As the shutters slowly lifted, Mu Yang looked at the patch of sky visible through the window. Resting on Jia Hao's chest, he turned to look at the vampire's face.
"Do you have to go?" Jia Hao asked.
The werewolf's lips curled into a slight pout. "Mhmm."
"You know you can stay here as long as you want."
Mu Yang rolled onto his side. "Unfortunately, I have to go to work." He turned to face him. "But I'll be off before dawn."
Jia Hao smiled. He too was eager to see him again soon. "Let me know what you'd like to do then."
Mu Yang leaned in and kissed him, then got up. "I need a shower."
Jia Hao watched him go, then got up himself and went to make coffee and something to eat.
---
After Mu Yang had left, Jia Hao wandered restlessly around the apartment. He wasn't used to being idle, so he decided he'd feed that evening and maybe return to work. He dressed in dark clothes and, more out of habit than necessity, took his gun with him.
---
He glanced at the third passerby and dismissed her instantly—female, too young.
He stopped, leaned against a wall, and sighed. He wasn't going to manage it that night either: every time he thought about sinking his fangs into someone's wrist, his mind conjured up Mu Yang's face. He kept wondering what his blood would taste like… and feeding on someone else just felt wrong.
Resigned, he turned back toward the spot where he had parked his car a few blocks away.
The sound wouldn't have been heard by human ears, but to his enhanced senses, it was clear: a silenced gunshot.
He broke into a run, drawing his gun from its holster and flicking off the safety. As he turned the corner, he saw a body on the ground and another figure running away.
"Stop!" he shouted, taking aim.
The hooded figure fired, and Jia Hao returned fire. Pain flared in his arm, but he ignored it and closed the distance, tackling the assailant as they fell. He disarmed him, then pulled back the hood to see his face. The werewolf growled, and Jia Hao struck him, knocking him unconscious.
He dragged the assailant back to where the victim lay and called Anthony.
"I've got two wounded werewolves. One shot the other. The victim's alive, shot in the side. I hit the attacker in the leg—he's unconscious."
Anthony told him he was on his way and would notify Christopher.
Jia Hao tried to stanch the bleeding from the injured werewolf's side. The image of Mu Yang bleeding flashed in his mind, and he clenched his teeth in fury.
He shot a scornful glance at the attacker to make sure he wasn't regaining consciousness.
---
The first to arrive were two patrolling vampires who handcuffed the attacker. Then a van arrived—one of the werewolves' makeshift ambulances—and loaded the victim.
"We'll send someone else for you and the other werewolf," one of the vampires said.
Another approached Jia Hao. "Take off your jacket. Let me see that wound."
Jia Hao touched his arm and, when he pulled his hand back, it was smeared with blood. "It's nothing serious," he said.
The vampire nodded.
A black sedan pulled up, and Anthony and Andrew stepped out.
Before they could speak, a Range Rover arrived. Christopher and Lucian got out.
The pack leader greeted Anthony, then turned to Jia Hao. "You've once again saved one of my people and caught his attacker. No matter what Anthony says, I owe you a personal debt. When you need something, I'll be there to repay it."
He then turned to the vampire leader to thank him, and the unconscious werewolf was loaded into the car.
Once they were gone, Anthony approached Jia Hao. "You weren't supposed to be on patrol, but you did Christopher a big favor."
"I was just out hunting."
Anthony looked at him and nodded. "I believe you. But we're still taking you to see Dr. Clayton."
"That's not necessary."
"Jia Hao…"
"Really, it's nothing."
"Alright. But I expect you back on duty in a few days."
Jia Hao nodded, and Anthony got into the car, followed by Andrew.
The other two vampires also left, and Jia Hao headed toward his own car.