Chapter 9: The Mark of Blood

The symbol on the wall stared back at me like an old ghost.

A circle. Three claw marks slashed clean through the middle. It was carved deep into the brick, dark blood smeared around it like a twisted signature.

I took a step closer to the screen.

“I’ve seen that before,” I murmured.

Jackson’s eyes flicked to me. “When?”

I didn’t answer right away. My mind was already racing back—years ago. One of my earliest hunts. A werewolf I’d chased down had a pendant carved with that same symbol hanging around his neck. He refused to speak. Just laughed like he knew something I didn’t. And then he let himself burn before I could get answers.

“This can’t be a coincidence,” I said. “They’re sending a message.”

Jackson’s jaw clenched. “You’re sure Aidan hasn’t mentioned anything? About this symbol? A rival pack maybe?”

“No,” I said slowly. “He’s either playing dumb or he really doesn’t know.”

Jackson stared at the screen, his voice dropping low. “That’s a death mark, Roxanne. That symbol only appears before a purge. It means someone’s been targeted.”

My stomach twisted. “Targeted by who?”

Jackson looked at me then, something flickering in his eyes I couldn’t quite place.

“The Bloodfangs.”

I went cold. “They’re just a myth.”

“No,” he said. “They’re real. And if this mark has surfaced again, it means they’re back.”

I turned away from the screen, pacing the room. “Why now? Why here? What are they planning?”

“We need to find out,” Jackson said. “And you’re our only way in. You’re close to Aidan now. If they’ve been marked, his pack is in danger—and so are you.”

I swallowed hard, nodding.

“Keep your eyes open,” Jackson warned. “And be careful. The Bloodfangs don’t make threats lightly. If they’ve resurfaced, they won’t stop at just a warning. By the way how's your relationship with Aidan going?"

I rolled my eyes a little bit before answering " Well, there's really nothing much to update just that the plan is going smoothly and hopefully very soon we'll proceed to make it official and then I can start my plan is full flesh" I sighed before continuing " But with this issue with the Bloodfangs the wedding might get delayed a little bit.

"Hmmm" Jackson was silent for a minute "Just be careful"

"Yes I will."

\---

By the time I stepped back outside, the streets were quiet. Too quiet.

The city lights flickered above me, casting long shadows across the pavement. Every sound felt amplified—the rustle of leaves, the distant clink of a bottle, the soft hum of a streetlamp buzzing overhead.

My fingers brushed the hilt of my knife.

I didn’t like this.

And then, I heard it.

Footsteps.

Not fast. Not loud.

But steady. Purposeful.

I spun, blade in hand—but no one was there.

“Paranoid much?” a voice drawled behind me.

I turned sharply, already scowling. “Aidan.”

He leaned against a lamppost, arms crossed, that same damn smirk on his face.

“You have got to stop sneaking up on me.”

“I wasn’t sneaking,” he said, straightening. “I was walking. Loudly.”

“I didn’t hear you.”

“Exactly.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why are you here?”

Aidan shrugged. “Call it a gut feeling. Figured you’d sneak off after our little ‘happy couple’ performance. And I was right.”

I slid the knife back into my boot and crossed my arms. “Well, congratulations. You found me.”

“Want to tell me where you went?”

“No.”

He let out a breath, stepping closer. “Look, I know you’re still not sure about all of this. But if we’re going to pull this off, I need to trust you. And you need to trust me.”

I scoffed. “Trust? You’re a werewolf. I hunt people like you.”

His eyes narrowed slightly. “And yet here we are. Not fighting.”

I let the silence stretch for a second before I sighed and added, “Speaking of werewolves… I found something strange during a recent hunt. Something I think you should see.”

\---

Back at my apartment, I pulled out my laptop and brought up the security footage Jackson had shown me.

When the image of the symbol filled the screen, Aidan froze.

He stared at it for a long time.

“What is it?” I asked.

He didn’t answer.

“Aidan.”

His voice was tight. “I’ve seen this before.”

My heart jumped. “Where?”

“In an old pack record. Buried in our archives. My father mentioned it once—barely. He said it was a mark of blood debt. An ancient war symbol. Anyone who carried it was already dead—they just didn’t know it yet.”

I felt a chill run down my spine. “And now someone’s carved it into a wall. Over a fresh body.”

“That’s not a warning,” Aidan said quietly. “It’s a declaration.”

“Of what?”

His eyes met mine.

“War.”

\---

We sat in silence after that, the weight of the revelation settling over us like thick smoke.

Then my phone buzzed.

A text.

From an unknown number.

“You can’t stop what’s coming. He’s already chosen you.

”

My throat went dry.

A second later, another message came through.

An image.

The same mark.

Drawn in blood.

On my front door.