Kieran’s body stiffened, his muscles coiling with tension. His eyes locked on the approaching vampires, their crimson eyes glowing menacingly through the shadows of the forest. He stepped in front of me, instinctively placing himself between me and the danger, but I could feel his hesitation. We were outnumbered, and even with his strength, I wasn’t sure we could fend off an entire pack of vampires.
My heart raced, pounding in my chest as I scanned the dark shapes, trying to estimate how many there were. Five? Maybe more. And they were getting closer.
“We need to move,” Kieran muttered, his voice low and urgent.
I swallowed hard, nodding. “I’m ready.”
Before I could take a step, one of the vampires lunged from the shadows, faster than I expected. Kieran was quicker. In a flash, he shif
