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46. Unbeknownst to Me
Last Updated:
2022-05-13 00:17:29Related chapters
Bloody Full Moon 47. Honeymoon
Laura - Oltenia pack’s meeting groundsI guess my performance yesterday was up for the task since today I stand on the grounds of the Oltenia pack. Paul gets out of the car, carrying lots of shopping bags. He didn’t want to leave Bucharest until Dan came with these packs, which I believe are filled with gifts.I look up at him, wondering what he has in mind.“Are you ready?” he asks.“Yes, I am."But before I can take another step, Paul is surrounded by kids of various ages, all asking for sweets and toys.Soon, I realize I was right. I remain a few feet behind him, smiling. Paul looks like an uncle who lives abroad, and on the rare occasions he visits, he has to share gifts for all the events he has missed.Adults stay back and wait for the jumble of children to disperse. Something that happens sooner rather than later, right when everyone is happy with what they got.A tall, broad-shouldered guy with beautiful amber eyes walks forward when the path is clear. “Welcome, Paul. We've
Last Updated : 2022-05-15Bloody Full Moon 48. My Lighthouse
Laura - The cabin in the woodsI look at the wooden ceiling, my head flooded with questions. Why am I here with Paul? Why does having him so near make me feel so good?His arm is around my waist, his hot breath on my shoulder. I'm too scared to move. Is it because I don't want to wake him up, or because it's so good that I want to stop time right here and now?His head moves, and his lips touch my neck. “You can’t sleep?”I nod. My throat doesn't seem ready to form words.“Why?” He groans, pulling me closer to him.Why am I not asleep? Because his heart beats far too loudly. I can’t stop wondering if it pounds like that for me. My misgivings are mine to bear. What would be the point of saying them out loud?“Strigois don’t need sleep.” My voice comes out cold and assertive, and I’m relieved. “Since it’s optional and I’ve been dozing off enough these days, I can’t seem to sleep anymore.”To clear my head, I feel like I need to distance myself from him for some reason. Taking the sheet
Last Updated : 2022-05-16Bloody Full Moon 49. A Slice of Heaven
Paul - The Oltenia pack’s meeting groundsAs I descend the mountain to meet up with Radu, it is already midday. It would be nice to be a simple guy, free of the troubles and responsibilities that tie me down. Are these ideas enough to disqualify me as a leader? Or does everyone experience these thoughts from time to time?My eyes wander over the lush forest and the clearing beyond it. In the distance, the clouds are slowly drifting away, revealing the blue sky.Radu is already waiting for me. He’s probably used to my former self, the one who does the job and then takes time to relax if there’s time for such a treat. The alpha of the Oltenia pack stares at me from head to toe. My clothing is casual, and I wonder if he has ever seen me like this before. When we meet, even in the forest of his meeting grounds, I always wear one of my suits.“What’s with the jacket and joggers?” Radu chuckles when I arrive in front of him. “Are you trying a change of style?”"This is just what meets the
Last Updated : 2022-05-18Bloody Full Moon 50. Time Is a Knife
Laura - The cabin in the woodsFeeling watched, I raise my head and glance toward the door. Paul stands there, staring at me as if I were a painting at an exhibit. I can’t help but smile. He makes a step forward as I put my book on the nightstand. Gawking at the book’s title, he almost trips on the rug by the door. This time I start chuckling while measuring his new style between the peals of laughter.Paul frowns. “What are you laughing at?”Jet black joggers hang at his hips and a jacket wraps around his muscular, broad shoulders. His defined collar bone settles above the hem of a black tank-top, hiding the smooth chest underneath. Tousled black hair cascades down in a set of loose strands and frames his sculpted face. He looks so different from the neatly arranged Paul I’m accustomed to.“Nothing. Just admiring your new look.”“I wasn’t aware you had any interest in fashion.” He raises an eyebrow.I laugh again. "Why the abrupt shift in behavior? When did you start dressing like t
Last Updated : 2022-05-20Bloody Full Moon 51. Nothing to Worry About
