Caroline's POV:

The inner working of the city was beautiful, and the early morning autumn air was the perfect setting to explore it all in.

Seeing the humans and vampires rouse from their homes and take their spots in the cities, basking in the variety of scents that filled the air within the hour.

Fruity, buttery pastries and breads, the nutty aroma from local cafes of coffees, and the refreshing assortment of teas and warm ciders to energize the awakening community.

The streets were filled with cheerful greetings to one another with smiles and waves across streets.

Even the children skipped gleefully beside their parents.

There wasn't an underlying tension here that I was used to feeling back at my home amongst the people, or maybe it was just coming from my own mind.

Either way, I found it unbelievably pleasant.

The trees here were more colorful and expressive in the morning sun than the pine and evergreen that surrounded my home. Gorgeous reds and golds that showed the season in its glory.

I spun where I stood, bracing the cold air and taking in the beauties surrounding me just right here where I stood.

I didn't know where I was going, I didn't know what there was to see or where there was to go. Frankly, I didn't care. I knew I could find my own entertainment and enjoyment wherever I went that wasn't my home.

My spin stopped and part of my hair fell over my shoulder from the motion, finding that I'd stopped myself in such a way to where I now faced southward, putting the dark-bricked castle right in my view.

I took in the sight with the position of the morning sun, dwelling on the people that lived there. Pondering what my life may have been like if my parents picked that path.

They'd done a good job, these Vanderwoods. I wished my parents would take note of some of the things they've done.

If they'd get over their bitterness and open their minds just a bit, instead of staying insistent on their ways.

This clan of theirs wasn't going to become any more successful through force. I wish by now they realized that.

But, they haven't. Which I suppose was one of the reasons I escaped for a bit and came here to breathe.

If I remember correctly, their heir is approaching that age to where he may be soon taking over. If that is the case, I just hope he keeps that streak his parents has laid before him.

My parent may not listen, but they can't blatantly ignore the rule of the territory they live in.

Stop focusing on that. You came here to get away from it, and the clock is ticking for when you need to return to it.

I rolled out my shoulders and took in a deep, mind-clearing breath.

Food. I could go for some food.

Right, I'll just follow the scent to that absolutely mouthwatering strawberry scent, and perhaps pick up a drink while I'm there.

Maybe it'll be in a tart form, or one of those scones I've heard people talk about but haven't yet gotten the chance to try.

There was a childish glee at the thought, one that almost had me laughing to myself.

I didn't get the chance to, at least not before it got interrupted by something else.

I felt my instincts begin to stir in a gentle warning that had me turning my head to see what all of the fuss was about.

It wasn't one that involved danger at least. That itch in my claws was still.

Instead, a gust of air that was specific to only one thing passed me and lead me to face straight again.

The culprit of the speeding appeared as a man in front of me, skidding to a stop to face me with his breaths ragged and heavy.

Levi?

I just stared and blinked as he staggered to collect himself, somewhat unsure of what to think about him being here.

His shirt was sitting weirdly, and his jacket looked like something he just picked up from the corner store on the last street. He looked disheveled and panicked, and there was something else that just wasn't... him.

Or the him that I spent last night with.

Though there was an excitement I wasn't ready to dwell on too much, but the more questions that arose from his presence helped in keeping me from it.

"Hey," He spoke breathlessly, straightening himself and smoothening out his clothes and hair that had gotten messy during his run.

"I um- listen I just need to-" His words fumbled and paused in a very awkward manner, which was nice because it gave me the time I decided I needed to figure out what was off about him. Despite the obvious weirdness of his speech.

It was his eyes... They were green? I very much remember that not being the case last night.

They weren't even close to mine in terms of shade. Mine were darker whereas his were a much more gentle, light mintish green.

"Please don't keep my kid!" His words finally made a cohesive thought in a desperate show that was probably a little too loud in this very public space.

Not that got my attention.

In fact, I leaned back, my face contorting into a borderline appalled expression at what he was beginning to assume from me.

"Why the hell would I even have your kid?" I replied, my words much calmer and much flatter than his.

Our kid, but whatever. He wouldn't be the one carrying it.

Either way that was nowhere near my intention or anywhere close to being my plan. Plus the time for my body to accept it and begin the actual process was long gone.

I did want kids. I wanted a family that would be better than mine, but I refused to raise them in the environment I was currently stuck in. And I'd definitely not be having one with a one-night stand.

So no, he had nothing to worry about.

My immediate distaste for the conversation somewhat died at the saddened, defeated look on his face as if he was ready to start pleading with me.

From that alone it was obvious that this went a bit deeper than I realized.

