CHAPTER FIVE.

CHAPTER FIVE

SALVATORE VULKOV

“You should be in London,” Slade tells me as we walk down the street.

As the Lycan Alpha of the New York BloodFang Pack, my priority has always been my Pack, the safety of my people and the continuous progress of our culture.  Most people consider us a curse, but I know we are a blessing; we’re stronger, smarter, and better. We’re also a threat to humans, and their never-ending greed. 

Ever since the Divulgance a century ago, we have had to live together, keeping treaties and respecting both species. Most times, we just ignore each other, and that has worked best for us.

Of course, occasionally, there are disputes. We try to settle it peacefully and keep our existence secret. The Humans are aware of us, but just a select few.

London is supposed to be a meeting with some humans, but I know what they want. I can smell bullshit from a thousand miles away. I’m no ordinary Wolf. I’m a Lycan, the last of my kind, and they’re wary that I’ll turn my soldiers and create an even more powerful army. No matter how much I’ve assured them that I wouldn’t, no matter how many meetings my second-in-command, Slade, has headed, they are still wary.

“I’m not interested in dancing to their tune,” I say calmly, my jaw clenched.

“I don’t think you have a choice. They think we’re building an army and planning world domination. Assure them, soothe their paranoia, be the King.” He advises, tone made of steel.

I don’t care.

“You should do that. I’ll stay here and drink till oblivion.” I shrug, feeling the air against my face.

I can hear music. There’s a festival today. A human celebration.

“And sleep with the next willing human who wanders into your territory?” he completes, brows raised.

“It’s getting creepy now, old friend. You need to stop stalking me. I’m a Lycan. I’m mateless. I’m infertile. The least I can do is have fun, and who better to have fun with than humans who fade in and out? Wolves get complicated. They want to jump my bones in hopes they’ll finally be the one to lock down the infamous Lycan.” I scoff, running my fingers through my hair.

He chuckles, and we walk side by side. We’re meeting a contractor at the bar. Slade is in charge of everything, from logistics to social work. I prefer to be a lone wolf. Left to me, we’d have taken one of my many cars, but he insisted we walk, so the Pack could see me, see their Alpha.

The music grows louder, and I frown.

A festival at noon seems normal, but I’m cautious.

There’s a scent in the air, vile, venomous and wrong.

I don’t think too much about it and walk into the bar.

Immediately, I am flooded by memories from a month ago. Memories of her, the vixen I can’t stop thinking about, her body, her moans, her hair. I am haunted by her, by what could have been, but we are on opposites side of the world. She’s human, and our types don’t mix, at least, not for long.

The meeting is quick, and I try to focus. Nicholas Dmitri can be a very powerful ally, but I find myself distracted again.

I shake my head, but all I can smell is her.

That’s not normal. Something is wrong.

“What’s going on?” Slade asks me.

I don’t respond. Instead, I close my eyes, and I feel.

The bar trembles, the clink of glasses, the laughter of the bartender, the smooth exchange of cash. I am overwhelmed by everything. Outside, cars honk, and headlight flashes on and off. The ground seems to shake from the force of the music, the laughter of women, the effortless fun they’re having while oblivious to the fact that they’re in our territory.

“Salvatore?” Slade calls, but I ignore him, searching for what feels wrong.

Suddenly, it hits me.

I see her. I feel her.

She’s here, and she’s scared.

“We need to leave.” I get up immediately.

They follow me without a word. He flanks down the first cab he sees, and wecramp inside.

In a matter of seconds, we get to Times Square, and I step out.

Everywhere is flooded by people. The festival is thicker here. They’re all wearing feathers and bangles. I clench my jaw as I am attacked by an onslaught of sensory details. The sounds of the feet slamming on the ground, the never-ending shrill of bangles clicking together, the laughter, the music shaking the core of the ground, the drums, the – her.

I exhale softly, push through the crowd effortlessly and stop at an intersection.

I narrow my gaze at the cars coming. 

She’s been chased by a group of rogue wolves.

Rage detonates in my chest.

They dare come into my home!

It’s the last thing they’re ever going to do.

I don’t have to speak. Slade understands.

I step into the traffic, and I stand there. My chest expands as the rogues pull out their weapons. I snarl as gunshots rain through the air and chaos breaks out. The laughter is replaced by screams as people run for their lives.

I don’t think. I run, my feet slamming hard against the floor. All cars come to a halt.

My soldiers spill out from the shadows.

I focus on her, but she screams in terror, and I realise the driver has been shot and the car is aiming straight for the bridge.

I don’t know why she’s here.

I don’t know what she wants, but one thing is clear, she came to me. She ran to me, and I’m gonna save her, rules be damned.

My wolf pushes forward, and I grab on to the trunk, holding it before it falls into the bridge.

She’s screaming, crying and holding on to her stomach.

I haul the car back just as gasoline floods my senses.

I rip the door open and pull her free.

The car explodes, engulfed in flames. 

I hold her trembling form against my body, protectively.

She clutches at me, crying against my chest.

I pull away to look at her face, and I smell the blood, acidic and raw.

She looks at her legs with horror as she bleeds. Fear fills her eyes, and she whispers, “I’m … pregnant. Help … help our … our baby.”

She goes limp in my arms.

The world narrows to one truth.

The impossible has happened.