Raina's POV
A cold chill ran up my spine, choking the breath from my lungs. The vampire stood unnervingly still, his gaze locked onto mine with an intensity that sent my instincts screaming. Every muscle in my body tensed, but I couldn't move, fear rooting me in place.
Mel.
The name curled around me like a whispered curse. I didn't know any Mel. At least, I didn't think I did. But the way he said it—like it was a name that belonged to me—sent a ripple of unease through me.
I forced myself to speak, drawing in a shaky breath. “You've got the wrong person.”
His lips curled, his fangs gleaming under the pale morning light. “No, I don't.”
My pulse thundered in my ears, my mind racing through options. Run? Scream? Attack? None of them seemed wise against a creature that had already proven it could kill. And from last night's research, I was outmatched in strength and speed. I didn't stand a chance.
“What do you want?” I asked, stalling for time.
The vampire titled his head slightly, his blackened veins pulsing as if something dark and unnatural ran beneath his skin. “So the rumors are true?” he murmured, almost to himself, disappointment flickering in his tone.
My chest tightened. “What rumours?”
“Hmm. Was that the price? Losing your memories?”
I gritted my teeth, irritation replacing fear. I hated feeling lost, like I was being played with.
“What the hell are you tal—”
Before I could finish, the vampire moved. My mouth opened to scream, thinking he was about to sink his fangs into me. But the sound caught in my throat as his lips—cold and soft—connected with mine.
I froze, my body suddenly reacting on sheer will. My hands tangled in his hair as I pulled him closer, letting my tongue roam freely in his mouth. The taste of iron lingered, sending a jolt through me.
The vampire abruptly pulled back, pushing me away with a bewildered look. “Something is wrong,” he stated, eyeing me intently.
I barely heard him. My mind was hazy, body aching to close the distance between us again. I moved toward him, but he took a step back.
“What did you do, Mel?”
Before I could answer, a voice called behind me. “Raina, is that you?”
I turned to find my co-worker, James, standing at the entrance with a garbage bag in hand, adjusting his glasses. “Who are you talking to?”
Remembering the vampire, I glanced back—but he was gone. Only a gust of wind remained, whipping my hair into my face.
“What the hell just happened?” I muttered, the burning need fading into an unsettling cringe.
James walked up to me, scanning the lot. “Raina, are you okay? I swear I saw you talking to someone.
“No,” I lied. “Just thinking.”
“Hmm.” He didn’t look convinced. “Well, better head inside. The manager’s been asking for you. I think you might be in trouble this time.”
“Great.”
I quickly closed my gas tank, throwing one last glance over my shoulder before heading inside.
“That's three times this week, Raina.” Frank frowned, leaning back in his chair.
“I can explain. My bike—”
“You told me you had it fixed two days ago.”
I paused, coming up with another excuse. “I did. But haven’t you heard? One of our honorary customers, Miss Agnes, went missing. Since I was the last person to see her, the police had questions.”
Frank scrutinized me. “Always an excuse with you.”
“Hey, it's not my fault things keep happening.”
He shot me a look, shutting me up. I avoided his gaze, focusing on anything but him.
“Fine. You can leave,” he sighed. “But one more strike, and that's it.”
I paused mid-stand. “You'd really fire me?”
“If you’re late again.” He returned to his paperwork, dismissing me.
“Wow.”
I walked out, heading for the dispatch room. The place was already bustling.
“Look, everyone, the boss has arrived,” Ava called, glancing at her empty wrist. “Over two hours late to give us our orders.”
I rolled my eyes. “Maybe if you saved up for a watch, you wouldn’t have to fake-check the time.”
Laughter rippled through the room, making Ava fume. I blew her a kiss, grabbed my list, and left. Somehow, she had it in her head that Frank and I had a thing. If she’d just talk to me instead of acting like a child, she’d know I wanted nothing to do with him. I wasn’t one to date my boss.
I picked up my packages. The first delivery was to some teenagers, which meant no tip. Great.
After that, I avoided a fight with two other rude customers before returning for my last package. On my way out again, I bumped into Ava. She smirked, brushing me on the shoulder as she walked past.
Suspicion gnawed at me, but I had bigger things to worry about. Like whether the vampire would still show up after our weird encounter this morning.
I secured my package, hopped onto my bike, and took off. Today's traffic was heavy, but I weaved through, glancing at my watch. I wasn’t behind schedule yet.
I pulled up to a bungalow, a German shepherd chained to the porch, It barked but wagged its tail.
“Hey, Max. Want some treats?” I tossed him a bone from my pocket. He devoured it without hesitation. “Good boy.” I scratched behind his ear, then rang the doorbell.
After delivering the package—and receiving a generous tip—I climbed back onto my bike. Loosening my ponytail, I let my hair flow in the night breeze.
The bridge road was open. No speed limits.
I set a timer, smirking as I took off. The wind rushed past, hair whipping behind me, my cap keeping it in place.
“Whoo!” I shouted into the wind, letting go of the handle bars for a split second.
This was the best part of my job.
I laughed to myself, raising my face to feel the wind in it.
Then I heard it.
A horn. Blaring.
No headlights. No sign of where it was coming from.
I hit the brakes—nothing.
I tried again. But it didn’t work.
My heart lurched. “Damn you, Ava!”
The truck came into view, barreling toward me. The driver was distracted, arguing with his pregnant wife.
“Hey!” I waved frantically.
Too late.
I swerved, crashing into the bridge’s side. The impact flung me over the edge.
A scream barely escaped my lips before the river swallowed me whole.
I couldn’t swim.
