Greyson's face burrowed into his neck and those two white fangs that often made an appearance whenever he casually smiled, and gave Maddy’s heart an extra thump sank deep into his skin.

Almost immediately he sucked in a breath as heat flushed through his veins like an old irrigation system being turned on for the first time in years. It made him let go of the noose he’d been mentally holding. His teeth and nails receded, and as he took another breath, his muscles stopped tearing. His vision and thoughts were still cloudy, but it seemed second to the giant gulps of air he kept taking.

When Greyson pulled away from him, it was if he was stripping life itself away from him. Cool hands pressed against his face, a thumb wiping away a stray tear, he hadn’t known he shed. The pulse in Greyson’s thumb was like a miniature orchestra thrumming against his skin, and the need for blood for had never been stronger.

His jaw unhinged and Greyson’s chest vibrated against him. He said in a tone that was filled with more relief than his usual smugness, “Hungry, are we?”

He licked his lips tasting his own blood on them. He licked them again and again and in the dim moonlight he could see Greyson scowl.

“Don’t drink your own, that’s barbaric.” Greyson’s thumb brushed across his lips. It made his whole body tingle. Greyson pressed it further into his mouth and before he could tease him any further, Maddy bit down. Greyson gave him a subtle grunt as his skin broke. “Very, hungry it seems.”

Maddy’s cheeks heated against the cool night air. He had no excuse. The beast inside him had subsided and this was all him. The need for Greyson, for his blood. It was all him.

The first drop fell on his tongue and it was a strawberry overload. Strawberries danced around his arms and legs. Strawberries that sunk into his skin and rushed through his veins. Every drop of blood brought him back to life. He couldn’t remember the last time he had fresh blood, and surely never from another Stranger.

Slowly, very slowly, his body began to heal. His split lip, the gash on the side of his face, and eventually the burnt flesh on his back weaved itself back together. While he was distracted with Greyson’s blood, the Stranger shifted his position. His voice was gentle, but firm as if he were speaking through a clenched jaw, “This may hurt a little.”

Then he snapped his shoulder back into place.

Maddy croaked out a cry, but another bout of relief washed over him as Greyson placed him on his lap. He rubbed his bloody thumb over his lips and smeared it across his face, “That’s for not asking permission first.”

Maddy couldn’t help himself. He grabbed Greyson’s hand and placed his thumb back into his mouth, letting out a small moan of relief at the taste of strawberries and spice.

“Ah-ah-ah” Greyson tutted. He wiggled his thumb around the inside of Maddy’s mouth, pressing it against his tongue and lifting his jaw upwards with the rest of his fingers. He slipped his thumb out and leaned in so close their noses nearly brushed against each other.

He could feel Greyson’s breath brush across his face. Fresh mint and strawberries. He inhaled it deeply, like a greedy child intent on having every piece of candy in a candy shop. He lifted his head, but a sudden pain in his neck broke him from his stupor. He reached up and found two puncture wounds.

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His heart thumped heavy in his chest, and like a latch being released, blood rushed to his ears, as heat scorched his cheeks and face along the way. What the hell was he doing? He was about to make out with Greyson. The guy that Dee had her sights on.

Dee.

He needed to see her. He needed her to tell him he was going to be okay. Was he going to be okay? Why did someone come after him? What if they come back?

His breathing grew ragged. He was losing control of his breath again.

He needed to get out of here. He needed to run. He- He-...

Greyson tangled their hands together and placed them against his chest. He commanded, “Breathe,”

He shoved Greyson’s chest, but it was like throwing Play-Doh at a steel wall. He had no more strength. “We- We have to get out of here! Dee!” His hands shook he was cold, so cold and despite the full moon seeping through the branches of the trees, he truly believed the darkness was going to swallow him whole. “I need Dee!”

Greyson clicked his tongue, his hair falling forward onto his forehead. “Look at me, Maddy,” He brought his face close once more. “You're safe, no one is going to hurt you, not while I’m here.” He said again, “Breathe.”

This time the order seeped through his bones, and he couldn’t refuse them. With wide eyes still glued to Greyson’s, to those silver hues, that reminded him of cold death and happy little koi fish.

He sucked in a deep breath letting the oxygen fill his lungs and remind him he was alive.

“Good,” Greyson said taking deep breaths. “Match my pace.”

And he did. His lids grew heavy, but he refused to let the exhaustion that ebbed around him take over. He needed to stay awake. To stay in control until he could see Dee. Finally, breath caught he said, “What happened?”

“A hunter. Clearly very well trained. I managed to fight him off you, but he got away.” Greyson’s voice was clipped as if he was trying to hold back his anger. A cruel smile formed on his lips, the two fangs gleaming against the moonlight.

Maddy’s eyes went wide with realization. Those… Those were inside him.

“Don’t know what he was thinking. Drag you back to the border, maybe?” Greyson half laughed and carefully lifted him up. “I’d rather not stick around and find out.”

“What are you doing?” Maddy flailed and seethed, stopping instantly as pain wracked his body. Greyson clicked his tongue and steadied him on the ground before turning around heaving him on his back.

“Your panic attack ruined the mood, so I’m taking you home.” He directed, “Hold on.”

A muscle in his jaw feathered as Greyson briefly heaved him up. “Ruined the mood?! You act as if this is all my fault.”

Greyson hummed. “I told you not to leave the party.”

Maddy narrowed his gaze. “No, you didn’t. And I told you I wanted to be alone.”

“Well, aren’t you glad I didn’t listen?” He chuckled, his chest vibrating against Maddy. “You could have died if I didn’t show up.” Without skipping a beat he added, “What are you doing all the way out here anyway?”

“You mean before I was almost turned into a human kebab?” He asked sardonically but, Greyson didn’t challenge the remark, so he sighed and added, “This is my safe space. Or it used to be… Like I told you earlier. It’s where I come to be alone.”

“Yes, but why these woods?” Greyson insisted.

If he could shrug he would. “It’s not very poetic. I just love nature.” When Greyson said nothing he let out a breath, “I love dropping to the ground, closing my eyes, and letting the grass curl around me. I love thunderstorms and the first day of snow. I love knowing that when a tree falls, the others around it still feed it nutrients through its roots. Nature lives outside the bounds of human control and chaos. It defies all odds and thrives even in the bleakest places. And I guess that gives me hope. That so can I.”