Paul - After 3 weeksI enjoy the peace and quiet this place provides as I wait for the moon to rise. The crickets add a joyful melody to my ears as I stargaze the twinkling silver lights of the brooding sky. I push back the sounds coming from the clearing of our meeting grounds.Everyone is always upbeat when we get together for the full moon shift. Despite the enthusiasm, I feel for the first time that something is off. Laura is not present.Steps on the grass pique my interest. Looking toward the clearing, I see Alin and Ana Maria approaching. She was delighted to join the Muntenia pack, and we chose to call her Ana Maria in order to avoid confusion with our Ana.“I wanted to thank you again,” Alin says, his hand around his mate’s waist. “I’m also sorry for my behavior in the past few months. Not in my wildest dreams have I dared to imagine that such a thing could happen, that Ana Maria would join our pack.”“I’m extremely in debt to you,” she says, her eyes sparkling with happiness
Last Updated : 2022-05-24Bloody Full Moon 52. Handling Affairs
Laura - BucharestTaking care of the alpha summit preparations is taking longer than I anticipated. Despite reserving the venue in advance, accommodations for all attendees proved problematic.No hotel had enough rooms to accommodate all of the guests. Splitting them into groups is possible, but only if I avoid dividing members of the same pack. If they believe I do such a thing on purpose, I will create much more issues.I should proceed with caution and ensure that everything is in order. Maybe I demanded too much in terms of additional services and VIP treatment. However, Paul's bank account seems to be endless, and he handed me his platinum credit card, so my spending binge continues.Finally, I'm doing something useful, and even though I know I'm going to overdo it, the least I can hope for is that everything will be fine and Paul will approve of my choices.I've already made the final decisions regarding the menu, entertainment, and the overall look and feel of the event. I coul
Last Updated : 2022-05-27Bloody Full Moon 53. The Summit of the Alphas
Paul - The alpha summitAs I dress in my new suit, Laura watches me in the mirror. Something is still bugging me as to how she has handled the matter with Bogdan.“Are you sure he’ll stop trying to kill me and kidnap you?” I repeat the question for a dozenth time.“Humans, especially those with unstable minds, are easy to coerce.” She sighs. "I took care of Bogdan Badea. He’s not hurting anymore and has let go of his plan for vengeance. I was surprised when you gave him back his family business. He’ll surely move forward with his life now."“Ok, I’ll end any talks about Bogdan here and now.”My red tie rests on the edge of the chair. It has the same perfect shade of copper as Laura’s hair. I take it and start preparing myself for the meeting.Laura approaches. She takes my hands off the tie. I smile and let her do it for me. Even though the knot she creates is a little crooked and much duller than my Windsor knot, I keep it.Smirking, I watch Laura tilting her head.“It’s a bit crooke
Last Updated : 2022-05-30Bloody Full Moon 54. Pushing Away
Laura - The alpha summitMy efforts in preparing for this event have paid off. Everything is sparkling under the chandeliers, from the colorful roses to the neatly arranged ballroom.One by one, members of Paul’s pack come forth and vouch for me in front of the alphas. Some faces I know all too well, like Maria and even Alin. Some I know less about, like that guy from the tech department whom I helped with that hidden love letter. Even Radu speaks in my favor.I don’t know why, but every word shakes me to my very core. I’m not worthy of their trust, and I’m not here to stay. Fate brought me here, carrying me like a leaf in the wind. But I wanted a single thing, and that wasn’t to find a family or a place to belong.To what lengths is Paul willing to go just to keep me by his side? Isn’t he scared that he’ll eventually lose everything just for me?I feel a twinge of guilt for making him do so much, for making him do all this for me. He shouldn’t have to bear this burden.My soul craves
Last Updated : 2022-05-31
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Bloody Full Moon 85. Epilogue
