"𝒾'𝓁𝓁 𝓈𝑒𝑒𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝑜𝓊𝓉, 𝒻𝓁𝒶𝓎 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓁𝒾𝓋𝑒."

you’ve lived in Crescent Ridge your whole life. it was a small, quiet town that stayed humid without reason. the kind of place where the gossip can spread faster than you can catch. nothing unusual ever happened until this night, the sky looked ugly. it was supposed to be a normal shift at the bar, sticky floors, drinks spilled, drunk men passed out the second they order another round. you were wiping down the counters when the storm rolled in unnaturally fast. wind and the darkness dancing like it was alive.

thats when the door swings open, and jake walks in.

not dramatically or like some kind of movie, but the room shifts anyway. he’s pale, as if he’d just stepped out of some old portrait. jaw sharp, blonde hair, soft lips, and light blue eyes with some kind of red sheen that only shows when the light hits just right. he doesn’t breathe, but you don’t notice at first. not until later. he takes a seat at the bar that’s been empty for months, the one no one sits in because they say its too cold. you try not to stare. you really try, but you fail anyway.

j: “rough night?”

his voice is so smooth, too calm. like he practiced it or something. you laughed nervously.

you: “you could say that.”

his eyes flick to your throat the second you turn your head. so quick you almost miss it; almost. and then:

the door slams open again, this time nicho rushing in. sweat on his forehead, chest rising like he’d been running for miles. wild energy radiating off of him, warm, intense. like he’s carrying summer under his skin. his eyes lock on jake first. they narrow, then he sees you behind the bar, and they soften instantly. 

n: “you okay?”

he asks like he’d asked a hundred times already. maybe he has.nicho’s been in town for a while, odd jobs, odd hours, odd everything. always around, always watching out for you in ways that didn’t make sense. jakes gaze shifts to him, and something cracks between them. something old, something violent. nicho steps closer to you, placing his hand lightly on your wrist. the warmth makes you gasp, and jake hears it. of course he does.

j: “didn’t realize she was… taken.”

jake murmurs, eyes never moving from nicho’s hand. nicho’s jaw flexes, his thumb brushes your pulse before he responds. 

n: “she not; but she’s not yours either.”

the lights flicker overhead, the storm outside starts to worsen. jake leans forward, elbows on the counter, watching you like a hawk.

j: “i came here for a reason.”

n: “i told you to stay the fuck out of this town.”

nicho snaps, low dangerous. you blink. you try to speak: 

you: “do you two… know each oth-”

jake answers, keeping his eyes on nicho.

j: “he’s a wolf.”

n: “he’s a vampire.”

you just freeze, because they both said that shit like it was normal. like its a movie, like its real, like it always has been real. the thunder outside cracks so loud the windows shake. jake finally directs his eyes back to you. something in his eyes is hungry, not in a way that scares you. but, in a way that feels like destiny leaning in.

j: “i didnt come here for him—”

he pauses, eyes flicking over at nicho before gliding back over to you.

j: “i came here for you.”

nicho immediately steps in front of you, voice nearly in a growl.

n: “over my dead body.”

jake smiles — patient, slow, sharp, knowing.

j: “that can be arranged.”

and thats when it hits you, nothing will ever be the same again. whether you know it or not, your normal life comes to a end. 

the storm didn’t let up for the rest of the night, and neither did your nerves. you locked up the bar with nicho just a little too close behind. shoulders tense, head turned towards the woods every time he heard nothing but the slightest noise. it was like he waited for something to leap out. the wind was loud enough to swallow your voice, but he still heard you when you muttered, “what the hell was that?” nicho didn’t answer at first, his jaw clenched. his hands flexed liked he was fighting a instinct to grab you and get you as far as he could from this town. finally he exhaled, beath in the warm cold air. 

n: “let me walk you home, please.”

you wanted to argue, scream, yell, until you got answers. but every inch of you knew nothing would change, you hand everything to keep you safe but it wasn’t him that concerned you. it was something deeper; older. something that said you didn’t need to understand. so you nodded. the walk was silent, his footsteps behind yours. the heat coming from him strong enough to fight every chill that caught up to you. when your house came into view, nicho stopped first. he looked at the door then the dark woods behind you. 

n: “lock your windows tonight, and don’t let anyone in. anyone.”

you frowned.

you: “nicho, you cant give me extreme warnings and expect me to sleep through the night..”

he swallowed hard, golden eyes dimming.

n: “jake’s not like me.”

you: “no shit nicho, he’s a vampire.”

you said half-joking, half-testing. nicho didn’t laugh.

