When I opened my eyes, I was back in the same crypt where I had fallen asleep.
Had that strange encounter been just a dream? I pressed my thighs together in discomfort, feeling the dampness soaking my panties.
If it was just a delusion of my mind, then I was clearly too needy.
And with a vampire, of all things? "T don't think it was a dream," I heard Mia's voice as I brushed the dust off the floor and adjusted my cloak.
"Are you telling me there's a powerful vampire locked up in the castle dungeons? Besides, he said..." I hesitated, recalling his wordsthe ending was a bit blurry, but I was sure I had heard him say...
"He says he's our mate." Mia continued my thoughts, pacing anxiously.
"But even though I felt strange, I couldnt identify him as our mate...
I dont know, Celine, Im confused.
Should we do as he told us?" Iwas just as uncertain.
Topened the crypt door and stepped outside; it was already daytime, but the dense fog allowed only a few rays of sunlight through, preserving the cemetery's eerie atmosphere.
Looking into the distance, I could see the castle.
Something was calling to me, pulling at my soul, yet there was also another strange feeling stirring inside me.
---- My head ached, and countless confused thoughts crowded my foggy mind.
What was that? I turned toward the tall gates I had climbed to get inside.
"Theard growls and voices; I think...
I think I smell werewolves," Mia replied.
"Could it be Beof?" I forgot all warnings and walked toward the ancient gates, gazing into the dense forest, where the cold morning breeze rustled the leaves.
"T can't stay locked up here; I'm going to explore," I decided on the spot, slinging my small bag over my back and climbing up the gate in my boots.
Suddenly, it began to sway dangerously, threatening to throw me off.
Iturned my head when a strong wind from the castle whipped through my hair, as if trying to hold me back and trap me.
Gritting my teeth, I resisted the strong compulsion and threw myself over the other side of the gate, escaping the cemetery's boundaries.
The wind calmed, rustling through the willow leaves like a sorrowful lament.
My eyes stayed fixed on the distance; my chest ached, but my mind pushed me in another direction.
I stood up and entered the forest without looking back.
My footsteps echoed on the grass; the scent of my peoples blood and what sounded like battle cries grew stronger ahead.
Running in that direction, I alerted Mia, ready to spring into action and shift.
However, when I reached the site in question, I found only traces of werewolf blood on the grass.
Now that I was here, I realized the blood wasnt fresh; it had been a trap, a staged deception to lure me in.
When I tried to turn around and react, it was too latesomething struck the back of my head, sending me plunging into darkness.
What was happening to me? I had never been this careless.
I fluttered my lashes, the intense light stabbing into my retinas.
The wound on my head throbbed, as did my wrists.
Assessing the situation, I seemed to be inside a large white canvas tent, sitting on the ground with my hands tightly bound behind my back.
Mia, whats going on? Tm not sure, Celine...
Honestly, I feel weak.
I think its your damn vampire side acting up from being so close to home.
This looks like a vampire camp, she replied, and I noticed her lying down when she had been so lively just moments ago.
I didnt have time to worry about her apathy because I heard footsteps approaching, and I tensed up.
He was powerfulhis aura stretched out toward me.
The tent flap opened, and he stepped inside.
Through the light filtering in from the roof seams and the entrance, I saw a vampire with long blonde hair and piercing red eyescruel and calculating.
He approached me, and even though my heart started beating strangely, I kept my expression calm, though my hands tensed as I tried to claw at ---- the ropes binding me.
His earthy scent reached my nose, and instead of feeling repulsed like I usually did with vampires, I inhaled it, intoxicated.
Mate.
The word escaped my lips, driven by my wolfs recognition.
Iwas shocked at myself.
Our eyes locked across the short distance, and he stared at me just as intently.
Isawa flicker of something complex cross his irises, but he quickly masked it, leaning down in front of me and grasping my chin, tilting my face up to him.
So, youre my mate.
How interesting.