Chapter 3.

Iris.

As the words leave Josh’s ugly mouth, his fangs gleam in the light.

I freeze. My blood runs cold.

“NO, Josh! Don’t…!” Dinah’s scream shatters the moment.

But it’s too late. One of them lunges at her. His teeth sink into her neck. I watch, helplessly, as her eyes stretch wide, pain, fear, disbelief, before they roll back and she crumples. Blood spills down her chest. The vampire lifts his mouth, blood staining his lips, his eyes wild.

They just killed her. Right in front of me.

I don’t think. I grab my coffee and hurl it into Josh’s face. He screeches, recoiling, and I bolt. My legs move on pure instinct.

The bell above the diner door rings as I slam into it, stumble outside. The cold rain assaults me. Sheets of water blur my vision. My chest heaves, lungs burning.

I'm pushing through the gushing rain. 

“Get her! She’s mine!” Josh roars behind me.

They’re close. Fast.

I push harder, legs aching, heart slamming in my chest. I'm cold. The road is slick beneath me. My shoes splash through puddles. Rain stings my skin. I can't stop.

Then I see  blinding headlights. A car.

It halts just as I crash into the hood. My palms slap against the metal with a loud thud. For one breathless moment, I cling there, panting, drenched. I can’t even see the driver. My mouth opens to plead.

But laughter and snarling floats. They're almost here.

I shove off the car and sprint the other way, toward the tree line.

The hill appears out of nowhere. I slip. Tumbling and rolling.

Pain explodes through me as I hit rocks and branches. I groan, try to stop myself, finally slam against a tree. Everything hurts. My limbs scream. But I force myself up. Voices are close.

I stagger forward into the woods. It's dark, blacker than black, but somehow, my eyes adjust. Sharp.  Instinct I think. But how?  I see the trees, the glint of wet leaves. I find it strange.

A memory flashes in my mind. A man’s voice. Gentle and urgent.

‘Run, Iris! Let’s cross the border…’

But the memory fades, drowned by the vampires’ shouts behind me.

A blow slams into my chest. I cry out as I'm hurled backward, straight into another figure.

Arms trap me. A hot breath grazes my ear.

“Where do you think you’re going, lassie…” Josh growls.

His tongue flicks across my neck. Pressing into me, vulgarly. I jerk away, revulsion overtaking every other emotion.

“Let me go!” I struggle. “Help! Please! Somebody help me!” But my voice frowns in this harsh storm. No one hears and no one will save me. 

They’re the only ones here, and the only person who knew I was coming is Terrence. He doesn’t even know I never made it to see Alpha Gerald Ford. Doesn’t know I’m about to die.

I scream as someone rips my jacket away. Another hand clamps down on my chest, squeezing my breasts painfully. Tweaking my nipples. I cry. 

“Please,” I sob harshly. “Don’t. Please don’t do this...”

They laugh. Mocking me. Toss me between them like I'm their toy. One grabs me from behind, shoves a hand down my jeans. Rough. Violent. Sinks a finger into my pussy. 

“Smells good,” one snarls.

Tears mix with the rain. My body thrashes, but I’m slipping. Cold. Weakened.

They pin me down. Hands everywhere. My jeans are yanked down to my thighs. Josh drops between my legs. His weight presses heavily on me.

I close my eyes. All hope lost. Beg silently for it to stop.

Suddenly, a loud growl. Menacing. Dangerous. It cuts through the storm like a sharp blade. Low. 

Josh freezes. The others go still. Another sound. A howl. Long and Piercing, next.

The woods fall silent. We all fall silent. I smell fear. 

Instantly, I see them, two glowing eyes in the dark. Gold. Luminous. Like fire.

A shadow steps forward. Massive. Primal. Half wolf, half horror.

I blink, my breath caught in my throat.

The creature looks at me. Just for a heartbeat. A second.

And something in me, deep, buried, recognizes it. It knows me.

And I know it.