LOGINSAPHIRE POV
Dr. Wilson started walking back towards the hospital after he told me to be careful living out here alone but he knows that I can take care of myself. He’s just not sure if there are any people looking for that man or if vampires are going to appear. It’s something that I needed to keep an eye on. But after a lot of reassurances that I was going to be fine, we parted ways and I headed back to the cabin.
As soon as I got close enough I heard voices in the distance and I smelt the unmistakable scent of warriors.
I slowly approached my cabin and there were two warriors standing on my porch who both looked at me like I had been to war or something like that.
“What the hell do you want?” I asked.
“Vampires have been spotted in the area. We were told to come and warn you.” John said.
“Yeah. I’m already aware.” I said picking up my groceries and walking inside my cabin.
“How are you aware? Have you seen them?” Justin asked.
“No. But I just tried to help one of their victims by the river.” I said.
“What the fuck are you talking about? No one’s been attacked.” John said.
“No one in this pack. I don’t know where that man came from. He was just there.” I said putting my groceries on the table.
“Why didn’t you report it?” Justin snapped at me.
“Because I was trying to save his life.” I said.
“Where is he now?” John demanded.
“I don’t know. I went to get help and when I came back he was gone.” I said.
“And that’s his blood all over you?” Justin asked.
“Yeah.” I said.
“You’re meant to report an outsider to the Alpha before you get him help. You know the rules.” John growled.
“Yeah, well. Sometimes rules are meant to be broken. Especially bullshit ones that could cost a man his life.” i said.
“You don’t know who he was. You don’t know if he is dangerous or not.” Justin yelled stepping closer to me.
“Why are you even here? Why would Alpha Kyle send you to warn me about vampires in the area? I thought he’d be glad to get rid of me. Even if that meant being killed by those leeches.” I said.
“He doesn’t belong to this pack. He could be a rogue or a traitor.” John snapped.
“Well, he didn’t smell like a rogue.” I said.
“So, he was a traitor.” Justin said.
“We don’t know that.” I snapped back.
“You could have put the whole pack at risk because you failed to report this.” John yelled at me.
“Do you remember what happened the last time you spoke to me like that John. Be careful or it might happen again.” I said softly enough to shut him up.
“Are you threatening a warrior of this pack?” Justin asked.
“No. I’m threatening him.” I said.
“And he’s a warrior. This is why you live in the woods all by yourself. Because you don’t know how to play well with others.” Justin said.
“No. It’s because I refuse to be told how to live every second of my life.” I said.
“You’re coming with us.” Justin said.
“Excuse me.” I said.
“We’re taking you to the Alpha and you can explain what you did.” He said.
“And you can go to hell. I’m not going to see that son of a bitch.” I said.
“Move it.” He said, taking another step closer.
It wasn’t long before I heard more noise outside which meant they had mind linked for back up.
I was outnumbered and I wasn’t prepared to take on several members of my own pack because of a stranger that was hurt by the river.
So I grabbed another jacket that was clean and dry and I put it on as they walked me out of the cabin.
I saw another six warriors standing outside ready to detain me if they needed to. But I just rolled my eyes at them and started walking through the forest towards town with Justin and John on either side of me to make sure I didn’t run.
Not that I would, but I really didn’t want to see the bastard the was my first rejection.
