the blood pack

blood pack chapter 4

THE BLOOD PACK

Chapter Four: Blood and Jealousy

The scream had come from deep within the forest. Darius led the pack toward it, moving between the trees without making a sound. The smell of blood grew stronger with every step. It was vampire blood, thick and bitter, and it carried a warning that every member of the pack understood. Someone had been attacked.

They finally reached a clearing.

A vampire lay against an old oak tree, barely alive. His clothes were torn, and silver burns covered his chest. Darius immediately recognized him.

"Ronan."

Ronan had once been part of another vampire clan that lived several miles away. He had been missing for weeks.

Darius knelt beside him.

"Who did this?"

Ronan's eyes opened.

"The Order."

His voice was barely a whisper.

"They found the old tunnels."

Darius's expression hardened.

"What tunnels?"

Ronan looked past him.

"Under the city."

Then he died.

The pack stood silently around the body.

Lucian broke the silence.

"We should leave."

Darius looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because this place isn't safe."

Victor laughed bitterly.

"Now you're scared?"

Lucian stepped toward him.

"Careful."

Victor moved closer.

"You've been staring at Seraphina all night."

Lucian smiled.

"Have I?"

"You know exactly what you're doing."

Seraphina stepped between them.

"Stop."

Victor looked at her.

"You don't understand."

"I understand perfectly."

Lucian's eyes met hers.

"Then tell him."

Darius immediately stepped forward.

"Enough."

His voice echoed through the clearing.

"The Blood Pact means nothing if we're going to destroy each other."

Victor looked away.

Lucian said nothing.

But the tension remained.

As they returned to the mansion, Seraphina walked beside Darius.

"You shouldn't have made that pact," she said.

Darius looked at her.

"Why?"

"Because you don't understand what happens when vampires swear blood to one another."

"What happens?"

Seraphina stopped walking.

"You become connected."

Darius stared at her.

"Connected how?"

"You can feel each other's fear. Pain. Anger."

Darius's eyes narrowed.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I didn't want you to know everything about me."

Darius stepped closer.

"What are you hiding?"

Seraphina looked into his eyes.

"More than you could imagine."

For several seconds neither moved.

Darius could hear her breathing.

He could feel the strange pull between them.

Then Seraphina stepped away.

"You should be careful, Darius."

"Of what?"

"Of me."

She walked toward the mansion.

Darius watched her disappear through the doors.

He had spent centuries learning how to control his instincts.

But for the first time in a very long time, he wasn't sure he wanted to.

Inside the mansion, Lucian stood alone in the hallway.

He had heard everything.

And he smiled.

The pact had been made to keep the vampires together.

But Lucian had already decided he was going to break it.

And he wasn't the only one.

Because somewhere upstairs, Victor was staring at Seraphina's bedroom door.

And somewhere beneath the mansion, something ancient had begun to wake.