The next evening, Saoirse and Sirius went out hunting again. Sirius flew above in the form of a black-and-white bird, his wings cutting through the moonlight as Saoirse padded through the underbrush in her wolf form. Her ears twitched as she sniffed the air, trying to pick up the faint scent of a deer.
When she finally found one, she shifted back into her human form. Whispering soft, soothing words, she approached the animal. It trembled slightly but didn't run. Saoirse drained a small amount of its blood into a pouch before gently rubbing its neck. She reached into her bag, pulling out a handful of grain, and held it out. The deer hesitated, then began to eat.
"You're welcome," she murmured with a small smile, watching it bound away moments later. She had always had a way with animals, growing up alongside Sirius. He didn't like killing if he didn't have to—spending so much time as an animal himself had made him empathetic to their plight.
It had been years since Saoirse had drunk blood the natural way with her fangs. She had grown used to suppressing her predatory instincts, even if they lingered beneath the surface.
She was about to call for Sirius when she stopped. Her heart skipped. Something—or someone—was watching her. The forest around her felt too quiet. The hairs on her arms stood on end, but no scent reached her nose, and no sound broke the stillness. She turned her head slightly, scanning the dark woods. Maybe it was her imagination.
For the next couple of hours, the feeling didn't leave her. The sensation of unseen eyes pressed against her back no matter where she went. She glanced over her shoulder several times, only to find the same emptiness. 'Nothing could see me anyway,' she reassured herself. 'I'm invisible to the living.'
She crouched to refill the last blood pouch, her nerves taut. The forest felt heavier now, the air pressing against her skin. Finally, she decided to find Sirius.
A flicker of motion caught her eye—a black rabbit darting across her path. Her wolf instincts took over, and she grinned. The rabbit stopped and began cleaning its paws, oblivious to her presence. She crept closer, silently shifting into her wolf form, her tail swishing with anticipation. When she lunged, the rabbit let out a startled squeak as she grabbed it in her mouth. She gave it a playful shake before dropping it.
The rabbit's black-and-white fur shimmered, morphing as Sirius shifted back into his human form, wiping her spit off his jacket. "Saoirse, that's the second time this week. Knock it off!"
She laughed, her playful mood momentarily dispelling her unease. But Sirius's smile faded as he turned toward the woods, his sharp eyes narrowing. "Did you hear that?"
Saoirse stilled, her senses sharpening. "What is it?" she asked, taking a sip from her water bottle filled with red liquid.
"I thought I heard something step on a branch," he muttered. His tone was cautious, but his posture was alert.
She turned toward the trees, her playful demeanor vanishing. "Something's been following me all night," she admitted quietly. "I can't explain it, but I feel… watched."
Sirius frowned. "I can't smell any vampires nearby," he said. "That's strange."
"Maybe we should go home," she suggested, glancing back at the darkness. He nodded, and they walked back in tense silence, both occasionally casting wary glances over their shoulders.
When they reached the cabin, Saoirse began unpacking the blood pouches, carefully stacking them in the freezer. Sirius, meanwhile, made a quick call to the town's finance advisor, discussing his father's latest demands and the state of the village. By the time he returned to the kitchen, Saoirse was busy preparing dinner.
He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, nibbling her neck playfully with his fangs. "Whatcha making?"
"Stop nibbling me! You're giving me chills," she said, twisting to face him. He grinned mischievously and hugged her closer, trailing his lips to the other side of her neck.
"I'll smack you with this spoon—" she threatened, but he interrupted her with a kiss.
"That's for biting me earlier," he teased before pulling away, his expression softening. Suppressing whatever feelings stirred within him, he left the kitchen to turn on the shower.
Saoirse sighed as she returned to her cooking. Ever since they had married, the struggle to suppress their growing desire for one another had only worsened. She knew the full moon was nearing, a time when she always smelled more tempting to Sirius—and, admittedly, when he smelled more enticing to her too.
'Someday, when things are safer, we can finally have peace,' she thought wistfully.
Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door. Saoirse froze, glancing at the clock. 'Who would visit this late? It's almost morning.' Wiping her hands on a towel, she cautiously opened the door.
Her breath caught in her throat. The man from the forest stood there, a familiar smile playing on his lips. "Hello, my sister. I've finally found you."
Before she could react, a strong scented towel was pressed to her face and the world grew dark. She let out a muffled scream just as Sirius burst into the room, water dripping from his hair.
"Hey! Get back here!" he shouted, but when he reached the doorway, they were already gone.