When I woke up, for a brief, blissful moment, I forgot everything.

The cold surface beneath me felt like the stiff, uncomfortable cot I used to sleep on when I worked long shifts as a contractor. My body ached, but that wasn’t unusual—it always did after a hard day’s labor. I blinked at the dark ceiling, groaning as I reached for my phone, thinking I’d overslept for work.

Then it hit me.

The memories rushed back with brutal clarity—the cave, the fight, Rico, Leo being taken, the Coyote’s claws digging into my flesh. I winced, the phantom pain rippling through my body as the last of the damage healed itself. I could still feel the echo of the bullets shredding my skin, the cold edge of Rico’s gaze as he walked away with Leo. My chest rose and fell, the heaviness of my new reality sinking in again.

This wasn’t some nightmare I could wake up from. This was my life now.

I sat up slowly, my body stiff but no longer broken. The cave was eerily quiet, the aftermath of the fight leaving a heavy, oppressive silence. My hands clenched into fists, anger simmering just below the surface. Leo. The vampire. I had to find him. I had to stop Rico before—

My thoughts were cut short as a flood of memories slammed into me, almost knocking the breath from my lungs. It wasn’t my own pain or anger. It was the Coyote’s.

The memories surged through me like a tidal wave, vivid and raw. I saw a time before the Coyote had descended into darkness, back when it and its pack had been protectors. They had watched over the city—Bakersfield, I realized—standing guard against the monsters and threats that lurked in the shadows. Back then, they weren’t predators. They were guardians, defenders of a people who never even knew they existed.

But there was no end to the threats. No rest. No peace.

The city’s people began to forget about the Coyote and its pack, treating them like monsters instead of protectors. Fear twisted their perception, turning the very creatures that saved them into enemies. It was the same old story—people fear what they don’t understand.

And then, I felt the Coyote’s heartbreak—raw and soul-crushing—when his mate was murdered for a moment anger had clouded his threating to turn on those that did this, to those it guarded the only thing that held it back was the small life of its new born pup and in time as it showed its heir the principles and teachings of its ancient pack, the noble cause and origin of their pack. He truly believed time healed all wounds his heart now once again full of love and hope.....but alas his was not to be a tale with a happy ending

And time and fate once again proved how cruel it could be when its son, its cub, the heir to its legacy, was murdered by the very people it had tried to protect. I could feel the helplessness, the anger, the sorrow as the Coyote stood over its son’s lifeless body, the pups head taken like a trophy by those too blind to see what they had done.

The rage that followed was a fire that consumed everything in its path.

The Coyote’s heart twisted, torn apart by loss and betrayal. Its once proud purpose, its honor as a guardian, crumbled beneath the weight of its grief. The sorrow morphed into something darker, something monstrous. I felt its pain shift into hatred—a hatred for those it had once sworn to guard.

Hopelessness settled over the Coyote like a thick fog, a suffocating weight that pressed down on its soul. There was nothing left to fight for. No more reason to guard the ungrateful, cowardly humans who had turned on them. And so, it gave in. It accepted the darkness, allowing itself to become the monster they always thought it was.

I felt the moment it snapped, the instant it let go of the last shreds of its kindness. It slaughtered those who no longer deserved its protection, tearing through the people who had forgotten its purpose. Blood filled the streets, and with every kill, the Coyote’s heart grew colder, more distant from the guardian it had once been.

I saw how the pack, once united by a noble cause, descended into savagery, consumed by their rage. And, in their desperation, they joined forces with their long-standing enemies—creatures of darkness they had once fought against. The Coyote had fallen far from its role as a protector, becoming something darker, something twisted by anger and violence.

But beneath it all, buried deep within the beast, there was still sorrow. It had never fully let go of the pain. The rage had merely covered it, hiding the broken soul of a guardian who had lost everything. That sorrow, that hopelessness, was still there, buried beneath layers of fury and bloodlust.

The memories faded, leaving me gasping, my chest heaving with the weight of it all. My head was pounding, my hands shaking as I tried to process what I had just seen, what I had felt.

The Coyote hadn’t just been a monster. It had been like me—someone who had lost everything, someone who had been twisted by the cruelty of the world. Yet It had fought to protect, to uphold its principles, only to be betrayed by those it saved. And in the end, it had given up.

I stared at the withered remains of the Coyote’s body, now just a husk after the absorption. A part of me understood why it had fallen. I felt that same pull, that same urge to let the hunger, the power, take over. But I couldn’t let myself end up like it had. I couldn’t lose sight of who I was, of what I was fighting for.

I wasn’t a monster. Not yet.

Shaking off the memories, I pushed myself to my feet, my body still adjusting to the rapid healing. My head throbbed, but the physical pain was fading, replaced by a steely resolve.

Leo was still out there, and Rico had taken him for a reason. I didn’t have time to sit here feeling sorry for the Coyote or myself. I had to find them—fast.

The Coyote’s memories, though painful, had given me something valuable. Clues. I had seen flashes of Bakersfield, the places it used to guard. It was possible that some of the Coyote’s old hunting grounds, were connected to the vampires. Maybe that was where Rico was headed next.

I had to follow the trail. I had to stop him before he did something worse.

With one last glance at the Coyote’s remains, I turned and started toward the cave’s exit, my mind already racing with the next steps.

