the blood." He winked. "Do not kill anyone yet."

I rolled my eyes but didn't reply while took his leave, laughing at the scowl on my face. "I already know this, Filip," I muttered when he was farther away. I sighed and wrapped my arms around me while I took my time getting back to my pack. "I already know."