Ramon’s POVThe witches don’t even try to hide their approach. I feel their magic long before I see them. An acrid ripple of energy that licks at the edges of my mansion’s wards like oily smoke. My fingers twitch at my sides as I step outside, each movement precise, deliberate. It has been centuries since I’ve allowed the full weight of my bloodthirstiness to surface, but the thought of them threatening Jasmine awakens something primal in me.The sun hangs low in the sky, casting long shadows over the grounds, but even its presence can’t diminish the suffocating darkness I carry. I sense them before they emerge. It is a quartet of witches cloaked in crimson robes, their magic pooling like stagnant water. They are powerful, no doubt, but their power pales against the centuries of death and destruction I’ve wielded.When they finally step into view, they falter. The one in front, a tall woman with streaks of silver in her black hair, takes an instinctive step back. Her eyes widen as th
Jasmine’s POVThe silence is oppressive, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves outside the mansion. I sit on the edge of the bed, my hands gripping the sheets as I struggle to keep my breathing steady. Ramon’s presence is a comforting shield, but with him gone, the weight of my fears presses down on me.I try to reach out, closing my eyes and summoning the wolf within me. Please, I beg silently, my hands curling into fists. Talk to me. Guide me. Nothing.The void where my wolf used to be feels like a gaping wound, one I don’t know how to heal. My Ailuranthrope side stirs faintly, like a whisper at the edge of my mind, but it’s elusive, slipping away every time I try to grasp it. I bite my lip, fighting the tears that threaten to fall. “Why won’t you answer me?” I whisper into the stillness.The truth is, I’m terrified. Ramon tries to hide his worry, but I’ve seen the way his jaw tightens when he talks about the dangers we face. He downplays it, of course, as if I won’t notice. But
Ramon’s POVThe night is still, a fragile silence draping the mansion like a cloak. It’s too quiet. I pace the length of the study, my senses on edge, the faint hum of Jasmine’s aura a constant undercurrent in the room. Her training has gone better than I expected, and yet, I can’t shake the foreboding weight pressing against my chest.She’s asleep now, her breathing soft and even as it drifts to my ears. Her newfound confidence has given her a glow that I can’t help but admire. But with it comes danger.I glance at the darkened corners of the room, my instincts prickling. The witches’ intrusion was no coincidence. They were the first, but they won’t be the last. Jasmine’s awakening will draw attention from every corner of the supernatural world.The thought fills me with a rage I haven’t felt in centuries. They will come for her. And they will die. A sharp knock echoes through the mansion. I’m already moving before the second knock, my senses sharpening as I approach the front door.
Jasmine’s POVThe days since Ramon told me about the Supreme Council have passed in a blur of tension and training. Every morning, I wake with the weight of his words pressing on my chest. The Council will come for me. Others will come for me.And yet, Ramon never falters. His confidence in his ability to protect me is unwavering, but I can see the strain in his eyes when he thinks I’m not looking. I know he’s carrying the burden of keeping me safe, of keeping the world’s attention off me, but I can’t let him bear it alone.That’s why I’ve thrown myself into the training with everything I have. Ramon doesn’t go easy on me, and I wouldn’t want him to. Each drill pushes me past what I thought I was capable of, and I can feel the changes in my body.Today is no different. The sun barely peeks over the horizon when Ramon leads me to the training grounds he’s set up in the mansion’s expansive garden. The air is cool, the grass damp with dew, and the chirping of birds is the only sound as w
Ramon’s POVThe audacity of these puny creatures!Barely a week has passed since I sent the first coven fleeing, and yet here I am again, facing another pack of witches who think they can trespass on my territory. My private mansion is not marked on any map. It’s cloaked, hidden from prying eyes by wards centuries in the making. And yet, this new batch has found me.As I step into the open courtyard, the cool night air prickles against my skin, carrying the faint scent of ozone and earth, the calling card of witches. Their magic thrums in the distance, a low, persistent vibration that sets my teeth on edge.There are four of them again, just like the last time. But these witches are not like the previous ones. They are younger, brash, their magic chaotic and untamed. I can sense their nervous energy as they linger at the edge of the woods, their figures barely visible in the moonlight.“Come out,” I call, my voice echoing in the still night. It’s not a request. The witches hesitate, b