I wasn’t going to let Leo down. Not like the Coyote had been let down.

This fight wasn’t over.

I dragged myself to my feet, my body still reeling from the rush of memories—the Coyote’s pain, its fall from grace. I felt it all, like it was burned into my bones, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it. Leo was still out there, and I wasn’t about to let him suffer the same fate. My head was pounding, my body still aching from the damage, but I had to move. I had to get after Rico.

I stumbled toward the cave’s exit, the cool air hitting me like a slap to the face. It woke me up, brought me back into the moment. I needed to focus. I needed to find a way out of here, get back on track, and—

Then I saw it. My bike.

Or at least, what was left of it.

The sick bastard had torn it to pieces. My bike was lying in a twisted heap, metal parts scattered across the ground like some kind of offering. The tires were shredded, the handlebars bent at unnatural angles. He hadn’t just wanted to stop me from following him—he wanted to send a message. One that screamed loud and clear: You’re not catching me.

“Fucking hell,” I muttered, walking up to what used to be my ride, shaking my head. I could feel the anger bubbling up again, that familiar heat rising in my chest. But it wasn’t going to help me now. I kicked at one of the pieces of metal, sending it skittering across the ground, then took a deep breath.

Focus, Kain.

I looked around, trying to find anything that could point me in the right direction. If Rico had destroyed my bike, it meant he wasn’t in too much of a rush—he wanted me to follow. That sick sense of superiority was all over this. He was cocky, and that was the only advantage I had right now.

That, and the tire tracks leading away from the cave.

I crouched down, inspecting the ground. A fresh set of tire marks, still pressed deep into the dirt, heading back toward the town. He hadn’t even bothered to hide them. The bastard was taunting me, practically daring me to come after him. I stood up, rolling my shoulders, feeling the soreness still lingering in my muscles. It didn’t matter. Nothing was going to stop me from catching him.

I glanced up at the sky and cursed under my breath. The sun was higher than I expected, casting long shadows across the landscape. It was already well into the day, and that meant hours had passed since Rico made his move. Hours. That prick had a head start, and Leo’s situation was getting worse by the second.

“Damn it,” I growled, clenching my fists.

Hours… Time slipping through my fingers, and all I had were these stupid tracks to follow. I couldn’t believe I’d been out that long. The fight with the Coyote, absorbing its power, the memories—it had all knocked me out harder than I realized. But there wasn’t time to sit here and feel sorry for myself. I had to move, and fast.

You’re not thinking straight, Kain. Belmont’s voice stirred in my head, calm as always. You’re letting your anger take over. That’s what he wants. Slow down, breathe, and focus.

I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the frustration. He was right, as usual. Losing my cool wasn’t going to help me get Leo back. I had to be smarter than this.

“You sound too calm for someone who’s stuck in my head,” I muttered, brushing the dirt off my hands.

I’m calm because I’ve seen this before. Don’t let him bait you. Belmont’s voice was firm, but there was something behind it—something that made me wonder just how much he’d been through in his own time. We’ll catch him. Just don’t lose sight of what you’re fighting for.

I let his words sink in for a moment before I felt another presence stirring in my mind, this one far less calm.

"Oh, please, Doc chimed in, his voice dripping with sarcasm. You think Rico’s playing some kind of grand chess game? Nah, kid, this guy’s just a piece of trash who pretends to be something he's not." He paused, almost amused. "Besides, you didn’t think to hide your bike before heading in? Oversight on your part really."

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, thanks for that, Doc. Real helpful.”

"Hey, just calling it like I see it." He snickered, the sound bouncing around in my skull. "But seriously, kid, if you don’t get a move on, Leo’s as good as vampire chow. You’ve got maybe a few hours left before that happens—if Rico doesn’t have something worse in mind. I’d start hoofing it if I were you."

I ran a hand through my hair, glancing down at the tracks again. They were leading back toward the town. I could try to follow on foot, but the reality was that Rico had already put miles between us.

"You’re wasting time thinking." Belmont’s voice snapped me to attention. "Get moving."

I sighed. They were both right. I didn’t have time to stand around. My options were limited, but at least I had a trail to follow.

I set off, following the tracks as fast as my legs would take me. The mountains stretched out in front of me, and I could feel the heat of the sun beating down on my back. The pain in my body was mostly gone, but the weight of the fight—and what was at stake—hung over me like a cloud. I couldn’t let Rico win. Not like this.

As I moved, my mind kept flickering back to Leo. He was tough, but I didn’t know how long he could hold out. Rico had knocked him out like it was nothing, and whatever twisted plan he had for Leo… I didn’t even want to think about it.

I clenched my fists, my pace quickening as I followed the trail. The road back to town wasn’t too far, but every second felt like an eternity. My thoughts kept racing, images of Leo’s blood on Rico’s hands flashing in my mind. I had to stop him. I had to save Leo.

Don’t let it consume you, Belmont’s voice cut through my mind again, this time softer, more reassuring. You’ll get him back, but stay focused. You know how to track. You know how to hunt.

I nodded to myself, keeping my eyes locked on the tracks ahead. Belmont was right. I’d learned how to read every little sign of the trail. It was time to put that to use. Time to catch up to Rico and make sure he paid for everything.

My feet pounded against the ground, the grass stretching out in front of me. I wasn’t going to let Rico get away. Not with Leo. Not with what he had planned.