Laura - AliveThe world is teeming with life and sensations I couldn’t see before. The air itself sizzles with electricity, and my skin tingles under the sun’s warmth. My heart is beating so fast that I can hear its thumping in my ears. Oh, how good it is to be alive. But then again, what is death?It’s a void, a nothingness, the absence of everything.So even though death is the ultimate lack of all existence, isn’t it also a state where we are given a chance to start anew?I’m not sure what I expected, but the reality is better than anything I could have imagined. Every day is a new adventure, and I love every minute of my life, full of laughter, hugs, and kisses. I must admit, destiny has one hell of a way of playing tricks on a girl. When I was young and wanted to live, I died. When I was an abomination and wanted to die, I was born anew. Sometimes, nothing goes the way you want it to, but not always what you want is what you get. And maybe it’s for the best. I am free of my c
Bloody Full Moon 84. True Love's Bite
Paul - The Retezat MountainsAuburn leaves fall kissed by the cold winds. A cold mountain that still hasn’t welcomed winter. An owl hoots a few times and, as I pass, flies away, out of reach. I can feel the change in the air, now thick with the scent of incoming rain. The sky above the tree’s canopy is gathering heavy clouds, soon to be released in a torrent of droplets. The first few stars peeking through the dark gray curtains are a sign that I don’t have much time left to find Laura. I know I'm close. To her. And I know why she ran away, putting distance between us. Because I'm possessive and selfish, not wanting to give her what she needs. I can't give her what she wants without losing everything I love. And I love her. But it seems I'm doomed to lose her anyhow.I've lost so much time denying reality, turning a blind eye to the truth. "I'm coming, Laura," I whisper to myself. The trees seem to go on forever, the forest floor stretching into the distance. Laura is nowhere in s
Bloody Full Moon 83. Reading the Future
The Gypsy Witch - Her hutMy nose scrunches. A sweet smell permeates the air, like a mixture of old spices and fresh herbs. There’s a slight vibration below my feet; the ground seems to shake with every step I take. Something will happen soon. Hehe! I should better ask the key. I reach into my pocket and take out the instrument of my favorite art. The key is a simple piece of metal for any ungifted person. But for me, it is a tool that can open the secrets of the future. I turn it over in my hand, feeling the smoothness of its surface. Cleidomancy is one of the most powerful and ancient forms of divination. It is the art of reading the future by observing the movements of a spellbound key. Some say the spirits of the dead are the ones who turn the key and direct the motion. Hehe!A witch never looks directly at the key. Instead, she always studies it from the corner of her eye, making sure she isn't seen peeking. Otherwise, the key won't move.My fingers are tingly as they seem to b
Bloody Full Moon 82. Ticking Clock
Laura - At homeI find myself lying on a bed of black velvet inside an empty room with no windows or doors. The walls are lined floor-to-ceiling with bookshelves, each filled from top to bottom. The books are all different sizes and shapes, but they all have the same purpose: to fill the emptiness inside me. “Because I’m hollow on the inside,” I whisper to myself. Under the blanket next to me, there is a figure wrapped in the same black velvet. I reach out and remove the cover, revealing an old man. His skin is wrinkled and pale, and his hair is entirely white. He looks as if he is sleeping. He slowly opens his eyes and looks at me. His hand comes up to touch my face but loses its vigor halfway through. “Are you real?” I ask him.He sighs, closing his eyes. Only a whisper of a breath escapes his lips. “Don’t be afraid, Laura. I’ll always love you.”“No!” I scream. “This can’t be real. This man can’t be Paul.”His strong features and soft gray eyes are the same. His voice is the sa
Bloody Full Moon 81. Never Let Him Go
Alisa - Stryga Inc, her officeBefore entering my office, I stroll down a short hallway and pass my assistant’s desk. Official-looking diplomas and the like hang on the wall behind her. I catch a glimpse of FB reflected in one of them as she turns off her tablet and looks up at me. Does anyone even consider this company an actual workplace? Every employee is a glorified receptionist, and most of them dawdle their time away in front of their computers without doing any real work. When did I become the most diligent person around? “Good morning, Miss Cristescu,” she says, making a good show of turning toward her computer screen as if she has tons and tons of work to do. Her voice is light and cheerful enough, showing that she hasn’t noticed my mood today. Or that she couldn’t care less.If I were to say anything to her, I would fire her on the spot. But starting to dispose of the people who annoy me would leave me working all by myself. So I just nod and continue on my way. Sighing,
