Mr. Mysterious

River squeezed her eyes shut as panic kicked straight into her. Perhaps, if she lay low, these two groups would fight, kill, or harm each other, and she’d have the chance to escape.

It was like seeing her two enemies fight one another, doing all the work for her. Hence, she held her breath, straining to hear the approaching footsteps.

The sounds of approaching footsteps grew louder, torturing River with it. Any moment now, Echo's men would burst into the clearing, and the inevitable clash with the rogue wolves would begin.

But was she totally safe from it?

Caught between a rock and a hard place, she realized escape wasn't the only worry. Being caught in the crossfire was just as likely.

As predicted, two figures emerged from the trees, dressed in the Ironclaw Pack’s warrior uniforms. A growl erupted from one of Echo’s men who was a hulking figure with a thick beard.

River recognized him. He was the one Echo usually sent on important missions. Did that mean she was important to Echo?

Hmm, she thought not.

“Identify yourselves!" he bellowed at their adversary.

One of the rogue wolves who was a tall and wiry man with a wicked tinge in his eyes, stepped forward. "We are men of Ardeus," he declared.

“What are they doing identifying themselves?” River squinted her eyes and muttered under her breath.

To River's utter astonishment, no hostility followed as she had predicted. Instead, a strangely civil conversation unfolded. "We weren't expecting company in our territory," the other rogue wolf who was a shorter and stockier man spoke.

Somehow, his tone was curious rather than threatening. What the hell was going on here? When wolves came across other rogue wolves, fighting was the next and logical thing to do.

And this forest was still part of the Ironclaw pack’s territory, not the rogue wolves. The rogue wolves were snatchers. They don't own but steal. Had they stolen this part of the Pack?

"Apologies," Echo's leader put forward. "We didn't mean to trespass or sabotage our cordial treaty. We're searching for something that we believe has strayed this way. We’ll leave as soon as we find it.”

River's stomach churned at that declaration. The Ironclaw Pack had a treaty with the rogue wolves? Was that not the same as allowing the enemies in their land as long as they took a fair share of people’s properties and lives?

Echo was seen as a fierce Alpha that they all revered, but she had a treaty with these very same rogue wolves. The ones who had raided their towns and taken lives for generations?

The ones who killed their parents? Killed Gonzalo’s parents? Killed and stolen from many of their people?

Looks like Echo wasn't as ‘great’ as everyone thought she was. Thinking about how Gonzalo would feel when he found out about this Echo’s little secret just made River’s night.

No matter how long it’d be, she could already see where Echo and Gonzalo’s relationship would head. But then again, thinking that she had trusted and respected Echo all her life only to find out that it was all a lie sent a hot tear down her cheek.

How much of what she thought she knew was a lie?

"And what might that be?" the taller rogue asked Echo’s men, his gaze flickering towards the treeline.

"A young woman," Echo's leader admitted. "If you happen to find her, return her to us. We'd appreciate it. And of course, you’ll be rewarded for it.”

The rogue wolves exchanged glances but their expressions did not betray whatever they had in their head. "Very well," the shorter one finally replied.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, as unreal as it seemed, Echo's men retreated back into the night. T-this was such an epic and heartbreaking discovery for River.

She sank deeper into the hollow log, hating her own naivety. As soon as the sounds of Echo’s men's departure faded, the rogue wolves' conversation turned guarded.

“They can't be trusted," the taller one muttered.

"Agreed," the shorter one growled. "We need to inform Ardeus. He won't be happy about this trespass."

Relief washed over River as the two rogue wolves turned and started walking away. They were leaving! With trembling hands, she peeked out of her hiding spot, watching them disappear into the undergrowth. How many more secrets had Echo been keeping? She wondered, her fury purring to life.

Just as she was about to crawl out completely, a sudden gust of wind pulled through the clearing. It snatched the leather pouch containing her mother's letter, sending it fluttering away like a lost leaf.

