"No one, I'm drinking bottled blood."
"Hmm, there's that loyalty I saw in your palm. Is the bottled stuff any good?"
Jackson felt uncomfortable under both women's scrutiny. This was not something he wished to discuss. "It's fine."
Samantha winked at him. "You know I could offer up a fresh snack. Keep it in the family so to speak. I'm told I'm quite tasty."
Elisabeth looked up, ready to say, 'That's a great idea.' She stopped upon seeing Jackson's eyes narrowed in warning to leave this alone.
He smiled thinly, still staring at Elisabeth. "That is very gracious of you Samantha, but completely unnecessary. Thank you anyway."
"Bummer, I bet your venom is to die for."
His face softened into a grin, as he crooked a long index finger at her. "You are a very naughty witch."
"Ha! You know it. I'm going to take Nikolai for a walk, then we'll have some lunch. Can you spend the night?"
"No we're flying back at eight."
"That still leaves enough time to have an early dinner on Bourbon Street. You two want to stay here or walk with us?"
Elisabeth stood up, but Jackson held her arm. "Why don't we wait here?" She dropped her lids again.
Samantha put a leash on Nickolai. "Allrighty then." As she left the room she turned and mouthed 'Sorry' to her friend.
Jackson stared at Elisabeth, who still avoided eye contact. She quietly said, "I'm sorry, I wanted to get through the next full moon before telling you."
"I guess that plan didn't work. Are you ever going to look at me?" She met his gaze, biting her lip. Jackson laughed, "You're like a kid who got caught in the cookie jar." He could not be stern with that face. He enveloped her in his arms. "I understand you don't want to throw everything at me at once, but you need to explain this now."
She hugged him tightly and spoke into his chest. "Every year, the full moon in January is the Wolf Moon and there is a three day festival that all werewolves attend… kind of our high holiday. I plan to tell my pack about you then."
"Where is this festival?"
"Alaska."
"Of course… and what if your pack isn't exactly thrilled that you have taken up with a vampire?"
"I will make them understand."
He pushed her away to join eyes. "What if you can't make them understand?"
"I will be ostracized."
"So, you may have to make a choice between me and your pack, your family?"
"I have already made my choice. I choose you, always. They are going to have to respect that."