She observed the creature succumb to primal instincts, its overwhelming desperation to feed eclipsing all rational thought. It moved with such rapidity that they evaded too late, and it was upon them, its claws embedded in both her shoulders as it thrust them against the wall. Layla continued to slash at the woman’s abdomen, undeterred even as she felt the vampires’ fangs penetrate their flesh and begin to feed.
A cry of anguish escaped her as they were restrained by a creature that was both more powerful and swifter than they, draining their very essence. They had to exert all their strength, slashing with both hands and extended claws to eviscerate the creature. She was too young to comprehend that to prey on a wolf, one must approach from behind to avoid its claws.
Incised her abdomen, relentlessly tearing and slicing, felt blood gushing from her, sensed the creature’s vitality diminishing, unaware of its impending demise. Engrossed in feeding, consumed by a fervent desire, it failed to recognise that it was, in fact, losing the battle.
Ultimately, she sensed the fangs retract from her neck and observed it stagger backward, perplexed as to why it could not feed and what had transpired.
She gazed down at herself in complete astonishment upon witnessing her innards protruding, grasped at them with her hands in an attempt to contain them, and gasped. Layla seized the opportunity to launch herself at the creature, grasp its head, and snap its neck.
They collapsed onto the ground atop the creature as it fell, lifeless, remaining there momentarily in exhaustion. They had never engaged in such a battle before, and the entity, which was turning grey before their eyes, had drained them; only the goddess knew how much blood they had lost. They were already injured and now fatigued. Layla withdrew completely, leaving Brianna sprawled on the sanguine remains of a creature.
She pushed herself off the vampire, crawled to the side of the alley, and leaned against the wall. Exhausted and injured, she lacked the strength to escape; if those individuals sought the creature, she would not survive. Had scarcely endured this ordeal. Presumably solely due to its youth and lack of training. Likely only recently altered.
The entity’s lack of restraint conveyed everything; it had not matured as a vampire, which adhered to regulations akin to those of wolves. Brianna shut her eyes, aware that she had reached her limit, having lost excessive blood to rise and seek assistance down the alley; she sensed the encroaching darkness enveloping her.
“I apologise, Logan,” she whispered as darkness enveloped her.
Ryder’s Perspective
Ryder was gazing at his phone, having dispatched a text message to Brianna, harbouring a faint hope that she would consent to meet him. He was aware that she had been part of his pack for years, yet he had not detected her scent. Although it would not have been a pleasant sensation, he wished for her to understand his desire to make an effort, a sentiment echoed by his wolf. They sought to confront her directly and attempt to discern her scent.
He contemplated whether she would permit him to remove the pendant to ascertain if that would suffice, yet simultaneously hesitated to do so. What if he were as influenced by her not wearing it as any other male, and what if he also attempted to harm her for not wearing it? He sighed, expressing his need for definitive answers.
He and Aiden had no memory of Brianna’s presence; all recollections of her had vanished, as wolves depend on their olfactory senses to recognise other wolves. This reliance was instinctual, not a conscious effort.
Enzo was in his room with the door closed; he answered the phone call and nearly purred into the queue at his mate, then excused himself and returned to his room.
Ryder experienced jealousy towards the man; their connection was profound, and even his wolf could be heard purring as he closed the door. Everything for his companion. They have been a couple for 19 years, mated for 16 of those years, and still cannot refrain from physical affection.
Luca excused himself approximately ten minutes ago after receiving a text message. He gazed directly at Ryder and, for the first time, appeared somewhat uneasy, as if he wished to conceal the identity of his conversation partner from Ryder. He then stood up and excused himself, indicating he needed to make a private call, and subsequently departed the suite entirely, with Ryder noting that he had left the entire floor as well.
Nolan was, undoubtedly, accompanied by Stella, which was not unexpected.
Ryder was merely roaming within his room, having retired there and closed the door to text Brianna. He was now anticipating her response. He was aware that she was in her room, having enquired of Nolan shortly after sending the text, to which he received a confirmation: “Yes, she is in her room pacing… Logan is already asleep.”
That did not truly astonish him, although Brianna had returned to her suite this morning and collapsed after the morning run, as had he, for that matter.
Logan had not napped; he spent the entire morning with Stella and Nolan playing games on the PS5. The boy experienced a protracted day and an emotionally taxing afternoon. At merely seven years of age, he was probably both physically and emotionally exhausted.
Her pacing within the confines of her room indicated that she had received and perused his text. She was probably anxious about it, uncertain of how to address or react to the situation.
There was also the possibility that she would take no action whatsoever. Ryder and Aiden were eager to attempt to perceive her scent. Understanding her significance to them might facilitate that. He was uncertain whether that would be considered valid. I emailed Nathan regarding the Dieng method of permitting their Mate to detect their scent, noting that it was a full moon.
However, the man had not yet responded to him.
