Kai moved quickly, Leah trailing close behind as they left Southridge's flickering gas lamps and stepped into the tree-lined outskirts. The forest stretched endlessly before them, its dark silhouette a mix of menace and sanctuary. He couldn't shake the lingering presence of Adrian—the vampire's arrogance had sent every instinct in Kai's body screaming. But Adrian wasn't the immediate threat.
The shadow wolves were still hunting.
He could smell the acrid, metallic tang in the air, the signature of their corruption. And they weren't just hunting him.
Leah stumbled behind him, muttering curses under her breath, but he was too focused to stop. Her presence both reassured and distracted him. The pull between them was a constant ache in his chest now, a reminder of how dangerous this was—for her and for him.
"Can you slow down for two seconds?" Leah hissed, her voice cutting through his thoughts.
Kai glanced over his shoulder, his golden eyes sharp. "I would, but I'd prefer you not get killed."
Leah glared, but her retort was cut off by the sudden vibration of her phone in her pocket. She stopped to pull it out, frowning as the screen lit up.
"It's Claire," she said, her voice tinged with relief as she answered the call. "Claire, where the hell are you? I've been—"
Her words died mid-sentence, her face paling as a distorted voice crackled through the line. Kai's sharp hearing picked up every word.
"She's with us now," the voice sneered. "If you want her back, come to the clearing. Alone."
The call disconnected, and Leah stood frozen, the phone slipping from her hand.
"Claire…" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Kai stepped closer, his expression darkening. "Who was that?"
"They—they have her," Leah stammered, her eyes wide with panic. "I was supposed to meet her earlier tonight, but I got distracted, and now—"
Kai caught her shoulders, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Focus. What clearing are they talking about?"
"The one by the old mill," Leah said, her voice steadier now, though her fear was palpable. "It's about a mile into the forest."
Kai growled low in his throat, his mind racing. This wasn't a coincidence. Claire's disappearance was deliberate, a trap meant to draw Leah out. And if the shadow wolves were involved…
"You're not going alone," Kai said firmly.
Leah shook her head. "But they said—"
"I don't care what they said," Kai interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. "If you go in there by yourself, they'll kill you. And I'm not letting that happen."
Leah hesitated, her eyes searching his. "Why do you care so much?"
Kai clenched his jaw, looking away. He couldn't tell her—not now. Not when she was already overwhelmed.
"Because I made a promise to keep you safe," he said instead.
Leah exhaled shakily but nodded. "Fine. But we need to hurry."
Kai didn't need to be told twice. He led the way, his senses on high alert as they delved deeper into the forest. The scent of the shadow wolves grew stronger with each step, and his tension mounted.
He couldn't afford to lose focus—not when Leah's life was at stake.
---
Kai's Perspective
She didn't belong here.
As Leah struggled to keep up, tripping over roots and branches, Kai's frustration grew. Not at her, but at the situation. At himself.
She was human. Fragile. Too breakable for the chaos that surrounded his world. And yet, here she was, running headfirst into danger because of her friend.
Her loyalty shouldn't have surprised him—it was a trait common in soul bonds. But it still caught him off guard. How could someone so utterly ordinary be so fierce?
He stole a glance at her as they approached the mill, her auburn hair catching the faint glow of moonlight. Her light brown eyes were wide, scanning their surroundings, but there was no hesitation in her steps now.
She was afraid, but she was still moving forward.
Kai felt an unfamiliar pang in his chest, a mix of admiration and dread. He had to protect her. Not just because of the bond, but because losing her—losing anything about her—was unthinkable.
---
They reached the clearing near the mill, the ancient wooden structure looming like a ghost against the night sky. The area was unnervingly quiet, the usual sounds of the forest muted as if the trees themselves were holding their breath.
And then he saw her.
Claire was tied to a large tree at the edge of the clearing, her head slumped forward and her blonde hair matted with dirt. Her clothes were torn, and bruises marred her pale skin.
