Adrian
I knew the moment I saw her.
That something was wrong.
She didn't belong there.
Not in that school. Not among humans.
And definitely not… unclaimed.
I had been watching from a distance at first. Just another routine check.
Or at least...that's what I told myself.
But the second she walked past me, everything changed.
Her scent.
It was faint.
Almost hidden.
But unmistakable.
Blood.
Not human.
Not fully.
Something… rare.
Something that shouldn't exist.
When she bumped into me, I confirmed it.
The moment I touched her...
Cold skin.
Unstable pulse.
And something beneath it…
Something waking up.
She didn't know.
Of course she didn't.
Which made it worse.
I followed her.
Not too close.
Just enough to make sure no one else noticed.
But I wasn't the only one watching.
That was the problem.
By the time she left school, I already knew what was going to happen.
I just didn't stop it.
From across the street, I watched her panic.
Watched her try to run.
Watched the hunger take over.
Too fast.
Far too fast.
"She's already reacting…" I muttered under my breath.
That shouldn't be possible.
Not without a trigger.
And then..
They made their move.
Efficient.
Clean.
Expected.
A hand over her mouth.
A body going limp.
Gone within seconds.
I didn't interfere.
I could have.
Easily.
But this wasn't the right time.
Not yet.
"Interesting…" I said quietly, watching the empty street.
If they had taken her, it meant one thing...
They knew.
Or at least suspected.
Which meant...
She was no longer safe.
I turned away, already planning my next move.
"Nyx…" her name felt unfamiliar on my tongue.
Yet… not entirely.
There was something about her.
Something I couldn't ignore.
Something I shouldn't ignore.
"This is going to be a problem."