Vampire Blood (Vampire Bite #2)

Chapter One

Annika

The warm glow of string lights crisscrossed the town square, casting a cozy vibe over the cobblestones. Kids were running around with sticky hands and glowing bracelets, while the smell of fresh-baked bread and grilled skewers hung in the air. It was exactly the kind of peaceful night we’d fought so hard to make possible.

Lucas stood next to me, one arm around my shoulders. His very presence grounded me, filled me with both hope and serenity. His touch was warm, steady, and yet, I could feel the tension radiating off him, as if something wasn’t quite right.

“You’re wound up,” I teased, nudging him lightly. “This is a celebration, grumpy, remember? Try smiling.”

“I am smiling,” he said, the corner of his mouth tugging up in what barely counted as an attempt. His eyes, though, amber and piercing, kept scanning the square, sharp and alert. “Something’s off.”

I followed his gaze, taking in the scene. People were chatting, laughing, passing plates of food. The baker was handing out slices of cake like the hero he was. Even old Mr. Marlowe was out, tapping his cane in time with the band’s acoustic set.

“Looks normal to me,” I said, though a flicker of unease crawled up my spine. I knew better than to question his hunches.

“It’s not.” His grip on my shoulder tightened. His other hand, the one not on me, flexed like he was itching to grab something, or better yet, someone.

“Lucas,” I said softly, trying to cut through the tension. “Not everything’s a disaster waiting to happen. Relax. Eat some cake.”

He gave me a look. “Annika, I mean it.”

Before I could respond, his head snapped toward the edge of the square. The shadows near the alley stretched a little too far, darker than they should have been under the lights. Even I could see it now.

“Stay here,” he said, his voice low but firm.

“Wait—”

“Don’t argue with me,” he cut me off, his tone leaving no room for debate. Then he was gone, moving so fast through the crowd that he seemed to vanish.

I exhaled slowly, trying to brush off the icy feeling that crawled over me. The crowd was still buzzing, oblivious, but Lucas’ tension had infected me. Something wasn’t right, and now I couldn’t unsee it.

The string lights flickered for a split second, barely noticeable, but enough to set me on edge. It’s as if Nature itself conspired to reveal whatever was wrong.

“Annika!”

I spun toward the voice. It was one of the townspeople, a young mom clutching her toddler close. Her face was pale, her eyes darting like she was looking for an escape route.

“They… they’re here,” she whispered.

“What? Who’s here?” I asked, stepping toward her, but it was a question that needed no answer.

Before she could offer one, a low, guttural growl cut through the music, freezing everyone in place. The band stopped mid-song, their instruments hanging in the air.

The lights flickered again, and this time they didn’t come back on.

The shadows at the edge of the square moved.

No, not moved. Shifted.

They stretched and twisted, shapes forming as enormous wolves emerged, their eyes glowing amber and teeth gleaming in the dim light.

The first scream shattered the quiet, and the square erupted into chaos.

“Run!” someone shouted, but it was too late. The shifters were already tearing through the crowd, knocking over tables and sending people scrambling for safety.

I froze, my heart pounding. One of the wolves locked eyes with me, its snarl sending a ripple of fear through my body.

Lucas’ voice cut through the chaos as he appeared out of nowhere, his body slamming into the wolf before it could reach me. The two of them hit the ground in a blur of claws and fangs, Lucas’ strength overpowering the shifter as he tore it apart with brutal efficiency.

Chaos erupted all around me, but my focus stayed locked on Lucas as he moved with deadly precision. His fangs flashed in the dim light as he tore through the shifter like it was made of paper, his hands a blur of violence.

I should’ve been running, finding shelter, or helping the townsfolk. But my feet felt rooted to the spot, my body frozen between fear and awe. He was magnificent in the most terrifying way, a creature of pure power unleashed.

“Annika!” he barked, snapping me out of my trance. “Move!”

Another shifter lunged toward him, a massive wolf with silver streaks in its fur. Lucas met it mid-air, his strength overwhelming as they crashed to the ground. The wolf snarled and clawed, but Lucas was faster, stronger. He ripped it apart before it could do more than snap at his arm.

But there were more. Too many.

I turned, finally finding my legs, and sprinted toward the nearest building. People were scattering, some hiding behind overturned tables, others screaming as the shifters closed in. A few of the town guards tried to fight, but they were outmatched. These weren’t ordinary wolves… they were bigger, faster, and too coordinated to be a random attack.

“Annika!” Lucas’ voice boomed again, closer this time. I whipped around just in time to see another shifter, one in its human form, with glowing amber eyes and claws extended, charging straight at me.

