Chapter two: silver eyes

**Alina's POV**

Blood splattered across the ground as the vampire's lifeless body crumpled, his severed head slipping from my grasp. The metallic scent clung to the air, thick and suffocating. I barely had time to breathe before another lunged at me, claws slashing through the night. I sidestepped, raking my own claws across his throat. A gurgled hiss escaped him as black blood oozed down his chest.

A shift in the wind warned me of another attack. Instinct kicked in. I spun, catching the vampire’s wrist mid-strike. A wicked smile curled my lips as I yanked, his arm ripping clean from the socket. He didn’t even get the chance to scream before my fangs sank into his throat, tearing it open in one vicious bite.

Adrenaline surged through me, igniting something primal and raw. This was nothing like training with my father, my brother, or the pack warriors. This was real. This was intoxicating.

Another vampire lunged. I twisted, dodging his claws, and caught his hand before he could retract it. My own claws drove into his chest. His body sagged against me, but pain suddenly flared at my side. A sharp, searing agony.

Snarling, I wrenched my claws free and whipped around, gripping the arm of the vampire who had just buried his hand into my flesh. With a guttural growl, I tore it out and plunged my own hand into his chest, ripping out his heart. His body collapsed against mine, dead weight pressing me down.

More of them emerged from the shadows.

The pile of corpses around me grew, yet I could feel my strength waning. My breath came in ragged gasps, my vision blurring at the edges. I needed to shift. Or call for my father.

But there was no time.

My heartbeat pounded like war drums in my ears. I stumbled back, trying to create distance. Blood—my blood—dripped onto the dirt, the scent filling the air like a drug. More vampires poured into the clearing, their numbers growing. The pile of bodies around me was rising, but my strength was waning. My breaths came out ragged, my vision hazy. I was losing too much blood.

I needed to shift. Or call for my father.

Thick and intoxicating. The scent of my blood filled the air like a drug. The vampires stilled, transfixed in their spot. One inhaled deeply, his breath shuddering,his breath shuddering as the smell of fresh blood assaulted his lungs, his eyelids flutter, his lips parting as if savoring the taste on his tongue, another let out a low guttural moan his finger twitching like an addict on the verge of losing control, they seem more rogue, my unhinged

Their restraint shattered, the lunged at me

My legs trembled as I steadied myself, preparing for the onslaught. Even if I called for help, no one would reach me in time. I had to finish this. If any of them escaped into the pack lands, the destruction they could bring would be catastrophic.

I tensed, muscles coiling for my next move—

Then, the roar of an engine shattered the night.

Blinding headlights cut through the darkness. The vehicle plowed through the vampires, bodies crunching beneath its tires. The door swung open, and a sharp voice called out.

“Get in!”

I froze.

A vampire sat behind the wheel.

I hesitated. Why would a vampire try to save me?

“Now,” he hissed. More vampires emerged from the trees, their numbers overwhelming. Without warning, he reached out and yanked me inside, slamming the door shut before speeding off.

I stared at him, my mind racing. He looked different from the others. His eyes weren’t red, but green. And he seemed... sane.

“Why did you save me?” My voice was hoarse, edged with suspicion. Werewolves and vampires didn’t help each other. Ever.

“No reason,” he said, eyes locked on the road. “Just following orders.”

Orders.

A chill crept up my spine.

“What?....whose orders?” I demanded, but he didn’t answer. I noticed the way his jaws were clenched, his hold on the steering wheel tightened, his breathing turned heavy, he was struggling, he might have saved me, but he is still a vampire by nature, ever so unhinged and a never ending thirst for blood, there's no way he could ignore the thick smell of my blood which was swirling around the enclosed space in the car..

He was struggling.

He turned slowly, locking eyes with me

His pupils flickered—green, then red.his grip on the steering wheel twitched

Shit.

Before he could react, I kicked the door with all the strength I had left. The force sent it flying, tearing through the forest. Wind howled around me as I threw myself from the speeding car.

The impact was brutal. my body twisting as I hit the ground hard, Bones snapped. My body tumbled across gravel and dirt, pain searing through every limb.

A few feet away, the car screeched to a halt. The remaining door swung open. Heavy boots crushed against the ground.

I struggled to my feet, my claws extending in warning. If I couldn’t handle him, I’d let Kaia out. My last resort.

She didn’t like that thought.

I turned around, my head raised slightly to see the vampire as he approached, the wind blew his hair softly, his fangs poking out of his mouth, and his claws long and sharp, the moonlight highlighted his plae skin and red eyes, every step he took felt like my impending doom,

Something told me he wasn’t like the others I’d fought.

Maybe I should’ve stayed and taken my chances with the horde.

I blinked.

One moment, he was advancing with barely restrained hunger. Then next, something slammed into him, sending him flying like a ragdoll. His body collided with a tree, the impact so forceful the trunk snapped, crashing down with him.

I barely had time to react before another presence emerged from the shadows.

A pair of silver eyes gleamed in the darkness.

A vampire.

I felt a sudden pull before my vision swam, dizziness crashed through me in waves, I had suffered too much damage and my lycan needed time to heal, I felt my body falling downwards, staring at the vampire standing in front of me I lost consciousness