Pain.
Burning.
Cold.
Heat.
Aarav felt as if his entire body was being torn apart from the inside.
His eyes suddenly snapped open.
A wooden ceiling.
Flickering candlelight.
The smell of herbs and incense filled the room.
For a moment, he stared blankly.
Then the pain in his shoulder returned.
"Ah—!"
He sat up too quickly.
A sharp pain shot through the bite wound.
A thick bandage was wrapped around his shoulder.
"Do not move."
An old woman's voice came from nearby.
Aarav turned.
An elderly woman stood beside a round wooden table covered with herbs, crystals, candles, and strange glass bottles.
Her silver hair flowed down to her waist.
Her purple eyes glowed faintly.
"Where am I?" Aarav asked.
The woman slowly walked closer.
"My home."
"The hidden district."
Aarav frowned.
"What happened to me?"
The woman stared at him.
Then she spoke calmly.
"You should be dead."
A cold chill ran through his body.
Before he could respond—
His head exploded with pain.
A flash.
Moonlight.
Mia was laughing as she ran through a forest.
Another flash.
Kai was seated on a crimson throne.
Rows of vampires bowing before him.
Another flash.
Jack in wolf form, tearing through enemies.
Aarav clutched his head.
"What is this?!"
Then another vision.
Moonlit garden.
Mia is standing beneath a tree.
Kai gently touched her cheek.
"I'll protect you."
Then he kissed her.
The vision shattered.
Aarav's eyes widened.
His breathing became heavy.
Those weren't his memories.
They were theirs.
The old woman's face darkened.
"The blood fusion has reached the memory stream."
The door suddenly opened.
Mia rushed in first.
"Aarav!"
Relief filled her face.
Jack followed behind her.
Kai entered last, his crimson eyes sharp.
The moment he looked at Aarav, his expression changed.
"You saw something."
Aarav awkwardly looked away.
"I… saw memories."
Mia froze.
Jack frowned.
Kai sighed.
The old woman stepped forward.
"That is natural."
She looked directly at Aarav.
"You are no longer human."
The room became silent.
Aarav stared at her.
No.
That couldn't be true.
The woman continued.
"You now carry three bloodlines."
She pointed toward his chest.
"The noble vampire blood of Kai."
"The moon wolf blood of Mia."
"And the royal alpha wolf blood of Jack."
Aarav slowly looked down.
He could feel it.
Three different instincts are moving inside him.
Blood hunger.
Moon senses.
Wolf strength.
Jack crossed his arms.
"How is he alive?"
The old woman's expression became grave.
"Because he was chosen."
Mia's voice trembled.
"Chosen for what?"
The woman turned toward an ancient mirror hanging on the wall.
Its surface was covered with glowing runes.
She placed her hand on it.
The mirror lit up.
A blood-red moon appeared.
Then a shadowy figure.
Aarav.
Standing beneath the moon.
Three lights slowly appeared around him.
Silver.
Gold.
Crimson.
The old woman spoke in a heavy voice.
"An ancient prophecy speaks of the Blood Moon Heir."
"The one who awakens through the union of three blood guardians."
Aarav frowned.
"Blood guardians?"
The mirror changed.
Three figures appeared beside Aarav.
A silver wolf.
A golden alpha wolf.
A crimson vampire.
Mia.
Jack.
Kai.
The woman slowly turned toward them.
"You three are his blood guardians."
"The ones chosen by fate to protect him until the prophecy is complete."
Mia looked shocked.
Jack frowned.
Kai's eyes narrowed.
The woman continued.
"Only after the guardians awaken…"
"Will the nine brides descend?"
The mirror suddenly changed again.
This time—
Nine female silhouettes appeared.
All of them are hybrids.
One had crimson eyes and dragon horns.
Another had white wings mixed with dark feathers.
One had fox ears and phoenix flames.
One had demon horns and fae wings.
Another had serpent eyes and moonlight tattoos.
The others remained hidden in shadow.
Aarav stared in disbelief.
"Who are they?"
The woman's voice turned grave.
"The nine daughters of forbidden blood."
"The hybrid heirs of the ancient clans."
"Each born from mixed bloodlines, feared by the world."
Mia whispered,
"They're all hybrids…"
The woman nodded.
"Yes."
"They are your destined wives."
Aarav almost choked.
"Wait—what?!"
Kai raised an eyebrow.
Jack looked just as shocked.
The woman ignored them.
"When the Blood Moon Heir awakens, the nine hybrid brides shall descend."
"Each carries a bloodline needed to complete your evolution."
Aarav shook his head.
"No."
"This has to be wrong."
"I'm just a college student."
"I build cars."
The woman's eyes sharpened.
"That life ended the moment the hybrid bit you."
Before anyone could speak—
The mirror suddenly cracked.
A violent, dark aura burst out.
The room trembled.
Jack's claws extended.
Kai's fangs appeared.
Mia's eyes glowed gold.
Then a woman's voice echoed from the darkness.
"The heir has awakened."
Two glowing violet eyes opened inside the mirror.
"Then send the first bride."
The mirror shattered.
Glass exploded across the room.
The candles flickered violently.
Then silence.
The old woman slowly whispered,
"It has begun."
Aarav stared at the broken mirror.
His heart pounded.
Somewhere in the darkness—
The first hybrid bride was already on her way.
Writing