Saphire's POVThe fortress is quiet when I return. Too quiet.The battle still echoes inside my head, and every time I close my eyes, I see Dante covered in blood.I see him fighting through impossible odds. I see him refusing to retreat. I see him looking at me after I stepped between him and death.The memory follows me through every corridor. Through every stairwell and through every breath.I should feel relieved that he survived. Instead, I feel unsettled because the moment I saw him falling to one knee, every lesson Varek taught me disappeared.Control vanished. Strategy vanished and reason vanished.I moved without thinking. Without calculating and without considering consequences. I simply moved.The realization should bother me but instead, it terrifies me how natural it felt. I enter my room and shut the door behind me.For several moments, I simply stand there. The silence feels heavy and oppressive.My hands still tremble slightly. I hate that. After everything I have lear
Dante's POVBlood runs into my eyes and my shoulder burns. My ribs feel like they've been shattered. Yet I keep fighting because stopping means dying and dying means never seeing Saphire again.The battlefield has become a nightmare of steel, screams and moonlit violence.Bodies cover the ground and the warriors who followed me are scattered across the valley. Some are still fighting, some are wounded and some aren't moving at all.The guilt should be crushing me but instead, rage keeps me standing. An enemy warrior charges.I block his strike and drive my sword into his chest and he falls. Another replaces him. Then another and the ambush never seems to end.Somewhere behind me, Marcus shouts."Dante!" Marcus yelled.I turn just in time to see three warriors closing in from the left. Too many. Too fast and too close. I prepare to meet them anyway.Then something moves through the battlefield. Fast. Unnaturally fast.A blur of motion explodes from the darkness. One warrior falls befo
Dante's POVThe forest is silent. Too silent and I notice it immediately, but I ignore the feeling twisting in my gut because all I can think about is reaching the fortress.Reaching Saphire and bringing her home.Moonlight filters through the trees while our small group moves through the darkness. Six warriors follow me, and every one of them volunteered despite Luca's objections and Travis's warnings.I should feel responsible for them. I should be calculating risks. I should be thinking three steps ahead. Instead, my thoughts keep drifting toward Saphire.Every mile we cover feels too slow. Every obstacle feels like an insult. Every delay feels unbearable.We stop briefly near a ridge overlooking the valley.The fortress stands in the distance. Massive, dark and waiting.My chest tightens the moment I see it. She's in there. Somewhere behind those walls."That's closer than I expected." One of the warriors muttered and I nodded."We keep moving." I said."Dante." He said and I glan
Saphire's POVThe dream starts with Dante. It always does lately. I see him standing in the clearing where we used to train and sunlight filters through the trees while he watches me with that stubborn expression that always made me want to argue with him.For a moment, everything feels normal. Safe. Then the ground begins to crack beneath our feet.Darkness spreads across the forest and shadows swallow the trees one by one while Dante reaches for me. I run toward him as he runs toward me.But the distance between us keeps growing. No matter how fast I move, I cannot reach him."Saphire." Danye yelled as his voice echoes through the darkness."Saphire." He yelled again.I wake with a sharp breath. The room is still dark, and my heart pounds against my ribs while sweat clings to my skin.For several seconds, I sit perfectly still. Then I force myself to breathe. Slowly and carefully.The word has become impossible to escape so I throw the blankets aside and walk toward the washroom. Co
Dante's POVI wake before sunrise, but I don't get out of bed immediately because the weight sitting inside my chest feels heavier than it has in days.Saphire is still gone.That thought has become a constant presence in my mind, and no matter how many times I tell myself that she is alive, safe, and waiting for us to bring her home, the fear refuses to disappear.I finally get up, shower, brush my teeth, and pull on a clean shirt before heading downstairs, where the others are already gathered around the kitchen table.Travis looks exhausted, while Luca has several maps spread across the table and a mug of untouched coffee sitting beside his elbow.Neither of them looks at me when I enter. That tells me something is wrong."What's happened?" I ask and Luca finally raises his eyes."We've been going over the eastern routes." Luca said."Without me?" I asked."We needed to start somewhere." Luca said.His answer irritates me immediately and I walk toward the table."What have you foun
I wake before the sun rises and for several moments, I lie beneath the heavy blankets staring at the dark ceiling while the silence of the room settles around me.My body still feels tired from everything that has happened recently, but my mind refuses to slow down, because every time I close my eyes, I hear Varek's voice.Emotion is weakness.I hate how often those words have started making sense. I finally push myself out of bed and cross the cold stone floor toward the washroom, where I splash cold water over my face before brushing my teeth and tying my hair back. I stare at my reflection afterward, trying to decide whether I look different.I don't.Yet something inside me feels like it is shifting. I dress in dark trousers and a fitted shirt before pulling on my boots, and by the time I leave my room, the fortress is beginning to wake. Guards move through the corridors, servants carry breakfast trays, and somewhere below, I hear the distant sound of metal striking metal.Varek i
ALPHA DANTE POVDuring my usual rounds of the grounds was pretty routine. I liked to patrol my own territory to make sure that nothing is out of place. I don’t know why I do it but I always do. Especially with the rise of vampire attacks and I like to make sure that my pack is safe. This day wasn’
SAPHIRE POVWe walked all the way to the packhouse and I saw people standing around everywhere outside. Some warriors were training in the field near the packhouse and other pack members were working around the packhouse like they always did. I walked past everyone as they were staring at me sinc
SAPHIRE POVI tried to yank my arm free but even with his injuries he is still pretty strong. I couldn’t get him to let go so I managed to keep my jacket on his injuries and he started trying to fight me like I was the enemy. I had to try and hold his other arm back as he flailed around.“Listen a
SAPHIRE POVGrowing up without a mother in a werewolf community can have it’s challenges. But luckily my father never gave up after losing his mate and he never lost sight of what was important. Me. he was a great warrior and one of the best vampire hunters out there. People would call my father f







