The Vampire’s Servant
Chapter 44

We walked out to the front of the pack house and decided to walk to the pizza place. It was about a fifteen-minute walk to the center of the pack's village. Gina's was in the center of everything.

I led the way. Cam had Harmony's arm wrapped around his as she was commenting on all the things she could smell and hear now. I couldn't imagine coming into being a werewolf after spending so much time with human senses. She was handling it amazingly. Pulling open the heavy front door, the scent of fresh pizza hit me like a wall of flavor. I couldn't wait to eat and to see Echo get to try something new. She always looked so thrilled when I brought her things at school.

The hostess wrinkled her nose a little, but didn't say anything as she led us to a booth far from the other customers and took our drink orders. Not a lot of wolves liked the smell of vampire. At lease I knew why my brother and my boss started making me take showers all the time.

Hugging Echo every day would have gotten the scent of vampire all over me. I didn't mind it though. I smelled like my mate.

"What toppings do you think we should get?" I asked Echo as she looked over the menu.

"Mmm. Lots of meat and I'm craving mushrooms."

"Ew." Cam said.

Echo blushed and studied the menu closer. I glared at my friend. He could be so insensitive sometimes.

"They make a stuffed mushroom appetizer. We can get two large all meat pizzas. That should feed everyone." "Cheese sticks! We need mozzarella sticks! Mercy wants them!" Harmony squealed.

Cam chuckled. "Of course. Mercy can have whatever she wants. I'll always give you both anything you want or need."

Harmony leaned in close to Cam and whispered something to him that made him blush before she pulled back and kissed his cheek. I'd seen my brother and his mate enough to know she just said something dirty. Mated female wolves were very forward. With Harmony's personality, the addition of Mercy must be bringing out some uninhibited behavior. I could imagine them being very strong. I could tell she wasn't an omega. It was almost like she was a rank born wolf. I was amazed.

When our waitress came, she had a big smile on her face and flirted a little with Val. She went to school with us. A lot of the younger female wolves in our high school felt it was open season on the human staying with our pack. At least, until they found their mates. Val and Harmony had been accepted into our pack the moment they came back and told us their parents kicked them out. It must be why she smells like a pack wolf and not a rogue. I wondered at it a little.

She wasn't born in our pack or from a pack wolf. She should smell like a rogue born wolf, but she smelled like pack. I knew Trent gave a weird look to his Beta and Gamma when they swore her in. It must have felt like having another wolf added to the pack and confused him.

The waitress brought back our appetizers. Two large orders of mozzarella sticks, an order of stuffed mushrooms, and a combination platter with mozzarella sticks, chicken strips, and fries. Harmony loaded a little plate up with some of everything and put it in front of Echo with her mushrooms.

We dug into the food. Echo was so small, I was always surprised at how much she could pack away. Those lunches she brought to school were twice the size of a school lunch. I was a little jealous, the food smelled better than school lunch too.

It wasn't too much longer before the pizzas were brought out. We were all talking about school and the homework we were all assigned for the weekend. Echo was the only one who'd already finished hers. I was impressed by her dedication. Echo's eyes grew large as the pizzas were dropped off. They were covered in meat and cheese. They smelled amazing.

I picked up a piece and put it on her plate before getting my own. When I looked back, Echo was picking pieces of meat off the pizza and eating them. I chuckled at how cute she was.

"Pick it up, like this." I showed her.

Echo mimicked my movement and took a bite. She closed her eyes and made a soft sound as she chewed. I'd never seen someone relish a bite of pizza as much as she did. It made me smile.

She was eager, yet reverent with each new bite and each new slice. Echo managed three slices even after everything she'd had before. I saw Val and Harmony enjoying their sister's delight in the food that was basically a staple to us.

I wanted to be there for so many new experiences for her. For every new experience. I wanted to be the one to introduce her to everything that she'd missed out on.

When we were done, I paid and left a nice tip for our waitress. Though she was most attentive to Val, she paid attention to the rest of the table too. Being a waiter, I knew how important those tips were.

We walked back to the pack house. Harmony and Echo walked behind everyone, talking about dress shopping for the prom and making plans. Harmony wanted to try and find a dress that was the same as hers, but a different color, for Echo.

I couldn't wait for that night. Knowing that she was there with me. Dancing with her. Getting to see her all dressed up and made up. It was exciting.

At the pack house, I led everyone up to the Alpha's quarters and opened up the small theater room. There was a larger theater room in the pack house, but it was usually full of other people on weekends. Plus, I saw the movies at Echo's house. There was no way they were watching something 'G' rated. They were probably watching an action movie or a horror movie. Echo wasn't ready for movies like that.

"Here are the movies we have. Why don't you pick something out, Echo?" Harmony asked.

"Oh, I'll watch whatever everyone else wants to watch." She replied softly.

"No, you never got to go out to movies or watch TV with us. You pick the movie, Echo." Val said. "Everyone will be fine with what you want to watch."

I liked that they were so intent on her happiness. She blushed in a cute way and walked over to the shelves of movies. Cam quietly argued with Harmony about what movie Echo might pick. Harmony pulled his ear down to her mouth and whispered something to him that made him stop complaining and take a seat.

Harmony sat next to him and cuddled close. I wished Echo would do that, but I was realistic. She wasn't ready for that, but one day she would be.

