Changing Destiny

First Encounter with Damaris

The city, a labyrinth of shadowed alleyways and imposing structures, held a heavy scent of blood, hinting at rituals and violence. Oppressive silence, broken by rustles and guttural voices, threatened fear. Eyes scanned, senses alert, until finding clothes to shift back to human form. After finding some old clothes in a trash bin, she came out of the alley, though it felt like she was being watched ever since she entered the city.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, tall and imposing, his presence radiating an aura of power that sent a shiver down her spine. He was a vampire, undeniably so, his features sharp and angular, his eyes an unnerving shade of electric blue, piercing through the darkness and fixing on her. His skin was a rich, deep bronze, and his hair was a magnificent cascade of thick, dark locks that fell past his shoulders. He was breathtakingly handsome, a captivating figure that defied the fear she had been conditioned to feel towards his kind. There was an intensity in his gaze, a silent recognition.

He moved with an unsettling grace, a feline fluidity that belied his imposing size. He didn't rush, didn't seem to need to; his mere presence commanded attention. He stopped before her, a silent challenge hanging in the air between them. His eyes, those captivating blue pools, seemed to assess her, to see through her, to understand the turmoil within her soul. A low growl rumbled in her chest, a primal instinct warning her of danger, but it was strangely muted, as though something within her was urging her to trust him—a contradiction that baffled and intrigued her.

"Destiny," he breathed, his voice a low, resonant murmur, laced with an undercurrent of something she couldn't quite place—assertion? Curiosity? Perhaps something more. The name, spoken on his lips, was like a caress, yet strangely alien, as if a forgotten memory had been suddenly awakened. The utterance of her name, even by this enigmatic vampire, caused an unexpected surge of warmth in her chest. Vampires could read minds. A notion she was already aware of. He was reading her.

He stepped closer, closing the distance between them, his presence radiating both strength and an unexpected gentleness. She tensed, her muscles coiling, ready to spring into action, but he made no aggressive move. He simply stood before her, his gaze unwavering, his expression inscrutable. The contrast between his predatory nature and his gentle demeanor sparked confusion within her, unsettling her carefully constructed walls of despair.

He was acutely aware of her heartbreak, her betrayal, and her sorrow; he somehow understood her pain, even if he hadn't known of its source. His unexpected and profound was a stark contrast to the cold, calculating nature of the vampires she had been taught to expect. This was a vampire unlike any she’d ever encountered. This was Damaris, Shadow Coven Leader, and he was captivated by her aura. He seemed familiar to her. As if she had known him all of her life. Suddenly her wolf said his name in her mind, followed by one word she knew would set the course of her life to change forever.

Mate! But how? She has broken the mate bond with her ex-mate Lamonte. She was given a new mate already?

"Do I... I know you?" she whispered, her question barely audible above the pounding of her heart. Damaris's lips curled into a slow, almost imperceptible smile, as it was strange. He had found his mate in a werewolf, but how? Her name rolled in his mind as if from a dream. "Indeed, Destiny," he said, his voice a low purr, his gaze unwavering. "I am Darmaris, Leader of the Shadow Coven. Your blood. It called to me from the moment you stepped into my city, " he said while circling her, as a predator circles its prey. Suddenly he stopped in front of her. He extended a hand towards her, his fingers long and elegant, beckoning her towards him. His gesture was a silent invitation, a promise of solace, a promise of protection. It was a promise of protection.

Hesitantly, she reached out and placed her hand in his. His touch was surprisingly warm, a stark contrast to the icy coldness she had anticipated. His fingers intertwined with hers, his grip firm but gentle, a reassuring presence that calmed the storm raging within her. His touch sent a jolt of energy through her, a powerful surge of electricity that sparked a sudden wave of familiarity.

His blue eyes held hers, a silent conversation passing between them that transcended words. There was something profoundly familiar in his gaze—a deep connection that defied logic, that defied the very nature of their vastly different species. He sensed her hurt, her grief, her vulnerability, and felt an unfamiliar tenderness wash over him. The forbidden romance was just beginning.

The scent of blood, ever-present in this city, seemed less menacing now, less a symbol of death and violence, and more a marker of the intoxicating, dangerous path they were embarking on. Their hands were still clasped, their bodies still trembling slightly with a mixture of fear and excitement. Destiny, wounded and betrayed, found herself drawn to this captivating vampire, despite everything she had been taught to believe. He saw in her not an enemy but a soul mate, one destined to share a fate intertwined with his, a fate as complicated and dangerous as their connection. Her blood cried deeply for him, making his desire to taste it almost unnerving, but he could not. Not with what just happened to her.

"I am sorry for what you have endured this night." He spoke to her gently. He could read her memories. All the way to her childhood. He could see she was a gentle person. Nothing like the vampires of the council promised werewolves were like. His own need for murdering Lamonte was thick, as how could they have hurt his own mate this way?

"No apology needed. I just wish I could have seen the betrayal for myself earlier," Destiny said, her voice mixed with confusion and sadness. Damaris reached for her shoulder but felt a small shock as his hand made contact with her.