As the hours went by, the werewolf and the vampire filled the quiet cold dungeon with their soft chatter. Kyle told Eryk more stories about his pack and their home, the old hotel, and as he spoke he felt himself overcome with an intense feeling of homesickness.

“The hotel is massive, way too big for a small pack such as ours, so we barely use most of the rooms. Also with the lack of electricity it makes it simpler to stick to just one wing.” Kyle said.

After the Final War ended a hundred years ago, along with closing themselves up behind their high city walls, the humans had also cut back on most resources exported from the major cities. One of these resources was electricity, and all power to any abandoned human settlements were immediately stopped. Some places like Heinrich's manor were lucky to have previously been fitted with solar panels; before the war the Elder had made sure that his home would be self reliant. And although the technology was outdated, it was sufficient enough to last all these years.

Kyle told Eryk about how his pack had gotten a few solar generators for power instead, and that he and Devon had picked up work at a nearby lumberyard to be able to afford it. The work was tough and the pay was too low for the amount of work they put in, but with no other choice of employment they had to make do. Non-humans weren't exactly at the top of the employment register.

“You used to work at a lumberyard?” Eryk asked, picturing Kyle in the cliché flannel with sleeves rolled up over his thick forearms as he slammed a massive axe into a tree, “How was it?”

“I could hardly stand it, and the boss must've been able to tell because I got fired within a few months.” Kyle said with a laugh, “Devon has kept at it alone since then, and as much as I hated having him work by himself, he was too stubborn to quit.” 

“Gareth usually accompanies him to work though, it's always safer to do things in pairs.” He continued, grimacing as he recalled the large redhead's initial reluctance to be so near humans, “Even if the humans would never employ an alpha, they became used to Gareth's presence at the work site as he waited for Devon.”

That must've been such a hard decision for Devon to make, Eryk thought, to continue to work at a place like that. Somehow it shows how much he cares for his pack, that he would go through all that trouble just for them.

Kyle continued talking about the hotel and told Eryk about how it had been built back when humans were still passionate about architecture and designing structures with beauty and soul. The beautifully large sprawling building spanned across four floors, and sat in the middle of a gorgeous mountainous forest, having initially being built by the humans as some sort of getaway resort. There were even things like a spa and a bar inside, but they had no use for those so it just stayed abandoned.

“There are quite a few things to do around the hotel for entertainment, and over the years we've gotten better at solving our boredom. Besides the lake, there's also a casino and a games room included, with old board games and a pool table. We used to have arcade games too, but they used too much power and when one of the generators broke we had to unplug those.” Kyle said.

“The pack mostly spends their time outside anyways, so that wasn't much of a loss, but those arcade games were really fun on a rainy day. Regardless there's still quite a bit to do there.” He continued, as he adjusted the bothersome chains and tried to find a more comfortable position.

“What do you like to do for fun then?” Eryk asked, maroon eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“Oh, well,” Kyle grinned sheepishly, “Hunting. It's a bit cliché but it's what I enjoy doing the most. Especially when I can just let go and give myself into the chase.”

“There's just something about setting your sights on your mark and giving everything until it's finally all yours.” The werewolf looked at Eryk as he said this, and something about his gaze had the vampire's heart beating triple time in his chest.

What was that? Eryk thought as his face flushed, What did he mean by that?

His heart was pounding and he couldn't meet the werewolf's eyes. He stared at the wall across the room and took a steadying breath, feeling himself slowly calm down.

“You said that you liked reading right?” Kyle asked, changing the subject.

“Yeah,” Eryk nodded, his cheeks still burning bright red, “It's just that the library in the manor is quite small and really doesn't have much to read besides the books Father obtained for his vampire research.”

He had briefly mentioned the inhumane experiments the Elder had done on the premises, making sure he didn't say anything about the things that were done to him personally. As much as he wanted to tell Kyle everything, he felt fearful about how the werewolf would react if he were to know that Eryk was nothing more than an experiment to his own father. He especially feared the werewolf treating him like the rest of the swarm did; with pity and disdain. 

“Then you will love the hotel,” Kyle said, “It's old, but there's a really big library inside, it spans across two floors with massive carved wooden archways and shelves filled to the brim.”

“Although given the age of the hotel, it's all older books,” He continued, “After the war all those years ago, the owners just left it all there. I must say though, I'm not much of a reader, so maybe Anastasia or Katie could show you around. The two of them are always tucked away in there with their noses buried in the books.”

Eryk nodded, feeling his heart grow with the implication of Kyle's words, Isn't that him basically saying I should come with them to their home? That I should live with them?