Jasmine’s POVThe room is filled with a suffocating tension when Ramon returns. I can feel it before I see him, an almost tangible energy crackling in the air like the calm before a storm. I sit by the window, staring at the moonlit garden, my fingers idly tracing patterns on the windowsill. The animals have retreated for the night, but their earlier presence lingers in my mind, a strange comfort and a reminder of the changes happening within me.When Ramon steps into the room, his face is a mask of composure, but I know better. His shoulders are stiff, his jaw tight, and there’s a flicker of something dangerous in his golden eyes.“They’re gone,” he says, his voice flat. I rise from my seat, crossing the room to meet him. “Gone, but not for long,” I say softly. “Are they?”He sighs, running a hand through his dark hair. “No. Others will come. Stronger, more determined.” My stomach twists at his words, but I refuse to let the fear show. “What did they want?”Ramon hesitates, his gaze
Ramon’s POVThe wind carries whispers, faint, but unmistakable. I’ve lived long enough to know when danger approaches, and right now, every instinct in me screams to prepare.Jasmine is still resting after our morning training and… our moment together. I watch her from the balcony, her peaceful form curled up on the chaise in my private study. Her serenity is a fragile illusion, one I know won’t last much longer.The second coven of witches crossed into my territory just days ago. They left quickly enough after tasting my wrath, but I’d be a fool to think that would be the end of it. The scent of an awakening Ailuranthrope is too tempting a lure, even for creatures that should know better than to provoke me.I pace the length of the balcony, tension coiling tighter in my chest with each step. The protective wards around the mansion are holding, for now. But it’s only a matter of time before someone more dangerous, more persistent, comes sniffing around.A sound from behind me pulls me
Jasmine’s POVI don’t sleep much that night. Ramon doesn’t come to bed immediately, and when he does, I can feel the weight he carries. He doesn’t speak, but I know he’s been out dealing with another threat. I want to ask him about it, but his tense silence tells me everything I need to know: the storm is building.By morning, I’m restless. The mansion, once a sanctuary, feels too quiet. It’s as if the walls themselves are holding their breath, waiting for something to happen. The animals that usually gather near the garden seem skittish, their usual comfort around me replaced with unease.I pull on a loose tunic and head to the training room. If I sit still any longer, I’ll lose my mind. Ramon’s been teaching me how to fight, but my body still aches from yesterday’s session. No matter the fatigue, I need to keep moving.The room smells faintly of leather and sweat, and the weapons on the walls glint in the sunlight streaming through the high windows. I grab a staff, its polished wood
Jasmine’s POVI wake to the soft glow of sunlight streaming through the sheer curtains. For a moment, I forget where I am. The warmth of the silk sheets, the faint scent of cedar and spice that clings to them, it’s all so far removed from the cold, empty nights I’d spent before.Then I feel the strong arm draped across my waist, the steady rise and fall of Ramon’s chest behind me, and reality sinks in. I’m safe. I’m with him. My only friend, my mate, the one I love, my confidante, my saviour and my protector, Ramon Kovah Vampire Lord of the Crimson Clan.Turning carefully so as not to wake him, I study his face. His sharp features are softened in sleep, the lines of centuries of burdens momentarily eased. He looks so… human. It’s hard to reconcile this serene man with the ruthless vampire lord the world fears.But I know better. Beneath the tenderness he shows me lies a predator. A protector who would tear the world apart for me. And that just feels so good. I know this makes me sound
RykerThe witches’ murmurs fade into the background as I pace the clearing. The scent of her lingers, a cruel reminder of what I’ve lost, or rather, what’s been stolen from me. My wolf, Red, prowls beneath my skin, snapping and snarling, his fury mirroring my own.She was mine. She is mine. No vampire lord, nor ancient bond, will change that. The witches’ leader dares to step closer, her calculating eyes meeting mine. “Alpha, your fury is justified, but rage alone won’t reclaim her. You need strategy and allies.”My lips curl into a mocking smile. “Allies?” I turn on her, my tone laced with venom. “You think I need your pitiful spells to take what’s mine?”She flinches but recovers quickly, her expression hardening. “We offer more than spells. We offer an opportunity to strike where the Vampire Lord is weakest. But only if you’re willing to do what is necessary.”I step closer, towering over her. “And what, exactly, do you think I’m unwilling to do?” The witch’s smile returns, sly and
Ryker’s POVThe scent hits me like a thunderclap. That unmistakable, maddeningly sweet scent that has haunted my darkest dreams. My muscles tense as my wolf surges forward, growling with primal need and rage. Jasmine.I stand in the clearing, surrounded by witches cloaked in dark robes, their murmured incantations barely registering over the pounding of my blood. The air is heavy with magic, but it does nothing to mask the scent of her. I haven’t smelled it in months, yet it still ignites a twisted combination of longing and fury deep within me.My lips curl into a snarl, but I quickly suppress it, keeping my expression neutral. No one here can know the chaos that scent has unleashed within me. My pride won’t allow it.“Alpha Ryker?” Malachai’s voice is cautious, his brow furrowed as he approaches me. “The wards are too strong. We cannot see past them. The vampire lord has shrouded the location entirely.” I wave him off impatiently, my mind racing. So this is where she’s been hiding.
