**CHAPTER FORTY-NINE.**
Before I could even take six steps away from the Café, I saw Draken’s car pull up to the curb. That was fast — he came earlier than I expected. He jumped out of the driver’s seat, not bothering with pleasantries as his eyes immediately locked onto mine, with concern etched on his features.
“Are you okay?” he asked, striding towards me with his long legs. He reached for my arm, pulling me closer as he scanned my body and the area, his instincts on high alert. “What happened?”
“I saw him,” I said, the words spilling out before I could even stop them. “Tyler. He was here. I saw him walking down the street with a lady, and when I tried to follow him, he…I don't know…vanished? Disappeared. Just vanished. I don’t know how.”
Draken’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening as he glanced up and down the street, as if expecting Tyler to reappear at any moment. “You’re sure it was him?”
I nodded, my throat dry. “Positive. His gaze met mine, Draken. I would never forget those dark eyes of his. He didn’t even try to hide. He was just…walking around with probably someone I assume is his next victim…like he didn’t have a care in the world. Like he hadn’t just—”
I stopped, my voice breaking as the memory of Karina crashed over me again. Draken squeezed my arm gently, his gaze softening for a moment before he refocused.
“I just want Karina to get justice,” I said instead.
“Okay. We’ll figure this out,” he said, his voice firm. It grounded me. “But first, we need to get you somewhere safe. If he knows you saw him, he might—”
“No,” I interrupted, shaking my head. “I’m not hiding. I’m not running away from this, Draken. I need to face him. I need to make him pay for what he did to Karina.”
“I get that, Eline,” Draken said, his tone cautious, though I could see the worry flickering behind his eyes. “But we can’t take any chances. Not only does he know your face, but he knows your dorm. Besides, as much as I wouldn't like to underestimate you…you honestly don't stand a chance against him in a fight. You were there last time, right? You saw everything that went down. Even to Drake, he's powerful, and I've never seen my twin use the word for anyone.”
I knew he was right, but it didn’t make my anger and frustration any easier to swallow. I felt powerless, helpless—again. Just like the night Karina died.
“We need to think this out carefully, otherwise we'll be playing with our lives, Eline,” Draken continued, his mind clearly racing through strategies.
“So what do you suggest then?”
“My apartment in Tribeca, why don't you move in with me? It's safer, and if anything happens I can easily protect you.”
I gave it a thought. Draken was right. Better two than one, after all. “Fine, but first can we concentrate on looking for Tyler?”
“We’ll track him. If he’s still in the area, we’ll find him. Where did he pass?”
I took a deep breath, trying to push down the impatience bubbling inside me.
Every second that passed felt like another opportunity towards catching Tyler was slipping by. But I couldn’t let my emotions get the best of me, not when I needed to be rational.
“I saw him with a girl,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “I think she might be his next target. We have to find her before it’s too late.”
Draken’s expression hardened further, and I could see the gears turning in his head. We both knew the girl I'd seen him with could end up just like Karina had. “Then we start our search now.”
He turned back to the car, motioning for me to follow. “Get in. We’ll cover as much ground as we can.”
I hesitated, glancing back at the café. I could see Yuri and Tennessee still sitting through the window, they were also looking at me. Their expression was one of confusion, worry, and disappointment. However, they waved at me and I returned the gesture. *‘I am sorry’…I wish I could tell you guys that face to face.*
But then again, how could I? How could I possibly tell them that without having to explain why I was even saying those words?
I shook off the guilt building in my stomach and climbed into Draken’s car. We pulled away from the curb, the engine revving loudly.
As we drove through the streets of Brooklyn, I stared out the window, my mind racing with thoughts of Tyler and what he could be doing to that girl right now. Or…
“Maybe the girl is also a hunter just like him,” I said.
Draken didn't look away from the steering wheel as he gave a response. “She might, but we can't say until we get to see her.”
“I just hope it doesn't end up being a case like Karina. How many more shifters do you think Tyler has killed but we aren't aware of?”
Draken shrugged, eyes scanning the streets as he drove slowly. “Not sure. But if we don't find him, we storm his university tomorrow with the gang.”
We searched the street for hours on end, but no traces of Tyler and the girl were found.
After a while, when the sun was beginning to set, Draken drove me back to my hostel.
“I’ll wait down here while you pack,” Draken said quietly, his eyes still scanning the street. “Don’t take too long.”
I nodded, too exhausted to even argue as I picked up my tote bag, and headed upstairs. I went straight for my room, ignoring my cat tingles as I threw my bag on the bed and brought out a box that I planned on using to take over my stuff to Draken's place. Just as I was packing some clothes into it, I heard a shuffle from the bathroom and I felt my heart stop.
Gently, I dropped the clothes and slowly extended my claws, tiptoeing toward the bathroom door. My cat instincts were screaming at me to leave. My hair was bristling. Something or someone was in there.
My hands trembled as I placed it on the doorknob, positioning myself in a fighting stance, ready to attack, as I slowly twisted it.
But the sight that greeted me made my blood run cold.
No one was there.
At least, no one ‘living’ was there.
However, right at the center of my bathroom lay a mauled body of a girl. Her neck was twisted at an unnatural angle, her lifeless brown eyes staring up at me.
I stumbled back, a gasp escaping my lips. My hands flew to my mouth as the face of who I was seeing clicked in recognition.
It was the girl.
The girl who I'd seen with Tyler just a few hours ago.
Once again, I was late…