n: “he’s dangerous. he’ll charm you, get close, he’ll even ask to be invited in—”

you: “what, to bite me?”

n: “no. to claim you.”

nicho looked almost offended. your stomach twisted.

you: “what does that even m—”

a rustle behind you made your breath catch, nicho’s body moved before your brain did. he shoved you gently behind him, shoulders tense, with a growl rumbling in his chest. 

n: “show yourself, asshole.”

and from the dark, jake stepped out like he’d been waiting for his cue. he didn’t look like the dangerous creature nicho warned you about. he looked calm, focus, eyes brighter now. a deep garnet glow around the edges that made your skin heat in a way you didn’t want to think about.

j: “i’m only here to make sure she got home safe, but it seems like you did my job for me. storms are unpredictable, you know.”

jake said softly, gaze flicking to you with a warmth that made your heart skip a beat. nicho took a step forward.

n: “back off dude.”

jakes lips curled into a faint smile.

j: “you cant protect her from everything.”

n: “she’s not yours.”

jake tilted his head.

j: “and she’s not yours either, unless she says otherwise.”

both of them looked at you, one with heat and fear, the other with hunger and fascination. your breath hitched. they heard it. jakes eyes softened.

j: “may i walk you to your door?”

nicho bristled.

n: “dont answer that.”

but something in you started to eat you alive. the curiosity in you wanted to understand him. wanted to get close to confirm that the cold aura around him was fearsome or intoxicating. you stepped forward.

you: “just to the door then you leave.”

jake bowed his head slightly, like you’d given him something sacred. nicho looked as if you punched him. jake didn’t touch you, there was no need too. the air around him shifted, colder, shaper, pulling you in like gravity. he stopped outside the steps of the porch.

j: “this is as far as i can go. for now.”

you: “because i didn’t invite you in?”

you blinked. he smiled. a slow, knowing curve of his mouth that made your skin prickle.

j: “you’re a smart girl.”

nicho paced like he could barely hold human form. jake stepped closer. not onto the porch, but near enough that you could smell something clean and dark on him. like the winter air and something older, metallic and sweet.

j: “you don’t have any reason to be afraid of me.”

you: “i’m not..”

you swallowed. a lie, he heard it. his eyes half-lidded, like the sound of your heartbeat was something he wanted to taste.

j: “i could show you what i am, if you’d ask nicely.”

your breath trembled. nicho took one step toward the porch, voice sharp.

n: “go inside; now.”

but jake leaned in slightly, close enough that his cold breath brushed your cheek.

j: “if i was planning on hurting you, i wouldn’t have waited.”

nicho snarled, jake didn’t flinch. your mind raced. fear and curiosity tangling into something electric.

you: “you came here for me?”

you whispered. jakes eyes flicked red.

j: “yes.”

nicho’s voice broke, raw and panicked.

n: “you don’t know what that means..”

jake smiled. not cruel, not sweet. inevitable.

j: “i think she wants to know, and she will.”

then he stepped back into the storm and vanished like smoke. nicho grabbed your hand, warm, shaking. he breathed.

n: “whatever you do; don’t let him in.”

but deep down, in the part of you that pulsed with adrenaline and forbidden intrigue… 

you weren’t sure how long you’d be able to listen.

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Jake led me down to the garage, which housed his BMW from his former life. The plates had been swapped for new ones and all of the tracking from the car removed. The car ride though was pretty quiet. Jake had gone full hood and face mask, which felt more like he was trying to separate from me than it was to hide his identity. There were some definite unresolved issues in his past that he couldn’t face. The death of the pursuer at his hands weighed heavy on him even though it was clear it was in self-defence.

During the ride I went through and told all my friends in Duskwood that I was in a safe location for now. Nearly everyone was satisfied with knowing just that. Except for Lilly.

Lilly: You're with Jake, aren’t you? Please tell me you are.

MC: I can neither confirm nor deny that.

Lilly: Fine. Is there anything I can do to help?

MC: Could you find out who was MIA last night? We think MWAF was out of Duskwood for at least 10 hours.

Lilly: Well, I can’t do much investigating because I am stuck at work. Tourists are finally starting to return. Hannah could though. It would give her something to do.

MC: You think so? Jake thought the memories would be too raw for her to handle.

Lilly: Ok, he doesn’t have the right to make that judgement when he never contacts us. How would he know?

MC: I’ll trust your judgement.

I sighed and looked over at Jake concentrating on driving. How am I going to excuse what I’m about to do?

MC: Hi Hannah.

Hannah: MC!!! OMG are you ok?

