The motel room is as grim as I expected—faded wallpaper, a cheap floral bedspread, and a musty smell that clings to everything. The dim light from the lamp on the nightstand does little to brighten the room, but I can't complain. We're safe for the night, or at least as safe as we can be.

Nikolai sprawls across one of the beds, already making himself at home. Lila sits quietly in a chair by the window, her eyes scanning the parking lot below, while Dante paces near the door, his body tense, as though he's still bracing for an attack.

I sit on the edge of the other bed, trying to quiet the thoughts running through my mind. My body is exhausted, but my brain won't shut off. Too many questions, too many fears. And now, there's this other issue—a slow tension building in the room, subtle at first but becoming impossible to ignore.

At first, I think it's just the stress of being hunted. But then I start to notice the way Nikolai shifts uncomfortably, the way Lila's gaze lingers a little too long on the pulse at my neck. Even Dante's steps seem heavier, more deliberate.

They're hungry.

A cold shiver runs down my spine. It hits me in that moment that I'm the only human in this room. The only source of blood.

I swallow hard, my mind racing. They've been holding it together for my sake. But now? After all of the running, of fighting? I don't know how much longer they can hold back.

Nikolai is the first to say something, his voice casual but laced with tension. "So... what's the plan for dinner?" His grin is playful, but I can see the hunger simmering just beneath the surface.

Lila shoots him a sharp look, but even she seems on edge. "We'll manage," she says softly, though her gaze flicks back to me for a split second, and I can see the struggle in her eyes.

Dante's pacing slows, and he stops near the door, his back to me, his shoulders tight. "We can't afford to go hunting right now," he says, his voice low and controlled, like he's trying to keep something in check. "It's too risky."

Hunting… I choose not to unpack that.

Nikolai sits up, his usual nonchalance giving way to something sharper. "Then what do you suggest, Dante? Because in case you haven't noticed, we're all running on empty here."

Lila shifts uncomfortably in her seat, her hands gripping the armrests tightly. "We don't have many options," she admits, her voice strained.

And that's when it hits me—they don't have a choice. I'm the only one who can solve this problem right now. The only source of blood in the room.

I can feel their eyes on me now, like they're all silently waiting for me to say something, to offer a solution. My heart pounds in my chest, and I try to keep my breathing steady, but the tension in the room is suffocating.

"You... you're all hungry, aren't you?" I say, my voice small but steady.

Dante turns to face me, his expression tight. "We'll be fine, Olivia. You don't need to worry about that."

But I do worry. I can see the strain on their faces, the way their hunger is pulling at them. They've been protecting me, keeping me safe. And now, I'm the only one who can give them what they need.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

I take a deep breath, my hands trembling slightly. "What if... what if I help?"

The room goes silent. Lila's eyes widen, and Nikolai raises an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. Dante's expression darkens, a mix of anger and something else I can't quite place.

"No," Dante says immediately, his voice firm. "We're not doing that."

Nikolai chuckles softly, his grin returning. "Come on, Dante. You know as well as I do that she's the only option right now."

Lila shifts uncomfortably in her seat. "It's too dangerous," she says, though I can hear the longing in her voice.

I stand up, my legs shaky, but I force myself to meet Dante's gaze. "I'm offering," I say quietly, trying to sound braver than I feel. "If it's going to help, then... just take what you need."

Dante's jaw tightens, and he shakes his head. "You don't understand what you're offering, Olivia. It's not safe."

"Safe?" Nikolai scoffs. "She'll be fine. We're not going to drain her dry."

"I can handle it," I insist, though my heart is racing. I don't know what I'm saying, but I can't just sit here and watch them suffer. Not after everything they've done for me.

Lila stands up, her eyes filled with concern. "Olivia, feeding from a human... it's not as simple as you think. There's risk. Lingering effects."

"I trust you," I say, looking between the three of them. "You've all been protecting me. Let me do this. Let me help."

Dante's eyes lock onto mine, and I can see the conflict raging inside him. He doesn't want to do this. But he's hungry, and so are the others. And I'm their only option.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, Dante lets out a slow breath. "Fine," he says, his voice rough. "But we do this carefully."

Lila looks at me, her expression full of concern. "Are you sure about this?"

I nod, even though my heart is pounding in my chest. "I'm sure."

Nikolai stands up, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Well, this just got interesting."

Dante steps closer to me, his presence overwhelming. His eyes meet mine, and for a moment, I can see the hunger there, barely restrained. "If it's too much, you tell us. Understood?"

"Understood," I whisper.

Dante's hands come to rest on my shoulders, grounding me, while Nikolai and Lila step closer, their presence a mix of hunger and restraint.

I blink, realizing what is happening. All three of them, feeding from me at once. The idea sends a rush of fear through me that I push down.

I feel surrounded, but not trapped. There's trust here. I have to believe that.

They need this.

"You'll be fine," Lila whispers, her cool breath brushing against my skin.

And then, all at once, I feel them. Their fangs sink into my skin, three sharp points of contact—one on either side of my neck and one on my wrist. The sensation is overwhelming, a mix of pain and something else, something deeper.

I gasp, my free hand instinctively gripping onto Dante's arms for support as the pull begins, their hunger drawing the blood from me in steady, controlled streams. It's more intense than I expected, and for a moment, I'm sure I'll pass out. But then, the sensation changes. It becomes less painful, more... soothing. The warmth spreads through my body, and I can feel their presence in a way I didn't think was possible, like we're connected on a level I can't explain.

My head spins, but I don't pull away. I trust them to stop before it's too much.

I have to trust them.

My pulse quickens, each beat louder in my ears, but instead of panic, there is something else—a strange sense of connection, like I'm not alone in my own body anymore.

The room seems to fade away, and all I can focus on is the rhythm of their feeding, the steady pulse of blood leaving my body, but not in a way that feels threatening. It feels... intimate. Like I'm giving them something they need, and in return, they're keeping me safe, tethered to the world.

I don't know how long it lasts—seconds? Minutes? It's hard to tell when time seems to blur like this. But eventually, I feel them begin to pull back, one by one. First Lila, then Nikolai, and finally, Dante.

When they're done, I'm still standing, though my legs feel shaky beneath me. My body feels lighter, weaker, but not as drained as I thought I'd be. I manage to steady myself, breathing deeply to calm the rush of sensations flooding through me.

Lila is the first to speak, her voice soft. "Are you alright?" Her finger tips drag along my jaw line gently.

I nod, though I feel a little dizzy. "Yeah. I'm okay."

Dante's hands are still on my shoulders, holding me steady. His eyes search mine, dark with concern. "You did well," he says quietly, his voice full of something deeper—respect, maybe? Or relief.

Nikolai wipes the corner of his mouth, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. "Told you our girl would be fine." I flush at him calling me their girl. My heart beats hard, but I push the burgeoning feeling down.

This is not the time.

I give him a weak smile. "Glad I could help."

As I sit back down on the bed, feeling drained but strangely calm, I realize that I've crossed another line I never thought I'd approach. I've let them feed from me, and I survived.

For now, we've bought ourselves time. But I can't shake the feeling that the hunger in them is only a small part of what's coming.

And there's still so much more I have to decide.