"Can we watch this one? Drew said I shouldn't, but I understand why. I want to though, if it's okay." Echo said quietly.

Val went over and looked at the box she'd picked out. The scent of his disturbance filled the air. He turned to us and showed the cover.

Cinderella.

Harmony covered her mouth. I looked at Echo as she looked like she wanted to hide somewhere. I caught Val's eye and nodded.

If Echo wanted it, we'd watch it. It was the old Disney cartoon, not the live action one. I didn't think it would be too bad.

He brought me the movie and I set it up on the big screen TV before heading to sit with everyone else. Echo was sitting between Val and Harmony when I turned back. I went to sit on the chair near Val. It gave me a clear sightline to Echo. They took Echo's hands as the movie started. I watched as she stared at the screen intently. Through the whole movie, I found myself paying more attention to Echo than to the screen.

She smiled sometimes and there were times she frowned. She gasped when the stepmother locked Cinderella away so she couldn't try on the slipper. It looked like she might cry when the mice were trying to get the key up to save Cinderella.

I'd never seen anyone so invested in a Disney movie. When the movie ended. Echo was grinning with tears in her eyes. I wanted to hold her so badly, but her family was already there, telling her how much they loved her and hugging her.

I hated her parents for making her identify with that sort of story. I'd never let them near her again. I would protect Echo with everything I had in me. She was mine and would never suffer again if I could help it. I loved her more than I had ever loved anything or anyone.

"Do you want to watch another movie, Echo, or go to bed?" I asked.

"I'm pretty tired, actually. Sorry. Thank you for watching this movie with me. Next time, someone else can pick." She said.

"Until you're ready to watch newer movies, we'll let you pick." I told her.

"I better be ready by next weekend. I doubt Sean will want to watch a movie for little kids." Echo chuckled.

That needed to be fixed. I would have a word with Sean and let him know Echo was a little sheltered and needed to see something better suited for a younger audience. I would even give him money for the tickets so he wouldn't have to pay for something he didn't want to see.

"I guess we'll see what he decides." I smiled. "I'll walk with you guys over to Harmony's room."

We stood up and headed from the room after I put the movie away and turned off the TV. I walked next to Val as we headed to their rooms. Harmony and Val's rooms were right next to each other.

"That movie set you back a little." He whispered to me.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"The prince was the one who came to her house and freed her from her evil stepmother. Not some guy who showed up after she was saved by someone else. I have eyes. I can see how my sister is around Victor. She's falling in love with him. I don't think you should keep after her. It will just be harder for her to feel like she's stuck between the two of you and have to choose." Val said softly.

Why was everyone trying to get me to leave her? It was like the mate bond didn't mean anything to them. I was getting tired of having to defend myself. I hoped Victor accepted my terms. I'd rather be there after all this pressure.

"I love her. We're mates. That bond is stronger than some fairy tale. Everyone is trying to get me to leave her. I wish I'd been the one to save her and not Victor, but there's nothing I can do about it now. I can only move forward and let the bond grow. I know she feels something for him, but she's starting to feel something for me too. She felt the bond earlier. I promise not to pressure her and I'll give up if she chooses him, but she hasn't chosen yet. Not with all the freedom of a girl who knows she can have anything she wants." I replied.

"Fine. Once she's better, if she tells you to bug off and you don't I'll burn your tail off. I may be a light witch, but I'll go dark to protect my little sisters." He warned.

"I'll accept that. You're just looking out for your little sister. I would do the same for my own sister."

He nodded and we walked on. Soon, we came to the door of Harmony's room. Val went over and hugged his sisters, kissing them on top of their heads before saying goodnight and heading to his door.

Harmony asked Echo to wait in the hall while she said goodnight to Cam in private and pulled him into her room, closing the door behind them. I was a little glad that the rooms in the pack house were soundproofed. That made me a little jealous.

I inched closer to Echo. When I was close enough, I reached out for her hand and she jumped when our fingers touched. I was excited that she was feeling the bond.

"Sorry." I mumbled. "Can I have a hug?"

"I... umm... I don't think that's a good idea." She said softly.

My heart dropped and I sighed. Of course she wouldn't there were too many new things. It was too much to ask.

"Is... is your wolf upset?" Echo asked.

"He was worried about you after watching that movie." I replied.

'Liar.' Rex growled in my head.

'Keep your opinions to yourself. I told him.

"I guess I can give you a little hug. You won't sleep well if he's upset."

She turned to me and I hugged her happily. I know I lied and I'd feel bad about it later, but another hug was exactly what I needed. I would maybe see Echo in the morning, but I wouldn't see her until Monday if I missed her at breakfast.

"It feels weird with the buzzy sparky feeling. It kind of tickles." She murmured in my arms.

"Does it bother you a lot?" I asked.

"No, it's just strange."

This was the longest she'd ever let me hug her. I was so happy that I forgot I wasn't supposed to scent her again and rubbed my jaw over her hair. I felt her hands come up and push my chest. Reluctantly, I let her go.

"Goodnight, Gray." Echo said.

"Goodnight, Echo. Sweet dreams." I smiled.

Just as I was turning to leave, Cam came out of Harmony's room. It looked like he got a lot more than a hug, from the look on his face and the disheveled state of his hair and shirt. I grabbed him and pulled him with me. We were going to have our own sleepover. I needed to know everything.