Before the Blood

Amara Vale had always known one thing—

Life was not kind to people like her.

Not girls who grew up counting coins before buying bread.

Not girls who learned too early that survival meant sacrifice.

Not girls who had no one… except one person.

Her sister.

Lina.

That was the only reason Amara kept going.

The only reason she endured long hours, rude customers, and the constant exhaustion that clung to her bones like a second skin.

Because Lina deserved better.

Better than the life they had.

Better than the fear that came with not knowing if there would be enough tomorrow.

Amara had promised herself that no matter what… she would protect her.

Always.

“Amara! You’re going to be late!”

Lina’s voice rang through their small apartment, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.

Amara groaned softly, pulling the thin blanket over her head.

“I’m awake…” she muttered.

“You said that ten minutes ago,” Lina replied, pushing the door open.

Amara peeked out and rolled her eyes playfully.

“You worry too much.”

“And you don’t worry enough.”

Lina folded her arms, trying to look serious—but the concern in her eyes gave her away.

Amara sighed, sitting up.

She reached out and pulled Lina into a quick hug.

“I’ll be fine,” she said softly. “I always am.”

Lina hesitated… then nodded.

But something in her expression lingered.

Like she wasn’t convinced.

Hours later, Amara stood behind the counter of the small convenience store where she worked, scanning items absentmindedly.

“Next,” she called.

A man stepped forward.

Something about him felt… off.

Amara frowned slightly, glancing up.

He was staring at her.

Not casually.

Not normally.

But like he was studying her.

Her stomach tightened.

“Your total is—”

“You shouldn’t walk home alone at night.”

Her words died instantly.

“What?”

The man smiled.

It didn’t reach his eyes.

“Dangerous things roam after dark.”

A chill ran down her spine.

“I can handle myself,” she said, forcing her voice to remain steady.

His smile widened slightly.

“Can you?”

Amara didn’t respond.

Didn’t engage.

She quickly finished the transaction and avoided looking at him as he walked away.

But the feeling lingered.

Heavy.

Unsettling.

That night…

Everything changed.

Amara’s body trembled violently as the memory slammed back into her.

The gunshot.

The blood.

The eyes.

God… those eyes.

She gasped sharply, her vision blurring as panic surged through her.

She was back there.

On the ground.

Held by a man who was about to kill her.

Her heart raced uncontrollably as she struggled against his grip.

“Let go of me!” she cried, kicking wildly.

But he didn’t budge.

“Feisty,” he muttered.

Then—

That growl again.

The man froze.

Amara did too.

Slowly… painfully slowly… she turned her head.

And saw him.

The man from the alley.

Standing in the darkness like a shadow come to life.

But this time—

Something was different.

His eyes burned.

Gold.

Bright.

Inhuman.

Amara’s breath caught.

This wasn’t possible.

Humans didn’t look like that.

Humans didn’t feel like this.

Because the air around him—

It pressed down on her.

Heavy.

Dominating.

Terrifying.

The man holding her cursed under his breath.

“…Alpha.”

The word sent a shock through her system.

Alpha?

What did that even mean?!

“Let her go,” the man—no… the Alpha—said.

His voice was low.

Deadly.

A command.

Not a request.

The man holding Amara tightened his grip.

“She saw too much.”

Silence.

Then—

“Then you should have killed her already.”

Amara’s heart stopped.

Her breath hitched painfully.

So that was it.

That was what they planned to do.

Kill her.

Like she was nothing.

Like her life meant nothing.

Tears burned her eyes.

She didn’t want to die.

Not like this.

Not here.

Not without saying goodbye to Lina.

“Please…” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I won’t say anything… I swear—”

The Alpha’s gaze snapped to her.

And for a moment…

Everything stilled.

His eyes locked onto hers.

Sharp.

Piercing.

Searching.

Amara felt it.

Like he was looking through her.

Not at her.

Through her.

Her breath came out uneven.

Something shifted in his expression.

Something dark.

Something… interested.

The man holding her noticed too.

“…What is it?” he asked cautiously.

The Alpha didn’t answer immediately.

His gaze never left Amara.

And then—

“She’s mine.”

The words dropped like a death sentence.

Amara’s heart stopped completely.

Mine?

What did that mean?!

“No—” the man protested. “She’s just a human—”

He didn’t get to finish.

Because in the next second—

The Alpha moved.

Too fast.

Too sudden.

A blur.

A crack.

And then—

The man holding Amara collapsed to the ground.

Dead.

Just like the other one.

Amara screamed, stumbling back as her legs gave out beneath her.

Her entire body shook violently as she stared at the lifeless body.

Blood.

So much blood.

Her stomach churned.

She couldn’t breathe.

Couldn’t think.

Couldn’t—

A shadow fell over her.

Slowly… she looked up.

He was standing right in front of her now.

Closer than before.

Too close.

Her breath hitched.

Fear gripped her throat tightly.

She tried to move.

But her body refused.

“You…” she whispered weakly.

His gaze darkened.

“You should have died tonight.”

Tears slipped down her face.

“I don’t want to die…”

Something flickered in his eyes.

Something dangerous.

Something final.

“You don’t get to choose.”

And then—

He grabbed her.

Pain exploded through her neck as sharp teeth sank into her skin.

Amara screamed.

Her entire body convulsed as something burned through her veins.

Fire.

It felt like fire.

She clawed at him, struggling, crying, screaming—but it didn’t stop.

The pain only grew.

Stronger.

Hotter.

Deadlier.

Her vision blurred.

Her body went weak.

And just before everything went dark…

She heard his voice.

Low.

Certain.

Possessive.

“Survive this… or die.”