Alpha Arkan
Damn it, Valen had kidnapped Kayra.
Mine, Bozok growled.
I couldn't believe I was still alive.
According to Alara, when she realized Valen was going to turn Kayra into a vampire, she came up with an idea. She tried performing CPR on me until Kayra's heart started beating again. She hadn't been sure it would work, and she'd never encountered anything like this before. Neither had I. Thankfully, she'd taken a chance and saved my life. I owed her my life.
Yes, Bozok said. ButKayra is the one we truly owe. Her body might not have accepted vampirism.
Maybe it shouldn't have.
What do you mean? Bozok roared in my mind. You wanted Kayra to die?!
I think I did.
You bastard!
Am I the bastard? I smiled irritably. She was better off dead than a slave to Valen.
We're not leaving Kayra to that bloodsucker—
How are we supposed to do that? I cut Bozok off. Kayra was one of those bloodsuckers now, too.
I reached for the rakı on the table and poured myself a glass. Then I downed it in one go.
Slow down.
What happens if I don't? Will I die?
No, Bozok said. Don't get drunk unless you want me to take over your body.
I shrugged.
Go ahead. I can't stand the thought of Kayra being in that bastard's hands.
Gather the wolves, Bozok said. We'll get Kayra back. And tear Valen apart.
At Bozok's last words, I felt my fangs begin to lengthen. Then my claws extended, too. The glass shattered in my hand, and a shard cut me as it fell.
I grunted in pain.
"Did you see what you did?" I snapped.
Oh, sorry. But I can't stand just sitting here doing nothing.
As if I could stand it, either. We still hadn't heard a word from that damn freak. Maybe we could come up with a plan if he showed up.
It pisses me off that we have to rely on that creature, Bozok growled.
Maybe he was our hope.
Hope? he roared. He's the reason we're in trouble with the vampires!
Yes. On the surface, it seemed that way.
On the surface?
Yes.
Explain.
My attention shifted to the door when black smoke began rising from underneath it.
What is that?
I don't know.
I was sniffing the air when the door suddenly burst open. I straightened up on the couch.
A woman walked in. She glanced around before turning to me. Her eyes were blood-red.
Vampire.
But something was different.
The scent… her scent…
Kayra.
Was it really her? My heart began to race with excitement.
No, it couldn't be. Valen wouldn't allow it.
My Kayra isn't the type to ask for permission, Bozok said. She's my mate. Just as headstrong as I am.
The woman lunged at me, knocking me to the floor. Then she began licking the wound on my hand.
Kayra.
Yes. It really was her. But how?
I couldn't stop purring as Kayra stopped licking my hand and began sucking on each of my fingers. Then I gathered her into my arms and sat down on the couch with her on my lap.
I couldn't get enough of her.
She can't get enough of us either, Bozok murmured.
Kayra was a vampire. And I was the last Lycan. How was this relationship supposed to work?
My vampire.
I growled when she pulled away from my lips. As Kayra moved down to my neck, placing soft kisses along it, I grabbed her by the hair at the back of her head and pulled her head down.
"You're mine… vampire," I roared. As I did, her scent of desire filled my nostrils. Then I felt myself getting hard. I wanted her. Vampire or not. She was all I could think about.
Mine.
Kayra cupped my head in her soft hands and tilted it to the side.
"You're mine, too, wolf," she said. I liked the possessive tone in her voice.
She's going to bite us, Bozok said excitedly.
Ah, yes.
But something unexpected happened. Kayra slapped me.
Why?
What did you do to her?
Nothing.
As I stared at Kayra in surprise, something caught my attention.
"Your eyes…" I said. "…Why are your eyes yellow?"
"Why is everyone so obsessed with my eyes?" she said. Then she tried to get off my lap, but I grabbed her arms to stop her.
"Let go of me!" she shouted.
I frowned.
"Who are you?" I asked, shaking her.
A huge smile spread across Kayra's face.
"I never loved you," she said.
My heart ached.
Kayra, Bozok moaned in anguish.
Had becoming a vampire changed her this much?
One of Kayra's arms suddenly turned into black smoke, slipping out of my grasp. Then she tried to slap me again, but I caught her hand before she could.
"Where's my body?"
"Your body?" I asked.
Black smoke suddenly enveloped Kayra, and then she vanished from my lap. I jumped to my feet in fear.
When Kayra reappeared beside the window, I breathed a sigh of relief. At least she was still here.
What had happened to her?
Kayra.
She looked like Kayra, but at the same time, she didn't. I felt uneasy.
Vampires have blood-red eyes, Bozok said.
Right. Kayra's eyes had been like that at first, too.
