The night was still, the moon casting its pale glow over the forest as Elias moved with purpose. His encounter with Corvin replayed in his mind, the moment his claws had sunk into the vampire and the surge of power that followed. Whatever had happened, it had left Corvin drained—both of life and something deeper. And Elias could still feel it coursing through him.
He flexed his hands as he walked, his claws extending briefly before retracting. The power was intoxicating, but it felt foreign, like a borrowed strength that didn't yet belong to him. Back in Beacon Hills, he had heard whispers of abilities unique to certain werewolves, but it had always seemed like stories to scare young betas. Now, those stories haunted him.
Elias's thoughts drifted to the past, to the year 1905, when he had first felt the shift within him. Becoming a True Alpha had been more of a burden than a blessing. The power wasn't given through conquest or bloodshed but earned through sheer will and strength of character. He remembered the icy forests of Beacon Hills, where he had faced off against his own pack's aggressors. That was the moment his eyes first glowed red, and he stood taller than any of them, commanding respect and fear alike. But that life was a century behind him now. This new world, with its strange rules and dangers, offered no comfort of familiarity.
He clenched his fists, shaking the memories from his mind. I'll figure this out. I've done it before.
As the hours passed, the forest grew quieter, the usual sounds of wildlife fading into an uneasy silence. Elias remained on edge, his senses sharp. He could feel eyes on him, a presence lingering just beyond his sight.
"You're persistent," he muttered, his voice low but steady.
From the shadows emerged a figure, pale and gaunt. It was another vampire, though this one moved with a predatory grace that Corvin had lacked. Its crimson eyes locked onto Elias, and a cruel smile spread across its face.
"You've caused quite the stir," it said, its voice smooth and mocking. "Draining one of us? That's a rare feat for someone like you."
Elias didn't reply immediately. Instead, he adjusted his stance, readying himself for the inevitable fight. "If you're here for revenge, you won't find it."
The vampire chuckled, a low, menacing sound. "Oh, I'm not here to kill you… yet. I'm here to see what makes you so special. What are you, Elias?"
Elias smirked, though his eyes remained cold. "You're not the first to ask that question. But I'll tell you the same thing I told Corvin: come closer, and maybe you'll find out."
The vampire's smile faded, replaced by a snarl. It lunged forward, moving with blinding speed. But Elias was ready. He sidestepped the attack with ease, his reflexes sharper than ever. His claws extended, catching the vampire's arm and leaving deep gashes that oozed dark blood.
The vampire hissed in pain but quickly recovered, circling Elias with a predatory glare. "You've taken something from us," it said. "Something you don't understand."
Elias tilted his head, his smirk returning. "Then maybe you shouldn't have picked this fight."
The battle continued, fierce and unrelenting. The vampire's speed and agility were formidable, but Elias's strength and newfound abilities gave him the upper hand. Each strike he landed seemed to sap the vampire's energy, leaving it weaker and more desperate.
Finally, Elias caught the vampire by the throat, lifting it off the ground. Its struggles grew weaker as his claws dug into its flesh. For a moment, he hesitated, the memory of Corvin's drained corpse flashing in his mind. But the surge of power was too enticing to resist.
He drove his claws deeper, and the sensation returned—a pull, a rush of energy flowing into him. The vampire's screams echoed through the forest, then faded into silence. When Elias released it, the body crumpled to the ground, pale and lifeless.
Elias stepped back, his breathing heavy. The power surged within him, stronger than before, but it left an ache in his chest. He looked down at his hands, his claws still glinting in the moonlight.
What is happening to me? he thought, his voice barely audible.
The forest was silent once more, the stillness almost oppressive. Elias turned his gaze to the moon, its cold light a stark contrast to the heat coursing through him. Whatever he was becoming, he knew one thing: the answers wouldn't come easily. And neither would peace.
Far away, in a darkened chamber lit only by the flicker of candlelight, a group of vampires convened. Their leader, a tall and imposing figure with piercing eyes, stood at the head of the room.
"Corvin is dead," the leader said, his voice cold and measured. "And now another has fallen. This… Elias is more dangerous than we anticipated."
"What is he?" one of the younger vampires asked, fear evident in his voice.
The leader's gaze hardened. "That is what we must discover. Send word to the others. We will hunt him down and uncover the truth."
The vampires nodded in unison, their resolve unshaken despite their losses. The leader turned his gaze to the shadows, his expression unreadable.
"Whatever he is," he said softly, "he won't escape us."
Elias continued his journey through the forest, his senses sharper than ever. The power within him was growing, but so were the questions. He clenched his fists, determination burning in his eyes.
If they want me, he said to himself, they'll have to do better than that.