Lower and lower, I sank, swallowing mouthfuls as I struggled.
The water stung my eyes. My lungs burned.
Then—something fell from the sky.
A splash.
I reached out, fingers brushing against something solid. My vision blurred, but I recognized the eerie, empty void of nothingness staring back at me.
I blinked, trying to hold onto him, just as the last of my air escaped. My grip faltered, and I slipped away, drifting into the comforting embrace of darkness.
Raina’s povWhen Judy tugged me away from the fire earlier, I caught the flicker of Liam’s eyes on us. It was not the first time. He had been watching me differently since we came here, suspicion hidden beneath the surface of his calm. Part of me wanted to reassure him, but another part liked keeping him guessing. After all, I was not the fragile girl he thought he had to protect.“Come on,” Judy whispered, pulling me behind one of the larger tents where the shadows hid us from the others. “If anyone sees us, they’ll think we’re plotting some wicked scheme.”“Are we not?” I asked, raising a brow.Judy smirked, her fangs flashing before she tucked them away. “Not the kind you’re thinking. Trust me, this will be worth it.”She crouched down and pulled a handful of pebbles from a pouch at her waist, arranging them carefully on the ground in a crooked circle. At first, I thought she was sketching out some kind of ritual, something witch-like that she must have picked up from Ysra. But the
Liam’s povMorning came slow and heavy. The forest mist hung over the camp like a veil, softening the edges of tents and fire pits, muting the wolves’ movements as they stirred from their shelters. Somewhere in the distance, I could hear water trickling over stone, a steady rhythm beneath the shuffle of boots and the crackle of fire being coaxed back to life.I had not slept, though I pretended to. My body no longer required rest the way it once had, but the weight in my chest was worse than any fatigue. All through the night, I replayed her words, the way she had leaned her head on my shoulder as if it belonged there. And every time, the same thought burned through me: she didn't know this year would be my last.I sat by the fire pit again, my eyes fixed on the rising smoke. The wolves went about their business, sharp and efficient, but I was distracted by the sound of laughter. My head turned before I could stop myself.There she was.Standing just beyond the clearing, her hair caug
Raina’s POV “He’s onto me. I almost want to tell him, but I can’t,” I sighed as I walked beside Judy toward the tent the wolves had provided for us. “Why? He’s been in love with you since heaven knows when.” “Not anymore.” I collapsed on one of the tent beds. “He’s in love with Raina now, not me.” Judy laughed. “Girl, that’s you. Mel. Raina. Same thing.” I shook my head. “It’s not. Have you heard the difference between the way he talks about Mel and the way he talks about Raina?” “I don’t know. I’d say he’s in love with Raina because she looks like Mel, which still backs up my statement earlier.” She took my hand in hers. “I’m sorry for what I did—you know why I had to. But it’s not too late to get back your old life now that you remember.” “No. It’s not too late. But things have changed. I don’t want my old life back. I don’t want him to think I’m the emotionless vampire who killed and slaughtered people for fun. I’ve changed, Judy. Other than Silas and Ian, I don’t want to de
Liam’s POV The conversation with the wolf leader made me realize just how far behind I was when it came to Ian. While we had all been focused on Velmoran, Ian had been terrorizing the Moonbane pack—letting his men feed on them, framing them, rallying them toward a war they didn’t ask for. This time, I had no argument, no way to defend him. All I could do was listen and offer my apologies as the leader laid out everything that had been happening in the city. I didn’t even notice when we started walking, only that by the time we stepped back into the main circle of camp, the air felt lighter, the tension bleeding into the rhythm of ordinary life.Wolves gathered in small knots, talking low or tending to the fires. The scent of woodsmoke and seared meat lingered on the breeze, mixing with the sharp resin of pine. Someone laughed somewhere behind me, and it was the kind of sound that didn’t belong to a place preparing for war.It was hers.Raina sat cross-legged near one of the smaller f
Raina’s povThe wolves emerged like they had been part of the forest all along, slipping out of the mist and shadow until there was nowhere to look without seeing amber eyes watching you.They weren’t in uniform, no pelts or battle gear, just jeans, boots, hoodies, and worn jackets—yet they carried themselves like soldiers. Their steps barely bent the pine needles beneath them, and their bodies seemed coiled with unspent energy.They smelled different—more like earth, leaves and life—unlike the copper-and-petrichor tang I’d grown used to since learning what vampires really were. Liam and the leader were already talking, their low voices carrying just enough for me to catch the cadence but not the words. I didn’t care enough to listen in. The pack members stood loosely around us, their posture relaxed on the surface, but their eyes tracked everything.My pulse wasn’t the one racing, but something in my chest still felt tight. Maybe it was instinct. Maybe it was the way the leader’s ga
Liam’s pov"Hey."My voice came out softer than I intended, almost cautious as I reached out a hand to steady Raina. She staggered back a step, gripping the edge of the sink like the room might tilt again. I'd been half-asleep when I heard her sharp, uneven breaths cutting through the quiet. They struck me like alarm bells, loud and wrong in the silence of the night. I’d thrown the covers off and rushed to the bathroom without thinking, yanking the door open."Is everything okay?" I asked again, quieter this time.Raina didn’t answer immediately. Her body tensed under my hand, like she was debating whether or not to tell me the truth. Then, slowly, she placed her hand on mine, her fingers cold and trembling. She straightened, pulling herself away from the sink and forcing a small, brittle smile."I'm fine," she said. “It’s… I just felt dizzy a little. I'm going to be fine.”But she wasn’t.She looked anything but fine. The kind of ‘not fine’ that didn't just show on your face but leak