"I know- I figured that but," His frantic word began again, "I'm usually so much more careful with that sort of thing, I-I guess I just got lost in you last night and got it pulled from my brain.

Lost in me?

Even though it wasn't necessarily a compliment, I took it as one and allowed a ghost of a smile to grace my face.

His face, however, was sporting a rather amusing bright pink, which through the obvious panic kind of made this whole thing a lot more... funny.

I noted too how he kept a respectful distance with a rather submissive stance. It didn't fit him and felt wrong to look at.

The power I could sense within him didn't fit what I saw seeing.

He was desperate, and fell to pleading instead of a much more physical route I knew some vampires would adopt instead to get what they wanted.

It definitely wouldn't work with me, but the thought was there.

There were more... embarrassing things to become this desperate about, but this stabbed at my curiosity about him.

I didn't expect myself to be given the chance to delve any deeper into who this man was, but here we are again.

"And the thought of a hook-up deciding to keep what you put in her scares you?" I asked, setting my hands on my hips.

"Yes." His answer was immediate.

"Why?"

He quieted, stress tightening his expression while his eyes darted around to anything but me.

Which lead me so subconsciously listen.

"I...I'd want to be there... you know?" The words were weak, almost like he was embarrassed.

His words registered as truth, even though I felt like there was more to it than just that.

Still, I couldn't exactly stay mad after seeing that glimpse past his masculinity.

I couldn't tease and harass a man who'd want to be a present father. It just didn't feel right.

Though, if this was truly his intention, and if he does this often then he did need to be careful. He was he typically was so...

Hard to blame when it was me of course, but mistakes were a part of life.

After deciding that the lesson had gotten into his head after a long silence, I stopped his suffering with a small sigh.

"Don't get yourself sick over this, Levi. The thought of keeping or let alone starting anything was nowhere near my mind."

He sagged, letting in an exhale that sounded like he'd been holding his breath for hours.

I rolled my eyes and stepped closer as he did, effectively scaring him when he looked up again and I grabbed ahold of his jaw.

He stiffened, but didn't retaliate or try to pull away.

My eyes narrowed as I studies his, still taking in the new color

"Now, can you explain what else is wrong with this picture?" I queried.

"Huh?" he blinked.

"Your eyes. They were blue last night."

And now his eyes were nice and wide for me to see all of it.

I think this green suited him more.

"Shit, yeah I uh," Again with the stuttering, but it was harder for him to look away from me this time, "It's just an identity thing. I get a little wild some nights and don't need people recognizing me outside of that."

Now more of that blushing, and his eyes staring down to where I was holding him.

It was true. Pathetically, but still.

I released him, and it took him a moment to process that, I guess, and stand back up to his full height.

"Well, then unless you require anything else from me that doesn't include the workings of my internal organs, I'm gonna get back to my plans," I said and began to walk around him.

"Which are?"

The sudden perk in his voice caught me off guard, stopping my movement.

Okay, It looked like the Levi I knew from last night was coming back.

"I'm just... exploring the city until sundown." I carefully answered, unsure where he was wanting to go with this.

It was less of that confident 'seductive' look he had last night, and more one of actual excitement.

"Oh yeah? If you want to see around the town then I can show you the best and most memorable spots myself. I know this better than most." He offered in complete seriousness.

I was temporarily stumped at the sweet, inviting tone, as well as just the invitation itself. The want he had to join me in my day.

You don't do that with a one-night stand. It was weird enough seeing in front of me right now.

Reasoning popped into my brain, and I shook my head.

"I already told you I'm not keeping your kid, you don't need to stick around with me to make sure of that," I assured him with a smile to convince someone that I was fine if that were the full reason.

His expression twisted but landed on something close to understanding.

"No that's not it- that was part of it, but now that it's clear from my mind I just," He paused for a moment, as if checking in with his own thoughts, " This might sound weird, but I don't think I was ready to say goodbye to you yet."

My eyes rounded, cursing the thrum in my chest, the subtle stirring in my instincts, and the tint dusting my cheeks.

No.

I shouldn't... I really shouldn't.

It was hard enough this morning to walk away without saying a word.

I shouldn't return home to face what was surely waiting for me and risk missing someone on top of it all.

This was just a coincidence, right? That he happened to reappear and was now just handing himself to me for the rest of the day?

I didn't know if I believed in fate or all that, but this just felt a little too good to be true.

Actually, fuck it. I came here for a good time, and he's made it just that so far. there was no reason for me to push that away now.

It hurts, it'll hurt later, but for now it was bliss.

"Alright," I accepted with a grin, much to his satisfaction, "but first, lead me to where that smell is coming from."