Ethan turned toward the vampires, his eyes still burning with the remnants of power that had surged through him. The four vampires, who moments ago had attacked him, were now kneeling, heads bowed in submission. They had felt his strength, the sheer dominance of his bloodline, and now they dared not move.

"Stay on your knees," Ethan ordered, his voice cold, commanding. He hadn’t realized just how much control he had over them until now, but the fear in their eyes told him everything he needed to know.

As the vampires remained motionless, Ethan turned back toward the girl, fully expecting to see her terrified, perhaps even running for her life. But what he saw shocked him. She wasn’t afraid at all. In fact, she was smiling.

With wide, excited eyes, she reached out, gently touching his face. "So, it’s true," she whispered, her voice filled with wonder. "Vampires are real. They exist." She took a step closer, her hand lingering on his cheek as if she was trying to confirm what she had just witnessed.

Ethan blinked, momentarily thrown off by her reaction. "You’re… not scared?"

She shook her head, her smile growing. "Scared? No! I’ve read so many novels about vampires, but I never thought I’d actually meet one." She was practically glowing with excitement. "This is incredible!"

Ethan stood there, baffled by her response. He had expected fear, maybe even horror. Instead, she was thrilled. He couldn’t help but feel slightly amused, though a part of him was still on high alert. "You shouldn’t be happy about this," he said quietly, his voice tinged with warning. "This isn’t a storybook. It’s dangerous."

She shrugged, still smiling. "Dangerous or not, I’ve always dreamed of meeting a vampire."

Before he could respond, the sharp pain in his stomach returned—fierce, overwhelming. It twisted inside him like a burning knot, and he staggered slightly, his vision blurring. He knew what it was—hunger. His eyes locked onto the girl. He could hear the steady thrum of her heartbeat, could almost taste the heat of her blood pulsing through her veins. She was standing too close.

His control slipped.

Before he could stop himself, he lunged forward, his fangs sinking into her neck with a primal hunger that overtook every rational thought. The warmth of her blood filled his mouth, rich and intoxicating. It was his first time drinking directly from a human, and the sensation overwhelmed him.

The girl gasped, but it wasn’t a sound of pain. There was something else—pleasure. Her body trembled, and a soft, almost blissful sigh escaped her lips as she succumbed to the bite. But after a few moments, her eyes fluttered shut, and she collapsed into unconsciousness.

Ethan pulled away, horrified at himself. His breathing was ragged, his mind struggling to regain control. He had sworn not to harm anyone. Yet, here he was, blood on his lips, the girl limp in his arms.

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HOURS LATER, IN ETHAN’S VILLA...

The girl awoke slowly, the soft sheets beneath her unfamiliar. Her body felt heavy, and for a moment, she wasn’t sure where she was. As her eyes adjusted, she realized she was lying in a luxurious bedroom, the kind she had only seen in magazines. Confusion clouded her mind. She remembered the forest… the bear… and then Ethan.

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Panic set in for a moment, but she forced herself to stay calm. She slipped out of bed, her legs shaky but functional, and made her way through the grand villa. As she approached the main hall, she heard voices.

Peeking around the corner, she saw Ethan sitting on a massive chair—more like a throne. In front of him stood the four vampires from earlier, their heads bowed respectfully.

"...we didn’t mean to kill the bear," the elder vampire was saying, his voice trembling slightly. "Our son… he was hungry, and we were helping him remove the body. We didn’t know anyone else was nearby."

The female vampire chimed in, her voice pleading. "We live far from here, in a small family. We’ve always followed the Council’s rules. This was our first mistake. If the Council finds out, they’ll execute us for breaking the law." She fell to her knees, her eyes filled with desperation. "Please, spare us."

Ethan leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. He was silent for a long time, studying the family in front of him. They were stronger than normal vampires, that much was clear, but they were also terrified. They knew what the Council would do if word got out.

Ethan’s mind raced. He could feel the potential in them—especially the two young vampires, twins who couldn’t have been more than thirteen years old. Despite their age, they had given him a good fight. And that meant something.

"You fought well," Ethan said finally, his voice calm but firm. "Even for a small family, you’re stronger than most. You broke the rules, but I see potential in you."

The four vampires exchanged cautious glances, unsure of where he was going with this.

"I’m going to give you a choice," Ethan continued. "You can join me. Follow my orders, and I’ll protect you from the Council. In return, I’ll give you what you need—blood, education, everything. But you must swear loyalty to me, and to me alone."

The elder vampire hesitated, but the younger vampires, especially the twins, looked intrigued. They knew they had no other option.

"We swear," the elder vampire said, bowing his head. "We will follow you."

Ethan nodded, satisfied. "Good. From now on, you will be part of my clan. I’ll make sure you’re well taken care of." He glanced at the twins, his mind already calculating their potential. Though young, they had already proven themselves formidable. With the right guidance, they could be useful in his rise to power.

As the discussion came to an end, the girl stepped into the room. She had heard everything. Ethan’s eyes met hers, and for a moment, they both stood in silence.

Her gaze flickered between Ethan and the vampires. Her earlier excitement had faded into shock as she began to piece together the truth of who he really was. She recognized him now. "Ethan?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "You’re… the boy from school?"

Ethan sighed, nodding slightly. "Yes."

She blinked, clearly trying to process everything. "I didn’t know… you were—"

"Vampire?" Ethan finished for her. "Yes. But you can’t tell anyone about this."

The girl frowned, clearly conflicted. Her earlier excitement was now mixed with confusion and disbelief, but there was also something else—a strange sense of trust. "Why not?" she asked quietly.

"Because," Ethan said, his voice soft but serious, "if you do, you’ll put yourself in danger. You’ve seen too much already."

She stared at him for a long moment before finally nodding. "I won’t tell anyone."

"Good." Ethan gestured toward the door. "It’s better if you leave now. You’ve been through enough for one day."

Reluctantly, the girl turned to go, but before she left, she glanced over her shoulder at him one last time. "I’ll keep your secret. But this isn’t the last time we’ll talk."

Ethan watched her leave, knowing full well that this encounter had changed everything. He now had a group of vampires under his command, and a human who knew his secret. As the door closed behind her, he turned his attention back to the vampires.

"We have work to do," he said quietly, his eyes narrowing with determination. "This is just the beginning."