"Claire!" Leah cried, rushing forward.
Kai grabbed her arm, pulling her back just as a low growl echoed from the shadows.
"Wait," he warned, his golden eyes scanning the darkness.
The shadow wolves stepped into the clearing, their hulking forms half-hidden in the gloom. Their eyes glowed red, and their mouths dripped with saliva as they snarled.
Leah froze, her breath hitching as the creatures surrounded them.
Kai stepped in front of her, his body shifting slightly as his claws extended and his fangs lengthened. His golden eyes burned brighter, and a deep, guttural growl rumbled from his chest.
"Let her go," he demanded, his voice a dangerous snarl.
One of the wolves—a particularly large one with scars crisscrossing its face—stepped forward, its lips curling into a mockery of a smile. "You're in no position to make demands, wolf."
Kai smirked, the expression more feral than friendly. "You'd be surprised."
Before the wolf could respond, Kai lunged, moving faster than Leah could follow. His claws slashed through the air, striking the lead wolf and sending it sprawling.
The clearing erupted into chaos.
Kai moved like a force of nature, his movements fluid and deadly as he tore through the pack. The shadow wolves were strong, but they lacked finesse, their attacks wild and uncoordinated.
Leah watched in stunned silence, her heart pounding as Kai fought to protect them. For all his rough edges and gruff demeanor, he was fierce in his defense of her—and Claire.
But the fight wasn't over.
One of the wolves broke away from the fray, charging toward Leah with a snarl. She barely had time to react before Kai appeared, intercepting the creature and throwing it to the ground.
"You don't touch her," he growled, his voice low and menacing.
The remaining wolves hesitated, their red eyes flicking between Kai and their fallen leader. Then, one by one, they retreated into the shadows, their growls fading into the distance.
Kai stood over their leader, his claws at the creature's throat. "Go back to your master," he snarled. "Tell him this isn't over."
The wolf whimpered before scrambling to its feet and fleeing.
Kai turned to Leah, his golden eyes still glowing. "Are you okay?"
Leah nodded, though her legs trembled beneath her.
He crossed the clearing, releasing Claire from her bonds. The blonde groaned softly, her eyes fluttering open.
"Leah?" Claire whispered, her voice hoarse.
"I'm here," Leah said, tears streaming down her face as she knelt beside her friend.
Kai watched them silently, his expression unreadable. He knew this was just the beginning.
The shadow wolves would return. And so would Adrian.
But for now, they were safe.
Kai leaned against the trunk of an old oak tree, his breathing heavy but measured. Blood—mostly the shadow wolves'—streaked his arms and chest, drying in dark streaks against his skin. His golden eyes dimmed back to their usual amber glow, though his heightened senses remained alert.
Leah was still kneeling beside Claire, cradling her friend's bruised face. Relief softened the tension in Leah's features, but tears still shimmered in her eyes.
"Claire," Leah whispered, brushing strands of blonde hair from her friend's face. "You're going to be okay. I've got you now."
Claire blinked slowly, her voice weak but steady. "Leah…you came."
"Of course I did," Leah replied, her voice breaking slightly. "I thought I lost you."
Kai watched them from a distance, his chest tight. He'd done what he could to protect them both, but the sight of Leah crying—seeing her shaken and vulnerable—made him feel like he'd failed.
It wasn't just his duty to protect her anymore. It was something deeper. Something primal.
She's mine.
The thought hit him like a punch to the gut, and he closed his eyes, inhaling sharply. He couldn't let himself fall into that trap. The bond he felt with Leah was undeniable, but it was also dangerous. She was human, fragile, and completely unaware of the forces at play around her.
She deserved better than a life filled with monsters and bloodshed.
And yet, the very idea of walking away from her—of letting her go—was unbearable.
---
Leah looked up, her gaze meeting Kai's. His expression was guarded, his jaw tight, but there was something in his eyes—something raw and conflicted—that made her heart skip a beat.
