It surprised David, really, they've never taken to a female so well. Seriously, she had them whipped.

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DAVID POV

David exhaled, smoke billowed from his lips as his eyes scanned the crowd. Santa Carla was alive, much like it was every night, tourists bouncing from one distraction to another, residents happy but ever aware of the darkness that crawls in the shadows. They didn't know, but it's that ever present fear that there was something amiss in their touristy town-It was a natural fear, one that kept children close, kept them in bed after dark. They didn't need to worry, only tourists were really targeted. Now-that was a small lie, David fucking loved ripping into a few douchebags Surf Nazis-I mean, honestly who the fuck called themselves Nazis and didn't expect to get fucking murked? Or the occasional asshole that throws them from a store or the boardwalk. As a rule they never ate children, honestly David doesn't find the appeal in it. The boys were actually quite feared among the adults for their 'biker gang' finesse, but any street rat kid will tell you that the Lost Boys won't fuck with you if you leave them alone. David has inadvertently helped more runaway kids than he's ever directly killed-which is saying something for a vampire.

His eyes catch the glimpse of the comic book shop, a growl bubbling in his chest at the sight of the Frog brothers. While yes, they were children, he wouldn't lose any sleep over killing them. The fact he saw them kill Marko in that movie, and then actually fucking try to do it in real life. It made his dead blood boil in rage. They killed Max though, and a small part of him mourned the man that made him what he was today, but David really felt it was a mercy. Max was getting old, and old vampires either thrived or they started falling apart. Just a fact. Not all of them do, but it happens.

Now, what to do with these two. He could kill them, maybe contact those lame ass social services, mind fuck them into taking the brats away. But they'd be back as adults, more fucked up emotionally than they already were. He's talked to them, though he never entered the store-he's not fucking stupid. Those two, having the gall to tell David he can't hunt in Santa Carla, Ha! Like that's gunna happen! They already made a deal with that old flesh bag at the Emerson residence in the past, who knew Michael's granddaddy was a hunter? He was old in years, but smart. He was old and tired. A deal here and a favor later? Everything was all fine and dandy. David also thought it was fucking comical that he'd started to frequent the Widow Johnson, God knew that old witch needed some action-she was getting lonely.

David told them that this territory was theirs. They'd been here since before their parents were sperm in their daddy's sacks. David was pack leader now, he was the alpha, and he'd not stand for these two children trying to boss him around. They'd continue to hunt, because they were fucking carnivores-it's what they fucking did-and needed to eat to live, but they wouldn't kill children, nor would they attack any of the permanent residents.

'Don't kill the innocent!' The shorter one had tried, but all David needed to do was point to the old man that ran the bakery across the way and tell them what exactly he'd been forcing those homeless kids to do in exchange for rotten bread. David would celebrate the day that man was in the ground, God bless anyone who got to him before Paul and Dwayne did. Eventually the brothers relented, agreeing-although not happily-to the terms. Brats even tried to pull out a contract, but David knew that was bullshit. Fuck em, he wasn't signing anything a twelve-year-old wrote up.

Now that was left was Max's legal shit. It was annoying the man had so much shit, but even more so how integrated into the community he was. Though David couldn't lie, the man had a fuck ton of money. More than he needed, but after listening to Luna go on, and make actual valid points, he gave it some thought. Keeping the video store could bring in some more cash, at least for another decade or two, before times would move on-as they always do-and video tapes would be a thing of the past. Society was moving too fast, but they were making some cool shit. Honestly if he died that day-the first time around-he would have missed a lot of cool shit. So, keep the shop. Now the house. Granted, after checking it out, David had to hand it to Max. A whole basement to fool people, but there was a hidden trap door-every vampire needs a good hidden trap door-in the side that leads to a dark, dank room that would pass for a very good nesting lair. David would never admit he pictured the pack there in a pile on blankets and pillows, sleeping safe and sound together. Like some stupid fucking thing humans did when house hunting.

He'd keep it though. Max already had it paid for, so there wasn't any way the state would take it if he left it to rot. It'd be safe for now. A safe little hiding place that no one knew about, except for the Emerson mother, but David wasn't worried. Her sons weren't that big of a threat. In the movie David knew he wasn't trying to kill them or hurt them, simply go in and subdue, but he will admit the children were clever and inventive. Never again would they be fooled or killed, even in a movie or story.

"So, what are we doing?" Paul asks, brushing David's side as he danced around to cut off his view of the humans. Dwayne, his second in command, loomed in the corner of his eye on his left. Marko glided to be right in between the other two, eyes flickering from here to there, ever watchful as he chewed on his thumbnail.

