Katie didn't know how long she ran.
She only knew that she couldn't stop.
The forest blurred around her, trees rushing past in dark streaks as her lungs burned and her chest tightened. Every cruel word from earlier replayed over and over in her mind, each one sharper than the last.
Whore.
Slut.
Disgusting.
Her fingers curled into fists as she pushed forward, her boots slipping on loose dirt. She didn't even know where she was going. She just needed distance. Space. Silence.
But the silence never came.
Because their voices were still there. The looks. The whispers. The judgment.
Katie finally stumbled to a stop when her legs gave out beneath her. She dropped to her knees in a small clearing, breath shaking as she pressed her palms into the cold ground.
"I didn't do anything," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I didn't…"
The words dissolved into a sob.
Tears blurred her vision as the weight of everything crashed down on her. The humiliation. The loneliness. The constant feeling of being wrong just for existing.
"Why does everyone hate me so much?" she choked.
The forest answered with silence.
For a long moment, there was nothing but the sound of her breathing and the distant rustle of leaves.
Then—
You are not alone.
Katie froze.
Her head snapped up, heart slamming violently against her ribs.
"…What?"
The voice had been clear. Calm. Strong.
But no one was there.
Her pulse quickened. "Hello?"
Nothing.
Her breathing grew uneven as panic crept in. "Okay… okay, this isn't funny."
Katie.
This time, it was unmistakable.
The voice was inside her head.
She staggered to her feet, eyes wide. "No. Nope. I have officially lost it. Great. Perfect. Love that for me."
You have not lost anything.
The calmness in the voice made her chest tighten.
"…Who are you?" she whispered.
A pause.
Then, steady and sure—
I am Rachel.
Katie's breath hitched.
Her wolf.
Her mind raced back to the dreams. The glowing eyes. The powerful presence that had always felt just out of reach.
Her voice trembled. "Are you… are you my wolf?"
Yes.
For a moment, Katie just stood there, stunned.
Then relief flooded her so suddenly her knees almost buckled.
"You're finally talking to me," she said, half laughing, half crying. "This is amazing. This means… this means everything is going to change, right? People won't look down on me anymore. I won't be weak anymore."
Rachel was quiet for a moment.
You were never weak.
The words wrapped around Katie like warmth.
Her throat tightened. "Then why does it feel like I am?"
Because you have been alone.
Katie swallowed hard.
"I'm not alone anymore?"
No.
The single word settled deep in her chest.
For the first time in a long time, something inside her loosened.
But before she could speak again, Rachel's tone shifted slightly.
*We are being watched.*
Katie stiffened.
Her head snapped up, eyes scanning the trees. The shadows between them suddenly felt heavier.
Her heartbeat sped up. "What?"
Someone has been following you.
A mix of anger and nerves surged through her.
Of course.
Of course he would.
Katie rolled her eyes, crossing her arms as she turned toward the darker part of the forest.
"Liam, I know you're there," she called out. "Stop watching me like some creep. I told you I don't want to talk to you. Seriously, this isn't funny."
Silence.
Her irritation grew. "We already discussed this. I'm not interested in whatever game you're playing. So either come out or go away."
Still nothing.
Katie huffed. "Wow. Mature."
Behind her, unseen, red eyes watched.
Lucian stood in the shadows, perfectly still.
He had followed her the moment she left the pack grounds. Not because he didn't trust her.
Because something inside him refused to let her out of his sight.
And now, standing there, he could feel it.
The other part of her.
The one sleeping beneath the surface.
His gaze darkened.
"Finally," he whispered.
Katie froze.
Her body went completely still.
"…Did you hear that?" she murmured.
Rachel's voice was sharp. Yes.
Katie turned slowly.
But there was still no one.
Her heartbeat quickened. "Okay, Liam, seriously—"
The scent hit her.
Rich. Dark. Intoxicating.
Blood.
Her pupils dilated instantly.
Her breath hitched.
Her heart slowed.
Somewhere deep inside her, something woke.
Lucian stepped forward just enough for the moonlight to catch his face.
Katie's eyes widened.
"Who—"
But she didn't finish.
Because his wrist was already at his mouth.
He bit down.
The metallic scent filled the air.
A drop of blood fell to the ground.
Everything inside Katie snapped.
Her eyes flashed.
Amethyst purple.
Lucian's breath caught.
"There you are," he murmured.
Katie didn't hear him.
Because Katie was gone.
Daya surged forward.
The world sharpened, colors deepening, sounds growing louder. Hunger roared through her veins as she moved faster than thought.
She collided with Lucian, fingers gripping his shoulders as she pulled him closer.
Her fangs sank into his wrist.
The moment his blood touched her tongue, power exploded through her body.
It was ancient.
Rich.
Addictive.
Lucian's hand moved to the back of her head, steadying her, his eyes closing briefly.
Mmmph!
"Yes," he breathed. "Drink."
For several seconds, the world didn't exist.
There was only hunger. Power. Connection.
Then suddenly—
Katie gasped.
Her eyes returned to normal.
She jerked back, stumbling away from him.
"What—what just happened?" she whispered, breathing hard.
Her gaze dropped to the blood on her lips.
Horror filled her face.
She looked up at him. "Who are you?"
Lucian opened his eyes, something dark and satisfied in them.
But before he could answer, Katie's vision swayed.
The forest spun.
"I…" she murmured. "I don't feel…"
Her body collapsed.
Lucian caught her before she hit the ground.
He looked down at her, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
"You're not ready yet," he said softly.
Then he vanished into the night, carrying her with him.
When Katie woke the next morning, she was in her own bed.
Sunlight streamed through the window, warm and soft against her skin. For a moment, she just lay there, staring at the ceiling, her mind foggy and slow.
Her body felt normal.
Everything felt normal.
Too normal.
She sat up slowly, confusion clouding her thoughts.
"…That was a dream," she whispered.
It had to be.
The forest. The stranger. The blood. The glowing eyes. It was all too real to be real.
She swung her legs over the side of the bed, rubbing her face. "You're losing it, Katie. Stress. Lack of sleep. That's all."
But as she stood, something made her pause.
A faint sweetness lingered on her tongue.
Sweet.
Like strawberries.
Her brows furrowed.
"…Weird."
She shook her head, brushing it off as her imagination.
But deep inside, something stirred.
And somewhere in the shadows, a very old vampire smiled.