I was almost scared out of my wits seeing him standing before me. He always manages to scare me half to death whenever he does that.
"How do you even do that?" I asked, clutching my chest, my heart hammering like a drum inside me.
"Do what?" he asked, his piercing blue eyes fixed on me, unreadable as ever.
"The appearing thing," I said, trying not to sound like an idiot even though I was clearly startled.
He gave a half-smile. "Vampires don't apparate, Elena. We're simply faster than normal humans and faster than most werewolves too, depending on our rank."
"Ranks?" I raised a brow. "There's hierarchy among vampires?"
He smirked, that same teasing expression that made my stomach twist in confusion. "It seems you're getting interested in me."
I scoffed and rolled my eyes. "You wish."
"So, you're not interested?" His voice dipped, calm and smooth, but it sent a strange shiver down my spine.
"I'm only interested in vampires because they're fascinating creatures," I said quickly, looking away. I didn't want to meet his cold gaze that felt like it was piercing into my skin.
Before I could think of anything else to say, a sleek black car pulled up in front of us. I recognized it instantly, the same one he and Kathy had risen to the darkblood pack.
"Get in," he ordered.
I was relieved for the excuse to move. Standing in the open with people staring at us made me uneasy. I went to open the back door, but before I could sit, he closed it firmly and handed me a white handkerchief.
"The front seat, Elena," he said in that firm tone that allowed no argument.
The gesture... small as it was made my chest warm. It was ridiculous, how this cold, annoying man could still make my heart flutter sometimes. I obeyed and slipped into the front seat.
The driver stepped out, and to my surprise, Alexander took his place behind the wheel.
He started the engine, his hands steady on the steering. I frowned, glancing out the window at the driver still standing on the roadside.
"Are you just going to leave him there?" I asked, incredulous.
"Do you care to take his place?" he asked smoothly, glancing briefly at me.
"Well, I'd love to go back—"
"I won't even give you that pleasure," he cut in sharply and began driving.
The car sped down the empty road, and silence stretched between us. The hum of the engine filled the air, but my thoughts were far louder.
I peeked at him from the corner of my eye. His face was unreadable, his jaw sharp and tense, his gaze fixed straight ahead.
"Where are we going?" I finally asked, breaking the silence.
"To see how fascinating vampires can be," he said, his mouth curving into a small, knowing smirk.
That did not sound reassuring at all.
We drove for nearly an hour and a half, leaving behind the paved streets, the lights, and even the faint sounds of civilization. The air grew colder, heavier, and the trees grew thicker as we went.
When he finally stopped, we were surrounded by towering pines that reached high into the dim gray sky. Mist clung to the roots and drifted like smoke through the underbrush.
He turned off the engine and opened his door. "We walk from here."
I followed reluctantly, hugging myself against the sudden chill. The air smelled of damp earth and something faintly metallic like blood.
"Where is this place?" I asked softly.
He smiled faintly, "My hunting grounds."
That did nothing to calm me.
He must have seen my face, because he added, "Unlike werewolves, who hunt for survival, vampires hunt for fun. We crave the thrill, the chase, the kill, the taste of blood."
His tone was calm, casual even, but there was a spark in his eyes that unsettled me.
He started walking into the trees, and I followed, careful to stay close. The deeper we went, the darker it became. The trees seemed to close in, swallowing the faint light.
A chill ran through me. The forest was silent...too silent. Not even the whisper of a bird. Only our footsteps and the crunch of leaves beneath our feet.
"What are you hunting?" I asked after a moment.
"I'd say humans," he said evenly.
My breath caught. "Humans?"
He turned to me with a smirk. "But you're off-limits. And since you're the only human here, you can probably guess what else lives in a place like this."
I frowned, uneasy. "What else?"
Before he could answer, he stopped abruptly. His body went still, his head tilting slightly like he was listening to something I couldn't hear.
"Alexander?" I whispered.
He didn't respond. Then his eyes flickered crimson red which vanished almost immediately it appeared.
My pulse quickened. I followed his gaze, but he wasn't looking at me, he was staring past me.
Then I heard it... a low growl, deep and guttural, rolling through the shadows.
I turned slowly, and my stomach dropped. There, between the trees, two dark eyes gleamed. The creature stepped forward... a fox large and lean, its fur red and its teeth bared.
I could easily kill a fox but I didn't stand a chance since my wolf has been gone for awhile and in my human form I wouldn't be able to stand up against it.
Before I could move, Alexander vanished. A flash of movement, too fast for my eyes to follow, and then a sharp, echoing crack split the silence.
When I turned back, the fox was dead, its body crumpled at his feet.
He looked almost bored as he crouched down staring at the animal he had killed and clicked his tongue.
He then stared down at his hand and sighed, reaching for his pocket. "Great. I gave you my handkerchief."
I looked at his handkerchief in my hands, It was wrinkled, damp, and stained with my tears. "You're a vampire," I said, forcing a weak smile. "You could lick it off."
He chuckled darkly, that rich, dangerous sound that sent a shiver through me. "You're learning to joke around me. Dangerous habit."
He stood and began walking deeper into the forest. I hesitated for a second before following.
As we moved, the air grew colder, and I noticed something strange, faint claw marks on the trees, deep grooves that looked fresh.
"Do you come here often?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
"I do, It's my best place in the world." he said.
"Your best place in the world?" I asked just being curious.
"I didn't come here that often before but the forest has changed. There are things here now that weren't before."
"Things?" I repeated, nervous.
He stopped walking, his gaze flicking around us. "Do you feel that?"
"Feel what?"
He didn't answer. His jaw tightened, and his eyes flickered red again and disappeared faster than it did the first time.
That's when I felt it — the faint vibration under my feet, followed by a low, drawn-out growl that made the hairs on my neck stand.
It wasn't just one. There were several.
Then I saw them.
Three wolves stepped out of the darkness, their bodies massive — bigger than any normal wolves. Their fur was tangled, thick, and wild, matted with dried blood. But what chilled me most were their eyes — hollow black, no whites, no pupils. Just endless darkness staring right at me.
My breath caught. "Alexander…" I whispered.
He didn't move. He stood still, like a predator sizing up another. "Rogues," he murmured, his voice calm but low but amused like he loved what he was seeing.
The largest wolf let out a deep, rattling snarl that echoed through the forest. Its claws dug into the earth, tearing through it like paper.
Alexander's blue eyes glowed brighter. "Stay behind me," he said quietly.
I couldn't even nod. My legs were frozen, my heart pounding so hard it hurt.
The wolves circled, three dark shadows closing in. Their growls filled the air, mixing with the faint whistle of the wind through the trees.
Then one lunged.
Everything happened in a blur. The creature sprang at us, its jaws wide, but Alexander moved faster — a flash of motion, a gust of wind, and he caught it mid-air. With terrifying strength, he slammed it into the ground.
The earth shook beneath the impact. The wolf yelped once before falling silent, knocked out cold.
I gasped, stepping back, unable to take my eyes off the scene.
The other two wolves growled louder, circling again, their hollow eyes burning with rage.
Alexander's lips curled into a small, dangerous smile. "Now this," he said softly, "might actually be fun."
And before I could even blink — the other two wolves lunged.