Unknown POV The forest is quiet, save for the hurried whispers of the witches fleeing the wrath of the Vampire Lord. Their breaths come in shallow gasps as they dart through the shadowed woods, their dark cloaks snagging on branches. Fear hangs heavy in the air, a palpable weight pressing down on their every step. They know what they left behind, an ancient predator, seething with fury and power. But fate is a strange and twisted thing.Malachai watches them from the shadows, his sharp eyes gleaming with interest. The mage had been wandering these woods in search of components for his darker rituals when he caught sight of the witches. Their hasty retreat and panicked expressions pique his curiosity.“Fleeing, are we?” Malachai’s voice slithers through the silence, smooth and mocking. He steps into the moonlight, his tall frame cloaked in a robe adorned with strange symbols. His presence stops the witches in their tracks, their wide eyes darting to him with a mix of caution and reco
Ramon’s POVThe wind is heavy tonight, carrying a sense of foreboding that sets my every instinct on edge. I stand on the balcony of my private mansion, the sprawling forest below illuminated by the silvery light of the full moon. Jasmine is safe inside, her aura still masked by the ancient wards I reinforced this morning. But something about the night feels… wrong.It’s not the first time I’ve felt this unease since the witches began sniffing around my territory. The first coven came, trembling before me, and fled. The second dared to challenge me but learned why the Vampire Lord of the Crimson Clan is not a creature to provoke. Yet the whispers persist, spreading like wildfire through the supernatural underworld; an Ailuranthrope has awakened.Jasmine, my sweet Jasmine. I clench the railing, my grip denting the wrought iron. She’s the reason for this growing chaos. Not that she’s to blame, it’s the power she unknowingly wields, the untapped strength that sings to every supernatural
Ryker’s POVI sit in my private inner office, the heavy oak desk between me and Malachi, the mage who reeks of burnt herbs and decay. The flickering candles around the room cast long shadows on his gaunt face. He shifts nervously in his chair, bony fingers fidgeting with the hem of his robe.“You didn’t summon me here to waste my time, Malachai,” I growl, my patience dangerously thin. “Speak.”Malachai flinches but quickly composes himself. “Yes, Alpha. I bring news, news that could shift the balance of power entirely in your favor.” I lean back, feigning disinterest, though my pulse quickens. “Then stop stalling and get to the point.”He clears his throat, voice trembling with excitement. “There are whispers among the covens, Alpha. Rumors of a being thought to exist only in legends. An Ailuranthrope.”I narrow my eyes at the word, the weight of it hanging in the air like a thundercloud. “An Ailuranthrope?” I repeat slowly. “Those haven’t been seen in centuries. You’re telling me one
Ramon’s POVThe moment I step out of the library and into the dimly lit corridor, I sense it. A whisper of unease rippling through the wards around the mansion. The protective magic I wove into this place centuries ago is strong, but even the oldest spells are not invincible. The damned witches will not relent!As I descend the stairs, my thoughts drift to Jasmine. Her quiet strength surprises me daily, but I know the weight she carries. She hides it well, masking her fears behind determined eyes. Even now, she pushes herself to learn, to grow, to become the warrior she believes she must be. But time is against us.The mansion feels colder tonight, the shadows deeper. I move through the hallways with the ease of familiarity, my steps silent on the polished floors. In the great hall, the chandeliers cast a soft golden glow, but the air carries the scent of encroaching danger.The wards shudder again, and I stop abruptly. Someone, no, something, is testing them. I press my palm against
Ramon’s POVThe dawn breaks with an uneasy stillness. The forest surrounding the mansion seems quieter than usual, as though it, too, knows the storm that looms. Jasmine stands in the middle of the training courtyard, her posture stiff but determined. She looks at me with an intensity that reminds me of how fiercely she fought to convince me to train her.I study her for a moment. There’s no doubt she’s strong, her resilience, her heart, and her spirit all prove that. But strength of will is only half the battle. If she’s to survive what’s coming, she’ll need to learn discipline, strategy, and precision.“Before we start,” I say, breaking the silence, “you need to understand one thing. This isn’t about brute force or blind courage. It’s about control. If you let your emotions take over, you’ll lose.” Jasmine nods, her eyes blazing. “I’m ready.”I gesture for her to follow me. We begin with the basics, simple movements to assess her reflexes and coordination. I toss a small wooden staf
Jasmine’s POVThe mansion is quiet. Too quiet. Ramon left nearly an hour ago, his departure marked by a single command: “Stay inside.”But how am I supposed to stay calm when the air is heavy with tension, the kind that feels like the universe holding its breath? I pace the length of my room, my feet bare against the cool floor. The fire in the hearth does little to chase away the chill creeping into my bones.My mind races as I replay the conversation we had before he left, his words etched into my memory like stone. “This is something worse,” he had said. Worse than witches, worse than the dark magic Ryker used to manipulate me.I close my eyes, willing myself to find calm, to reach for the strength Ramon believes I have. But instead of stillness, a restless energy courses through me, making my skin prickle and my pulse quicken.I glance at the window, drawn to the moonlight spilling through the glass. The forest beyond the mansion is shrouded in shadows, the trees swaying gently in