Dimitri Anslow has been in love with Alexander since he came to the warrior camp as a twenty-four year old pre-transition trainee. Fifty years later, he finally has the perfect plan to be with Alexander… at least physically.

After their life changing sex, Alexander tells Dimitri that he doesn't love or want him. Crushed, Dimitri tries everything he can to forget the man, jumping from guy to guy. As Alexander gives him mixed signals, Dimitri tries to come to terms with the fact that his mate may never be his. Can Dimitri move on from the one that owns his heart or is there something worth fighting for?

I threw my hands over my face and screamed in frustration. Then, like a switch was thrown in my head, I laughed. Of course he didn't want me. Alexander could have anyone he wanted, why the fuck would he want me? I knew I wasn't bad to look at. I was 6'8", over 300lbs of solid and toned muscle. I kept my blond hair shorter and stylish, but still out of my face so as to not distract me in battle.

Was it something he saw when I was naked that made him not want me? I'd seen others in the group showers after training, I knew where I stood. I was well endowed, even for as big of a man as I was. I rolled over and looked at the clock realizing I had to get my ass in gear. Having fought up the ranks in the camp not only came with privilege, but more responsibilities.

I was the third warrior in rank here, only below Alexander and the council member who oversaw everything. Seeing as I was still young for one of our race, they had agreed that I should be in charge of the pre-transition vampires. I had never doubted that decision or the intentions behind it before.

As I got dressed now though, I wondered. Had Alexander set it up this way so I wouldn't be around the other warriors? But why would he try to seclude me from everyone else if he didn't want me? Thousands of questions swirled in my head as I left my room and jogged over to my first class. I desperately tried to push it all out of my head and put on my teacher façade.

Reaching the gym, I quickly pulled open the door and walked inside as if I didn't have a care in the world. I almost smiled when I saw the other warriors leaning against the wall. Today was a demonstration day, how to fight off, and defensive maneuvers against a pack of Zakasac. That was the term we used for the vampires who had crossed over to the dark side. The translation from ancient Slavic was 'the bringer of death' or 'to be bitten to death.' It seemed a fairly accurate term, considering what Zakasacs were.

Zakasac were once vampires as we were, but they chose to take lives for the power it gave them. Unlike us, who drank blood for necessity. Our race had strict rules about killing humans or other vampires. The only way to become Zakasac is to drain someone. They might gain even more strength and speed, but they gave up the sunlight and their souls.

Human myths of vampires stem from the Zakasac. Soulless demons who slaughter for the thrill of the kill, and burn in the sun or if they touch hold items. That's why our race had warriors and the camps to train them. Our job is to protect our race and humans alike from the threat of the Zakasac.

"There will be a time when you find yourself outnumbered," I said loudly. Every one of my students immediately hushed and turned to watch me. Again it almost made me smile how eager my students were to learn. "I'm not going to lie to you and tell you that you'll only face one on one combat. And I'm also going to tell what you should do if you find yourself outnumbered… you run."

I waited until the gasps of surprise and whispers quieted before I continued. "If you are out numbered, there is no shame in running. Zakasacs are stronger, faster, and more powerful than us. We fight in groups and as a team to over power them and win. But if you find yourself alone and about to be attacked, you run. You run as hard and as fast as you can. You run and live so that you may fight to see another day."

A hand went up in the middle of the class that sat on the bleachers so they could see the demonstration. I nodded at the young man, Nate, who was one of my best students.

"I mean no disrespect, Dimitri, but have you ever run?" he asked searching my face. As much as I wanted to lie and not disappoint their eager faces, this was a lesson they had to learn.

"Yes, I have, Nate," I answered nodding, ignoring the whispers. "I've never run and left one of our race or a human unprotected. Nor have I ever run when I had other warriors with me, or anyone injured. We don't leave people behind or unprotected. I would willingly give my life in the fight to save another. But when I've been out on my own and had a pack of Zakasac closing in on me? Fuck yeah, I've ran. We all have. That's why we are still alive."

"How could you run from your enemy?" Another boy yelled out without raising his hand. I looked up and sure enough, it was Lance. If there was ever a student I had that I wanted to take outside and kick the crap out of just because he deserved it. It was Lance. Born of a wealthy, older family, he had a silver spoon in his mouth so large from his birth. Unfortunately, his attitude made me want to shove it up his ass.

"If I may, Dimitri?" One of the other warriors asked as he pushed himself off the wall. I knew without even looking it was my best friend Matteo Dominguez. Even if I wasn't used to him always backing me up, his thick Spanish accent could never be ignored. I nodded at him, giving him permission to address my class. "Listen up, guys, because I'm only going to say this once. You are here to learn from us, we have centuries of experience in this room alone."

As he took a pause to let his words sink in, Matteo looked intently at each of the students to drive his point home. "While we encourage you to ask questions, not a single one of you has any right to question us. Not our motives, our training, or our actions. If I ever hear anyone disrespect or question the honor of any warrior of the camp I will challenge them outright."

I had to bite my lip to keep from smiling as Matteo's words sank in and Lance visibly paled. But so like Matteo, he wasn't done yet. "I don't care who you are or what family you're from. You're not with your parents anymore, you're here, and you belong to us. So, make no mistake about it, pre-transition or not, I will challenge you." He narrowed his gaze on Lance as he drove the message home.