"Bro, I think you're making a mistake."

"No. The mistake was bringing her home in the first place. I'll get her a room at the hotel and I'll need you to drop her stuff off for her."

"You're going to regret it. And there will be no coming back from this, Tobias." Tristan left the room before I could even reply.

I'm already regretting the decision but he doesn't need to know that. Willow will never be safe around me and I could never make her happy. After I almost lost control with her earlier, there was no way I could put her at risk anymore. Willow deserved better than a monster.

I took a seat beside Willow's cot and leaned back against the wall. The cold touch against my back was rather soothing and helped me keep the hunger at bay.

Emotions were my biggest enemy. The hunger inside of me is driven by my emotions. If I get angry the hunger takes over, if I'm excited the hunger nearly consumes me.

The problem with Willow is that she is fully capable of drawing every single emotion out of me, which makes me the worst person for her to be around.

I closed my eyes and let myself relax. The sun would be up in a few hours and I just wanted to get it all over with.

I woke up to find the cot beside me empty and a blanket draped over my chest. Willow was nowhere in sight but I know she couldn't have gotten far.

I grabbed a clean shirt from the small dresser in the room that I used for the first week Willow stayed with us. I pulled it over my head then made my way downstairs. Willow was sitting at the bar talking to Micky with a cup of coffee in her hand.

"Morning sleepy head" Willows voice was as sweet as ever as she held out her cup to me. "Want some coffee?"

"I think you need it more than I do. Are you ok?"

Willow wrinkled her nose before putting the cup down on the bar table and it was the cutest thing I had ever seen.

"No thanks, I'm not a coffee person. I actually think coffee tastes disgusting and I'll never understand why anyone drinks it. And I'm fine just nursing a hangover."

I laughed and took a seat beside her. I've never actually tried coffee before but I always thought it smelled good. It was definitely on the list of things to try one day if I'm ever able to break the curse.

"Do you remember anything from last night?"

I was a little cautious on asking her that question. I was afraid she was going to tell me something that would p.i.s.s me off all over again and make me want to kill the b.a.s.t.a.r.d from last night for a second time.

"I remember you flirting with some trashy bimbo at the bar and dancing with some creepy guy to get back at you."

"I wasn't flirting. I was being nice."

"Well being nice doesn't mean you have to take her number."

If I didn't know any better I'd say she was jealous. I had a feeling saying goodbye to her today was going to be a h.e.l.l of a lot harder than I thought.

"Look, Willow we need to talk."

Wow, did I really just use that line? I felt like an idiot and the look on Willows face made me feel really uneasy.

"Talk about what?"

"I think it's time for you to go. I've been keeping you against your will and it's not right."

"But you're not keeping me against my will. Not anymore. I like it there Tobias. You don't have to feel bad about kidnapping me. It was actually the best thing that has ever happened to me."

Yep, this was definitely going to be harder than I thought.

"I'll have Amelia pack up your things and Tristan will drop them off for you. I'll take you to a hotel and-"

"This is a joke right, some kind of birthday prank? You kidnapped me Tobias, held me against my will and now that I want to stay you're kicking me out? Are you serious right now?"

I never noticed before but her eyes change shades with her emotions. Right now they were a dark blue and full of fire. I could tell I was doing a great job at p.i.s.sing her off and she would probably hate me forever.

"I'm sorry-"

"You can take your apology and stuff it where the G.o.d d.a.m.n sun doesn't shine."

She jumped off the bar stool and stormed towards the door with her shoes in her hands.

"Where are you going?"

"To go pack up my own s.h.i.t before you get home so I never have to see your face again."

With that she left. It felt like there was a huge weight sitting on my chest making it hard to breathe. The only person I had ever shared my secret with was walking out of my life.

"Well boy, you are officially the biggest idiot I have ever met in my life, hands down."

Micky stood there drying off the gla.s.ses he'd washed this morning. I let out a sigh and folded my hands against the back of my head.

"I didn't have a choice."

"There is always a choice. And you son just made the wrong one. That girl spent all morning gushing over how special you made her feel last night with that party. Did you know her mom died when she was ten? Poor girl hasn't celebrated her birthday since then and you gave her the first birthday she has had in fifteen years."

Her mom died? Well that was news to me and it made me feel like s.h.i.t. First I gave her the best birthday, now I've turned it into the worst. I needed to get back to the house and fix things. Even if she refused to stay now, I needed to at least make sure she left with us on good terms.

I said by goodbyes to Micky and headed outside only to find that my motorcycle was gone.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

WILLOW.

My eyes burned as I refused to let myself shed any tears. If Tobias wants me gone then fine, I'll leave. I never belonged here anyways.

I had my suitcase opened laying on my bed with half of my clothes already packed into it. I stood there folding the rest of them when I heard a knock at the door.

I refused to answer it, but that didn't stop Amelia from coming into the room. She was holding two cups of tea and placed them down on the bedside table.

"Do you want any help?"

I shook my head no but I didn't dare speak because I knew my voice would fail me and I'd no longer be able to hold back the tears.

Amelia came over and pulled me into a hug. It was weird because before last night she had always hated me. I wasn't much help most of the time. I was unfair in hating her because of what she did to Tobias when I really didn't even know her.

I gave in and put my arms around her. That was enough to make the tears fall. I had no idea why my heart was breaking over this. I had only known Tobias for less than a month and yet it felt like I was losing a part of myself.

Something about Tobias made me feel safe and secure, but now that he's making me leave it feels like the carpet has been ripped out from under my feet.

There was a knock at the open door and when Amelia and I turned around we saw Tobias standing in the door way. I had a dej-vu moment from the first day I had woken up here and tried to escape. Once again he took up nearly the entire door frame blocking my only exit.

