Laura's POV

The steam from my bath still clung to my skin as I sat on the edge of my bed, blow-drying my hair. The soft hum filled the room, almost lulling me into a fragile calm. I was ready to slip into pajamas and bury myself under the sheets when the sharp ding-dong of my doorbell cut through the quiet.

I froze.

Nobody visits me this late.

It rang again, firmer this time. I set the blow-dryer down on the dresser and tiptoed toward the door. I pressed my eye against the peephole-

James.

Oh God.

I wasn't ready for this. Not tonight. I had avoided his calls all day, dodged his messages, and now there he was-smiling patiently at my door.

I inhaled deeply, bracing myself, and unlocked the door.

"Hey, baby," James said instantly, his face lighting up as if nothing was wrong. In his hand, he held a bouquet of white lilies. My chest tightened. Lilies-my favorite.

I forced a small smile. "Thank you."

"Anything for you," he replied, stepping inside the moment I moved aside. His cologne trailed with him, clean and familiar, but tonight it made me feel suffocated. He settled on the couch like he owned the space, casual, relaxed.

I escaped to the kitchen, busying myself with finding a vase. I trimmed the stems and dropped the lilies into water. They looked so perfect, so delicate, like they belonged in another life,one I no longer lived.

When I came back, I sat on the opposite chair, careful to keep distance between us.

James leaned forward, studying me. "What's wrong, babe?"

"Why would you think something's wrong?" I deflected, forcing my voice steady.

He frowned slightly. "After you left my house last night, I called you countless times, but you didn't pick up. I even tried again today but you ignored all my calls."

"Oh... about that." I fiddled with my fingers. "I went straight to bed when I got home, so I didn't hear the phone ring. And today was hectic at work. Back-to-back tasks. I barely had time to breathe."

He softened, nodding slowly. "I know you were angry last night. I'm sorry, Laura. I'll do better next time. I promise. Just give me time."

The same words. Always the same words.

I stared at him, the man I'd loved for years, the man I'd sacrificed pieces of myself for.

"That's what you always say, James," I whispered, my throat tight. "Next time will be better. But it never is. And I'm so tired."

His eyes widened. Panic flickered there, quick and raw. "Baby, no. Please. I'll try harder next time. You just need to trust me. I love you." He got up and came to me, cupping my face gently in his warm hands. His thumb brushed my cheek like I was fragile glass. "I love you so much, Laura."

I swallowed hard, my heart aching. "I know, James. But love isn't enough anymore."

Gently, I pushed his hands away and stood.

His brows furrowed. "What are you saying?"

I met his eyes, my voice trembling but firm. "Let's break up, James."

It was like I'd slapped him. He froze, disbelief etched across his face.

"Break up?" His voice cracked. "Laura, no. No, don't say that. You don't mean it."

"I do.I can't keep doing this. I can't keep waiting for the man you promise to be but never become. I can't keep shrinking myself for you."

He shook his head violently. "No. Please, baby, don't do this. We can fix it. I swear I'll change. I'll prove it to you this time." He reached for my hands, gripping them tightly. "You're everything to me. Please,don't leave me."

I pulled my hands free. "I'm sorry, James. I'm so, so sorry. But I'm done. I can't do this anymore."

"Laura, please!" His voice broke, desperate, almost childlike. He sank back down on the couch, burying his face in his hands. "Don't throw us away. Don't throw me away."

I bit down on my lip until I tasted blood, forcing myself not to crumble. Every part of me wanted to comfort him, but I knew-if I gave in now, I'd be trapped in this cycle forever.

"Goodbye, James," I whispered, my voice final.

He stared at me, broken, before slowly standing. His eyes searched mine, one last time, as if hoping to find the girl who would change her mind. But she was gone.

Without another word, he walked to the door and left.

The sound of the door clicking shut echoed like thunder in my chest.

I collapsed onto the couch, burying my face in my hands. Tears slipped free, hot and guilty. I felt bad for him. For us. For what we used to be.