"Thank you," she said softly, her voice trembling.
Kai nodded, his hands curling into fists at his sides. "Don't thank me yet. This isn't over."
Leah frowned. "What do you mean? The wolves are gone."
"For now," Kai replied, his tone grim. "But they'll be back. And so will Adrian."
At the mention of the vampire, Leah shivered. "Why? What do they want with us?"
Kai hesitated, his gaze flicking to Claire. The blonde girl was barely conscious, her head resting against Leah's shoulder. She looked fragile—too fragile to hear the truth.
"They're after you," Kai admitted, his voice low. "Both of you. But especially you, Leah."
Leah's eyes widened. "Why me?"
Before Kai could answer, a sudden gust of wind rustled the trees, carrying with it a scent that made his blood run cold.
Another presence.
Kai spun around, his claws extending as he scanned the shadows. The air grew colder, the night seeming to hold its breath.
Then, from the darkness, a figure emerged.
He was tall and lean, his black hair falling in tousled waves around a face that was both hauntingly beautiful and utterly menacing. His eyes glowed an unnatural crimson, the same shade as Adrian's, but there was something different about him.
Power.
Ancient and overwhelming.
"Damon," Kai growled, his voice laced with venom.
The vampire stepped into the clearing, his lips curling into a smirk. "Always a pleasure, Kai."
Leah's breath hitched as Damon's gaze shifted to her. His crimson eyes softened slightly, a flicker of something unrecognizable crossing his face.
"And you," Damon said, his voice smooth and melodic. "You're even more radiant than I remember."
Leah blinked, confusion mingling with fear. "Do I…know you?"
Kai snarled, stepping between them. "Stay away from her."
Damon chuckled, his gaze never leaving Leah. "You haven't told her, have you? About who she really is? About what she means to both of us?"
"Don't," Kai warned, his voice dangerously low.
Leah looked between them, her heart pounding. "What is he talking about?"
Damon's smirk faded, replaced by something softer. "You don't remember, do you? It's not your fault. Reincarnation has a way of…blurring the lines."
Leah shook her head, her confusion deepening. "Reincarnation? What are you—"
"She's my mate," Kai interrupted, his voice sharp and filled with possessive anger. "Stay out of this, Damon."
Damon raised an eyebrow. "Our mate," he corrected, his tone infuriatingly calm.
Leah's stomach dropped. "What?"
Kai turned to her, his expression conflicted. "Leah, listen to me. Whatever he's telling you, it's a lie. You're mine."
Damon laughed softly. "You always were so territorial, Kai. But she deserves the truth." He stepped closer, his movements graceful and predatory.
"You're special, Leah," Damon said, his crimson eyes locking onto hers. "More than you realize. In another life, you were someone…extraordinary. And we—Kai and I—were both bound to you. Two halves of a whole. But you were taken from us, ripped away before we could claim you."
Leah stared at him, her mind reeling. "This is insane. I'm just…me. I'm not some reincarnated soul or whatever you think I am."
Damon's expression softened, and for a moment, he looked almost human. "You may not remember, but your soul does. It's why you feel drawn to us. Why your presence stirs something in both of us that neither time nor death could erase."
Kai growled, stepping closer to Damon. "Enough. You've said your piece. Now leave before I tear you apart."
Damon smirked, his confidence unshaken. "Always so dramatic."
Leah's hands trembled as she tried to process what she was hearing. She felt something—an inexplicable pull toward both of them—but it didn't make sense.
"How am I supposed to believe any of this?" she asked, her voice breaking.
Kai turned to her, his expression softening. "I don't expect you to. But I'll prove it to you. I'll protect you—no matter what."
Damon's smile faded, and he regarded Leah with an intensity that made her shiver. "And so will I."
The air grew thick with tension as the two men faced off, their gazes locked in a silent battle of wills.
Leah stood between them, her heart torn and her mind racing. She didn't know what to believe, but one thing was certain: her life would never be the same.