AFTER 4 WEEKS...
EIRA'S POV
"Jake, stop it—I can't take it anymore!"
Laughter burst from me so hard my stomach hurt. Tears blurred my vision as Jake launched yet another ridiculous joke across the canteen table.
His grin only widened.
Victory.
Complete victory.
"Alright," he said dramatically, rising from his chair and placing a hand over his heart. "I'll spare you—for now. Let me get lunch before you actually pass out from laughing."
I pointed at him accusingly.
"This is your fault."
"Everything usually is."
Then he disappeared into the food line.
The moment he was gone, Tessy leaned closer.
"I still can't believe it."
"What?"
"Jake."
She shook her head.
"It hasn't even been that long. How did he become one of our closest friends so fast?"
I smiled softly.
Because somehow she was right.
It felt natural.
Comfortable.
Like Jake had always been there.
"Yeah..." I murmured.
"It does feel that way."
Before either of us could continue—
A tray landed on the table.
Jake dropped into his seat.
His eyes immediately narrowed suspiciously.
"Why are you both smiling like that?"
Neither of us answered.
His suspicion deepened.
"Oh no."
He pointed between us dramatically.
"You were definitely talking about me."
Tessy snorted.
I laughed.
Jake looked personally offended.
Then suddenly—
He stood up.
Climbed onto his chair.
And raised both arms.
The entire canteen froze.
"Attention everyone!"
Groans erupted instantly.
Jake ignored them.
"I have an announcement!"
A few students started laughing.
Others already knew this wouldn't end well.
Jake puffed out his chest proudly.
"You are all officially invited to my sister's birthday party!"
The canteen erupted.
Cheers.
Whistles.
Laughter.
Jake bowed dramatically as if accepting an award.
Tessy buried her face in her hands.
I laughed harder.
For a brief moment—
Everything felt normal.
Light.
Peaceful.
Like the darkness that had haunted the last few months didn't exist.
Like nothing terrible was waiting around the corner.
ADRIAN'S POV
Darkness.
Then—
Light.
A smile.
A white dress.
Blood.
So much blood.
The scent filled the air.
Her scream echoed through the darkness.
My scream answered it.
I tried to move.
Couldn't.
Tried to reach her.
Couldn't.
The blood kept spreading.
And spreading.
And spreading.
Then—
My eyes snapped open.
Silence.
Cold.
The unfamiliar ceiling stared back at me.
For several seconds I didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
Didn't speak.
The room felt wrong.
Foreign.
Like I'd been buried inside it.
Then a voice cut through the haze.
"Adrian!"
Drek.
His face appeared beside me.
Relief flooded his expression.
"Are you okay?"
I ignored the question.
Slowly my gaze traveled across the room.
The curtains.
The table.
The shadows.
The scent lingering in the air.
Too much time had passed.
Far too much.
Finally my voice emerged.
Rough.
Dangerously quiet.
"What are you doing here?"
Drek's expression shifted.
"Because you finally woke up."
A pause.
His eyes lowered.
"It's been two months."
Two months.
The words should have shocked me.
They didn't.
Before I could respond—
The door opened.
Mike entered.
Silence followed him.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
His eyes met mine.
Neither of us spoke.
Neither needed to.
Everything sat between us already.
Questions.
Loss.
Failure.
Guilt.
For a long moment we simply stared at each other.
Then Mike turned.
Walked away.
The door clicked shut.
And somehow the silence he left behind felt louder than his presence.
I sat there.
Motionless.
The dream still clinging to me.
Her smile.
Blood.
Death.
The thirst arrived next.
Burning.
Ancient.
Familiar.
I rose from the bed.
Every movement controlled.
Measured.
On the nightstand sat a crystal decanter.
Dark red liquid shimmered inside.
Blood.
I poured a glass.
The liquid caught the candlelight like liquid rubies.
Then drank.
And drank.
Until the fire inside me finally quieted.
Not gone.
Never gone.
Only silent.
For now.
The hall was already filled when I arrived.
Dozens of vampires.
Ancient faces.
Powerful bloodlines.
Whispers died the second I entered.
Every eye turned toward me.
Waiting.
Watching.
Judging.
"What happened?"
My voice cut through the silence.
Nobody answered.
I moved closer.
My gaze landed on the photographs scattered across the table.
The first image stopped me.
A corpse.
Blood everywhere.
Another.
And another.
Bodies torn apart.
Limbs broken.
Faces frozen in terror.
Not a clean kill.
Not vampire work.
Something worse.
Something savage.
Then I saw it.
A mark burned into one victim's shoulder.
Jagged.
Wild.
Ancient.
Recognition struck instantly.
My eyes darkened.
The room held its breath.
I picked up the photograph.
Studied it.
Then spoke.
One word.
"Wolves."
Silence shattered.
Several council members shifted uneasily.
Others looked away.
I placed the photograph down.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Then lifted my gaze toward Mike.
Our eyes locked.
The room disappeared.
Only the two of us remained.
The past.
The secrets.
The blood.
Everything waiting.
"It's time."
My voice echoed through the hall.
Cold.
Certain.
Final.
"Time for us to return."
The room grew still.
Even the candles seemed afraid to move.
"Back to where it all began."
JAKE'S POV
Warm light spilled across my room.
The golden glow softened the edges of everything.
The shelves.
The desk.
The walls.
But it couldn't soften him.
Father stood beside the window.
Tall.
Immovable.
His presence dominated the room.
Like a storm waiting to break.
His sharp eyes settled on me.
"Why this sudden birthday celebration?"
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
I already knew what was coming.
"Because she deserves it."
A shadow crossed his face.
Disgust.
Disappointment.
Something colder.
"Deserves?"
The word sounded almost insulting.
Another pause.
"She is nothing more than a burden."
Each word landed like a blade.
But I didn't move.
Didn't look away.
Didn't lower my eyes.
"She is my sister."
My voice remained steady.
Firm.
Certain.
"And she isn't weak."
Father's expression darkened.
The room grew colder.
The challenge between us hung in the air.
Unspoken.
Dangerous.
Then—
Movement.
A gasp.
I turned.
Lila stood frozen in the doorway.
Tears already spilling down her cheeks.
She had heard everything.
Every word.
Every insult.
Every wound.
Her face crumpled.
Then she ran.
"Lila!"
But she was already gone.
I moved instantly.
Past Father.
Past his silence.
Past his judgment.
Nothing mattered except her.
I found her beneath the old oak tree.
Curled into herself.
Shoulders shaking.
Trying not to cry.
Failing.
My chest tightened.
I sat beside her.
"Lila."
She wouldn't look at me.
"He's right."
Her voice broke.
Painfully small.
"I'll never be like you."
Another tear slipped down her cheek.
"No."
I gently lifted her chin.
Forcing her to meet my eyes.
"He is wrong."
Her lips trembled.
"He doesn't understand."
A weak laugh escaped me.
"You know what's funny?"
She blinked.
"What?"
I smiled.
"Do you really think I'd throw an entire party for someone worthless?"
A tiny laugh escaped her.
Barely there.
But real.
I smiled wider.
"There she is."
More tears fell.
But this time they weren't as heavy.
I wrapped my arms around her.
Holding her close.
Protecting her from the world.
From the cruelty.
From the expectations.
From him.
"No matter what anyone says..."
My voice softened.
"You'll always have me."
Her fingers tightened around my shirt.
And beneath the old oak tree—
As the evening sun disappeared beyond the horizon—
I made myself a promise.
A promise stronger than blood.
Stronger than loyalty.
Stronger than fear.
I would protect her.
From anyone.
From anything.
Even if that someone...
Was our own father.