But deep down, beneath the ache, was the quiet certainty that I'd done the right thing.

---

Damien POV

I stood outside my pack house, the Ravenblood manor, with Adrian by my side- my brother, my beta and my most trusted right hand. Around us, the rest of my wolves formed a circle, silent but seething. Their loyalty vibrated in the air like a low hum, waiting for my word.

"They have gone too far, brother ," Adrian said, his voice taut with restrained fury. "They're pushing at our borders. They want to make this personal."

My jaw tightened, my eyes burning with rage as I lifted them to the dark canopy of trees. I had kept my cool long enough. The Ashmoon Pack was crossing lines that should never be touched.

Other packs in this region had long since bent to the Ravenblood, not because they loved us, but because they knew being our enemy was suicide. For generations, my family's pack had been the strongest, and since I became Alpha at twenty-three, I had carved us into something even deadlier. Ten years of blood and rule. Ten years of proving I was ruthless enough to protect my own.

Anyone who tested me - who tried to cross my borders, plant spies, or spark war - always regretted it. Because when the Ravenbloods fought, we did not stop until our enemies were on their knees, begging for mercy they would never receive.

But Kael Draven, Alpha of the Ashmoon, was too arrogant to learn.

He had always wanted war. Always sought ways to plant a spy in my ranks. His spies never lasted long , they died before they could breathe treachery inside my walls. But Kael never stopped trying. And now he'd gone further than stunts and threats. He'd murdered one of mine and left him at our border like a challenge.

My wolves bristled, a growl rippling through the crowd.

The Ashmoon were filth. Unlike us, they reveled in blood and chaos. They kidnapped wolves and humans alike, raped, slaughtered, and forced the change on innocents building power from suffering. They were a stain on our kind.

And now they had bled one of my blood on our land.

"Enough," I growled, my voice low but carrying through the pack. "It's time we remind them who we are."

"Yes, Alpha," Adrian agreed, his lips curling into a dangerous smile.

"It's about time," another wolf muttered with eagerness. "I've been craving violence. They're begging for it."

I nodded once, decisive. "Bury him, Dan."

The command snapped the tension like a whip. Dan bowed his head and obeyed without hesitation.

We stood in silence as Dan and two others carried our brother's body away. The forest seemed to hold its breath, the weight of grief pressing down like stone.

Adrian stepped forward, his fists clenched. His voice was steady, but I knew him well enough to hear the storm beneath it.

"They won't stop, Damien. Kael wants war."

I turned, meeting my brother's eyes. His wolf burned behind them, furious and ready. "Then war is what he'll get."

The pack stirred, growls rumbling low in their throats. They needed my rage. They needed my command.

"Double the patrols," I ordered. "No one crosses these borders without bleeding for it. If they so much as breathe in our direction, tear their throats out."

"Yes, Alpha," voices echoed in unison.

One of my men bared his teeth in a savage grin. "Let them come. I've been starving for blood."

I didn't return the grin. I wasn't hungry - I was wrath itself, and Kael had just fed the fire.

As the others moved to carry out my orders, Adrian lingered at my side.

"Brother," he said low, "don't let your fury blind you. Kael wants you reckless. He'll use every weakness against you."

My jaw tightened. I knew he was right. But weakness was not something I could afford to feel. Not tonight. Not ever.

I looked out into the darkness, toward Ashmoon lands, and let the vow slip past my lips, sharp as a blade.

"He took one of mine.He will pay in blood. "

The pack's growls swelled, the sound rising into the night - a promise of violence, a storm already brewing.

And I stood in the center of it, fury burning in my veins, ready to unleash hell.

Damien POV

The skyline burned gold through the glass walls of my office. I ruled both the city's supernatural and the business world. Every deal, every contract, every empire that thought itself untouchable eventually bent to me. Power wasn't just something I had - it was who I was.

"Damien," Adrian's voice broke the silence as he entered, sharp suit matching the steel in his eyes. He carried a file and placed it on my desk like it might explode. "The reports you wanted."

