the blood pack

blood pack chapter 12

THE BLOOD PACK

Chapter Twelve: The Darkness Inside

Lucian stood motionless in the tunnel, staring at the black veins spreading across his palm. Darius immediately stepped between him and Seraphina. The darkness beneath Lucian's skin pulsed like something alive, moving slowly toward his wrist. Lucian clenched his fist, trying to hide it, but everyone had already seen it.

"What happened to you?" Darius demanded.

Lucian looked at his hand.

"I don't know."

Seraphina stepped closer.

"Don't touch him."

Lucian looked at her.

"Why?"

"Because whatever is inside you isn't vampire blood."

Darius's expression hardened.

"Malachi."

Seraphina nodded.

"When he grabbed me beneath the mansion, he must have placed something inside my blood. When Lucian shattered the vial, he came into contact with it."

Lucian stared at the darkness.

"Can you remove it?"

Seraphina shook her head.

"I don't know."

Victor appeared from the tunnel behind them.

"We've got bigger problems."

Darius turned.

"Where are Marcus and Adrian?"

"They're coming."

Victor looked at Lucian.

"What happened?"

Lucian said nothing.

Victor noticed the black veins.

His expression changed.

"That's not good."

They quickly returned to the surface. Marcus and Adrian were waiting near the edge of the forest, both exhausted from the battle. Adrian immediately noticed Lucian's hand.

"What happened?"

Lucian pulled his sleeve over it.

"Nothing."

Adrian didn't believe him.

Neither did Darius.

They moved through the forest until they found an abandoned farmhouse. Darius decided they would stay there until nightfall. Seraphina examined Lucian's hand while the others watched.

The darkness had reached his elbow.

Seraphina looked worried.

"It's spreading."

Lucian laughed bitterly.

"Then cut my arm off."

Victor stared at him.

"You serious?"

Lucian looked at Darius.

"If it keeps spreading, do it."

Darius shook his head.

"We're not giving up on you."

Lucian looked away.

"That's what you said about Marcus."

The room went silent.

Darius stepped toward him.

"Don't."

Lucian stood.

"You keep saying we're a family."

"We are."

"Then why does it feel like everything is falling apart?"

Darius had no answer.

Lucian walked outside.

Seraphina followed him.

"You shouldn't be alone."

Lucian turned.

"You don't have to pretend you care."

"I don't pretend."

Lucian looked at her.

"You chose him."

Seraphina understood what he meant.

"Darius is my alpha."

Lucian smiled sadly.

"That's not what I meant."

Seraphina stepped closer.

"You are my friend."

Lucian looked into her eyes.

"I don't want to be your friend."

She didn't answer.

Lucian looked away.

"I know."

Before Seraphina could respond, Lucian suddenly grabbed his chest.

The black veins spread across his neck.

He fell to his knees.

Seraphina rushed toward him.

"Lucian!"

His eyes opened.

They were completely black.

A voice came from his mouth.

But it wasn't Lucian's.

"Seraphina."

She stepped backward.

Darius rushed outside.

Lucian slowly stood.

Malachi was speaking through him.

"You cannot hide from me."

Darius raised his weapon.

"Get out of him."

Malachi laughed.

"I don't need to."

Lucian's body suddenly went limp.

Darius caught him before he hit the ground.

The black veins disappeared.

Lucian opened his eyes.

"I heard him."

Darius looked at him.

"What did he say?"

Lucian swallowed.

"He knows where we are."

Everyone froze.

Then they heard something outside.

Hundreds of footsteps.

The hunters had found them again.

But this time, they weren't alone.

Vampires emerged from the darkness.

Malachi's army had arrived.

Darius looked at his pack.

"Everyone get ready."

Seraphina stepped beside him.

Victor raised his weapon.

Adrian stood behind them.

Lucian slowly got to his feet.

The pack stood together.

But Darius knew the truth.

This wasn't just another battle.

This was the beginning of the war.