Chapter 81 Enzo's Hunt
Alpha Thorne knew that the only way to pressure Emmanuel was by tracking down Ezequiel and Lois. That was why the search had intensified, but there was also the hunt for that vampire who could vanish his presence at will. Far from all the family drama surrounding Alpha Thorne, there was duty—and his duty was to find that vampire.
All the alphas had prioritized the search in their territories in case that vampire's presence could be felt again. However, as the days passed, Enzo could no longer contain his curiosity and requested permission from Alpha Thorne to hunt the vampire down the next time he sensed him.
Thorne knew Enzo was restless; no matter how much he tried to hide it, the two of them knew each other too well, and Enzo was not the type to sit and wait. So Alpha Thorne granted him permission to cross into wolf territory—as long as he was pursuing that damned vampire.
The idea that another vampire existed outside his domains, outside his control, refused to dampen his interest, his curiosity, even though he had told himself it was none of his business, that he didn’t care in the slightest. But this matter had him deeply intrigued; he needed to know about this vampire and how the hell he could go unnoticed like that. So, from the moment the vampire appeared on his radar, he crossed from vampire territory into wolf territory, running straight into young Ezequiel and that omega who was mated to him and his brother.
But what was that other thing? What was that other thing?
Anxiety hadn’t let him confirm it, and the first one he attacked was the one of doubtful origin.
It turned out that was the vampire. That was where the signal came from; he only sensed two wolves, but that one—what was it?
His hand plunged into its back and nearly pierced its chest, nearly killed it just for existing… but his fingers stopped short of its heart. He had no motive, no weighty reason; he could feel the blood running over his fingers, the heat in his hands, the life on the verge of extinguishing.
Enzo’s hand pulled out of Aidan’s chest, and Aidan collapsed to the floor. The omega, Lois, moved closer, but Enzo saw her only as a tiny insect buzzing around him. It amused him that she even pretended she could hit him, hurt him; she wouldn’t so much as tickle him. The omega tried to shield the wounded body, and Enzo laughed, mocking her to her face at the audacity of such an insignificant creature.
It was truly ridiculous that a future Alpha like Emmanuel would be bound to her, to that weak little flower. It was none of his concern, but he knew Thorne had been right to reject his sons’ mate.
Suddenly the wounded one rose and covered the omega’s body with his own. Enzo caught sight of the collar, paused for a second staring at it, and that second was enough for Aidan to strike.
The collars tangled, almost becoming one, yet Aidan seemed unaffected while Enzo was. Aidan attacked and landed blows. Their bodies crashed through the entire cabin, and Lois ran outside where Ezequiel was holding off the wolves surrounding them. He had the situation under control, but Aidan did not—that was why Lois’s fear was fixed on Aidan, who was at a clear disadvantage against that vampire despite managing to land a couple of hits.
“Emmanuel!” Lois shouted with all her strength, knowing he was coming toward them but was still too far away. So far away that they could all be dead before he arrived.
Lois’s body began to convulse violently, and before she realized it she was screaming—screaming in pain as her body underwent the transformation, desperate to find any way to help Aidan.
Inside the cabin things had shifted dramatically. Enzo gripped Aidan’s throat, nails digging into both sides as he squeezed. The collars remained tangled while Enzo tried to understand what was happening, how this impostor vampire had obtained that collar, or what the hell it had to do with him… with his own collar. Now he understood how Aidan managed to disappear: it was the collar. It held a power similar to Enzo’s, but not the same.
The little wolf, Lois, burst into the cabin and lunged at the vampire, but with one hand Enzo stopped her, slamming her body against the floor.
It would be so easy to hurt her… he was almost afraid he might kill her, because that could shatter the peace, and his desire for peace was razor-thin. Still, his attention was on the vampire; he hadn’t come for the wolves.
“Emmanuel…” Lois called again, her body flooded with pain. She didn’t know why they were being attacked, why they were being hurt, why this had to happen to them.
Aidan tried to do something, but Enzo was vastly superior to all three of them combined.
“What are you?” Enzo asked Aidan, his eyes boring into the young vampire. He pierced his own finger with a nail and brought the blood to Aidan’s mouth, trying to force him to drink, but Aidan resisted.
Ezequiel burst in suddenly, shattering what remained of the door and wall, carving a path to reach them. Enzo looked up and watched Ezequiel’s body shift until he abandoned his wolf form.
“Let him go!” Ezequiel told Enzo firmly but cautiously; he knew what the vampire was capable of.
“I’m taking him,” Enzo said, lifting Aidan by the throat without easing the grip of his nails. Aidan kept struggling, achieving nothing; the brief advantage he’d had vanished in seconds, confirming he never stood the slightest chance.
Lois lay gasping on the floor. Ezequiel glanced quickly at her, but what Lois wanted was for him to save Aidan.
“You’re not taking him,” Ezequiel said. “Let him go!” Enzo raised an eyebrow, noting how the wolf showed particular interest in this vampire. The last time he’d seen Ezequiel, the wolf hadn’t seemed to want anything to do with vampires despite being in their territory. He’d once thought he could accomplish great things with Ezequiel, but now all the wolf cared about was the new vampire. “Please… Enzo.”
He walked to Lois and her wolf body shifted. He helped her to her feet and took her hand; Lois’s skin burned, scorching Ezequiel’s palm.
“No. He’s a vampire. He belongs to me.”
Ezequiel raised his left hand and a small light began to form.
“I warned you,” Ezequiel said.
“Well, well. You had a trick up your sleeve, Ezequiel. You know you’ll kill him too,” Enzo said.
“I’ll take the risk,” Ezequiel replied, though he didn’t want to hurt Aidan; he was only trying to scare Enzo.
But before the light could take shape, Enzo vanished—in the blink of an eye, along with Aidan.
Lois collapsed to the floor, screaming with all her might as the terror of losing Aidan consumed her.