MC: Yes, I’m safe now. :)

Hannah: Ah, right, “safe". ;)

Hannah: I was absolutely fuming over the photos! If I ever get my hands on the kidnapper, he’s never going to the light of day again!

MC: You seem to be recovering well.

Hannah: Recovering?

MC: Jake thought you’d be crippled by fear.

Hannah: Seriously? He has barely said 2 words to me since I was found. Well actually, no, 5. “I am your half-brother.” Who does that? He dropped that bombshell and has ignored me since!

MC: He seems to still be very busy avoiding his pursuers. I'm sure he’ll get around to it when he can.

Hannah: MC, I hardly know you, but from I do know and from I have heard, I know I'd like you. Don’t make excuses for him.

MC: So, with that aside, I need someone to do some digging, Lilly said I should ask you.

Hannah: Yes of course you should! I want that bastard caught! Especially with this whole thing today, sitting still is driving me mad!

MC: We need to know who was MIA yesterday for at least 10 hours. Can you ask around? Get a feel for who doesn’t have a solid alibi?

MC: Oh and please take someone with you. Thomas perhaps? He’s probably the only one I feel confident is innocent.

Hannah: Of course, Thomas didn’t do it. Wait, does Jake think that?

MC: Jake doesn’t like to rule anyone out.

Hannah: Well, Jake, read me loud and clear – Thomas is not the kidnapper!!

Hannah: And yes, of course I’d be happy to do some investigating.

Hannah: Tell me though, how do you look at your friends in the eye when you suspect them?

MC: Um, Hannah? I've never looked at them in the eye.

Hannah: Touché. I keep forgetting you never came to Duskwood and yet you’re the one who located me. So weird.

MC: You don’t remember who was in the group that actually found you?

Hannah: No, I was unconscious at the time. It happened a lot. I tried to escape a lot.

MC: I never asked you why you sent my number.

Hannah: Everyone keeps asking me that! The kidnapper took my phone as soon as I was kidnapped. Why on Earth would I send some random number instead of “I'm in the dare house!” Seriously!

Hannah: Just because Jake and I are half-related doesn’t mean I share his cryptic gene.

MC: I've got to go. I'll talk to your later. Good luck!

Hannah: Thank you for trusting me!

Inside the grocery store I had loaded the trolley with a stack of essential food. Though I couldn’t make eye contact with Jake I could tell he was in disbelief that we would eat it all. I did plan to freeze some since it was clear Jake didn’t want to go shopping often.

Upon reaching the checkout I realized I had forgotten the cooking oil so I sent Jake back to get some. While he was gone, I had reached the front of the queue. The guy on the register tried to chat me up, but he suddenly went white and stopped. I turned to see Jake giving him a death glare, which made me giggle. I had to bring it up while we walked back to the car.

“You were smiling at him, making him think that his advances were acceptable,” Jake complained.

“I was just trying to be polite. He wasn't serious anyway, just trying to break up the boredom of his job,” I explained. “Does it bother you that much? Me interacting with other men?”

“I just don’t like it,” Jake stressed.

I put the last bag in the back of the car, then looked at him, “Jake, you're the only who gets me, who appreciates me. I only ever feel myself when I’m talking with you. What we share, I don’t experience that with anyone else.”

Jake closed the back of the car in silence.

“Do you trust me?” I asked.

“Yes, of course,” Jake’s eyes lightened.

“Then you have nothing to worry about,” I winked at him. “C'mon, let’s get these groceries home.”

“Home?” Jake picked up on my choice of words.

"𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓭 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓸𝓷𝓽 𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓿𝓲𝓮"

you couldn’t sleep.

every time you shut your eyes, you saw red eyes staring back. not scary, just too aware. too focused on you. jakes voice lingered like smoke.

j: “if i was planning on hurting you, i wouldn’t have waited.”

and somehow that didn’t instill fear in you. that’s what really worried you. you wrapped your blanket around you tighter, trying to ignore the way your pulse kept jumping for nothing. until a shadow moved across your window. not loud, not obvious. just enough to make your breath hitch. you sat up slowly, whispering.

you: “…jake?”

the window stayed still, but the air changed. gone cold, sharp. like winter slipped under your door. something inside whispered, he’s here. before you could even get off of the bed, a low voice came from the hall. 

n: “dont answer that.”

you nearly fainted until nicho stepped into your room. hair messy, chest rising like he’d sprinted here.

you: “what the fuck— how did you get inside?”

n: “your—, it doesn’t matter.”

your heart was racing. he heard it, his jaw clenched.

n: “you were thinking about him.”

not a question. nicho moved over to the window, pulling the curtain aside just enough to look out. shoulders tense, posture animal.

