CHAPTER THIRTY SIX

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           LAFAYETTE KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH DAKOTA THE MOMENT SHE STEPPED FOOT INTO MERLOTTE'S BAR AND GRILL FOR THER MORNING SHIFT. The woman sported a dark look on her face as she barged into Sam's office to get her apron from within her locker.

Sam, who had come back from his trip, didn't dare say a word when he saw her enter and cautiously glanced her way before she stormed back out and into the bar.

"Good morning, sunshine." grinned Lafayette, resting his elbows on the bar top when she came to stand beside him. The blonde shot him a glare and he raised his hands, grin creeping onto his face when he helped her tie the apron behind her back. "What's got your panties in a twist."

"I despise all vampires." she muttered, eyes roaming the almost empty bar. It was only nine in the morning and most breakfast guests had already gone to work. "And I hate Eric Northman even more."

"What happened?" asked Lafayette, not used to see her like this. Dakota was rarely angry, and if she was it wasn't for long.

"He's a dick." she shrugged, mimicking his stance and resting her elbows on the bar. "Can we please talk about something else?"

Lafayette would gladly drop the subject, not a fan of the viking himself. He dealt V, and for some strange reason, Eric had found out a month prior and had been on his ass ever since. He was forced to move the product at half price and as quick as possible, but Lafayette hadn't been as successful as they wanted and he got threatened every few days. He knew Dakota had no clue, and he would like to keep it that way.

"Sure thing, Koko." he agreed, patting her back and pressing a kiss to the back of her head before the two of them began to unbox bottles of alcohol to stock up the bar with for the coming week.

Sam had excited his office and walked through the bar, smiling at an older gentleman at one of the booths before he stepped behind the bar to join his employees. "Good morning, Kota."

"Morning, Sam." she smiled, feeling ridiculous to have let her emotions get the better of her and she tried to sound sincere as she asked, "How was your trip?"

"It was good." he said, placing his hands within his pocket after he had put four bottles of Jack on the shelves behind him. "Found my birth parents, who I didn't know I had. I have a brother, too."

"Sam, that's wonderful." she mused, though when his smile didn't reach his eyes she asked, "I am guessing you're not too excited about it?"

"It's definitely a surprise." he scratched the back of his head.

"What are they like?" asked Dakota as she put a few spare bottles of true blood underneath the bar. Lafayette was sorting through shot glasses beside her, listening in on the conversation he didn't particularly care about.

"Well," he shared. "I am more at home with the folks here."

Dakota could understand that, he had never known his birth parents and now that they were suddenly in his life, that must have been strange for him. "Speaking of which, did you hear about the -?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "Jesus Christ. And Andy shot him?"

"Welcome back, huh?" Sookie had entered the bar, wearing a blue sundress as she joined them at the bar. The youngest Stackhouse had heard the last of their conversation. "Sam, sorry to barge in like this but I need a favour. Bill has gone missing and me and Dakota are headed to Jackson to find him, so we need a few days off."

Sam raised a brow, turning to the woman beside him who nodded her head sheepishly.

"How many days are we talking about?"

"Two, three at the most." confessed Sookie and Sam rolled his eyes, though there was no menace behind them as he looked at Sookie. Sam was not a fan of the vampire, and he probably never would be. "If we leave by four today, we can be there at sundown. Sam, I can't sit around and do nothing, you know me."

"I know you well enough not to argue." he agreed.

"You sure it's safe to go?" asked Lafayette, frowning at his best friend. "It sounds dangerous."

"I'll be fine." she reassured him, folding one of the boxes and placing it behind her on the floor. "I promise. I'll be back on Wednesday."

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DAKOTA HAD PACKED LIGHT FOR THE TRIP TO JACKSON, SHE DIDN'T NEED MUCH FOR THE SHORT DAYS SHE WAS GOING TO MISSISSIPPI. The backpack rested against the stairs, that way she couldn't forget about it before she and Sookie were leaving at four. The blond glanced at the time on her phone and sighed, it was only two in the afternoon.

The woman sat on her knees on the front porch, scrubbing at the rug that still had a large bloodstain on it from the previous night. It was now a pink stain and she hoped that all the scrubbing she was doing would eventually get rid of it all, she really didn't want to buy a new on. This was grans favourite rug and it already endured way too much.