I walked toward Kayra slowly. Just as I got close to her, she vanished again, reappearing behind me and shoving me.
Kayra had grown much stronger. Her shove sent me crashing into the wall. I quickly recovered and lunged at her with a growl. But she kept disappearing and reappearing. I couldn't catch her.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, Kayra grabbed her head and started shouting.
"Okay. Okay," she said in pain. "I'm leaving. But don't forget my body."
Her body? What was this whole thing about her body? And who was she talking to?
When black smoke began coming out of Kayra's nose, I blinked in disbelief.
Was what I was seeing real?
---
Kayra
"Okay. Okay," Kongar said in pain. "I'm leaving. But don't forget my body."
As if I'd ever forgotten it.
"You didn't look like you'd forgotten it when you were with Arkan just now," Kongar said through my mouth.
Arkan, meanwhile, watched me in bewilderment. He was probably starting to think I was crazy.
I fought against Kongar's hold once more, trying to regain control of my body. This time, Kongar left through my nose without resisting.
"What is that?" Arkan asked, his gaze fixed on the smoke coming out of my nose.
I took a few deep breaths to steady myself. Then I looked at Arkan. But I shouldn't have. His neck… His neck was practically inviting me.
"Kayra," Arkan said. "Your eyes are red again—"
Unable to resist any longer, I lunged at Arkan. But before I could reach Arkan, the black smoke darted in front of me and began swirling around me.
"Fine," I said to the smoke. "I'll ask about your body."
Arkan slowly approached me.
"Kayra, is that you?"
"For now," I said. I didn't even know which one was the real me anymore. All I could think about was the blood flowing through Arkan's veins.
My stomach growled, and I wrapped my arms around my waist. This was embarrassing.
Arkan smiled at my gesture. He looked good when he smiled. I shook my head, trying to think straight.
"You can drink if you want," Arkan said.
He pulled his collar down, exposing more of his neck. Unable to control myself, I licked my lips.
"Arkan," I said, swallowing hard. "Don't tease me."
He laughed.
He just laughed.
"Come here," he said, opening his arms to me.
I was about to move toward him when the black smoke surrounded Arkan this time. He waved his hands, trying to disperse the smoke around him.
"What is this?" he asked. "Was this thing inside you?"
"Yes," I said. "That's Kongar."
Arkan froze in place.
"Kongar?" he growled.
Then he began attacking the smoke, as if he could tear it apart. The smoke scattered as though evading Arkan's attacks, then gathered itself together again. Every time Arkan struck, its shape distorted, only to reform moments later.
"Alpha."
At the sound of Soren's voice, Arkan stopped attacking. We both turned toward the door. The smoke, however, left Arkan and moved toward me.
Soren first surveyed the room. It was a complete mess. I was largely responsible for that. Then his eyes met mine.
"Hrr," he said, baring his teeth at me.
I hissed back at him, baring my vampire fangs.
Was this me? I was hissing like a snake.
Arkan suddenly appeared in front of me.
"Shut your fangs," he growled at Soren. "Or I'll rip them out."
As soon as Soren realized what he was doing, he covered his mouth with his hand. His eyes widened with fear and surprise.
"I'm sorry," he said, looking at me. "My wolf caught the scent of a vampire."
"It's okay," I said. "I understand."
Soren nodded.
"How were you able to come here, Luna?" Soren asked.
This time, I was the one who was surprised. Did he still see me as his Luna?
"Thanks to Kongar," I said.
Arkan turned around and looked at me.
"How?" he asked. His voice was still deep. He still seemed angry with Kongar.
"He entered my body and brought me here."
"He entered your body?" Soren asked in disbelief. "Where is he now?"
"Right there," I said, pointing to the black smoke floating beside me.
Soren stared at the smoke for a while before turning back to me.
"Does the Vampire King know you're here?"
"Let him know," Arkan interjected with a growl. "I'll kill him this time!"
"You can't do that," Soren said.
"I don't understand," Arkan said, baring his lengthening fangs at Soren.
Soren immediately lowered his head, exposing his neck. It looked delicious—
Get a hold of yourself, Kayra.
"The Vampire King is now Luna's Master—"
Arkan cut Soren off with a growl.
"Kayra is mine," he said in a bestial tone. His eyes glowed bright blue. I could feel his wolf nearing the surface.
"She can't stay away from him for long," Soren continued. "You know that, too, Alpha."
"I don't care," Arkan said.
I furrowed my brow.
"What do you mean?" I asked Soren.
Soren let out a deep breath before speaking.
"Luna, you're now… dependent on Vampire King Valen's blood."