We stick together

They waited in the middle again. Callum strolled up, grinning like he’d just won the lottery.

“Today, kids, we learn to fight. Because apparently, you need to protect each other or something.”

He waved a hand, and they turned to see an array of weapons—no guns, just knives and sticks that looked like they belonged in a medieval reenactment.

“Happy birthday, Chloe,” he said, tossing her a curved knife.

“It’s not my birthday,” she shot back, gripping the blade. “And honestly, I can’t even tell if it’s day or night in this place.”

“Enjoy,” Callum said dryly as the vampires lined up. Chloe tightened her hold on the knife.

“Hunter, I’ve got a bad feeling about this,”

“We stick together,” he replied, eyes darting to her. “Just… don’t get dead, alright?”

The vampire assigned to her was stone-faced, unreadable. The bell rang, and he lunged. Chloe slashed his arm, but he hurled her across the floor like a ragdoll.

Hunter was busy blocking his own opponent but kept glancing her way, distracted enough to take a hit. Chloe scrambled up, slid low, and sliced the vampire’s leg. He dropped to one knee, and she finished him with a clean cut to the neck. Blood sprayed.

Hunter stared at her, wide-eyed. The room went silent.

Callum clapped slowly, a smirk tugging at his lips.

Congrats, they’d officially made it to the top of the board as the number one couple.

After two hours of getting her ass handed to her, Chloe stumbled into the room. Hunter was already filling the tub. He stepped in first, then she followed, sinking into the warm water with a groan. Her body felt like it had been run over twice. Hunter’s hand brushed softly against her arm, hesitant, like he wasn’t sure what to do. He settled for wrapping his arms around her, pulling her close. They leaned back, eyes shut.

“This is nice,” she mumbled. “How long do we have?”

“An hour, maybe,” he said. “Just… try to rest, okay?”

She dragged herself out of the tub, threw on a robe, and collapsed onto the bed. Hunter pulled the blanket over her.

“It’s only going to get worse,” she mumbled “Who’s next? More vampires? They’re already dead, Hunter.”

He slid in beside her, holding her tight, his fingers tracing her skin. He kissed her lightly.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “Happy birthday, Chloe.” He tucked her hair behind her ear.

“Hunter, just… don’t let go,”, her voice barely audible. “Never,” he replied. “Never.”

The door swung open, they walked to the large room, and Callum’s voice cut through the silence. “Oh, look at these two lovebirds. Place your bets, folks!” He gestured to the group of vampires waiting outside. “Kill as many as you can. The one with the least kills… well, you know how this goes.”

Someone tossed Chloe her curved knife. She caught it, her grip firm despite the exhaustion.

“Let the games begin,” Callum said with a grin.

They started back-to-back, surrounded almost instantly. The vampires came hard, fast, like they had nothing to lose.

Then, something shifted. Chloe froze. Her head tilted back, arms open. Her body jerked violently, and she screamed, a sound that seemed to echo in the room. Fell to the ground. When she stood again, her eyes were unfocused, her lips moving in a low chant. The vampires around her began to drop, writhing in pain. She didn’t seem to hear anything, not Hunter, not the chaos, nothing.

Hunter wrapped his arms around her from behind, pulling her close. “Chloe, stop,” he whispered, his voice low and urgent.

She jolted, snapping out of whatever trance she was in. The heavy doors burst open, and a pack of wolves stormed in. Liam in his wolf form, and Chloe climbed onto his back. As he bolted, she twisted around, her hand reaching out toward Hunter.

“What the hell just happened?” Callum barked, his voice sharp. “Who is she?”

Hunter stood there, frozen, realizing this might be it, his end. He closed his eyes, bracing himself.

Callum lunged, sinking his teeth into Hunter’s neck. “Now you’re one of us,” he hissed, pulling back. Hunter crumpled to the floor, convulsing.

Callum sighed, tapping his foot impatiently. When Hunter finally stopped shaking and stood, Callum smirked. “Find her. Bring her to me. She betrayed you.”

Hunter met his gaze, his eyes cold and sharp. “Got it,” he said flatly, then vanished into the shadows.

Turn the rest, Callum shouted.

Deep in the bayou…

Liam carried Chloe deep into the bayou, the pack trailing behind before disappearing into the trees. He shifted back to human form, standing bare in front of her. Chloe looked him over, unfazed.

He pulled her into a hug. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice steady. “Happy birthday, Chloe.”

“I left him there,” she murmured, her voice cracking. “They’ll kill him, Liam.”

“No, they won’t,” he said, pulling back to look at her. “Callum’s not done with him. He’ll send him after you, know how he works.”

One of the pack members handed Liam clothes, and he quickly dressed.

“Did you kill anyone?” he asked, his tone casual but probing.

“I don’t think so…” Chloe’s hands trembled as she stared at them. “Liam, what’s happening to me?”

“Come on,” he said, slinging an arm around her shoulders. “Let’s get you home. I’ll explain everything.”

A roaring fire crackled in the center of the clearing, the pack gathered around it. An older man stepped forward, his weathered face breaking into a grin. “So, this is her,” he said, eyeing Chloe. “Son, you’ve found your mate.” He pulled her into a brief, gruff hug.

“This is my dad,” Liam said, gesturing casually. “Come on, let’s get you some food before you collapse.”

Chloe managed one step before her legs gave out.

When she woke, she was lying in a dimly lit room, Liam sprawled beside her, asleep. She reached out, brushing her fingers against his cheek. He stirred, rolling toward her. Their lips met in a quiet, unthinking moment. She leaned into him, eyes closing, like she’d been here a thousand times before.

“Now I’m whole,” he murmured, his voice low