Liam’s every instinct screamed at him to act. Tessa was in danger, and no matter what the cost, he had to save her.

With a burst of strength, he leapt forward, muscles straining as he soared through the air toward her. He could see the car now, racing toward her in what felt like slow motion. He could almost feel her fear in the pit of his stomach. He wouldn’t let her die. Not like this.

But before he could reach her, something crashed into him, a force so sudden and violent that it sent him tumbling to the ground. Pain erupted through his body as he struggled to breathe, but there was no time for that. His mind was consumed with one thought: Tessa.

He turned, pushing against the ground, trying to rise, but a cold weight pressed down on him, pinning him in place. His eyes snapped up, filled with fury and disbelief.

“Stay out of this, Liam,” the voice hissed, cold and venomous.

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Liam’s heart sank.

Dante.

Another newborn vampire, like him, but different. Dante had been jealous of Liam from the very beginning—resentful of the way he’d been turned, the way he’d adapted, and the way he’d quickly become more than just another creature of the night. Dante hated that Liam had found purpose, found someone to protect. And now, he was standing over him, preventing him from doing what he had to.

“What are you doing?” Liam’s voice was hoarse, barely containing the fury boiling inside him. He thrashed against Dante’s weight, desperate to free himself.

“You don’t belong here anymore,” Dante spat, his eyes gleaming with malice. “You are nothing but a ghost to her ". Let fate do what it will.”

Liam’s vision blurred with rage. Fate? There was no way he would let Tessa die. Not when he had the power to stop it.

With a roar of defiance, Liam pushed against Dante, struggling with everything he had. But Dante only pressed harder, his strength overpowering Liam’s efforts.

Then, in that moment of chaos, the sickening sound of tires screeching filled the air, and the world seemed to slow. Metal collided with flesh—violently, horribly—and then the sound of glass shattering echoed in the night.

Liam’s blood ran cold. No.

And then, like a knife through his soul, he heard it.

Tessa’s scream.

It was a raw, guttural cry, full of terror that seemed to shatter the night. It pierced through him, through the very marrow of his bones, leaving him hollow.

He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t think.

And then, as if the world had gone silent in shock, there was another sound—a howl.

Before he could move, before he could process anything, Dante’s fist collided with his temple, and the world went black.

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