Bloody Full Moon 80. Love and Fear
Laura - HomeFearing I could drop the puppy from my shaky hands, I slowly set him down on the floor. He immediately starts whimpering and wagging his tail, but I'm too scared to pick him up. I back away slowly, watching him from the corner of my eye as he scrambles to his feet. My legs feel like jelly, and I sit on the couch's edge. Several decades have passed since I've last seen Iustin, my maker. The night I met him was the night I died—the night I became a strigoi. I look at my shaking hands, remembering those times.He was the one who turned me into one of them, holding my dead body in his arms for three days and three nights, keeping my soul trapped inside and forbidding it from going to the other side. For a long time, I thought he lied to me about the process until I did the same to Alisa and turned her into a strigoi as well. He helped me escape the strigoi Council's tight grip, and I owe him my life if my life counts for anything. Iustin covered up my ability to read minds
Bloody Full Moon 79. Serendipity
Paul - At home“We’re leaving the day after tomorrow,” I announce to Dan, sitting in front of him at the kitchen table. “I’ve scheduled a week-long trip to a remote location I don’t want to disclose even to you. I’ve been careful not to go during a full moon. So you and Alin should be fine managing the pack while I’m away. Oh, and the phone signal might be lacking, so don’t try to call me.”“I see you made up your mind already.” Dan sighs. “I knew you would put Laura above all else, but this is too much. Give me at least an emergency contact number to reach you just in case.”“As you said, I’ve made up my mind.”“Fine.” Dan stands and begins pacing through the kitchen. “What about the company? I’m not particularly fond of the idea of taking on business decisions while you’re away.”“Oh, no need. I put Max in charge of the company during my absence.”“The shifter? Why would you do that? Do you trust him so much?”“He’s not doing me any favor. The bastard is charging me for his time and
Bloody Full Moon 78. Lilac Scent
Paul - At home The house I grew up in was always a little too quiet for my liking. Now, the same house is shifting from a place of memories into a cradle for Laura and me. She has brought most of her things to the house. Unwrapping the last of the boxes, she stares at a small album. She opens it and pulls out a picture. I wrap my arms around her from behind, resting my chin on her shoulder. Out of habit, I sniff her hair, inhaling her scent. “Why do you keep smelling my hair?” she asks, still looking at the photo. I lightly touch my lips to the spot where her neck meets her collarbone.“It is said that when two people are fated mates, their scent is like a fingerprint, a unique signature only the other can notice.” I pause to take another sniff. “For me, you smell like lilac flowers in the spring, and it’s driving me crazy.”I nuzzle her neck, breathing in her scent and letting it fill my lungs. Laura doesn’t answer. She sighs, and her fingers shake over a black and white photog
Bloody Full Moon 77. Before the Beep
Laura - At homeDays pass quicker when immortality doesn’t seem like a useless burden. My condition hasn't improved. I am still an immortal strigoi, so basically just another girl in the world, with a few oddities.I fill my time with the things I love most: reading and Paul. He keeps at bay all the pessimistic tendencies that make me want to run away from reality. I know he will one day die. The thought still nibs at the back of my head and sometimes feels unbearable, but I don’t want to give up his company. He gives me hope, and even though we only have a few decades together, I'll make every second count.His presence is a gift to my soul. Even now, when he works in the bedroom while I read a book on the veranda bench, I feel peaceful. Just knowing he is there makes me happy. When we’re closer, things tend to get wild. We share a passion for each other and want to explore every inch of the other. We never get tired of being together. The slightest brush of his skin against mine
