88. Drawn By The Mark.

Adrian POV

The moment I appeared, I knew something was wrong.

The air was different.

Heavy.

Cold.

Still.

I stood in the middle of a bedroom I had never seen before. The space was large and luxurious, but there was something off about it. The curtains were thick and dark. The lights were dim. The air did not carry the warmth of life.

Then it hit me.

Vampires!.

Their scent was everywhere.

Sharp. Metallic. Cold.

My body immediately went on alert. My wolf stirred inside me, restless and ready. I clenched my fists and forced myself to stay calm.

Why am I here?

I hadn’t chosen this place. I hadn’t tracked anyone. I hadn’t even tried to teleport.

Something had pulled me here.

Then, beneath the heavy vampire scent, I caught something else.

Soft.

Familiar.

Warm.

My heart stopped.

Rose.

Her scent was faint, almost drowned by the vampires, but it was there. Real. Close.

I slowly turned my head.

And then I saw her.

She was curled up on the bed, her knees drawn to her chest. Her shoulders were shaking. She was crying silently, her face buried in her arms.

For a moment, I couldn’t move.

She looked small.

Fragile.

And alone.

Why is she here?.

My chest tightened painfully.

“Rose…” I whispered.

I didn’t even realize I had spoken.

I took a step toward her. Then another.

Her scent grew stronger.

She’s really here.

What is she doing in the middle of a vampire lair?

Before I could think further, she suddenly lifted her head.

Her eyes widened.

Fear.

Pure fear.

She didn’t recognize me.

Before I could react, she grabbed the nearest thing beside her and swung it hard.

It hit my shoulder.

I didn’t move.

I didn’t even feel the pain.

She froze.

Her eyes focused.

Then recognition hit her.

“Adrian…?”

Her voice broke.

For a second, she just stared at me like I wasn’t real.

Then she rushed forward and threw her arms around me.

She held me tightly, as if I would disappear if she let go.

I felt her shaking.

“I thought I was hallucinating,” she whispered against my chest. “I thought I was losing my mind…”

I wrapped my arms around her slowly.

She’s real.

She’s here.

She’s alive.

For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.

The world went quiet.

Just her breathing.

Just her warmth.

Then reality crashed back.

I pulled back slightly and looked at her.

“Why are you here?” I asked. My voice came out sharper than I intended. “Do you know where you are?”

Her eyes filled with fear again.

“They’re vampires,” she whispered. “They brought me here. Adrian… we need to leave.”

My jaw tightened.

Of course.

They took her.

My wolf growled inside me.

“We’re leaving,” I said immediately.

Then something struck me.

I looked around again.

This place was sealed.

I could feel it.

Powerful vampire magic.

No wolves....alpha should be able to teleport inside here.

Yet I did.

How?

Rose grabbed my arm.

“How did you find me?” she asked quickly. “How did you even get in here?... Are you hurt?.”

I looked at her.

“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “I didn’t choose this place. Something pulled me here.”

She stared at me.

“A force?” she asked quietly.

I nodded slowly.

Then, as she shifted slightly, the back of her gown moved.

And I saw it.

The mark.

A glowing crescent moon.

My breath left me.

The world stopped.

My heart started pounding so hard it hurt.

The Luna mark.

On her.

On Rose.

Excitement.

Shock.

Relief.

Confusion.

Everything hit me at once.

This is why.

This is what pulled me here.

She noticed my stare.

“What?” she asked nervously. “What does it mean?”

Her voice trembled.

“Damien… he saw it too. He almost hurt me because of it.”

I forced myself to look into her eyes.

“We’ll talk about it later,” I said quietly. “Right now, we need to leave.”

Because I could feel it.

The air had changed.

They know I’m here.

I grabbed her hand.

“Stay close to me.”

She nodded quickly.

We moved toward the door.

Then...

It opened.

Slowly.

And they were there.

The vampire Alpha??.... leader!.

Damien.

The pale woman beside him.

And several vampires behind them.

Their eyes locked onto us.

The room went deadly quiet.

For a split second, no one moved.

Then their power rose.

Before any of them could attack...

I pulled Rose closer.

And disappeared.

Damien POV

The room was empty.

The scent was still fresh.

Wolf.

Alpha.

Strong.

Powerful.

But gone.

I stood frozen for a moment, staring at the space where they had been.

How?

How did he get in here?

This place was sealed.

Protected.

Hidden.

No wolf should have been able to enter.

Kate stepped forward beside me.

Her voice was low.

“The mark,” she said.

I looked at her.

“She has the Luna mark,” Kate continued. “That must have drawn him here.”

My jaw tightened.

So the girl wasn’t just strange.

She was important.

Very important.

And I had her.

And I lost her.

So easily.

Anger rose inside me.

Not loud.

Not explosive.

Cold.

Sharp.

Controlled.

I turned slowly and walked deeper into the room.

Her scent was still everywhere.

I touched the bed where she had been sitting earlier.

I should have acted sooner.

I should have mated with her... altered their bond.

I should have broken her resistance.

I should have done something.

Instead, I waited.

And now she was gone.

With the Alpha.

I clenched my fist.

“I let the wolves move ahead of us,” I said quietly.

Kate didn’t speak.

She knew what that meant.

That was a mistake.

And I don’t make mistakes.

I turned to her.

“Call them,” I said.

Her eyes sharpened.

“A meeting?”

“Yes.”

My voice was calm again.

Cold again.

“If the wolves have found their Luna… then this changes everything.”

Kate nodded immediately and left the room.

I stood alone.

Looking at the empty space.

Interesting girl.

Strange girl.

Luna.

I smiled slightly.

“This isn’t over,” I said softly.

Then I walked out.

The war had just changed.

And this time...

I would be ready.