n: “he’s close.”

you: “jake?”

n: “im not saying his name.”

he sounded like it tastes wrong in his mouth. you swallowed.

you: “why is he here— why are you here?”

nicho turned to you, eyes glowing faint gold in the dark.

n: “because you’re loud.”

you blinked.

you: “loud?”

he stepped closer, too close. heat radiating off of him, voice low.

n: “your heartbeat, your scent, your emotions.”

a breath.

n: “wolves hear it, vampires feel it.”

your cheeks burned.

you: “nicho..”

n: “he’s drawn to you, vampires fixate. especially old ones.”

he said soft, but bitter. your brows furrowed.

you: “how old?”

he looked away.

n: “old enough that he doesn’t lose, ever.”

a chill slid down your spine. before you could even respond, movement hit the window. fast. nicho reacted instanly, hand on your waist. pulling you behind him as a silhouette appeared on the other side of the glass.

jake.

standing completely still in the storm, rain sliding off of him like it refused to touch his skin. his eyes glowed a faint red. his voice was velvet through the glass. 

j: “you’re awake, sweetheart.”

nicho bared his teeth in a sound that wasn’t human.

n: “back away from the house.”

jake didn’t move. didn’t blink.

j: “i’’d come inside… if she’d invite me.”

nicho stepped forward, blocking your view.

n: “you can’t come anywhere near her.”

jake leaned closer to the window, voice low and purposeful.

j: “i dont think you get to decide that. do you?”

nicho’s muscles tensed like he was seconds from shifting. you grabbed his arm before he could do anything deadly.

you: “nicholas, stop—”

jake’s eyes snapped to you the second you spoke. the storm thundered behind him like it recognized his name.

j: “there you are.”

your breath caught. he raised a hand, slow and careful, fingertips gliding just shy of the glass

j: “may i come in.”

nicho spun, blocking you with his entire body.

n: “don’t. you don’t understand what happens if you say yes.”

jake tilted his head, eyes locked on yours through the gap in nicho’s stance. 

j: “nothing you wouldn’t want.”

nicho snarled.

n: “shut up.”

but jake didn’t even look at him, he couldn’t tear his gaze away from you.

j: “just say the words. let me in.”

your heart hammered, he smiled the second he heard it.

n: “see? he’s manipulating you.”

you shook your head slowly.

you: “he’s… not.”

nicho stared at you like he felt something break inside of him. 

n: “he’s a predator. you’re his prey.”

jakes eyes fell lower.

j: “you say that as if she isn’t safe with me.”

nicho stepped toward the window, fists clenched.

n: “you couldn’t protect a house plant.”

j: “i said she was safe. i dont protect, i keep.”

jake smirked, the words hit you harder than they should’ve. nicho sensed your reaction immediately and turned to you. voice softer, but desperate.

n: “you don’t want him in here, trust me.”

jakes voice slid between is words like smoke.

j: “you trust me.”

your breath hitched, he smiled again. nicho swore under his breath.

n: “im staying the night. imnot leaving you alone with—”

j: “with someone she wants?”

jake cut him off. nicho snaped.

n: “nobody fucking asked you.”

j: “i dont need to be asked.”

jake replied, eyes still on you. the storm cracked loud enough to make the floor shake. jake took one step back into the dark. 

j: “i’ll be waiting.”

and then he vanished. like the night swallowed him whole. the room was still, silent. nicho dragged a hand through his hair, chest heaving.

n: “i’m staying.”

he said again, quieter this time. you didn’t argue. because deep down, you knew jake would be back. but you weren’t sure if you were afraid or waiting for him. you woke up feeling drained. it was like you hadn’t slept at all. strom clouds hung to the sky, heavy and metallic. the kind that made Crescent Ridge feel like the world was lifeless. nicho had fallen asleep on your floor, curled awkwardly near your bed. warm even from a distance, protective even unconscious. but the moon was still out. a thin silver, pale through the morning clouds. and when you blinked at it through your window, you swore it blinked back. a soft whisper brushed your mind. not words, but meaning. a feeling. ‘neither of them found you by chance.’ you froze, but the whisper grew stronger. ‘you were seen before you met, claimed before you were touched. both bound to you.’ you stumbled back from the window, chest tight. you didn’t understand, but you were about to. nicho woke up abruptly, sitting up with a groan. 

nicho: “you okay?”

he asked immediately, voice rough from sleep. you hesitated.

you: “nicho, what do you know about being bound to people?”

he stiffened. every muscle, every breath.

n: “why?”

too fast. you swallowed. your voice cracked as you spoke.

you: “someone told me i might be… tied to someone. or two someones.”

