ANMELDENAuthor’s POV Far away from the Bloodclaw pack Arielle's father sat in his study room behind his desk, his knuckles pressed so hard into the polished wood that the skin stretched white. Across from him, the chief of police squirmed in his uniform, sweating under the blistering glare of one of the city’s most powerful men. "Three days," Harrison said, "Three days, Chief Vance. My daughter has been missing for seventy-two hours, and all your bloated department has given me is a collection of shrugged shoulders and bureaucratic excuses." "Mr. Harrison, please, we are utilizing every resource.." "Your resources are useless!" Harrison slammed his palm onto the desk, making the heavy crystal whiskey glass jump. "She is out there, vulnerable, exposed to things you can’t even comprehend! She is... she has become one of them, Vance. Do you have any idea what those monsters will do to her if they realize what she is?" The horror gnawing at Harrison’s gut was a suffocating weight. Ever s
Victor’s POV “She is a vampire.” The words hung in the room, thick and suffocating. I sat near the edge of the polished mahogany table, my back straight, my jaw so tightly clenched that a dull ache throbbed behind my eyes. Across the chamber, the silence that followed was instant and absolute. A vampire. Sarah was a vampire. A pulse of sheer irritation flickered in my chest, hot and sharp at the absurdity of the situation. We were living in a changing world, fighting real threats at our borders, yet here we were, held hostage by archaic traditions and centuries-old laws that belonged in the dust. I hadn't known what Sarah was but the fact that her bloodline was enough to ground the entire council to a halt infuriated me. They treated an ancient rulebook so sacredly while the world burned around them, prioritizing blood purity over strength, loyalty, and survival. It was pathetic, but it was the reality of the council we served. The elders snapped out of their stupor almost
Victor’s pov The ride back to the pack was quieter than I expected. Michael kept his eyes on the road while I sat in the passenger seat, watching the trees blur past the window. The cabin disappeared from sight long ago, yet my mind refused to leave it. Or rather... it refused to leave Arielle. She had looked so peaceful lying in my bed when I left. After everything she had been through, she deserved a few hours without fear. I almost woke her before leaving. There were too many things I wanted to ask her. Too many things we needed to understand together. Instead, I had left a note on the bedside table. It wasn't enough. I should have stayed. My wolf growled low inside me, making its displeasure known for what felt like the hundredth time since we left. "I know," I muttered under my breath. Michael glanced at me. "What?" "Nothing." He looked at me for another second before returning his attention to the road. "You've been talking to your wolf ever since we left." I le
Arielle's pov When my eyes fluttered open, the first thing I noticed was the silence. I blinked against the pale, icy sunlight streaming through the dusty window frame, my head throbbing with a dull, persistent ache. The bandaged wound on my shoulder made it difficult but I managed to push myself up onto my elbows, the thin blankets slipping down my chest. The horrific memory of the attack hit me all at once, the dark forest, the flashing fangs, the terrifying weakness I felt, and then... Victor. I looked to the space beside me on the small bed, half-expecting to see his towering frame slumped beside me or sitting in the corner watching over me. But the sheets were empty and cold. "Victor?" I called out, my voice raspy and thin from disuse. No answer. I swung my legs over the edge of the mattress and stood up carefully, leaning heavily against the bedpost as a wave of dizziness washed over me. I crept out of the bedroom, my bare feet cold against the rough wooden floorboa
Victor's pov I lay awake until morning, unable to wrap my head around the fact that I wasn't destined to be alone, despite what Elspeth had proclaimed years ago…. I had just turned eighteen. The entire pack had gathered in the great hall to celebrate Michael and me coming of age. Laughter and merriment echoed in every corner. My father sat proudly in his Alpha seat, though the sadness in his eyes had never truly disappeared since my mother's death. Then the doors opened, and Elspeth walked inside. The room fell instantly silent. She wore her usual black robes, but something was different that night, she looked terrified. Her hands trembled as she walked to the center of the hall. I exchanged a confused glance with Michael. Stopping before my father, she lowered her head. "My Alpha," she said softly. "The Moon Goddess has blessed me with a prophecy." A murmur spread across the hall. Prophecies were rare, and everyone was eager to hear it. My father smiled for what felt like the
Victor’s pov The cabin door slammed shut behind us, cutting off the howling wind. I laid Arielle gently on the old mattress, my hands trembling as I stepped back from her white wolf form. Blood soaked her fur, the metallic scent driving my wolf into a panic. There was a strange, undeniable pull wrapping around my chest, dragging me toward her with an intensity I couldn't explain. I didn't understand it. The prophecy had already made it clear that a male like me was never meant to have a mate. This connection shouldn't exist, yet my wolf was practically clawing at my ribs to get closer to her. "Arielle," I rumbled, pressing my forehead against her furry brow, desperation cracking my voice. "You need to shift back. I can't fix this while you're like this. Please." Desperate to soothe her pain, I focused on that bizarre pull between us, channeling my Alpha warmth straight into her through the connection. A violent shudder rippled through her. Then came the sharp, sickening
Arielle’s POVThe iron gates groaned open as the car rolled up the long driveway, and the mansion came into view the same way it always did. It looked too large, too quiet, too full of things that didn’t move. Every topiary trimmed to the same perfect angle. Every window was gleaming. Nothing was
Arielle's POVWhen I woke up, Victor wasn't on the bed.I got up slowly, still feeling the ache in my lower abdomen from last night. I hadn't showered after, I still smelled like Victor’s strong cologne and sex.Memories from last night rushed through my head, fuck! I had to admit that Victor did t
Arielle's POVThe guy had a phone pressed to his ear but I didn't hear what he was saying. I just didn't care. I was too focused on his piercing blue eyes and his biceps standing out through the shirt he wore. He had that look that could make even the toughest pussy drip. I even had to squeeze my t
Arielle's POV"I'm taking the pink hoodie too."The sales receptionist, a slim young lady, smiled and stretched out her hand. "Let me take your card."She swiped it and waited, then swiped it again."This isn't working." She kept her voice professionally flat. "You can pay with another card.""That