I leaned back in my chair, steepling my fingers as I watched him. "Tell me something I don't know."

His mouth twitched. "You're still impossible to please." He opened the file anyway, pointing at the figures. "Profits are up, expansions are moving on schedule. You're untouchable right now."

"Untouchable?" I arched a brow, my voice a low threat. "You should know better than to tempt fate with words like that."

Adrian smirked faintly, but his gaze sharpened, cutting through the calm like a blade. "She's in your head again, isn't she?"

I said nothing, only tapped the desk once, a sharp sound that silenced him. But he wasn't wrong. She had been on my mind since that day in the club. Her scent, her cries, her taste ,every inch of her had branded itself into my soul.

My mate. My obsession.

Adrian studied me for a long beat, then exhaled. "I'm happy you finally found your mate, Damien."

I smirked, snapping the folder shut. I glanced at my watch - almost time for her to leave work. I stood, adjusting my suit jacket. "Cancel the dinner with Harrison."

Adrian frowned. "Really? Harrison's flying in from London..."

"Yes." My voice left no room for argument. "Everything can wait. My mate cannot."

Adrian's jaw clenched, but he nodded. "Understood."

I walked out without another word. My empire would still be here tomorrow. Tonight, I would claim what was mine.

I parked across from her workplace and watched her through the tinted glass. She came out with her friend, laughing. A sharp spike of jealousy burned through me. I wanted to be the only one who made her laugh. She waved at her friend and slipped into her car, and as soon as she pulled away, I followed.

It had been three days since our hot session at the club. Three days of craving her, imagining her moans, remembering how her body felt wrapped around me. I'd been furious that she left my bed without a word. I'd planned to wake her with my tongue between her legs, but she'd ruined my plan.

It wasn't hard finding her. I knew her workplace, her hobbies, her friends. Everything. I'd been watching her since then, and tonight, I would stop watching. Tonight, I would claim her.

She is mine. And mine alone.

She parked in front of her building. I parked a few cars away, eyes locked on her as she got out. My hands tightened on the steering wheel when a man who'd been leaning on a nearby car walked straight toward her. He tried to hug her, but she pushed him away.

What the fuck?

Who is that idiot?

I would kill him for touching what's mine. My blood boiled. My vision blurred red. I turned off my ignition, stepping out, ready to rip him apart.

---

Laura POV

I parked my car in front of my building, exhausted. I couldn't wait to shower and sleep. Today had drained me. As I shut the car door, a voice stopped me cold.

"Hey, babe."

I froze and turned toward the sound. James. Not tonight. I didn't have the energy for this. I stepped back as he moved closer, immediately pushing him away when he tried to hug me.

"What are you doing here, James?" My voice was sharp, cold. I hoped he got the message.

"That's no way to talk to your boyfriend, Laura." He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"Stop it, James. We broke up, remember? You're not my boyfriend anymore."

"I never broke up with you, Laura. I love you and I know you love me too." He stepped closer, his voice tightening.

"Stop it, James. Stop being delusional. We broke up, and that's final." I tried to sidestep him, but he grabbed my wrist and slammed me against my car. Pain shot up my spine from the impact.

"You don't get to end it, Laura. We are in love. We're going to make this work," he hissed through clenched teeth.

My stomach dropped. He was crazy.

He leaned in, trying to kiss me, forcing me against the car. I twisted, fighting him off, ready to knee him where it hurt - but before I could, he was ripped off me.

It happened so fast.

One second James was on me, the next he was flying through the air like a rag doll. He hit the ground hard. A man loomed over him, and my breath caught.

When the man straightened, I saw blood on his shirt. James was on the ground, throat slit, blood pooling beneath him.

I gasped.

I looked at the man - the man from the club. But he looked different now. Terrifying. His eyes weren't the blue I remembered, they were red. Blood red. There were fangs in his mouth, sharp and glinting. His hands... oh God. Long, sharp claws dripped with blood. James's blood.

He turned his gaze to me, and I trembled.

He took a step forward.

I took a step back.

