Valeska stiffly turned to look at the person. Her stomach churned in fear because it's been over a decade since she'd seen those bloody red eyes before.
Valeska's legs nearly gave out, and it was only the will to not fall that made her stand straight without looking like she was terrified of the presence of the vampire before her.
The clothes of the creature were tattered as if it had just survived a battle with a werewolf and it was stained with blood she didn't know if it was his or the blood of his victim.
His blood-red eyes locked onto her, burning with a hunger so intense it sent a chill down her spine. The longer he stared, the darker they seemed to grow, each blink tightening the air around her like a predator closing in on its prey.
"Now tell me, what is a little girl like you doing out here alone at night? Aren't you afraid of what could be creeping behind every tree?" He asked, sticking out his tongue and licking his bloody red fangs.
Valeska's heart dropped even further. She parted her lips but no words could come out. The night creature started taking steps toward her and she instinctively took a step back, trying to create distance between the both of them.
Valeska's heart pounded against her chest, each beat echoing in her ears as fear gripped her. She felt the pulse in her neck thrum violently, almost as if it were calling to him. Her breath hitched when his blood-red eyes lingered on her neck for a fleeting moment, before locking onto hers once more, darker and hungrier than before.
Without waiting for him to say anything, she bolted from there.
However, after running for several hours already, she didn't have that much energy to escape the gaze of the vampire. Besides, vampires are known to have the fastest speed for any creature and it wouldn't be long before he caught up to her.
Valeska continued to run, sweat glistening on her forehead, her breath hitching every second. However, she couldn't hear his footsteps. She turned only to find him looking at her with a grin stretched on his lips.
He didn't bother stressing himself because he knew he was going to catch up to her. And just then, he chased after her.
He chased her with such speed it only took him half a minute and he was already caught up to her.
"Now, where do you think you're going?" He questioned as he pierced its nails into her shoulders with his sharp claws, earning a painful yelp from her.
Valeska fell to the ground, tears already starting to pool in her eyes one more time.
All she wanted was to have fresh air until she was calm enough to go back home. But now, she was going to get eaten by some vampire. He was going to drink her blood until there was nothing left.
'Is this how I'm going to die?' Valeska wondered as the vampire squatted down to her level, his eyes on the blood that was dripping from her injury.
He came close and sniffed the blood. His eyes rolled back as if that was the sweetest scented blood he'd ever smelled before.
"Please, don't," she pleaded as she tried to move back but the vampire grabbed her legs, stopping her. "Please don't kill me."
If only she had a wolf, she could have transformed and killed the vampire. But she was weak. Valeska despised her role at that moment because she had to beg for her life.
"The food shouldn't be talking," said the vampire as it came closer to her neck, baring its fangs at her.
Valeska had already given up, so she readied herself to leave this world.
Just when the vampire was about to bite into her neck, he felt his body being thrown away against a tree and the impact damaged the tree.
Valeska opened her eyes out of shock, and they fell on the huge back of a broad man. The clothes her savior was wearing seemed familiar like she'd seen them before.
The man turned, and her breath caught in her throat. It was Nevian Ashbourne—her supposed mate. The same man who had coldly rejected her at the Mating Moon Ball. Seeing him now, in this place, felt like a cruel twist of fate.
He tore his gaze from her to face the vampire who was already on both his feet.
"These nasty werewolves are just everywhere. Just when will you let us vampires be?" The vampire complained, licking the blood that dripped from his mouth due to the collision. "But it's no big trouble. Kieran will be the one to deal with all of you."
The vampire seemed to be in the mood for a talk but Nevian wasn't. He didn't bother answering him as he transformed into a big furry gray beast and attacked the vampire.
Valeska stood frozen as Nevian launched himself into a brutal fight with the vampire. The bloodsucker didn't stand a chance—Nevian's claws tore through its flesh with unrelenting ferocity. Despite its desperation, the vampire made one last attempt to sink its fangs into Nevian, but he was too quick. With a savage growl, Nevian bit down, severing the vampire's head.
Blood spattered everywhere, staining the ground in crimson. The lifeless body collapsed in a heap before disintegrating into ashes. The dark wind carried the remains away, leaving nothing behind but the memory of the gruesome battle.
The scene was too gruesome for Valeska because she hadn't seen something like that before. All her life, the only things she did was go to school and come back home. Aurora never let her near the training ground of her pack because she deemed it unnecessary. After all, she couldn't even transform into a werewolf.
Nevian transformed back into his human form, his viper green eyes staring down at Valeska with a mix of worry and fear.
"Are you alright?" He asked with concern laced in his tone. "Let me check your wound," he added, about to grab her hand. "You've lost a lot of blood." He frowned when he noticed her blood that escaped from her open wound was starting to darken. "Shit!" He cursed under his breath as he quickly tore a piece of his cloth and wrapped it around the injury.
A man emerged from the shadows and before he could say anything, Nevian spoke first. "We need to take her to a healer right now. She has been infected with a vampire's venom." Before Nevian's words could register in her mind, her eyes rolled back as darkness consumed her, and she fell into his arms.