Dennise's Point of viewLorkan leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving mine. “Last time I checked, she called herself Isabella Swan. Now, Valentina. But it doesn’t matter what name she wears. It’s the same face. The same woman. The last Bathory.”I shook my head violently. “No… No, that’s not-”“She never aged, Dennise,” he cut in, his tone sharp, final. “She’s been walking this earth for centuries. Bathory blood doesn’t die easy.”The name hit me like ice. Bathory.Whispers from the academy tugged at the edges of my memory, rumors about an ancient patron, a benefactor whose fortune built Cross, whose shadow lingered in every hall. I had dismissed them as stories.My voice cracked. “What… what is she?”For the first time, Lorkan hesitated. His hand rested on the folder, his thumb rubbing over the yellowed edges as though grounding himself. Then he leaned forward, his eyes dark.“Vampyer,” he said.The word chilled the air between us.Not vampire, not the softened fairytale n
Dennise's Point of ViewThere was a long silence between us. He hunched over the table, the silver bullet glinting under the lamp’s harsh glow, its tiny carvings too faint for the naked eye.He pulled out a magnifying glass, lowering it carefully. The etched emblem shimmered faintly, strange, archaic, something that didn’t belong in the world of men.“Do you believe in werewolves?” I asked quietly, my voice hoarse from both pain and fear.He froze, the magnifying glass hovering midair. Slowly, he lifted his gaze to me. His eyes studied my face as though weighing whether I was mocking him, or confessing something dangerous.“You mean the supernaturals?” he asked, his tone measured. Then, as if the question were nothing more than a whisper in passing, he lowered his gaze and returned to the bullet.“Call it like that,” I muttered. My throat was tight, but I forced the words out.His jaw flexed, and then, without looking up, he said, “Yes.”The simple words made my chest constrict.Lork
Dennise’s Point of viewPain, that was all I had felt on the journey. My body was screaming at me but I endured so much pain before, pushing myself to the limit. If I want to stop everything just by myself, I’ll do it myself.Hours blurred. The hum of the road. The sting of every bump against my ribs. By the time I reached the airport, I was pale, drenched in sweat, but I didn’t falter. The stewardess looked at me and asked me if I was okay but I nodded and smiled. “Yes. But can I have some pain reliever please?” I asked. “Yes, Ma’am. I’ll bring one for you.”As I settled on my first class seat as I waited for the medicine. When she returned, I gave her my thanks and drank it. I slept the entire time and when I woke up, I felt like a whole truck hit me. I grimaced and I contacted an Uber and took me home.The small town hadn’t changed. Rows of modest homes, cracked sidewalks, the faint sound of children’s laughter from down the street. This was my base home. I locked the door beh
Ace’s Point of ViewInside me, my wolf went silent for a moment. He was obviously not calm but waiting. Watching.And I knew this fight wasn’t over. It never would be. The fight inside me reached its peak, too loud, too violent to contain.My wolf snarled, my voice roared back, both of us clawing and snapping, neither yielding. My chest burned, my veins screamed, and then-The dam shattered.My body convulsed, the shift ripping through me in violent waves. My bones cracked, my skin tore, and fur exploded across my muscles. My vision changed into more vivid, and when I opened my eyes, we slammed the door out from the room.The beast was free.Black as midnight, my wolf slammed onto the stone floor, claws gouging deep scars into it. My chest rumbled with a growl that shook the walls, and the lamps along the corridor flickered, glass shattering from the force of my rage.I bolted.Doors splintered as I rammed past them, furniture crushed beneath my paws, men diving out of the way. Growls
Ace’s Point of ViewMy wolf was snarming at me as I walked to the hall. Thankfully, the hall was empty, but inside me it was chaos. It was unbearable.“You were choosing Hessa over Dennise,” I said. My wolf paced, claws raking, tail thrashing in my chest. His growl vibrated through my ribs, rattling every bone.“I’m choosing rational, Ace. Rational!”“Both women are our mates. We can’t choose one of them.”“We can and I wanted Hessa.”“You fool! You must not choose anyone!”My wolf growled. “You betrayed her. You betrayed Hessa. You put your paw on her, forcing her to whimper beneath you.”I gritted my teeth, my fists still stinging from striking the wall. “I had no choice. She would have killed Dennise. You know it!”“Then let her!” he roared back. His voice was thunder, his fury primal. “The Hunter deserves nothing less. One bite, one snap, and our bond with Hessa would have been clean, whole, unbroken.”I stopped dead in the corridor, my breath jagged. “Clean? You call that cle
Ace's Point of ViewAce’s Point of ViewHessa’s snarl still rang in the air, but I didn’t answer it on my own. Not this time.I crossed the room slowly, each step making her shoulders stiffen, her claws pressing deeper into her knees. She looked like a cornered wolf, wounded, wild, aching to bite even as her heart bled.I stopped just short of the bed, staring down at her. For a long moment, neither of us spoke. Only the sound of her shallow breaths filled the silence.Finally, I let the truth out, low and steady.“You are my mate, Hessa.”Her amber eyes flicked up to mine, sharp, wet, searching.“I think of you,” I continued, my voice rough, strained. “Every hour. Every time I look at her, every time my wolf howls in confusion, I think of you. You are bound to me by the Moon, and that bond is not something I can cast aside.”Her lips trembled, though her claws didn’t loosen.“But your mind is clouded.” My jaw clenched, the words bitter but true. “By pain. By grief. By your mother’s d