nicho’s jaw clenched so hard you thought he might crack a tooth.

n: “i didn’t want you to know like this, not yet.”

you: “nicho..”

n: “its complicated.”

you: “then complicate it.”

he exhaled sharply.

n: “okay.. listen. in our world there's a thing called binding. wolves call it a mate, vampires call them their beloved. but either way, if one of them sees something that ‘matches’ their nature, their instinct fixates.”

you: “matches?”

you whispered. he looked away.

n: “your energy, scent, heartbeat. some creatures, don’t choose. they recognize.”

your stomach dropped.

you: “and jake?”

you asked quietly. nicho’s expression darkened. he swallowed.

n: “he saw a picture of you, months ago. someone posted something. he saw it in passing, he thought it was a sign.”

you blinked hard.

you: “and you?”

his silence answered. you breathed.

you: “you too..”

nicho didn’t deny it. his voice cracked the minute he spoke. 

n: “he thinks you were made for him, i think your made for me.”

before you could even open your mouth, your phone buzzed. class. your normal life still pretending it existed. nicho stood, running his hand through his hair. 

n: “please don't go alone.”

yon didn’t listen. you should have. campus felt strange, quiet, heavy. like all sound was muffled. you chalked it up to exhaustion until you reached the courtyard and felt something cold slip across your skin. like a shadow. like a presence. you turned. jake stood under an oak tree, sunlight filtering through the branches but never touching him. like the light bend around him instead of landing. he stared at you like you were the only person on this earth. 

j: “hi, sweetheart.”

your pulse jumped. he heard it, his eyes darkened. you whispered.

you: “you shouldn’t be here.”

he smiled, slow and soft.

j: “you didn’t invite me in, i had to find another way.”

you: “everyone can see you.”

j: “they wont notice me unless i want them too.”

of course, of course he says something like that. his eyes glimmered. you swallowed. jake stepped closer, stopping just shy of touching you.

j: “has the moon spoken to you yet?”

your breath froze.

you: “how—”

j: “i felt it. i felt it the moment i reached you.”

his voice was low, you blinked.

you: “jake… what am i to you?”

j: “my mate. my beloved..”

he didn’t hesitate. the breath left your lungs. he lifted a hand, not touching your skin, just hovering inches away from your cheek, cold radiating off him like frost. he whispered.

j: “ you were meant for me, i knew it the moment i saw your image. and when i saw you in the flesh, i understood.”

his eyes flared red. 

you: “understood what?”

j: “that i was right.”

you stepped back instinctively, but jake followed with a slow steady step. 

j: “please dont run from this. from me.”

you: “i’m not.”

he leaned in, close enough to feel his breath like a winter breeze.

j: “you’re afraid of the truth, not of me.”

before you could answer, a howl tore from the air. loud, desperate, wild. students glanced around, uneasy. your heart plummeted. nicholas. jake smiled faintly.

j: “looks like he’s shifting early, he felt you with me.”

you turned to run toward the sound. jake grabbed your wrist, gently, but firm enough that the cold rippled under your skin.

j: “be careful, sweetheart. a wolf in shift thinks with instinct, not reason.”

you yanked away, breath shaking.

you: “im going.”

jakes eyes softened, genuinely.

j: “of course you are. you’re his mate too.”

you froze. he stepped back into the shade, eyes glowing with something ancient. a faint smirk glided along his lips.

j; “thats the problem.”

you found nicho behind the gym, half shifted. eyes glowing gold, claws digging into the dirt. his chest heaved with effort, body trembling like he was fighting himself. you ran to him despite everything jake said.

you: “nicho—”

his head snapped up, breath ragged. you kneeled beside him. he panted, voice layered with something animal.

n: “you.. came.”

you: “i was scared.”

he growled softly. not at you, but because of emotions he knew he couldn’t contain. 

n: “you— you’re mine… i knew before he did, i felt it the moment i saw you.”

your heart flipped. he shifted closer, forehead pressed against your shoulder. trembling.

n: “i didn't tell you because i didn’t want to scare you. but i cant— i cant lose you to him.”

he whispered. your fingers threaded into his hair.

you: “nicho, you both told me the same thing.”

he froze.

n: “both?”

you nodded. he let out a sound. half anguish, half fury.

n: “thats not possible, thats— he cant have what i have. you’re tied to me.”

his claws dug deeper into the dirt.

you: “and he says im tied to him.”

nicho’s pupils blew wide, gold overtaking them.

n: “this is gonna start something that should’ve ended a long time ago.”

your pulse jumped. and miles away, wherever he was, jake felt it.

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