The forest floor crunched softly beneath Ryker’s boots as he slowed his run, the dense woods thinning at the edge of town. His breath came steady, though his muscles still burned from the relentless pace he’d kept. He crouched low, scanning through the trees until he saw her.

The girl.

She stood beside her parents, their backs to a modest house with peeling paint and a small front porch. Her father hovered close, one hand on her shoulder, while her mother adjusted the bag slung over her arm. Tessa’s face was pale, but she smiled faintly as she spoke, her gestures animated despite the lingering traces of fatigue.

Ryker stayed rooted in the shadows, his sharp eyes tracking her every movement.

The wolf inside him, which had been restless and surging for days, finally quieted. A sense of calm settled over him, a peace he hadn’t realized he needed. She was safe. That was enough for now.

But even as he tried to convince himself, doubt prickled in his mind. Why her? Why was his wolf so fiercely drawn to this human—a stranger whose name he didn’t even know?

Suddenly, the peace shattered.

A cold wind cut through the trees, carrying with it a presence that made Ryker’s hackles rise. He spun around, instinctively baring his teeth, his wolf rising in his chest in response to the foreign power.

The figure emerged from the shadows, dressed in flowing black. His sharp, pale features seemed to glow faintly in the dim light, and his eyes were pools of abyssal darkness. The air around him hummed with an unnatural chill, freezing Ryker in place.

“Did you think you could meddle in death’s affairs without consequence?” the figure asked, his voice smooth and unearthly, yet laced with venom.

Ryker snarled, his wolf pushing forward, but he didn’t attack. “Who the hell are you?”

“I am the one who should have taken her soul,” the figure said, stepping closer, his presence pressing against Ryker like a suffocating weight. “Four nights ago, that girl was meant to die. I was there to collect what was owed. And yet”—he gestured toward the house where Tessa stood, oblivious—“she lives. Because of you.”

Ryker’s jaw tightened. “I saved her. That’s what anyone would’ve done.”

The Reaper’s laugh was cold and humorless. “Saved her? Is that what you think?” His expression darkened. “You didn’t save her. You just added her to the lost souls I've yet to collect , And you don’t even realize it.”

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Ryker’s chest tightened, the wolf inside him growling uneasily. “What are you talking about?”

“You disrupted the balance,” the Reaper said, his tone sharp and cutting. “A life that was supposed to end now lingers on, warped by your interference. And you—” He stepped even closer, his presence towering over Ryker. “—have no idea what you’ve unleashed.”

Ryker’s fists clenched at his sides. “If you’ve got a problem with me, say it. But stay away from her.”

The Reaper tilted his head, a cruel smile tugging at his lips. “Stay away? Oh, wolf, you misunderstand. I’m not here to harm her—not yet. The girl’s fate is already sealed. But you?” He leaned in, his dark eyes boring into Ryker’s. “You’ve tied yourself to her. And you will watch as the consequences of your actions unfold.”

A growl rumbled in Ryker’s chest, his wolf clawing to break free, but the Reaper merely chuckled and stepped back.

“She will meet her end,” the Reaper said, his voice echoing with a chilling finality. “And when she does, not even you will be able to stop it.”

With that, the Reaper turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving Ryker standing alone, his heart pounding and his wolf snarling in protest.

For the first time, Ryker felt something he hadn’t known in years—doubt. The wolf inside him bristled, its instincts to protect stronger than ever. He turned his gaze back to Tessa, who was now walking toward the house with her parents, unaware of the danger that had just passed.

Ryker clenched his jaw. No matter what the Reaper said, he wouldn’t let anything happen to her. Not now. Not ever.

Liam’s Fourth Day – A Flicker of Hope

The weight of the chains dragged him down, and his body was on the verge of collapse. Four days without blood, and Liam wasn’t sure he’d make it another day, let alone the full two weeks. His vision blurred, his breathing shallow, and the relentless hunger was a roaring beast inside him, demanding to be fed.

As he sat slumped against the cold wall, he heard the lock click.

His head shot up, muscles tensing despite the exhaustion. Footsteps echoed in the darkness, measured and deliberate. For a moment, he wondered if this was it—the end, the council coming to finish what they started.

But then a familiar figure stepped into view.

“Victoria?” he rasped, his voice raw and disbelieving.

The older vampire stood before him, her elegant features hardened with determination. She carried two blood bags in her hands, and the sight alone was almost enough to bring Liam to tears.

“Yes, it’s me,” she said softly, kneeling before him. “You look terrible, child.”

Liam’s lips twitched into the ghost of a smile. “It’s not my best look.”

Victoria had been a guiding force in his life when he was first turned, teaching him everything he knew about being a vampire. She was the closest thing to a mother he’d ever had in this new existence, and seeing her now was like a lifeline.

“I overheard the council,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “They don’t plan to let you live, Liam. This isn’t punishment—it’s execution, drawn out and cruel.”

Liam’s stomach sank, though he’d suspected as much. “Why are you here?”

“To get you out,” she replied simply.

She tore open one of the blood bags and handed it to him. “Drink. You’ll need your strength.”

Liam hesitated. “Victoria, if they catch you—”

“They will,” she said, cutting him off. “But I’ve lived a long life, Liam. It’s time for me to give you the chance to live yours.”

Her words hit him like a punch to the gut. “You can’t do this. I won’t let you.”

“You don’t have a choice,” she said firmly, placing the blood bag in his trembling hands. “You will drink, and you will do exactly as I’ve taught you. Use every ounce of skill and cunning you have to get out of here.”

Tears stung his eyes as he drank, the warm rush of blood flooding his system with much-needed energy. “You don’t have to do this,” he said again, his voice breaking.

Victoria placed a hand on his cheek, her expression softening. “I do. You’re like a son to me, Liam. And sons are worth sacrificing for.”

He finished the second blood bag, the strength returning to his limbs. “Where do I go? What do I do?”

“Find your sister,” Victoria said. “She’s alive, and she needs you. That bond you feel? It’s real, and it’s your guide. Follow it.”

Liam stared at her, his heart breaking. “Are you sure about this?”

She nodded. “I’m old, Liam. I’ve seen centuries pass. My time is up, but yours is just beginning. Don’t waste it.”

She stood, pulling him to his feet. “Now go. And promise me you’ll make it out of this alive.”

“I promise,” Liam said, his voice thick with emotion.

Victoria smiled faintly, brushing a strand of hair from his face. “Good. Now run.”

Liam turned and bolted, the blood surging through his veins giving him the speed and strength he needed. As he disappeared into the darkness, he whispered one last promise to himself.

I will find her. No matter what it takes.