POV Athénia
I've been sitting in this park for a long time. Even though it's already night, I tell myself I should head back to the building.
" Lis, I want to run. " said Kora
" Kora, we're in the middle of the city. If anyone saw me, it would be a disaster. " I said
" Come on, I won't leave the park. I'll only run here." she said
I sigh.
" Fine, I trust you." I said
I start taking off my clothes to prepare for the shift. In the pitch dark, on all fours, I let Kora take control. It's been a while since she last ran. She darts forward like an arrow, so fast I lose count of how many laps she's made. Then, I feel her strong urge to stop by the lake marked with a danger sign. I can't help but wonder what danger could possibly be here.
We get closer and see our reflection. I admit, I'm a little shocked. My eyes… they've turned silver. And there's a blazing silver streak running across half of my head. I don't know what kind of wolf that makes me, but it doesn't look bad. My wolf is as white as my hair, and I can feel that this place is shaping me into someone new.
" We're beautiful, Lis." Kora said
" What's with this change?" I said
" I told you, we're special." she replied
" Yeah, yeah." I said
" I'm done now. We can go back." she said
"Okay " I said
We walk back to where I left my clothes. I shift back to human and quickly get dressed. I hear Kora yawning.
" Thanks, Lis. I was able to run because you agreed. I'm exhausted now, I want to rest—if you don't mind." said Kora
" Sure, I don't mind." I said
" Great." she said
I think it's official now — we have a place where we can safely transform.
As I start walking through the dark, I suddenly spot two pairs of glowing eyes staring at me. My breath catches. Even more shocking is the scent that hits me: chocolate and rain… my two favorite things. No, impossible. This can't be.
But besides the scent, there's something else. An aura — cold, deadly, murderous. No… it can't be. It's… a vampire. Oh, Goddess.
Without a second thought, I run for the exit. I don't even check if he's following. I jump into the car and tell the driver to go. He drives me straight back to my building.
I don't know how, but I manage to carry all my shopping bags up to my room. I even tip the driver extra for waiting so long. With my arms full, I barely make it to the elevator without dropping anything. I press the button for the 10th floor, my face hidden behind a mountain of groceries.
Finally, I reach my apartment — the largest of the three. I unlock the door, step inside, and drop the bags onto the couch with a sigh of satisfaction. Tomorrow will be the day my life officially takes a new turn.
But what about that guy? Will he be at the same university? What's happening to me? Seriously, Selene… a vampire? As if things couldn't get any worse. No — it could be worse. If he's the future lord of the vampires, then the word "worse" won't even begin to describe the catastrophe.
I sigh again, put everything away, and make myself a quick soup. After eating, I collapse on my bed, too drained to even think of getting up.
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Author's POV
Meanwhile, Kemran still hadn't processed what just happened. When Athénia was getting dressed, he froze, staring at the girl standing naked before him — and more than anything, her exposed neck. The urge to bite her was overwhelming. But she dressed so quickly he couldn't react.
And then… her eyes. Her blue eyes had clouded the prince's mind for a brief instant. Before he could act, she was gone — fleeing at full speed toward her car.
Kemran remained in the park, standing motionless, staring blankly into the night. That girl had escaped him… him, the lord of vampires.
" Hey, you! What are you doing here? You can't be in the park at this hour." said the Guard
Kemran turned to face the guard — in a way so terrifying it would never be forgotten.
" Wh… wh… what? A v-v-vampire? Oh my God, save me!" said the Guard
Kemran smirked devilishly, brushing his fingers along his fangs. This man won't be spared, he thought.
The guard began backing away, ready to run, but in a blink, Kemran grabbed him.
" Bad idea." said Kemran
He sank his fangs into the man's neck as the guard's screams echoed in the night, until his body went limp, drained of every drop of blood. Kemran tossed the lifeless body aside, then reduced it to ashes. Vampires had powers mortals could never imagine — they could erase the evidence of their kills, their eyes glowing blood-red in the process.
Finished with his prey, Kemran vanished at incredible speed, showing not the slightest trace of remorse.
He soon arrived at the apartment building. Hands in his pockets, he entered, took the elevator to the 10th floor, and calmly walked down the hall. Unlocking his door, he stepped inside and shut it behind him.
Seeing his "beautiful" room made him smile — though the bed was nothing but stone, with no mattress. Clearly, this apartment was designed for vampires.
He headed into the bathroom, stripped off his clothes, and slid into the cold water of the bathtub. Closing his eyes to gather his thoughts, he eventually drifted off to sleep there.
Meanwhile, in the apartment across the hall, loud music pulsed (though the walls were soundproof). Naynah was putting on a solo performance worthy of a superstar.
She finally finished tidying up and checked that everything was in order before relaxing.
"At last. I thought you'd spend the whole night cleaning." said Ava
Her wolf teased, making Naynah smile faintly.
" Well, I didn't. It's done. Now I just need to plan a schedule for cleaning, cooking breakfast, lunch, and dinner." thought Naynah
"Fool. You should probably find a supermarket and buy some groceries. You haven't left this apartment once since we arrived. And don't forget, there are no omegas here to cook for you — and you've never set foot in a kitchen in your life." said Ava
" Fine. Tomorrow after classes, I'll stop by a supermarket. And if I can't cook… takeout exists, you know." said Naynah
She sat down with a pizza — or rather, an entire box of pizza — with juice to wash it down. Afterward, she took a quick shower and collapsed onto her bed.
" Naynah…" called Ava
" Yes?" replied Naynah
" I spoke with the Mother Goddess. She said we'll find our mate here." said Ava
" I just hope he isn't of the same blood as our enemies." said Naynah
" We'll see tomorrow." said Ava
Her wolf's voice faded as Ava retreated into the depths of her mind to rest.
" Yes, we'll see." thought Naynah.
The thought of finding her mate unsettled Naynah. If her mate was an Alpha, the law of wolves demanded that female Alphas leave their own pack to join their mate's, becoming his Luna. The idea didn't sit well with her.
If that happened, her mother would remain Alpha of Silver Moon forever, since Naynah was her only child. That would mean abandoning her mother and leaving the pack to its fate.
Her second fear was even worse: what if her mate wasn't a wolf at all? What if he belonged to another supernatural race — especially one of their enemies, like a vampire or a sorcerer? That would be a catastrophe.
Different beings, united by the Mother Goddess, the goddess of the Moon. If that was truly her destiny, there had to be a reason. But for Naynah, no reason would ever be enough to bind her to her enemies.
Eventually, sleep claimed her too.