David dragged out his answer, taking another deep inhale of his smoke. He stared Paul down, a thrill of pleasure crawling down his spine when the kid shifted, unnerved with keeping eye contact too long. "We'll move in tomorrow. Cave is still ours, but we need to move for now. As far as I know, the house is fortified, hidden, and safe. Cave has been compromised." The three nodded, quietly accepting the terms.

"There's something I've been thinking about," Marko spoke, hands on his hips as he looked at David. "I think we should look into a hound, we've never gotten one before, but Thorn was pretty effective."

Paul snorted, "Yeah because Maxy boy never wanted us to one up him. Only heads get one."

"Which is why I brought it up to David to decide you ass." Marko hissed inresponce, a sharp smack sounded not a moment later. The smallest of them always had more bite. David's mouth twitched in amusement.

"What do you think Dwayne?" David asked, getting the other two's attention.

"It's something to think about." His second responded, voice low. "El brought up a good point. Laddie can't live in the cave forever; he needs a more humane environment. Something stable, grounded. Healthy. And a hound will provide protection where we can't." That was true. The little tyke was theirs-even from the very beginning. Little shit was like a fish to water with them. Granted they never wanted him to drink so early, but shit happens. He was pack, the baby of the pack, and pack is always cared for. Laddie can't live in the cave, that was a sad truth. He needed more. They could provide what he needed, food, clothing, shelter, education, and family. Everything a soon to be vampire needed to grow up relatively sane before turning.

"Let's get out of here," David flicked his smoke to the ground, kicking his bike to life before riding off, the screams and howls of his boys following him as he rode home.

The cave was quiet save for the soft audio of some cartoon, another movie from the future probably. David walked in, seeing Laddie knocked out on the couch with El still watching, her hand combing the boy's hand with a feather light touch. Paul and Marko quit their roughhousing when spotting him, getting a grateful smile in return from the girl. David snickered to himself; his boys were whipped. Taking his seat, he keenly watched his pack as they settled in. He noted each member, how they acted and reached out in the link connecting them, listening to the tenors of their minds. It was something he's always done. David's always been very talented with the mind, the special link between vampires that shared blood. Max was very pleased with him as a fledgling, even going so far as to force him to practice it if he ever wanted to get another meal. For years it was like that, but by the time Marko came along, Max seemed content enough to get lax with David.

Dwayne was seated by Laddie; the man was a sucker for that kid. He slipped into the father role very well, like an old pair of boots. Though, Dwayne was always a very good caretaker. Even in their human days he was taking care of David. David was sure it just made him feel better, feel valid in some way, like his presence mattered if he had something to do. David didn't miss the soft smiles shared between his second and the girl. Sickeningly sweet as it was. Paul bounced over into the scene, cheeky and already high on a half smoked joint. He held some chocolate bars he snagged out for her, getting bright eyes and an even brighter grin from the girl. Paul didn't try to hide how pleased he was, body shaking with restless energy, but there was the twitching of nervousness in his hands that gave him away to David.

Despite the happy-all-day-everyday-let's-go-get-high-and-dance attitude, Paul wasn't in a good place when Marko stumbled upon him. Shit ton of family issues, drug habits that really should have killed him two days before Marko even met him, and a need to just please was what he was when David met him. The blond was only still when high, which was how he was now, draped over the couch, arm around El as he drifted off into whatever world he had in that head of his. David guessed he only got some sense of silence in his head whenever he was drugged out his ass, much like his time in that fucked up sanatorium if the flashes from his head in his worst times ever said anything.

Marko tended to his birds, which he always did upon returning to the cave-stupid fucking rats with wings is what they were, it'd be better if Marko had pet bats-now kept glancing to the four on the couch. Hm, David reached out, tugging gently at their link. Marko opened it for him, knowing the deal by now. Marko was the most stable, out of all the boys-even Dwayne had a few emotional traumas, though he was so stoic you'd never see it-and David knew Marko like the back of his hand. Marko was David's first-in basically everything after becoming a vampire. Max was lenient and gave his oldest the choice on their next brother. David chose carefully, he wanted a strong brother. One loyal, resilient, smart, and crafty. Though he never pictured he'd find it in a blond gypsy boy-though Marko insisted it was Romani, not Gypsy-on the streets after being labeled as a disgrace and unclean to his own people. David played a few mind games, Marko passed his expectations, even going further than he thought the boy ever would. He was on the young side, but perfect.

Marko's tenor was clear, like a slow river. Everything was precise and controlled. The vampire knew what he wanted, was never confused about anything. A strong mind indeed, David was sure Marko would never succumb to the fate most vampires did when they grew older. Warm, safe, content, and satisfied. All clear things in Marko's mind. David pulled away, sitting back to watch as Marko let his stupid fucking birds go-seriously he needs a new hobby-before he flew to Luna and buried his face into her hair. El smiles, tilting to give him more room and placing a kiss to the Blond's cheek in greeting. Seriously, she had them whipped.