He didn't dare ask the question out loud, lest he be disappointed, but just the thought alone made Eryk feel at ease for the first time in a long while. He then listened eagerly, and found himself loving the stories of the troublesome twins, laughing at Gareth's antics, and adoring Benny's fairy obsession. He smiled hearing more about the werefox Devon and the cute motto he had created for the pack.

The pack is family and family means no one is alone, the words made Eryk's heart feel full.

“Devon was one of my first packmates,” Kyle was saying, “Back then he was quite young and impulsive, so we faced a lot of struggles together. He had been outcast from his previous pack after his parents died, and had been on his own for years.”

“I think it was his mistrust for werewolves that made him so reluctant to join my pack,” Kyle continued, “And it wasn't like I could blame him, because gods only knows what he went through trying to survive on his own. This world is a cruel place to be alone in.”

“How did you end up getting him to join?” Eryk asked, feeling his heart ache for the werefox.

“It's genuinely all thanks to Robyn,” Kyle said, “She helped me pull the pack together in so many ways, I don't think I could have gotten this far without her.”

“It was the same with Katie too,” He continued, “If it weren't for Robyn I don't think she would have survived with the state we found her in.”

Kyle frowned, looking determined as the heavy scent of his worry filled the dungeon, “I need to save her, Eryk. Everything I have means nothing without my packmates.”

As they spoke, they then tentatively formed an escape plan for when Eryk would be able to break through the silver chains. Kyle asked questions about the layout of the manor and the surroundings, and found out that they were not far from the place where he was captured.

“So that means the wolfcatchers who have my packmates should be close by too, right?” Kyle asked.

Eryk nodded, “There's an old farmhouse at the end of an abandoned road less than an hour away.”

“And you're sure they're there?”

“They should be, Father allocated that place as a home to any vampires in the area not belonging to our swarm's bloodline.” Eryk answered, “They're not allowed to live anywhere else if they want Elder Heinrich's protection.”

“Okay, at least they're not far.” Kyle breathed a sigh of relief.

“But...” Eryk hesitated.

“What is it?” Kyle asked.

“Wolfcatchers don't tend to hold onto their captives for long.” He replied. 

They're usually sold or killed within a few days, the unspoken words hung heavy in the air between them.

Once again Kyle was reminded of just how little time they had. They needed to get out of here as soon as possible.

“We're trying again tonight,” Kyle said.

 

“Don't stop drinking my blood until you're able to break these chains.”

A few hours later Eryk sat straddling Kyle's lap, as he rested his hands on either side of the werewolf's neck.

“Take more than you did yesterday.” Kyle said determinedly, his voice just above a whisper as he looked into Eryk's eyes.

Eryk nodded, his tongue dashing out to lick his lips in anticipation. 

“I'll do it now.” He said, breathless.

Kyle nodded and the vampire swiftly leaned down and bit down hard into his neck. Eryk feared he was becoming addicted as he rapidly drank down the werewolf's blood. He found that the sensation was more intense this time and he got lost in the heady desire. Kyle gasped beneath him, as Eryk stuck out his tongue and lapped up the blood that spilled from the werewolf.

The blood was thick and warm with a rich full flavour that sent Eryk reeling. He wondered if all blood tasted this good, or if it was just that Kyle was simply delicious.

“You taste so damn good.” Eryk said, his light voice was intoxicating, as the werewolf's blood shined on his lips.

Unable to help himself Kyle grabbed hold of Eryk's waist and pulled him closer, rubbing against him.

“More,” Kyle begged, “Drink more.”

Eryk flushed as he felt himself losing grip on his control and plunged his face back into Kyle's neck. The blood that coated his throat was so smooth and warm, and the warmth seemed to spread to every single cell of his body, electrifying him from within. Kyle's hands slid down from Eryk's waist and grabbed hold of his hips, squeezing tightly. 

Kyle breathed in deeply, trying to completely fill himself with the scent of the vampire. Eryk had a warm, full, bitter smell that was reminiscent of fresh coffee grounds and aniseed. It was so intoxicating that Kyle felt like it wouldn't be hard to get drunk on that scent. 

He grunted as Eryk drank more of his blood, the sensation filling him with a desire that he had a hard time ignoring. That he didn't actually want to ignore, not when Eryk felt so warm and inviting.

“Hey,” Kyle said, his voice husky.

“Mmh?” Eryk replied, his voice vibrating against Kyle's neck.

“Can I kiss you?” Kyle asked, his voice slightly shaking with restraint.

Oh gods I want him, Kyle thought, I want him so bad.

Eryk lifted his face and gazed at Kyle with those beautiful maroon eyes. He had a dazed look in his eyes and he slowly nodded as he licked the blood from his lips.

“Yes.” Eryk said, breathless.

Kyle grabbed the back of his head, pulled him close and kissed him.