Their Dark Beginning

Tense Matters

On the previous chapter:

She was on her third glass of spiked blood when she accidentally bumped into a broad shoulder, which extended down to a massive hand that caught around her waist just before she could lose her balance. Soon, Ana was staring into the most beautiful maroon eyes she had ever seen..

“Hm. You should be more careful, youngling.” Said the unknown brute who looked like he could crush her beneath his hands in one movement. It was the only thing he said before he walked off, and Anastasia was left.. with an odd feeling in her chest.

Who was that?!

-

Anastasia sought out Sabine, and her hand was resting over the diamond necklace covering her chest, as if she could feel her undead heart beat. If she could’ve blushed, she would have.

“Sabine, I need your help!”

Sabine turned around from tall, dark and handsome to regard Anastasia with a loving, playful glare. She had been in the middle of speaking with someone, but she brushed him off easily to come to Anastasia’s side. “Omega..” Her tone was a warning, but it didn’t last. “I was kind of busy.”

Anastasia poured with those glossy red lips, staring at her sister with that innocent puppy dog face that always got her out of trouble. “I’m sorry.”

“You’re so annoying sometimes, kid. Alright, what do you want?”

Anastasia looped her arm around Sabine’s, and began dragging her after the man she had seen earlier. After a few moments, she and Sabine were glancing around one of the massive ballroom pillars to view the obvious Alpha that Ana had run into. “Do you know who that is?” Ana asked, and Sabine’s eyes grew wider.

“That’s Giovanni, Alpha of Blood’s Reign. He’s the Alpha Pride of Texas, though they say his family originally immigrated over from Italy. They say he’s got ties into the Mafia, and the cartel! Daddy says he’s dangerous, one of the biggest synthetic blood suppliers in the country. Super rich too! Now he’s a hot piece of werewolf ass!” Sabine exclaimed, wiggling her eyebrows with playful interest. “Why do you want to know anyway?”

Anastasia felt heat flood her undead cheeks, as her blood roared through her veins from all that she had drank. Even Purebloods could manipulate their blood to a degree, to blush, consume food and the like to imitate humans.. though they would always have to replenish with more later on. It was both a con and a pro, to be able to manipulate the blood in their bodies that way. Was it wrong to feel attraction to a Shifter? An especially hot.. Super hot shifter!

She felt a thrum beneath her skin, as the heat began to spread throughout her body, and she clenched her thighs when the subject of her attention turned his eyes towards her. Giovanni smirked, almost as if he could hear her thoughts; his deep maroon eyes looked almost the color of blood, briefly meeting hers before glancing away.

Did he really just look at me? Maybe he feels it too..

Anastasia had had crushes before, but never had she felt this onset before of attraction. It made her scent thicker, fighting the suppressants, and the True Alphas in the room began to notice. It was why a True Alpha soon came over to them, towering over Anastasia and Sabine, with a stoic mask across his features.

He was close, but still a distance away for them to feel.. safe. It was the Pureblood King of Georgia, True Alpha Kardos. He wore an immaculate suit, and his eyes were a seductive color of deep red, not unlike Giovanni’s.

“You must be Ms. Martel. I hear this ball is in your honor. Congratulations on your coming of age, childe.” He all but purred, oozing charm and Alpha pheromones to enhance his own natural appeal to the Omega and Beta before him.

Anastasia hadn’t been around many Alphas, and she felt dizzy beneath the presence of this True, Pureblooded beast before her. Her dainty, white gloved hand accidentally came to rest along his chest as she stumbled forward, obviously overwhelmed by his scent. Sabine caught hold of her arm, pulling her back towards the pillar as Ana’s vision wavered.

“Stefan.” Came a gentle but firm voice, chastising. “Using your wiles on such a young lady is not becoming. She’s too young for you to use your powers on.” The Alpha stepped back, demurely straightening his immaculate jacket just as Giovanni neared.

“She is an Omega, Giovanni. All Omegas are weak beneath an Alpha’s scent. It is something she will have to grow accustomed to,” retorted Alpha Kardos.

Giovanni shook his head, grinning, as he came around to clap the other Alpha’s shoulder with an audible smack. It was as much a warning as it was playful, “Looks like you intend to be the one to introduce her to such.. Alphian wiles, hm?”

Stefan merely raised a brow, unwilling to rise to the bait. He backed off, bowing his head to the ladies before intending to take his leave. “Feel free to come find me after you are done with the dogs, Ms. Martel.”

Giovanni moved closer to Anastasia, offering his hand to help steady her, which she took. Her wide, golden eyes were clearer now, as she took a lingering glance towards Alpha Kardos. “I’ve never smelt an Alpha’s.. scent like that before. It was strong.” And wrong? Compared to Giovanni’s who made her want to move closer, versus being overwhelmed.

“He is very prideful, please excuse him. You know how Purebloods can be, little one. Nevertheless, let me introduce myself. I am Giovanni, Alpha of BloodReign.”

Anastasia smiled, shyly offering her hand towards him, “Anastasia Martel, Omega of New Orleans.” When their hands touched, it was an instant connection, of heat and attraction.

What was going on with her?!

All these Alphas.. What was she going to do?