I turned away from him and went back to packing. The tears were fading, replaced with anger and pain, so I knew if I looked at him my emotions would get the better of me.

"I really don't think this is a good time Tobias. You've done enough!"

Amelia stood by my side with her arms crossed over her chest. This was the first time other than last night where she was actually wearing clothes, too.

"n.o.body asked you."

"n.o.body had too. I really think it's best if you leave." Amelia stood her ground even though Tobias was completely capable of snapping her neck.

Tobias had killed Amelia about five times since the day I arrived. Each time she had come back to life but somehow I doubt dying was any fun; yet she still refused to back down.

"This has nothing to do with you, go f.u.c.k my brother or something."

"Don't talk to her like that!" I snapped at him.

I understood she was his ex-wife and he was still bitter over the fact that she was s.e.xually involved with his brother, but I was tired of the way he was treating her.

"You can't just waltz in here like you own the place and start barking orders and expecting people to listen. We are not dogs, we don't sit or stay, and when you tell us to jump, we sure as h.e.l.l don't ask how high. We are people, Tobias! Amelia is a person, a good person. And you might have kicked me out, but until my bags are packed and my a.s.s is out that door, this is my room so you can either have a little respect or get the f.u.c.k out."

Both Amelia and Tobias looked stunned and Tristan walked into the room clapping for an encore. I turned away from all of them to stuff the rest of my things into my bag. I gave up on folding them; all I wanted to do was get the h.e.l.l out of here.

"Come on Mia, I think blueberry can hold her own against the big bad vampire."

Amelia tried to protest but Tristan scooped her up into his arms, carried her out of the room and closed the door behind them. I dreaded being left alone with Tobias, but there wasn't anything more he could say to me that could make today any worse than it already was.

"Willow-"

"Don't. I have nothing left to say to you."

"Then don't say anything, just listen. I'm not kicking you out because I don't want you here. It's just-"

"It's just because I kissed you. You don't like me that way and now you're afraid that things are going to be all weird. Well, I'm sorry! It never should have happened. I got the hint Tobias, you can go now."

"Wait, you think this was because of the kiss?"

"What else could it have been? You were a regular Martha Stewart in the morning with breakfast and even planned a surprise party for me. The only thing it could be is the kiss."

I turned around to find Tobias standing right behind me. You'd think the guy didn't know the meaning of personal s.p.a.ce. I had to take a step backwards to keep our bodies from touching.

"Willow, I liked kissing you and you're right' I'm afraid. But I'm not afraid that things are going to be weird. Don't be sorry that you kissed me. I'd give anything for another kiss from you."

It felt like my heart had jumped up into my throat as tears burned my eyes again. I wanted to believe everything he was saying but none of it made any sense. If it wasn't the kiss that made him not want me around anymore than what did I do that was so wrong?

"Then why don't you want me?"

Tobias closed the step between us and cupped my face in his hands. I bit my lip to keep it from trembling as I looked into his amazing green eyes.

"Don't ever think for a second that I don't want you. I've wanted you every single day since the night I laid my eyes on you. Why do you think I brought you home Willow? It wasn't because Amelia needed a friend. I'm drawn to you. My body craves you. You've become as essential to me as breathing."

"I don't understand."

"The guy from last night, that creep you were dancing with, was a vampire. A real vampire who was working for someone even worse and they can make your life a living h.e.l.l. He threatened you, and only because you knew me. Only because he knows how much you mean to me. I thought by letting you go I was doing the right thing."

"That isn't going to change, no matter where I am Tobias. If I'm here, or at a hotel in another town, I'll still know you and I'll still care about you. I know you think you're just trying to protect me, but I'll still be at risk and if I'm not here with you then there is nothing you can do to protect me."

I closed my eyes as Tobias pulled my face to his chest and held me. I could hear his heart beating and I felt so secure I wanted to cry.

"I f.u.c.ked up cupcake. I'm sorry"

I didn't say anything, but there was nothing that needed to be said. Everything was perfect in that moment and I never wanted it to end. I felt the tears fall free as I wrapped my arms around him.

Tobias picked me up off my feet, pulled my legs around him and brought my face to his. The moment our lips touched my body came to life. He was delicious. His hands dropped down to my a.s.s as he carried me to my bed.

I felt his grip tighten before he pulled me off of him and turned away from me. I could tell that the hunger was getting to him; it was the same thing that happened yesterday.

"Tobias?"

He pulled away from me when I reached for his arm. I knew it must be hard for him, not being able to control it. I was persistent though and wouldn't give up on him. I reached for his arm again but when he tried to pull away I wouldn't let him.

"Hey, it's ok-"

My words were cut off when he spun around and lifted me up in one quick motion while pinning me against the wall. His eyes were blood red and I could feel his body shaking from the internal battle for control.

"Does it look ok to you?" He growled from between clenched teeth.

I placed a hand against his cheek and brushed my thumb across his lips. I knew I should be terrified, anyone in their right mind would be, but even while the darkest part of him tried taking control I felt safe with him.

"Shh."I cooed.

I pressed my forehead against his and kissed the corner of his mouth gently; there was no way that Tobias would hurt me and I was going to prove it to him.

Tobias tried to pull away from me again but I wouldn't let him. I wrapped my legs around his waist again and held him in place. He buried his face in my shoulder and I heard him growling between clenched teeth. One of his hands was braced against the wall beside my head while the other grasped my hair in a fist at the back of my head.

We stayed like this for what seemed like forever but it was working. Tobias's breathing was slowing down and the shaking had stopped.

When he finally pulled his head back to look at me his eyes were a piercing vibrant green color. If I had ever seen a moment when Tobias was fully in control of himself this was it.