"Don't come near me! Stay away from me!" I screamed.

He didn't listen. He kept walking. My hands fumbled for my keys, trying to open the car, but before I could, I was slammed back against it, his body pinning mine. Red, furious eyes burned into me.

"You want to run from me?!" he growled, his voice not human anymore.

I squeezed my eyes shut, tears spilling down my face. "Don't hurt me, please. Don't hurt me," I pleaded.

Silence.

"Look at me," he ordered.

I kept my eyes shut.

"I said look at me now!" His voice roared like thunder.

I opened my eyes. His eyes were back to their original blue. The fangs were gone. He looked human again, except for the blood on his shirt.

"I would never hurt you," he said, softer but still deadly. "You're mine. And I will kill any man who tries to touch or hurt you."

My breath hitched. Oh God. He's crazy. Why do I always attract the crazy ones?

"Please let me go... please," I whispered, trembling.

He studied me for a long moment, then slowly let me go.

The second his hands left me, I bolted. My legs were shaky, but I ran into the building, heart pounding in my ears.

Inside the elevator, as the doors closed and it began to rise toward my flat, I collapsed onto the floor and let out a strangled sob. A man had been killed in front of me, and the monster who killed him had just claimed me as his.

When the elevator doors finally opened, I stumbled into my apartment, slamming the door shut and locking it twice. My breath came in broken gasps, my whole body trembling so violently I could barely stand.

I pressed my back against the door, palms slick with sweat. My chest rose and fell in jagged bursts. Then my stomach lurched, a violent wave of nausea climbing up my throat.

I staggered to the bathroom, fell to my knees, and shoved my head over the toilet, retching until my ribs ached. Acid burned my throat. When it was finally over, I flushed and forced myself upright, clinging to the sink for balance.

The face staring back at me in the mirror didn't look like mine. My eyes were bloodshot, skin pale, mascara streaked down my cheeks.

"What should I do?" I whispered to the empty bathroom, voice cracking. "What should I do?"

James's blood. His scream. The flash of red eyes and claws. It looped behind my eyelids like a nightmare I couldn't wake from.

"Yes," I rasped, gripping the counter. "The cops. I have to call the cops."

My fingers fumbled for my phone. I nearly dropped it twice before I managed to dial 911.

The operator picked up instantly, voice calm and steady. "911, what's your emergency?"

"My...my ex-boyfriend," I stammered, words tumbling out between sobs. "He's...he's dead! A man just killed him outside my building, Please, you have to come quickly." My voice cracked. "There's blood everywhere."

The operator stayed perfectly calm. "Ma'am, where are you?"

I rattled out my address.

"Okay, ma'am. Units are on their way. Stay calm and stay inside if you can."

Stay calm. As if that were possible.

I hung up and began pacing my apartment like a caged animal, every sound outside making me flinch.

Minutes dragged like hours until flashing red and blue lights painted the walls through my curtains. My breath caught. They were here.

I bolted for the door, not even bothering to put on shoes. My bare feet slapped the stairs as I flew down to the lobby, my heart hammering so hard I could taste it.

Two uniformed officers stood in the lot. One of them looked up at me as I burst outside.

"Are you the caller?" the older one asked.

"Yes," I gasped. "Yes-over here-please-"

I led them across the lot, my stomach twisting. I didn't want to see it again, but I had to show them.

The beam of the flashlight swept ahead and stopped.

James.

He was sprawled on the pavement, his throat torn wide open, blood pooling beneath him like a black-red shadow. His lifeless eyes stared upward, glassy and unblinking.

I staggered back, both hands flying to my mouth. "Oh God," I whispered. "Oh God."

The younger officer swore violently under his breath. The older one crouched, keeping his flashlight steady over the wounds.

"Jesus Christ," he muttered. "Looks like some kind of animal attack."

"No!" My voice tore from my throat, raw and desperate. "It wasn't an animal."

Both officers turned to me, startled by my tone.

"I saw him," I said, my voice breaking. "His eyes-they were red. His teeth, his hands-they weren't human. He...he killed James."

