*Aloria*
The alley is dark and foreboding, a stark contrast to the vibrant marketplace just behind us. My heart races as I spot Arly, his small frame trembling against the shadows. I can sense the danger, the weight of it pressing down on me like a heavy blanket. My instincts scream at me to act.
“Let go of him!” I shout again, fear igniting a fierce protectiveness within me. I can feel the power thrumming just beneath my skin, a potent reminder of what I really am. The two shadowy figures turn at my voice, their faces obscured by the dim light. But I can see their eyes glinting with malice… vampires.
“Look what we have here,” one of them sneers, his fangs visible in the flickering light. “A littleq she-wolf, all alone.”
“Arly!” I cry, desperation clawing at my throat. I take a step f
