Alexa Reyes's Story

---

---

---

---

Arturo took in the sights and sounds of the festival, it seemed that the human side of the town was intrigued by the blooming flowers of the current season. Athena it seems was just as interested, her eyes sparkling with excitement more so than the children that were running around the fair. Parents seemed to not mind at all at the screaming glee of happiness from there children as most stood watching and talking about the most unimportant things in there lives.

Arturo kept a close eye on his sister and a good enough hold of her so she wouldn't break away from him. Some might of said that Arturo was too protective of his sister, but since she was the only family he had now he had his reasons. That and the promise that his father asked of him when they had too leave them both.

Everything seemed to change then, the atmosphere became heavier and of course Athena being Athena rushed of before thinking. Arturo used his height as and advantage to see over the heads of people to catch his sisters direction and her intentions.

Working his was through the crowd his eyes rained on his sister and the other, the scent was fresh with werewolf musk and vampire as Tiff joined Athena as well as Maisie who was there first. Tiff seemed to be standing her ground with the wolves, but there was no need to potentially send things spiralling out of control.

He tapped his sister's shoulder and spoke
"Atena, quante volte ti ho detto di parlare la vostra mente.persone potrebbero non apprezzare"
(Athena, how many times have I told you about speaking your mind? People may not appreciate it)

He then moved past Athena standing in front of her as well as the other two girls. He stood up straight his muscle tensing Squaring up to the larger blond werewolf, his protective nature coming into force. " This doesn't have to end in a disagreement, not here anyway. If all of us go our seperate ways we can continue enjoying our evenings without bothering ourselves with...a fight"

---

---

It was actually a struggle for Tiffany to not say anything for a long time. When Clayton became distracted by the smell of the vampire girl Josh was interacting with, she lost the battle to sighing, knowing his temper and attitude towards vampires. Glancing at Jack's wary expression, she followed the two silently. She even managed to offer Josh a gentle smile though he might not have been able to tell that she was smiling due to the fact that she was known so fondly as the "Ice Queen."

Once three more of the vampires became involved, Tiffany's hackles rose. Especially when the blonde made a retort and the male appeared. Hearing the black-haired vampire speak to her brother, Tiffany took a few steps forward, eyes trained on Clayton though her words were directed to the male vampire.

"He's right. The night is young and I for one want to have some fun," she said coolly, voice surprisingly gentle towards the one deemed to be her "mortal enemy." Her eyes, however, held an edge in case the vampire decided to make a move. "The situation does not call for hostility, especially not here. Not with all of these people." She pointedly directed everyone's gaze to the humans, some of which who were idly staring at them. Their hushed whispers were curious and speculating. Hoping that that was enough to get Clayton to calm himself, she turned her eyes to Josh. "Come on, Josh. Clay wanted some cupcakes a few moments ago and my aunt has an entire container for the pack. Let's go get them." She knew that the other Beta meant no harm and that this was probably just a harmless encounter. The vampire and werewolf seemed to have been having a conversation before they were interrupted and she had no doubt there was no hostility there.

But she understood that lines were drawn and no matter how badly she wanted to cross them and end this feud, there was only one way they could end this. And bloodshed was the last thing she wanted.

---

---

Where were they all coming from? Yet another female vampire appeared before Clayton and the pack, causing Clayton to stiffen from apprehension rather then anger. Sure he was hot headed, but he knew a sticky situation when he was in one. At the moment his wolf wanted him to gather his pack and get out of this vampire invested area, but his ego forces him to remain his ground.

"He's right. You don't have to shake his hand any time soon. He looks like he's about to flip shit, anyway. Wouldn't want your hand to get bitten off." Clayton stared at her as she spoke, his eyes practically twitching with irritation. But, Clay could sense a taunt now that he had calmed a bit. While she may appear dangerous, Clayton had a feeling she would rather not deal with a wolf attack tonight.

"I'd have to agree, you don't want to deal with me tonight and I don't think dead meat goes with cotton candy....though I wouldn't mind a bite" He let a dangerous toothy grin spread across his face, wolfish fangs from his almost-Change still present.

"Wow is that a relief. You don't know how worried I was," the second female said in a bubbly voice, cutting into there conversation, "It is a shame though isn't it? How cruel mother nature can be? Why if I had any indication that you wouldn't separate my head from my shoulders given the chance, I might even dare to say that I find you quite aesthetically pleasing to the eye for someone so....oh what's the word?"

