The rain came suddenly that night, slashing through Nezo's crooked rooftops like blades. Thunder rolled overhead, and the old clock tower groaned against the storm. Most students were already home,warm, dry, distracted by phones or dinner.
But Gordon wasn't.
He stood by the bike racks behind the gym, hunched in his soaked hoodie, fumbling with a broken chain on Sam's secondhand bicycle.
"He better appreciate this," he muttered, wiping grease on his jeans. His breath steamed in the icy air Fingers numb, Patience thinner.
Then—
Crack.
Not wood.
Not thunder.
Bone.
Gordon froze, straightening. The wind paused like it, too, had heard the noise. Even the rain seemed to hesitate.
Then came a sound,claws dragging against cement.
He stepped away from the bike,with fear
Another crack.
And a voice,low,dripping with venom.
"No more running, mutt. Face me like a prince."
Gordon crept to the gym's side, crouched behind the tall fence. He peeked through the gaps.
What he saw stopped his breath.
Two figures.
One had silver eyes that glowed like moonlight reflected in water. His skin was deathly pale, and his jet-black hair clung to his sharp face. Blood stained his shirt. His fingers curved into claws, knuckles tense.
The other was larger broad-shouldered, built like a wall. Faint burn scars coiled around his neck like old battle marks. His golden eyes burned, and his fists they pulsed with something red-hot. Not blood it's Heat.
"I'm not running," the bigger one growled. "I'm choosing not to kill you. Again."
The vampire there was no mistaking what he was laughed coldly.
"Still blaming me for your Luna's death? You should be blaming your king, Zik."
Zik. Gordon blinked. He knew that name. one of the older boys at school. Always skipping classes
The vampire lunged.
Zik didn't flinch. He met him mid-air, and they collided like gods in a thunderclap.
The earth shook. The fence rattled as if something ancient had stirred beneath it. Blows landed with bone-cracking sound. Claws flashed. Fangs snapped.
Gordon stumbled back, shielding his face.
He should've run.
He should've screamed.
But something inside him lit up.
The air around him bent, shimmering like heat haze. The rain veered away from his skin. Sparks danced at his fingertips like static clinging to fire.
Then Boom.
A shockwave burst from his chest. Invisible but violent. It hurled both combatants into the gym wall. The bricks groaned. Metal buckled.
Silence returned.
Gordon stood there, breathing hard. His hands trembled. A faint glow flickered around him, then vanished like dying candlelight.
"What… was that?" he whispered.
The vampire groaned, sitting up and wiping blood from his lip. His eyes were wide now,not arrogant, but stunned.
"What the hell was that, Zik? Since when do you bring backup?"
Zik was slower to rise. "I didn't."
Both turned toward Gordon.
He took a shaky step back. "I didn't mean to… I wasn't—"
The vampire tilted his head, gaze narrowing. "He's… not one of ours."
Zik's eyes narrowed. "No. He's something else."
Gordon turned to run
"Wait!" Zik called. "Kid, what's your name?"
"Gordon!"
They froze.
A familiar voice echoed.
Angela.
She sprinted into the alley, her braid plastered to her back, rain dripping from her jaw. She skidded between Gordon and the others, breath sharp.
"You okay?" she asked, scanning his face.
"I… think so," Gordon said, dazed.
The vampire stared at her, recognition blooming. "Alpha's daughter. Of course."
Angela growled low. "What are you doing here, blood bait?"
He smirked. "Still charming, as you can see."
Gordon's eyes darted between them. "Wait,you know each other?"
Angela's jaw clenched. "Gordon… I need you to trust me."
He backed up a step. "Trust you? What even are they?"
Her voice softened. "I'll explain later. I promise. But right now—we've got company."
A shriek split the air. Not human.
From the shadows, three twisted figures emerged,all jagged fur, mismatched limbs, glowing coal eyes, and mouths full of teeth too large for their skulls.
Not werewolves.
Not anything sane.
Corrupted.
Zik's voice dropped, heavy. "Corrupted ones."
The Judas clicked his tongue. "Perfect. This night just keeps getting better."
Angela stepped in front of Gordon., her presence swelled. Her stance shifted low, ready. Her fingers twitched, knuckles taut. Muscles coiled like springs beneath soft skin.
"Stay behind me."
The monsters lunged.
Zik intercepted the first, twisting mid-air to slam it into the ground. Judas vanished in a blur, reappearing behind the second, his claws slicing its throat. Angela met the third head-on, catching it by the arm and hurling it into the fence like it weighed nothing.
Gordon watched, stunned.
They wasn't just brave.
They wasn't just fast.
They were powerful.
The battle was short, violent. When it ended, the corrupted ones dissolved into black ash, scattered on the wind.
Angela turned to him, breathing hard.
"Are you hurt?"
He shook his head slowly, eyes on her. Then the others.
"You're… not normal," he murmured.
Angela reluctantly nodded. "Neither are you, Gordon."
Judas stepped closer, brushing ash from his jacket. "Well. This just got interesting."
Zik folded his arms, eyes still watching Gordon like he was dangerous. "He lit up like a damn comet. You saw it too."
Angela met Gordon's gaze hers soft, steady, and so very human.
"I wanted to protect you from all this," she said gently. "But now… it's time you know who you really are."