It surprised David, really, they've never taken to a female so well. Dwayne stayed far away from Star, a reluctant acceptance when David brought her in and tried to integrate her- slowly, don't let that fucking bitch lie and say she was forced-into the pack. Paul was fine with it, at first, though females were always tough for him to synch with. Marko didn't like her, but that was mostly her woe-is-me shtick. Truthfully, David just saw her one night, thought she was pretty, she was nice and homeless, so of course he was gunna try it out. Though there was a reason female were hard to come by, especially in a pack that was already built to perfection without one.

Leaving out Max, their pack was perfect. One of the best David's ever seen in his one hundred years. David, cunning and the oldest, in the lead. He made the rules, he was intelligent, and he had experience in leading others. Dwayne, always by his side, even as a human, his right hand. Dwayne was David's enforcer, never taking any shit from the other two, and David always took his opinion to heart, and, surprisingly, he had the keenest nose. Could sniff a rat out a mile away. He always knew if someone supernatural stumbled into their borders before they did. That's where Paul came in. He was the fighter. Wild, large, and a fucking maniac, he loved the fighting. Paul was quick too, despite his ganglyness. His tendencies to stumble over and trip were only for show, that pothead could sober up in a split second and have your head off before you'd even hear David give the order. Marko was his gem; the little Romani born would be able to find just about anything David asked. Marko could find the best hunting grounds, the best places to shack up, and could get information on anything and anyone. David blamed Marko's upbringing for that, as he was always on the move, always watching his back, always looking over his shoulder-so of course he'd be good at finding shit when the world was literally against your very existence, gotta survive somehow. Laddie was too small to place into a category, too young. Though it wouldn't hurt to train him in hunting, the tyke was good at hide and seek, and he was fast too. Dwayne told him about the little hide and seek tag games El played with him. Something Star never did.

Luna. The one from another dimension. Honestly David has a hard time wrapping his head around that one-and he's a fucking vampire. She was skittish at first, understandable, given as they were vampires and she was just a human, but with gentle prodding from Paul and Marko, she opened up quite well. Paul getting her high as shit that first night? Oh shit, it was fucking perfect. Best idea the youngest has had in a month. She also had a painful crush on Marko, obvious from the beginning. She flushed like a schoolgirl around him, fucking priceless. Marko didn't have to try too hard to put the charm on her, didn't even have to use his mental abilities. She was like a butterfly, willingly caught in that spiderweb. No bait needed.

Elsie was also mature, emotionally stable-at least he was sure, if she could kill a man and not have a full mental breakdown, she was fine in David's book. That little bit was just adrenaline, she was totally fine after. Though he will admit it was a surprise when she came up to him with a bloody hand, shaking with shock, and unable to do anything but laugh as her brain tried to process what the fuck she just did. Elsie liked them, accepted them, and while she obviously had fantasies, she never acted on them-at least while she was sober, she was so ready to be naturally submissive for them after four fucking shots, but again not the real point here. Respect. Luna had respect for them and herself. Something Star never had, even from the beginning.

Elsie fit with them. Almost worryingly so. She wasn't from this world, she'd eventually leave, so that left one question. What was going to happen to the pack when she eventually had to leave? They grew comfortable, dependent, and tied themselves emotionally to her. Troublesome as it was, David couldn't blame them. They found the perfect match. How ironic that they'd most likely never have her? She'd never stay, the chances of her picking them over her old world-her family and life that was still stable and intact from the looks of her-was slim to none. She was holding back, that much was obvious. Perhaps she saw them as merely characters, as works of fiction, a fairytale. He wouldn't fault her for that. He couldn't. In her world, they were works of fiction, a part of some movie that was thirty years old.

But they weren't in her world. This was David's world. This was David's chessboard. This was his playing field. He protected and insured the safety of his King-his lifeline, his pack-but now...now it was time to secure the Queen. The game wasn't over, and one of the most valuable pieces was at his mercy. David ran his tongue over his partially dropped fangs, mind racing as he watched his pack interact with her. A curious glance from Dwayne, obviously sensing the intensity David was immiting, locked their eyes together. Grey meeting brown.

Dwayne's stoic facade shifted, the light of the computer illuminating half his face. No one else saw it, but the dark-skinned vampire was excited. Finally, they were moving in. A ghost of a smile graced Dwayne's features, a subtle nod. Dwayne's got the orders, the go-ahead from the alpha, now he's got to pass the message along to the others. They were moving in, and soon.