Clayton turned his attention to her with a raised brow, a snort escaping him at the thought. Yeah, vamps were usually attractive creatures. It probably had to do with their mutual supernatural nature, but Clayton knew better then to think about their attractiveness. Better to focus on his bone-deep hatred then their body's.

Just as he was about to take his exit, deeming this over and wishing he had decided to stay home like he planed, a male vampire cut in front of the two females. Where the others seemed more feisty then dangerous, this new male reminded Clayton of the real reason he hated vampires; they were dangerous creatures specifically designed to kill and enjoy it. The male stood up talk, almost the same height as Clayton (which was uncommon).

" This doesn't have to end in a disagreement, not here anyway. If all of us go our seperate ways we can continue enjoying our evenings without bothering ourselves with...a fight"

"I couldn't agree more" Clay rumbled out, shifting back but keeping his head held high and eye contact strong, "You can all just keep your distance and we will keep ours. The humans don't need to see your bloodshed tonight"

"He's right. The night is young and I for one want to have some fun," Tiffany spoke up behind Clayton. Fun, right. He had meant for the night to be a break from all this, not a stress case that was going to end with him spending the next few nights wild in the forest. He sighed, agreeing with her like he usually did.

"Come on, Josh. Clay wanted some cupcakes a few moments ago and my aunt has an entire container for the pack. Let's go get them." Clayton nodded his head in agreement, already taking a few steps back but making sure to keep his eyes on them before the rest of his pack was a safe distance.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, something wet and squishing slapped against his stumble covered cheek. He blanked, his brows furrowing, but he knew it was none of the vampires because he had no taken his eyes off them yet.

"Hey, Fur face is there a problem here? Shouldn't you be picking on someone your own size blondy?"

Clayton turned is gaze down to a young female, werewolf by her smell, that he did recognize.
"What the hell was that?" He growled, glaring down at her as he whipping the substance off his cheek and smelled it, "Frosting? How old are you?"

As she mentioned Josh being her brother, Clay was reminded of his beta whom he had yet to reprimand. He sent a withering glare at the kid, knowing he would get it, and then turned back to the new female, "I don't know who you are or where your from, but you do realize this is pack territory. Lone wolf out on her own shouldn't be picking a fight with an alpha", Clayton paused, glancing at the vamps still gathered, "but I'm done here tonight. It's the festival, and this is technically neutral territory. Come tomorrow if I find you wandering around, then I'll deal with you" He narrowed his eyes at her, sort of impressed that she had the guts to stand up to him but equally as annoyed.

"Now Tiffany, that cupcake..." He grumbled, turned, and stalked away towards her aunts stand.

---

---

---

---

---

---

In truth, Tiffany was surprised that Clayton listened to her and proceeded to squash the arising conflict before it could begin anew. If he had chosen to stay and actually fight, she would have followed him and the rest of their pack. Instead, they were heading away when the cupcake frosting incident occurred. Tiffany only glanced at the perpetrator, mildly interested. It was no true harm and her scent did somewhat remind Tiffany of Josh's, though it was barely there. And even more interested in the fact that Clay didn't do anything to the girl. Sighing about the spectacle of the night, Tiffany was just about to walk away when she heard the blonde female vampire - did they share the same name or something? - make some retort.

She didn't do anything. It wouldn't be Tiffany if she did. But she did glance at the vampire over her shoulder, a shadow fixed over her face and her eyes piercing. There had only been rare moments on neutral grounds had Tiffany's face ever gotten like this, had she intentionally set out to show some of the darkness in her spirit. But this one vampire - a child at that, if the way she acted dictated her mental stage - irritated her for no apparent reason. Her eyes even bled red for a moment and on the inside, the wolf in her howled to be released, ready to sink its claws into this vampire's face and rip her mouth off. But she didn't and turned away anyway, sighing again.

"Normally, I would take the high road," she said softly to Clayton as they walked away. At this point, they should have been a few feet away, allowing her to speak hushedly with him without wariness towards the possibility of the vampires hearing their conversation. "But if we ever have to fight them, I want that one to myself. The festival's just started and she already has me ready to leave." Tiffany hadn't even gotten to see Stephen, but at this point, if the vampires made one wrong move, she didn't doubt there would be chaos on such a beautiful night.