"No!" River shrieked, scrambling out of her hiding place.

Panic seized her as the letter danced on the wind, leading her on a wild goose chase. Over fallen logs, through thorny bushes, it went and she ran without a care.

She’d lost her life before that letter. That was the last thing she had as closure now. Her whole world had fallen apart and so was her mental health. Losing that letter would break her.

But finding it seemed like ‘mission impossible’ because it appeared as though the more she ran after it, the higher it was determined to go.

Finally, just as she thought she'd lost it forever, she spotted the letter snagged on a low-hanging branch.

Relief flooded her, shortly erasing the ugly feeling of betrayal she had up in her heart. But as she reached out to grab it, a hand shot out faster, snatching the letter before her fingers could brush it.

What the…?

River froze, her blood turning to ice. Her heart raced relentlessly as she slowly turned to face the unexpected visitor.

Was it a rogue wolf?

Would she be snatched and taken back to Echo? Hell, no. No, please.

But then again, when her eyes fell on the figure in front of her, she saw that he was nothing like a wolf.

He was breathtakingly handsome, even in the moonlight. Long, pompadour hair framed a face that could have been chiseled from marble. His features were flawless and his lips were sculpted into a captivating smirk. Yet, what sent shivers down her spine was the piercing red of his eyes and the unnatural paleness of his skin.

This was no ordinary man. River swallowed a lump down her throat. What had she gotten herself into?

She just wanted to go to the human world in peace.

This was no wolf nor a human. It was a creature she had heard people talk about but had never seen herself because she barely went out.

It was a vampire.

Fear fastened her stomach. Bloodthirsty monsters with no control - that was what she’d read about vampires in books. Yet, here she was alone, unarmed, and completely at his mercy.

He noticed her fear and a sinister smile played on his lips. The devilish smile was such a contrast to his otherworldly beauty. As though he wanted to taunt her further just to revel in her fear, his fingers brushed against the letter. "Interesting," he murmured.

No. That letter didn't belong in the hands of anyone but her and most certainly not that of a vampire.

But before she could react, he was right in front of her– impossibly fast. His closeness stole her breath, and she could smell something intoxicating beneath the faint scent of earth and decay around her - him.

He reached out his hands again, this time his fingers brushing a stray strand of hair that had escaped her braid. He held it to his nose, inhaling deeply.

Ewww. What in the hell’s name was he doing?!

River trembled, trapped in his gaze and the strange combination of danger and pleasure that radiated from him.

"I only want my letter back," she squeaked out despite her fear and confusion.

He ignored her, the smirk still twisting his lips. He then unfolded the letter with deliberate slowness, his eyes scanning the page. Fury held River at the edge. This was her mother's last message, a message not meant for anyone else.

"This isn't yours to read!" she blurted out, her voice gaining strength with desperation.

He finally looked at her and his crimson eyes searched her face for a moment. "Why not, little human?" His voice sounded so low and piercing at the same time, sending shivers down her spine.

Who the hell was he?

"It's– it's the last thing my mother left me," she stammered, tears welling up in her eyes.

He chuckled, obviously enjoying her tears. "Such a sweet tale," he mocked without empathy. "But secrets have a way of revealing themselves, wouldn't you agree?"

River's heart pounded like a drum. Was he going to kill her after reading the letter? The thought made her knees weak, but she wouldn't let herself be bullied.

Not anymore. If she were to die tonight, she’d at least do it heroically.

"Are you going to suck my blood or kill me?" she blurted out much to her surprise.

The vampire's smile widened and she saw genuine amusement replacing the earlier sinister glint he had in his eyes. He moved closer again, the intoxicating scent of him even stronger now.

River took a step back but he leaned in, sniffing at her neck, sending a wave of goosebumps into her that weren't entirely from fear.

"Your blood does smell delicious, little human," he whispered. But to her utter astonishment, he pulled back. "But no," he continued. “You, my dear, are far more interesting alive."

Why the hell did he just call her human?