The grand hall was eerily silent. Olivia stood alone beneath the towering stone arches, her sharp eyes scanning the flickering torch-lit chamber. The scent of damp stone and melted wax filled the air, but beneath it—something else lingered.
A foreign presence.
She inhaled deeply, her heightened senses attempting to decipher it. A faint trace of something unnatural clung to the air, cold and metallic, like blood left too long in the frost. Her grip tightened around the hilt of her sword.
Something was wrong.
A whisper of movement.
Olivia turned swiftly—too late.
A force struck her like a thunderclap. A cold, inhuman grip locked around her waist, lifting her off her feet before she could even gasp. The world blurred. Wind roared past her ears as she was yanked from the palace hall and dragged into darkness.
She crashed onto the cold, damp earth, her breath knocked from her lungs. The thick scent of moss and rotting wood filled her nose as she staggered to her feet, sword already drawn.
A shadow moved in the moonlight.
Tall. Lean. Unnaturally pale.
A vampire.
His lips curled in amusement as he tilted his head, stepping into the light. His high-collared tunic was pristine, a dark contrast to the moonlit forest. He moved with the grace of a predator who had played this game too many times before.
"A lone wolf," he mused, his voice like silk. "Far from her pack."
Olivia's chest rose and fell, but she showed no fear. She was not prey.
"And you," she said, shifting her stance, "are about to regret this."
The vampire struck.
Faster than thought.
Olivia barely dodged as his clawed hand slashed the air where her throat had been. She swung her blade in a clean arc, steel glinting in the moonlight—but he was gone.
A blur. A whisper of movement behind her.
She spun, barely parrying in time as his claws raked against her sword. Sparks flew. He moved like mist, disappearing and reappearing in bursts of speed that made her head spin.
Her boots dug into the soft earth as she fought to keep up.
A feint. A strike. A counter.
She landed a blow—her blade slicing across his chest. A deep wound. Yet no blood spilled. He merely smirked as his flesh began to knit back together.
Damn it.
Vampires were difficult to kill.
He lunged again. This time, she wasn't fast enough.
His hand shot out, clamping around her throat.
She choked, feet lifting off the ground as he hoisted her effortlessly. His grip was crushing—cold and unrelenting, like steel bars tightening around her windpipe.
She had no choice.
A low, guttural growl rumbled in her chest.
Pain gripped her bones, twisting them. Breaking them.
Her vision blurred as her body transformed. The change was agony—her limbs stretched, muscles tore and reshaped. Fur erupted along her skin. Her jaw lengthened, sharp canines replacing her human teeth.
Her sword fell.
Her claws unsheathed.
She was wolf.
The vampire barely had time to react before she slashed across his face, sending him staggering back. He let out a sharp hiss, touching his torn cheek. This time, the wound did not close so easily.
Her claws were silver-lined.
Now they were even.
She leapt, massive paws striking his chest, knocking him into a tree. Her teeth snapped just inches from his throat, but he twisted away, kicking her off with unnatural strength.
She landed in a crouch, muscles coiling.
She was about to attack again when—
Thwap!
An arrow sliced through the air.
She twisted her head just in time—but not fast enough.
The tip grazed her cheek, a hot sting of pain slicing across her skin. Blood dripped down her muzzle.
She turned.
Two more vampires had stepped into the clearing.
The wounded one smirked, wiping his bleeding face. "Looks like the little wolf is in trouble now."
Olivia's mind raced. She could take one vampire. Maybe two.
But three?
Her instincts screamed one word.
Run.
She bolted.
The vampires followed.
They were faster.
The trees blurred past her as she weaved through the dense forest, dodging fallen logs and thick undergrowth. Her paws pounded against the earth, heart hammering.
They were gaining.
One nearly grabbed her hind leg—she twisted mid-air, kicking out, sending the vampire tumbling into a tree.
The others did not slow.
A break in the trees. A stream. The palace was close.
The vampires were almost upon her.
Then—
A golden light crept over the horizon.
Dawn.
The vampires skidded to a halt, hissing as the first rays of sunlight touched the treetops. They could not follow.
But Olivia did not stop.
She ran until the towering palace gates loomed ahead.
She staggered through the western entrance, her limbs shaking.
Her strength wavered—
Thump.
She collapsed, her wolf form hitting the stone with a dull crash.
Shouts. Guards rushing toward her.
Then—blackness.
---
She awoke to warmth.
Soft linens. The scent of herbs and clean parchment.
Her body ached. Every limb felt like lead.
She stirred, her mind slow to register—she was naked.
A sharp panic seized her.
Her hands flew to her chest, gripping the heavy quilt.
Where was she?
She looked around wildly. The room was unfamiliar.
Polished wood beams. Velvet drapes. Ornate furniture.
This was not her chamber.
The door creaked open.
A shadow stepped inside.
The presence was commanding, unreadable.
A voice, low and knowing, broke the silence.
"Finally, you're awake."