Dakota plunged the sponge back into the tub of water beside her and wrung it out, water turning pink, too.

"Fucking vampires." she muttered, glaring at the stain.

That must be her. Blond and pretty. Dakota's heart skipped a beat. No wonder the girl is a magnet for trouble.

Dakota glanced over her shoulder as a shadow blocked the sun from her view. It was a tall man, broad shoulders and dark hair, that was all she saw as he came up the steps. Her eyes widened and she got up quickly, ready to bolt into the house and slam the door shut behind her.

"Hey, hold up!" he called, catching up with her. "Wait!"

Dakota felt his arms wrap around her upper body and she screamed as they reached her front door. "Get your goddamn hands off me!" She pinched his arms so he would let her go, and panic bubbled within her chest.

"I ain't trying to hurt you!" he defended, but he wouldn't let go of her as she squirmed within his grasp.

"I know you're a werewolf." she guessed, glaring at him as he turned her around to face him. He laughed at her, teeth and all. "I have had vampire blood I will kick your ass!"

"Listen," he called, letting go off his hold on her and taking a step back. "Eric Northman is the one who sent me. My name is Alcide Herveaux. I'm here to look after you."

Dakota took another step back to get away from him until it dawned on her what he said. "Unbelievable." she muttered with a sigh, utterly annoyed with the viking. The blond shot the werewolf a quick smile and said, "I'm so sorry about all of this. You don't have to do this -"

"I do," he interrupted her with a nod. "Northman is kind of -"

"Demanding?" she guessed, to which he nodded.

"You could say that." he grimaced. "It is nice to meet you, under the circumstances."

"You too, Alcide." she said, offering him a genuine smile. "I am Dakota. My cousin, Sookie, she'll be here soon, too."

"Alright," he chimed, pleased.

Alcide was a very handsome man, almost as tall as Eric was but dark haired and his skin was warm. Warmer than anyone she had ever met and it must have been the werewolf genes, she guessed. Dakota blinked and turned away from him when she realised she was openly staring at him. "Do you want something to drink?"

"Sure," he nodded as Dakota led him into the kitchen.

Dakota took two glasses from the cabinet above the stove and placed them on the counter before grabbing some ice tea from the fridge, and poured the drink into the glasses. Alcide was waiting patiently.

"The house is in no shape for guests, I know." she apologised, handing him the glass and he brushed her off with a smile. "It's a long story, i'll tell you about it in the car."

I hear you read minds, that true?

"Yes, it is." confessed Dakota as she sat opposite him at the table.

Son of a bitch. So we could have a full conversation with me sitting here clamped shut?

"Well, it's kind of rude with the two of us," she chuckled, leaning back in her chair. "but in a room full of people it might come in handy."

"I'll keep that in mind." He looked somewhat uneasy at that. "What I don't understand is if you had Eric Northman's blood and all, why he can't look after you himself?"

"It's not like that." she declared, furrowing her brows. "I am not his. How'd he rope you in taking me and my cousin to Jackson, anyway?"

"My old man," Alcide answered before taking a sip. "he's got a construction company in Caddo Parish. Came up a little short on a project. Went to Northman for a loan. Only reason I am here is helping him get out of a debt. I don't do favours for vamps. Plus, I know the pack is sniffing around. You are getting nowhere without an in."

"Are you friends with them?"

"I wouldn't call them friends, exactly." he shook his head. "My ex is banging their leader."

"Sorry," she frowned.

"That pack is a cancer to our kind." he confessed. "Weres have lived in Jackson for almost two hundred years without a single human knowing it. Now, these sons of bitches come to town, there's a crime streak a mile wide. Not to say the rest of us are above violence, but you shut the barn door behind you."

"One of them came after me last night, in here."

"Yeah, Northman mentioned that." he nodded, glancing behind him to see the blood staining the wooden floor. "Looks like a hell of a fight. You gonna be ready for that more in Jackson?"

"I'll have to." she muttered. "They took someone from my cousin and he means everything to her. I can't let her do it alone."

"Great," he grinned. "you'll get us both killed."

can we talk about eric when he gives lafayette the car??? he is just so cute there. especially when he calls him sweetheart. little shit.