MasukYears later…Atlanta, GeorgiaHank sat there, torn between bolting and staying loyal, but he knew better than to screw Hunter over.Hunter was spiraling hard; nothing could calm him down. Eventually, he decided to head to New Orleans, thinking maybe seeing the pack would snap him out of it.Hank knew it was withdrawals from Chloe. He’d tried to track her down but came up empty. He even went at the elder, pissed that he wouldn’t give up her location.“I just need to see her,” Hunter yelled.“You lost that right,” the elder shot back. “It’s over. Move on.”And then he was gone. Hank had no clue where to even start looking. After a week of dead ends, he gave up and headed back to Atlanta.Canada, TorontoArran and Chloe had been on the move constantly; Salem was growing faster than any human child. Eventually, the coven sisters left, and they settled back in the deep bayou.Chloe loved Arran fiercely, and he made her feel like she was the center of his universe. But there was this itch i
James studied her as she slept, no bruises, no scars, just peace. He eased onto the bed beside her, careful to leave space, and shut his eyes for what felt like a second. Then fingers brushed his.His eyes snapped open. She flinched.“Hey,” he turned toward her, voice rough. “How’re you feeling?”“Better,” she murmured, those blue eyes locking onto his. “Thanks for… you know.”“Get more sleep,” James said, shifting like he might leave.Her hand caught his. “Stay. Please. I don’t want to be alone yet.”James smiled. “Nobody’s getting to you here. Sleep.” His thumb grazed her cheek. She exhaled, drifting off again.Morning came. She padded to the bathroom, found a box on the towels, a dress inside. The mirror stopped her cold. Blood crusted in her hair, smudged on her skin, but the bruises? Gone.The shower washed it all away. She slipped into the dress, stepped back into the bedroom, and there he was, coffee in hand.“Morning,” she said, taking the mug.“Sleep, okay?”“Yeah.” Her gaze
James leaned against the balcony railing, whiskey in hand, when the breeze shifted. His head turned sharp. Blood. The metallic tang mixed with something sweet. In two strides, he vaulted over the railing and hit the street below. Empty, save for a couple of stumbling drunks. He sprinted toward the end of the block, the scent growing thicker. Dark alley. Voices echoed, harsh, taunting. “Hold her down,” one growled, fabric tearing. A muffled cry, the sound of struggle.“Get the hell off her,” James snarled, low and dangerous.They spun, laughing until one pulled a gun. James moved faster, ripping his throat out. The man crumpled, clutching his throat. The other two froze, wide-eyed, then bolted like rats. James crouched beside her. Her dress was torn, blood trickling from her nose. She stared at him, trembling, her breath ragged.Without a word, he scooped her up and carried her back to his place. She drifted in and out of consciousness as he forced a drink into her hands. Eventually, s
One year afterJames stood in the mausoleum, his hands steady as he worked through the ritual. Magic wasn’t easy, certainly not compared to surgery, which felt like child’s play next to some of these spells. But he’d served his time, and now he held three bags of blood, the final piece of the puzzle.With a sharp gesture, he broke the spell and pried open the coffin.“That was… refreshing,” Arran’s voice croaked from inside.James couldn’t help but laugh. Arran sat up, yanking the blindfold off his face and grabbing the blood bags. He drained them in seconds, his movements fast and desperate.“Where is she?” Arran demanded, his voice low.“She had her memories wiped,” James replied, shrugging. “Last I heard, Hunter went to the elder asking about her. And the kid.”“The kid?” Arran’s eyes narrowed.“Hunter’s kid, supposedly,” James said, hesitating. “She didn’t exactly clarify.”Arran clenched his jaw. He knew damn well it wasn’t Hunter’s child. It was his. Was the kid stirring somethi
Atlanta, GeorgiaChloe and Lily were in the closet, sharing a blood bag."This tastes like shit," Chloe muttered just as a man walked in."Brian?" Lily said, narrowing her eyes. "Cut it out. They’re going to figure it out.""I was just telling Lily I’m hitting the boxing match tonight, but she’s busy. You in?""The vampire one? Seriously? How’d you even score an invite? Actually, never mind, I know how you got it.""Look, Brian, I’m planning to have a good time tonight, so don’t ruin it, alright?" Chloe said, smirking."Come on, we’ve known each other forever," Brian replied. He’d been into her since day one, but she barely noticed him. Still, he was just glad to be near her. Then the speaker crackled: "Dr. Johnson to room 7.""Shit. Okay, hold this," Brian said, handing over the blood bag."Wait, Brian," Chloe called. She tugged him closer and licked the blood off the corner of his mouth. He froze, his mind racing. What the hell is she playing at?Lily shot Chloe a look. "You know he
Atlanta, GeorgiaHe was mid-punch when it hit him—a sharp pain splitting his skull. Down he went, the world spinning. Noise. Chaos. Eyes shut tight, then open. It all came rushing back. Chloe. “I left her,” he muttered, voice breaking. “No, no, her bump…” People stared at him like he’d lost it. He ripped off the gloves, sprinted out, and grabbed his phone. “Hank, get me tickets. We’re heading back to New Orleans. Now.”Old cemeteryHe blindfolded them, James’s father and her mom first. The cemetery was cold, a thin mist clinging to the ground. The abandoned mausoleum stood far back, its shadows looming. Inside, a coffin waited for the two of them. James shoved them in. “Enjoy eternity, dear parents,” he said flatly. Chloe closed the lid. Jason and James hoisted the coffin onto the bed. Chloe’s chanting filled the air, and when she finished, it looked like nothing was there to the untrained eye.She stepped back, and James eyed her. “There’s something you’re not telling me.”“Like what







