As the battle raged on, Samantha realized that she was outnumbered and outmatched. She fought valiantly, but she knew that she couldn't hold on much longer. Just as she was about to be overwhelmed, a strange man appeared out of nowhere, wielding no weapons and slicing through the vampires with ease.
The man was tall and lean, with piercing blue eyes and jet-black hair. He moved with a grace and speed that Samantha had never seen before. He fought with a fierce intensity as if he had been born to battle.
As the last of the vampires fled, the man turned to Samantha, a look of concern on his face. "Are you alright?" he asked.
Samantha nodded, still in shock from the battle. "Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't come along."
The man smiled a sly grin that sent shivers down Samantha's spine. "No need to thank me," he said. "I couldn't just stand by and watch while innocent people were being attacked."
Samantha couldn't help but feel drawn to the man. There was something mysterious and alluring about him that she couldn't resist. "Who are you?" she asked.
The man's grin widened. "My name is Lucien," he said. "And I think we're going to be very good friends."
Samantha felt a rush of excitement at the man's words. She didn't know why, but she felt like she could trust him. "Thank you, Lucien," she said. "I don't know how to repay you."
Lucien waved his hand dismissively. "Think nothing of it," he said. "I'm just glad that I was able to help."
As they walked through the woods, Lucien regaled Samantha with tales of his adventures and the battles he had fought. Samantha listened in awe, her heart racing with excitement.
But as they approached a clearing, Samantha felt a sudden pain in her side. She stumbled and fell to the ground, clutching her stomach.
Lucien rushed to her side, his face filled with concern. "What's wrong?" he asked.
Samantha tried to speak, but the pain was too much. Everything went dark, and she felt herself slipping away.
When she woke up, she was lying in a strange bed, surrounded by unfamiliar faces. She had no memory of who she was or how she had gotten there. All she knew was that she was alone, lost, and afraid. And the worst part was that she didn't even remember Aiden.
Lucien stood in the doorway, watching as Samantha's eyes flickered open. He approached her bed slowly, a cold but sweet smile on his lips. "Welcome back," he said softly. "You gave me quite a scare."
Samantha blinked, trying to focus on the man before her. He looked familiar, but she couldn't place him. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice weak.
Lucien's expression softened, and he took a seat beside her bed. "My name is Lucien," he said. "We met in the woods, remember? You were attacked by vampires."
Samantha tried to remember, but her memory was fuzzy. "I don't... I don't remember," she said, her voice trembling.
Lucien took her hand in his, his touch surprisingly gentle. "That's alright," he said. "You've been through a lot. Just rest now. You're safe here with me."
Even though she didn't remember him, Samantha felt a strange sense of comfort in Lucien's presence.
As the days went by, Samantha began to recover from her injuries, but her memory remained elusive. She didn't remember anything about her past, her family, or her friends. The only person she felt connected to was Lucien. He had taken care of her, nursed her back to health, and showed her nothing but kindness.
Lucien was a complicated man, cold and distant at times, but also fiercely protective of her. He had told her that they were destined mates and that they had a bond that couldn't be broken. Samantha didn't understand what that meant, but she felt drawn to him nonetheless.
One night, as they sat by the fireplace in Lucien's castle, Samantha worked up the courage to ask him about her past. "Do you know anything about who I am?" she asked.
Lucien's expression grew distant, and Samantha could see the pain in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Samantha," he said. "I don't know anything about your past. All I know is that you're here with me now, and I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe."
Samantha nodded, feeling a sense of frustration and sadness wash over her. She didn't understand why she couldn't remember anything about her life before Lucien. It was as if she had been reborn, a new person with a blank slate.
As the weeks went by, Samantha and Lucien grew closer. They spent their days exploring the castle and the surrounding lands, and their nights in each other's arms. Samantha was still confused and lost, but with Lucien by her side, she felt like she could face anything.
But as much as she loved Lucien, Samantha couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. She didn't know what it was, but she felt like there was a hole in her heart that couldn't be filled.
One night, as they sat in the garden watching the stars, Samantha couldn't contain her feelings any longer. "Lucien," she said softly. "I feel like something is missing. I love being with you, but I can't shake this feeling that there's something I've forgotten. Something important."
Lucien's eyes softened, and he took her hand in his. "I know it's hard, Samantha," he said. "But you have to trust me. Whatever happened in your past, it doesn't matter. All that matters is that we're together now, and we'll face whatever comes our way."
Samantha nodded, feeling a sense of resignation wash over her. She knew that Lucien was right, but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something she had lost. Something that was just out of reach.
As they sat there in silence, Samantha felt a sudden jolt of pain in her chest. She gasped, clutching her heart as tears streamed down her face. Lucien held her tightly, his expression a mix of concern and fear.
"What's happening to me?" Samantha whispered.
Lucien's expression grew cold, and Samantha could feel his grip on her tighten. "It's nothing," he said, his voice low and menacing. "Just a small price to pay for our bond."
Samantha felt a sense of unease wash over her as Lucien held her tighter. She didn't understand what he meant by "bond," but she knew that whatever it was, it was changing her. And she wasn't sure she liked it.