Chapter One – Shadows at Dawn
The town of Greybrooke looked ordinary at first glance. Rows of red-brick houses, a sleepy main street, and the constant chatter of students flooding into Greybrooke High. But beneath its quiet charm, shadows lingered—shadows that belonged to the Kael family.
Marcus Kael leaned against the hood of his father's black car, pretending to scroll through his phone as the other students passed. He hated mornings. The sun was weak enough not to burn him, but its light still itched against his skin. A group of girls giggled as they walked by, whispering his name. He smirked. Being the mysterious new kid had its perks.
"Elara," he muttered, watching his sister emerge from the car with her usual grace. Long dark hair, sharp eyes that seemed to pierce through people—Elara didn't bother to hide what she was. She thrived on attention, on danger.
"Try not to kill anyone before lunch," Marcus said dryly.
"No promises," she replied, flashing a grin that revealed the faintest glint of fang before she slipped her sunglasses on and disappeared into the crowd.
From the driver's seat, Adrian Kael watched his children with the patience of a man centuries old. His suit was immaculate, his expression unreadable. "Remember why we are here," he said in his low, commanding voice. "This town is quiet, unremarkable. It must stay that way. Blend in. Do not draw hunters to us again."
Marcus clenched his jaw. Hunters. Always hunters. They had barely escaped the last town after one had gotten too close.
"Relax, Father," Selene said as she adjusted her coat. She was heading toward the hospital on the far side of town, where she had already secured a position as a night-shift doctor. Her calm presence was the only thing that steadied Marcus sometimes. "A new town means a new chance. Let's not ruin it with old fears."
But Greybrooke was not as quiet as it seemed.
Across the street, two men in plain clothes sat in a parked van, binoculars resting on the dashboard. One of them scribbled notes in a leather-bound book filled with strange symbols.
"The Kaels," the man muttered. "Finally."
As Marcus entered the school gates, a chill ran down his spine. He didn't know why. He only knew this: Greybrooke would not remain ordinary for long.