My heart seized. I stumbled back, my hands fumbling for the knife I kept tucked at my side.

Before I could even pull it free, Lucas was there. He moved so fast it was like a shadow passing over me. He grabbed the shifter by the throat and slammed it into the ground with enough force to crack the cobblestones. The sound of bones snapping made my stomach churn.

“Are you okay?” he demanded, his eyes blazing as he turned to me.

I nodded, though my heart was pounding so hard I could barely breathe. “I’m fine.”

“Stay close to me,” he ordered, his voice sharp and unyielding.

I wanted to argue, to tell him I could fight too, but the look on his face stopped me. His protective instincts were in overdrive, his fear for me buried beneath the feral rage he was unleashing on anything that came too close.

A low growl sounded behind him, and I barely had time to shout a warning before another wolf lunged. Lucas spun, catching the creature mid-air and slamming it down with a sickening crunch.

I gripped my knife tightly, scanning the square. The shifters weren’t just attacking. They were targeting specific people. And the way their eyes kept darting toward me sent ice down my spine.

“They’re after me,” I whispered, the realization hitting like a punch.

Lucas didn’t look at me, his focus locked on the next wave of attackers, but his voice was grim. “I know.”

That was when a low, guttural laugh cut through the chaos.

“Enough!”

The voice was deep and commanding, and it sent a chill racing down my spine. The shifters stopped mid-attack, their glowing eyes turning toward the source of the voice.

A figure stepped out of the shadows, tall and broad-shouldered, with an air of authority that made the air feel heavier. His amber eyes locked onto mine, and he smiled… a cold, calculating expression that sent every alarm in my body screaming.

“You must be Annika,” he said, his tone almost casual. “We’ve been looking for you.”

The figure’s gaze pinned me in place, cold and unyielding. Around us, the shifters stood still, their glowing eyes trained on me like predators waiting for a command.

My heart pounded as I instinctively stepped back, bumping into Lucas. His hand found my arm, steadying me, but his body was coiled tight, ready to spring.

“You’ve got the wrong person,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt.

The figure tilted his head, amused. “I don’t think so. Your blood…” he inhaled deeply, his eyes flashing brighter, “it sings. You’re exactly who we’ve been searching for.”

Before I could process his words, he moved. One moment he was standing calmly, and the next he was a blur of speed. I barely had time to react before his hand was on my arm, yanking me away from Lucas with inhuman strength.

“Annika!” Lucas’ roar shook the air, but the figure didn’t flinch.

Panic flared as I struggled, kicking and clawing at the man holding me. His grip was iron, his claws digging into my skin as he dragged me toward the edge of the square.

“Let me go!” I shouted, twisting with everything I had.

The shifters closed ranks around us, their massive forms blocking Lucas’ path. He tore through them with a ferocity that made my breath catch, but they kept coming, slowing him down just enough.

The figure holding me leaned close, his breath hot against my ear. “Don’t bother fighting,” he hissed. “Your fate was sealed the moment you were born.”

Fear coursed through me, but I refused to give in. I gripped the knife still in my hand and stabbed backward, sinking the blade into his arm.

He growled in pain, but his hold didn’t loosen. Instead, he spun me around, gripping my throat with one massive hand. “Feisty,” he sneered, lifting me off the ground. “But it won’t save you.”

I clawed at his hand, gasping for air, my vision blurring.

“Annika!” Lucas’ voice was closer now, desperate and filled with rage.

The shifter barely had time to turn before Lucas hit him like a freight train. The force sent me flying, and I hit the ground hard, the impact jarring my entire body.

Through the haze of pain, I saw Lucas pin him to the ground, his fangs bared and his eyes blazing with fury.

“You don’t touch her,” Lucas snarled, his voice more animal than human.

The man laughed, even as Lucas’ hand closed around his throat. “You can’t protect her forever, vampire. Her blood belongs to us.”

Lucas didn’t respond. He drove his fist into the man’s chest with brutal precision, silencing him mid-sentence.

The remaining shifters hesitated, their confidence shaken. Lucas rose slowly, his blood-soaked gaze locking onto them.

“Run,” he growled.

And they did.

The square fell silent except for the sound of my ragged breathing. Lucas was at my side in an instant, his hands gentle as he lifted me into his arms.

“You’re safe,” he whispered, though his voice trembled with barely contained fury. “I’ve got you.”

I clung to him, my body shaking as the adrenaline ebbed. But the man’s words echoed in my mind, chilling me to the very bone.

Her blood belongs to us.