The younger officer frowned, lowering his flashlight a little. "Miss... are you saying a man did this? With his bare hands?"

"Yes!" I cried, my voice pitching higher. "I'm telling you, it was a monster. He looked human, but he wasn't. I saw it. I saw everything."

The officers exchanged a long, heavy glance.

The older one rose slowly, his face unreadable. He placed a firm but not unkind hand on my shoulder, his tone soft, careful, the way someone speaks to a child who's frightened.

"You're in shock," he said gently. "You've been through a trauma. Sometimes the mind... it twists what we see. What's real."

"I'm not crazy!" I snapped, my eyes burning with tears. "I know what I saw. He was real. He's real."

"Miss..." the younger cop began, but his partner cut him a look.

The older officer exhaled heavily. "We'll take the body in. We'll investigate further. But for now, you should go upstairs, get some rest. You've been through enough tonight."

Their words blurred after that. I barely heard them, barely felt their guiding touch as they led me back toward the building. The image of James's lifeless body, the blood on Damien's claws, those monstrous eyes-it replayed over and over until it made me sick.

As I stepped back inside, I glanced once over my shoulder. The officers were already working, taking photos, muttering to each other. But in my head, all I could hear was his voice, low and rough: You're mine.

I couldn't unsee his blood-red eyes. His claws. The way he'd looked at me like I belonged to him.

They thought I was crazy but I had seen the monster with my own eyes.

Laura's POV

"Ash, you have to believe me," I begged, clutching my best friend's hands so tightly my knuckles turned white. "I know what I saw. He wasn't human...he was something else."

Ashley's eyes softened. She had come over first thing that morning. It was Sunday, and thank God for that, because I was in no condition to even pretend to face the world.

"Of course I believe you," she said firmly, her voice steady in the way mine could never be again. "You're not crazy, Laura. Tell me again,how did he look?"

I shuddered. "His eyes... they were red. Not just red, but glowing. And his teeth-fangs. His hands-claws. He just...he just slashed James's throat like it was nothing. It happened so fast, Ash, I couldn't..."

The words crumbled, and so did I. The sobs tore out of me like broken glass, raw and violent.

"Hey, don't cry, baby," Ashley whispered, pulling me into her arms. "I can't even imagine how terrifying that must've been. But you're safe now. You're safe with me."

Her arms were warm. Steady. Human. For a fleeting moment, I clung to her as if I could squeeze the memory out of existence.

When my breathing finally calmed, I pulled back, my eyes red and swollen. "What should I do, Ash? He...he told me I belonged to him. His exact words. I'm so scared. I shouldn't have gone to the club that night. I shouldn't have slept with him. God, I'm so stupid!"

"Stop." Ashley's tone cut sharp, protective. "Don't do that to yourself. Don't blame yourself for his obsession. You didn't know what he was." She gripped my chin, forcing me to look at her. "Listen to me. The best thing you can do is move in with me. Right now. You're not staying here another night. He knows where you live. And until we figure out what this thing want,no more going anywhere alone. Understand?"

I nodded, the lump in my throat choking me. She was right. She was always right. I couldn't stay here. Every shadow looked like it was about to grow eyes.

"Thank you, Ash," I whispered. "Thank you for believing me. For not treating me like the cops did."

"You don't need to thank me, love. I'll always be here." She brushed a strand of hair from my face, smiling softly. "Now go freshen up, eat something before you collapse. You look like a ghost."

My lips quivered into the tiniest smile. "I love you so much, Ash."

"And I love you too." She kissed my forehead before hugging me again, tight and certain.

I peeled myself away, dragging my trembling legs to the bathroom.

The mirror didn't recognize me.

Dark circles bruised the skin beneath my eyes. My cheeks were hollow, pale. My hair clung to my temples like I'd been drowning. I gripped the sink until my knuckles ached.

"I look like I've aged ten years overnight," I whispered to my reflection.

Tears blurred my vision, and I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to shut out the replay of James's body, the crimson pool spreading across the concrete, the way those monstrous eyes burned through me as though branding me.

