The night had that heavy, quiet feel, like the air itself was holding its breath. The street lamps hummed faintly, their pale orange glow spilling over the cracked pavement. Somewhere far off, a dog barked once, then silence again. Tyler and Jasper's footsteps echoed in the stillness, the cold biting at their faces as they carried the sodas in a plastic bag that shakes every few steps.
Jasper was talking something about visions, about a vampire they were fighting, probably in the future he had seen, but Tyler's head wasn't in it. His mind was still stuck in that afternoon. Sophia had been right there, about to tell him whatever was eating at her, when Redwill appeared. The moment he showed up, it was like someone had stolen her voice. She just smiled, brushed it off, and walked away, redwill had just stood there his arms folded staring at him. And the way Redwill looked at Tyler before leaving cold, sharp, like a warning it had sat in his stomach ever since. A dull ache he didn't want to think too hard about.
"So what do you think?" Jasper's voice snapped him back.
"Hm?" Tyler blinked.
Jasper frowned. "You weren't listening. Man, I've been talking for minutes now."
"Sorry." Tyler's hand went to Jasper's shoulder, almost without thinking. "I was… just thinking about Sophia."
"Sophia?" Jasper gave him a side glance. "What about her?"
"She's been acting… off lately. Towards me, at least. I don't know if it's the same with the rest of you."
Jasper thought for a second. "She's been quieter, maybe. More… distant. But that's about it."
Tyler nodded but didn't say anything else.
"Why's it bothering you so much?" Jasper asked, watching him too closely.
"It's not," Tyler shot back, maybe too quickly.
"You sure?" Jasper leaned in like he wanted to poke at it more.
"Get off." Tyler shoved him with his shoulder, not enough to hurt, but enough to end the topic.
They walked on in silence for a while. Then Tyler caught it a faint scent, sharp and wrong in the night air. He slowed, head turning slightly.
Jasper noticed. "What is it?" He didn't need an answer.
"Vampire," Tyler said, voice low. His eyes narrowed, scanning the crowd ahead.
The scent pulled him forward like a string. Jasper followed without question. People moved around them, talking, laughing, completely unaware. Tyler's gaze locked on a figure up ahead a woman walking at a steady pace, never looking back.
They kept behind her, just close enough.
Then she took a sudden turn, heading toward the edge of the street, where the lights ended and the shadow of the woods swallowed the path. Tyler and Jasper followed her in without slowing.
The woods were quiet, save for the soft crunch of leaves under Tyler and Jasper's feet. They kept their steps light, eyes locked on the vampire moving ahead of them. She was calm, almost too calm, but when she suddenly turned, the stillness cracked. Her crimson eyes caught the faint moonlight, glowing like fresh blood in water. She looked thirsty.
"What do you want?" she asked, her voice smooth, but there was an edge in it.
"Oh, nothing," Jasper said, hands shoved casually into his pockets. "Just thought we'd, you know, take a walk. Look at the stars. Beautiful night, right?"
The vampire smiled, a thin stretch of lips that didn't reach her eyes. "Of course. Why don't you walk with me? We'll watch the stars together."
"Why not," Tyler said, his tone easy, but his gaze never left her. "Lead the way."
She turned with a grin, walking deeper into the woods. The boys followed, matching her pace. The air grew colder, the trees thicker, and shadows seemed to twist in their path.
After a few minutes, Tyler slowed. "You know what, Jasper," he said quietly, "we should go back. I think Grandad sent us out for something."
"Yeah," Jasper said, catching on instantly. "Better head back just in case."
"Going so soon?" the vampire asked without turning.
"Yes," Jasper replied, a little sharper this time. "We've got an errand."
Her smile dropped. "No errands for you boys."
Before they could react, she lunged. In a blur, both shifted, fur bursting out, teeth bared.
That was quick, Jasper sent through the mind link as they dodged her strike.
"Wolves!" she hissed, recoiling like their presence had burned her.
Tyler sprang at her, but she caught him with a sharp kick, sending him rolling into the dirt. Jasper darted in low, clamping his fangs into her right arm. With a sickening rip, it tore free. Her scream rattled the trees.
She stumbled back, blood running like black oil in the moonlight. Tyler was already on his feet, charging. His jaws closed on her other arm, yanking it clean away.
She collapsed, breath ragged, but even in pain, her grin returned. "It's pointless," she spat. "Soon the vampires will conquer the sun. We'll walk under it. Wolves will be nothing. Humans will be food,and vampires will rule."
Her laughter rang out, broken but loud.
"I pity you wolves," she went on, voice shaking. "Susun will conquer the earth. Every vampire domain will bow to him. None of you will stop him"
Not if I can help it, Tyler's voice cut through Jasper's mind as he moved in, ending her with a brutal snap.
Blood soaked into the dirt as they shifted back to human form in separate places, rejoining moments later.
"That was easy," Jasper muttered, wiping his hands on his jeans. "But all that talk about Susun gosh can we just be through with this guy, I mean he has lived for thousands of years and even Constantine couldn't kill him, I don't know Tyler do you think we stand a chance against this vampire warlord, Mr Davidson keeps saying we are a special pack, I think we should leave up to that promise…"
Tyler's fists were tight at his sides, jaw locked. "I'll end him myself."