Chapter 005: The Cryptic Text

CLAIRE'S POV

 

 

"There's a bet on me."

 

The thought wouldn't leave my head as I ran through the woods, my heart pounding as I gasped for breath. Branches scratched at my arms and leaves tore at my face. My legs ached too, but I didn't stop. 

 

Who would do something like this? Betting on how much they could hurt me, how much blood they could draw, was this a joke to them? 

 

Yes, I was the daughter of a hunter, but weren't they just being like the hunters they claimed to hate? 

 

I finally stopped running, leaning against a tree, my chest rising and falling too fast. My hands were shaking and so was the rest of my body. 

 

I threw my head back, thinking about my predicament. Ever since I got here, it had been one thing after another. I couldn't even take a damn shower without worrying about Zane barging in, and now this? 

 

A bet. To hurt me. It had not even been 24 hours yet in this school.

 

Was Skylar responsible or was it someone else? It had to be her. But was it because of Zane? Did she know about the mate bond? 

 

I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair. I needed to go back. Class would be over soon by 9:40, and the last thing I needed was to make things worse for myself by staying out here too long.

 

I glanced at my watch. 9:50 PM. 

 

"What?" I gasped, pushing myself off the tree bark.

 

That wasn't right. I had only been running for a few minutes. There was no way so much time had passed. My stomach twisted as I tapped my watch, shaking my wrist to be sure it was still working. 

 

"Oh no," I breathed. I only had ten minutes to get back.

 

So, I started to run again, pushing leaves away in panic while some tangled in my hair. 

 

I glanced at my watch again. Five minutes more. 

 

I finally stopped, gasping for air and bending forward with my hands on my knees as I looked around. Nothing looked familiar and my brows furrowed when I realized that I was lost. 

 

I swallowed back the lump in my throat as tears stung my eyes.

 

I needed to get back. 

 

But the more I walked, the deeper into the woods I seemed to go. 

 

I looked at my watch again. 10:07 pm. 

 

A shaky breath left my lips. "Oh goddess." What was going to happen to me now? 

 

Snap.

 

I heard a twig behind me and immediately spun around, my eyes searching the darkness.

 

My heart was beating so loudly that I could hear it in my ears but I knew I wasn't alone. The leaves shifted, rustling like something or someone was moving. 

 

I didn't wait to find out, so I broke into a run. 

 

I didn't know where I was going. I didn't care. My only thought was to get out. 

 

A sharp branch sliced across my face, but I barely felt it as I continued running. And then, out of nowhere, something slammed into me. 

 

The impact sent me crashing to the ground, knocking the breath out of my lungs. But as I opened my eyes, two pairs of vicious red eyes stared down at me while his hands pressed against my chest, pinning me in place. My heart nearly stopped beating. 

 

A vampire.

 

For a moment, I couldn't speak. My body felt numb, like it had shut down completely. I couldn't even open my mouth to speak or cry out. 

 

I managed to turn my head to the side, avoiding his gaze, my chest rising and falling in short, shaky breaths. 

 

Then he leaned forward, his tongue licking the cut on my chin. I flinched at the feel of his tongue but I remained still, trembling beneath him.

 

"Delicious," he murmured, inhaling deeply like he was savoring the scent of my blood. His fingers dug into my shoulder and I shivered at his icy touch. 

 

"Please…" I whimpered, barely recognizing my own voice. "I—I was lost." He grabbed my face, forcing me to look at him. 

 

And he smirked coldly, the kind of smile that looked like death itself. 

 

I knew that look. He was going to drain me. I was human, after all. And vampires couldn't resist human blood. 

 

"Please," I tried again, tears now streaming down my face. "Please don't kill me." 

 

Paying no heed to my pleas, he lowered his face, his breath on my skin as he brought his fangs closer. 

 

I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the pain but suddenly, a voice rang out. 

 

"Let her go!" 

 

The vampire above me froze and so did I but mostly because I was paralyzed with fear. After a few seconds passed, he slowly peeled himself away from me. I let out a sigh of relief, feeling like I'd just peed myself from fear. 

 

A shadow stepped closer and his voice came again. "I'll handle her." 

 

The vampire who attacked me scoffed. "We should drain her." 

 

"She's a werewolf," the other objected said. "And a student. We don't just go around draining people."

 

"She's only two percent wolf," the vampire that attacked me argued. "I can smell her human blood." 

 

"I said, I'll handle her." The other snapped. I swallowed, staying quiet as I listened to them decide my fate.

 

Finally, the one that attacked me huffed, turning to glance at me before vanishing into the trees. 

 

My heart was racing at that point and I stayed on the ground, too afraid to move. Just because this one saved me didn't mean he wouldn't change his mind. What if he saved me for selfish reasons? What if he drained me instead? 

 

I prayed silently to the goddess, hoping for some kind of miracle. 

 

"Get up."