"This has to be a nightmare," I whispered, my voice shaking. "Please, God, let me wake up. Please let me wake up."

The mirror gave no mercy.

Only a pale, haunted girl stared back at me.

And in the silence, beneath the sound of Ashley moving in the kitchen, I thought-just for a heartbeat-that I heard it.

A low, dark chuckle. The sound of someone breathing just behind me.

I spun around, my chest heaving.

The bathroom was empty.

By nightfall, I felt almost human again. Ashley had done everything to pull me out of the darkness - ordering my favorite pizza, queuing up a mindless romantic comedy, even forcing me to laugh at the cheesiest parts. For the first time since last night, I thought maybe, just maybe, I could breathe.

I'd packed a small bag and moved into her apartment, leaving mine behind . Here, wrapped in a blanket on Ashley's couch, I could almost forget the monster with blood-red eyes and claws sharp enough to tear a man apart.

Almost.

The shrill sound of the doorbell shattered that fragile peace.

I froze, a slice of pizza halfway to my mouth. "Ash... are you expecting anyone?"

Ashley frowned, shaking her head. "No. Not at all. But maybe it's one of the neighbors or..."

The bell rang again, sharp and insistent.She stood up to check it out.

"No!" I blurted, my heart hammering. Fear surged back like a flood, cold and suffocating. "Don't...don't open it. Whoever it is will get tired and go away. Please, Ash, don't."

She crouched in front of me, her hand warm on my knee. "Hey, it's okay. There's no reason to be scared. I promise I'll be fine."

The bell rang a third time, longer this time.

Ashley sighed and stood. "Stay here. I'll check. Don't worry."

"Ash..." My voice cracked, useless against the sound of her footsteps fading toward the door. My nails dug into the couch cushions as if I could anchor her there.

Every second stretched like glass ready to break.

Finally, she returned, holding a large bundle of lilies tied with a black satin ribbon.

"A delivery guy," she said, her tone forced casual, but I saw the tension in her jaw. "He said these were for you."

"For... for me?" My stomach turned to stone. "Who are they from?"

Ashley set the flowers on the coffee table, rifling through them until she found a small cream-colored card tucked between the stems. "Let's find out." She handed it to me.

My hands shook as I opened it.

The words were written in bold, deliberate strokes, each letter heavy with ownership.

"I'm sorry I frightened you yesterday. I will never hurt you. The bastard needed to die for touching what's mine."

All the blood drained from my face. My fingers went limp, the card slipping from my hand onto the table.

Ashley caught my expression and snatched the card, scanning it quickly. Her eyes widened, and the flowers tumbled from her grip, scattering across the carpet.

"Oh God," she whispered, horrified. "He's insane. He's completely insane." She turned to me, voice rising. "Laura, he knows where you are. He knew you were here. How does he even know that?"

I couldn't answer. My throat closed, the tears spilling silently down my cheeks as I stared at the lilies scattered on the floor. Lilies. My favorite flowers. Flowers I'd never told him about.

"How?" I whispered, my voice breaking. "How does he know? How does he always know?"

Ashley grabbed my hands, squeezing them tight. "Don't cry, sweetheart. Please. You've cried enough." Her eyes blazed with something fierce. "I don't care what he is-human, monster, demon-I won't let that bastard get to you. He'll have to go through me first. I'll fight him with my last drop of blood if I have to."

"Why me?" The question burst out of me, raw and desperate. "Why is this happening to me? What did I do to deserve this?"

Ashley pulled me into her arms, holding me so tightly it almost hurt. "You did nothing wrong," she said firmly. "Nothing. He's obsessed, that's all. Sick and obsessed. But listen to me,it says here he won't hurt you, right? That's something. That means you're safe... for now. We'll figure this out. Together. I promise you, we'll find a way."

Her words should have comforted me. But they didn't.

Because the note didn't make me feel safe.

It felt like a warning.

Like he wasn't just watching me. He was claiming me.