SCARLETT TOOK A SIP OF HER JUICE before she continued, “I wasn't actually there, but Winter sent me some pictures she took while Chloe was getting her wound cleaned.”Scarlett grabbed her phone off the table, saying, “Maybe I should show you.” But I quickly stopped her, letting her know that blood makes me queasy. She nodded, completely understanding my reaction.With concern in my voice, I asked, “Is Chloe doing any better?”Scarlett seemed to deflate a bit, like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. “I don't know if I can really say that,” she confessed, looking down at her juice. “Winter told me that Chloe's blood levels were way too low. Dangerously low, Casper. It was really bad—so bad that she needed a blood transfusion.” Scarlett let out a sigh, her sadness clearly visible. “I feel terrible that I haven't been to see her yet. My mom wants me to visit after school today.”As Scarlett shared the details, I couldn't help but feel uneasy—like someone, or somethi
SO, I STROLLED INTO MY PLACE and let my backpack just flop onto the living room couch. You know that feeling when you've got a lot on your mind? Yep, that was me. I made a beeline for the kitchen, popped open the fridge, and grabbed myself some of that sweet, tangy animal juice. I can't help but think about what went down with Chloe, man. Just couldn't shake it.Now, after Vivaldi shared his werewolf story in the cave, the dude actually offered to keep himself indoors ‘til the next full moon when he’d go full-on wolf mode for my viewing pleasure. He figured it'd be best to steer clear of humans to avoid any slip-ups that might mess with his chance to seal that blood contract deal. He was afraid of losing control and giving in to the ol' bloodlust, ya know? So, I let out a sigh, unscrewed the cap from the bottle, and slugged back the crimson goodness. But here's the thing – my brain was goin' into overdrive with these thoughts. Was it possible that it was Vivaldi who attacked Chloe? B
VIVALDI'S BROW FURROWED. “Well, you're making it sound like Chloe's in trouble or something. I mean, I don't really give a hoot about her, but for the sake of my freedom, I'm cool with keeping her safe.”I put on a reassuring smile. “Don't sweat it; she's fine.” I let out a laugh, hoping to throw him off the trail. The last thing I needed was Vivaldi poking around and possibly covering his tracks if he was indeed the culprit.The thing was, his voice didn't waver with guilt or worry, like he genuinely had no clue what had gone down with Chloe. I was baffled, man. Pinning the attack on Vivaldi felt like a stretch, especially since anyone could've framed him using our kind's mind control mojo. From then on, I decided to keep an even closer eye on the guy – couldn't be too careful.Trying to lighten the mood, I teased, “I was just checking to see if there's any shred of compassion in that cold, undead heart of yours. So, do you actually have feelings for Chloe, or was it all just mind con
Gabriel's chillin' in his small flat, minding his own business, when suddenly his phone goes off like a fire alarm. It buzzed and vibrated so hard that it made the whole countertop hum like a bee. Gabriel snapped out of his daydream, and his hand shot out quicker than a cat, grabbing the phone with a smooth touch.His thumb swiped across the screen, and his heart went THUD, like it just fell down a flight of stairs. The voice note made his chest feel heavy, as if someone had poured concrete in it. It was from Winter, one of his sister Chloe's besties.Winter's words hit Gabriel like a slap in the face: “Gabriel,” she said, her voice full of sadness, “I hate to be the one to break it to you, but Chloe's in the hospital, hurt pretty badly. She's got a nasty wound on her neck, but she's a tough cookie, and she made it. Still, it's pretty rough. The docs say she's lucky, but you know how it is. She needs you, man. I know you've been away, but she's been asking for her big brother.”Gabrie
ANGEL FINALLY CRUMPLED TO THE GROUND, and Noah rushed to Samantha's side, his breath catching in his throat at the sight of her pale, lifeless form. Tears streamed down his face, their warmth a stark contrast to the cold fear that gripped his heart. He gathered her into his arms, her blood soaking through his clothes as he cradled her against his chest. His sobs filled the night air, mingling with the gentle rustle of the wind through the trees. As he knelt there, his grief a palpable force in the darkness, a shadow fell over him, casting a chill down his spine. Noah's instincts kicked in, and he turned with lightning speed, his gun raised and ready to fire. But Angel was faster. His fangs glinted in the moonlight as he dove at Noah, his movements a blur of predatory grace. Noah fired wildly, the gun's blast illuminating the night in flashes of light and shadow. Yet no matter how many times he pulled the trigger, Angel's jaws remained locked onto his neck, those deadly fangs sinking
“EVERYTHING WENT TO HELL THE MOMENT you showed up,” I hissed, my voice dripping with rage. “I've seen the monster you are with my own eyes. I watched you sink your fangs into Chloe's neck, draining the life from her like she was nothing. I saw you drain the lives out of those girls that day you lured me into that godforsaken cave where you fed me nothing but lies. And don't forget how you took pleasure in seeing me rip into that poor driver when we first met”. My chest rose and fell with the fury of my words. “You tried to lure me in, to convince me to join you in your twisted games. What could be more monstrous than that?” His voice was barely a whisper. “That was before I met you. Now, I have a purpose, a duty to fulfill, and a master to serve for all eternity. I've changed, and I won't risk my chance at freedom for anything.” “To hell with it,” I growled, my gaze burning into his. “Will me to speak the truth.” I felt the air leave my lungs in a rush. “Will me,” he repeated,
SO THERE I AM, just minding my own business, standing in front of this massive door that leads into this bar. I push it open, and BAM – the smell of spilled booze just hits me right in the face. As I walk in, my boots clack against the hardwood floor, and I take a deep breath, filling my lungs with the atmosphere of this place. People are laughing, glasses clinking, and the air is buzzing with chatter and anticipation. But to me, it’s all just background noise, like I'm underwater or something, 'cause let me tell ya – I’ve got a lot on my mind. My emotions are swirling around like leaves in a whirlwind, and I feel as trapped as a fish that’s just swallowed a hook. The moon will be full tomorrow night, hanging high in the sky, and it's gonna be beautiful – but I won’t be out there enjoying it. Nope. I’ll be stuck in that dark, damp cave, dealing with the consequences of what I am. I slide onto one of the high stools by the counter, people around me sipping their drinks and chatting a
SO, HERE I AM, sprawled out on the cold, damp floor of a dark cave, naked as the day I was born. My tiny hands are cuffed with these gigantic chains that look like they could hold down a whole friggin' ship! I let out a groan that makes a wounded bear sound like a whimpering puppy. Every bone in my body screams in agony; it's like a sledgehammer-wielding madman has gone to town on me.As I try to move, the pain just won't quit. I reach for the keys to freedom, lying oh-so-close on the cave floor. But my hands are shaking like leaves in a hurricane, weighed down by the chains and that ceaseless, pounding pain. I have to wait it out, waiting for my secret superpowers to swoop in and patch me up. I know they'll stitch my broken bones, mend my torn flesh, and silence that shrieking pain.So, I lay there, wincing and writhing on the ground, my eyes tracing over the bloody remnants of my, shall we say, “transformations.” The cave walls are splattered with dried blood, like some abstract pain