Tyler walked alone through the vast Davidson estate, his boots crunching against gravel as he passed row upon row of grand, stone-built houses spread across the green landscape. The estate was enormous designed to house a multitude of werewolves and their families, with wide-open spaces and towering structures nestled beneath ancient trees. Even the air carried a weight of history and strength.
He stopped beside a thick oak tree, its bark aged and rugged. With a grunt of frustration, Tyler slammed his fist against it, the pain grounding him for a moment. Then he collapsed to his knees, his shoulders shaking.
"What good am I?" he muttered between sobs. "I couldn't protect them… my sister… my parents."
His voice cracked with guilt. "They're gone."
His fingers curled into fists, dirt smearing across his palms. But then, faintly, as if whispered by the wind, his father's words echoed in his mind:
"Tyler… we may not live for long. If anything happensprotect your sister. You and Bella are the last of our bloodline."
A wave of resolve washed over him. He sniffed, wiped away his tears, and pushed himself up to his feet.
"What are you doing here?" a soft voice asked behind him.
Startled, Tyler turned sharply. Standing a few paces away was Sophia. The afternoon sun filtered through the trees, catching the shimmer of her dark blue eyes. Her raven black hair cascaded down her back, flowing in gentle waves. She wore a fitted gray leather jacket over a soft cream blouse, paired with dark jeans and ankle boots simple, but somehow elegant. Her presence radiated youthful confidence and grace.
"Hey, you scared me," Tyler said, catching his breath.
"I'm sorry," Sophia replied gently. "I saw you walking and… thought you might want someone to talk to."
"Thanks, but you shouldn't have come," Tyler said coldly, brushing past her.
Sophia stood there for a second, biting her lip. Then, determined, she followed after him.
"Well… I thought maybe you needed someone."
"Hey, listen up," Tyler snapped, turning to face her. "I don't care what you think. Just… leave me alone."
Before she could respond, a young man around twenty-two, with tousled dark hair and a lean build came sprinting toward them, breathless.
"Sophia! We've got a problem," he gasped, eyes flicking between her and Tyler.
"What is it?" Sophia asked quickly, concern etched into her features.
"Vampires," he said. "In a local warehouse. James and Henry spotted them I'm heading there now."
Sophia didn't hesitate. "I'm coming," she said, already turning to follow.
"I'm coming too," Tyler added, stepping forward with resolve.
Both Sophia and the boy turned to look at him.
"No, Tyler," Sophia said. "It's not safe. You just got here you've still got a lot to learn."
"Don't tell me what to do," Tyler snapped, pushing past them. "I'm going."
Sophia gave the boy Alex a nod. "Come on," she said as they both ran after him.
The battlefield was a desolate warehouse floor, littered with broken crates and twisted metal. In the heart of it stood a large vampire, towering and broad-shouldered, his skin pale and taut over sinewy muscle. His crimson eyes gleamed with hunger, and his strength was monstrous, every motion charged with gruesome power.
Two werewolves lunged at him. One, cloaked in thick brown fur, roared as it hurled its massive body at the vampire. The other was smaller, sleeker, its fur streaked in shades of blue and red, darting forward with incredible speed.
The vampire caught the brown wolf mid-leap with a sickening crack, hurling him into a pile of hardened iron bars, the metal clanging loudly under the impact. Without pause, he pivoted and slammed a brutal kick into the red wolf, who crashed into the concrete, yelping in bone-crunching agony.
As the vampire raised a clawed hand to finish the red wolf, a velvet-colored wolf burst forth with blinding speed, sinking its fangs into the vampire's back and flinging him to the ground. Another wolf joined black and deep brown, eyes glowing with fury. Tyler, in his wolf form, appeared like a shadowy blur, crashing into the vampire and sending him spiraling into the air.
The vampire landed gracefully, feet skidding on the ground. He chuckled darkly, licking blood off his lips.
"You will never win against me," he sneered.
The five wolves snarled, regrouping around him. He charged again, striking the red-furred wolf hard, sending him sprawling. Sophia the velvet-colored wolf leapt again, knocking the vampire to the ground, but he kicked her off with wild force.
Tyler surged forward, jaws wide, tackling the vampire hard. Alex, the deep brown wolf, followed through, locking his fangs on the vampire's throat. The thick brown wolf, recovering, launched into the fray. Together, Tyler, Alex, and the brown wolf overwhelmed the creature, ripping it apart with a series of savage bites until it lay unmoving, blood pooling beneath it.
A tense silence followed. Sophia shifted first, returning to human form. Her expression was sharp with urgency.
"Are you guys okay?" she asked, walking over.
The deep brown and red-furred wolves transformed next, revealing Henry and James. Tyler shifted last, chest heaving with breath.
"We're fine," James said, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Good timing, guys," Henry added with a grin and a thumbs-up.
"Tyler?" Sophia asked, concern in her tone.
"I'm fine," he muttered, avoiding her gaze.
"Great grip and stamina, Tyler," Alex commented. "That thing was strong. Haven't fought one like that in a while."
Sophia knelt beside the vampire's corpse, examining a distinct scar carved into its pale chest.
"It's a fledgling," she said.
"What's a fledgling?" Henry asked.
"A newborn," Alex replied.
Tyler scoffed, anger rising in his eyes.
"A newborn? We haven't even handled the elders and they're already making new ones..." He clenched his fists, voice low. "These bloodsuckers."
Sophia stood, her expression tense.
"It's normal. Newborns are created almost every month. But they're often more aggressive than even older vampires."
"There've been reports of vampires moving during the day," Alex added grimly. "What if this is bigger than bloodlust?"
Sophia looked away. "I don't know... but we need to report this to the council."
Tyler stared at the broken body of the vampire, his jaw tight.
"Whatever it is, we'll make sure they're crushed."
His voice came as a whisper, but the fire in his eyes burned like a vow.